In denying the Scots the option of devo-max, David Cameron made arguably the most monumental mistake of any recent premiership. … Continue reading “Cameron’s monumental error – the pursuit of the mediocre as the enemy of the perfect”

Yesterday, Catholic Archbishop George Stack made some remarks about poverty which, like so many remarks made by bishops on the … Continue reading “How the poverty figures stack up”

Anna Rowlands: Ensuring that all citizens are protected from destitution and receive basic care and subsistence when in dire need … Continue reading “Was Cardinal Nichols right to speak out on welfare? (Part 1)”

Both Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Chancellor George Osborne have announced that some sort of ‘workfare’ programme … Continue reading “Unconditional welfare failed but work for the dole is hard to deliver”

Contributory welfare has become the latest fad in Westminster village. Labour politicians are in favour of it, Conservative politicians are … Continue reading “Contribution vs. redistribution: why contributory welfare won’t happen”

Everyone remembers this situation from their student days: You are in an oral exam. Until just now, you felt reasonably … Continue reading “Cameron’s welfare speech: why the critics are so upset”

The previous government made the mistake of trying to reduce poverty without paying attention to the supply side factors driving … Continue reading “Fiddling with Housing Benefit won’t solve the cost explosion”

With many ifs and buts, Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare reforms are broadly moving in the right direction. Rather than just … Continue reading “IDS and the CSJ on child poverty: a critique and a defence”

The very language of cuts has been markedly austere and depressing. It is now well established that the reductions the … Continue reading “Close DCMS, freeze benefits and pensions, scrap the regional growth fund… how to save up to £35 billion”