Apparently, the Labour Party is performing a U-turn on universal benefits, or at least on the Winter Fuel Payment. So … Continue reading “End universal benefits, and reduce complexity”

The announcement that households with income up to £300,000 will be entitled to financial assistance with childcare under the government’s … Continue reading “Why does the government keep giving money to people like me?”

In very cautious terms, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has questioned the current set of universal benefits for the elderly. … Continue reading “Clegg is half right on universal old-age benefits”

This week, Pensions Minister Steve Webb MP described the views of the authors of Sharing the burden – How the … Continue reading “The seen and the unseen – benefits, and the taxes used to finance them”

The Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) was not particularly comprehensive. It will reduce spending as a proportion of national income to … Continue reading “Pensioners should suffer their share of the cuts”

This year I have been in a rather unusual demographic – both entitled (I didn’t claim it) to a winter … Continue reading “Middle class beneficiaries of welfare payments are a drag on reform”

This year I have been in a rather unusual demographic – both entitled (I didn’t claim it) to a winter … Continue reading “Middle class beneficiaries of welfare payments are a drag on reform”