Why do economists think public investment is good for growth? October 19, 2024 As the Budget approaches it seems clear that the government is preparing to ramp up public investment.
Mark Carney: Ex-Bank governor says fiscal rules must enable greater public investment October 10, 2024 "If government money is being spent to build or buy an asset on behalf of the nation, it is only right that its value is captured in the definitions of national debt," he wrote in the Times.
Taxes might have to go up by £25bn in Budget, IFS says October 10, 2024 Rachel Reeves may have to raise taxes by £25bn in the Budget if she wants to improve the delivery of public services, the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said today. Although the Chancellor looks set to reform the fiscal rules to enable more borrowing for investment, Reeves has committed to meet day-to-day spending out [...]
Adopt new fiscal rules to break UK’s low-growth trap, IPPR says October 8, 2024 The current set of fiscal rules, the UK's ninth, has come under fire from a range of different quarters for their perceived impact in disincentivising government investment.
Mervyn King warns against government changing way it measures debt September 29, 2024 Mervyn King has warned Rachel Reeves against altering how the government defines its debt in the upcoming Budget, and called for the fiscal rules to be assessed by parliamentary term. Speaking in an interview on BBC Radio Four’s Broadcasting House, the former governor of the Bank of England said that the way the government polices [...]
Rachel Reeves could shuffle fiscal rules to invest £50bn in UK economy September 27, 2024 Rachel Reeves is hoping to make more than £50bn available to invest in the UK at next month’s budget by changing how the government measures debt in the fiscal rules. Senior government sources have told The Times that Reeves has asked officials to draw up options for allowing the government to offset assets against national [...]
Government faces ‘grim reality’ on national debt, peers warn September 10, 2024 "If we wish to improve the level of and quality of services, and continue the current provision of benefits, taxes will need to rise. The alternative is that the state does less," the report said.
IFS: Reeves tweaking debt rule won’t change fiscal fundamentals August 7, 2024 The Chancellor has inherited a very difficult fiscal position, with many public services in need of funding boosts while both the tax burden and national debt stand at their highest level for many decades.
Labour faces £33bn blackhole if it maintains state spending, research suggests June 4, 2024 Maintaining per person funding in unprotected departments would leave the next government facing a £33bn blackhole, research suggests.
‘Anaemic’ UK growth means Hunt will fail to meet fiscal rules, think tank warns May 9, 2024 The UK will suffer from "anaemic" growth for the foreseeable future meaning the government will fail to meet its fiscal rules, new forecasts suggest.