More than half of Britons are dependent on the state. That is too high
This week, the Office for National Statistics published figures showing the level of net dependency on the UK state. Their figures define net dependency as the proportion of households receiving more in benefits (including benefits in kind) than they pay in taxes. The figure now stands at 50.5 per cent. In the 1980s and 1990s, this figure… View Article
Inequality falls as collapse in unemployment helps poor families
The Daily Telegraph reports on the latest figures from the ONS, showing a fall in the percentage on households receiving more in benefits than they pay in tax, on 25 April 2017. The piece highlighted that although there had beena fall from the 2011 high, the figures were still above 50%. “This reflects the government’s… View Article
Dependency on the state is being turned round – slowly
In response to today’s ONS’ publication “Effects of taxes and benefits on UK household income”, Daniel Mahoney, Head of Economic Research, says: “These statistics from the Office for National Statistics show that net dependency (defined as the percentage of households receiving more in benefits, including in-kind benefits, than they pay in taxes) has fallen by… View Article
Don’t pin hopes on a price cap, stick to guaranteed savings like freezing subsidies
Daniel Mahoney, Head of Economic Research at the Centre for Policy Studies, responds to reports that the Conservatives will include an energy price cap in the manifesto: “Theresa May is, quite rightly, seeking to reduce energy bills for consumers. But the claim that an energy price cap will save households £100 a year is by… View Article
Free trade not aid. Scrap the 0.7% target
Tim Knox, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, argues for dropping the 0.7% aid target in a piece of the Daily Telegraph today, 20 April 2017. “Where half of all people in the developing world were once comdemned to lives of abject poverty, now only one out of every five is…largerly the result of… View Article
The Conservatives should seize this chance to radically reshape Britain
Giving the current state of the polls, the snap election looks set to give Theresa May a solid mandate to create radical domestic change in the UK writes Daniel mahoney in City AM Wednesday 19 April 2017. “While Continental Europe faces instability from the rise of populist parties and persistent issues with the single currency, there… View Article
Early general election called – CPS response
The Centre for Policy Studies issued the following statement following the Prime Minister’s annoucement of an early General Election. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement she intends to hold a general election on 8 June 2017, the Centre for Policy Studies is calling on all parties to include in their manifestos radical policies, aimed at supporting… View Article
Education Secretary sets out grammar schools plan
Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Education, today spelt out her commitment to grammar schools in a speech at St Mary’s University in Twickenham. In the speech, Ms Greening highlighted latest analysis from the government which showed the majority of selective school places go to affluent families. This is in keeping with the findings of… View Article
Disadvantaged children priced out of good schools
The CPS econpomic bulletin, “How to Overcome Selection by House Price”, was covered by the Daily Mail who highlighted the impact a good or outstanding school has on house prices. “Today, the Centre for Policy Studies, a free market think tank, backs the Prime Minister’s plans by suggesting grammar schools can end the unfairness of… View Article
The BMJ highlights a Royal Commission
The British Medical Journal today featured a “Head to Head” on the topic of an NHS Royal Commission, with Lord Saatchi putting forward to argument in favour following his CPS pamphlet “An NHS Royal Commission: From fighting fires to a lasting settlement.” Lord Saatchi argued: “Never has there been a better time or a more compelling… View Article
Maurice Saatchi: Enough of the fake news and alternative facts
Following on from the report “An NHS Royal Commission: From fighting fires to lasting settlement”, published 20 February 2017 by the Centre for Policy Studies, Lord Saatchi has written a piece for Conservative Home website outlining why a Royal Commission is the best way forward for the NHS. In the piece Lord Saatchi describes the issue:… View Article
Think tank pushes retirement protections – FT Adviser
The latest report by Centre for Policy Studies’ pensions expert Michael Johnson proposes “auto-protection” at private pension age to better protect pensioners. The report, which was covered by the FT Adviser, follows on from a 2010 CPS reports which argued for liberalisation of pensions which were picked up by the government and came into effect… View Article
Osborne pensions adviser wants Facebook Lisas
Michael Johnson, CPS research fellow, gave his thoughts on Lifetime ISAs to the FT Adviser, 17 Marhc 2017, ahea dof their launch in April. Lifetime ISAs, which Michael Johnson helped to develop, allow people under 40 to start saving up to £4,000 a year plus a 25 per cent government bonus, to go towards either a first… View Article
Brexit threat to carmakers is overplayed – CPS
In light of the annoucement Toyota will be investing £240m upgrading it’s Derby plant, City AM asks is the threat of Brexit to the automotive industry being overplayed, Friday 17 March 2017. Daniel Mahoney argues that the prospect of 10% tariffs on UK car exports post-Brexit is obviouly unnerving for car companies but recent developments… View Article
BT Openreach: Legal Separation isn’t enough
The legal seperation of BT and Openreach was announced last week but Daniel Mahoney argues this doesn’t go far enough in the opinion pages of City AM, Monday 13 March. “Legal separation will no doubt lead to more accountability. However, Openreach will remain part of the BT Group, leaving a fundamental conflict of interest unaddressed…. View Article
CPS response to Spring Budget
Daniel Mahoney, Head of Economic Research at the Centre for Policy Studies, responds to the Spring Budget: “It is welcome that, despite the UK’s borrowing forecasts improving, the Budget 2017 was not full of giveaways. Furthermore, although changes around national insurance and the tax-free dividend allowance will have an impact on UK competitiveness, the recommitment… View Article
