Public sector is most to blame as British productivity lags
Britain’s productivity crisis is being driven by low productivity and inefficiency in the public sector, says Robert Colvile, CPS Director, in The Times on Monday 21 January. As highlighted in a CPS report in 2018, the NHS spends hundreds of millions of pounds printing and posting appointment letters rather than investing more modern, digital solutions…. View Article
Dominic Raab hails future outside the EU
Dominic Raab MP has set out his plans to “cut taxes, reduce household bills and help small businesses”, reports the Daily Express, Tuesday 15 January. In a speech to the Centre for Policy Studies, the former Brexit Secretary also gave his support to a policy increasing the National Insurance contribution threshold – as proposed by the… View Article
Raab: Brexit was a roar for change – and Britain is capable of so much more than this
“MPs should vote against [the Withdrawal Agreement], send a clear message to Brussels that the UK will not be bullied”, writes Dominic Raab MP, in The Telegraph. Writing ahead of a speech to the Centre for Policy Studies, the former Brexit Secretary argues that voting the deal down would leave the UK in a ‘stronger position’… View Article
In defence of Britain’s railways
In the week of the annual rail fare rise, this year at the higher rate of measured inflation, writing in defence of Britain’s railways is a brave — or perhaps even foolhardy — endeavour”, admits Conor Walsh. But writing for CapX, Conor sets out how – but many metrics – Britain’s railways are both significantly improved… View Article
This has been the worst decade for house-building since World War Two
“We decided as a nation…that housebuilding didn’t matter”, writes Robert Colvile, 1 January 2019. As The Telegraph reports on our analysis which showed Britain is on track to build fewer houses in the 2010s than any decade since World War Two, the CPS director argues that all is not lost. Current and recent housing ministers have “done their best… View Article
The Sun backs CPS calls for 50p Universal Credit taper rate
The Sun’s ‘Make Universal Credit Work’ campaign is calling for a reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate, as proposed by Tom Clougherty, CPS Head of Tax, in our recent ‘Make Work Pay’ report. Robert Colvile is quoted in The Sun article, Thursday 20 December, in support of the reduction saying “it is morally wrong that the… View Article
The fax machine bonfire has begun – now for the pager scrapheap
Increasing the use of technology in the NHS will “improve patient care, [allow the NHS to] communicate more easily, and offer online booking for appointments, whilst saving money in back-office administration that can be re-directed to front line services”, writes Alan Mak MP in The Spectator, Monday 10 December. Writing following the announcement that the NHS… View Article
Brexit gives Britain the chance to better help its poorest regions
Brexit is an opportunity for Britain to replace the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund with a system which better recognises areas of need. Lucky Dube, one of the Centre for Policy Studies’ research interns, writes for CapX on the unfairness of the fact that Tower Hamlets (one of the UKs most deprived… View Article
There’s more to in-work poverty than the alarming headlines suggest
Yesterday’s Joseph Rowntree Foundation on poverty makes some good points but, as James Heywood sets out for CapX, the headlines do not give us the full picture. Heywood, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Policy Studies, sets out that although in-work poverty has risen very slightly, a household in poverty is still much more likely… View Article
Alex Morton: Whether you like her plan or not, the Prime Minister target reducing immigration
“Evidence is that immigration was a critical part of the Brexit debate”, of course the Prime Minister is right to place it at the heart of her Withdrawal Agreement, writes Alex Morton in his regular column with ConservativeHome. Theresa May has been criticised by some for prioritising ending free movement of people over other issues… View Article
Of course Thatcher should be considered as the scientist for the new £50 note
Should Margaret Thatcher be considered as the scientist to be featured on the new £50 note? Of course, says Emma Revell. Writing in City A.M.’s Debate column on 28 November, Emma argues that although science isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, Mrs Thatcher’s scientific achievements are worthy of a place on the Bank… View Article
DEBATE: How can the Government help renters?
Rental insurance should be introduced in order to make life easier for those in the private rented sector, says Conor Walsh. Participating in a debate on the Smart Thinking website, Conor makes the case put forward in the Centre for Policy Studies report ‘Down with Deposits’ which argues for a system of rental insurance as an alternative… View Article
‘New Generation’ report raised in the House of Lords
Matt Ridley asked the government to consider Rishi Sunak MP’s report, “A New Era for Retail Bonds”, published by the Centre for Policy Studies as part of the New Generationprogramme, as a way of supporting small businesses to grow. During oral questions in the House of Lords, Monday 20 November, Matt Ridley referenced the paper and it’s… View Article
It’s high time Londoners got a real rail service choice
Rail competition “has led to lower fares and more choice” and more Londoners should benefit, says Tony Lodge, CPS Research Fellow, in the London Evening Standard. Tony, author of several CPS reports including one on the benefits of rail competition, highlights the difference in rail fares from Euston – where rail companies have monopolies over the lines… View Article
A new report has radical ideas on reforming tax – the Government should listen
‘Make Work Pay’, the latest report from CPS Head of Tax Tom Clougherty, is a “clear-eyed, wide-ranging look” at the present tax system and puts forward “practical, aspirational ideas to make it better”, says Marc Sidwell, Head of Personal Finance at The Telegraph. Marc’s report calls on the government to consider the report’s proposals, noting “the CPS has a long… View Article
Death taxes shouldn’t be used to raise additional revenue, says Head of Tax
As the Daily Mail reports on rumours of increased ‘death taxes’, Tom Clougherty warns against excessive rises in probate fees. Commenting in the Daily Mail, Wednesday 7 November, our Head of Tax says probate fees should “reflect the cost of the service” and not be used by the government as a way to bring in additional revenue…. View Article
