By Haseeb Arif A National Health Scandal 13,000 – The number of “excess deaths” between 2005 and 2010. 1,600 – The number of deaths “above the national NHS average” recorded at Basildon and Thurrock university hospital. 14 – The total number of failing NHS trusts in England alone. Former Conservative Chancellor Norman Lamont once called the NHS “the closest thing […]
By Shaun Dias The latest twist in the expenses saga was depressingly predictable The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has decided that MPs’ salary should be increased by more than £6,500 after the next election, stating that political salaries have fallen behind those of other professions. The salary increase will be around 10 per cent and will be offered in […]
Source: Reuters Japan is undertaking an economic experiment with heavy implications for the rest of the world. George Osborne has declared time and time again that there is no Plan B. Ed Miliband and Ed Balls’ have also been talking tough on borrowing over the last few weeks. However, if growth hasn’t picked up after the next election a return […]
By Luke Mackenzie The future of Local Government is perhaps one of the biggest issues that victory in 2015 will need to face. Recently Lord Heseltine published a report on how to create wealth, titled ‘No Stone Unturned’, he listed 89 recommendations. Recommendation 11, in my view is one of the most important and consequential of these: ‘All two-tier English […]
By Steven George-Hilley The Spending Review was always going to be a tough sell for George Osborne. Economic progress has been slower than expected, health and international aid budgets have been ring-fenced meaning that savings would have to come from already hard hit departments. This should have been the perfect opportunity for Ed Balls to remind voters of his ‘Too […]
A recent YouGov report puts support for the Conservative message of limited government, financial responsibility and lower taxation up amongst those aged between 18 and 24. 31% of the aptly named ‘Generation Y’ endorse the Tories. George Osborne’s statement that he will put a “limit on the nation’s credit card” will then presumably be met with a relatively warm welcome. […]
By Jacques Arnold Brazil, where football is almost a religion, is seeing rioters complaining against the vast expenditure on preparations for the Football World Cup to be held in Brazil next year. Something very serious is afoot for that to happen. Brazil, the “B” in the Brics, has had a remarkable run since the end of the military dictatorship in […]
From the Daily Telegraph – June 21st 2013: Civil servants disciplined for abuse of Facebook A civil servant has been banned from promotion for a year for misusing social media. The employee was one of seven staff disciplined by the Welsh government for writing “inappropriate comments” on Facebook or Twitter over the past five years, it has been disclosed. The […]
The Register, a leading global online tech publication, with more than nine million monthly unique browsers worldwide, has reported on new Parliament Street research into social media misuse amongst the civil service: Facebook foolishness foils (un)civil servant’s squirm up greasy pole Latest government pen-pusher scolded for online idiocy Welsh bureaucrats are in trouble again for their use of social networking […]
Thursday 20th June 2013 The Guardian has reported on our latest research into social media misuse amongst the civil service: Facebook comments get civil servant banned from promotion Welsh government employee posted remarks that were deemed to breach civil service code, documents show A civil servant was banned from promotion for a year following “misuse” of social media, official documents […]
