Economy
A typical coalition Budget – designed to put the Tories back in power
George Osborne usually tells his aides to prepare for each Budget as if it were his last. This time round,…
How Labour’s 50p tax trick has ended up helping George Osborne
Last week’s public borrowing and tax-receipt figures, headlined ‘Chancellor hails biggest monthly surplus in seven years’, received considerably less attention…
Let Greece leave the eurozone
To listen to Greek government ministers addressing the outside world during their breaks from negotiations with eurozone leaders this week,…
Calling the Green party socialist is an insult to socialists
The Green party has been likened to a watermelon: green on the outside and red on the inside. But that…
George Osborne’s 13 tests for an election victory (and how many he’s passed)
These days George Osborne is rarely seen in public without a hard hat and a hi-vis jacket. But he used…
Europe's leaders worship Mario Draghi. They should listen to him instead
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi secured a place in history by his demonstration, on 26 July 2012, of the…
Forecasting is a mug’s game – but I was right about the economic revival
‘Perhaps I should shift my prediction to 23 July 2014,’ I wrote in April 2012. ‘That’s the opening of the…
Portrait of the week
Home The British economy grew by 0.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2014, disappointing hotheads who’d expected 1 per cent. It…
Is Hamas finally losing its grip on Gaza?
The party is out of favour with its foreign neighbours and with ordinary Gazans
Martin Vander Weyer: In my hospital bed, I saw the future of the NHS
I blamed the pheasant casserole, but I did it an injustice. Its only contribution to the drama behind my disappearance…
Filming Bono, fighting Balls - how George Osborne's preparing for his autumn statement
James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman discuss George Osborne’s 2013 Autumn statement: [audioboo url=”https://audioboo.fm/boos/1763353-isabel-hardman-and-james-forsyth-discuss-george-osborne-s-autumn-statement”][/audioboo] Next week’s autumn statement looks at first…
Growth is not enough — the Tories must show they're not the party of the rich
The mood was grim when David Cameron, George Osborne and their advisers convened for a crunch meeting on 4 February…
