Austerity Britain

The coalition is sticking with its 'Plan A' to reduce Britain's fiscal deficit sooner rather than later. Its leaders trumpet the advantages of maintaining the UK's credibility, but at the cost of sweeping cuts affecting every area of public spending. As the below shows, the challenges this poses for politicians - both in government and in opposition - are acute...

Feature: Should Osborne splurge in Budget 2012?

George Osborne with his Lib Dem deputy, Danny Alexander

Despite everything, George Osborne is thought to have some spare cash to play wfor this year's Budget. What's he going to do with it?

Podcast: Time for tax cuts

Tax cuts expected in this year's Budget

What steps can Osborne take to stimulate the recovery?

Comment: The opposition's austerity headache

Ian Dunt: 'Without the judgement to brand this morally and economically intolerable, there can be no left wing opposition.'

Miliband's support for cuts eliminates his main advantage

Autumn statement 2011

George Osborne expected to unveil slashed growth forecasts

UK growth forecasts slashed amid economy gloom

VoiceOver

BFAWU: Unite the Resistance - Case for a General Strike - Ronnie Draper

Carte blanche? Google's Schmidt waves white flag to Miliband

Miliband offers a different perspective on Google's tax affairs

Google would stay in Britain even if Ed Miliband unilaterally strengthened the country's tax transparency laws, the Labour leader has told Politics.co.uk.

comments comments

This is how much poorer you are: Incomes fell 8.5% since 2010

TUC: The average salary has fallen by more than £2,000

The average salary is down 8.5% in real terms since 2010, according to new figures released by trade unions.

comments comments

British masculinity 'trapped in Jay-Z mode'

"We're teaching many of our young boys the price of everything and the value of nothing," said MP Diane Abbott.

British men need to be liberated from thinking their only gender role model option is Jay-Z, Diane Abbott has claimed.

comments comments

Into the bear pit: May faces her worst day of the year

Theresa May: Facing police criticism over reform and austerity

The home secretary will face her biggest public challenge of the year tomorrow when she attends the annual Police Federation conference in Bournemouth, where she is regularly greeted with heckles and boos.

comments comments

The upsides of recession: Young in trouble for focusing on silver lining

Lord Young faces criticism once again from the left

David Cameron's senior aide David Young faces controversy once again this weekend for suggesting the recession could offer opportunities for some businesses.

comments comments

Opinion Former News

ESRC: Britain in 2013 - the nation in focus

Published on 19 November, Britain in 2013 - the nation in focus, showcases the diversity of ESRC-funded research on the state of the nation. The magazine is a mixture of academic opinion pieces alongside informed journalistic writing, offering a concise analysis of research and topical issues concerning Britain today.

Unite: George Osborne leaves Britain on the starting blocks

The latest GDP figures out today (25 July) show that Britain is still in recession with Gross Domestic Product shrinking by 0.7% between April and June.

Coalition blamed for bedroom tax suicide

Empty bedrooms come at a price for housing benefit claimants

A 53-year-old woman who killed herself ten days ago blamed the government's 'bedroom tax' in a suicide note, it has emerged.

comments comments

Queen's Speech 2013 comment: Cameron offers another damp, right-wing sigh

Ian Dunt: 'Flaccid right-wing politics isn't even funny to watch'

Cameron does enough to alienate centrists but not enough to placate his backbenchers.

comments comments

The public finally turns against austerity

Sick of it: Chancellor's austerity programme finally loses support

The public's patience with the government's austerity programme appears to finally be running out, after a new poll showed a majority now opposed it.

comments comments

Pound must be devalued by another third to save economy, experts warn

Devalue the pound, save the economy? Experts believe a weaker pound could help UK manufacturing recover faster.

Experts propose a devaluation of the pound in order to help British manufacturing become internationally competitive again.

comments comments

Comment: Families need help to survive the age of austerity

Suzanne Hall & Peter Grigg: 'As savings buffers are eroded and relationships tested, families need to be given the tools to regain control over their futures.'

In the age of austerity, families are struggling. More needs to be done to help them survive the tough economic climate.

comments comments

Got change for a Winston? Churchill's face coming to a fiver near you

Former Conservative prime minister honoured by the Establishment. Note: This time it's not Thatcher

Winston Churchill is to become only the second ever prime minister to feature on a banknote.

comments comments

Comment: London transport developments leave the regions out in the cold

Alex Burrows, head of transport and infrastructure at Insight Public Affairs.

While London develops its railway system, other regions in the country may be left behind in new transport.

comments comments

Small victories: Osborne breathes sigh of relief as UK avoids triple-dip recession

Osborne: Praying for a miracle?

George Osborne bought himself some much-needed breathing room today, as official figures showed the economy grew by 0.3% in the first three months of the year.

comments comments

Arts world told to get profitable as more cuts loom

British Museum is the scene for Maria Miller's speech to arts world chiefs

Leading figures in Britain's arts world have been told they must turn their product into a "commodity" to justify continued funding.

comments comments

Something to cry about: Deficit reduction grinds to a halt

George Osborne faces what critics say is an overwhelming level of evidence his economic plan is failing

George Osborne faces some painful borrowing figures this morning, after admitting he "occasionally" sheds a tear.

comments comments

Taking a pounding: Osborne batters Scotland's currency union hopes

SNP would prefer to keep the pound - but Osborne casting doubt over whether that is actually feasible

Britain and Scotland's finance chiefs went to war on the airwaves this morning over whether an independent Scotland would be able to maintain the pound.

comments comments

Poorest hit hardest by austerity, new data shows

Osborne's Britain: Labour analysis suggests the poor are being hit hardest.

The most deprived areas of the country are being hit hardest by the government's deficit reduction programme, new information from Labour suggests.

comments comments

Political news to your inbox

Fill in your details to receive Politics.co.uk's brand of informed, in-depth and independent coverage of Westminster to your inbox

Hot topics

Britain's great energy debate

How the power gets to Britain's homes in the next century remains a matter of deep controversy

As the next general election begins to loom over the horizon, the debate over Britain's future energy policy mix is starting to hot up - and nothing seems guaranteed.

The Heathrow third runway debate

Heathrow's third runway is just one of many options

There won't be a final decision on Britain's long-term aviation strategy until after the 2015 general election - but an aggressive national debate is already underway.

Opinion Former Events

MRSA Action UK Annual Memorial Event

Families will pay tribute and remember those lost to MRSA and healthcare associated infections at Westminster Abbey on Thursday 13th June 2013

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.