Bond markets boom – why are we cutting?
The Tories originally told us that they had to make cuts because we were borrowing too much. The argument was that the bond traders, from whom we were borrowing, would…
Why not nationalise to cut the deficit?
The national deficit isn't really a problem. Well, at least, certainly not in the short or medium term. The UK government is borrowing less per unit GDP than most other…
How the left won the argument on inequality… and where it got us…
People's politics are very often located very deep in their psychological makeup. I am someone who finds it very hard to see the worst in human character. I am therefore…
The TaxPayers’ Alliance: Not Entirely Wrong
The Tax Payers' Alliance (TPA) have a new report on welfare reform. Don Paskini's already had a review of it over on Liberal Conspiracy. He makes some interesting points but…
‘we have to do something about the economy’
The idea that big problems require big solutions is not entirely rational. But it is psychologically compelling. And so it is that politicians can secure radical policies more easily in…
Education is a Public Good – We Should Fund it Publicly
"universities have a unique role. We cannot have an economically dynamic, socially mobile or culturally rich society without strong universities." So started Vince Cable's speech today at London South Bank…
Gillard: Australia’s left-winger for the right?
Australia suddenly got a new Prime Minister on the 24th of June, resident Aussie expert Nishma Doshi agreed to write for Bright Green about her first impressions. It was clear…
Lefty co-operation – dragging the debate back onto our turf
I was asked to write something for the excellent folks at Broad Left Blogging. Here it is, cross-posted. When Philip of Macedon – father of Alexander The Great – fought…
Behind the Smokescreen on Student Fees
This guest post by the ever excellent Sarah Morrison first appeared at Nick Clegg told Britain that he wanted a “clean, open, plural politics that…you can put your faith in,”…
Climate change & cuts
In my recent "a-z of why cuts are mad", "George Osborne: move over Keynes" and on our campaign site , I give a number of reasons why I oppose cuts…