Since 1979, successive governments have robustly committed themselves either to reduce public spending and ‘roll back the state’ (Conservative) or be ‘prudent’ with regard to the public finances (Labour). In spite of this total government debt is now approximately £156 billion and the number of public sector employees is greater than ever. In Scotland, the […]

The demise of the New Labour government has perhaps witnessed the dawning of the end of an era in British politics. That era has been characterised by the attempt to systematically advance policies promoting social liberalism and economic conservatism simultaneously. Some commentators (notably Nick Cohen, particularly his What’s Left – How the left Lost its […]