Comment

Today, the Office for National Statistics published new figures on government revenues, spending and borrowing.

Modelling of NHS waiting times shows increased activity, demand reduction, and patient prioritisation needed to meet the 18-week waiting time target.

The reforms announced today, to be implemented or consulted on, represent a fundamental change to the way that the state supports out-of-work people.

Rachel Reeves gives herself so little room for manoeuvre that she creates costly uncertainty when the choice is obvious: raise taxes or cut spending 

Mitigating the two-child limit policy would be an effective way to reduce child poverty, but designing an effective policy is not straightforward. 

This evidence should prompt us to look beyond simple financial incentives for classroom attendance.

What are the Chancellor’s options if – and it is very much an if – the upcoming Spring Forecast puts her on track to miss her fiscal targets?

The government’s decision to boost military funding out of international aid felt panicked. But this a watershed moment that needs a proper strategy.

Higher defence spending will be offset in the short term by lower spending on overseas aid

New data shows borrowing for this year running higher than forecast at last October’s Budget.

We borrowed and spent more than other countries to respond to the pandemic and the sharp rise in energy prices two years later.

A submission by IFS researchers Kate Ogden and David Phillips to a government consultation on the principles and objectives of council funding reform.

This blog was originally published on voxdev.org on 4 February 2025 here. Reprinted with kind permission from VoxDev.

2025–26 will continue the substantial above-inflation increases in funding for English councils, but their costs have also been outpacing inflation.

Confusion is built into our approach to net zero. We need to be more pragmatic about whether emissions will genuinely be new. 

The government spent billions on support to help households with their energy bills in 2022–23. Could a better-designed package have saved money?

In-year top-ups mean big increases in Scottish NHS spending this year – but that means plans for 2025–26 now look relatively less generous.

How will the latest plans for spending in 2024–25 boost the amount that the Scottish Government has to spend next year and beyond?

How do changes in UK government revenues over time compare with what has been seen in other advanced countries?

It is now 66 for both men and women. Between April 2026 and March 2028 it will rise to 67.