Podcasts

Why is electricity so expensive? We explore the role of renewables, the costs of decarbonisation and the future of Britain's energy system.

How will the new triple lock work, and what will it mean for pensioners and the public finances?

How does PIP work, why are claims rising and what choices does the government face as it considers reforming disability benefits?

How does social care work, why has reform proved so difficult, and what would it take to build a fairer and more sustainable system?

How does immigration affect the UK economy and public finances? We examine migration trends, fiscal impacts and what they could mean for the Budget.

Unlike most taxes, land value tax doesn’t discourage people from working, investing or building. So why don’t we use it more?

Business rates are blamed for killing the high street. But would cutting them actually help shops and pubs - or simply make landlords richer?

Is university still worth the cost? We examine graduate earnings, student debt, course value and who really benefits from getting a degree.

Are people saving enough for retirement? We examine pension contributions, the self-employed and the risks of accessing pensions too early.

Andy Burnham faces difficult choices over tax, borrowing and public spending. How much room will the new Prime Minister have to act?

Could devolution boost UK growth, or would it widen regional divides? We ask what shifting power from Westminster would really mean.

What makes a good job? This episode explores pay, progression, flexibility and why access to better work is unequal.

We ask why the UK has such large regional divides, how they emerged, and what policymakers can realistically do to fix them.

Why do people care about inequality, and what do they want government to do about it?

We set out the facts on UK inequality, from income and wealth to opportunity, health and place.

Britain faces high debt, high borrowing costs, rising taxes and stretched public services. We explain the fiscal reality facing any government.

Why UK electricity prices are so high, how renewables affect costs, and what government can do to protect households from shocks.

What does local government do, why are councils under financial pressure, and how might reform change the future of local services?

A look at Welsh funding, tax powers, public services and the hard fiscal trade-offs facing whoever forms the next government.

Scotland has more funding and more powers, but the next Holyrood government still faces tough choices on tax, spending and public services.