Comment

While financial resources in the justice system are important, so are their management, location and interactions with other parts of the state.

The triple lock has boosted the level of the state pension over time and it creates high and uncertain costs for the future. 

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement will reform post-18 student finance, but financial support alone may not be enough to boost adult skills.

For the first time in over a decade, the NHS broadly stuck to its planned 2025-26 budget – but partly because hospital activity grew more slowly. 

The Scottish Fiscal Commission confirms higher funding this year but warns about a tough fiscal outlook. 

Around £790 million extra funding has become available this year, but painful trade-offs will be required in 2027–28 and beyond.

The Reform UK proposals represent a substantially different vision of what the benefit system should be doing.

GERS 2025–26 shows Scotland’s underlying net fiscal deficit improving but still much higher than the UK as a whole

New evidence shows the current energy crisis has affected fewer firms than in 2022; two months in, exposed firms responded mainly by raising prices.

An assigned share of tax revenues will mean local areas share more in the rewards of growth – but also brings risks.

The goal is to tailor these to the needs of local industries and to combine skills training with practical work experience.

Business rates have gone from being one of the most stable and simple taxes in the system to one of the least.

How will a temporary cut to VAT on household electricity bills affect households, the tax system and the public finances?

New ONS data show that higher-than-expected inflation pushed up government spending more than revenues between April and June.

Andy Burnham enters Downing Street with no shortage of ambition.

This comment provides initial analysis of announcements in July 2026 on teacher pay, pensions and school funding.
 

The government's Defence Investment Plan adds £3.8 billion a year, but how it will be funded and the path to 3.5% by 2035 remain key challenges.

Scottish Government funding likely to fall in 2027–28, meaning manifesto pledges could force spending cuts or increases to devolved taxes.

How has entry into the public sector among graduates from top universities changed following the growth of finance, tech and consulting?

Originally published in VoxDev, this comment looks at the effect of community health teams on health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.