Michael Burton
Michael Burton is editorial director of The MJ
Hughes gets key OBR role
A former Treasury director has been nominated to become the next chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the public finances watchdog.
Free community groups to take on assets - think-tank
Powers allowing community groups to take on local assets should be kick-started to build on the volunteer spirit generated by COVID says a report released today.
Wage boards advocated for care workers
Wage boards should be created for low paid staff to improve pay and conditions starting with social care, says a Resolution Foundation report.
Getting the housebuilders back to work
The coronavirus crisis means the Government’s plans to build 300,000 homes a year have been severely hit, says Michael Burton. The irony is that recent figures show that new build was heading in the right direction.
Think-tank voices fears over gloomy fiscal outlook
Recent forecasts by the official spending watchdog of a swift return to normality for the economy and the public finances after the coronavirus lockdown have been downplayed by a new think-tank study.
Looking beyond the lockdown
We may be in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, but what will happen to public finances when we come out the other side, asks Michael Burton
Public sector borrowing set to hit record high
Public sector borrowing as a result of the coronavirus lockdown is set to hit a record 14% of GDP this year but then decline rapidly to the levels predicted in the March Budget, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Tax needs a 'fundamental overhaul', says IfG
A combination of higher public spending due to coronavirus and rising social care costs means the tax system is in need of a fundamental overhaul, says a report from the Institute for Government (IfG).
Scots care staff to get pay hike
Scottish social care staff are to receive an immediate 3.3% pay increase backdated from 1 April after an agreement between the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
'Hundreds' of holidaymakers reported to Cornwall Council
Hundreds of second homeowners and holiday let rentees have been reported to Cornwall Council after the authority asked last week for evidence of anyone breaking the rules on travelling to the county for the weekend.
Tesco defends dividends amid rate relief
Retail giant Tesco has defended its decision to pay £900m in dividends despite receiving up to £700m in business rate relief.
Lift the benefits cap, says IFS
The benefit cap should be lifted to ensure 36,000 working age families can access the temporary increase in welfare announced as part of the government coronavirus aid package says the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Bid to relax accountancy codes rejected
Plans to streamline the preparation of last year’s local authority accounts to reduce the burden on finance departments struggling with the impact of the coronavirus have been scrapped after regulators objected.
Former Lambeth leader takes on shadow communities role
Former Lambeth LBC leader Steve Reed has become the new shadow communities and local government secretary replacing Andrew Gwynne.
Satisfaction level for social care 'remains stubbornly low'
The satisfaction level for social care ‘remains stubbornly low’ according to a survey into public attitudes to the NHS and care services commissioned by the Nuffield Trust and the King’s Fund.
Right back where we started
Economists predict the deficit in the public finances could soar to the levels seen a decade ago after the financial crash. Michael Burton reports.
No chance of a return to Groundhog Day
One clear lesson from the virus is how much we need properly-funded public services, writes Michael Burton - and 'with a tidal wave of support for the public sector this is not the time for the Government to be revisiting Groundhog Day 2010'.
Where are your services on the Smart City journey?
With technology moving into the next era of 5G and AI, The MJ and BT recently conducted a survey into the extent that local authorities are using shared services to develop their Smart Cities and Places. Michael Burton reports.
Corbynism triumphs just as he leaves the political stage
The country has 'gone Corbynite', says Michael Burton, and the public has rediscovered its love of public sector workers. Not just the usual nurses and doctors but refuse workers, care staff, social workers, cleaners, and public health employees.
Buoyant tax income ahead of coronavirus crisis
The last set of public finance figures before the Government’s £350bn injection to combat coronavirus’ economic impact shows a buoyant month for tax income.
