Spectator Coffee House: International aid should be abolished

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Old Teaser

21 October 2010

Sam Bowman argues that development aid does harm to those in the developing world at the Spectator Coffee House. 

Published in Spectator Coffee House here. 

Spending Review: This is just the beginning...

20 October 2010

Tom Clougherty, executive director of the Adam Smith Institute gives his initial reactions to the spending review:

“I’m delighted that the Chancellor has stuck to his guns, and laid out plans to eliminate the structural deficit by the end of the parliament. Politically, this may be difficult, but economically, it is absolutely vital. 
 
“It is important to remember though that severe as some of these specific cuts are, the overall impact of the spending review is modest. Health spending is protected, while areas like social security and debt interest payments – which the review's cuts will not affect – are set to surge. 

“In cash terms, government spending will continue to rise over the term of the government. In real terms the overall cuts only amount to a couple of percent.
 
“We need to realize that this is just the beginning. It is vital that the government goes on from here to carry out a radical, comprehensive reform of the public sector, since only that will make cuts sustainable in the long term.
 
“We also need a hard-headed, positive agenda for economic growth. Now the spending review is out of the way, the government’s attention must turn to these issues.”
 

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Spending Review: Raise of DfID budget by 37% beggars belief

20 October 2010

In response to the CSR today, Sam Bowman, Head of Research at the Adam Smith Institute, argues that the increase in DfID’s budget is indefensible in light of cuts to other departments:

“The Comprehensive Spending Review today makes necessary cuts in government domestic spending, but will raise the budget of the Department for International Development (DfID) by 37%.

“For example, the Treasury’s figures show a shrinkage of 23% in cumulative real terms for the Home Office between now and 2015 while at the same time showing an increase in DfID’s budget of 37% in cumulative real terms.

“Budgetary cuts are sorely needed, and to increase spending overseas while cutting spending in Britain beggars belief.

“Overseas aid is a waste of taxpayers’ money that props up dictatorships in sub-Saharan Africa and funds fast-growing countries like India, whose economy has grown by nearly 8.8% in 2010 and which has its own space and nuclear weapons programmes.

“Why the Chancellor thinks that the British taxpayer should fund the Indian space programme is unclear. At a time when the British government is cutting spending domestically it makes no sense to increase overseas aid spending. The government should slash DfID's budget and end this budgetary double standard.”

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BBC Science Viewpoint: Science is better off without the government

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Old Teaser

19 October 2010

Philip Salter argues on BBC Science that freer research would result in better outcomes.

Published on BBC Science here. 

Spectator Coffee House: On the eve of the cuts

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Old Teaser

19 October 2010

Tom Clougherty that the government's salami slicing approach to cuts is insufficient, and that government may be putting short-term interests ahead of what is needed at the Spectator Coffee House.

Published on Spectator Coffee House here.

ConservativeHome: Adam Smith Institute identifies £90 billion of privatisation possibilities

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Old Teaser

17 October 2010

Tim Montgomerie writes on Nigel Hawkins' report on possible privatisations which could raise £90 billion at ConservativeHome.

Read in full on ConservativeHome here. 

Daily Express: Time for Thatcher sell-offs

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Old Teaser

16 October 2010

The Daily Express writes on Nigel Hawkins' report, discussing the potential gains from selling the state's stake in banks.

Published in the Daily Express here.

BBC News: Government should 'undertake widespread privatisations'

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Old Teaser

15 October 2010

BBC News reports on Nigel Hawkins' report calling for a wave of privatisations. Tom Clougherty comments that such sales could help reduce government debt.

Published on BBC News here.

Tom on Spectator Coffee House: Privatisation Revisited

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Old Teaser

15 October 2010

Tom Clougherty argues in the Spectator Coffee House that the government should be selling off an estimated £90bn of public assets.

Published in Spectator Coffee House here.

New Statesman: Is the time up for unions?

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Old Teaser

14 October 2010

Madsen Pirie argues that unionism made itself redundant in the modern world in the New Statesman.

Published in full in the New Statesman here.