The UK Prime Minister may have the regal touch in northern England, but he’s been wrong-footed on the constitutional challenges posed by the Celtic Alliance of first ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, argues KENNY MacASKILL
OVER many years numerous authors have written about the role of disasters in creating conditions to implement huge attacks on living standards. These disasters are not necessarily naturally occurring. They can be the result of policy.
A week ago the new Tory government that no-one elected deliberately created a crisis which they hope to use to lower living standards for the vast majority of people in this country.
First they provided huge giveaways for big business and the rich. They will then go on to use this crisis of their own making to make enormous cuts in public-sector services, public-sector pay and benefits for the poor. Of course, Labour should commit to reversing every single one of these attacks.
A sharp rise in public-sector investment is required to kick-start the economy, argues MICHAEL BURKE
Trade unions call for windfall tax hike to fund social energy tariff to public’s energy bills
Only an ambitious programme of state-led investment can restore growth and improve living standards, argues MICHAEL BURKE
The 2025 Budget shores up the PM’s political position with headline-grabbing welfare U-turns, but with no improvements on offer to declining public services or living standards, writes MICHAEL BURKE


