What we can learn from the era of the ‘Geddes Axe’ At the 1922 general election the Labour party more than doubled its representation, rising from 57 to 142 seats. This election was fought soon after the ‘Geddes Axe’ was wielded, which slashed public expenditure in an effort to restore the pre-first world war parity …

Ed Miliband has accomplished much over the past two years. The battle to win a majority in 2015 will open a new phase in his leadership, writes Steve Van Riel For the last two years, wherever Ed Miliband has chosen to focus his political energy he has had a great deal of success. Nick Clegg’s …

The Progress annual conference 2013 session on earning the public’s trust on the economy was lively and chock-a-block with ideas. The panelists, John Eatwell, Margaret Hodge, Nick Pearce, Ann Pettifor and Jonathan Portes, brought a wide range of perspectives to the discussion, but were united in the view that the coalition has lost the argument …

The general elections of 1945, 1979 and 1997 are rightly deemed to be milestones in postwar British political history. But if Ed Miliband leads Labour to victory in 2015, that achievement will instantly earn itself a place in the history books. Put to one side Labour’s narrow win in February 1974 – when it won …

Many charges can be levelled against David Cameron’s government. But not giving Old Etonians a fair break is probably not one of them. No fewer than four members of the prime minister’s inner circle attended his old school. It is perhaps unsurprising then that Cameron’s decision to appoint yet another Etonian – and the brother …

Today’s GDP figures offer a glimmer of light for the economy, up 0.3 per cent following the previous quarter’s contraction, thus avoiding a triple dip and raising hopes of good times ahead. Though still small, the better than expected rise has allowed George Osborne to claim the data is ‘an encouraging sign the economy is …

The scale of the housing crisis is put into sharp focus this week as the London assembly’s housing and regeneration committee – which I’ll be giving evidence to – continues to hold Boris Johnson to account on his pledge to deliver new affordable homes. The news follows last week’s reports suggesting house prices in the …

I began Business of the House Questions this week by recognising that the funeral of Margaret Thatcher was the end of an era. I rarely agreed with her but she did break the existing political and economic consensus and now I think it’s time do so again. I pointed out the scramble this government is …

George Osborne was despicable and wrong to link the case of the killing of the Philpott children to the benefits system. Many others have rightly condemned him for this. He was wrong in what he said – and he was wrong in what he failed to say. If he wanted to comment on the case, …

Of all the members of the shadow cabinet, Jim Murphy may be emerging as one of the most interesting. Regarded, unfairly, as a Blairite pur sang, Murphy has adapted to the leadership of Ed Miliband with a mixture of impeccable loyalty and a streak of independent thinking: willing to accept cuts to his department, firm …