Research and analysis
We examine the questions that matter most for effective government.
Explore our research and analysis
Burnham and Healey must avoid the budget mistakes of Starmer and Reeves
The chancellor should take difficult decisions at the budget rather than ducking tough choices.
Is Ed Miliband rethinking UK foreign policy?
The i's Kitty Donaldson joins the podcast team to assess the UK's foreign policy under Andy Burnham.
How John Healey should approach tax in his first budget
The 2026 UK budget is fast approaching.
Andy Burnham needs a new fiscal strategy that deals with the tax lock
Tough choices on tax and spend await the next prime minister.
Northern Soul: Burnham's Manchester No.10 plan
Former de facto deputy prime minister David Lidington joins the podcast to discuss the would-be PM's big speech.
Andy Burnham must sort out the centre of government on day one
A weak No.10 and ineffective Cabinet Office require urgent attention
Brexit at 10: The economy
Whatever the rhetoric, exiting a large trading bloc was always going to hurt the economy.
Salami-slicing capital budgets for defence is bad fiscal policy making
Raiding capital budgets in this way to pay for greater defence capability is the wrong approach.
Public financial institutions
Public financial institutions (PuFins) can invest public funds and “crowd in” private investment. But who are they?
The gilt (or bond) market
What is a gilt?