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Another small step out of austerity – before a giant leap into the unknown

Another small step out of austerity – before a giant leap into the unknown

Posted on 15 March 2019 by Cian Sion

Amidst the political drama of crucial Brexit votes this week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered his Spring Statement on the UK’s economy and public finances. This blog post looks at what the Spring Statement and forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) can tell us about future Welsh budgets and Welsh public services.

Not so fast – for Welsh local authorities, austerity won’t be “coming to an end” any time soon

Not so fast – for Welsh local authorities, austerity won’t be “coming to an end” any time soon

Posted on 18 February 2019 by Cian Sion

At last year’s Autumn Budget, the UK Chancellor, Philip Hammond, asserted with confidence that “austerity is finally coming to an end”. His claim is unlikely to resonate within the halls of local government in Wales. Despite nearly a decade of sustained budget cuts, the outlook for local government finance suggests that tough choices and trade-offs are here to stay.

Cut to the bone? How a decade of austerity has left its mark on local government in Wales

Cut to the bone? How a decade of austerity has left its mark on local government in Wales

Posted on 12 February 2019 by Cian Sion

As local authorities across Wales prepare to publish their budgets for 2019-20, expect to see a significant rise in Council Tax, with councils increasingly relying on locally-sourced revenue to partially offset cuts to their funding and to meet increasing demand pressures.

Fastest growth in Welsh public spending since start of austerity

Posted on 7 December 2018 by Guto Ifan

Last year saw the fastest growth in public spending for Wales since 2009-10. However, total spending is still well below 2009-10 levels, particularly on areas outside of health and social […]

The Commission on Justice in Wales (Thomas Commission)

The Commission on Justice in Wales (Thomas Commission)

Posted on 9 October 2018 by Professor Daniel Wincott

An earlier version of this article was published at the UK Constitutional Law Association In autumn 2017 Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, announced a Commission on Justice in Wales, […]

When the going gets tough – analysing the Welsh Government Outline Draft Budget

When the going gets tough – analysing the Welsh Government Outline Draft Budget

Posted on 4 October 2018 by Guto Ifan

As he delivered the Outline Draft Budget for 2019-20, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance Mark Drakeford described this budget round as the “toughest yet”. This was the eighth Welsh Government […]

The income tax base in Wales – who’ll pay what to the Welsh Government?

The income tax base in Wales – who’ll pay what to the Welsh Government?

Posted on 23 July 2018 by Guto Ifan

From next April, the income tax paid by Welsh taxpayers will be partially devolved to the Welsh Government. UK government income tax rates paid in Wales will fall by 10p […]

What does Aneurin Bevan’s legacy mean today?

What does Aneurin Bevan’s legacy mean today?

Posted on 5 July 2018 by Nye Davies

Today marks the 70th anniversary since the creation of the NHS. It is an institution which has become part of the social fabric of British society. When celebrations of the […]

A new chapter in Welsh-Scottish relations?

A new chapter in Welsh-Scottish relations?

Posted on 8 June 2018 by Hedydd Phylip

This article originally appeared on the Centre for Constitutional Change website  The Scottish and Welsh Governments worked together closely during their negotiations with the UK Government over those aspects of the […]

Imprisonment in Wales: A Factfile

Imprisonment in Wales: A Factfile

Posted on 4 June 2018 by Robert Jones

Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre has today (Tuesday 5th June) published “Imprisonment in Wales: A Factfile”, a set of Wales-specific data examining the prison system. The report’s author, Dr Robert […]