Thoughts from the heart of British progressive thinking

New ippr Director Nick Pearce launches his new blog with his thoughts on Michael Gove's latest education announcement and the promotion of standards in schools, as well as a plug for a fondly remembered pioneer of the avant-garde.

ippr launches new research programme

The financial crash provided a powerful wake-up call: all is not well in our economy. ippr's New Era Economics programme will undertake a radical rethink of the UK economy, drawing together the latest economic and progressive thinking to provide a vision of a new economic era.

ippr London office moves to Buckingham Street

From Monday 6 September, ippr's London office is located at 4th Floor, 13-14 Buckingham Street, London, WC2N 6DF. The new office is close to Embankment and Charing Cross stations, about 5 minutes walk from our previous premises. Our other contact details remain the same.

Cuts and helping the poor can go together

As the media reports that the Coalition Government is planning to reassess whether it can afford to pay so called 'Middle Class benefits' like the Winter Fuel Payment and Child Benefit at current rates, ippr argues that to be truly progressive Ministers need to take a more sophisticated approach to targeting benefits on those who are most vulnerable.

ippr issues warnings for the next stage of welfare-to-work reform

As the latest unemployment statistics show the economic recovery continues to be sluggish, ippr cautions that unless there are jobs for people to go to, welfare-to-work programmes will hit a brick wall and be unable to support people into work. Far wider efforts in job creation are required to help move people off benefits and into sustainable work.

ippr proposals included in government consultation on welfare reform

ippr has welcomed Iain Duncan Smith’s pledge to radically simplify the benefits system, but questions whether the proposals can tackle the issue of a shortage of jobs. ippr is particularly pleased that the DWP has included ippr's idea of a Single Working Age Benefit in its consultation document, 21st Century Welfare.

New Labour's legacy?

Events have moved so fast since the election that the end of the New Labour era already seems almost like ancient history. But while it is understandable to want to look to the future, it is also important to reflect on New Labour’s lasting contribution to progressive politics. ippr's co-directors Lisa Harker and Carey Oppenheim review Labour's time in power.

Education: keynote speech by Rt Hon David Miliband MP

ippr was delighted to host the first major campaign speech on education by David Miliband at a secondary school in Bristol. Miliband set out his thoughts on the next stage of the party’s agenda to use the power of education to transform children’s lives . A copy of the speech is available here.

How progressive is the new budget?

The Chancellor George Osborne made welcome noises about how ‘progressive’ the budget was – but whether it is progressive or not will only become fully clear after October's assessment of the spending plans. In ippr’s view it needed to be much more progressive, to offset the impact of the deep cuts in public services that are round the corner.

Analysis of the Labour Force Survey

New statistics show that no matter what their grades, A-level students will face a tough year. And recent graduates are likely to get an even bigger shock: this group has seen the fastest increase in the numbers becoming NEET.

Why MigrationWatch are wrong

Last week, a series of media headlines suggested that immigrants were taking jobs away from British people as the economy enters recovery. Here are three important reasons why these claims don't stand up.

Unpaid internships exclude too many

David Willetts MP has promised to ‘consider carefully’ ippr’s report which shows that many well-qualified young people from poorer backgrounds are disadvantaged because unpaid internships stop them getting into some sectors.

Original analysis and research

The first part of this issue of PPR assesses what went wrong for New Labour and what might lie ahead, for the coalition, the opposition and the UK. John Curtice writes the lead piece. Other articles cover hedge funds, childcare markets, circular migration and more.