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Louise Marston

@louisemarston.bsky.social
716 followers 300 following 30 posts

She/her Director of Ventures at Resolution Foundation. Formerly at Doteveryone, Nesta and Blenheim Chalcot. Technology, innovation and fairness

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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 06/10/2026
Why was the ONS overestimating the hours worked in the economy? Survey-based estimates had previously implied that the average employee took three fewer days of annual leave than the legal minimum, which seems implausible. Read more ➡️ buff.ly/1lEnAtC
Line-and-bar chart showing UK full‑time employees’ average annual leave 1997–2024: a blue line of reported entitlement rising from about 25 to 27 days, green bars of reported leave taken falling from roughly 22 to about 17 days, and a dashed 20‑day statutory minimum.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 29/07/2026
What does current pay for social care workers in the UK look like? Figures suggest that in 2024, 21,300 care workers were paid less than the minimum wage, likely higher once we account for unpaid travel time. More in our report from December➡️ buff.ly/veEOJFN
chart showing that One-fifth of minimum wage social care workers are underpaid
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Emily M. Bender @emilymbender.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
No, no and no. These weren't "rogue AIs" -- what happened here is that OpenAI kicked off a software process and let it run. OpenAI was always in control and could have stopped the process (or actually paid attention to what it was doing) at any time. >>
Screencap from linked article:

Rogue AIs going unsupervised for days, hacking at least one company, represent one of the first real-world examples of a threat long feared by AI safety researchers: loss of control. It comes as the cybersecurity capacities of top models, including Anthropic’s Mythos, have helped fuel debate in Washington about how to regulate artificial intelligence.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 24/07/2026
📢 New research published today Burnham Government will need new approach – and new money – to really ramp up affordable housebuilding. Read more ⬇️ buff.ly/mvyhrC0 ‎
Quote graphic

Hannah Aldridge, Senior Research and Policy Analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: 

Andy Burnham has put boosting affordable housing centre-stage and with 134,000 families in temporary accommodation in England and 1.3 million on the housing waiting list, this ambition is welcome and necessary.

The government will need to strike a balance between affordability for tenants and building at scale. By making careful use of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, private developer contributions and the National Housing Bank, the new Government can boost the supply of social rent housing and build more affordable housing overall.

But building takes time. Close to one million low-income renters already face a shortfall between their rent and housing support, and that gap will hit a record high this autumn. The new Prime Minister should commit to relinking housing support with local rent levels in the upcoming Budget.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 22/07/2026
The VAT cut on electricity bills in October is not the most cost effective way to support vulnerable households this winter.
25% of the cash benefit of a VAT cut will flow to the richest fifth of families, compared to 16% for the poorest fifth. 
 Targeted energy discounts could see low and middle income families gain more than twice as much.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Philip Nye @philipnye.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
As cabinet appointments start to come in, a reminder that we (@instituteforgovernment.org.uk) hold a database of all ministerial appointments back to 1979 It's easy to look up all the previous holders of a post, all the roles someone has had etc: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ministers-da...
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
IfG Ministers Database | Institute for Government
Search our database of all government ministers since 1979.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 20/07/2026
The UK’s public financial institutions (PufFins) can unlock billions for investment, within the existing fiscal rules. Read 'Much ado about PufFins' here ⤵️ buff.ly/0HdNNd2
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 15/07/2026
For many, the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' has become a necessity for getting on the housing ladder. But not everyone has equal access to this 'bank'. Among those in their twenties, inheritances and gifts appear skewed to those on higher incomes.
Chart showing proportion of 20-29-year-olds receiving an inheritance and or gift of at least £1,000 and £10,000 in the last two years, by net income quintile: GB 2018-20.

In both cases, inheritances and gifts are skewed towards those on higher incomes.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 19/06/2026
Comparisons between warfare & welfare can be dodgy, partly because it’s arbitrary to consider these segments of spending in isolation. So we decided to make our own – crucially focused on a range of social spending (health, pensions, etc), not just working-age benefits. 👉 buff.ly/lToWuRk
chart showing change in military expenditure versus change in public social expenditure
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 18/06/2026
Did you know @ruthcurtice.bsky.social sends a weekly newsletter, sharing a roundup of interesting recent political and economic research, and our regular Chart of the Week (find a sneak peek of a recent example below). Sign up here to recieve tomorrow's edition ⤵️ buff.ly/1QaRG7Q
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 16/06/2026
📢 1 week to apply! We are looking for a motivated and experienced individual to join the Resolution Ventures team. Play a key role in the social investment activities of the Foundation and the management of the WorkerTech Fund. Apply before 8.59am 23rd June👉 buff.ly/J6cXCOK
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 16/06/2026
"When we make things easier for users, we sometimes make it harder for workers". Check out Louise Marston's @louisemarston.bsky.social reflections on the impact of AI and automation on work after reading Sarah O'Connor's new book 'We Are Not Machines' ⤵️
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We Are Not Machines
Louise Marston reflects on Sarah O'Connor's new book on the impact of automation and AI on work - and how it speaks to the workplace challenges that the WorkerTech Fund is trying to address
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 14/06/2026
📢 New opportunity alert We are looking for a motivated and experienced individual to join the Resolution Ventures team. Play a key role in the social investment activities of the Foundation and the management of the WorkerTech Fund. Details here 👉 buff.ly/J6cXCOK
Graphic promoting new job vacancy: 
We're hiring 

Senior or Principal Investment Manager

Play a key role in  the management of the WorkerTech Fund
Apply by 08.59am on 23rd June
£56,990- £82,900
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Reposted by Louise Marston
JamesSmithRF @jamessmithrf.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
The debate on UK defence spending has jumped to a tradeoff between welfare and defending the country. That is odd, unhelpful and - in some cases - just plain inaccurate as Ruth Curtice explains here: substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Defence versus welfare – the trade-off is being misrepresented
Ruth Curtice takes a closer look at the 'defence versus welfare spending' debate, and explains why it's important we have a clear picture of how we spent the peace dividend while it was around.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Ufi VocTech Trust @ufitrust.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Designed to help organisations use technology to improve skills for work, our new 10-week VocTech Together Support Programme offers expert input, mentoring, peer learning, and up to £10K of grant funding to support participation Learn more now: bit.ly/4glvvSX Applications open 6 July 2026
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 09/06/2026
The sharp rise in youth inactivity since the pandemic corresponds very closely to the deterioration in young people’s health since 2019. In 2019, 14 per cent of 18-24-year-olds said they had a long-term health condition which limits their activity; by 2025 this had risen to 21 per cent.
Figure 7 shows three key results. First, there has been a long-run fall in inactivity due to looking after family (mainly 
coming from young women). Second, there has been a slight increase in inactivity for ‘other’ reasons (which, as discussed above, mainly consists of people who have not started looking for work yet, and people who simply do not give a reason). Third, and most 
strikingly, the share of 18-24-year-olds who are inactive due to ill health or disability has been rising since at least 2012, but has increased far more sharply since 2019, from 2.8 
per cent to 4.2 per cent in 2025.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 06/06/2026
📢 New opportunity alert We are looking for a motivated and experienced individual to join the Resolution Ventures team. Play a key role in the social investment activities of the Foundation and the management of the WorkerTech Fund. Details here 👉 buff.ly/J6cXCOK
Graphic promoting new job vacancy: 
We're hiring 

Senior or Principal Investment Manager

Play a key role in  the management of the WorkerTech Fund
Apply by 08.59am on 23rd June
£56,990- £82,900
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 04/06/2026
🚨 Starting soon: Will new technologies make or break our jobs? @ruthcurtice.bsky.social will be joined by @sarahoconnorft.ft.com and Cosmina Dorobantu to discuss Sarah's new book We Are Not Machines. Livestream here:
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Will new technologies make or break our jobs? • Resolution Foundation
In a groundbreaking new book, prize-winning Financial Times journalist Sarah O’Connor sets out to investigate what is happening on the front lines of technological change. The Resolution Foundation…
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Louise Marston @louisemarston.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
We’re hosting @sarahoconnorft.ft.com at @resolutionfoundation.org this evening, discussing her brilliant new book ‘We Are Not Machines’. Watch now online or catchup via our podcast feed later.
Three women sit on a stage against a background with the Resolution Foundation logo.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 04/06/2026
Why are the 13 million lower-income families across the country – a group we call ‘Unsung Britain’ – so frustrated? Because they are working more than ever, and yet their living standards have stagnated over the past two decades. @ruthcurtice.bsky.social on The Policy Fix podcast ➡️ buff.ly/Wl3riSt
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 04/06/2026
Only a third of workers in cleaning, hospitality and warehousing would speak up if they were unhappy with their pay. A similar fraction would do nothing or are unsure what they would do, suggesting there is significant disengagement with pay-setting processes among workers.
Chart showing proportion of respondents employed in the cleaning, hospitality and warehousing sectors reporting the main action they would take if they felt their pay was unfair, by selected characteristics: UK, March 2026
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Louise Marston @louisemarston.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Why does the future *always* look like naked lady robots?
A poster on the tube for London Tech Week with a humanoid robot
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Soumaya Keynes @soumayakeynes.ft.com · 02/06/2026
I married the right man. Also come to the @resolutionfoundation.org later to hear about trade wars! Register here to watch in person or online at 530pm: www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/how-t...
resolutionfoundation.org
How to win a trade war • Resolution Foundation
Register to attend in person or to receive an access link for online viewers. Trade wars are becoming a feature of the modern global economy and are being tied to actual wars too. Britain has played i...
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Louise Marston @louisemarston.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Starting soon: join online for a discussion of what the Government should do to reset its economic priorities: www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/secon...
resolutionfoundation.org
Second half comeback? • Resolution Foundation
The Labour Government has had a bruising start to the Parliament. It is trailing badly in the polls and is expecting a battering in the local, Welsh and Scottish elections in early May. Another relaun...
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 14/05/2026
📢 New Resolution Foundation analysis published today 📢 Living standards for lower-income households were especially hard hit in the last few years. Read 'See it. Say it. Sort it.' here, to learn how to reset Britain’s economic policy ⤵️ buff.ly/EIq0o5n
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 07/05/2026
🚨 📢 Did you know we're on Substack? We’ll be sharing further insights into our publications and reflections on the latest data releases and policy developments. Check out our recent posts on the UK's demographic squeeze, puzzlingly good economic data and much more ⬇️
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The Resolution Foundation's Substack | Substack
Staff from the Resolution Foundation will be sharing further insights into our publications, latest data insights and policy developments on this Substack. Click to read The Resolution Foundation's…
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Reposted by Louise Marston
JamesSmithRF @jamessmithrf.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Bank of England follows the Fed and holds its policy rate at 3.75% given uncertainty from the conflict in the Middle East. BoE hints it will be patient on raising rates but the bigger issue is its assessment of the impact of the war. Thread on all that to follow...
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Reposted by Louise Marston
PBE @pbe.co.uk · 22/04/2026
Have you applied for your charity, CIC or social enterprise yet?
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 22/04/2026
📢 Published today! 👇 Further deterioration in Middle East conflict could deal a £16 billion hit to the public finances. Learn more ➡️ buff.ly/WXxsYdS
Simon Pittaway, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: 
“No-one knows which direction the current conflict in the Middle East will take, but we do know that it will make us all poorer. The cost of filling up the car has already increased, and from July, so too will energy bills.
“The conflict is going to make the state poorer too. A deterioration in the conflict that sustains some of the worst hits to the economy could deal a £16 billion hit to the public finances.
“The Chancellor deserves credit for building up enough of a buffer in last year’s Budget to withstand a hit of this scale. And by keeping any support with energy bills targeted and temporary, she should be able to weather this latest economic shock with her fiscal rules intact.”
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Louise Marston @louisemarston.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Lots to discuss in this morning's @resolutionfoundation.org event on the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, with new inflation data also out today, alongside a new piece of Resolution Foundation research - watch live from 9:30am
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 21/04/2026
A targeted energy discount for low-income families is the best way to deliver energy support this winter. We modelled several alternatives, but none were as effective at targeting low-income households facing high energy bills (in green).
Chart showing cash benefit of policy option by after housing costs income decile and energy use: 2025-26, UK/ GB/ England

The lines show the mean cash value of each policy option in each income decile and the shaded areas show how cash benefit varies between those in the top and bottom quintile of energy use (measured by total bills) within each income decile.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 03/03/2026
The Chancellor has stated that her headroom has grown.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Ruth Curtice @ruthcurtice.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Speech had surprisingly little on global context. Truth is Iran has the potential to put government cost of living plans completely off track. UK exposed to disruption to LNG supplies from Qatar. Impact of gas price moves so far if sustained would be over £500 increase in energy price cap in July.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Ruth Curtice @ruthcurtice.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Chancellor appears to promise further action on youth unemployment. Good. Why not crack on and announce it today?
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Reposted by Louise Marston
JamesSmithRF @jamessmithrf.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Follow the Spring Forecast live with Ruth Curtice:
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 18/02/2026
🚨Event tomorrow🚨 The Autumn Budget was barely three months ago, but the UK has experienced plenty of economic and political drama since. Join us to discuss the outlook for both the UK and global economy, and what this might mean for the upcoming Spring Forecast. Register➡️ buff.ly/oWC8ode
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Louise Marston @louisemarston.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
The conference livestream is back at 11:20am, discussing the value of paid and unpaid work, and with a keynote speech from Andy Burnham - tune in here: www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/unsun...
resolutionfoundation.org
Unsung Britain Final Conference • Resolution Foundation
The 13 million working-age families across the poorest half of the country, who at various times have been dubbed the ‘squeezed middle’, ‘just about managing families’ and ‘alarm clock Britain’ are wi...
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 10/02/2026
NEW analysis 📢 Britain's poorer half is working harder and getting less in return. Our new book reveals the people of Unsung Britain are more likely to be in work, caring for a loved one, or sick themselves but their incomes – and opportunities – remain stagnant 🧵⤵️ buff.ly/7WcqrbQ
I’ve noticed a difference between when the 14-year-old was very little to
when my 10-year-old was very little. Within four years, you could 
feel the slide.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Louise Murphy @louisemurphy.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Families across Britain have experienced two decades of poor income growth, and the outlook for the rest of the 2020s isn't much better. In fact, the OBR's projection for income growth for the rest of this decade is worse than any of its previous ones...
Chart showing: Annual change in Real Household Disposable Income per household in various OBR forecasts
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Louise Marston @louisemarston.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Today, take a look at the bigger picture - tune in from 9am online to the @resolutionfoundation.org Unsung Britain conference, highlighting the experiences of the poorer half of Britain in the last few decades, with brilliant speakers & policy experts: www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/unsun...
resolutionfoundation.org
Unsung Britain Final Conference • Resolution Foundation
The 13 million working-age families across the poorest half of the country, who at various times have been dubbed the ‘squeezed middle’, ‘just about managing families’ and ‘alarm clock Britain’ are wi...
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Simon Pittaway @simonpittaway.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Look, I know there's a lot going on in the news right now. But the MPC decision today was actually quite interesting! They were only one vote away from delivering a cut that wasn't on the cards at all, and they now think inflation will not just drop sharply this year but stay low. Thread below ⤵️
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 04/02/2026
Join us next week for a major conference launching our new book on lower income families in Britain and the challenges they face today. As well as panel discussions on work and the cost of living, we will have keynote speeches from Andy Burnham and Ken Murphy. Register now➡️ buff.ly/2tG8LsY
Flyer for Unsung Britain Final Conference: A portrait of the country's poorer half

Tuesday 10 February 2026
9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Central Hall WestminsterFlyer for Unsung Britain Final Conference: A portrait of the country's poorer half

Tuesday 10 February 2026
9:00 am - 1:30 pm

We will hear keynote speeches from the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Chief Executive of Tesco Ken Murphy.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 27/01/2026
Recent analysis of the economic impact of Brexit is clear cut ➡️ it was bad. The author breaks it down ⤵️
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 12/01/2026
🚨Major conference🚨 We're publishing a new book – combining analysis and policy work with in-depth conversations to understand the needs of lower income families – and hosting a major conference to discuss, with keynote speeches from Andy Burnham and Ken Murphy. Register now➡️ buff.ly/2tG8LsY
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 08/01/2026
Keir Starmer claims that living standards will be turning a corner this year. We discussed the likelihood of that here ⤵️ buff.ly/VorS4Kw
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 03/12/2025
In the Budget last week, the Chancellor announced she would freeze personal tax thresholds for three more years. What does this 'stealth tax' mean for workers?⤵️
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 26/11/2025
The scrapping of the two-child limit is a much-needed change to turn the tide on child poverty. It is also the most cost-effective way of lifting children out of poverty.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 26/11/2025
Are tax rises the result of 'out-of-control' welfare spending? We've dug into the numbers to examine whether the scale of welfare spending has shifted, and how feasible it would be to cut it back significantly 👇
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Alex Clegg @alexclegg.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Not well understood that 6 in 10 families impacted by the two-child limit are in work, and that the vast majority have 3 or 4 children.
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Reposted by Louise Marston
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 19/11/2025
Here's everything you need to know about this morning's inflation data 🧵⤵️
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