Soft landing for Gordon? - The chancellor is Putting himself about more and more as he prepares for his future role as Tony Blair's successor as PM. But there's still a Budget to consider

Now it's time to deliver - New Labour must put behind it the recent resignations and infighting. But what it faces in 1999 - an economic slowdown and rebellious backbenchers - could be even worse

Riddell, Peter, (1999)

Long march to the welfare state - Two hundred years ago, William Pitt the Younger introduced income tax as a temporary measure to help fund the Napoleonic Wars. Now, it is one of the main sources of funding for the welfare state, as well as a potent political football which both Labour and Conservatives use to stake their claim as 'low-tax' parties

Riddell, Peter, (1998)

Shrinking the state must wait - The figure of 40% has taken on a mystical significance in the squeeze on the proportion of national wealth spent by the state. Yet the figure is arbitrary and, without a will to rein back 'big government', Labour will have a hard job maintaining this relative share of public spending

Riddell, Peter, (1998)