The Budget, due on 20 March, is just around the corner now and as we approach the halfway point in the current Parliament, the government’s strategy of combining austerity with recovery is having at best mixed results.  Together with colleagues from tax and our public sector practice, I’ve posted some thoughts on KPMG’s budget website.  We’ll be updating this as the budget approaches and on the day so do check back for further analysis and reaction.

• Andrew Smith’s Economic look ahead for the Budget 

By Alan Downey, KPMG’s Head of Public Sector

The recent accouncement on civil service reform does not come a moment too soon. The civil service as we know it is based on the 1853 Northcote-Trevelyan report and it is frankly remarkable that it has lasted so long. The world was very different then, with 16,000 civil servants, compared with 434,000 now. It is hardly surprising that a settlement designed to deal with a 19th century issues is creaking under 21st century demands.

By Alan Downey, head of KPMG’s UK public sector practice

The government’s open services white paper update is very welcome, as it sends a signal that the government is committed to stepping up the pace of public sector reform. 

By Iain Hasdell, UK Head of Local and Regional Government

The UK Chancellor’s Autumn Statement continues to be fiercely debated in many quarters. Everyone, it seems, has a view on whether the Statement is or is not an effective and credible response to our macro economic circumstances.