Philip Green, the offshore tax dodger whom the coalition government appointed to look into government waste has reported to his political masters there is a "staggering" waste of tax payers money in the current system. (You have to admire the cheek of this man) Although it does seem a tad hypocritical of Phil, renown for dodging his own tax responsibilities by placing his companies off shore ...

Philip Green's business background is writ plain across his review of government waste – right down to its PowerPoint style layout. Many of its recommendations reduce down to a claim made on p.20: "There is no reason why the thinking in the public sector needs to be different from the private sector." And so we read a suggestion that departments halve the number of hotel visit...

A review into government spending by Topshop owner Sir Philip Green says no business could survive the level of waste he has found.

Yesterday Communities Secretary Eric Pickles trumpeted his department’s publication of all supply contracts above £500 as proof of the government’s new transparency. Rightly so. Given the absence of any clarity though, the press settled for reporting the blatantly flagged expenditure of £1,600 on massages for staff and £539 on an away day at Blackpool pleasure beach. ...

David Cameron and George Osborne have regularly referred to a 'massage room' and a 'contemplation suite' as examples of government waste. The truth, hidden because government departments can't defend themselves during an election because of purdah rules, it quite different. The Contemplation Room, in particular is used by muslim staff to pray. A prayer room, standard pract...

Using spending cuts to finance lower taxation – without identifying the areas of government waste that will make the cuts pain-free – does nothing to cut the deficit, writes economics editor Chris Giles

Last week, the Tories strengthened their tax-cutting credentials with a smart policy on national insurance.  I'm sure you didn't miss it.  But one part of the recent Tory resurgence is, to my mind, being underplayed: they now have a much stronger message on government waste.  After all, the NI policy is being funded by cutting waste.  And then there was that spoof web...

Dozens of business leaders have endorsed the Conservative proposal to reverse part of Labour's planned National Insurance rise by cutting government waste.

They've been deceived. They're bought a quack remedy from a quack doctor. Thus the business secretary dismissed the letter from 23 leading businessmen backing the Tories' proposal to cut government waste and block part of the rise in National Insurance. The ever-more-cautious chancellor was careful to insist that he had no criticism of them and, indeed, wanted to praise their contri...

Most press releases don't really catch the eye.  But when one hits your inbox from The Department of Government Waste, you can't help but take notice.  In it, the Secretary of State for Government Waste, Robin Ewe (geddit?), celebrates 13 years of "waste-maximisation," and there are links to a departmental website, complete with reports and videos. No surprises that i...