Neil O'Brien's Substack

Killing babies is fine now?

A shocking vote to allow the abortion of babies up to the day they are born - and what comes next

Mar 19 • Neil O'Brien

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Too little too late on youth unemployment

The government is worried - but is doing too little to offset the damage they've done

Mar 15 • Neil O'Brien

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What a performance!

How can we make the civil service better?

Mar 9 • Neil O'Brien

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How to lie with statistics, by Rachel Reeves

A silly stat from the Chancellor points to things she doesn't want to say

Mar 7 • Neil O'Brien

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February 2026

The SEND white paper: asking MPs to sign a blank cheque

The government sets out plans to save money... but only in the next Parliament.

Feb 23 • Neil O'Brien

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The welfare atlas of Britain

Visualising opportunity costs - and what access to jobs can (and can't) explain

Feb 18

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Welfare reform and the Household Benefit Cap

We need to restart welfare reform

Feb 18 • Neil O'Brien

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January 2026

Why is welfare spending rising even faster than expected?

It's not just Starmer's direct choices - wider forces are increasing the bill

Jan 18 • Neil O'Brien

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Too long a winter (1973)

Here’s something to watch during the cold snap - an incredible short film.

Jan 11 • Neil O'Brien

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December 2025

Local government funding: how the government is trashing incentives

Yesterday the government published the final funding allocations for local authorities following its overhaul of local government finance. The result…

Dec 18, 2025 • Neil O'Brien

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Another bad day for Nick, 30

Budget delivered another walloping to the long-suffering hero of the social contract meme.

Dec 4, 2025 • Neil O'Brien

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The driving test crisis has got even worse

New data shows DFT haven't got a grip, and young people are suffering

Dec 3, 2025 • Neil O'Brien

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