Anthony Wells at UK Polling Report discusses survey data that shows “how public perceptions of the economy, crime, immigration, social issues and many other facets of social policy can have little or no resemblance to reality.”

In the wake of the Royal Statistical Society survey that found people’s perceptions differed starkly from reality, Chris Dillow of the Stumbling and Mumbling blog asks if it is possible to improve our democracy.

John Kay examines Quantitative Easing and fears that “these policies may not benefit the non-financial economy much, but they are helpful to the financial services sector and those who work in it”.

With the privatisation of Royal Mail confirmed by the government, Matthew Francis, writing on the Ballots and Bullets blog, looks at how the Tory party’s stance has changed from the days of Nicholas Ridley.

Joshua Rozenberg, writing in The Guardian, comments on the government’s disagreement with the EHRC ruling on whole-life jail sentences, arguing that compliance with the ruling requires little action.