{
  "id": 14605049,
  "title": "‘Nothing can stop it’ – The state expands like the horror film Blob",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/nothing-can-stop-it-the-state-expands-like-the-horror-film-blob",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-15T03:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/the-state-expands-like-the-horror-film-blob/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 1958 film The Blob left audiences unsettled, warning of a devouring force that could not be stopped. Half a century later, the term \"blob\" returned to prominence, this time referring to a massive expansion of the British state. The Internet Monetary Fund reported that government spending in the UK would rise by 5.2 percentage points between 2019 and 2031, with public expenditure growing from 38.1% of GDP to 43.3%. By 2025, tax revenue would be 38.2% of GDP, but it is projected to climb to 41.9% by 2031. Andy Burnham unveiled a ten-year plan that envisions an even more extensive state presence in areas such as water, housing, transport, energy, and care. Critics liken this to the horror film's metaphor, emphasizing that the state's growth is unstoppable.",
  "summary": "The 1958 classic horror film The Blob scored mixed reviews on its release, with critics lamenting the poor acting and weak dialogue. Posters for the movie warned that the alien blob “devours everything in its path” and “nothing can stop it” – which is why, half a century later, Michael Gove resurrected and popularised the [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "UK government spending to increase by 5.2 percentage points by 2031",
    "Public expenditure projected to rise from 38.1% to 43.3% of GDP",
    "Ten-year plan envisions extensive state presence in various sectors"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The projected rise in public expenditure and tax revenue signals a permanent shift toward a more expansive government presence across essential sectors like housing, energy, and transport.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}