Manchester Policy Blogs

Immigration in its place: how policy needs to recognise geography

By Ken Clark Filed Under: Ethnicity, Growth and Inclusion Posted: November 14, 2018

Ken Clark, Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, examines the Migration Advisory Committee’s recent report and discusses the need for place-based migration policy. The Migration Advisory Committee has persistently rejected calls for regional variation in the framework that regulates migration in the UK. It is clear that patterns of migration, and thus its […]

Humanity in the spotlight: the investor’s responsibility

By Lara Bianchi Filed Under: Growth and Inclusion Posted: November 8, 2018

As The University of Manchester prepares to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Dr Lara Bianchi from the Business and Human Rights Catalyst at the Alliance Manchester Business School discusses the responsibility investors have in ensuring human rights are part of a company’s strategy. 82% of all of the growth […]

What happens to those who ‘miss the mark’ in GCSE English and maths?

By Ruth Lupton, Sanne Velthuis, Stephanie Thomson and Lorna Unwin Filed Under: Education, Growth and Inclusion Posted: November 6, 2018

As part of the publication of a new working paper on the characteristics and post-16 transitions of GCSE ‘lower attainers,’ Ruth Lupton, Sanne Velthuis, Stephanie Thomson and Lorna Unwin reflect on the progress made by those with lower GCSE attainment during the 16-18 phase, and highlight the need for appropriate, high-quality post-16 provision for all […]

Stop describing modern slavery as ‘evil’

By David Gadd and Rose Broad Filed Under: British Politics, Growth and Inclusion Posted: November 5, 2018

David Gadd is Professor of Criminology and Rose Broad is Senior Lecturer in Criminology both at the University of Manchester. They are working together on the ESRC funded Perpetrators of Modern Slavery Offences Project. This blog highlights how: modern slavery and immigration law have become intertwined; referring to modern slavery as ‘evil’ idealises victims in […]

Openness and contact in egg and sperm donation: Can we think beyond the current policy model?

By Petra Nordqvist and Leah Gilman Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Health and Social Care Posted: October 24, 2018

Dr Leah Gilman, Research Associate, and Dr Petra Nordqvist, Senior Lecturer, work in Sociology at The University of Manchester and are members of the Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives. In this blog, they explore the oversights of current donor conception policy. Within the current policy, donors give their consent for any children born […]

Commissioning for quality in community pharmacy: towards a better understanding of private sector providers of healthcare

By Sally Jacobs and Ellen Schafheutle Filed Under: All posts, Health and Social Care Posted: October 23, 2018

As a scheme has recently been implemented to incentivise quality in community pharmacy, Sally Jacobs and Ellen Schafheutle discuss the need for further research to inform the development of quality indicators. The role of the private sector in the NHS has expanded over the last 30 years to increase services and reduce costs. This has […]

Is the Immigration Act 2016 a racist policy against BME citizens in the housing market?

By William Shankley Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Ethnicity, Growth and Inclusion Posted: October 22, 2018

Dr William Shankley, a research associate at the Centre of Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE), examines the impacts of the Immigration Act 2016 on black and minority ethnic (BME) citizens within the housing market and asks if it is a measure to further the government’s hostile environment. There is a long history of BME households facing […]

Can British universities be sites for reparative justice?

By Karis Campion Filed Under: All posts, Education, Ethnicity, Growth and Inclusion Posted: October 15, 2018

This October is Black History Month, and despite some local councils’ attempts to dilute and replace it with ‘diversity’ agendas, the ongoing Windrush scandal has served as a stark reminder of some of the continued misunderstandings about Black history in Britain. Dr Karis Campion discusses the responsibility universities have in creating honest conversations on their […]

Women in environmental sciences

By Cecilia Medupin Filed Under: All posts, Education, Ethnicity, Science and Engineering Posted: October 9, 2018

Dr Cecilia Medupin is a Lecturer in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, at The University of Manchester and convener of Women in Environmental Sciences group. On Ada Lovelace day, Cecilia gives her eight-point plan for how to tackle inequality for women in environmental science. Including: It is essential to create a platform, or […]

Response to the IPCC 1.5°C Special Report

By Kevin Anderson Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering Posted: October 8, 2018

The University of Manchester’s Professor Kevin Anderson responds to today’s report from the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC report meticulously lays out how the serious climate impacts of 1.5°C of warming are still far less destructive than those for 2°C. Sadly, the IPCC then fails, again, to address the profound implications of reducing […]