The BBC’s Evan Davis says Britain needs a second ‘super city’ – and this could be Hebden Bridge. Dr Iain Deas, Prof Graham Haughton and Dr Stephen Hincks are sceptical. In his BBC series Mind the Gap: London v the Rest, Evan Davis argued that the UK’s economy is held back because London is our [...]

While many lesbians and gay men welcome the option of a same sex marriage, Prof Brian Heaphy warns this should not mean marginalising other non-traditional relationships. Same sex marriage has been introduced while many are still celebrating the tenth anniversary of Civil Partnership. There had been surprise that a Conservative-led government oversaw the legalisation of [...]

London’s dominant economic role is not an accident of history but rather the result of policy and subsidy, explain Dr Iain Deas, Prof Graham Haughton and Dr Stephen Hincks. BBC presenter Evan Davis argues that government should do more to help large and successful cities prosper. In his recent series, Mind the Gap: London v the Rest - and [...]

Japan has announced it is spending millions of pounds on state-sponsored dating events to boost its slumping birth rate. But as Dr Aya Homei argues, this overly simplistic approach is a diversion from the consequences of a fiercely male work culture that makes little allowance for women and their childcare needs. The Telegraph recently reported on [...]

Tony Benn found that without the help of officials, having radical ideas as a minister didn’t get him very far. On the day the veteran MP is laid to rest, Dave Richards and Martin Smith reflect on their interviews with Benn, his Cabinet colleagues and officials. Obituaries of Tony Benn considered his roles as campaigner, [...]

As the crisis following the Russian annexation of Crimea continues to develop rapidly and unpredictably, a series of economic sanctions against key Russian individuals have been put in place, with the possibility of more to come. But, writes Dr Eleanor Bindman, the annexation of Crimea now appears to be irreversible, and this must be accepted [...]

Many women leave the labour market or cut their working hours after having children because childcare facilities are either unavailable, too expensive or simply inadequate, say Professor Colette Fagan and Dr Helen Norman. Read Dr Norman’s full policy briefing ‘UK Childcare in the European Context’ Childcare is now at the forefront of the political debate. [...]

This year’s Budget is further evidence of politicians’ unwillingness to address an ‘inactivity time bomb’ that in time will undermine our economy, explains Dr Daniel Fitzpatrick. Lower unemployment and improved growth forecasts made this year’s Budget a much happier one for George Osborne. He was helped by the surprising news that most people in the [...]