Dave Richards

The UK productivity-governance puzzle

By Dave Richards, Patrick Diamond and Anna Sanders Filed Under: British Politics, Devo, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth, Levelling up, OnProductivity Posted: December 2, 2022

The productivity issue in the UK is often framed as an issue driven by economic outcomes. This idea neglects some of the more complex structures that exist and contribute to the economic gaps in the UK. Professor Dave Richards, Professor Patrick Diamond and Dr Anna Sanders outline how government policy in the UK is too […]

Beyond the 2017 General Election: A Manifesto’s Guide to Old and New Politics

By Dave Richards and Patrick Diamond Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics Posted: May 30, 2017

Dave Richards, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Manchester and Patrick Diamond University Lecturer in Public Policy at Queen Mary, University of London examine the Conservative and Labour Parties manifestos, both past and present, as a framework to further understanding the new politics. Calls for a new politics are often in response to […]

Brexit and the Meaning of ‘Taking Back Control’: Great State Expectations?

By Dave Richards, Kingsley Purdam, Liz Richardson and Oliver James Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics Posted: March 27, 2017

As part of their ongoing research into Brexit, governance and populism at the Universities of Manchester and Exeter, Professor Dave Richards, Professor Oliver James, Dr. Kinglsey Purdam and Dr. Liz Richardson offer their reflections on the systemic challenges facing the UK as our government prepares to make Brexit official. Despite its ubiquity, exactly what ‘take back […]

The Treasury in the 21st century: still one of the great offices of state or a hollowed-out, echo chamber?

By Dave Richards Filed Under: British Politics Posted: March 7, 2017

In light of Lord Kerslake’s independent review, ‘Rethinking the Treasury’, and with the looming Spring Budget one day away, Professor Dave Richards considers where next for the Treasury. The review advocates a return to the Treasury’s core functions of controlling and co-ordinating public finance and overseeing the macro-economy Now is the time to break from […]

Grand Brexit Strategies – Can Whitehall Cope? A Potted-History of [Not] Joining Government Up

By Dave Richards and Martin Smith Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics Posted: December 6, 2016

Brexit is a political challenge on an unprecedented scale. The process of exiting the European Union impacts every government department, and requires a level of co-ordination that UK governments have rarely managed to achieve. Here, the University of Manchester’s Dave Richards and the University of York’s Martin Smith survey the size of the challenge facing […]

So, Where Are We Now? Old, New and Anti-Politics in Britain Today

By Dave Richards Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics Posted: November 21, 2016

2016 has been a political rollercoaster. Both the Brexit result and the Trump victory are leading many to question what is happening in our politics and where we go from here. The University of Manchester’s Professor Dave Richards has tracked the rise of the populist ‘anti-politics’ sentiment that has delivered two unprecedented political upsets, and calls […]

Targets? More targets! Even less change and more continuity in the performance regime in Whitehall

By Dave Richards, Colin Talbot and Ewan Munro Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: August 24, 2015

Dave Richards, Colin Talbot and Ewan Munro explore target setting in Government. “Everyone has to think of their responsibilities with regard to the dreadful events that happened at the Staffordshire hospital, including the fact that part of the problem was people following a very top-down, target-led agenda which led to patient care being put on […]

One night in May [Part 2] – The strange resurrection of the British political tradition?

By Dave Richards and Martin Smith Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: May 26, 2015

Professor Dave Richards and Professor Martin Smith analyse what the general election result means for the British political system. The 2015 general election was supposed to produce one type of policy earthquake, but may have produced another. The assumption by nearly everyone until 10.01 pm on May 7 was that we would see the further […]

One Night in May [Part 1] – Whatever Happened to the Strange Death of Tory England?

By Dave Richards and Martin Smith Filed Under: All posts Posted: May 22, 2015

In 2005, the political journalist Geoffrey Wheatcroft wrote a critique of the Conservative Party, The Strange Death of Tory England. Here Dave Richards and Martin Smith explore this failed prophesy and examine the implications of GE2015 on the main parties. When Wheatcroft wrote his book the Conservative Party was yet to come to terms with […]

Against Ad Hocery: UK Devolution and the Need for Consultation, Consensus and Consideration

By Martin Smith and Dave Richards Filed Under: Devo, Featured Posted: April 16, 2015

Last month the Political and Constitutional Reforms Committee published a report on the future of devolution, in the wake of the Scottish Referendum. Here Dave Richards and Martin Smith pick the report apart and look at the implications for devolution in the UK. The newly published report on the Future of Devolution after the Scottish […]