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
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 […]
The case against Linguaphobia
In the wake of Brexit, universities have a duty to promote the benefits of linguistic diversity more than ever, says Yaron Matras. Brexit represents the triumph of insularity and isolationism – that is the view shared by most of those who promote the teaching and learning of modern languages in Britain. The anti-immigration rhetoric, which […]
Public engagement must not be a soft option
In the wake of the Brexit vote, universities must redouble their efforts to demonstrate how they are using public money to improve society and people’s lives, argues Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell. Universities must do more to encourage, support and reward public engagement. As public institutions in receipt of millions of pounds of taxpayer funds, this […]
Brexit and London’s dominance: powering up the engines of growth
Now that the shock of the Brexit vote has diminished, what next for our economy, trade and the social and regional divisions that the referendum revealed? Diane Coyle says it’s time to redress the massive imbalance between London and the rest of the country and create a multi-engine economy. Claim and counter-claim It has […]
What’s in your Brexit Burger? There’s even less chance of knowing now
What will happen to food standards and who will regulate them in Brexit Britain? Are we risking another horsemeat-posing-as-beef type scandal or worse? Sarah Devaney and Adam Leaver explain why they think leaving the EU puts the safety and authenticity of UK food products at risk. Food fraud is typically not an exceptional event carried out by […]
Brexit challenges – time for a grown-up conversation about immigration?
Before the Government enters into Brexit negotiations there needs to be an informed debate about the trade-offs involved, says Martin Walker. During the Brexit referendum, there was a heated debate about immigration. Sadly, the standard of the debate on this issue was extremely shallow, with ‘remainers’ often accused as being traitors to their country, and […]
ARM Holdings takeover deal: are we selling the crown jewels?
ARM Holdings, one of the UK’s biggest technology companies, has been taken over by a Japanese company for £24bn. The country’s new Prime Minister is citing it as a success of Brexit – but Steve Furber says it’s on a par with selling the crown jewels. Was it a coincidence that, during the week that […]
Brexit may not lessen our commitment to pollution targets
Climate change is among the challenges that lie ahead for Brexit Britain but should we automatically assume it means the momentum to reduce air pollution will be lost? James Allan doesn’t think so. One of the big questions for the environmental science community arising from Brexit is what will happen to UK environmental policy if […]
Understanding this wake-up call: EU result shows development is for the UK too
Following a period of dramatic social and political change in the UK, Diana Mitlin says we should consider the EU Referendum result as a beginning, not an ending. It is, she argues, an opportunity for political elites to better recognise the needs of disadvantaged people and to remember that development is needed here, not just […]