Westminster Watch

Budget 2015 – What now? (see Update as well)

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Westminster Watch Posted: March 18, 2015

Most of the commentary around the last Budget of this Parliament will, predictably, focus on the contents of George Osborne’s little red briefcase. Few will focus on what might happen afterwards – the Parliamentary procedure for implementing Budgets. That’s because these are usually pretty uncontroversial – Budget announcements usually get ‘rubber stamped’ through Parliament with […]

Why do politicians sometimes ignore scientific advice?

By Martin Stanley Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch, Whitehall Watch Posted: March 9, 2015

Respected scientist Sir Paul Nurse recently expressed his distress that politicians sometimes “ignore” scientific evidence. Here is a slightly different take on the issue from the perspective of a recent senior civil servant. At one level, of course, I agree with Sir Paul. I can’t prove it but I suspect that many if not most […]

Engaging with the electorate

By Kingsley Purdam and Rosalynd Southern Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: March 4, 2015

Politicians seeking election this May need to communicate effectively with potential voters. Rosalynd Southern and Kingsley Purdam explain that – judging by the last General Election – many of them could do better. Good communication skills and an ability to connect with the electorate are key attributes for MPs. But in the UK MPs undertake […]

Why food insecurity and food banks have become commonplace

By Kingsley Purdam, Elisabeth Garratt and Aneez Esmail Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: February 12, 2015

A recently published All Party Parliamentary report warns that food insecurity in the UK is here to stay until effective action is taken. Dr Kingsley Purdam, Elisabeth Garratt and Professor Aneez Esmail explain why. More than half a million people in the UK are reliant on food aid, according to Church Action on Poverty. This is […]

The coalition’s record on schools

By Ruth Lupton Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: February 10, 2015

Last week’s topic in the pre-election debate was schools. The Conservative party announced that it would protect spending on schools in cash terms, but not keep pace with inflation. It would also convert more schools to Academies, including those adjudged ‘requiring improvement’ by Ofsted. Labour retaliated by accusing the Coalition of failing to tackle educational […]

Changing the ties that bind

By Julia Segar Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: February 9, 2015

Clinical Commissioning Groups were introduced by the 2012 Health and Social Care Act. The role of GPs within the NHS and their relationships with NHS managers are changing as a result, explains Julia Segar. The NHS is dealing with severe challenges at present, with A&E in crisis and bed blocking preventing the release of some […]

Should We Welcome “Three-Parent Babies”?

By Iain Brassington Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Technology, Westminster Watch Posted: February 3, 2015

The House of Commons voted for a small but significant change in the law when it expressed its approval for the legalisation of mitochondrial transfer. Iain Brassington, Senior Lecturer, in the School of Law at The University of Manchester explores the issues the debate hinged on and whether the right decision was made. Mitochondrial illnesses arise […]

All this talk about balancing the budget is …

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Westminster Watch, Whitehall Watch Posted: December 12, 2014

Remember the Maastricht criteria? No, I didn’t think so. Nor apparently do Britain’s political leaders, based on their manifestos for tackling the UK’s deficit. The Maastricht Criteria were the convergence criteria for European countries that wanted to join the Euro. Agreed in 1992 (including by John Major’s Conservative government) it covered inflation, deficits, debt, exchange […]

Police and Crime Commissioners – Lessons for devolution?

By Francesca Gains and Vivien Lowndes Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: December 2, 2014

As Chancellor George Osborne finalises arrangements for devolved funding in the run-up to the Autumn Statement, Francesca Gains and Vivien Lowndes ask what can be learnt from the experience of Police and Crime Commissioners in their first two years. Two years ago, 41 directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners for England and Wales took office, […]

DevoManc is positive for all Northern cities

By Ed Cox Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: November 4, 2014

Should the Government’s new devolution settlement for Greater Manchester be welcomed? Ed Cox – who is set to speak in Manchester this Thursday about the regions – offers a clear ‘Yes’ vote. There can be little doubt that the agreement reached between the Chancellor and the leaders of the 10 local authorities that make up […]

Budget 2015 – What now? (see Update as well)

Why do politicians sometimes ignore scientific advice?

Engaging with the electorate

The coalition’s record on schools

Should We Welcome “Three-Parent Babies”?

All this talk about balancing the budget is …

Police and Crime Commissioners – Lessons for devolution?

DevoManc is positive for all Northern cities

Become a contributor

Disclaimer

Policy@Manchester

Contact Us