With the first UCAS deadline of the academic year looming, thousands of University hopefuls are putting the finishing touches to their personal statements. But growing evidence points towards the current process favouring some applicants more than others – and it may be time for a radical overhaul, according to Dr Steve Jones. “The UCAS personal […]
A ‘National’ Health Service? It would be a good idea
The NHS is seen as a fundamentally British institution and even a symbol of national identity. But, writes Dr Julian Simpson, it might make more sense to call it an ‘International’ Health Service. And while ‘health tourism’ and migrant doctors’ language skills make headlines, the real issue is whether it should remain dependent on an […]
Females to the fore in reshuffle – but women’s policy input may remain limited
As expected, David Cameron has boosted the number of women in his Government. But this strategy is problematic, argue Professors Claire Annesley and Francesca Gains, and may not address the lack of women’s policy input in decision making. Earlier this spring Andy Coulson, David Cameron’s former spin doctor, suggested that ‘Sam Cam’ was the Conservatives’ ‘secret […]
Zero-hour contracts: the dark side of flexible labour markets
Whether it be young people selling sports shoes, or carers looking after the elderly, workers in the UK are increasingly being forced into zero-hour contract, writes Prof Jill Rubery. But this hasn’t happened by accident: it is a product of many years of moving towards a ‘flexible’ labour market, one that in practice means more […]
Avoiding catastrophe: the role of the state in the water-food-energy nexus
The recurring themes of water, food and energy in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals suggest the policy-making community is waking up to the deep inter-dependencies between these three essential resources. The role of central governments in translating such a ‘nexus thinking’ into meaningful action, in order to avoid a potential catastrophe, will be critical, writes […]
Small area data: something worth saving?
Small area data has lots of potential uses, writes Dr Nissa Finney; by healthcare or education providers to tailor their services, by the local authority in forecasting, or for academic research. But under money-saving proposals currently being considered, the Census as we know it – and the subsequent availability of these data – may disappear. […]
Learning to live with the Frankenstein’s Monster that is modern nursing
Today’s nurses have been accused of being “too posh to wash” and lacking compassion, writes Stuart Butler. But unless policymakers are willing to free up their time through further recruitment, or abandon their obsession with targets, they should learn to live with the professionalized work-force that is entirely of their own making. Rather uniquely […]
The OBR and Scrutinising Public Money and Policies: Why We Need a Parliamentary Budget Office
Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, has declared he’d like the Office of Budget Responsibility to assess Labour’s tax and spend policies before the next election. Robert Chote, the head of the OBR, and Andrew Tyrie, the Conservative chair of the Treasury select committee, have both said they think this could be a good thing. Others […]
Welcome to Manchester Policy Blogs (and the biggest Think Tank in Britain)
Thinks-tanks get a massive amount of (sometimes ill-deserved) attention, but they are small, usually ideologically biased and carry out only very limited research. We are big, neutral and carry out massive amounts of research – which doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. That is partly our fault, for not communicating our research well enough […]
Who Killed the Bees? Pesticides, risk and the politics of knowledge
The UK government was one of a minority of states that voted against the EU ban on insecticides said to be responsible for desecrating the honeybee population. Its rejection of a precautionary approach to this issue suggests that deep public anxiety about risks associated with technological and scientific ‘progress’ is justified, writes Dr Richie Nimmo. In […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- …
- 166
- Next Page »