Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Georgina Waylen Filed Under: Featured Posted:
The creation of a post crash economics society at the University of Manchester is being hailed as a radical new development. But is it really? Professor Georgina Waylen argues that feminist economics is currently being ignored – and yet it offers us new insights and innovative solutions. Despite its plea for a broader range of […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted:
The Blunders of our Governments, Anthony King and Ivor Crewe. Oneworld Publications, September 2013. This is a must read book for anyone interested in British public affairs, writes Prof Colin Talbot. It is seminal, not so much for the insight it offers – much of what it says has been said before – but in the […]
By Alice Larkin Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
At last week’s Conference of the Parties (COP) in Warsaw, key figures met to discuss the small matter of how to combat climate change by cutting carbon emissions. Dr Alice Bows-Larkin travelled there with colleagues, using research to highlight to policy players just how much carbon emissions need to be cut if catastrophic temperature rises […]
By Francis Livens Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
The UK is to get its first new nuclear power station in a generation. Professor Francis Livens reflects on a policy shift that has seen nuclear power emerge from the wilderness to become a much-hailed clean source energy that will ‘help keep the lights on’. But, he warns, if nuclear is to be our future, […]
By Perri 6 Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted:
The British government recently announced that some people from outside Europe who make use of the National Health Service are to be charged for their care. But the public management challenges associated with calculating and collecting these fees are numerous, writes Professor Perri 6, who fears a repeat of the Child Support Agency fiasco. We’ve […]
By Rob Ford Filed Under: Featured, Polling Observatory Posted:
This blog post, by Dr Robert Ford, Dr Will Jennings and Dr Mark Pickup, is the thirtieth in a series of posts that report on the state of the parties as measured by opinion polls. From now onwards, Manchester Policy Blogs will be posting Polling Observatory updates on a regular basis, alongside the well established Ballots […]
By Yaron Matras Filed Under: Featured Posted:
History is littered with riots against ethnic minorities, triggered by finger pointing at groups and warning of riots, writes Professor Yaron Matras. In the light of public comments on the Roma community by two Sheffield MPs, he argues that what is needed is tolerance and understanding, not scapegoating or scaremongering. When David Blunkett warns of […]
By Andrew James Filed Under: Featured Posted:
The announcement that defence company BAE Systems is to cut 1,775 jobs at its naval warship yards in Portsmouth and in Scotland will come as a huge blow to those workers, their families and their local communities. But, writes Andrew James, it also prompts questions about the nature of the defence industry in the United Kingdom, […]
By Alan Morris Filed Under: All posts Posted:
Until recently, many people have considered scrutiny in Welsh local government as the ‘poor cousin’ of the local democracy, writes Alan Morris. It’s had a turbulent few years and some members of the local government community have questioned its value. However, he argues that the recognition of scrutiny’s important role seems to be about to […]
By Julia Segar Filed Under: Featured Posted:
Dr Julia Segar was one of those out in force during Manchester Policy Week to hear Durham University’s Professor David Hunter and Manchester’s own Professor Steve Harrison ponder whether optimism or pessimism should prevail in the light of recent changes to the way public health is organised. The recent healthcare reforms have seen public health […]