Policy@Manchester Articles

Avoiding catastrophe: the role of the state in the water-food-energy nexus

By Danny Fitzpatrick Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: October 2, 2013

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?

By Nissa Finney Filed Under: Featured Posted: September 30, 2013

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

By Stuart Butler Filed Under: All posts Posted: September 25, 2013

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

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: September 23, 2013

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)

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts Posted: September 23, 2013

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

By Richie Nimmo Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: September 23, 2013

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 […]

Welcome to the new “Whitehall Watch” – the same as the old Whitehall Watch, only different.

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: September 23, 2013

Different because we have a new home, and a new family. Whitehall Watch is now part of “Manchester Policy Blogs” – one of several streams of analysis and comment from academics at the University of Manchester and from many other places too. Different too because Whitehall Watch itself will gradually be changing into a “multi-author” […]

A welcome message from the Science and Technology editors

By Danny Fitzpatrick and Andrew Balmer Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: September 23, 2013

Knowledge of science and technology permeates every social space, and is central to the ways we govern ourselves today. This blog focuses on what the current debates in science, technology and environmental science mean for policy and vice-versa. It aims to be a truly interdisciplinary platform seeking to bring together a range of diverse voices […]

The Political Power of the Business Corporation

By Carole Talbot Filed Under: All posts Posted: September 23, 2013

The Political Power of the Business Corporation, Stephen Wilks. Edward Elgar. March 2013. In The Political Power of the Business Corporation, the author argues that making corporations accountable is one of the most fundamental problems facing 21st century society along with terrorism, nuclear war and epidemics. It provides both an up-to-date analysis of how big […]

Government defeats over public money in Parliament (crowd sourcing examples)

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: September 13, 2013

This is an appeal for a bit of research help from Whitehall Watch’s highly knowledgeable readership….. There is a widespread belief – often repeated in serious academic texts – that any defeat on ‘budget’ or ‘money’ motions in the House of Commons is tantamount to a vote of no confidence. I’m grateful to Prof Philip […]