Policy@Manchester Articles

Evangelising from 32,000 feet: why call for more greens to fly is wrong

By Kevin Anderson Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: December 11, 2013

In November 2013, Brendan May wrote a piece for the Guardian’s Environment Blog on ‘Why more environmentalists should fly’. In this article, Professor Kevin Anderson, Dr Dan Calverley and Maria Sharmina respond, strongly arguing the case against having more jet-setting greens. It was with growing dismay that we read Brendan May’s blog post, in which […]

Power, money, but little accountability; the rise of the New Corporate State

By Stephen Wilks Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: December 9, 2013

Contracting out has become the ‘new normal’, writes Professor Stephen Wilks, with around half of all UK government spending now ending up in the pockets of private sector companies. But while public servants must operate within a robust constitutional framework, the same safeguards do not apply to the Public Services Industry. Which is the largest […]

Never Letting a Good Crisis Go to Waste: George Osborne’s plans to permanently ‘roll back the state’.

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: December 5, 2013

Professor Colin Talbot reflects on an Autumn statement that was really a mini-Budget – and some fine detail that hints at the Chancellor’s ultimate intentions. Much of the comment on today’s Autumn Statement by Chancellor George Osborne will focus on the specific measures he announced (there were lots) and on the short-term politics of the […]

There is life beyond austerity; now give us the freedom to make it happen

By Ed Cox Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: December 3, 2013

During Manchester Policy Week, four leading thinktanks debated what government might look like beyond the General Election and towards 2020. In an abridged version of his speech at the event IPPR North’s Director, Ed Cox (pictured above, standing), says there is life beyond the current austerity measures – but only if there are significant changes to present […]

Why the ‘radical’ post crash economics movement is missing a trick

By Georgina Waylen Filed Under: Featured Posted: December 2, 2013

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 […]

The Blunders of our Governments

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: November 29, 2013

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 […]

A fair COP? Climate summit good for engagement, but progress was oh so slow

By Alice Larkin Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: November 27, 2013

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 […]

Nuclear has come in from the cold, but now we must act to preserve our energy expertise

By Francis Livens Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: November 20, 2013

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, […]

NHS charging: government needs to act to avoid CSA repeat

By Perri 6 Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: November 19, 2013

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 […]

Polling Observatory #30: Good news for all the parties… except the Lib Dems

By Rob Ford Filed Under: Featured, Polling Observatory Posted: November 19, 2013

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 […]