Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Stefan Bouzarovski and Saska Petrova Filed Under: Europe, Featured, Science and Technology, Urban Posted:
The EU’s new ‘Energy Union’ does not go far enough in reshaping our demand for energy, argue Professor Stefan Bouzarovski and Dr Saska Petrova. One of the ten stated priorities of the new European Commission has been the establishment of an ‘Energy Union’ – a common policy umbrella that will, says the EU, ensure “secure, […]
By Brenda Gannon Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted:
Increased provision of free childcare will not only help to lift the UK’s productivity, it will also raise household incomes – potentially improving health outcomes for children, explains Dr Brenda Gannon. Currently, all children aged three or four are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks. In last week’s Queen’s […]
By Nick Clifford Filed Under: Featured Posted:
After crying ‘wolf’ for several years, councils are now faced with very real difficulty in balancing their books, warns Nick Clifford. More than 50 years ago, in 1962, there was a hit for Lonnie Donegan called ‘The Party’s Over’. 40 years ago Tony Crosland, then Secretary of State for Local Government, gave a speech to […]
By George Kyris Filed Under: All posts, Europe Posted:
As a change of leadership in Cyprus take place, could a solution to the decades old conflict be on the cards? George Kyris examines developments…. When Mustafa Akinci took to the podium for his first speech as the new leader of the Turkish Cypriots waving an olive branch it became obvious that his victory was […]
By Paul Wilson Filed Under: Featured Posted:
Social prescriptions have been hailed as a wonderful way of improving health outcomes, at low cost. But Paul Wilson argues that we need less rhetoric and more sound research to evaluate project results. The Queen’s Speech has seen the new government reconfirm commitments to make an extra £8bn of funding available to the NHS. But […]
By Gabriel Siles-Brügge and Nicolette Butler Filed Under: All posts, Europe, Featured Posted:
Although much of the criticism in the UK of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has focused on the NHS and ‘corporate tribunals’, Gabriel Siles-Brügge and Nicolette Butler argue that this overlooks one of its central purposes: a series of provisions that could make it more difficult for governments to regulate in the public […]
By Kieran Walshe Filed Under: All posts, Featured Posted:
Here Kieran Walshe reacts to the Queens Speech and comments on the lack of any mention of plans for healthcare. On seeing that the Queen’s Speech contained no proposed legislation on health and social care, many healthcare workers and managers may understandably have breathed a sigh of relief. After the traumas of the Health and […]
By Andrew Smith Filed Under: Ethnicity, Featured Posted:
Should we see fantasy novels as just that – fantasies? Andrew Smith suggests they can contain insidious racism. Last month saw the DVD release of the final film in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit franchise, the hugely successful follow-up to the same director’s film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. If you want to know what […]
By Andy Westwood Filed Under: Devo, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted:
What does the Conservative election victory mean for the North of England and higher education? Professor Andy Westwood interprets the signals. Just in case you didn’t know, the Northern Powerhouse is ‘GO’ and was confirmed in today’s Queens Speech. George Osborne reaffirmed his commitment to the idea almost immediately after he and the Conservatives won […]
By Dave Richards and Martin Smith Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted:
Professor Dave Richards and Professor Martin Smith analyse what the general election result means for the British political system. The 2015 general election was supposed to produce one type of policy earthquake, but may have produced another. The assumption by nearly everyone until 10.01 pm on May 7 was that we would see the further […]