Policy@Manchester Articles

Beyond the headlines on TTIP: Beware the fine print

By Gabriel Siles-Brügge and Nicolette Butler Filed Under: All posts, Europe, Featured Posted: June 1, 2015

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 […]

Why we need a health bill, but aren’t going to get one

By Kieran Walshe Filed Under: All posts, Featured Posted: May 29, 2015

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 […]

What ‘race’ is an elf?

By Andrew Smith Filed Under: Ethnicity, Featured Posted: May 28, 2015

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 […]

A Tale of Two Speeches?

By Andy Westwood Filed Under: Devo, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: May 27, 2015

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 […]

One night in May [Part 2] – The strange resurrection of the British political tradition?

By Dave Richards and Martin Smith Filed Under: Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: May 26, 2015

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 […]

One Night in May [Part 1] – Whatever Happened to the Strange Death of Tory England?

By Dave Richards and Martin Smith Filed Under: All posts Posted: May 22, 2015

In 2005, the political journalist Geoffrey Wheatcroft wrote a critique of the Conservative Party, The Strange Death of Tory England. Here Dave Richards and Martin Smith explore this failed prophesy and examine the implications of GE2015 on the main parties. When Wheatcroft wrote his book the Conservative Party was yet to come to terms with […]

The good ship SS DevoManc: full steam ahead?

By Lawrence Benson Filed Under: All posts, Devo Posted: May 21, 2015

SS DevoManc has now set sail after a six weeks stopover in port during the general election. Dr Lawrence Benson tries to plot its course. Let’s recap on DevoManc. It’s about the devolution of power and resources from Westminster to the city region of Greater Manchester (GM), including for health and social care. This marks […]

Counting Roma: the ethical dilemma

By Yaron Matras Filed Under: Ethnicity, Featured Posted: May 20, 2015

Roma are one of Europe’s most marginalised and deprived communities. Addressing their problems is made more difficult by lack of transparency in the methods used to collect data on them, argues Professor Yaron Matras, as a new project is launched to tackle the problem. Europe’s Roma population suffers extreme poverty and social marginalisation. European institutions have […]

The truth about deflation: keep calm and carry on (for now)

By Diane Coyle Filed Under: All posts Posted: May 19, 2015

As official Government figures show that the UK economy deflated in April, for the first time since the 1960’s, Diane Coyle looks at whether we should be worried. There was much excitement about the news that the UK’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined by 0.1% in the 12 months to April. A negative figure for […]

Oxbridge Universities are the go to places for academic research and expertise: but it’s not the whole story

By Carole Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Whitehall Watch Posted: May 19, 2015

Can ‘outsider’ universities break the Oxbridge stranglehold on the Civil Service? Carole Talbot explores… It’s well understood that Whitehall Civil Servants go to Oxford and Cambridge Universities more often than elsewhere. And, many of the linkages into these universities are based on civil servants having attended one of the Oxbridge Colleges themselves and that the […]

Beyond the headlines on TTIP: Beware the fine print

What ‘race’ is an elf?

A Tale of Two Speeches?

One night in May [Part 2] – The strange resurrection of the British political tradition?

One Night in May [Part 1] – Whatever Happened to the Strange Death of Tory England?

Counting Roma: the ethical dilemma

The truth about deflation: keep calm and carry on (for now)

Oxbridge Universities are the go to places for academic research and expertise: but it’s not the whole story

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