Policy@Manchester Articles

Still disadvantaged? The educational attainment of ethnic minority groups

By Kitty Lymperopoulou Filed Under: Ethnicity, Featured Posted: May 14, 2015

Despite the educational attainment gap between ethnic minority groups and the White British group narrowing, some ethnic minority groups continue to experience inequalities in education, explains Dr Kitty Lymperopoulou, who has contributed to a book on Ethnic identity and inequalities in Britain which has just been published. Education policy under successive governments in the UK has been […]

Wanted: A post-deficit economic narrative for Britain

By Ken Clark Filed Under: Featured Posted: May 13, 2015

The election is over and David Cameron’s new government is poised to pursue its legislative programme. Here Ken Clark explores the economic challenges facing the new Government, and in particular falling productivity. The economy was undoubtedly a crucial part of the election campaign and the eventual outcome. While the Conservatives emphasised the renewed growth, expanding […]

The Irish in Britain

By Liam Harte Filed Under: Ethnicity, Featured Posted: May 12, 2015

Liam Harte explains how his research into the Irish in Britain became the basis for a new play, which has just opened. The Irish Government published in March the country’s first official policy on diaspora issues. Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy runs to 57 pages and is informed by over 130 submissions provided by organisations […]

The Ebola virus is mutating, but is no more or less deadly, yet

By Simon Lovell and David Robertson Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Technology Posted: May 11, 2015

The Ebola outbreak has loosened its grip on West Africa, as shown by Liberia being declared free of the disease a couple of days ago. This is cause for relief, but not complacency, explain Simon Lovell and David Robertson. The 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus arose from a single case in Guinea, probably transmitted […]

So it begins: Last time it was Five Days in May – this time it could be Five Weeks (or more)

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Westminster Watch Posted: May 7, 2015

As the polls open and ballots begin to be cast across the country as GE2015 gets underway, Colin Talbot looks at one possible scenario should the predictions of a hung Parliament prove accurate. It could easily be 5 weeks before we have a settled Government. It might not be, the polls might be wrong or […]

The Women to Watch – #GE2015 – undecided voters

By Francesca Gains Filed Under: Featured Posted: May 6, 2015

With less than 24 hours till the polls open for General Election 2015 Francesca Gains looks at the role undecided women voters could have on the outcome. Whilst the three female leaders, of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party, have sometimes grabbed the headlines, it is undecided women voters who will be key […]

Why don’t young people vote?

By Hilary Pilkington and Mark Ellison Filed Under: Featured Posted: May 5, 2015

As politicians make their final canvasses for the General Election, they will be worrying about voter turnout. Professor Hilary Pilkington and Mark Ellison explain why young adults in the UK are less likely to vote than are their counterparts across Europe. Thursday’s General Election is widely regarded as the closest and perhaps most important for […]

Picking a research winner

By Andy Westwood Filed Under: Devo, Featured, Science and Technology, Whitehall Watch Posted: May 1, 2015

What research will the next government back and how should it choose? asks Professor Andrew Westwood. As we approach the General Election, the discussions of the research community in universities tend to focus on how to preserve the ‘science ringfence’ and the ‘dual support system’ (funding through both the Research Councils and the Funding Councils). […]

UK GDP grows more slowly – should we worry?

By Diane Coyle Filed Under: Featured Posted: April 29, 2015

Professor Diane Coyle explains that the latest, disappointing, GDP figures tell us little about what is actually happening in the economy. That won’t stop them being used by all the parties in the last days of the General Election campaign. It was no surprise that the General Election spin machines should try to put their […]

Clearing up the mess in the English school system

By Mel Ainscow and Alan Dyson Filed Under: All posts, Featured Posted: April 29, 2015

New proposals for the reform of the English education system are outlined in a report written by Mel Ainscow CBE and Alan Dyson, Professors of Education and co-directors of the Centre for Equity in Education at The University of Manchester, and their colleagues Sue Goldrick and Dr Kirstin Kerr. The English school system is in […]