Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
If you intend to retire within the next year, then the best course of action may simply be not to, warns John Read. Chancellor George Osborne made a bold claim in last week’s Budget. “Last year I unlocked pensions with freedom for millions of savers,” he said. Yet the reality is very different. That so-called […]
As the General Election campaign hots up and UKIP maintain their strong showing in the polls, former MEP Gary Titley says that pro-Europeans need to snatch back control of the debate, in a battle for Britain’s future. The time has come to make a stand on Europe. For far too long the anti-Europeans have had […]
By Bala Yusuf Yunusa Filed Under: All posts, Featured Posted:
General Elections in Nigeria were postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the 28th March and 11th April 2015. The reason for this postponement is a fractious topic. In my previous blog, I stated that some, especially officials of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were calling for the postponement of the elections […]
By Laurence Brown Filed Under: All posts, Ethnicity, Featured Posted:
Social inequalities and racial discrimination powerfully impact on the lives of Britain’s ethnic minorities. These are the two issues that have to be central to any political conversation about race in today’s society. Described by The Times as “among the most important documentaries of the decade” Channel 4’s Things We Won’t Say About Race That […]
By Steve Courtney Filed Under: All posts, Featured Posted:
The academisation of the English state school system has arguably been the most significant structural reform since comprehensivisation hit its peak in the 1970s. The academies programme had its roots in the City Colleges programme, legislated in 1988 but with only 15 opening owing to considerable expectations of investment from the private sector. Its failure […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Westminster Watch Posted:
Most of the commentary around the last Budget of this Parliament will, predictably, focus on the contents of George Osborne’s little red briefcase. Few will focus on what might happen afterwards – the Parliamentary procedure for implementing Budgets. That’s because these are usually pretty uncontroversial – Budget announcements usually get ‘rubber stamped’ through Parliament with […]
By Michael Dawson Filed Under: All posts, Devo, Featured Posted:
In her most recent article, Professor Francesca Gains contends that DevoManc is “an idea whose time has come” and that any opposition “underplays” the combined authority’s years of hard work. With the greatest respect to Prof Gains, her arguments overlook the reality of Manchester’s situation. The facts are as follows: In 2012, David Cameron stated […]
By Joy Furnival Filed Under: All posts, Devo, Featured Posted:
Greater Manchester has announced its plans for health and social care devolution and its oversight of providers. Joy Furnival examines health and social care oversight functions across the UK and asks what Greater Manchester can learn from these. Devolution and integration of health and social care in Greater Manchester (GM) is the first of its […]
By Julia Segar, Anna Coleman and Kath Checkland Filed Under: All posts, Devo, Featured Posted:
Devolving health and social care in Greater Manchester is an attractive idea. But will the practical challenges undo it ask Kath Checkland, Julia Segar and Anna Coleman. Devolution has been coming to Greater Manchester (GM) for some time. The recent announcement that the total health and social care budget for GM – £6bn – is […]
Minimum wage legislation is supposed to deliver earnings that protect an individual’s living standard from falling below an acceptable level. Quite often it does no such thing, explains Dr Simon Peters. Setting the UK national minimum wage should be a key policy in the framework of equality legislation. Yet there are serious doubts about whether […]
