Since the Brexit vote in the EU referendum of 23rd June 2016 the political turmoil that followed has been unprecedented with a change of Prime Minister and cabinet, a leadership challenge in the Labour party and Theresa May calling a General Election. Social mobility is high on the political agenda with Theresa May’s first speech […]
European Family Law after Brexit
Following the referendum vote in favour of UK withdrawal from the European Union, much concern has focused on the status of UK families in other Member States and the status of EU nationals resident in the UK. Here, Dr Ruth Lamont considers the implications of Brexit on family law in the UK and suggests a […]
Cities Innovation: Footprint for Inclusive Economics
Despite devolution deals continuing to make headlines, the United Kingdom remains one of the centralised states in the western world. Here, Dr Su Maddock makes the link between effective regional governance, inclusive growth, and the innovations and negotiating capacities that are essential to meeting the challenges of Brexit. The UK’s regional economic inequalities, rather than […]
Brexit and the Meaning of ‘Taking Back Control’: Great State Expectations?
As part of their ongoing research into Brexit, governance and populism at the Universities of Manchester and Exeter, Professor Dave Richards, Professor Oliver James, Dr. Kinglsey Purdam and Dr. Liz Richardson offer their reflections on the systemic challenges facing the UK as our government prepares to make Brexit official. Despite its ubiquity, exactly what ‘take back […]
Britain’s ‘white working-class’: A divisive term for progressive policy or a necessary distinction?
In response to the Runneymede Trust and CLASS’s report on the white working-class released today, Daniel Evans considers whether this term helps or hinders progressive policies to help those it seeks to define. It would be wrong to privilege the ‘white working-class’ over BME working-class groups, given the levels of ethnic inequality Policy needs to […]
Migration and Families in Europe: National and Local Perspectives at a Time of Euroscepticism
The House of Commons has cleared the way for the Prime Minister to trigger article 50 at the end of March 2017, however, what happens next for EU citizens living in the UK post Brexit? Here, Dr Lindsey Garratt and Dr Kitty Lymperopoulou from The University of Manchester recount the recent Migrant Families in Europe […]
Healing Divisions: A positive vision for equality and human rights in the UK
As the Prime Minister’s deadline for triggering article 50 looms ever-closer, many questions about the process and implications of Brexit remain unanswered or unclear. Here, Rebecca Hilsenrath, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, lays out what Brexit could mean for rights in the UK and what the Government needs to do to […]
#BeBoldForChange: Taking stock of gender inequalities in the UK in the face of Brexit
As the 2017 International Women’s Day global theme calls on us to ‘be bold for change’, here Professor Colette Fagan, Dr Nina Teasdale and Dr Helen Norman take stock of the UK’s gender-related policy measures. Progress towards gender equality has been uneven and often too slow Since 1957, equality between women and men has been […]
Time for some low key fireworks?
Ahead of the first Budget under May’s government, and the first since the Brexit vote, Policy@Manchester Co-Director Professor Andy Westwood sets the scene and shares his predictions on the Chancellor’s approach to the year’s spending priorities. We need some action from the Budget, even if the fireworks are likely to be more low key this […]
The Treasury in the 21st century: still one of the great offices of state or a hollowed-out, echo chamber?
In light of Lord Kerslake’s independent review, ‘Rethinking the Treasury’, and with the looming Spring Budget one day away, Professor Dave Richards considers where next for the Treasury. The review advocates a return to the Treasury’s core functions of controlling and co-ordinating public finance and overseeing the macro-economy Now is the time to break from […]