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 […]
Brexit: not fancy or elite economic theory, but an uncertain reality
The great majority of economists were opposed to Brexit – about 90% according to a survey of members of their professional societies. Over 200, including 12 Nobel prize winners, signed a statement explaining why. Diane Coyle was among them. Here she explains why and outlines why Brexit has ignited economic turmoil. Unfortunately, the arguments […]
Out of Africa: Asylum seekers, Europe and the ‘capacity to aspire’
Recent debates about Europe in light of the EU Referendum have centred heavily on two main issues – immigration and the economy. To mark Refugee Week, which seeks to celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, Tanja Müller argues that EU asylum and refugee law is making unfair distinctions between countries, and that the […]
Why Brexit means less resilience to recession
Some, including Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney, have predicted a possible recession for the UK if the vote is for leave tomorrow. In the final countdown to polling day, Marianne Sensier argues a Brexit could lead to less resilience to recession, particularly in our regions. A few years ago, Mike Artis and I […]
The North West: what has the EU ever done for us?
Most of the hype and headlines on the UK’s membership of the EU centres around national impact, generated largely by those based in our traditional power centre of London and the South East. But the EU has come through for the regions where the Government has not, says Paul Richardson. What has the EU ever […]
Definitely, Maybe? 5 Million ‘Don’t Knows’ and the EU Referendum
The heat is on, as both sides urge voters to choose ‘leave’ or ‘remain’ in the run-up to the UK’s historic EU Referendum on June 23rd. New polls are coming in thick and fast, but while the outcome is uncertain, what is certain is that many voters have yet to decide. The ‘Don’t Know’ voters […]
Does religion have any impact on morality in modern Europe?
New research drawing on European survey data finds that religious decline does not equal moral decline. Dr Ingrid Storm explains why involvement in religion makes most difference to morality in the most religious countries, and matters less for moral values now than it did in the 1980s. A recent report by the Commission on Religion […]
What can history teach us about migration?
As the migration crisis continues to rock Europe, Tanja Müller looks back at a story from the Second World War, to see what the past can teach about current attitudes to those trying to make it to Europe for a better life. It has become a common trope to describe the current movement of people […]
Tolstoy’s River – Why pro-Europeans need to be braver
As the anti -EU movement grows, ex Conservative MEP for Lancashire Central Michael Welsh, argues those in the pro-EU camp need to be braver when arguing their case, if Britain is to continue to play its part in the world. In the concluding chapters of War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy compares the course of history […]
Nomination of Mr Juncker – A tentative step forward for European democracy?
David Cameron failed to block Jean Claude Juncker from being nominated by the European Council for the post of European Commission President. Dr. Georgios Papanagnou takes a look at some of the weaknesses in the campaigns by Cameron and the British media. In the end “this time was not so much different” – Jean Claude […]