Labour

What COVID-19 tells us about the value of human labour

By Abbie Winton and Debra Howcroft Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted: April 7, 2020

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, a radical reassessment of what is considered ‘key work’ has taken place. For many key workers, however, this status is not reflected in their salary, employment rights, or social perception. Here, Abbie Winton and Professor Debra Howcroft, from the Work and Equalities Institute, discuss the disproportionate risk/reward equation […]

Targets? More targets! Even less change and more continuity in the performance regime in Whitehall

By Dave Richards, Colin Talbot and Ewan Munro Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: August 24, 2015

Dave Richards, Colin Talbot and Ewan Munro explore target setting in Government. “Everyone has to think of their responsibilities with regard to the dreadful events that happened at the Staffordshire hospital, including the fact that part of the problem was people following a very top-down, target-led agenda which led to patient care being put on […]

The End of the Parties?

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: August 13, 2015

Colin Talbot asks if we have reached a tipping point where ‘first past the post’ finally fails to hold together the two big coalitions that have dominated British politics for nearly a century ? Could we be seeing the end of the Conservative and Labour Parties? The Tories are having a great summer: an unexpected […]

What if Labour Can’t Win?

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: August 4, 2015

The entire Labour Party leadership debate is being framed by the question “how can Labour win again?” But what if it can’t, asks Colin Talbot? There are several reasons for believing it might be impossible for Labour to win an outright majority in the House of Commons again, at least for any foreseeable future. (Let […]

Benefits and costs of party diversity

By Maria Sobolewska Filed Under: Ethnicity, Featured Posted: July 22, 2015

Why do Conservatives try so hard to increase their ethnic diversity while Labour takes minorities for granted? It all depends on who their target voter is. Labour’s target voters thought less of the party when they knew about its ethnic diversity, Conservative’s target voters were the opposite, explains Maria Sobolewska. For political parties the question […]

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 […]

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 […]

Could the SNP block a Labour Budget? No

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: April 22, 2015

Colin Talbot looks at the reality after Scottish National Party claims that they could block any budget if the Labour Party is leading a minority Government. The SNP are claiming they can ‘block Labour budgets’, ‘end austerity’ and ‘stop Trident’. Their problem however is simple – most of what they say is based on assuming […]

Will a Greater Manchester Mayor mean even more great stuff happens?

By Andrew Wilson Filed Under: All posts, Devo, Featured Posted: April 17, 2015

At the Summat New event in Leeds, a group of 20 people from the North, who had never met before, sat in a circle and asked this question: “Are the voices of people living and working in places in the north of England fairly heard in our national conversation?” Here Andrew Wilson answers the question. The […]

The coalition’s record on schools

By Ruth Lupton Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: February 10, 2015

Last week’s topic in the pre-election debate was schools. The Conservative party announced that it would protect spending on schools in cash terms, but not keep pace with inflation. It would also convert more schools to Academies, including those adjudged ‘requiring improvement’ by Ofsted. Labour retaliated by accusing the Coalition of failing to tackle educational […]