parliament

Increased diversity in Parliament: the case for centralising candidate nominations

By Maria Sobolewska Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Ethnicity, Growth and Inclusion Posted: June 19, 2017

The general election earlier this month saw another record breaking increase in the ethnic diversity of Members of Parliament. Here, Maria Sobolewska looks at what lead to this increased diversity and lays out a path for further progress. The main difference between the 2015 and 2017 elections was how the candidates were selected The Representative […]

Healing Divisions: A positive vision for equality and human rights in the UK

By Rebecca Hilsenrath Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion Posted: March 13, 2017

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 […]

Time for some low key fireworks?

By Andy Westwood Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics Posted: March 7, 2017

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?

By Dave Richards Filed Under: British Politics Posted: March 7, 2017

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 […]

Grand Brexit Strategies – Can Whitehall Cope? A Potted-History of [Not] Joining Government Up

By Dave Richards and Martin Smith Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics Posted: December 6, 2016

Brexit is a political challenge on an unprecedented scale. The process of exiting the European Union impacts every government department, and requires a level of co-ordination that UK governments have rarely managed to achieve. Here, the University of Manchester’s Dave Richards and the University of York’s Martin Smith survey the size of the challenge facing […]

In a world sceptical of political promises, I’m trying to keep mine

By John Bercow MP Filed Under: All posts, Devo, Westminster Watch, Whitehall Watch Posted: November 16, 2016

As part of Parliament Week and after delivering the annual Sammy Finer Lecture at The University of Manchester, John Bercow MP writes on how he has sought to use his time in office as the Speaker of the House of Commons to bring about Parliamentary reform. Reforming the legislature One of the roles of the […]

Making devolution work for all: Grabbing and grappling with the opportunity

By Neil McInroy Filed Under: Devo, Featured Posted: July 3, 2015

The University of Manchester and Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) play host to the Making Devolution Work conference next week. To mark the event CLES’s Chief Executive Neil McInroy writes the first of a series of blogs around the conference, examining what devolution could mean for the region and country. The UK is massively […]

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 […]

Plain packaging essential to save children from smoking-related deaths

By Peter Mackereth Filed Under: All posts, Featured Posted: April 7, 2015

In the last days of the old Parliament, MPs agreed that from May next year cigarettes may only be sold in plain packaging. Dr Peter Mackereth congratulates politicians for their willingness to stand up to the tobacco industry, but warns the companies are fighting back. Almost a quarter of children aged 11 to 15 in […]

Should We Welcome “Three-Parent Babies”?

By Iain Brassington Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Technology, Westminster Watch Posted: February 3, 2015

The House of Commons voted for a small but significant change in the law when it expressed its approval for the legalisation of mitochondrial transfer. Iain Brassington, Senior Lecturer, in the School of Law at The University of Manchester explores the issues the debate hinged on and whether the right decision was made. Mitochondrial illnesses arise […]