policy – Page 2

Pickles-Paterson floods spat highlights true top-down nature of UK policymaking

By Danny Fitzpatrick Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: February 13, 2014

A top-down centralised decision-making process and government functions working in silos are not new features of UK politics, writes Dr Daniel Fitzpatrick. But as communities across the UK experience misery due to flooding, it seems these deeply entrenched pathologies of policymaking are increasingly out of step with the ‘wicked’ issues that society is facing. The […]

Policy Agendas in British Politics

By Francesca Gains Filed Under: Featured Posted: January 20, 2014

How do Governments arrive at policy decisions in the United Kingdom? There has been a great deal of commentary on the apparent disconnect between Westminster and voters, with priorities not necessarily shared between the two. This book by Peter John, Anthony Bertelli, Will Jennings and Shaun Bevan, will help illuminate the reader on how these policy agendas are shaped, […]

Tough on crime? Lie-detector tests don’t hold all the answers for sex offender management

By Andrew Balmer Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: January 15, 2014

The Coalition has decided to drop the privatisation of polygraph, or ‘lie-detector’ tests for sex offenders. But Dr Andrew Balmer believes that the continued use of this flawed technology within the probation service is misguided and the whole programme should be scrapped. Since the Offender Management Act was changed in 2007 to allow for the […]

Do we need a ‘new settlement’ with Europe – or just a better sausage factory?

By Clive Bates Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: January 10, 2014

In seeking a ‘new settlement’ with the European Union (EU), the UK government is ignoring the existing rules and procedures that should already govern law making, argues Clive Bates. Here he focuses on a current example, the regulation of e-cigarettes, highlights the broader faults in the current process and offers some solutions. Otto Von Bismark […]

The Blunders of our Governments

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: November 29, 2013

The Blunders of our Governments, Anthony King and Ivor Crewe. Oneworld Publications, September 2013. This is a must read book for anyone interested in British public affairs, writes Prof Colin Talbot. It is seminal, not so much for the insight it offers – much of what it says has been said before – but in the […]

Electronic cigarettes: public health problem or potential solution?

By Catriona Rooke Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: November 6, 2013

The use of electronic cigarettes in the UK continues to grow, posing complex challenges for regulators and public health policymakers alike. Current debates represent a struggle over whether e-cigs will ultimately be viewed as a trusted medicine, an everyday consumer product or a problematic recreational drug, writes Dr Catriona Rooke. In June the UK medicines […]

What Kind of Immigration Do We Want?

By Ken Clark Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted: October 31, 2013

It was recently proposed that countries with high immigration could specify the ideal mix of people and cultures allowed across their borders. It is a thesis that has, unsurprisingly, split opinion and caused much debate. But whatever one thinks of this approach, the type and volume of immigrants the UK electorate would prefer is a […]

Innovation in the water industry: Is the price too high?

By Andrew Balmer Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: October 30, 2013

While the recent hike in energy prices has made headlines, issues around the UK water supply get rather less attention. Breaching the UK’s impregnable ‘innovation barrier’ – to fix leaking pipes and tackle climate change – is one big challenge, writes Dr Andrew Balmer. Another is to prompt policymakers to be brave enough to ensure […]

Health Reforms in Central and Eastern Europe: Options, obstacles, limited outcomes

By Anna Raphael Filed Under: All posts Posted: October 24, 2013

Health Reforms in Central and Eastern Europe: Options, obstacles, limited outcomes, James Warner Björkman and Juraj Nemec (editors). Eleven International Publishing. June 2013. This title offers timely insight into the emerging patterns in health reforms in Central and Eastern European countries since the fall of the Berlin Wall, writes Anna Raphael. Authors present conclusions that […]

Don’t miss this chance to tackle domestic violence for a generation

By David Gadd Filed Under: Featured Posted: October 24, 2013

The government is set to use the forthcoming International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to announce new measures to tackle domestic violence. This is a prime opportunity to tackle this issue for an entire generation that must not be missed, argues Professor David Gadd. Genuine engagement with young people needs to start […]