Notes on the attacks in Paris
Here Colin Talbot reacts to the terrorist atrocities in Paris. These are just some thoughts about the attacks in Paris. They’re not a thorough narrative or analysis, but things that have occurred to me...
View ArticleManaging health and care in an ageing society
Health and social care delivery needs to change substantially to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by an ageing society, argues Professor Neil Pendleton. Lifespan is increasing and we...
View ArticleSmall modular reactors – the real nuclear renaissance?
The future of the nuclear industry could lie with small reactors, argues Professor Juan Matthews. In the beginning, all reactors in nuclear power stations were small. Calder Hall, Britain’s first power...
View ArticleShould we really welcome DevoManc?
The Northern Powerhouse and local devolution do not go far enough in empowering local communities. We need proper bottom-up devolution, argues Green Party leader Natalie Bennett in the Cresc Annual...
View ArticleThe quest for solidarity in a fractured Europe II – in the aftermath of ‘Paris’
A few months ago Tanja Müller wrote a blog on the failed quest for solidarity in Europe in light of the movement of refugees and migrants. Here she follows that up with another in the wake of...
View ArticleMaking Theatre in the Midst of Austerity
Public spending cuts to the arts damage society as much as the arts themselves, argues Jenny Hughes. In his book, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea, Mark Blyth summarises an economic policy of...
View ArticleAddressing mother’s experiences of racial discrimination
If we are to break cycles of deprivation and begin to redress inequalities in health between the white British and ethnic minority populations, policymakers should put more emphasis on structural...
View ArticleUnpicking the polls
Mike Addelman, in collaboration with the BES team, blogs about work to uncover just why the opinion polls before the 2015 General Election were so wrong. One of the world’s longest-running...
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SR2015: Spending: Is 36% of GDP still his target?
[Rather than single blog I am posting a series of shorter posts on the Spending Review today on specific issues] “Mr Speaker, I want to announce to the House that we are on target to meet our long-term...
View ArticleSR2015: £35bn on debt interest? But what about the £375bn held by the Bank of...
More fast reaction from Colin Talbot to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2015. One thing has puzzled me since the introduction of “Quantitative Easing” (QE) in 2009. Between then and 2012 the Bank of...
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Lucky Chancellor?
The day after George Osborne’s Comprehensive Spending Review, Diane Coyle picks out the winners and losers. One of the most important attributes a Chancellor of the Exchequer can have is to be lucky....
View ArticleA New Britain, by George
Andy Westwood assesses a political transformation in the wake of the Autumn Statement. 2012 really was a big year for Britain. Politically, it was the moment that George Osborne tanked. First with the...
View ArticleChancellor lands another blow to the UK’s green credentials
As the Paris COP21 climate negotiations begin next week, Clair Gough and Sarah Mander examine George Osborne’s autumn statement and assess its green credentials. Only days before the start of the COP21...
View Article(Honesty about) Nuclear power – No Thanks! (Part one)
The case against nuclear power is weakened by simplistic arguments that don’t stand up to scrutiny, argues Professor Francis Livens. I was recently involved in a public debate on nuclear energy. One of...
View ArticleThe Paris climate change negotiations and 2°C: a view from the coal-face
As the Paris COP21 negotiations continue, Kevin Anderson, who is in France for the conference, gives his views. Paris will witness frenetic discussion centred ostensibly on the long-established 2°C...
View Article(Honesty about) Nuclear Power – No Thanks! (Part two)
Professor Francis Livens continues his search for objectivity in the nuclear debate. As I explained in my previous blog, I recently debated nuclear energy with some opponents. I was concerned about...
View ArticleCOP21: Changing the way we think about change
Change is inevitable, but climate change is damaging. Simon Chin-Yee argues that as the COP21 discussions continue in Paris, we must adapt to limit the damage being caused by climate change. Mark Twain...
View ArticleThe ethics of British intervention in Syria
On Wednesday, the House of Commons debated for ten hours about whether the UK should intervene in Syria against ISIS. Here James Pattison explores the ethics of their decision. Numerous MPs stood up...
View ArticleSharing can be better
The Government should do more to support a genuinely sharing economy, suggests Chris Martin. The UK Government has adopted a very narrow commercial perspective on the emergence of the sharing economy....
View ArticleHow IT can revolutionise the tax and benefits system
IT has fundamentally changed how we work and spend our spare time. Recent and future developments can do the same for the tax system, argues Douglas Bamford. The ideal tax system would tax economic...
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