Austerity

The long-term effects of austerity last for generations

— Public spending cuts and the soaring cost of living will not only affect people’s lives now but could trickle down through generations.

Brazil

Pelé was ensnared by ‘Brazilian-style racism’ but stood firm as dictatorship tried to keep him playing

— As arguably the greatest soccer player of all time is laid to rest, let’s consider Pelé’s incredible legacy off the field, how he helped forge the identity of modern Brazil, became a symbol of the Black diaspora and an inspiration for millions across the African continent.

Analysis

What do politicians really think of economists?

— Since the 2008 financial crisis, politicians from a range of parties and countries have reported losing respect for experts.

Children's Rights

Why aren’t children allowed to vote?

— Our assumptions about what it means to be young have left millions of people disenfranchised. What if children were allowed to vote?

COVID-19

COVID in 2023 and beyond – Why virus trends are more difficult to predict three years on

— How will the coronavirus pandemic be in 2023? This question is in some ways impossible to answer, given a number of unknowns. One thing is for certain though – the pandemic is not over yet.

Voting Rights

Voter suppression: How democracies around the world are using new rules to make it harder to vote

— Laws making it more difficult to vote are being introduced around the democratic world, an expert says. They risk undermining democracy.

Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock’s Pandemic Diaries and the history of the redemptive memoir

— Matt Hancock isn’t the first politician to attempt redemption through memoir but the image that will stay with most readers of his diaries is unlikely to be that of a nation bravely facing a crisis.

Analysis

Calling politicians ‘clowns’ is a disservice to clowns

— Clowns and jesters have positively contributed to society for centuries. Calling politicians ‘clowns’ is a disservice to them.

Hospitals

‘It’s like being in a warzone’ – A&E nurses open up about the emotional cost of working on the NHS frontline

— Nurses describe what it is like to work on the NHS frontline – and what the cost is to them.

Disabilities

Twitter has been important for disability activism – That’s being lost under Elon Musk

— With Elon Musk’s plans for Twitter, disabled users will struggle more to access the platform and be cut off from opportunities to tell their stories and collaborate internationally.

World Cup Qatar 2022

World Cup 2022: Who won the prize for ‘soft power’?

— Soft power is a powerful foreign policy tool. Three countries, in particular, have made the most of it at this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

Immigration

Asylum claim rejections show the UK government has little understanding of what people are fleeing – and it’s costing lives

— Many asylum applications are rejected on grounds that dismiss the dire situations in applicants’ countries of origin.

Cost of Living Crisis

Universal free school meals would make a huge difference to the cost-of-living crisis

— Widening access to free school meals would be an investment in England’s children.

UK Strikes

UK strikes: Why the government must start mediating talks, according to negotiation experts

— Unions are calling on the government to negotiate on pay, here’s how it could mediate discussions between employers and unions.

Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles: If the UK is serious about being a major player, here’s what needs to happen

— Having once led Europe in zero-carbon cars, the UK has some catching up to do.

UK Politics

Is Labour’s vision of a New Britain any different to the Tories’ levelling up?

— The plan to abolish the House of Lords has drawn the most attention but Labour is also proposing radical changes to how power is distributed.