Journalism
— Journalism has been fodder for politicians’ contempt for generations. A huge percentage of the public doesn’t trust the news media either. That mistrust isn’t a bad thing in a democracy.
Analysis
Our analyses thoroughly examine current events and complex issues, providing nuanced insights into politics, health, economics, and social trends. Supported by evidence-based perspectives from experts, these articles go beyond the headlines to explore underlying causes and impacts, fostering informed discussions on the forces shaping our world.
UK Politics
— Sue Gray’s departure from the civil service to work for Keir Starmer has raised concerns about impartiality – but it is also a sign of her faith in Starmer’s leadership.
Budget 2023
— Jeremy Hunt steadied the ship in the autumn. Can he now turn around the Conservatives’ electoral fortunes?
United Kingdom
— A major survey on social trends shows how far the UK has come in terms of attitudes towards homosexuality, casual sex and divorce. Views on the death penalty remain conservative, however.
COVID-19
— The WHO first described COVID as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Where are we at, three years later?
Refugee Rights
— The UK government is introducing a bill to deter small boat migration and remove those who arrive illegally. It violates international law, overriding domestic laws, the Refugee Convention and Human Rights Law.
UK Politics
— Boris Johnson holds a different view to many on what constitutes acceptable and appropriate standards in public life. He repeatedly calculates that voters don’t care about his rule-breaking. But that is not necessarily true.
Mexico
— Many Mexicans fear that the democratic safeguards set up after decades of authoritarian rule are being undermined.
US Politics
— A large proportion of Americans appear to be increasingly drawn to strong, authoritarian leaders who would violate democratic principles – a warning sign that democracy is under serious threat.
Brexit
— After years of negotiations, the EU and UK have finally agreed on a “Windsor Framework” to reduce trade barriers between Northern Ireland, Britain and the EU. But beware! There are strings attached, including a “Stormont Brake” for the NI Assembly to pull whenever they don’t like EU rules.
Tax Avoidance
— New research shows that companies are shifting record amounts of their profits to tax havens, despite a global effort to crack down on the practice.
Long-Read
— Professor Chris Grey on the ongoing battle between rapprochement and repetition in UK-EU relations, what reactions to Ditchley reveal and why re-joiners should avoid their own ‘betrayal’ narrative.
Food Shortages
— Supermarkets are rationing food due to recent shortages. Food shortages have revealed weaknesses in UK supply chains. We must focus on sustainable sourcing, efficient transport and better waste management to prevent future crises.
War in Ukraine
— Putin’s announcement that Russia will no longer participate in the New START pauses the last remaining nuclear weapons agreement between the U.S. and Russia.
War in Ukraine
— The message is clear: this war must end in Ukraine, and the West will do all it can to ensure this outcome.
COVID-19
— Previous infection was highly protective against reinfection with alpha, beta and delta variants, but less so against omicron BA.1.
