2024 General Election

Labour scaling back its £28 billion green pledge will impact UK housing – and public health

— Too often government policy is not designed with the long-term in mind. Instead, short-term economic outcomes and political gains are prioritised – to the detriment of public health.

Long-Read

Brexit: A mug’s eyeful

— Brexit’s promises prove illusory with issues like stalled UK-Canada trade talks and delayed import controls exposing failures. Changes in Northern Ireland reveal ongoing challenges, while public opinion increasingly sees Brexit as a failure, prompting calls for accountability.

Children in Care

Have Conservative councils started placing more children in care each year than Labour councils?

— We investigated whether rates of children in care have been growing or falling across all English local authorities according to their party political leadership.

Fuel Poverty

Fuel poverty: As government support dries up, communities are taking action

— Over two million people face winter energy cutoffs due to affordability issues. Vulnerable groups, including lone parents and renters, struggle most. As current government support falls short, community-led initiatives prove more effective in addressing fuel poverty.

Thread

Kent’s political theatre: The missing chapters in the Conservative candidate’s pamphlet

— Following a boundary change in a safe Tory seat in Kent, the party’s new candidate issued a pamphlet lacking substance. Despite working for controversial figures, her past is omitted, revealing Conservative hesitancy in transparency in the upcoming general election.

Petition

From subpostmaster to public champion: Why Alan Bates deserves a seat in the House of Lords

— A petition urges Rishi Sunak to grant Alan Bates a life peerage for his fight against Post Office injustices and impact on justice and public service reform.

UK Politics

North Sea oil: Politics, profits, and the price of environmental sacrifice

— The UK’s approval of North Sea oil and gas licenses, including for a major Conservative donor’s subsidiary, sparks controversy. Critics question environmental impact, conflicts of interest, and adherence to climate goals.

UK Politics

Four trends you’ll see in online election campaigns this year

— In the 2024 election campaign, TikTok gains prominence alongside traditional platforms. Parties use diverse digital advertising channels like Google and YouTube, focusing on specific demographics.

UK Politics

Labour’s £28 billion green investment promise could be watered down

— Labour leader Keir Starmer faces pressure over Labour’s proposed £28 billion yearly investment in green initiatives. Critics fear fiscal liability, while supporters argue for urgent climate action despite potential political backlash.

UK Politics

What is rule 39? UK Government tells civil servants to ignore European Court of Human Rights on Rwanda deportations

— The UK Government faces challenges in its asylum plan to send refugees to Rwanda, amid legal debates, prompting it to instruct civil servants to ignore European Court of Human Rights’ rule 39 orders. Persistent violations risk expulsion from the Council of Europe, impacting human rights.

Long-Read

Evaluating Brexit, honestly

— Brexit’s impact is complex and hard to disentangle from other factors. It hasn’t helped issues like medicine shortages, steel jobs, or environmental protection. Brexit promised concrete benefits, not just abstract ideas, and has failed to deliver.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland deal to restore power-sharing after two-year gap – how it happened and what comes next

— DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson ends nearly two years of power-sharing protest in Northern Ireland, aiming for a deal with Sinn Féin and UK government concessions on Brexit-related checks. Challenges and symbolism complicate the return to governance.

Northern Ireland

Why 150,000 public sector workers in Northern Ireland have been on strike

— Northern Ireland’s largest strike in 50 years, involving 150,000 public sector workers, protests a 7.2% real pay cut, worsening public services, and the ongoing political crisis in Stormont.

UK Politics

Why David Cameron’s past and present relations with China could be Rishi Sunak’s first big political headache of 2024

— David Cameron’s ties with China present challenges for the current UK Government. As Foreign Secretary, Cameron’s more dovish stance clashes with the party’s current China-sceptic position, creating internal tensions and complicating UK foreign policy.

Long-Read

The scandal of the settlement scheme for EU citizens

— Last week’s focus on the Horizon Post Office scandal prompts reflection on the ongoing EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) issues affecting EU citizens in the UK, revealing a systemic problem requiring attention.

OPINION

British nationalism, the politics of warmongering

— In an election year, a struggling right-wing British nationalist government, facing a 20% poll gap, deploys military action in Yemen, hoping for a Falklands-like boost, disregarding the consequences.