Long-Read

Brexit: Unsettled and still not settleable

— Brexit has failed to secure public support for its current form, with the latest opinion poll showing roughly half of the population would vote to rejoin the EU, and a clear majority thinks it was a mistake to leave the EU.

UK Politics

Political leaders need a grand narrative – Rishi Sunak’s is a story of decline

— The prime minister has acknowledged that a narrative of national decline is setting in – but he has been unable to disentangle himself from it.

UK Politics

The government debunked a 15-minute city conspiracy... then endorsed it

— The Levelling up Department’s own guidance contradicts comments by Transport Secretary Mark Harper at the Conservative Conference.

Immigration

Suella Braverman is wrong about the UN refugee convention being ‘not fit for purpose’

— Suella Braverman has criticised the Refugee Convention, arguing that it is not “fit for our modern age” and should be renegotiated, even though it is thanks to the Convention that people are able to access their human rights and rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.

OPINION

Rishi Sunak has ripped up decades of cross-party consensus on climate change

— The prime minister’s decision to delay or scrap green measures will make it harder for the UK to keep its climate commitments.

Long-Read

It’s limited, but Labour’s post-Brexit policy does offer voters a choice

— The domestic political landscape is shaping up with Labour offering a closer and more harmonious relationship with the EU, while the Tories maintain a more distant approach. Time is running out to address the economic and geopolitical consequences of Brexit.

HS2

Rising costs and delays don’t necessarily mean HS2 is failing

— Economists do not have the analytical tools to properly measure the full value of a megaproject. Deciding on whether to pull the plug or not is always a political matter.

UK Politics

Age, not class, is now the biggest divide in British politics

— The latest findings from the British Social Attitudes survey suggest younger voters appear to have little faith that public spending will be directed their way.

Climate Policy

How Sunak’s back-pedalling on net zero could damage efforts to decarbonise Britain’s homes

— The government’s unpredictable approach to energy-efficiency has cost progress to net zero before.

COVID-19 VIP Lane

UK Government: Unveiling secret dealings and hidden payments during the Pandemic

— The Department of Health and Social Care has made undisclosed payments totalling £137 million to a company owned by healthcare tech magnate Frank Hester, who donated £5 million to the Conservative Party.

Anti-Net Zero Populism

Anti-Net Zero groups welcome Sunak’s green U-turn – As civil servants left in disarray

— Rishi Sunak appears to have sided with anti-green MPs as officials are left confused over how the UK will achieve its legal commitment to net zero.

Anti-Net Zero Populism

Sunak should be wary of backtracking on net zero – What history tells us about flip-flopping on the environment

— Rishi Sunak has delayed some of the UK’s key net zero targets – a look back at history may explain why.

Anti-Net Zero Populism

Sunak’s Net Zero policy shift sparks controversy

— Rishi Sunak’s decision to slow down the UK’s shift to electric vehicles, postpone climate targets and scrap other plans have stirred up strong reactions from various quarters, including his own party. Does it make him a strong leader?

OPINION

The failure of British Democracy

— Are Keir Starmer’s right-leaning policies neglecting pressing issues like homelessness and poverty? Why are both Labour and Conservative parties ignoring public support for nationalising key sectors and rejoining the European Single Market?

UK Politics

The Conservatives have seized on cars as a political wedge – it’s a bet on the public turning against climate action

— Today, as in the past, pro-car sentiment is a backlash against nascent environmental protest.

RAAC

Concrete in schools: How missing data and poor funding contributed to today’s closures

— UK schools are contending with a financial crisis, yet the governmental revenue funds are inadequate despite the urgent need for capital for essential repairs in schools. The lack of data on the condition of school buildings adds complexity to planning procedures.