Government & Politics
Latest Government & Politics Publications
Overlooked But Decisive: Connecting with England’s Just about Managing classes
James FrayneDespite their overwhelming importance, “squeezed middle” voters – those in the C1/C2 socio-economic classes – across England’s most marginal seats feel overlooked and unrepresented. Overlooked but Decisive examines the values and political attitudes of this group and develops a detailed profile of this groups values and beliefs.
Electoral Omission
Dr Michael Pinto-DuschinskyElectoral Omission highlights how the administration of elections in the UK remains dangerously inefficient and open to fraud and predicts that there will be up to 15.5 million errors on the UK’s electoral registers at the time of next year’s General Election. The report recommends the introduction of targets for the maximum number of omissions and errors in the electoral register and annual checks to measure accuracy, along with small council tax rebates to encourage people to complete and return their voter registration forms.
Northern Lights: Public policy and the geography of political attitudes in Britain today
Neil O'BrienIs there a north-south divide political divide? A major study into public attitudes – Northern Lights – examines the new political and social geography of England. The research finds that the way people vote is less and less determined by their social class, and more by how they think the government is performing and their attitudes to controversial issues like migration and crime.
Latest Government & Politics Blogs
What might we expect from the German federal election?
On Sunday, Germany will go to the polls to elect the nineteenth Bundestag. Rebecca Lowe — Convenor of Policy Exchange’s Research Group on Political Thought, and Judicial Power Project Fellow — reflects on the campaign and the possible outcomes.
An Irish perspective on the Brexit Talks so far
Former leading Irish Ambassador Ray Bassett — now Policy Exchange’s Senior Fellow for EU Affairs — examines the state of play in Brexit negotiations so far. Dr. Bassett notes that little progress has been made on key three issues that are holding up the negotiations – reciprocal rights of EU and UK citizens, the Brexit Divorce Bill and the Irish border. However, he suggests that there is less unanimity in the EU27 position than appears on surface and that the new Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, may dissent from the official EU position on the need to establish a customs border. Ultimately, as negotiations continue, the power of decision will shift from Brussels to Berlin, suggesting that pragmatism and self-interest may prevail, with a good trading relationship prioritised over the desire to punish the UK for leaving.
The real questions behind Vice Chancellors’ pay
Rebecca Lowe Coulson — Policy Exchange’s State and Society Research Fellow — reflects on the way in which the escalating rate of VC pay seems neatly emblematic of the pressing questions the Higher Education sector is facing. Policy Exchange is currently undertaking work on this topic, with a report due out in the autumn to coincide with the start of the new academic year.
Latest Government & Politics News
Brexit Vote Showed How a Referendum Can Reflect a Nation’s True Feelings
Richard EkinsRead Article Referendums are not generally a good idea. The electorate is not well placed to rule directly. In general, self-government should be by way of representative institutions. Still, there are times when it is reasonable for the legislature to put some...
Judges must keep out of political minefields
Policy ExchangePhilip Johnston, writes for The Daily Telegraph on judges making political decisions and the work of Policy Exchange’s Judicial Power Project.
Speaker Bercow: Corbyn will need to stick with new PMQs tone for months
Web AdministratorThe Spectator’s Isabel Hardman covers Policy Exchange’s event with John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons. The Speaker set out his thoughts on how PMQs could be improved (beyond better behaviour from MPs), including a longer session and a mix of open and substantive questions from MPs.
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