History Matters Project: Eleventh Edition
Alexander GrayThis is the eleventh edition of our rolling compendium, which attempts to draw together a range of recent developments that turn on the place of history in the public square – including the removal of certain statues on public display, the renaming of buildings and places, and changes to the way history is taught in educational curricula.
Politicising Plants
Ursula Buchan, Professor Christopher Forsyth and Zewditu GebreyohanesThe Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are the custodians of arguably the world’s greatest plant collection, enjoyed by generations of visitors. The institution’s purpose – broadly, research in plant science, giving advice on the science of plants, maintenance of its collection and public access to it – is defined by the 1983 National Heritage Act. For carrying out these tasks Kew receives over £30 million in public funds annually.
Reforming Australia’s electricity market
Ed BirkettFollowing a regional blackout in 2016, the Australian Governments established review of their electricity market. In October this year, Ministers approved a package of reforms to Australia’s National Electricity Market. This report explores the Australian reforms and looks for lessons for the UK.
Public satisfaction with GP services is at a 25 year low. So what can be done to reverse the decline?
The publication of the most recent British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey last week reveals a significant decrease in public satisfaction with NHS services – from dentistry to accident and emergency, reflected across demographic groups. Perhaps the most striking result however was a significant decline in satisfaction with general practice.
Sunak should raise the lower tax threshold this autumn to put more money in people’s pockets
Related Content Higher inflation is inevitable. An economic slowdown is expected. Recession is possible. That is the economic outlook and challenge facing the UK. The question is whether policy makers are doing enough?This troubling economic climate is not unique to...
The Ukraine war has revived American leadership and dashed dreams of European autonomy
Related Content In the 1990s, Mark Eyskens, then Belgium’s foreign minister, described the EU as an economic giant, a political dwarf, and a military worm. This depiction has since been invoked in dozens of articles and speeches about EU foreign and security...
Boris Johnson sets out the vision for his Premiership
Boris Johnson set out his vision for the United Kingdom on the steps of Downing Street yesterday – in the course of which he embraced many of the ideas championed by Policy Exchange in our series of policy proposals for the next Prime Minister.
Policy Exchange launches Space Policy Unit
The UK should consider setting up a new Space Council “along the same lines as the USA”, according to Chris Skidmore, Science Minister, in order to help create a “joined up government policy towards space”.
The Economist praises Policy Exchange’s work on Prosperity and Place
“Policy Exchange is doing wonderful work on trying to rethink capitalism in the light of growing concentrations of wealth, and social policy in the light of growing public alienation.”
Upcoming Events
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Wednesday, 4 November, 2020
17:00 - 18:00
The Islamist challenge to France: Can the 5th Republic prevail?
Speakers: Manuel Valls, French former Prime Minister (2014-2016) and Minister of the Interior (2012-1014); Hakim El Karoui, researcher and political consultant, Senior Fellow at Institut Montaigne (Islam, Arab World) author of L’Islam, une religion française (2018); Anne-Clementine Larroque, researcher, specialist on Islamism, and ‘maître de conferences’ in International Relations at Institut d’Etudes politiques de Paris Author of Li’Islamisme au Pouvoir (2018), Sortir du Bataclan (2016), Géopolitique des islamismes (2016); Tom Tugendhat MBE MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee; Sir John Jenkins, Senior Fellow, Policy Exchange
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Monday, 9 November, 2020
18:00 - 19:00
Robert D. Putnam, Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University and Shaylyn Romney, author, speaker and social entrepreneur co- authors of ‘The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again’ in conversation with Danny Kruger MBE MP, Member of Parliament for Devizes.
An eminent political scientist’s brilliant analysis of economic, social, and political trends over the past century demonstrating how we have gone from an individualistic “I” society to a more communitarian “We” society and then back again, and how we can learn from that experience to become a stronger, more unified nation—from the author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids.
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Tuesday, 3 November, 2020
15:30 - 16:15
A keynote speech by H.E. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary of India chaired by Rt Hon Lord Johnson of Marylebone