News & Insight

Nationalism is not the cure

11 August 2016

Brexit has become the zeitgeist of constitutional debate. Against this backdrop, John Denham sets out an eloquent case for the need to reform England’s relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom in his article ‘England: a crisis’; there are,...

Continue Reading Democracy / Devolution

Labour’s northern soul: How Stoke lost the faith

11 August 2016

Healthy Labour majorities have long been guaranteed in Stoke-on-Trent, thanks to a self-reinforcing triumvirate of work, trade unionism and party loyalty. However, Labour safe seats in northern, working-class towns risk being taken for granted. In 2015,...

Continue Reading Devolution / Employment / Facing the Future

Whatever happened to multiculturalism?

10 August 2016

To many, multiculturalism, not just as demography or social description of a town or city but as a political idea, suffered a body blow in 2001. In the shock of 9/11 and the analysis following riots in Leeds, Oldham and...

Continue Reading England and Labour / Immigration

Immigration anxiety

8 August 2016

Immigration anxiety is the feeling of heightened discomfort and uncertainty when thinking about people who have moved to your country. This often also includes people native to your country, but who are assumed to be foreign due to a difference...

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Innovation and place

5 August 2016

Across the UK’s local innovation landscape, the result of June’s referendum has given rise to a full-throated chorus of voices asking ‘so, what’s next?’ It’s a pertinent question, and any attempt to provide an ‘easy’ answer would invariably be trite and...

Continue Reading Economy / Work

Shifting the balance

5 August 2016

If we’re to see the true realisation of the devolution agenda, then London must be granted tax raising powers. That much is obvious. Greater financial autonomy for our capital is vital in securing London’s growth and that can only be...

Continue Reading Devolution / Housing