Category Archives: Uncategorized
Is the Government about to perform a u-turn on extending the right to buy to housing association tenants?
- Posted on June 3, 2015
- in Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
The Conservative Party manifesto commitment to extend the ‘Right-to-Buy’ to housing association tenants was one of the most eye catching policy moments of the general election; re-igniting the debate about the original policy and its lasting impact on social housing and social mobility. The consensus appears to be that, despite […]
Continue reading...What will the Queen have to say?
- Posted on May 28, 2014
- in Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
The Queen’s Speech next Wednesday (4 June) will set out the Government’s legislative programme for the 2014-15 Parliamentary session, so what can we expect? This is the last Queen’s Speech and parliamentary session before the 2015 General Election. It will help to determine the political battles ahead and the nature […]
Continue reading...Labour – the road to 2015
- Posted on June 18, 2013
- in The Policy Wonk, Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
The accusation often levied at opposition parties, past and present, is what would you do? Where are your policies? Observing from outside you would be forgiven to believe that they are policy vacuums until two or three months out from a general election. This is far from the case. Each […]
Continue reading...The Government’s Response to Heseltine
- Posted on March 19, 2013
- in Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
Ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget Statement on Wednesday (20 March) the Government has published its official response to Lord Heseltine’s growth review (“No Stone Unturned in pursuit of growth”). Ministers have accepted 81 of the 89 recommendations put forward (either in full or part), rejected five – and will look […]
Continue reading...Free Public Affairs Forward Look?
- Posted on January 28, 2013
- in Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
Would you like a complimentary Political & Public Affairs Forward Look? When we cast our minds back to the beginning of 2012 it is difficult to imagine predicting the events that followed. The circumstances that led to the fallout from last March’s Budget, the collapse of House of Lords’ reform […]
Continue reading...Heseltine Growth Review – a summary
- Posted on November 1, 2012
- in The Policy Wonk, Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
Yesterday, former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine published “No stone unturned in the pursuit of growth”, his personal report on how economic growth can be more effectively encouraged in the UK. Over the 233 pages the report, which was commissioned last March by the Prime Minister, provides a comprehensive plan […]
Continue reading...Whose Social Value Is It Anyway?
- Posted on August 30, 2012
- in Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
Chris White’s private members’ legislation Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 which is expected to come into effect next January places a duty on local authorities and other public bodies to consider how their public procurement might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of their areas. Its arrival on […]
Continue reading...Central-Local – It’s good to talk
- Posted on July 23, 2012
- in The Policy Wonk, Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
The National Audit Office (NAO) recently published “Central Government’s communications and engagement with local government”, a report on the effectiveness of central government’s communications with local government. The report found that communication is very challenging as a consequence of the organisational differences between central and local government. This difference brings […]
Continue reading...If Cameron turns on the charm, he should take care not to blow his opening lines
- Posted on July 20, 2012
- in The Policy Wonk, Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
John Lehal, managing director of Insight Public Affairs, last week wrote in an article for the Guardian website (“A Year on, it’s time for a charm offensive on open public services”) that private sector involvement in policing was a key test of the Government’s ambition for public service reform and […]
Continue reading...Will Open Public Services succeed?
- Posted on April 26, 2012
- in Uncategorized
- by Policy Wonk
The Coalition Government has published its first progress report on its reforms to public services (“Opening Public Services 2012” (PDF document)) since last July’s Open Public Services White Paper (PDF document). The key developments are: – An independent review to look at how choice can be extended to make sure […]
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