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.

Electric Vehicles

Why delaying the ban on petrol and diesel cars won’t slow UK’s shift to electric vehicles

— The switch to electric vehicles is already well under way in the UK. Research even suggests it may now be unstoppable – regardless of what the government does.

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.

RAAC

Concrete crisis: Officials thought asbestos in schools was safe too – the same mistakes have been made over Raac

— Raac and asbestos in schools show that ‘official’ declarations of safety are not acceptable to families.

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?

Brexit

Tears, compromise, divorce – what it’s like to leave the UK because of Brexit

— The plight of those who felt compelled to leave when that reality ended is often overlooked.

COVID-19

Why are those lost to COVID not formally memorialised? How politics shapes what we remember

— Hundreds of thousands of red hearts adorn a wall directly opposite parliament, yet successive prime ministers have nothing to say about officially marking the lives lost in the pandemic.

Immigration

Labour’s new take on immigration: What does it mean for Britain?

— Keir Starmer unveiled how he would tackle the UK’s immigration and asylum issues if elected. Promising a fresh approach, he aims to crack down on people-smuggling gangs and work more closely with the European Union.

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

School repair crisis: Rishi Sunak under fire

— The UK Government faces scrutiny for reducing funding for school repairs, sparking an outcry from former officials and public figures. As students return to classrooms, or makeshift settings due to unsafe buildings, Downing Street and Rishi Sunak have questions to answer.