Repositioning the Church of England as a strategic partner in public service reform

18^th February 2015

The Church of England has been firmly in the public spotlight over the past few weeks. The celebrations in York at the consecration of its first female bishop provided a brief moment of euphoria after a 20-year journey towards modernisation.

Who is my Neighbour? How the Church can stop politics from eating itself up

17^th February 2015

Today, the Church of England’s House of Bishops issued a Pastoral Letter entitled Who is my Neighbour? – the first such extensive and reflective contribution to any election debate. It expresses dismay at ‘retail politics’ and anxiety about accumulations of power wherever they are found – whether in the state or the market.

Regulating Conduct – Where should the burden fall?

12^th February 2015

It is concerning to read this morning of the decision to scrap the Financial Conduct Authority’s approved persons register and place the burden of regulating the conduct of individuals on the firms themselves, giving them primary responsibility for the fitness of all regulated staff.

bankers licence + banking + financial services reform

Digital currencies and the future of financial innovation

12^th February 2015

Among financial and techie communities, digital currencies (DC), such as bitcoin, have become the exciting development to watch. It’s exciting because it could transform the way we transfer money in the UK.

Rethinking Economics: The story so far

12^th February 2015

In 2011 and 2012 small numbers of disgruntled economics students started cropping up in universities across the UK.  In Cambridge, Manchester, then UCL groups formed of those who were unhappy with the state of economics.

Reclaiming Temperance – Establishing a responsible and sociable drinking culture

6^th February 2015

Britain has for centuries repeatedly faced the problem of binge drinking. As this article from January 1903 demonstrates, our current travails in tackling problem drinking are hardly new. What is required but is rarely addressed is culture change.

Taking responsibility for local economic recovery

2^nd February 2015

The trouble with economic recovery is that someone else always has to do it – the bankers, investors, industrialists or mandarins.  What about the rest of us – and what about the places we live in?