Life Sciences: The key to a 21st Century NHS

20^th April 2015

As we approach polling day, I believe the choice we are facing on the future of the NHS is becoming ever more clear. The choice is simple: between the focus of Jeremy Hunt and the Conservative Health team on supporting NHS leaders to improve the culture of care and transparency, promote patient empowerment and accelerate access to new treatments by unlocking the power of the NHS as a pioneer of medical innovation, and the depressing sight of Andy Burnham determined to ‘weaponise’ the NHS for partisan advantage.

Health + Life Sciences + LifeSci + NHS

Right to Buy, Wrong to Sell: Why the Conservatives’ ‘Right to Buy’ for Housing Associations will do more harm than good

14^th April 2015

It is further evidence of the priority now accorded to housing policy by the public and the media that much of the interest in the Conservative Party manifesto, published today, has focused on the proposed extension of the ‘right to buy’ policy to housing association (HA) tenants.

Conservatives + GE2015 + Housing + Right to Buy

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.

Supporting the Brave

24^th September 2013

The UK economy remains in transition. Growth is slow. Austerity is the new norm. It will be with us for another decade or more as an antidote to the poisonous effects of some of the mistakes of the past.

Poverty: What does it really mean?

23^rd April 2013

The social and political agenda in the UK has been polarised over the past several weeks on the issue of welfare reform, with the Government supporting work-centred measures as a method of poverty relief, while different organisations and societal actors argue that these proposed measures would push even more people into poverty.

Making It Mutual: A community energy revolution

8^th April 2013

I’m standing on the beach at Hvide Sande, in the northern reaches of Denmark, on a cold October morning. Strong gusts of wind pick up sand and throw it straight at my face.

Making It Mutual: Insurance and mutuality

5^th April 2013

Insurance, at its heart, is a mutual concept: a group of people coming together to solve a shared problem – an uncertain risk of a large loss occurring in specified circumstances – which is solved by exchanging the potential of a large loss for a (comparatively) small premium.

Making It Mutual: Achieving the economic benefits of a more plural economy

25^th March 2013

Interest in employee ownership is, in my experience, most often motivated by a desire for a fairer and more responsible form of capitalism and a drive to encourage personal responsibility among employees.

Reform, Rearrange and Resource: The three Rs we really need

5^th February 2013

Education is one of those subjects, up there with healthcare, law and order, and possibly religion, which never fails to attract attention and generate discussion. On the whole this is a good thing; sharing ideas and information is the key to catalysing change.