COVID-19: Are we truly free or merely enslaved to ourselves?

7^th April 2020

‘Through discipline comes freedom’. Over two thousand years ago Aristotle warned that freedom means more than just “doing as one likes”. Ancient Greek societies survived plagues, though the hardship they endured tested all constitutions and often caused a breakdown in traditional values.

Covid-19 + Freedom

Airtight on Asbestos – A campaign to save our future

25^th November 2019

On the 24th of November 1999, the United Kingdom banned the use of asbestos. Twenty years later and this toxic mineral still plagues public health, being linked to multiple diseases including mesothelioma.   But why has asbestos remained such a threat to public health, despite laws which prevent its use?

asbestos + mesothelioma

Rationality & Regionality: A more effective way to dealing with climate change | by Hamza King

20^th September 2019

Liberalism relies heavily on certain assumptions about the human condition, particularly, about our ability to act rationally. John Rawls defines a rational person as one who can identify and prioritise from the options available, then follow a ‘plan which will satisfy more of his desires rather than less’.

climate change + communitarianism + environment

What are the Implications of proroguing Parliament?

28^th August 2019

During his campaign, Boris Johnson made it very clear that when it comes to proroguing Parliament, he is “not going to take anything off the table”. Today [n.b. 28th August 2019] it appears that the PM is moving forth with that line of thought, in an effort to curtail efforts from Parliament to block a no-deal Brexit.

ResPublica’s submission to CMA

2^nd August 2019

Download the full text of the submission On 3rd July 2019, the CMA launched a market study into online platforms and the digital advertising market in the UK. CMA wanted to assess three broad potential sources of harm to consumers in connection with the market for digital advertising: to what extent online platforms have market power in user-facing markets, and what impact this has on consumers whether consumers are able and willing to control how data about them is used and collected by online platforms whether competition in the digital advertising market may be distorted by any market power held by platforms Overall, we welcome the CMA’s announcement of a study into of these markets.

CMA + Data + Digital competition + Tech

Productive Places | WSP and ResPublica

8^th November 2018

On Wednesday 31st October ResPublica and WSP hosted a panel discussion in Parliament to launch WSP’s Productive Places paper and debate its findings. The report outlines how places that are designed and delivered with Space, Health, Accessibility, Resilience and Engagement (WSP’s SHARE approach) in mind can boost UK’s productivity.

Built Environment + Infrastructure + Localism + Productivity + Sustainability

ResPublica’s Response to the Autumn Budget 2018

29^th October 2018

The 2018 Budget delivered by Philip Hammond was the first since 1962 to be delivered on a day other than a Wednesday, and was moved forward from an expected November date to avoid a clash with the final month of Brexit negotiations in November.

budget + Economy + Public Spending

ResPublica Response to changes to the National Planning Policy Framework

20^th March 2018

The Government’s housing announcements on the 5th March were the first substantial change to the planning system since the Coalition reforms six years ago. The changes aim to respond to many criticisms of planning policy that have been made over the past few years.

Food poverty: Time to lift the veil?

14^th February 2018

A century on from Charles Booth’s famous Poverty Map of London, accurate information on poverty has never been more important. So the findings of a new study that 1 in 4 parents are skipping meals because they don’t have enough money shows we need to take a much closer look at a new form of an old problem – that of food poverty in modern Britain.

ResPublica’s Response to the Industrial Strategy White Paper

28^th November 2017

Following the creation of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in July 2016 and firing the starting gun for a string of sector deals, on the 27th November the Government set forth its vision for enhancing UK global competitiveness.