Achieving accountable government
The tax credit row highlighted a fundamental imbalance in our political system: here’s one way to redress it
The events leading to the Strathclyde Review highlighted a fundamental problem with our democratic system, namely that it is currently skewed too far in favour of representation, with little to ensure individual government actions are aligned with public’s preferences, writes Harry Farmer. He argues if this is to change, reform of the House of Lords […]
“Some of the criticisms betray a misunderstanding of the UK model” – Lord Bew responds to Alan Doig’s critique of the Committee on Standards in Public Life
Lord Bew, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life responds to Professor Doig’s blogs about its remit and work. Lord Bew argues that as an independent advisory body in an adversarial Parliamentary democracy, it must rely on evidence and analysis to make the case and push for high standards in public life. Similar […]
Book Review: Uninformed: Why People Know So Little About Politics and What We Can Do About It by Arthur Lupia
Are citizens fundamentally uninformed – or even misinformed – when it comes to questions of politics and government? In Uninformed: Why People Knows So Little About Politics and What We Can Do About It, Arthur Lupia tackles the issue of political ignorance by arguing that rather than simply seeking to provide greater information to the […]
The UK needs to put an approach to public ethics and integrity on a permanent, professional and evidenced basis
Are other approaches to public integrity needed? Alan Doig suggests in his final blog on the subject of standards in public life that it is important to re-think how we sustain public integrity in order to ensure we get policy in this crucial area right. Similar PostsThe Committee on Standards in Public Life needs reform if […]
The Committee on Standards in Public Life needs reform if it is to fulfil its important role properly in the future
If the approach to public integrity taken by local government is anything to go by, the Committee on Standards in Public Life is no substitute for the Standards Board or the Audit Commission in terms of strategy or scrutiny. Alan Doig suggests that now is the time to consider another approach. Similar Posts“Some of the […]
‘Super Thursday’ showed us that British politics has changed for good
Last Thursday’s elections highlighted the persistence of multi-party politics, the growing distinctiveness of the devolved nations and the diversity of electoral systems. Katie Ghose argues these longer term trends deserve greater attention given the implications they have for the future shape of the UK. Similar PostsFirst-past-the-post – normal (disproportionate) service has resumedCanada’s 2019 federal election: […]
Mission creep and the Committee on Standards in Public Life; why its time for a new approach to get back to basics
The Committee on Standards in Public Life was introduced in order to restore a degree of confidence in the integrity of public officials following a number of scandals during the late 1980s and early 1990’s. Alan Doig suggests that the committee is not performing effectively, and that it is still unclear how to deliver and […]
The UK needs to rethink its approach to the upholding of standards in public life
Is it time to re-think the UK’s public integrity strategy? Alan Doig argues that a new approach should be considered to take over from successive iterations of an increasingly ineffectual Committee on Standards in Public Life. Similar PostsMission creep and the Committee on Standards in Public Life; why its time for a new approach to get […]
Book Review: Social Policy in a Cold Climate: Policies and their Consequences Since the Crisis edited by Ruth Lupton et al
Launched at LSE by CASE, in Social Policy in a Cold Climate: Policies and their Consequences Since the Crisis editors Ruth Lupton et al analyse the impact of recent Labour and Coalition government policies on inequality and the provision of key services, including health, education, housing and employment, since 2007. This volume particularly highlights the different iterations and […]
The Polish Catholic Church has become intertwined with Euroscepticism and the promotion of conservative “national values”
After a surge of support in the Presidential and General Elections last year, the right-wing national conservative Law and Justice Party now dominates Polish politics. In this post, Simona Guerra explores the government’s relationship with the Polish Church and its role in fuelling religious Euroscepticism and supporting draconian abortion laws. She writes that the close alliance shows there […]
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