Labour must walk the tightrope on Brexit
Despite numerous calls for a ‘People’s vote’ on Brexit, Labour should persevere in resisting another referendum, if it is to win a majority at the next general election. There has been significant pressure in the last few months for Labour to fully back the ‘People’s vote’ campaign for a ‘final…
My experience working with Clive Lewis
It is more than fair to say that working in Westminster has been an invaluable experience that I will treasure greatly. I was warmly greeted by the lovely staff of Clive Lewis in Westminster which quickly calmed my nerves, as this is my first experience of Politics on the ground.…
To Backstop, or not to Backstop… That is the ‘Irish question’
What was a neglected issue during the referendum campaigns has now become the main sticking point in Brexit negotiations, and there exists no possible answer unless someone crosses a red line. In macroeconomics, there is a concept known as the impossible trinity or the ‘trilemma’. It’s a hypothesis which says…
Remainers may not be the only ‘animals’ offended by Brexit
Animal welfare legislation and regulations could potentially decline following the UK’s exit from the European Union. Activists argue that new trade deals will trade off animal rights for cheaper produce from countries such as the USA. Despite reassurances from certain MPs, there is pressure in Westminster for relaxing standards to…
Interview with Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba: “I learned to suffer but to do it with a degree of dignity”
Interview with Mr Alfredo Pérez-Rubalcaba a key figure in Spanish politics. The former Interior Minister, Minister of Education, Deputy PM and leader of the Spanish socialist party was interviewed by one of our students in Madrid last autumn. He unfortunately passed away in May. With his loss we say goodbye to…
New Evidence Shows Increasing Public Support for Hate Speech Laws post-Brexit
Dr. Alex Brown examines a new YouGov poll which shows a rise in public support for hate speech laws since 2017. The new poll follows up on a previous survey carried out by YouGov back in 2017, looking at British attitudes concerning laws banning the stirring up of hatred. In…
Who runs elections and how can they be improved? Independence, resources and workforce conditions are essential for electoral integrity
In new research published about how elections are run around the world, Toby S. James, Leontine Loeber, Holly Ann Garnett and Carolien van Hamfind that organisational independence matters for well-run elections, and that election management could be improved with more resources, improved working conditions for election employees – and a better gender balance in…
#DeniedMyVote – why many EU citizens were unable to vote in the European Parliament elections
On Thursday 23 May, the UK participated in European Parliament elections. Citizens of all EU countries should be able to vote in these elections in the country they live, but many non-UK EU citizens found they had been excluded from the electoral register and were unable to vote. Toby James explains how…
Wittgenstein on Logic as the Method of Philosophy: An Interview with Oskari Kuusela
Oskari Kuusela is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of East Anglia. He very kindly found some time in his diary to talk to us about his new book – Wittgenstein on Logic as the Method of Philosophy: Re-examining the Roots and Development of Analytic Philosophy. The book has…
The Potential of Community Participation in Politics
UEA students Samuel Woolford and Arthur Buttimore look at how political participation could be rejuvenated. As a part of the Future Leaders Project, we were given the opportunity to take part in and event organised by Model Westminster at City Hall in London. The event focused on aspects of Youth…