Democracy, power and governance
This policy briefing explores how community empowerment programmes give residents greater control over local decision-making in response to growing social division and declining trust in democracy.…Read more
Ed Bridges discusses how Andy Burnham's devolution agenda could face a major test if it expands powers within England while resisting greater devolution for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.…Read more
Aaron Martin, author of 'The Trust Gap', argues that the perceived "crisis of trust" is overstated: while public trust in politicians is often low, survey data shows that many people continue to have confidence in institutions such as universities, the courts, the police, and scientific experts.…Read more
Lee Gregory suggests that the next Labour leader should reject the false choice between welfare and defence by arguing that reducing poverty is an essential investment in national security, economic strength, and long-term prosperity.…Read more
Will Snell, author of 'The Fair Necessities', examines how extreme wealth, exemplified by a trillion-dollar fortune, is rapidly widening inequality, with largely unearned and extractive wealth growth that harms economic growth, social mobility, democracy, and the environment.…Read more
Joanna Mack, author of 'Impoverished', argues that tackling poverty in the UK requires bold, long-term reforms that combine fairer incomes, lower costs for essential goods, stronger public services, and a more universal welfare system rather than relying mainly on means-tested benefits.…Read more
Scott Thomas and Jonathan Glazzard, authors of 'The Queer World of Prison', discuss how LGBTQIA+ prisoners face heightened risks of discrimination, isolation, violence, and inadequate support in prison, highlighting the need for systemic reforms, inclusive policies, and better staff training to ensure their safety and wellbeing.…Read more
Ahead of the ninth anniversary of Grenfell, Steve Tombs examines how the Grenfell disaster will test whether UK corporate manslaughter law can finally hold large organisations accountable for avoidable deaths, despite a long history of limited prosecutions and systemic barriers to corporate criminal liability.…Read more
On the eve of what FIFA bills as ‘the greatest show on earth’ – the 2026 World Cup hosted in North America – it’s worth pausing to ask how well it serves the interests of the fans of the planet’s biggest spectator sport.…Read more
The article argues that rising inequality, scapegoating and misinformation are driving social division in the UK, but history shows societies can renew themselves by confronting structural problems rather than blaming vulnerable groups.…Read more