Last week, David Elstein, chairman of the Broadcasting Policy Group and openDemocracy, criticised two key proposals on press regulation following the Leveson Report. Here is his piece, published with responses from Nigel Warner, author of the 'Life after Leveson' IPPR pamphlet, and Brian Cathcart,
Since last weeks big report from Cutcher & Reynolds, the section 75 legislation introducing compulsory tendering to NHS services has hit the headlines but the battle is far from over. Here's a quick roundup of what's happened.
On 17th March when there will be a satellite Q&A with Ken Loach on his new film, Spirit of '45, a powerful call to rediscover the values that built the post-war state. Loach will be joined by Owen Jones, Dot Gibson and more.
With increased use of outsourcing, particularly in the NHS, campaigners want to bring private contractors under FoI legislation. At the same time the government is considering restricting access to information due to alleged abuse. Which direction should FoI be travelling?
A new grassroots network launches this week with the twin aims of scrapping Trident and persuading the UK to join other governments in multilateral negotiations to achieve a global treaty banning nuclear weapons. If we get our strategies right, the peace movement can win this one, says Rebecca Joh
A Public and Commercial Services Union report on wages and growth in the UK highlights a problem the Coalition have studiously avoided: with job losses and wage cuts, how exactly is the economy to grow? Public sector income is private sector demand.
Repeated scandals and costly reorganisations have shown there is a clear lack of democratic accountability on the NHS, an entity whose GDP is larger than most countries. We need a Health Parliament.
The newspapers are creating a wall of noise in the hope that the recommendations of the Leveson inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press are drowned out or fade away. The founder of campaign group Hacked Off decodes the distractions.
Birmingham University began a policy commission on the distribution of wealth in Britain late last year. One of the lead academics sets out its findings thus far and appeals for input into its second stage and public meetings to be held this Spring.
Plans to teach a ‘coherent and chronological’ account of UK history may seem appropriate for English schools. But the loser is global and regional history, increasingly relevant for today’s multicultural student population.
Though intended to be temporary in nature, Agamben argues that the ‘state of exception’ has become a permanent fixture of democratic governance. This ‘war’, declared by the US and its allies against a tactic, and therefore unbound by time or space, is ongoing.
The chair of the English Arts Council for the last four years was removed by the Coalition. In her valedictory speech she sets out her case for the arts over the millenia and makes a moving appeal to the Secretary of State for Education.
