News & Insight

8 February 2016

On 5th November 2004, the result of the referendum on the introduction of a regional assembly for the north east was announced: 77.93 per cent against. With that resounding defeat, the New Labour project to ensure symmetric devolution in the...

4 February 2016

There’s a popular belief that the Chinese word for crisis is made up of the symbols for both danger and opportunity. The Labour party has a similar relationship with the word devolution, though sadly we don’t seem to be focusing...

2 February 2016

Who are we? An answer has rarely seemed so imperative. Later this year, a closely-contested referendum will determine whether or not Britain leaves the EU. If the vote is for an exit, then the pro-European Scottish government may make another...

29 January 2016

2015 lies behind the Labour party like a battlefield littered with the detritus of its defeat. The party retreats into the new year, disoriented and deeply uncertain of its future. Ahead of it lies the European referendum debate and elections...

28 January 2016

Earlier this week a Nobel prize winning economist warned that unless the UK is able to improve its productivity performance, George Osborne’s 'national living wage' policy will end in failure. Sir Christoper Pissarides was right to intervene. Boosting productivity is the...

27 January 2016

Our rural and coastal communities often feel their voices aren’t heard in politics. Turn on the television, the radio or read any newspaper and you’ll hear plenty of talk about Crossrail, the City, even the ‘northern powerhouse’. In contrast, you’ll...