A guide to watching US Election night

By Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham This may be the most important mid-term US election in American history, determining not only majorities in each house of Congress but also the fate of America amid the division and animosity of the Trump era. The house … Continue reading “A guide to watching US Election night”

Dr Who? Rosa Parks is the real hero of the story…

By Rachael Hunter, Research Fellow Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham 7.00pm on a Sunday evening is a sacred time for many viewers as they watch the valiant if eccentric, Doctor travel through time and space to battle mysterious aliens and injustice. I am usually found in a different corner of the … Continue reading “Dr Who? Rosa Parks is the real hero of the story…”

Budget 2018 and the NHS: the gauntlet has been thrown

By Judith Smith, Professor of Health Policy and Management Director of Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham In June, the Prime Minister gave the NHS what appeared to be a very generous 70th birthday present  – the promise of a new long-term funding settlement worth an extra £20.5 billion a year by 2023-24. When set alongside other … Continue reading “Budget 2018 and the NHS: the gauntlet has been thrown”

VIDEO AND PODCAST: Why do we need more female CEOs?

Female CEOs of large firms are a rare breed. In the US in 2015, there were more CEOs called John running big companies in the US than women. In 2016, there were only six female CEOs in the firms covered by the FTSE 100 index and 12 in the FTSE 250 index. In the FTSE 100, there were … Continue reading “VIDEO AND PODCAST: Why do we need more female CEOs?”

Your guide to Brexit: What is the UK facing?

It’s less than six months until the UK’s departure from the European Union. The party conferences have ended with the May Government clinging to a compromise “Chequers Plan” — but with the Prime Minister so embattled by hard Brexit-ers that she dare not mention it by name. Uncertainty prevails. So what are the prospects for … Continue reading “Your guide to Brexit: What is the UK facing?”

Should schools rename Religious Education ‘Religion and Worldviews’?

By Professor Michael Hand and Dr Reza Gholami School of Education, University of Birmingham The Commission on Religious Education report has called for an overhaul to Religious Education (RE) in schools and has recommended that the subject should be called ‘religion and worldviews’, to reflect the diversity of today’s world and to incorporate worldviews such … Continue reading “Should schools rename Religious Education ‘Religion and Worldviews’?”

All bets are off: What’s the deal with Brexit?

By Professor Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham It is less than six months until the UK’s departure from the European Union. The party conferences have ended with the May Government clinging to a compromise “Chequers Plan” – but with the Prime Minister so embattled … Continue reading “All bets are off: What’s the deal with Brexit?”

A lion in the jungle or a dancing queen? Theresa May at the Conservative Party conference

By Dr Matt Cole,  Teaching Fellow Department of History, University of Birmingham The annual conference of the UK Conservative Party is an intriguing conundrum: it determines much more than it decides. This year, facing Brexit and the future of Prime Minister Theresa May, was no different. There was no vote over the UK departure from … Continue reading “A lion in the jungle or a dancing queen? Theresa May at the Conservative Party conference”

Brexit’s Effect on the National Health Service and immigration

By Professor Mark Exworthy, Professor Jean McHale and Dr Nando Sigona, University of Birmingham The impact of Brexit on the NHS With six months until Brexit, the UK’s National Health Service is beset by uncertainty over staffing, patients, medicines, devices and public health, especially if there is No Deal. As 30% of NHS staff come … Continue reading “Brexit’s Effect on the National Health Service and immigration”

Brexit: The Prospect of Deal or No Deal

By Professor John Fender, Professor of Macroeconomics Department of Economics, University of Birmingham With six months to go before the UK’s Brexit departure from the European Union, we still do not know what arrangement will follow. But we can anticipate some of the consequences. No Deal The UK will find its trade relations deteriorating immediately … Continue reading “Brexit: The Prospect of Deal or No Deal”