By Jonathan Pettifer, Doctoral Researcher, Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham The UK has plummeted down the rankings of LGBTQ-friendly countries over the last decade. With a general election set for 4 July, could a change in government mean an improvement in LGBTQ+ rights? When New Labour took office in 1997, … Continue reading “Trans rights? Not under Starmer’s Labour Party”
SoS – Save our Shops! Will the forthcoming election bring about effective retail change?
By Professor Sarah Montano & Dr Inci Toral, Department of Marketing, Birmingham Business School We are used to seeing the news headlines stating that the High Street is dying. The recent loss of Wilko emphasises the precarious nature of retail. In 2022 Ordnance Survey data showed that department stores had declined by 13.4%. However, there … Continue reading “SoS – Save our Shops! Will the forthcoming election bring about effective retail change?”
Denied democracy? Why trans* voters could lose out at the upcoming general election
By Dr Ash Kayte Stokoe, Department of Political Science and International Studies and Dr Kit Colliver, York Law School On July 04, the UK will hold the first general election where everyone will be required to bring photo ID to vote in person. The new rules, brought in by the Elections Act 2022, represent a … Continue reading “Denied democracy? Why trans* voters could lose out at the upcoming general election”
Controversial RSHE Draft: Threatening LGBTQIA+ Education Amidst Election Turmoil
By Joséphine Hengstwerth, Postgraduate Research Student & Member of the Rainbow Network and Dr Sophie King-Hill, Associate Professor in the Health Services Management Centre The new draft Relationships, Sex and Health Education was released on the 16th May this year. There are many issues with this guidance that directly conflict with research and evidence in the … Continue reading “Controversial RSHE Draft: Threatening LGBTQIA+ Education Amidst Election Turmoil “
Look What You Made Me D̶o̶ Buy: Shopping Swiftonomics
By Professor Sarah Montano, Department of Marketing, Birmingham Business School The excitement is building for Taylor’s Swift’s Eras tour which is arriving in the UK on 7th June. For a Lucky One who has a ticket and for Swifties, Barclays research has shown that the Eras tour will boost the UK economy by nearly a … Continue reading “Look What You Made Me D̶o̶ Buy: Shopping Swiftonomics”
Society is finally paying attention to sibling sexual abuse and behaviour, but what is next?
By Amy Adams, PhD doctoral researcher, Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology In 2020 I typed the words ‘sibling sexual abuse’ into Google, besides academic articles there was little in the way of information about this issue, which surprised me. Determined to understand more I scrolled down the returned results, and about six searches … Continue reading “Society is finally paying attention to sibling sexual abuse and behaviour, but what is next?”
Not-so-cool Britannia: Can UK tourism recover from the Brexit hit?
By Dr Ahmed Shaalan – Department of Marketing, Birmingham Business School, Marwa Tourky – Cranfield University and Khaled Ibrahim – Unitec-Institute of Technology, New Zealand The 2016 Brexit referendum triggered a seismic shift in the landscape of UK tourism, a previously thriving industry celebrated for its robust contribution to the national economy. The unprecedented political upheaval … Continue reading “Not-so-cool Britannia: Can UK tourism recover from the Brexit hit?”
AI and Democracy: A threat or an opportunity?
By Dr Adam Matthews, School of Education, University of Birmingham 2024 has been described as make or break for democracy worldwide with 1.5 billion citizens going to the polls in more than 50 countries. With many claiming AI will be as disruptive as steam, electricity, printing press, TV and radio, and the internet, AI technologies … Continue reading “AI and Democracy: A threat or an opportunity?”
Cracks in the Blue Wall: Do Conservative Electoral Losses Signal a Shift in Southern Strongholds?
By Dr Jacob Salder, Department of Management, Birmingham Business School I’m sure the past week has been difficult for Rishi Sunak. Losing almost half the incumbent Councillors standing for re-election will have stung, and the outcome of the mayoral elections more so. The Tees Valley offering a sole scion of hope here, in other cities … Continue reading “Cracks in the Blue Wall: Do Conservative Electoral Losses Signal a Shift in Southern Strongholds?”
Apathy, allegiance, and anger, the mayoral elections against a backdrop of voter turmoil
By Rebecca Riley, Associate Professor Enterprise, Engagement, and Impact, City-REDI For the political wonks, in England, the bank holiday weekend was a nail biting and fascinating affair, especially when it comes to devolution. Combined Authority Mayors were high on the wonk agenda, but sadly still low on the voter agenda, as turnout again remains low. As … Continue reading “Apathy, allegiance, and anger, the mayoral elections against a backdrop of voter turmoil”