Pick of the Papers, Sunday 16th September
1) Welfare bill won’t work, key advisers tell Iain Duncan Smith (The Guardian) (Welfare)
Committee condemns ‘unfair’ plans for part-time workers amid growing controversy over universal credit
2) Michael Gove to replace GCSEs with O-level style qualifications (The Guardian) (Education)
Education secretary’s major reform of the examination system for school-leavers scheduled for introduction in September 2015
3) Davey takes on Osborne over wind farms (The Independent) (Environment)
Lib Dem Secretary of State launches green initiative, while Chancellor pushes on fossil fuels
4) UK’s economic recovery has begun, says Sir John Major (The Independent) (Economy)
Speaking on the 20th anniversary of Black Wednesday, which marked Britain’s dramatic exit from the exchange rate mechanism, Sir John said the UK’s economic recovery was under way, despite gloom surrounding the eurozone crisis.
5) We must reform our justice system (Telegraph) (Judiciary and Civil Liberties)
Grayling, the new Justice Secretary, needs to modernise the system to diminish delay, increase efficiency, and make sure that the process is not intimidating for witnesses
6) Lib Dem president: Labour? Why not Labour? We can work with either party (Telegraph) (Parties)
7) Stop going on about ‘predistribution’, Ed, and talk like everybody else (The Independent) (Economy)
Labour tongues are wagging about Ed Miliband’s latest big idea, but what does it all mean?
8) In defence, as in finance, the truth is clear – our future lies in Europe (The Guardian) (Economy and EU)
The Eurosceptics are just like the Tea Party, living in their own parallel universe and making up the facts to fit their story; Will Hutton looks at possible BAE merger
9) Don’t turn off the future (New Statesman – not really a newspaper) (Environment)
The green economy in Britain is thriving – so why are politicians so reluctant to talk about it? Some nice facts.
10) Why the Tory right’s “growth plan” won’t work (New Statesman – not really a newspaper) (Economy)
Nice little overview assessing cutting taxes, labour market deregulation and planning regulation
Audio Report: BAE EADS merger
Today Programme: Friday 14th September
An excellent report on the proposed merger between the British BAE Systems and EADS, a French and German company. This merger illustrates the tensions surrounding a strategically important company and Britain’s relationship with Europe and the US.
The reshuffle and its policy implications
Pre-reshuffle Cameron promised to ‘cut through the dither’ that he said was holding Britain back. Following May, Osborne and now Hunt all being booed at the Paralympics, the cutting of ditherers is debatable however the policy implications are clear. A nice overview of the changes and cabinet as it stands can be found here from the BBC.
Ultimately this has been a shift to the right. Picking of some key changes we can see this.
Chris Grayling replacing Ken Clarke as Justice Secretary is a great example of this – implications for the approach towards the European Courts of Justice are clear. On human rights, Clarke was adamant that any reform would have to respect the European convention, whereas Grayling has previously said he would like to ‘tear up’ the human rights act that codifies that convention. On prisons, Clarke aimed to curb the prison population, during Graylings tenure as shadow home secretary in 2009, he proposed yet another prison-building programme.
Ken Clarke is by no means out of the picture though, as minister without portfolio he undertakes a title previously owned by Mandelson and will undoubtedly make his voice heard especially on economic issues as he has ensured that he will sit on the key cabinet sub-committee on the economy and on the national security council.
The chancellor was keen to move Duncan Smith because he is fighting a public battle to resist Osborne’s plans for a further £10bn in welfare cuts by 2016. Duncan Smith’s success raises the prospect of a renewal of his alliance with Nick Clegg, who provided vital support over the funding of his welfare reforms. The deputy prime minister told the Guardian last week that he would only accept some of the extra welfare cuts in return for a wealth tax.
The appointment of Owen Paterson as environment secretary is surely a sign of the ‘greenest government ever’ being a thing of the past. Sceptical on renewable energy, pro-aviation, pro-hunting and steeped in anti-environment myths his appointment is arguably a ‘declaration of war on the environment’.
Here’s a clip from the Guardian that explores more themes from the re-shuffle.
LSE Talks
LSE talks are a great way to go that little bit further with your A Levels, these are the ones that are relevant to Politics/History but there are plenty more related to Law, Economics and Sociology. It’s a good thing to be able to talk about on UCAS and will hopefully be something you find interesting so check it out!
A European policy outlook: the crisis and beyond – Monday 17th September – 4-5:30pm
French Minister of the Economy and Finance, playing a key role in European politics, good for A2 Politics. Ticket is needed, can be booked online from 10pm on Monday 10th September.
Twenty Year of Inflation Targeting – Tuesday 9th October – 6:30-8pm
Professor Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England explores the financial crisis, monetary policy and whether we need a new approach, good for A2 Politics. Ticket is needed, can be booked online from 10pm on Tuesday 2nd October.
Reinventing Europe: one crisis, many futures – Wednesday 10th October – 6:30-8pm
Taking a bit of a different angle, looking at how Europe can redefine itself and its role in the wider international system considering fundamental changes in the balance of power. No ticket is needed. Prominent speakers.
A Life in Politics: Nigel Lawson – Wednesday 17th October – 6:30-8pm
The chancellor of the Exchequer from 1983-1989 in Thatchers government discusses his career and life in front line British politics. No ticket is needed.
The Cuban Missile Crisis: regional perspectives 50 years on – Thursday 18th October – 6:30-8pm
The panel will re-evaluate the impact of the crisis on relations both within the Americas and between the superpowers, good for A2 History. No ticket needed.
Strengthening Competitiveness and Growth in Europe – Tuesday 30th October – 1-2pm
German vice chancellor and federal minister of economics and technology discusses the European monetary union. Ticket is needed, can be booked online from 10pm on Tuesday 23rd October.
Economy set to contract
The Confederation of Business Industry is an organisation that promotes the interests of its members from around 200,000 British businesses. Membership includes some 80% of FTSE 100 companies, some of the top companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. The CBI has
cut its GDP growth 2012 forecast from a previous estimate of 0.6% to 0.3%. Read more
Coalition deficit reduction, too far, too fast?
The deficit reduction program has been the flagship policy of the current coalition government- it was because of the need for such a reduction that the coalition was formed and it is of vital importance for the economic wellbeing of the county. However due to the unstable global economic situation the coalition must balance the need for growth with the desire to cut when reducing the deficit, and the Labour opposition has often accused the government of failing to achieve this balance and cutting “too far, too fast” thereby damaging the economy and stifling much needed growth. Overall the statement is correct, the deficit reduction programme goes too far and too fast despite coalition claims.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012
One of the coalition’s flagship policies is their widespread reform of the National Health Service as legislated through their Health and Social Care Act which passed earlier this year. While the previous Labour government did achieve some improvements on the NHS, giving it more resources, dramatically cutting waiting lists, and improving quality of care in many areas. However they still left much to be improved upon with high inefficiency as well as lagging behind Europe in several areas. The Coalition’s reforms were set to improve this by reforming the system entirely, however while they do have some advantages overall they will not improve the delivery of healthcare for all in a significant way.
LSE Audio: Will Competition Improve the NHS?
Speaker(s): Dr Zack Cooper, Paul Corrigan, Frank Dobson MP, Alastair McLellan, Zoe Williams
Chair: Professor Simon Hix
Good for a 15 mark question.
Alistair Darling: The British Economy: Past and Future
The following audio lecture is very important for the A2 Economy unit. Mr Darling explains Labour’s time in government and Labour’s handling of the financial crisis. He also critiques the coalition’s ‘growth’ strategy.
C4 Video – Can Cameron still claim the ‘greenest government ever’?
As David Cameron heralds Britain’s leading role in the green energy movement, Channel 4 News hears from a disappointed sector that he is “deluded”, amid fears for the future of renewables.