Demos – 2020 – Northern lights

MANIFESTOS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF NORTHERN EUROPEAN CITIES

“What kind of places do Europe’s northern cities want to be as they look forward to 2020? Can they tell a distinctive story of optimism, inclusiveness and imagination?

Glasgow as a city is often pulled south- by comparison, competition and control- to Edinburgh, Manchester and London. But what if Glasgow chose to look north and east instead? Might its Nordic neighbours provide a better ‘urban peer group’ for Glasgow to exchange ideas, learn and collaborate?”

GLASGOW 2020

“Glasgow 2020 is a project to collect together the imagination of the city to tell a new story about its future. This site is a place to read and submit stories, make wishes and check out events about the future of Glasgow. What’s your story?”

The Bruges Group – The Cost of Regulation

THE COSTS OF REGULATION AND HOW THE EU MAKES THEM WORSE

“Everyone, including politicians, agrees that red tape stifles the economy. Unnecessary and preventative regulation, based on no data or scientific investigation, let alone a risk assessment, impedes entrepreneurial activity, social existence and liberty. It makes the lives of those it tries to protect, empty and dull; it prevents technological development; and lowers economic performance, keeping many people in poor conditions.

William Mason looks in this paper at the development of the regulatory structure and the forces that drive it – political ambition, the need for officials to make a mark for their career, single-issue lobbying organisations that do not have to deal with the consequences and, above all, the European Union.

Regulation for the European Union is a necessity as it is the strongest method of integration, the political structure’s aim. Only by imposing endless legislation and strengthening the regulatory structure can the various bodies of the EU show their power over national parliaments. What has actually developed with the various sources from which regulations can hit us is a regulatory competition, with each politician, organisation and political body trying to outbid the others. The result is catastrophic for the economy, social existence and any idea of freedom and responsibility.

William Mason analyses the sorry state of affairs we have found ourselves in, gives examples and even provides the solutions of how to create a freer and more harmonious society – better able to help each individual achieve his or her potential.

Politicians need to have the courage to implement radical changes if we are to survive as a free people. If we do not take action to eliminate the drivers of over-regulation, there will be no society left to decide what level of regulation is appropriate – merely individuals and the state.”

IPPR Security in a Globalised World

SHARED DESTINIES – SECURITY IN A GLOBALISED WORLD

“These recommendations focus on two main areas:

# Conflict prevention and intervention in conflict environments; and

# Strengthened multilateralism (with particular reference to regional security organisations, nuclear non-proliferation, and global biosecurity).

Our report is both a warning and a call to action. We face serious and worsening international security challenges but provided we are willing to learn lessons, to change the way we think, to find the necessary political will and to adapt our policy solutions and instruments to new circumstances, there is much that can be done. We offer this interim report as a contribution to the necessary process of policy change that must now unfold.

IPPR – The National Security Strategy

THE NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UK INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

“On 9 March 2008, Gordon Brown presented a White Paper to Parliament that served as the first comprehensive attempt to distil a ‘National Security Strategy’ for the United Kingdom. The starting point for the strategy is the existence of a fixed and unwavering obligation on the part of government to protect the British people and the British national interest. However, the strategic analysis then goes on to assert that the nature of the threats and the risks the UK faces have changed beyond recognition in recent decades, so confounding all the old assumptions about national defence and international security.

Think Tanks – Institute for Public Policy Research

WIKI – INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH

“The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is a UK think-tank with strong ties to the Labour party that claims to produce progressive ideas committed to upholding values of social justice, democratic reform and environmental sustainability. IPPR is based in London and also has a branch in Newcastle, IPPR North.

It was founded in 1988. The founding director was James Cornford.[1] The institute has also been led by Gerald Holtam, Matthew Taylor, now Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts,[2] and Nick Pearce, a former special advisor to David Blunkett MP. Former members of staff include Patricia Hewitt, David Miliband and Tristram Hunt. The current co-directors are Lisa Harker and Carey Oppenheim, on a job share basis.[3]“

INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH – HOME-PAGE

“Since 1988, we have been at the forefront of progressive debate and policymaking in the UK. Through our independent research and analysis we define new agendas for change and provide practical solutions to challenges across the full range of public policy issues.

With offices in both London and Newcastle, we ensure our outlook is as broad-based as possible, while our Security Commission, International Team, Climate Change Programme, and Migration, Equalities and Citizenship Team extend our partnerships and influence beyond the UK, giving us a truly world-class reputation for high quality research.”

ACPO – Association of Chief Police Officers

BODY IN CHARGE OF UK POLICING POLICY IS A PRIVATE COMPANY

“Britain’s most powerful police body is being run as a private business with an annual income of around £18million.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), which oversees everything from anti-terrorism policy to speed cameras, was last night facing demands that it be disbanded, following a Mail on Sunday investigation into its activities which include:

* Selling information from the Police National Computer for up to £70 – even though it pays just 60 pence to access those details.
* Marketing ‘police approval’ logos to firms selling anti-theft devices.
* Operating a separate private firm offering training to speed camera operators, which is run by a senior officer who was banned from driving……”

“An ACPO spokesman defended the organisation’s activities. He said: ‘ACPO is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service nationally.

‘In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, co-ordinates the strategic policing response.

‘ACPO is funded in part by the Government in order to collectively develop advice for them. Project work which ACPO undertakes on behalf of the police service is at the request of the Home Office and goes towards public protection against serious and strategic threats that can only be tackled above force level.

‘All funds to ACPO are employed in the interests of public safety and the police service.’

He denied that the organisation was keeping huge amounts of money from public funds in cash in its bank accounts.

He said: ‘All funds from the Home Office are tied to projects to tackle serious and strategic threats on behalf of the police service. As projects can be delivered across a number of years, it follows [our year] end accounts may show a surplus.’

Leitch Report – The skills challenge

THE SKILLS CHALLENGE – A PUBLIC DEBATE

Lightbulb moments

“At the end of the day we asked participants to reflect on the day’s discussions and to highlight what they had learned and what surprised them the most. Everyone was then asked to make a personal commitment of what they were going to do differently or change as a result of taking part.

Nearly all participants said they were surprised by the enormity and complexity of the challenge ahead. The statistics participants remembered were the UK’s low international ranking in post-16 education, how the UK economy compares to China and India, and how many people do not have literacy and numeracy skills.

“I’m worried about the enormity of the problem, but reassuring that a cross-section of people at our table seem to be agreeing about the need for something to be done.”

Many found the day’s collaborative approach positive and the experience of sharing views and hearing different perspectives useful. There is recognition that everyone has a role to play and the solution to the skills challenge needs to be shared by everyone.

“It’s reinforced that we need to do our bit.”

SKILLS CHALLENGE SPEECHES

“We live in a brutally competitive globalised economy and it’s no good saying I wish we didn’t, because we do. If the 19th century belonged to Britain and the 20th century belonged to America, the 21st century belongs to Asia.”

Bruges Group – The Lisbon Treaty

THE LISBON REFORM TREATY

“The Red Lines
The Government claims to have defended the UK’s sovereignty so that the Lisbon Treaty will not be able to affect; taxation, social security, foreign and defence policy and justice and home affairs. They also assert that there is an opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights. These are the so-called red lines.

Annexed to the Treaty are Protocols and Declarations, designed to enforce the red lines, however they do not have sufficient legal force, and are often too vaguely worded, to defend Britain’s interests from encroachment by the EU.

Michael Connarty MP has also said on behalf of the European Scrutiny Committee,

“We believe that the red lines will not be sustainable. Looking at the legalities and use of the European Court of Justice, we believe these will be challenged bit by bit and eventually the UK will be in a position where all of the treaty will eventually apply to the UK. If they can’t get these things firmed up, we think they will leak like a sieve.”

Even if the red lines were effective as the Government claims they can only defend British interests as long as the Government is determined to protect our freedoms and independence.”

The Bruges Group – The Culture of Deceit

BRITAIN AND EUROPE – THE CULTURE OF DECEIT

“It may no longer be particularly shocking to see such clear evidence of a British Government’s dishonesty over our relations with ‘Europe’, if only because this is something which has since become so familiar. Scarcely a day now goes by when British politicians and civil servants do not make statements relating to the European Union which can be shown to be based at best on concealment of the truth or even on direct falsehood.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the fundamental reason why our involvement with ‘Europe’ has introduced into our politics a culture of deceit which is quite new in our history, not least by obscuring the scale on which it is changing the entire way in which our country is now governed.

In the light of the European Union now making the final moves towards political integration, it is particularly urgent that the nature of this culture of concealment should be analysed and more widely understood.”

The Bruges Group – Euro-Creep

EURO-CREEP

“The UK has to be obey judgments made in Brussels which override decisions made by our own democratic institutions. What is more the British taxpayer has to pay Brussels £ billions each year for the ‘privilege’ of being bound by EU law.

Recently the EU announced its intention to take more control over Britain.

These plans include:
- More EU control over taxation
- More EU control over financial services
- More EU control over justice and home affairs
- EU control over resources
- More EU control over energy
- EU control over building regulations
- More EU control over healthcare
- More EU control over the transport industry”