It has been little noticed by much of the media given the crisis facing the Union this week, but Jon Cruddas and Jonathan Rutherford have just published a document which should give Labour supporters hope that their party really can dominate the political debate in the years to come. One Nation: Labour’s political renewal is… [Read More]
If you’re looking at the potential benefits of exiting the EU, as Civitas has done in a number of publications in recent years, it’s only fair and responsible to look at the potential downsides too. What is needed more than anything in the EU debate is a mature discussion. Judging by some of today’s response… [Read More]
One of the biggest problems posed by the possible referendum on Britain’s EU membership is the uncertainty surrounding Brexit – British exit from the EU. Jonathan Lindsell’s new book, Softening the Blow, deals realistically with the possible implications of Britain’s departure from the EU, which is something the government has failed to do as yet.… [Read More]
It’s been an unnerving week for the Better Together campaign. A Times poll released on Tuesday showed opinion has narrowed to 53 per cent against: to 47 in favour of independence, leaving a winnable gap for the Yes campaign. Tempers among campaigners are fraying, as Jim Murphy MP attests to, while the Treasury is stepping… [Read More]
The EU states’ leaders have agreed that Donald Tusk, the centre-right Polish Prime Minister since 2007, will become the next President of the European Council. Tusk, who founded the ‘Civic Platform’ party after activism in Solidarity, will succeed Herman Van Rompuy on 1 December. His appointment was supported by Prime Minister David Cameron. He has… [Read More]
This is a guest blog by Hilarie Williams, who was Senior Medical Adviser to the Department for Education and Employment from 1994 to 2000, and works part-time as an NHS specialty doctor. She is a member of the Doctor’s Policy Research Group, and was an author of the recent Civitas report The General Medical Council: Fit to Practise?… [Read More]
Northern Ireland may be set to receive ground breaking powers. According to Irish and Northern Irish newspapers, David Cameron will devolve the power to set corporation tax to the Northern Ireland Assembly this October. This is to close the gap between the South’s extremely low 12.5 per cent and the North’s (the UK’s) 20 per… [Read More]
The new European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, has indicated that he won’t give Lord Hill of Oareford an important portfolio in the next Commission. The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that Juncker repeatedly urged all EU member states to nominate women since a repeat of the gender imbalance of the last executive, 9:19, would be ‘neither… [Read More]
Christoph Lees is a consultant and researcher in Fetal-maternal medicine and Obstetrics at a London teaching hospital. He has an interest in wider medical affairs where they impact on public policy and in particular, professional regulation. He was an author of the recent Civitas report The General Medical Council: Fit to Practise? The GMC’s consultation on… [Read More]
This week, Switzerland refused requests from European countries to re-export European agricultural products to Russia. In the latest development of the escalating battle between Russia and the EU, Switzerland refused to help the EU on legal grounds, saying it could not certify food exports for hygiene if the products were processed outside its borders. The EU’s… [Read More]