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The Blog

Plugging the WikiLeaks

2 December 2010

The WikiLeaks story has, along with Snowmaggedon, been the central theme of this week’s news.  Opinions appear very sharply divided between those who think the leaks are ‘putting lives at risk’ and others who feel the goings-on of high politics should be accessible to all. The niggling questions are: do the leaks really matter at… [Read More]


‘Always Coca Cola!’ – why EU regional funding is not so refreshing!

1 December 2010

The Financial Times and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism have launched a comprehensive database  in order to ‘track every penny distributed through the EU’s Structural Funds to date’. This website is a serious attempt at improving transparency around EU spending, and it provides a window of opportunity for the EU to restore citizens’ trust in… [Read More]


Risk, not past guilt, should guide adoption procedures

Indiscriminate blanket bans on looking after children have once again come under fire. A new report warns that the automatic bars against sex offenders adopting children could breach ECHR rights. Whilst the scheme purports to make children safer, it in fact stifles the paramountcy of children’s interests and panders to a blind aura of ‘moral… [Read More]


Misunderstanding markets

30 November 2010

Yesterday the Irish government finalised a rescue deal worth €85 billion for the country’s beleaguered banks. With all such large financial decisions, the initial test of success was seen to be the reaction of the markets. Thus, we all had to wait until Monday before the markets opened to see how the Irish bailout was… [Read More]


We need you!

26 November 2010

Civitas is looking to encourage more people to get involved in our blog through commenting on the various posts.  Our hope is that the blog will serve to foster an atmosphere of informed debate. We have tried to make it simpler for you to comment on blog posts by removing the need for registration prior… [Read More]


Member states’ limit on EU civil service pay rise is overruled

24 November 2010

Earlier today (24th November) the European Court of Justice (ECJ) overturned a member state imposed limit on EU salary increases. The ruling is an ill-timed move that is likely to further complicate the 2011 EU budget negotiations, writes Natalie Hamill.


Teaching the teachers

22 November 2010

On Wednesday, the Government will publish its white paper on the future of state education in England. The reforms proposed are wide-ranging, but one is particularly welcome; the reform of teacher training.


My grand day out to a British textiles manufacturer

19 November 2010

If wool was a food chain, Fox Brothers & Co would be king.  The company has been producing wool based textiles for nearly 250 years and its name is synonymous with flannel, a versatile woollen fabric. It is a British company based in Somerset and, unlike many other long established British textile manufacturers, it has… [Read More]


Will a ‘referendum lock’ prevent any future loss of UK sovereignty?

18 November 2010

Last year, David Cameron promised ‘Never again should it be possible for a British Government to transfer power to the EU without the say of the British people.’ This promise has now been translated into a European Union Bill, which contains a crucial ‘referendum lock’, writes Natalie Hamill.  The Bill has been reported as the… [Read More]


Independent Safeguarding Authority not above the rule of law

16 November 2010

Last week, the High Court ruled in favour of the Royal College of Nursing, that a barring scheme imposed by the Independent Safeguarding Authority was unlawful. Although from one perspective the judgement is relatively inconsequential, pertaining only to procedure, it in fact represents a significant erosion of needless and overly protective vetting practices that are… [Read More]


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