terekhov igor / shutterstock James Heydon, University of Nottingham Wood-burning stoves are booming in the UK, a cosy response to high energy prices and cost of living pressures. But this comes with a hidden cost. So-called domestic burning is now a leading source of one of the most harmful forms of air pollution,
Ph. helloRuby/Shutterstock Robert Dover, University of Hull The alleged Chinese spying affair currently troubling the UK government after the collapse of a trial is markedly different from previous espionage scandals. That is because it is centred not on the actions of suspected spies, but on the behaviour of the government. How did this
Julian Hargreaves, City St George’s, University of London A man believed to be Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen born in Syria, has been shot dead by police after launching an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby,
Stuart Fox, University of Exeter When we look at how people vote in elections and why they choose certain parties, analysis often focuses on age, education, location or socioeconomic status. Less discussed in Britain is religion. But close to two-thirds of its adults are still religious – expressing either a religious identity, holding
Paul Whiteley, University of Essex The spat between Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform party, and Rupert Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, burst into the open when Lowe was suspended from the party. The allegation was that he had threatened violence to the party leadership, which he denies. The matter is
Ph. UK Defence secretary John Healey and Prime Minister Keir Starmer visit Washington. U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery Frank Ledwidge, University of Portsmouth The election of Donald Trump as US president puts the UK in a tricky position on many global issues. But even beyond concerns about Nato’s
Charlotte Wildman, University of Manchester Wherever you are on the political spectrum, shoplifting has come to symbolise today’s “broken Britain”. On the left, it is an inevitable product of the cost of living crisis and poverty, fuelled in part by growing levels of drug and alcohol addiction. On the right, it is a
Title: Great Britain? Author: Torsten Bell Pages: 304 In “Great Britain?”, Torsten Bell, the Labour MP for Swansea West and former Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, presents a compelling and incisive exploration of the challenges facing contemporary Britain. With his dual vantage point as a seasoned politician and a policy expert, Bell
Nick Ritchie, University of York With a campaign slogan of “change”, Keir Starmer is on a mission to persuade the electorate that the Labour party of 2024 is different to the one of 2019. Part of this is his unequivocal “triple lock” commitment to Trident, the UK’s nuclear weapon system. At a time
Title: How They Broke Britain Author: James O’Brien In “How They Broke Britain”, James O’Brien, a name synonymous with cutting critique and incisive commentary, turns his formidable analytical skills to the malaise gripping modern Britain. This isn’t just another dry socio-political diatribe; it’s a fiery narrative that seeks to unravel the intricate web