Are the televised election debates a waste of time in their current format? Are the televised election debates a waste of time in their current format? Stuart Thomson, head of public affairs at BDB Pitmans, says YES. Despite everyone’s hopes, the televised leadership debates have been a complete damp squib. They have been a waste of everyone’s time, revealing little that we didn’t already know and failing to [...]
DEBATE: Are we headed for a General Election before 31 October? Are we headed for a General Election before 31 October? Ben Kelly, a commentator for Reaction, says YES. The optimal route to electoral success for Boris Johnson is to get Brexit over the line by 31 October and then call an election. But clearly, this is easier said than done, and apparently Boris and his [...]
DEBATE: MPs are about to get a pay rise – but do they deserve it? MPs are about to get a pay rise – but do they deserve it? John Oxley, a Conservative commentator, says YES. MPs will soon earn £79,468. It’s far more than most people, but still not enough to lure the most talented individuals into our legislature. An ambitious and highly capable graduate in the City or [...]
DEBATE: Should universities switch to only offering places based on actual rather than predicted grades? January 16, 2019 Should universities switch to only offering places based on actual rather than predicted grades? Dr Graeme Atherton, director of the National Education Opportunities Network and co-author of the report “Post-qualification application: a student-centred model”, says YES. Going to university is the biggest decision that most young people face. They deserve a university admissions system that helps [...]
DEBATE: After a breathtaking leadership challenge to the Prime Minister, has anything actually changed? December 14, 2018 After a breathtaking leadership challenge to the Prime Minister, has anything actually changed? Mo Lovatt, lecturer in Cultural and Creative Industries and co-chair of The Great Debate, says YES. The Prime Minister has survived a leadership challenge and some argue that nothing has changed. In Brexit terms, this is true: she remains stubbornly positioned between a [...]
DEBATE: Is there any point in having a televised debate over Theresa May’s Brexit deal? November 29, 2018 Is there any point in having a televised debate over Theresa May’s Brexit deal? Mo Lovatt, lecturer in Cultural and Creative Industries and co-chair of The Great Debate, says YES. The message coming out of the Prime Minister’s office this week is that “people are bored with Brexit”, so it’s time to #BackTheBrexitDeal. The strategy is [...]