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IPPR North
news from ippr north
ippr north hit the headlines recently with our report Fair Shares? Barnett and the politics of public expenditure which looks at the distribution of funding between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We argue that the Barnett Formula is neither fair nor equitable, and is no longer appropriate for devolution and our research shows that the distribution of spending through Barnett does not correspond to need.
We also recently held our first summer reception addressed by the Rt Hon David Miliband MP who spoke about the successes of the North East region and the importance of connecting communities locally and globally to achieve their potential. The event, hosted by our Vice-Chair Baroness Estelle Morris at the Laing Art Gallery, in Newcastle, marked ippr’s 20th anniversary. Attended by a broad range of organisations it captured what ippr north is all about, bridging communities and stakeholders so that we can develop policies that work locally and regionally.
We are also delighted to be involved with the Northern Regeneration Summit this year, I will be chairing the second day of the event which explores the strategic development of partnerships and policies.
Sue Stirling, Director
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
22-23 October 2008, Manchester
ippr north is lead endorser for the fourth Northern Regeneration Summit, organised by Regeneration and Renewal. Setting the agenda for the strategic development of community, economic and physical regeneration partnerships and policies in the North, this year’s event will have over 52 speakers, 35 sessions and 24 streamed topics for everyone working to deliver empowered communities, sustain physical regeneration and develop a prosperous Northern economy.
Sue Stirling, Director of ippr north, will be chairing the second day of the event, which focuses on strategic development of partnerships and policies. Event speakers include:
The Rt Hon John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform exploring the Government’s role in promoting business growth in the North.
Professor Michael Parkinson, revealing the early findings of the Government’s study into the effects of the credit crunch on regeneration.
Bob Neill MP, Shadow Local Government Minister discussing the direction regeneration policy would take under the Conservatives.
Book your place before 4 September for an earlybird discount of £50. Click here to register.
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Party Conference Café Politique – Putting the public into policy
6.30 -8.30 pm Monday 22 September 2008, Manchester
Free and open to all, ippr north is kick-starting the conference season with a Café Politique event which will give the public an opportunity to explore and debate key political and policy issues. Held in Manchester, a stone’s throw away from the Labour Party Conference and hosted by Terry Christian, the event aims to attract a diverse audience to find out what the public really think about the pressing policy issues facing Britain today.
Places are limited, to book your place email north@ippr.org.
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Your Call: Youth Café Politique
14 November 2008, Middlesborough
The second event in a series held across the North East to engage school children aged 14–18 years old in discussion and debate on politics, power and aspirations. Dari Taylor MP will discuss why politics matters and how young people can engage locally to change things for the better. The event will also involve local councillors and private and community organisations who will act as advisors in a session where young people will present their ideas on how to change issues they have identified as important.
For more information email north@ippr.org
This event is supported by the Association of North East Councils and the Improvement Partnership North East
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Cafe Politique: New series and venue for 2008-9
First and third Mondays at the Urban Café, Dance City, Temple Street, Newcastle NE1 4BR, 7 to 9pm
Free and open to all, the new season of Café Culture events, which kick off on 1st September 2008, will embrace café-style discussion and debate at a new venue – the Urban Café at Dance City.
Fortress Britain: Is Immigration Working? the first Café Politique of the season, takes place on 1 December. Professor Andrew Geddes from Sheffield University will argue that immigration frenzies in the media and politics are largely missing the point. He will explore what he believes are more relevant questions on how to effectively manage migration, past, present and future.
Located a few minutes walk from Central Station, the events will be more accessible to people from across the North East. You can have a meal before the event, and snacks and refreshments will be available. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Click here for directions or for more information email north@ippr.org
Visit the Café Culture website for the full programme of events.
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PUBLICATIONS
Fair Shares: Barnett and the politics of public expenditure
ippr north’s report argues that current disparities in funding across the UK are becoming an increasing source of tension between the four nations, especially between England and Scotland, and that unless addressed they could have implications for the Union. Thirty years after its introduction, we are calling for the Barnett formula – which is used to fund the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – to be replaced. We recommend greater revenue raising powers for the devolved administrations accompanied by a more transparent and equitable grant system based on needs.
This research is supported by the Northern Way and English Regions Network.
Food continues to race up the policy agenda. In late June, we published our report Best Before: How the UK should respond to food policy challenges. The report argues that despite all the pressing concerns the UK should not rush to create a food policy: food should be part of policy agenda's but not the agenda. Instead the report identifies what could be done to address key food-related issues such as food security, food poverty, food citizenship and food communication.
Best Before is the first in a short series of policy papers published by the food for thought research project at ippr north. Two further papers are planned: one on international food policy and another on food and devolution (see more details below under Research)
This research is supported by the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, Commission for Rural Communities, ONE North East and Scottish Government.
Decentralisation in England: How far does the Sub-National Review take things forward?
In response to a public consultation on the Review of Sub-national Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR), ippr north published a discussion paper arguing that while the SNR is a positive step towards a greater decentralisation in England, the suggested reforms will have a limited effect if central government’s structure and functions remain unchanged. And though mechanisms offered by SNR will benefit in addressing the democratic deficit between local and national levels, it is less likely that the new system, as it currently stands, will enhance the effectiveness of economic growth policies at the regional and local levels.
Future discussion papers are being produced on governance, regional economic policy, public services and quality of life. Please contact s.stirling@ippr.org for more details.
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RESEARCH
Science Cities: A New Future for Northern Cities and Regions
Autumn 2008
The Government has identified highly skilled, science-oriented businesses as being crucial to the future economic prosperity of the UK. Currently areas in the Greater South East out-perform those further from London. This project will assess the development of science cities in a policy context and assess their impact so far through expert contributions.
For further information email m.johnson@ippr.org.
This research is supported by CELS
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Food and Devolution Research
Last month a research seminar was held in Cardiff to help inform the research surrounding food and the devolved administrations, regional government and local government with participants from across Britain. A paper by was presented by Jane Midgley (on behalf of Jane and Katie Schmuecker), with presentations and responses from the Scottish Government and Prof Neil Ward (Newcastle University), and the seminar was chaired by Prof Mark Drakeford (Cardiff University and Cabinet's health and social policy adviser at the Welsh Assembly Government)
For further details please contact Jane at j.midgley@ippr.org
This research is supported by the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, Commission for Rural Communities, ONE North East and Scottish Government.
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The Future of Partnerships
Autumn 2008
This project will place partnerships working regionally and sub-regionally under the spotlight, giving an overview of the reliance on strategic partnerships. It will examine their use as a governance tool, analyse their role in strategic priority setting, and consider whether they can deliver coherence while also considering Government expectations and whether these can be delivered effectively and accountably.
For more details contact k.schmuecker@ippr.org.
This research is supported by CELS
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A Family Affair?
This new project will explore trends in corporate governance in the north of England. During the final years of the 20th Century, firms in the north of England were characterised as being reluctant to sell equity in their business to raise capital, thus restricting their growth potential. However, there has recently been a well documented shift in corporate governance in the UK, with some leading high street names delisting and being taken into private ownership. It will explore the future for businesses in the north, and the implications for public policy.
For more details or if you are interested in supporting this project please contact m.johnson@ippr.org.
