By Richard Marsh, Senior Policy Adviser, Healthcare Public Affairs
David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, is said by those who meet him, to be fizzing with good ideas. It is Sir David’s thankless task to prepare the NHS for the age of austerity – a Parliament or more when, notwithstanding the mollycoddling of the NHS budget that is every politician’s priority, the unprecedented largesse of the last decade will become an ever more distant memory. Modest real terms increases in health spending, if that, are the order of the years, with the emphasis on modest.
Since last summer, Sir David (…
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By Rebecca Lury, Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs
The Speaker’s conference recently concluded its investigation into parliamentary representation. What they found may not have been revolutionary: we need more women, black and minority ethnic, and disabled people in parliament. But its conclusions only reinforce that action is needed now.
The report considered the introduction of quotas for women and suggested that there might be a case for making all women shortlists compulsory. But is this the right way to successfully increase the number of women in Parliament?
Women fac…
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By Ian Tennant, Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs
Both the main parties have today issued their plans for family policy. The Labour Government has issued a Green Paper entitled “Support for all: The Families & Relationships Green Paper”. David Willetts MP, the shadow cabinet member responsible for family policy, has issued the Conservatives’ Draft Manifesto Chapter on family policy.
The Conservatives have accused Labour of stealing their policies, such as increasing grandparents’ access to their grandchildren in special circumstances and extending flexible worki…
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By Ian Tennant, Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs
Chris Grayling, the Shadow Home Secretary, has today launched the crime section of the ‘Mending our Broken Society’ chapter of the Conservative Party’s draft manifesto. The paper builds on underlying themes of current Conservative thinking: decentralisation, accountability & transparency.
The key areas of crime targeted are binge-drinking, knife crime and anti-social behaviour. There are commitments to give local authorities greater control over licensing, bring in tougher fines for selling alcohol to mi…
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By Laura Perry, Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs
Today David Cameron unveiled the second chapter of the Draft Conservative Manifesto, focusing on the Party’s policy for Schools.
Following the theme of ‘mending our broken society’ Cameron announced in his speech given at Walworth Academy that reforming schools and improving teaching standards are a key strategy in addressing social issues affecting Britain today. Cameron’s central message is one of extending the very best education to the poorest communities.
The main proposals outlined in the Draft Chapter include:
- …
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