Explainer: The sickness benefit system gets an overhaul Explainer Months ago, Rishi Sunak and his Chancellor Jeremy Hunt went on an offensive to bring people back into the workforce. Armed with carrots and sticks, they were claiming the productivity and economic problems of the country were caused, among other things, by the fact that too many people were staying at home, refusing to come [...]
Whoever wins the fight over housing and energy will hold the key to victory Elena Siniscalco With Parliament back, both parties need to focus on what's going to matter to voters in the next months: housing and energy prices will be top issues, together with questions on net zero, writes Elena Siniscalco
Explainer: What’s Wegovy, the weight-loss drug launching in the UK today Explainer Today, healthcare company Novo Nordisk launched its weight-loss treatment Wegovy in the UK. The injection drug, which works by suppressing appetite, will be available through a “controlled and limited launch”. Brits will be able to get it through the NHS weight management scheme or private healthcare professionals. The drug is incredibly popular in the US, [...]
Our angst over migration means we’re still ignoring skilled staff for UK firms August 31, 2023 The UK has offered jobs to refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong. But many skilled refugees from Afghanistan or Syria are still treated differently, and struggle to find work, writes Elena Siniscalco
Analysis: Airlines are not the culprit of this week’s travel disaster August 30, 2023 Everyone loves to hate the airlines – and often, for good reasons. Prices have skyrocketed, with airlines able to pump up the cost of their flights, especially over summer, knowing that people who want to go abroad and can afford it will pay whatever they have to. To get to some places, there is simply [...]
Explainer: Ukraine is one step closer to getting F-16 fighter jets August 18, 2023 After another week of violence and raid attacks, Ukraine finally received some positive news. The US finally showed a strong sense of urgency around sending F-16 fighter jets from Washington, after months of stalling. Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, reached out to his counterparts in the Netherlands and Denmark to reiterate that Ukraine [...]
Explainer: Committing to the pension triple lock once again August 17, 2023 Every six months or so, the political world plunges into a debate about the pension triple lock. This summer is no exception, with Rishi Sunak promising to stick to it this week. The triple lock regulates pensions, redefining the amount pensioners will get every April by whatever is highest between pay growth, inflation or 2.5 [...]
Skyrocketing rents are creating a new war between urban sprawl and the green belt August 17, 2023 Rents in London are at their highest, and this is pushing people further out from the centre. But striking a balance between bad urban sprawl and the cult of the green belt is not easy, writes Elena Siniscalco
Explainer: Nato suggestions of giving up territory to Russia don’t go down well with Ukraine August 16, 2023 Another row about Ukraine’s future exploded this week, after a senior Nato official said Ukraine could relinquish parts of its territory to Russia and get Nato membership instead. It was Stian Kenssen, chief of staff of Jens Stoltenberg, to suggest this as a possible solution to end the conflict. He was at pains, however, to [...]
How bots came to rule the world, from Ticketmaster to global elections August 15, 2023 Bots are not only a problem on social media: they shape retailers like Ticketmaster and can influence politics, including global elections. Yet the danger they pose is underestimated, writes Elena Siniscalco
