How the centre of government can design better growth policy | Institute for Government Why does the UK struggle with growth?

NEW | Labour has set itself the mission of markedly raising the UK’s growth rate.

In our latest report, @gilesyb.bsky.social says the government is right to be ambitious – and explores what the centre can do to design better growth policy www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

A proud moment for @cumbriamed.bsky.social 💙

Yesterday in Parliament, Carlisle MP Julie Minns described PCSM as a “transformative step in medical training”, recognising its role in #WideningAccess + training the next generation of doctors for Cumbria.

Proud to see this work recognised!

A bit of a mixed bag on the immigration white paper. Great that the Govt want to expand the Global Talent Visa (a CaSE ask!) but there's nothing on bringing down huge upfront costs.

Horizon Europe Association - CaSE Ahead of and since the UK’s decision to leave the EU in 2016, CaSE has successfully advocated for the UK to associate with Horizon Europe and other EU research programmes.

Finally got around to something that's been on the to do list for ages today. Putting together a timeline of all the work @sciencecampaign.bsky.social did with many others to secure association to Horizon Europe. www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/about/achiev...

London summit on Sunday all the more urgent.
- Keep pressing Trump on guarantees, even if prospect fading
- Do all possible to avoid Trump blaming Ukr and/or Europe for a no-deal
- No alt. to rearmament in every scenario
- Prepare to keep Ukr armed to best poss. degree e.g. what can ROK/Turkey sell?

Reading the tweets of EU leaders, odds that Europe continues to go it alone arming and supporting Ukraine - regardless of US policy - surely rising. Wouldn't have said that a week ago

EU and UK in talks about Europe-wide defence funding amid fear of US pullback Donald Trump’s re-engagement with Russia has given new urgency to European discussions

Good - UK and EU have to work together quite intensively on defence issues, and that is evidently happening.

Still expect this to be the centrepiece of the May summit.

But it should also facilitate other conversations, as is happening albeit in stumbling fashion. www.ft.com/content/1a82...

AfD sees huge increase and is now at over 20%. That the party is not higher doesn’t negate the fact that a far right and Trump/Putin-loving party that is genuinely extremist, eg embracing mass deportations and remigration, came in second. It is a serious watershed in postwar German politics.

Remarkable assessment by an incoming German chancellor. “for me it is an absolute priority to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible, so that we achieve independence from the US, step by step.” www.dw.com/en/german-el...

Merz just said on German TV that the primary priority of his government will be to ensure that Europe can achieve full strategic independence from the United States in the defence against Russia.

Merz was once a die hard Atlanicist. Now, after Trump he is a Gaullist.

Extraordinary.

TUM and Imperial fight against harmful microplastics TUM and Imperial are jointly researching the negative effects of microplastics and nanoparticles on health in a new center.

Our university and @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social
are establishing the “Centre for #HealthResilience in a Changing Planet”. The joint research center will focus on the harmful effects of #microplastics and #nanoparticles on health: go.tum.de/958697

#PartnerUniversities #sustainability

📷B.Burger

BTW I'm not playing down how badly the SPD has done. This is the worst result the party has had in its 150 year history. Scholz was given a chance to revive the party in government and blew it

But things could have been worse if you look at how the Greens held 2021 gains and Linke are surging

Everything hinges on whether FDP & BSW stay under 5%. If so, GroKo is in play without also needing Greens, which you have to think is least worst scenario at this point

Macron: “We must also develop a fully integ­rated European defence indus­trial and tech­no­lo­gical base.” He might therefore demand changes in the EU’s protectionist third-country rules which stop UK defence industry from participating in projects involving EU funding. The world has moved on!

Towards an ambitious FP10 In a world increasingly subject to uncertainty and crisis, Europe has a responsibility to lead the way in tackling global challenges, using science and technology for the benefit of us all. A key inst...

Following our launch event yesterday, check out our #FP10 report with @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social & @wellcometrust.bsky.social.

Based on in-depth stakeholder analysis & guidance from a 15-expert Advisory Group, it presents recommendations for an ambitious R&I funding programme 👉 bit.ly/4jyz3QZ

A UK-EU security agreement is seen by both sides as an almost certain 2025 deliverable. On trade matters though the EU mood music has returned to the poor state of October. Big challenge for the UK to change that so negotiations can be launched at the summit.

Station F incubates many startups. Over 7 years, 7,000+ have passed through it, and several unicorns have emerged. In 2023, its companies raised €1bn, about 15% of France's total funding.

But the French ecosystem existed before. I asked what difference Station F has made.

Just wrapped up my five amazing years at @amrc-uk.bsky.social.

Medical research charities aren’t fluffy do-gooders - They’re innovative organisations, responding to the research priorities of the British people, improving health & lives across the UK. It’s been so insightful to see this in action.

EU will demand early fish deal in UK reset talks Requirement among red lines drawn up by Brussels ahead of 2025 negotiations

NEW: “A significant reduction of trade frictions with…the UK, would be in the interest of the EU. This, however, would require a different model for co-operation.”

EU sets out limits of “reset” given Labour red lines on Europe — from internal docs I’ve seen. More here 👇
on.ft.com/4g1FUjD

Common Ground Conservatism - The Centre for Policy Studies How can the Conservative Party recover from electoral catastrophe? A new report from the Centre for Policy Studies, built around an extensive programme of quantitative and qualitative research led by ...

Why did the Tories lose the election? Can they recover? And if so, how? Today, CPS publishes a major piece of work by James Frayne, based on pre-election polling of 4,000 people plus immersive work and focus groups in key electoral battlegrounds. So what did we find? 🧵 cps.org.uk/research/com...

Starmer: Britain doesn’t have to pick between Trump and Europe U.K. prime minister rejects “utterly” the idea his country has to pick a side as Donald Trump looms.

The United Kingdom doesn't have to choose between Donald Trump's America and forging closer ties with Europe, Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted tonight.

It needs more study than I have time for right now, but this from the Royal Society is one of the best introductions to the complicated question of Science and Economic Growth that I have read in a while royalsociety.org/-/media/poli...

@royalsociety.org

Chris Wormald - the balance sheet. In favour:
1. vastly experienced (much, much more than Case). Run two v big budget depts. also held senior role in what is now MHCLG; done time at the centre as head of EDS and heading Clegg office. former head of policy profession.

Genuinely sensible/grown-up approach here from Pat McFadden

Labour to tell EU: We’ll take your students if you help our lawyers A ‘cultural enrichment programme’ would bring young Europeans to Britain for set-length courses in exchange for cutting red tape

„Labour to tell EU: We’ll take your students if you help our lawyers“

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Good good

Labour’s skills strategy under fire for lack of ‘clout’ and urgency [FREE TO READ] Business and education experts say diminished role for companies could undermine reforms

NEW: Labour’s much-vaunted promise of Skills England to “transform” apprenticeships, training and FE offer is looking very low-wattage. My latest.

Labour’s skills strategy under fire for lack of ‘clout’ and urgency on.ft.com/49mzoBP

Today's migration statistics show, as expected, that the post-Brexit/post-pandemic migration surge has abated..

However, the last two year's figures have been revised up.

Total net migration over last four years is now 2.5 million (2020Q3 to 2024Q2).

But visas issues now falling sharply..

Michael Ellam tapped up to be UK’s next ‘EU sherpa’ If appointed, Gordon Brown’s former communications chief would lead reset talks with Brussels

Interesting. Was told that by UK government convention the top Cabinet Office job on European and Global Affairs should go to someone with Treasury experience. FT suggest that model may be maintained. www.ft.com/content/07c0...

Lord Hague of Richmond elected as new Chancellor of Oxford University Lord Hague of Richmond will serve as the next Chancellor of University of Oxford, having won a majority of support in the final round of voting for the post.

Congratulations to Lord Hague of Richmond, the 160th Chancellor of Oxford University.

First stage voting:
Hague: 9,589
Angiolini: 6,296
Royall: 3,599
Mandelson: 2,940
Grieve: 2,484 (votes transferred)

[...]

Final stage:
Hague: 12,609 (Elected)
Angiolini: 11,006
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-11...