IPPR's election year
16 Feb 2010Press Story
2010 is a momentous year for politics with the General Election as its centrepiece.
To help shape new thinking and new politics in 2010 IPPR is hosting a series of events and running special projects.
Latest news
Sir Ian Kennedy introduced the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to an ippr audience - you can download the audio here.
IPPR senior economist Tony Dolphin was one of an expert panel in a Guardian Daily debate (29 March) analysing the televised Chancellors' Debate- listen here. Tony has also blogged on the event - 'Cable wins the Chancellors' debate - by a short-head'.
Leaders debates
This series was kicked off by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown who laid out his vision for a new politics based on radical constitutional reform. On March 16 we welcomed the Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg, who outlined the Liberal Democrats' plans to rebalance the tax system and deliver social justice. Audio from both events here. We are looking forward to hosting the Conservative Leader David Cameron.
Front benches: Open debate, constructive policy
In this series we have asked the leading spokespeople from the main parties to come together in open and constructive debates on the main issues of policy.
The series started with Immigration. The speakers were Home Secretary Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling MP, and Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Chris Huhne MP. Download the audio.
Forthcoming debates will include Climate Change, Social Care, and Families. The Families debate will include Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Rt. Hon Ed Balls MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Michael Gove MP (TBC) and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families David Laws MP.
Ideas for the future
ippr is also inviting leading figures to discuss key developments and trends in public policy. The series has included contributions from Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Rt. Hon Harriet Harman MP, speaking on the women and families, and the Armed Forces Minister Rt. Hon Bill Rammell MP speaking on the future role of the armed forces.
A Level Playing Field: How and why should we tackle equality and social mobility?
IPPR North, in partnership with the Department of Politics at the University of Sheffield, is holding this exciting event in the run-up to the election, focusing on the consequences of inequality for our society.
Projects
ippr is conducting a number of projects which are linked to the new thinking and new politics that will shape Election 2010 and beyond
Stress mapping
We will publish a "stress map" of Britain highlighting areas of emerging social and economic discord. It will look at areas at risk of social unrest by identifying places with higher levels of deprivation, crime, migration/mobility and political disengagement indicators.
Future Parliamentarians
Election 2010 is likely see the biggest turnover of MPs since 1945. First term MPs will therefore play a big role in shaping the new politics and restoring trust in parliament. Ippr is working closely with prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) from all parties to find out their views on the role of MPs and the future of our representative democracy.
Excluded Citizens
Surveys show that our poorest communities are also our most politically disengaged communities. This means that disadvantaged people do not have a strong voice in shaping political policy. Ippr will be working ahead of the election to see how this exclusion and powerlessness can be combated by focusing on Liverpool Riverside which had the lowest voter turnout in both the 2001 and 2005 General Elections
Devolution in Practice
The biggest change in the UK's constitutional arrangements in the last decade has been devolution of power, with the setting up of the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland assembly. In the wake of the expenses scandal, all the main parties have set out agendas for more constitutional reform. This project looks at the lessons from devolution and how they might be applied to future change.
Issues
Throughout the year ippr experts will be contributing to the public debate on the most important issues facing the UK. Links to a selection of key articles are listed below.
Researcher Sarah Mulley on international development in the 2010 election
Co-directors Lisa Harker and Carey Oppenheim on the tackling inequality in the Financial Times
Co-director Lisa Harker on constitutional reform in politics.co.uk
Head of Migration, Tim Finch, on population and immigration in the Guardian