News archive by theme

Climate change and environment

H&P historian responds to James Hansen's interview in the Guardian

Opinion article, 16 December 2009

Jean-Francois Mouhot of the University of Birmingham explores comparisons of the abolition of slavery with climate change negotiations in Copenhagen.

Read Jean-Francois Mouhot's article, 'Slavery and climate change: lessons to be learned'.

MP calls for new green jobs based on Roosevelt's New Deal

Comment article, Guardian, 3 March 2009

Mark Lazarowicz MP urges Government to learn from history in order to tackle unemployment and climate change, by creating a new Conservation Corps modeled on Roosevelt's New Deal programmes. The Scottish MP draws on the work of American historian, Neil M. Maher, author of Nature's New Deal. The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Roots of the American Environmental Movement. You can read his article on the Guardian website.

H&P historian on the vehicle scrapping initiative

Opinion, 19 May 2009

Erin Gill of the University of Aberystwyth, explains how the recently announced car scrapping scheme could learn from green victories of the past.

Read her article on the H&P opinion page.

MP calls for new green jobs based on Roosevelt's New Deal

Comment article, Guardian, 3 March 2009

The Energy Bill- tinkering while the planet burns?

New H&P opinion piece

Campbell Wilson and David Elliott explore the Government's thirty-five year search for an effective energy policy in a History & Policy opinion piece; The Energy Bill- tinkering while the planet burns?.

Britain more energy efficient than in Shakespeare's time.

News release, Friday 19 October 2007

A new History & Policy paper by Paul Warde of the University of East Anglia says that restricting energy use is the only way to tackle climate change. In an analysis of four centuries of energy consumption, he warns that over-reliance on energy efficiency will not curb carbon emissions. Read the news release [pdf file, 45KB].

Personal carbon allowances

Select Committee, August 2007

History & Policy contributor Mark Roodhouse has submitted a memorandum to the Environmental Audit Select Committee inquiry into personal carbon allowances. Read his memorandum [pdf file, 77KB]. For further information about the inquiry see the parliament website.

Rekindle Blitz spirit to combat climate change

Media coverage, Monday 16 April 2007

Mark Roodhouse's History & Policy paper on carbon rationing has attracted extensive national media coverage, including articles in the Guardian; the Sunday Times; the Financial Times; the Daily Telegraph; and the New Statesman.

Consumers, buying and retailing

Supermarkets

Summary release

Read the summary release [pdf file, 13KB].

Criminal justice and law reform

H&P historian comments on the Guardian's coverage of sex-trafficking

Opinion article, 2 December 2009

Writing exclusively for the H&P website, Jane Berney of the Open University uses the history of the Contagious Diseases Act in Victorian Britain and Hong Kong to shed light on the contemporary debate over the scale of sex trafficking. She demonstrates that then, as now, statistics are easily manipulated whilst the voice of the prostitute is absent.

Read Jane Berney's article, More sex, lies and trafficking.

Exploding the historical myths around juvenile justice

News release, Wednesday 4 July 2007

With new rules on the physical restraint of young offenders coming into force this week, Abigail Wills of Brasenose College, Oxford, argues that the government's approach to juvenile justice is the most punitive for 150 years. In her History & Policy paper she explodes the twin myths that there was a golden age of respect and deference, and that current juvenile justice policy is more enlightened than in the past. Read the news release [pdf file, 41KB]

Crimes and misdemeanours

New online journal, April 2007

A new, online history journal is launched this month by SOLON, a partnership of four universities that promotes inter-disciplinary studies in crime and bad behaviour. Crimes and Misdemeanours will be published monthly, showcasing work that confronts and challenges accepted histories and examines the implications for current and past professional practices relating to the study of offensive or anti-social behaviour and its implications. See the inaugural edition of Crimes and Misdemeanours.

The women who still walk the streets of Victorian Britain

Article, January 2007

History & Policy contributor Julia Laite calls for a radical new approach to government policy on prostitution, with greater investment in projects to protect and support vulnerable women. This article is published in Parliamentary Brief magazine.

Prostitute murders spark calls for amnesty

Interview, Tuesday 12 December 2006

The tragic serial-killings in Ipswich have sparked discussion of the policy and legal framework governing prostitution, what drives vulnerable women onto the streets and keeps them there. The Press Association carried an interview with History & Policy contributor Julia Laite. Read the interview on the Mail on Sunday website.

Prostitutes will still be paying the price under 'new' government strategy

News release, Wednesday 8 November 2006

Cambridge historian Julia Laite says the Home Office should learn from previous, failed 'crack-downs' on street prostitution. This was picked up on 17 November by New Start magazine [pdf file, 1MB]. Read the news release [pdf file, 31KB]

Economy, taxation and finance

Three lessons from recent history to help today's policymakers tackle national debt

H&P paper, 9 December 2009

In a new H&P paper published ahead of today's pre-budget report, Dr Glen O'Hara of Oxford Brookes University analyses economic crises of the recent past to suggest solutions for policymakers today. Drawing on the experiences of the Wilson, Callaghan and Major governments, he argues that a combination of careful spending cuts, tax rises and a spirit of shared Cabinet responsibility are essential ingredients to bring down the national debt.

Read the paper: How (not) to cut government spending and reduce public sector debt.

Read the Press release [pdf file, 142KB].

If tax avoidance is as old as tax itself, why are tax havens a modern phenomenon?

H&P paper, 10 November 2009

Ronen Palan examines the history and development of tax havens, arguing for greater transparency in order to regain public confidence. Read the paper, The history of tax havens.

Read the press release [pdf file, 164KB]

Historians respond to the budget

Opinion articles, 28 April 2009

H&P historians offer opinion articles on the budget debate:

UK manufacturing decline is the real story of the Budget
Scott Newton (5 May 2009)
Cameron's history lesson
Richard Toye (28 April 2009)
History could have predicted a global financial crisis
David Hall-Matthews (28 April 2009)

Beware of 'crying wolf' during recession, charities warned

New H&P paper, 7 April 2009

New historical evidence suggests that voluntary organisations may weather the current recession better than expected. Recent surveys predict a miserable future for the sector, with a steep decline in donations, legacies and government funding, just as demand for services increases. But in a new H&P paper, Professor John Mohan of the University of Southampton and Karl Wilding, Head of Research at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, dismiss this blanket picture of gloom. In Economic downturns and the voluntary sector: what can we learn from historical evidence?, they use the accounts of British voluntary hospitals during the interwar period and trends in charitable-giving in North America during the Great Depression of 1929-31 to assess the likely impact of the current recession on charities.

Read the news release [pdf file, 85KB].

Read the authors' blog on the Guardian website.

The 13th-century credit crunch

Interview, BBC History Magazine, January 2009

Financial historian Adrian Bell talks to Chris Bowlby about a 13th-century financial crisis that bears a striking resemblence to today's 'credit crunch'. This interview appears in the January issue of BBC History Magazine and is part of a series produced in collaboration with History & Policy.

You can also read about Adrian's work on the BBC News page, in the Telegraph and in the Financial Times.

The 'credit crunch' and trust

New paper, 6 October 2008

Geoffrey Hosking puts the current financial crisis in historical context and shows that it can be understood as a stage in a cycle of trust. He suggests that the best solution is to broaden and democratise the exercise of trust, to ensure that the benefits of globalisation are shared with developing countries.

Paper: The 'credit crunch' and the importance of trust.

Haunted by history

Article, 3 October 2008

Sussex historian Clive Webb considers the parallels between today's economic crisis and the Great Depression, in an article for the Guardian.

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England: ten years on

Select Committee, January 2007

Forrest Capie and Geoffrey Wood of the Cass Business School at City University have submitted a History & Policy memorandum to the House of Commons Treasury Committee's new inquiry. Download their memorandum [pdf file, 92KB]. For further information about the inquiry, see the Parliament website.

Education

H&P response to HEFCE consultation on REF

16 December 2009

H&P has submitted its response to the consultation by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on the new Research Excellence Framework, which will govern the assessment and funding of academic research from 2012. We support the introduction of a new strand to assess research impacts, which will incentivise historians to engage with policymakers and reward those who are actively involved in H&P. But we have concerns about the proposed criteria and methods for assessing impacts and would like to see the weighting of this strand reduced to 15 per cent of the overall assessment.

You can read H&P's submission here. [pdf file, 148KB]

You can read the HEFCE consultation on their website: HEFCE

For further information about the H&P response, contact: Mel Porter

Are school standards slipping?

New opinion article, 18 August 2009

A-level results will be released on Thursday amid widespread concern over falling standards and easier exams. Former headteacher and historian Adrian Elliott puts the debate in historical context in a new opinion article for H&P. He considers Conservative plans to publish past exam papers online and recent calls for the reintroduction of grammar schools to improve social mobility.

Read Dr Adrian Elliott's article: Are school standards slipping?

The age old problem of pupils skipping school

Article, Guardian, 26 February 2009

Nicola Sheldon wrote an article for Education Guardian on ways of tackling truancy, to coincide with the publication of her H&P paper Tackling truancy: why have the millions invested not paid off?. Read the news release [pdf file, 53KB].

Can compulsion work? What history has to say about raising the school leaving age.

New H&P opinion piece

The current Education and Skills Bill proposes raising the school leaving age to 18. Nicola Sheldon explores the historical precedents for this change in a new opinion piece, asking Can compulsion work?.

Media: read the press release [pdf file, 33KB].

Why go to university?

News Release, Wednesday 1 August 2007

Ten years after publication of the Dearing report, Carol Dyhouse of the University of Sussex explores how higher-education funding structures have affected successive generations of students. Read the news release [pdf file, 22KB].

Equality

A photo of Julie Morgan, Becky Taylor and Michele Hanson

Julie Morgan MP, Becky Taylor and Michele Hanson

Travellers and the State: past and present policy

Event, 7 May 2008

History & Policy organised a discussion in the House of Commons on Wednesday 7 May. Working with Julie Morgan MP and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform we brought stakeholders, politicians and academics together to discuss the issues affecting Gypsy and Traveller communities in the present and the past. The speakers were Becky Taylor, author of 'A Minority and the State; Travellers in Britain in the Twentieth Century', Romani journalist Jake Bowers, and Peter Bates from the Gypsy and Traveller Unit, Department for Communities and Local Government and the Chair was the Guardian's Michele Hanson. The event was covered by the Rokker Radio team and highlights will be broadcast soon.

LGBT equality one of Blair's finest achievements

News release, Thursday 1 February 2007

Professor Jeffrey Weeks of London South Bank University argues that progress towards equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people should be celebrated as a legacy of the Blair government. His paper has been published to mark the start of LGBT History Month 2007, and the 50th anniversary of the Wolfenden Report later this year. For more information, see the LGBT History Month website. Read the news release [pdf file, 48KB]

Families and children

Kids with kids

Interview, 13 November 2009

In an interview with Times Higher Education, H&P historian Dr Ofra Koffman of Goldsmiths College, University of London, shows that while teenage pregnancy is not a new phenomenon, the concept of 'teenage motherhood' has a more recent history. Dr Koffman scrutinises the perception that teenagers are not psychologically mature enough to become mothers, an idea originally promoted by psychiatrists in the 1960s, which continues to influence policy today.

Read Dr Koffmann's interview in Times Higher Education: Kids with kids: how teen mums are a relic of the 1960s.

See also Dr Koffmann's article in Society Guardian last month: Second thoughts: supporting teenage mothers.

Adoption book launch

Seminar and book launch, 28 October 2009, Institute of Historical Research

A seminar to mark the launch of A Child For Keeps: The History of Adoption in England, 1918-45, by Jenny Keating, published by Palgrave Macmillan. This is part of the Centre for Contemporary British History's seminar series, and is organised with History & Policy. The event will start at 5pm on Wednesday, 28 October, in the Wolfson Room at the Institute of Historical Research, London, and a reception will follow. Dr Keating's book will be available at a 50% discount. For further details please see the seminar webpage or contact mel.porter@sas.ac.uk.

Prime Minister should have second thoughts on teenage mothers

Opinion article, 7 October 2009

Gordon Brown's proposal to house teenage parents in supervised homes could be a step back into a shameful past, warns H&P Historian Ofra Koffman of Goldsmiths, University of London. Writing in Society Guardian, Dr Koffman argues that government policy has always oscillated between punishing and protecting young mothers and the Prime Minister's rhetoric raises the ghost of early 20th century mother and baby homes.

Read Dr Koffman's article in Society Guardian: Second thoughts: supporting teenage mothers.

Spinsters

Interview, Radio 4, 3 March 2009

Hear H&P historian Kath Holden on singleness and spinsterhood in 'From Jean Brodie to Carrie Bradshaw', Ann Widdecombe's programme investigating the idea of the spinster. You can listen to the programme on BBC iPlayer.

Sinners, Scroungers, Saints

Interview, 21 November 2007

History & Policy contributor Tanya Evans is interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour about her exhibition on lone motherhood at the Women's Library. You can listen to the interview via the Woman's Hour website. Sinners, Scroungers, Saints runs at the until 29 March 2008, entrance is free. For more information see the Women's Library website.

See also Tanya's History & Policy paper: Is it futile to try to get non-resident fathers to maintain their children?.

Review of child support needs a master-class from history

News release, Wednesday 25 October 2006

Thomas Nutt, Cambridge University, and Tanya Evans, Centre for Contemporary British History, argue that the government should not shift the burden of collection onto lone parents and might learn from the success of local methods of collection in the past. Read the news release [pdf file, 34KB].

Sex and relationships

Interview, Monday 2 October 2006

History & Policy contributor Hera Cook of Birmingham University participates in a BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour discussion on the 60th anniversary programme. Listen to the discussion on the Radio 4 website.

Global economy and development

Is free trade fair trade? New perspectives on the world trading system

Publication, February 2009

H&P contributor Frank Trentmann has edited a new monograph on trade policy for the Smith Institute. It includes essays by Martin Daunton and Harriet Lamb, Director of The Fairtrade Foundation. You can read it on the Smith Institute website [pdf file, 394KB].

America

Radio 4 History series, 15 September - 24 October 2008

H&P contributor David Reynolds charts the development of the United States in a new series for Radio 4. The programmes will be broadcast in three series, exploring the themes of empire, liberty and faith. The first series, Liberty and Slavery, is available now on the Radio 4 website. The second series will start in January 2009.

History of the Department for International Development

Article, April 2007

Barrie Ireton is a Fellow of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and has worked in the Department for International Development for over 40 years. He is currently completing an official history of the department which will be published later this year, for further details see the Institute of Commonwealth Studies website.

History in practice

H&P historian discusses the BNP's appropriation of Churchill

Opinion article, 2 December 2009

Ivan Pregnolato of the University of Nottingham unpicks the BNP's appropriation of Winston Churchill as their talisman. He argues that it is not historically valid to project present day attitudes and beliefs onto historical figures.

Read Ivan Pregnolato's article, 'Hijacking history'.

Award for H&P founder Simon Szreter

10 November 2009

History & Policy co-founder Simon Szreter is today being awarded the Viseltear Prize at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in Philadelphia, for his outstanding contributions to the history of public health. On Thursday 12 November he will deliver the Isidore I. Benrubi annual lecture on: "Public Health and Social Security: The Keys to Unlocking Economic Growth in England?".

This is a public event at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University in New York, details are available on the Columbia University website.

H&P historian comments on British National Party's version of history

Opinion article, 4 November 2009

Writing exclusively for the H&P website, historian and far-right expert Matthew Feldman of Northampton University explores the way British National Party leader Nick Griffin twisted history during his appearance on the BBC's Question Time.

Read Dr Feldman's article, Pinstriped fascism.

The case for historical advisers in government

Opinion article, 29 October 2009

Writing exclusively for History & Policy, Yoav J. Tenembaum of Tel Aviv University argues the case for Presidents and Prime Ministers to appoint historical advisers. He argues that historians have a unique perspective to bring to the business of governing democratic states and could help overcome politicians' historical illiteracy.

Read Dr Tenembaum's article, The case for historical advisers in government.

H&P launches Bad History with Times Higher Education

14 October 2009

A new Bad History series launched today will dismantle the historical myths that abound in contemporary debate and expose the spinning of history for political and PR purposes. Bursting the bubble of vacuous historical claims made by politicians, Royals and commentators alike, the first seven 'Bad History' comments appear in an article in Times Higher Education magazine (the Bad History case studies are towards the end of the feature).

Bad History is written by members of the History & Policy Network and will become a regular feature on the History & Policy website. If you are a historian with a story for Bad History, please contact the H&P office.

Read the press release [pdf file, 118KB].

Read press coverage in the Telegraph: History being 'distorted' by politicians.

History without bunk

Guardian- commment is free, 20 September 2009

The recent Public Accounts Committee Report found that Whitehall struggles to learn and innovate. H&P founder Alastair Reid shows how historians could help government learn from past policy experiences, in an article on the Guardian website.

H&P historians on summer reading list for Conservative MPs

BBC news, 15 July 2009

The recess reading list sent by Conservative front bencher Keith Simpson to fellow MPs includes books by three H&P historians; The Defence of the Realm: The Official History of MI5 by Christopher Andrew; Terrorism: How to Respond by Richard English; and Electing Our Masters: The Hustings in British Politics from Hogarth to Blair by Jon Lawrence.

You can read papers and articles by two of these historians here: Intelligence analysis needs to look backwards before looking forward by Christopher Andrew; The hustings, broadcasters and the future of British democracy by Jon Lawrence.

Writing history

Radio 4 Front Row, 9 June 2009

Margaret Macmillan, author of The Uses and Abuses of History, discusses the writing of history with Lady Antonia Fraser on Radio 4's Front Row (interview starts at 01:45).

Turning points in British history

Radio 4 Today programme, 23 April 2009

H&P founder Pat Thane, Professor of Contemporary British History at the Institute of Historical Research, told the Today programme that 1956 was a key turning point in modern British history because Britain's withdrawal from Suez proved that it was no longer a first-rank world power. Professor Thane joined mediaevalist Michael Wood who made a case for 927, when England was created, and Professor Mark Ormrod, who argued for 1348 when the Black Death reduced the population by half.

You can listen to the discussion and read an article about historical turning points on the Today programme website.

Politicians draw on history in budget debate

H&P's Network of Historians respond, 22 April 2009

In today's Budget debate, all three of the major parties drew on history to make their arguments. Chancellor Alistair Darling said, "When the world economy was plunged into deep crisis in the 1930s, the response, both nationally and internationally, was too little and too late. This failure to act turned a serious downturn into a prolonged depression. We will not repeat those mistakes again." Conservative leader David Cameron argued, "This Prime Minister can never be the future, because he doesn't understand what went wrong in the past... the fundamental truth is that all Labour Governments run out of money." While Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said, "Think back to the great Budgets of our history. The People's Budget of 1909, the first pension, the first social insurance. Labour's post-war Budgets, building a new nation from the rubble of war. What made these Budgets great was their ambition, and their coherent vision for a different future. The Chancellor could have given a People's Budget for the 21st century. Instead we got a politician's Budget."

Historians in the H&P Network offer rapid responses to the Budget announcements and debate:

Erin Gill of Aberystwyth University and contributing editor to Environment Analyst warns the vehicle scrappage incentive could be a faux green measure
Dr. Richard Toye of the University of Exeter evaluates Conservative leader David Cameron's claim that "all Labour governments run out of money"
H&P co-founder Professor Pat Thane commented on the announcement of improved pension rights for grandparents caring for grand-children
Dr. Fiona Kisby of the University of Winchester, discusses the implications of politicians' use of history for history teaching

If you are a journalist and would like to speak to an historian, please contact us.

Historians should write more for public and policymakers

Radio 4 Today programme, 15 April 2009

Margaret Macmillan, warden of St Antony's College, Oxford, called on historians to write more history for public and policy audiences, in a discussion on Radio 4's Today programme with H&P Network member Dominic Sandbrook. Professor Macmillan said that "history is like a sign on a highway saying 'be careful because the road ahead gets icy when it's cold', warning you that if you take certain actions you might face certain consequences." To listen to the discussion go to the Today Programme website and scroll down to 0826.

Learning from the Levellers

Convention on Modern Liberty, 28 February 2009

At the recent Convention on Modern Liberty, H&P contributor Melissa Lane (Kings College, Cambridge) explored what we can learn about liberty from the Levellers, the seventeenth century radicals who called for representative government and religious freedom. You can read a transcript of Melissa Lane's speech on the Open Democracy website.

Lessons from history

Article, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, January 2009

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology considers how history could help to inform decisions on key scientific and technological policy issues, in an article in the POST notes series. The H&P network is highlighted as a means of improving communication between historians and policymakers. It includes a case study of historian Abigail Wood's involvement in the Foot and Mouth debate and draws on Virginia Berridge's H&P research on the use of history in health policymaking. To read the article please go to the POST website [pdf, 157KB].

H&P recommended in IUSS select committee meeting

Evidence session on 'Putting science and engineering at the heart of government policy', 25 February 2009

Baroness Onora O'Neill, President of the British Academy, recommended H&P as a way of improving evidence based policymaking in a session with the Innovations, Universities, Science and Skills Committee. She said that many departments in Whitehall do not always have a good memory of past policy initiatives, and historians could remedy this problem by showing what worked in the past and what did not work. To read the transcript of this session please go to the IUSS committee website. A video of the session is available on the Parliament Live website (Baroness O'Neill's discussion of H&P is at 01:51:55).

Experts should have a greater role in advising policymakers, says new report

Report publication, 17 September 2008

History & Policy is cited as an example of best practice in a new report on the use of academic research in government policymaking. The British Academy report Punching our weight: the humanities and social sciences in public policy making includes a History & Policy submission. The report and the press release are available now on the British Academy website.

Historians in the Tent of the General

Radio 4 History series, 12 - 19 November 2008

In a new series for Radio 4, Andrew Roberts considers the links between politicians and historians.

A photo of Gill Bennett, David Cannadine, Mark Fisher, Peter Lilley and Bill Rodgers

The speakers at 'Governing with History'

Governing with History

Event, 13 May 2008

History & Policy and the All Party Parliamentary History Group organised a discussion on Governing with History on Tuesday 13 May . The panellists were Gill Bennett OBE (former Chief Historian of the FCO), David Cannadine, Peter Lilley MP and Lord (Bill) Rodgers. The event was chaired by Mark Fisher MP and was attended by an audience of 50 MPs, Lords, civil servants and journalists, who discussed their ideas on how historical evidence could be better used in policymaking. A report on the discussion will be available shortly.

History & policy in action

Launch of new resource

A new resource, History & policy in action shows how historians from the History & Policy network have been involved in public policy, providing valuable lessons for future engagement. Mark Roodhouse discusses his role in the carbon rationing debate and Abigail Woods describes how she was caught up in the media storm surrounding the 2001 Foot and Mouth disease outbreak. David Cesarani explains his role in the investigation of war crimes and the campaign for Holocaust Memorial Day.

Call for government to appoint Chief Historical Adviser

News Release, December 2007

Ahead of the History & Policy launch on 5 December, leading historian David Cannadine called for the appointment of historical advisers to Whitehall departments and a Chief Historical Adviser to the government. For more details, read our news release [pdf file, 61KB] or listen to David's interview BBC Radio Four's Today Programme.

Why Policy Needs History

Launch coverage, December 2007

History & Policy had its public launch, Why Policy Needs History, at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms on Wednesday, 5 December. Leading historians Pat Thane, David Reynolds and David Cannadine addressed the major policy areas of social change, international relations and national identity and devolution.

Pat Thane's paper, Are things getting better? Governing a changing society [pdf file, 57KB], David Reynolds' paper, The Prime Minister as world statesman [pdf file, 66KB] and David Cannadine's paper, Britishness: devolution, evolution and revolution [pdf file 61kb], are available to download. All of the papers are drafts and have not been checked against delivery.

The launch event also sparked widespread media discussion, including:

Peter Riddell's article in The Times
Polly Toynbee's article in The Guardian.
A leading article in The Independent.
Simon Szreter's article in Education Guardian.
Pat Thane's interview for BBC Radio Four's Start the Week.

Why Policy Needs History

Interview, 26 November 2007

In an interview for BBC Radio Four's Start the Week, Pat Thane discusses History & Policy's forthcoming public launch, Why Policy Needs History, which will take place on Wednesday, 5 December, at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. Pat will be joined by David Cannadine and David Reynolds to address three of the most pressing policy issues currently facing the Government. Prospect Magazine editor David Goodhart will chair the discussion.

Australian democracy forum

New initiative, April 2007

Historian David Pritchard was inspired by History & Policy to set up the Sydney Democratic Forum. This is a new initiative, based in Sydney, Australia, that aims to bring together academics in the humanities and social scientists to inform current policymaking relating to democracy and foreign affairs. A series of events is planned in Sydney, but academics and policymakers worldwide are invited to join the discussion network and a website is under construction. See the invitation to join the forum [pdf file, 23KB] or email Rowena Mueller (r.mueller@econ.usyd.edu.au).

A nicer country than Attlee's Britain?

Article, April 2007

In an article for Parliamentary Brief magazine this month, Pat Thane explains that her team's research for the Equalities Review shows how far Great Britain has progressed towards equality since the Second World War. But she warns that even now, not all of us are equal, all of the time. Read Pat Thane's article [pdf file, 30KB].

See also Equalities in Great Britain, 1946-2006 [pdf file, 839KB].

History and the public

Presentation, Thursday 12 April

This year's History and the Public Conference was held at Swansea University, with keynote speakers including Lord Morgan and Tristram Hunt, for further details including audio and word files see the Swansea University website. Read Mel Porter's presentation on History & Policy [pdf file, 375KB].

Welsh Assembly announces £2m for future of Aberfan

Interview, Thursday 1 February 2007

History & Policy contributor Iain McLean has been writing and campaigning about Aberfan since the archives were opened in 1997, and described how the government of the day improperly took charitable funds from the Aberfan Disaster Fund to pay for the removal of the Aberfan coal tips in 1968. Interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Iain welcomed the announcement of 2m for the upkeep of the village's memorials and local schools. To listen to the discussion go to the Radio 4 website. He was also quoted in the Western Mail.

Related paper: Aberfan: no end of a lesson.

Whose history is it anyway?

Article, October 2006

In an article for History Today, Tristram Hunt argues that "historians should stop worrying about controlling the commanding heights of British public life, and start to operate more where history really matters to politicians: amongst the people." For the full text see the History Today website.

Time to talk

Article, Wednesday 15 May 2002

Simon Szreter, Cambridge University, introduces the History & Policy initiative. Download the article [pdf file, 25KB]. The article was first published in Education Guardian.

International affairs and security

Remember Cable Street? Wrong battle, mate

H&P paper, 24 November 2009

David Cesarani discusses why Communities Secretary John Denham was wrong to compare recent anti-Muslim demonstrations with fascist attacks on British Jews in the 1930s. Read the paper, Remember Cable Street? Wrong battle, mate.

Divided memories of the fall of the Berlin Wall

Opinion, 10 November 2009

In a new H&P opinion article, Dr James Mark of the University of Exeter argues that events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall fail to do justice to the differing perceptions of the collapse of Communism in East and West Europe.

Read Dr Mark's article: 1989: Divided memories, East and West.

New history of MI5

Interview, 5 October 2009

To coincide with the centenary of MI5, Cambridge historian Christopher Andrew has written an authorised history of the security service. He was interviewed about the book on the Today programme.

Read Professor Andrew's H&P paper: Intelligence analysis needs to look backwards before looking forward.

Broadband terrorism: A new face of fascism

Opinion article, 22 September 2009

Recent demonstrations by the English Defence League and the trial of far-right bomber Neil Lewington, has sparked fears of a neo-fascist resurgence. Matthew Feldman, a historian of fascist movements, considers these new developments and argues that policies for dealing with fascists should be brought up to date.

Read Dr Matthew Feldman's article: Broadband Terrorism: A new face of fascism.

Dr Feldman contributed to a File on 4 investigation of far-right violence. The programme will be broadcast on Tuesday 22 September, at 8pm.

He was also interviewed on The World Tonight (37 minutes in).

Upgrading Britain's nuclear deterrent: from V-Bombers to Trident replacement

H&P paper, 17 September 2009

Matthew Grant examines the history of Britain's nuclear deterrent, revealing that the shadow of the Cold War hangs over today's policymakers. Read the paper: Upgrading Britain's nuclear deterrent: from V-Bombers to Trident replacement.

Read the press release [pdf file, 56KB]

North Korea and the nuclear threat

H&P paper, 17 September 2009

Jenna Phillips outlines the history of the Korean War, suggesting that nuclear capability does not translate into diplomatic leverage. Read the paper: North Korea and the nuclear threat.

Read the press release [pdf file, 56KB]

Talking to the Taliban: Lessons from Northern Ireland

New opinion article, 29 July 2009

Dr John Bew responds to Douglas Alexander's recent comment that negotiations in Afghanistan should follow the model of the Northern Ireland talks:

"Much of what has been said about the Northern Ireland example in the public domain has been highly misleading. In particular, the assumption that 'talking to terrorists' provided the key variable in the search for peace in Northern Ireland simplifies the history of the conflict there beyond recognition."

You can read the rest of the article on the H&P opinion page.

Read John Bew's article in the Spectator: We should talk to the Taliban only from a position of strength not weakness.

China, globalisation and the west: A British debate, 1890 - 1914

New H&P paper, 27 July 2009

Professor Peter Cain shows that Western anxieties about China's economic potential and fears about a new 'Dark Age' for Europe date back more than a century, in a new paper: China, globalisation and the west: A British debate, 1890 - 1914

Read the news release [pdf file, 51KB]

Government plans for nuclear war

BBC news, 23 June 2009

Historian Peter Hennessy spoke to the BBC about the government War Book, which contains Cold War plans for the outbreak of nuclear war. You can hear a feature on civil servant's rehersals for nuclear war on the Today programme website. You can also see a video of the interview with Professor Hennessy.

Professor Hennessy is giving the Pimlott Lecture on 'Inescapable, necessary and lunatic': Whitehall's transition-to-war planning for World War II, on 23 June at the Centre for Contemporary British History's Britain and the Cold War conference.

Lord Hurd in conversation with David Reynolds: The formulation of British policy at the end of the Cold War

H&P discussion, 22 June 2009, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

The Rt Hon Lord Hurd of Westwell was Foreign Secretary from 1989 to 1995. He discussed the formulation of British policy at the end of the Cold War with Professor David Reynolds, Professor of International History and Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge.

The event was part of the Britain and the Cold War conference, organised by the Centre for Contemporary British History. A video of the discussion will be available on our website.

History shows that torture won't win the war on terror

News release, 29 October 2008

Calder Walton's new History & Policy paper examines the history of intelligence gathering and argues that using torture in interrogation produces unreliable evidence and is ultimately counter-productive for intelligence gathering.

Paper: Torture and intelligence gathering in Western democracies.

Read the news release [pdf file, 46KB].

The Security State

Launch of event series, 19 June

History & Policy is collaborating with the Raphael Samuel History Centre and Bishopsgate Institute to produce a series of public debates on history and the making of public policy. The first one explored the rise of the security state, starting with presentations from historians Jane Caplan and Edward Higgs, and security experts Ross Anderson (Security Engineering, Cambridge), Sandra Bell (Royal United Services Institute) and Richard Norton-Taylor (Guardian security correspondent). The next event on 'Bad Kids? the politics of childhood past and present' will take place in November. For further details please see our events page.

Summits

History series on BBC 4, February 2008

History & Policy contributor David Reynolds uncovers the fascinating stories of summit meetings that shaped the world in an exciting new series for BBC 4. The second programme examines the 1961 summit meeting between John F Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, which pushed the world to the brink of nuclear destruction over Cuba. It will be shown on 11 February, from 10.30 to 11.30pm, on BBC 4. The third programme considers what happenned when Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met at Lake Geneva to discuss nuclear disarmament. It will be shown on 13 February from 9.00 to 10.00 pm. Both programmes are repeated during the week, for full listings see the BBC 4 website.

David Reynolds spoke at the History & Policy discussion evening on the lessons of history for diplomacy. His paper The Prime Minister as World Stateman is available now.

Local government and services

Beware of 'crying wolf' during recession, charities warned

New H&P paper, 7 April 2009

Read the news release [pdf file, 85KB].

Read the authors' blog on the Guardian website.

Social Housing and Tenant Participation

News release, 25 March 2008

Peter Shapely's new History & Policy paper on Social Housing and Tenant Participation shows that tenants must be involved in planning social housing, if the problems of the past are not to be repeated. Read the news release [pdf file, 44KB]. Read the summary release [pdf file, 15KB].

Robin Jackson, Baroness Andrews and David Walker

Local devolution of public services

Event, 27 November 2007

History & Policy and the British Academy held a discussion evening chaired by Pat Thane looking at the past and present of devolution from central to local government. On the panel were Communities Minister Baroness Kay Andrews, historian and former council leader Baroness Hollis, historian and Local Government Ombudsman Jerry White, and Guardian Public Magazine editor, David Walker. For more details see the British Academy website. A full report on this event will be available shortly.

See also Jerry White's H&P paper From Herbert Morrison to command and control: the decline of local democracy.

What's wrong with English local democracy? Can looking back help to move it forward?

News Release, Monday 9 July 2007

This workshop was a partnership between History & Policy and the British Academy, to explore whether history has any lessons that could help revitalise local democracy today. Six panellists with a range of historical and contemporary expertise presented their thoughts, followed by a lively discussion with the invited audience of around 35 people. For further details see the British Academy website.

History & Policy contributor and Local Government Ombudsman Jerry White, was on the panel, see his paper From Herbert Morrison to command and control: the decline of local democracy.

Media

H&P historian comments on the Guardian's coverage of sex-trafficking

Opinion article, 2 December 2009

Read Jane Berney's article, More sex, lies and trafficking.

Communicating History

Media discussion, 2 July

Leading journalists Chris Bowlby (Radio 4,) Michael Crick (Newsnight) and Peter Riddell (The Times) spoke to historians and media representatives at a H&P discussion on 'Communicating History' on 2 July. A summary of the discussion will be available shortly.

Behind the News/ History Lessons

New History & Policy series in BBC History Magazine, April 2008

History & Policy is collaborating with BBC History Magazine on an exciting series, Behind the News/ History Lessons. Every month a historian in the History & Policy network will examine a topical news issue, exploding historical myths and sharing their thoughts on how history might help solve current problems. In January's magazine, Abigail Wills investigates Youth Culture and Crime. In February's edition Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska wrote about Obesity and the modern lifestyle. In March David Feldman wrote on Making immigration work for Britain. In the current issue Peter Shapely considers the housing crisis.

Medicine and Public health

American healthcare: historian sheds light on the debate

Interview, BBC World Service, 12 August 2009

As President Obama seeks to reform healthcare, H&P historian Geoffrey Rivett compares past and present health provision in the UK and the US, in an interview for the BBC World Service.

See also: Dr Rivett's NHS history website.

Feeding babies in the 21st century: Breast is still best, but for new reasons

New H&P paper, 24 July 2009

Professor Lawrence Weaver examines the history of infant feeding in a new paper: Feeding babies in the 21st Century: Breast is still best, but for new reasons

Read the news release [pdf file, 60KB]

Citizens not consumers: drawing lessons for public health practice

BBC Reith Lecture, Radio 4, 30 June 2009

Political philosopher Michael Sandel uses history to argue that we need to think of ourselves as citizens rather than consumers. You can listen to the lecture on the Radio 4 website, or read the transcript.

Abortion Act 1967

Select Committee, Wednesday 31 October 2007

The Science and Technology Committee report into the Abortion Act 1967 is published today. History & Policy submitted evidence from Lesley A. Hall of the Wellcome Library. Read the memorandum [pdf file, 58KB]. For further information on the committee see the parliament website .

The normalisation of binge-drinking?

Research, September 2007

The results of a historical and cross-cultural investigation of binge-drinking by History & Policy co-founder Virginia Berridge and colleagues have been published on the Alcohol Education Research Council website. Read the investigation report [pdf file, 570KB].

Binge-drinking: a recurring moral panic?

News Release, Monday 10 September 2007

A new History & Policy paper by Peter Borsay of Aberystwyth University argues that public and media concern about binge-drinking and the 'broken society' is not new and has a 250-year pedigree. In a comparison between modern-day binge-drinking and the 18th century Gin Craze, he argues binge-drinking may be a recurring moral panic that is resistant to quick-fix solutions. His paper has attracted coverage in the Observer, BBC online and the Western Mail. Read the news release [pdf file, 37KB].

Health policy dominated by historical clichés and folk histories

News release and article, Wednesday 20 June 2007

New research by History & Policy co-founder Virginia Berridge shows how health policymakers rely on historical clichés and NHS 'folk histories' to interpret the past and inform the present and historians need to do more to communicate their work to policy audiences. In an article for Guardian Society, Professor Berridge, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, argues health ministers should overcome their obsession with Nye Bevan and make better use of historians' research and expertise. Read the article on the Guardian Society website, or read the full research report. The report has also been published in Medical History [pdf, 120KB]. See also the news release.

Migration and nationality

Multicultural London: Past, present and future

H&P discussion, 2 July 2009, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

H&P's session at this year's Anglo-American Conference of Historians on Cities took place on Thursday 2 July. A respected panel of experts explored 'Multicultural London: Past, present and future'. Speakers: Rob Berkeley (Director of the Runnymede Trust), Jerry White, (H&P contributor, Visiting Professor at Birkbeck, University of London, and Local Government Ombudsman) and Kate Gavron (Trustee of the Young Foundation and co-author of The New East End. Kinship, Race and Conflict). The discussion will be chaired by Wesley Kerr (broadcast journalist and Chair of Heritage Lottery Fund's Committee for London).

Is fascism on the march again?

Guardian, 9 June 2009

Historians Michael Burleigh, Richard Overy, Kathleen Burk, Eric Hobsbawm, Joanna Bourke, David Kynaston, Norman Davies and David Stevenson discuss whether fascism could rise again, in an article for the Guardian.

Multicultural London: Past, present and future

H&P session at Anglo-American Conference announced, 29 April 2009

H&P is pleased to announce details of its session at this year's Anglo-American Conference of Historians on Cities. H&P's session will take place on Thursday 2 July from 4.45 to 6.00pm when a respected panel of experts will explore 'Multicultural London: Past, present and future'. Rob Berkley, Director of the Runnymede Trust, will chair a discussion between H&P contributor and Local Government Ombudsman Jerry White, Kate Gavron, Trustee of the Young Foundation and co-author of The New East End. Kinship, Race and Conflict and Simon Woolley, founder of Operation Black Vote.

Registration for the Anglo-American Conference is now open, click here for details. Subscribers to the H&P Newsletter can attend the Multicultural London session free of charge, please contact Ruth Evans to register. To subscribe to H&P's newsletter click here.

Island dreams

Archive Hour, Radio 4, 8pm, Saturday 14 February 2009 and 3pm, Monday 16 February 2009

H&P historian Robert Colls contributes to 'Island Dreams', poet Gwyneth Lewis' programme exploring the idea of the island and island life, and the ways in which it continues to capture the British imagination.

NHS

The most influential people in NHS history

Votes are in!

In the run up to the 60th anniversary of the NHS, the Health Service Journal asked readers to vote on the five most influential people in NHS history. H&P founder Virginia Berridge helped with the judging process. The votes are now in and the top five are; Aneurin Bevan, William Beveridge/All NHS staff (joint second), David Lloyd George, Roy Griffiths and All NHS patients. To see who else made the poll, and for more articles on NHS history, go to the Health Service Journal's website.

Polyclinics: haven't we been there before?

Article, Friday 23 May 2008

History & Policy co-founder Virginia Berridge says that government proposals for polyclinics have been tried before, in an article published simultaneously by the British Medical Journal and the London Journal of Primary Care. To read the article, click here [pdf file, 114KB].

NHS policy-makers lack medical advice

Media coverage, Wednesday 21 May 2008

Sally Sheard's History & Policy paper on Doctors in Whitehall was discussed in Society Guardian. To read the article please go to the Guardian website.

The Origins of the NHS

Recorded Lecture, 14 April 2008

Virginia Berridge recently gave a Gresham College lecture on 'Safeguarding London's Health - The Origins of the National Health Service', discussing whether the NHS was created through consensus or conflict. You can watch her lecture or read a transcript by visiting the Gresham College website.

Public and patient involvement in the NHS

Select Committee, January 2007

History & Policy contributor Martin Gorsky has submitted a memorandum to the House of Commons Health Committee inquiry into Patient and Public Involvement in the NHS. Read his submission [pdf file, 113KB]. For further information about the inquiry see the parliament website.

Pensions and ageing

H&P contributes to select committee inquiry on social care

Select committee, 3 December 2009

In evidence submitted to the House of Commons' Health Committee inquiry into social care, H&P co-founder Professor Pat Thane explains the history of financing health and social care and argues that the post-1948 separation of health from social care continues to cause problems.

Read Pat Thane's memorandum. [pdf file, 109KB]

For more information about the committee's inquiry, see the UK parliament website.

Latest H&P - BBC History Magazine article online

Feature, 2 November 2009

The latest article from H&P's collaborative series with BBC History Magazine is available online now. Pat Thane challenges the perception of a golden age of retirement in Changing times: Was there ever a golden age of retirement? Other articles can be found in our BBC History section.

Spinsters

Interview, Radio 4, 3 March 2009

The facts of old age

Society Guardian

Read H&P founder Pat Thane's letter to Society Guardian, correcting the historical facts of old age.

100 years of state pensions

Interview, 31 July 2008

H&P founder Pat Thane was interviewed on the BBC news website today, discussing the The Old Age Pensions Act which was passed in August 1908.

Age perceptions

Interview, Monday 4 December 2006

In an interview on BBC Radio 4's More or Less, Pat Thane of the Centre for Contemporary British History argues that the age milestones that previously defined the stages of life, such as middle-age at 40 and old age at 60, have shifted as health improves and we live longer. To listen to the discussion go the the BBC website.

Britain's pensions crisis

Interview, Monday 23 October 2006

Co-editor Noel Whiteside and Pensions Minister James Purnell discuss whether the pensions white paper repeats the mistakes of the past on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour.

Britain's pensions crisis: history and policy

News release, Wednesday 18 October 2006

A new collection of essays examining the past, present and future of British pensions is now available. Contributors include Frank Field MP, Professor John Hills and Baroness Hollis. The book is edited by History and Policy contributors Hugh Pemberton, Pat Thane and Noel Whiteside and is an OUP publication for the British Academy. Read the news release [pdf file, 39KB]. For full details of the essay collection, see the OUP website.

If this is pensions reform, then we should go back to the drawing board, Mr Brown

Article, Sunday 1 October 2006

Noel Whiteside, Warwick University, argues that the government's 'pension reform' proposals have ended up as a mess - particularly for women. Read Noel Whiteside's article [pdf file, 44KB]. Tha article was first published in Parliamentary Brief magazine.

Government's 'smoke and mirrors' conceals pensions cut

News release, Thursday 15 June 2006

Noel Whiteside, Warwick University, unpicks the pensions White Paper. Read the full news release [pdf file, 30KB]. History & Policy has also made a submission to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry on pension reform. Read the submission [pdf file, 136KB].

Blair must not repeat Attlee's pensions mistake

Article, Wednesday 24 May 2006

Pat Thane, Centre for Contemporary British History, anticipates the government's White Paper on pensions reform. Read Pat Thane's article [pdf file, 25KB]. Article first published in the Financial Times.

Historians warn government against more fudged pensions 'reforms'

News release, Tuesday 4 April 2006

Hugh Pemberton, Bristol University, and Pat Thane, Centre for Contemporary British History, argue that 20th century governments missed opportunities to achieve lasting pensions reform about once every decade. Read their article [pdf file, 25KB].

Policing and emergency services

Met police training still ignores Black history - historian warns on 30th anniversary of Notting Hill Carnival riots

News release, Saturday 26 August 2006

Read the news release [pdf file, 36KB].

Related paper: Policing the Windrush Generation by James Whitfield, Open University.

Political institutions and ideas

Call to reform House of Lords and elect monarchy - or risk revolution

H&P paper, 27 November 2009

In a new H&P paper published today, Professor Iain McLean of Oxford University warns politicians that the UK could be at risk of a constitutional crisis as serious as that of 1909-14 if reform is not prioritised. Ahead of the centenary on Monday of the House of Lords' rejection of David Lloyd George's 'People's Budget', Professor McLean examines the constitutional crisis that followed and the legacy it has left for Britain's unwritten constitution.

Read the paper, The 1909 budget and the destruction of the unwritten British Constitution.

Read the press release.

H&P's Network of Historians respond to the Queen's speech

Rapid response, 18 November 2009

Historians in the H&P Network offer a rapid response to the announcements in today's Queen's speech:

Historian and former civil servant Geoffrey Rivett welcomes moves to create a National Care Service, but warns that today's proposals could be 'robbing Peter to pay Paul'.
Dr Mark Roodhouse of the University of York warns that cutting the bureaucracy associated with police stop and search powers could be a backwards step.
Dr John Welshman of Lancaster University evaluates the government's plans to enshrine in law its target to eradicate child poverty by 2020.
Ann Lyon of the University of Plymouth talks of the gap in the law relating to the Constitutional Renewal Bill

You can read their responses on our opinion page.

If you are a journalist and would like to speak to a historian, please contact us.

The case for historical advisers in government

Opinion article, 29 October 2009

Read Dr Tenembaum's article, The case for historical advisers in government.

Open public primaries

New opinion article, 12 August 2009

After calling for parliamentary candidates to be selected in open public primaries, Cambridge historian Dr Jon Lawrence welcomes recent moves towards this system in a new opinion article. He suggests that open primaries should be introduced as part of a wider process of political reform, and argues that there should be more opportunities for the public to question party leaders during elections.

Read Jon Lawrence's article: Open public primaries

Read his H&P paper: The hustings, broadcasters and the future of British democracy.

Death of a speaker

Opinion, 19 June 2009

Ahead of the election of a new Speaker of the House of Commons on Monday, Ann Lyon of Plymouth University questions whether our obsession with the gruesome demise of Speakers-past really holds any lessons for today?

Read her article on the H&P opinion page.

Lessons from ancient Greece

Radio 4 Today programme, 8 June 2009, 6:54am

H&P contributor Paul Cartledge, Professor of Greek History at the University of Cambridge, discusses the trial of Socrates and the lessons for democracy, in an interview on Radio 4's Today programme. You can hear the interview on the Today programme website.

You can also read Professor Cartledge's H&P paper, Ostracism: selection and de-selection in ancient Greece.

Historian calls for measures to revive democracy

New H&P paper, 27 May 2009

In a new H&P paper, The hustings, broadcasters and the future of British democracy, Jon Lawrence of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, explores the decline of face-to-face interaction between the public and politicians and discusses how British democracy might be revived. He calls for a reinvention of the traditional hustings and the introduction of public 'primaries' to capitalise on the strength of feeling aroused by the MPs' expenses scandal.

Read the news release [pdf file, 59KB]

Click here to listen to Dr Lawrence's interview on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour on Sunday, 24 May. The second part of the interview will air on Sunday, 31 May.

See also Dr Lawrence's blog on the OUP website.

Historian explores lessons of the 1930s for British democracy

Opinion, 26 May 2009

In an article for The Times, Professor Richard Overy of the University of Exeter describes how the economic crisis of the 1930s also provoked growing disillusionment with party politics and the role of Parliament. He warns of the dangers of 'backstairs fascism' and calls for a return to the traditions of democratic participation and protest.

Click here to read Professor Overy's article.

H&P historian discusses MPs expenses

Opinion, 18 May 2009

Greg Rosen of Goldsmiths University of London, dispels the myth of a golden age of honest politicians, and reminds us why MPs were paid in the first place.

Read Greg's comment on the H&P opinion page, and his column for The Scotsman [pdf file, 44KB].

H&P historian discusses the lessons of Thatcher's rise

Opinion, 5 May 2009

Richard Toye of Exeter University reflects on Thatcher's rise on the 30th anniversary of the 1979 election:

"Of the two main parties that fought the 1979 general election, one took a tough line with the unions in a bid to keep down inflation, and the other promised inflationary public sector wage increases in an attempt to buy social peace..."

You can read the full comment on the H&P opinion page. Richard Toye is quoted by William Keegan in the Observer: If Tories want to sail into No 10, they'd do well to study history.

David Cannadine advises: halve the 30 year rule on release of government records

News coverage, 30 January 2009

Confidential government papers should be released after 15 years instead of the current 30, according to an official review by H&P adviser David Cannadine. Professor Sir Cannadine worked with Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail, and Sir Joseph Pilling, a senior civil servant, on a review of the '30 year rule' that was commissioned by Gordon Brown. They found that Britain now has one of the less liberal access policies in Europe and recommend halving the amount of time government records can be kept secret. The recommendation has received widespread media coverage, including articles in the Guardian (see also the editorial and related article on Freedom of Information), The Times, the Telegraph, the Independent, the Daily Mail, the Civil Service Network, the Evening Standard and BBC Online.

Obama claims Lincoln's inheritance

Report, Channel 4 News, 19 January 2009

As Barack Obama is sworn in as U.S. President, commentators discuss his claim on Abraham Lincoln's inheritance and make comparisons with other U.S. Presidents. See the Channel 4 news report which features an interview with historian Doris Kearns-Goodwin, who was consulted by Obama on the lessons from Lincoln's presidency.

Related article: David Reynolds discusses past inaugurations and the echoes of Lincoln and Roosevelt in Obama's leadership, on the BBC news website.

History shows how to talk about redistribution without scaring voters

Article, 30 September 2008

In an article for Compass, Ben Jackson shows how left-wing leaders could make a case for redistribution.

History shows how to talk about redistribution without scaring voters

News release, 19 September 2008

Ben Jackson's new History & Policy paper shows how politicians can talk about economic redistribution without scaring voters, by drawing on the speeches of progressive leaders of the past. Read the news release [pdf file, 51KB].

Options for Britain II

New policy review

History & Policy is contibuting to Options for Britain II which will conduct an overarching review of UK economic, social and constitutional policy, by marshalling the best expertise from across the academic and policy-research community. It is indended to help inform the public and key commentators, and to provide a source of ideas for incoming policy-makers.

What does Brown have in store for Britain?

Article, Monday 25 June 2007

As Gordon Brown prepares to take over as Prime Minister, History & Policy contributor Andrew Blick discusses the likelihood he will deliver on his pledge to change the style of government and decentralise power away from Downing Street. Read his article 'So what now has "Big Bang" Brown got in store for Britain?' in Parliamentary Brief magazine.

Brown urged to abolish 'Department of the Prime Minister'

News release, Monday 11 June 2007

A new History & Policy paper by George Jones and Andrew Blick urges Gordon Brown to abolish Tony Blair's 'Department of the Prime Minister' and establish a contrasting and more collective style of government. They offer five lessons from history to guide Brown around the pitfalls of power. Read the news release [pdf file, 35KB]. The paper was also covered in The Times.

Sarkozy is no Thatcher

Media coverage, 31 May 2007

History & Policy's latest contributor, Robert Tombs, is well-established as a commentator on French politics. Prior to the French elections he gave a number of interviews, to Agence France Press, The Sunday Herald, and BBC Radio 4's Analysis.

The art of political writing

Interview, 25 April 2007

Peter Hennessy and Bernard Crick discuss the art of political writing and how effectively historians and political scientists communicate their work to non-academic audiences. To listen to the discussion, go the the BBC Radio 4 website.

How Blair will be remembered

Article, 10 May 2007

As Tony Blair announced he was standing down as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister, The Guardian asked historians for their verdict on his ten years in power. Read their responses on The Guardian website.

The 1945 Labour government revisited

Interview, Monday 11 December 2006

In this edition of The Things We Forgot to Remember, Michael Portillo revisits the reputation of Clement Attlee's government and explores some of the myths about its radicalism and welfare policies. Participants include History & Policy contributor Martin Gorsky and Centre for Contemporary British History Committee member David Edgerton. Listen to the discussion on the BBC Radio 4 website.

The long goodbye

Article, Sunday 17 September 2006

Tony Blair isn't the first prime minister to find it difficult to make a successful exit from 10 Downing Street argues David Cannadine of the Centre for Contemporary British History, on BBC Radio 4's A Point of View.

Religion

H&P historian on relations between the Vatican and Jews

Guardian, 13 May 2009

H&P contributor David Cesarani of Royal Holloway, University of London, discusses the history of relations between the Vatican and Jews in a comment article for the Guardian.

Science and technology

The 'Haldane Principle' and other invented traditions in science policy

New H&P paper, 22 July 2009

Professor David Edgerton debunks the 'invented traditions' that have distorted government science policy, ahead of the publication of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills select committee report, Putting science and engineering at the heart of government policy, released today.

Read the paper: The 'Haldane Principle' and other invented traditions in science policy

Read the news release [pdf file, 60KB]

See also press coverage in Times Higher Education.

There is no Haldane principle and never has been

Historian gives evidence at Select Committee hearing, 16 March 2009

Professor David Edgerton told an Innovation, Universities and Skills Select Committee hearing that "there is no Haldane principle and never has been". H&P Network member Professor Edgerton argued that politicians and policymakers are mistaken in their belief that a 'Haldane principle' has guided government funding for science, ensuring the independence of research from political interference. He explained how the myth was propagated by Lord Hailsham in 1964 for political reasons and remains prevalent today. Professor Edgerton is Hans Rausing Professor of the History of Science and Technology at Imperial College London. To read his evidence in full, visit the IUSS committee website. A video of the session is available on the Parliament Live website.

Professor Edgerton will be delivering the Royal Society Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Prize Lecture on Monday, 20 April. For more information visit the Royal Society website.

H&P recommended in IUSS select committee meeting

Evidence session on 'Putting science and engineering at the heart of government policy', 25 February 2009

Lessons from history

Article, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, January 2009

Myths influencing science policy?

Article, 23 October 2008

Historian David Edgerton examines the role of science and innovation in national economic development in an article for Nature magazine. He argues that myths about past technological revolutions should not influence science policy. If you are a Nature subscriber or an athens user you can read the article on the Nature website.

The shock of the old

Interview, January 2007

In his new book The Shock of the Old: Technology in Global History Since 1900 David Edgerton of Imperial College, London argues that new technology is not always the best technology and revisits seminal inventions ranging from the rickshaw to the Pill. For more details, see his interviews with Education Guardian and BBC Radio 4's Today Programme. His book is published by Profile Books in January 2007, for further details see the Profile Books website. For further details of the launch event, hosted by Demos, see the Demos website.

Sport

The 2012 London Olympics

Round table discussion, 11 July

The Centre for Contemporary British History's summer conference culminated in a H&P discussion on the Olympics as project, spectacle and legacy. Derek Wyatt MP joined academics Martin Polley, Dilwyn Porter and Tony Travers; journalists Ashling O'Connor (The Times) and John Bryant (former editor of The Telegraph, and Richard Simmons of CABE to discuss the lessons that could be learnt from past Games, in preparation for London 2012.

Trade Unions and Employment

Revisiting the Osborne Judgement on its centenary

H&P paper, 18 December 2009

A new H&P paper by historian and former trade unionist James Moher revisits the Osborne Judgement ahead of its centenary on Monday 21 December. The judgement was the culmination of a long legal battle by East London railwayman, Walter Osborne, against the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, a forerunner of the RMT. The ruling banned trade unions from funding political parties until it was reversed by the 1913 Trade Union Act. Dr Moher investigates this formative period in the development of the Labour party and its relationship with trade unions, and highlights how this often forgotten episode can inform the current debate about the reform of party funding.

Read the paper: The Osborne Judgement 1909: trade union funding of political parties in historical perspective.

Read an interview with James Moher on the Waltham Forest Guardian's website.

Are we facing a winter of discontent?

Interview, BBC History Magazine, 24 November 2008

H&P contributor James Moher talks to Chris Bowlby about the industrial crisis of 1978/9 and considers whether we could be heading for something similar 30 years later. This interview appears in the December issue of BBC History Magazine and is part of a series produced in collaboration with History & Policy.

James Moher is a co-organiser of the History & Policy Trade Union Forum and is the author of Trade unions and the law - history and a way forward?

Lessons from the Winter of Discontent

Article, Monday 10 September

A new History & Policy paper by historian and Brent Councillor Jim Moher calls for a new settlement of 'rights and responsibilities' between the state and the unions. In an article for the Guardian he explores whether Gordon Brown's government faces a fresh Winter of Discontent and what lessons he might learn from 1978-9.

Transport

Latest H&P - BBC History Magazine article online

Feature, 11 December 2009

The latest article from H&P's collaborative series with BBC History Magazine is available online now. Colin Divall of the University of York explores the history of, and current policies for, high-speed rail in the UK Changing times: Why put the breaks on high speed rail? Other articles can be found in our BBC History section.

Welfare

H&P contributes to select committee inquiry on social care

Select committee, 3 December 2009

Read Pat Thane's memorandum. [pdf file, 109KB]

For more information about the committee's inquiry, see the UK parliament website.

Prime Minister should have second thoughts on teenage mothers

Opinion article, 7 October 2009

Read Dr Koffman's article in Society Guardian: Second thoughts: supporting teenage mothers.

The legacy of the workhouse

Woman's Hour, Radio 4, 10:30am, Tuesday 17 February 2009

H&P founder Pat Thane and historian Sarah Wise discuss workhouses and their legacy in modern Britain. To listen to the programme please go to the Woman's Hour website. This year sees the 100th anniversary of Beatrice Webb's Minority Report, which challenged the workhouse system and laid the foundations for the modern welfare state. Professor Thane is speaking at a Fabian Society conference on the Minority Report on Saturday 21 February; please see our events page for further details.

Is Britain's voluntary sector in decline?

Articles, Friday 14 July 2006

A debate between historians Frank Prochaska, Yale University, and Pat Thane, Centre for Contemporary British History. Download the debate [pdf file, 23KB]. Articles first published in New Start magazine.

Volunteers and voluntary organisations in a changing world

News release, Friday 30 June 2006

History & Policy hosts a discussion session with Baroness Greengross at the Centre for Contemporary British History summer conference.