Today the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published an advisory pamphlet on clandestine surveillance in care homes by means of hidden cameras or sound recording equipment. Following the BBC’s ‘Panorama’ programme of April 2014 where hidden cameras were carried by Panorama reporters who had managed to get themselves appointed as care assistants, and the diffusion of… [Read More]
We are witnessing the collapse of NIMBYist Britain according to Steve Akehurst of Shelter. The housing charity found in recent surveys that ‘NIMBYism has collapsed across all voter groups. In 2010, there was not a single voter group who overall supported more homes being built in their local area. By 2013 there was not a… [Read More]
Barely an hour goes by without news of the standoff between Greece’s new Syriza-led government and the troika of creditors, the European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund and the European Commission. The deadlock is unsettling the markets, we are told, as Syriza asks for debt relief and those who hold Greece’s debt refuse another restructuring.… [Read More]
For a number of years British researchers have been gathering statistical evidence of an increased possibility of mortality amongst patients admitted to hospitals at the weekend. Indeed, one study, with a sample size of 14 million, discovered a 16% increased probability of patient death outside of week days. The sheer size of this study makes… [Read More]
Immigration will be a hot topic in the upcoming election. Ukip, some Conservative MPs and the mayor of London advocate the ‘Australian points based system’ (PBS) for managing Britain’s borders, with that system applying to EU and non-EU arrivals alike. The Australian system is more restrictive than the free movement of persons policy maintained as… [Read More]
Today, Civitas has published a report which identifies 11 factors ranging from an ageing population to an inappropriately staffed NHS 111 phone line as being principle causes of so many A&Es missing their waiting targets, sometimes to the point of declaring major incidents, this winter. The report also holds the efficient running of emergency departments… [Read More]
After five years of the government’s strategy to rebalance the economy, manufacturing and construction continue to flounder. Yesterday’s GDP figures show 0.5 per cent growth – wholly driven by services. Low inflation and a fall in oil prices have created a small boon in consumer spending, plus households are borrowing more as credit controls have… [Read More]
Alexis Tsipras has been sworn in as prime minister in Athens. His Syriza party won 149 seats in Sunday’s election, forcing him to form a majority in coalition with the small Independent Greeks party (ANEL). At first this seems odd. ANEL, led by Panos Kammenos, have just 13 seats. They are firmly on the right–… [Read More]
While falling oil prices are good news for those buying fuel at the pumps, some economists fear that the slump in prices will keep dragging the eurozone towards deflation. Inflation in the eurozone is currently -0.2 per cent, compared with the European Central Bank’s target of 1.9 per cent. This is worrying; as prices keep… [Read More]
Today public health minister Jane Ellison announced that a new law imposing plain unbranded cigarette packaging in England (first proposed in 2010) will be voted on before the next general election, if successful coming into effect by 2016. Support from all large parties is one of the reasons that this law has finally been realised,… [Read More]