The UK's performance on some of the biggest economic, social and constitutional issues of the last 10 years is being reviewed and debated at a Cambridge conference this week.
The UK's performance on some of the biggest economic, social and constitutional issues of the last 10 years is being reviewed and debated at a Cambridge conference this week.
“Options for Britain II” — which follows a similar event in 1995 — will also attempt to point the way forward for future governments dealing with issues such as climate change, social inequality, transport, business innovation and foreign policy.
The two-day conference, which is taking place today (Monday, July 7) and Tuesday, is being attended by a group of leading academics, politicians, policy-makers and journalists from across the political spectrum. A series of reports by leading thinkers will be presented, spelling out policy options for Britain over the next decade.
The aim of the event is to provide a compendium of well-evidenced policy research that can be borrowed for upcoming manifestos as the UK's political parties prepare for the next election. By reviewing the UK's economic, social and constitutional progress over the last decade, and providing policy options for the next one, the delegates will seek to inform the electorate and the next government — whatever its political complexion.
The conference is being held in the University's Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH). The first “Options for Britain” conference resulted in the publication, in 1996, of the widely-acclaimed book “Options for Britain: a strategic policy review”, published by Dartmouth.
“This project is a vital audit on government as Britain strives towards better social, economic and environmental policies,” David Halpern, Acting Director of the Institute for Government, who opened the conference, said.
“The government has been in power for many years and it is time to assess its performance and identify the key social, economic and security challenges that lie ahead.”
“Options for Britain II” is sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council, Oxford University. The conference is also sponsored by the Cambridge Journal of Economics, History and Policy, and the Political Quarterly.
More information on the conference, including a full programme, may be found by following the link to the right of this page.
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