Oct 2011: Defence: still battling to control the budget

Broth with too many cooks

Andrew Dorman 06 Oct 2011

Andrew Dorman looks back at the Strategic Defence Review andjudges that if this was an end-of-year school report then phrases such as‘promised much’, ‘could do better’, ‘disappointing exam results’ would belikely to be prominent

Dr Andrew Dorman, Professor ofInternational Security in the Defence Studies Department, King’s College London, writes inhis personal capacity.

What Liam Fox could do to balance the books

Andrew Dorman 06 Oct 2011

We have become used to Liam Fox beginning each speech with a reminder that the coalition government received a toxic legacy from their Labour predecessors. In his portfolio he consistently … » more

Dr Andrew Dorman is a Professor ofInternational Security in the Defence StudiesDepartment, King’s College London, based atthe United Kingdom’s Joint Services Commandand Staff College and an Associate Fellow in theInternational Security Programme, Chat

Business and finance

Could cash-rich big firms fuel UK economic growth

David Bailey 06 Oct 2011

There's been very mixed news on the state of UK manufacturing in recent weeks, with welcome news over a new Jaguar Land Rover engine plant in the West Midlands and … » more

Professor David Bailey works at Coventry University Business School and is Chair of the Regional Studies Association.

Going for broke

Simon Lee 06 Oct 2011

If it is to succeed in achieving growth in its private sector, Britain needs not only to reshape its industrial policy but to recognise that the one it has is no longer fit for purpose

Dr Simon Lee is Senior Lecturer in Politics and a Director of the Centre for Political Economy, University of Hull.

Business and finance

Vickers is home but not yet dry

Rosa Lastra 06 Oct 2011

The Independent Commission on Banking was established by the government in June 2010 to consider structural and related non-structural reforms to the UK banking sector to promote financial stability and competition. … » more

Rosa Lastra is a Professor in International Financial and Monetary Law at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS), Queen Mary, University of London.

One sex doesn't fit all

Bernard Casey, Noel Whiteside 07 Oct 2011

‘Once governments start pushing the purchase of a commercial product for social policy purposes, distinctions between public policy and private commercial activity become unsustainable’

Bernard Casey and Noel Whiteside work at Warwick University: both currently research on pension reform under the EU FP7 GUSTO programme: www.gusto-project.eu

Party political

Leading the Tories, but with which road map?

Peter Munce 07 Oct 2011

Echoing the words of his former party leader, Ed Miliband, in offering the Liberal Democrats an opportunity to take part in Labour’s policy review, said, ‘the kaleidoscope of British politics … » more

Peter Munce is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow.

Constitution and government

This frustrating business of trying to drag Whitehall into the 21st century

Bernard Jenkin 07 Oct 2011

The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) recently launched a major report, Change in Government: the agenda for leadership. Over the last six months, PASC has been examining the government’s progress against … » more

Bernard Jenkin MP is Chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee.

Foreign affairs

The Libyans won their war, and it is now critical that they win their peace

Sultan Barakat 07 Oct 2011

After six months of conflict, the National Transitional Council is now established in government in Tripoli. Such a juncture provides an opportunity to reflect on what will follow, and how … » more

Professor Sultan Barakat is Director of the Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit (PRDU). University of York.

Oct 2011: Defence: still battling to control the budget

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October 2011 edition