Thomas More Institute

Category Archives: Public Policy

Published on
7 February 2011

The European Court of Human Rights, HM Government, and Prisoner Voting

Posted in Civil Liberties, Europe, Human Rights, Legal Affairs, Liberty, Public Policy, World Affairs

Speculation in the press currently reports that the government are poised to allow MPs a free vote on the issue of whether prisoners should be allowed to vote in UK elections, after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the UK’s blanket ban on prisoner voting breaches human rights. Setting aside the specific […]

Published on
19 January 2011

Gay Equality vs. Traditional Marriage: Clash of Rights or Clash of Civilisations?

Posted in Christianity, Culture, Legal Affairs, Marriage & Family, Public Policy, Same-Sex Marriage

We commented here recently on the case of Christian hoteliers sued for refusing to allow a homosexual couple to share a room at their hotel in Cornwall. A Judge yesterday ruled against them, arguing that their refusal constitutes an act of ‘direct discrimination’ on grounds of sexual orientation. Similar claims of persecution against Christians have […]

Published on
11 January 2011

Frank Field Reports: Time for a Parenting GCSE?

Posted in British Politics, Culture, Education, Marriage & Family, Public Policy

Frank Field, the MP chosen to be the government’s so-called ‘poverty czar’, has recommended, in his much-anticipated report on poverty and life chances, that schools should offer parenting GCSEs in an attempt to curb widespread family breakdown in the UK. Readers may feel that this is a faintly ridiculous suggestion, or perhaps a step too […]

Published on
4 January 2011

Utilitarianism, University Funding, and the Market Model

Posted in Education, Political Economy, Public Policy, Thomas More Institute Events

From a guest blogger. Based on a talk given at the final session of the Thomas More Institute’s reading group entitled ‘University: Training for the “Rat Race” or Forming Virtuous People?’. The value of higher education is often assessed in strictly utilitarian terms. Will having an education to university degree level increase my lifelong earnings? […]

Published on
1 November 2010

Is it Time to Put the Family at the Heart of the Welfare State?

Posted in Marriage & Family, Political Economy, Public Policy

If there is something we have learnt from recent elections in the UK it is that the working classes have become increasingly alienated from political life. Elections in 2009 saw two MEPs elected for the British National Party (BNP), not because of a notable increase in their support, but due to a collapse in the […]

Published on
15 October 2010

Goodbye, Social Mobility? Tuition Fees and the Browne Review

Posted in Education, Political Economy, Public Policy

An article from the BBC sums up the impact of the Browne Review: ‘Make no mistake. If Lord Browne’s blueprint is put into practice it will mean fundamental changes for higher education in England. Allowing universities to charge whatever they want will mean unleashing the forces of competition – which will mean winners and losers.’ […]

Published on
6 October 2010

The Thin Line Between Equality and Insanity

Posted in British Politics, Conscience, Public Policy, Religion

Way back in 2007 David Cameron announced that a Conservative government would put an end to the ‘compensation culture’ which he claimed had been blighting Britain’s schools. He argued that children need ‘play, adventure and excitement. But, today, fear of litigation means school trips and adventure holidays are abandoned.’ A laudable ambition perhaps, which makes […]

Published on
21 September 2010

Will the Pope Make Britain Sit Up and Think?

Posted in Big Society, Civil Liberties, Conscience, Education, Public Policy, Religion

Conservative Party Co-Chairman Baroness Warsi was reported last week to have pledged that the Coalition Government will ‘restore faith to the heart of Britain’. Her comments came on the eve of the first ever State Visit by a reigning Pope to Britain. During his visit the Pope spoke strongly on several occasions about the role […]