UofG Spotlight – Details, episodes & analysis

In today’s episode, we’re discussing the big news of the week: the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Hosts Nicola and Kez speak to two experts in political philosophy and foreign policy to find out what the return of Trump means for the United States and the rest of the world. 

Dr Michael Frazer, Lecturer in Politics at the University of Glasgow gives a political philosophy take on Trump, exploring what philosophers like Plato might tell us about his personality and how he might push – and potentially break – the boundaries of democracy in the US. 

Juliet Kaarbo, Professor of Foreign Policy at the University of St Andrews and Scottish Council on Global Affairs, gives us fascinating insight into what Trump’s ho Trump might approach foreign policy, and what he might do on issues like Russian and Ukraine, and the Middle East. 

Join the Centre for Public Policy mailing list: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/stayintouch/  

Find out more about the Scottish Council on Global Affairs: https://scga.scot/ 

This week Kez speaks to Sarah Davidson, Chief Executive of Carnegie UK, and Ian Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Public Administration at the Centre for Public Policy. 

We explore the Prime Minister’s new approach to government, drawing on a paper just published by Carnegie in collaboration with the Centre for Public Policy on Mission-Led Government. What does it mean in practice, and how can it move beyond a slogan? We discuss the practicalities of delivering these missions, the role of the Treasury, and lessons from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Plus, how can communication play a part in rebuilding public trust in government?  

Read the paper: https://carnegieuk.org/publication/mission-led-government-a-radical-re-wiring-of-whitehall-or-another-failure-to-relaunch/

In this episode of Spotlight: On the Election, we’re talking climate policy.  

Featuring two interviews, with Chris Stark, Chief Executive of The Carbon Trust and Honorary Professor here at the Centre for Public Policy, and Professor Gioia Falcone, Director of the Glasgow Centre for Sustainable Energy at the University of Glasgow.  

Can new oil exploration be compatible with the transition to net zero? Why is climate change not featuring in the election campaign? How can different levels of government work together on the issue of climate change? What is GB Energy and what will it do? 

Visit the Centre for Public Policy blog to read more analysis in our Policy Insights series: www.gla.ac.uk/publicpolicy 

In this episode of ‘Spotlight: On the Election’ Professor Nicola McEwen and Professor Kezia Dugdale talk to Professor Sergi Pardos-Prado, Dr Dan Fisher and Professor Nasar Meer all experts from the University of Glasgow. 

They talk about the UK’s attitude to immigration the current status of the UK’s asylum system and what each party is proposing to do about it. 

We’re bringing you a bonus episode! 

On Monday 17 June we brought together leaders from across civil society in an online event to discuss the #UKGeneralElection2024, reflecting on the campaigns to date, the most recent polling and what they hope to see in the closing stages of the race. 

Steered by Kezia Dugdale, the episode features a discussion between Professor Nicola McEwen; Anna Fowlie, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations; Dr Emily Gray, IPSOS Scotland; Nathalie Agnew,  Institute of Directors, Edinburgh and Lothians. 

Visit the Centre for Public Policy website for more analysis:

www.gla.ac.uk/publicpolicy 

In this episode of Spotlight: On the Election, Professor Nicola McEwen and Professor Kezia Dugdale talk to the UK’s leading voice on Brexit and its impact in the UK, Professor Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe at King's College London.

They talk about the recent European elections, what’s in the UK party manifestos on Europe ahead of the 4 July UK General Election, and what the UK and EU relationship might look like in the future.

Join us for Policy Insights Live, our live, online event on Monday 17 June. More info and sign up on the Centre for Public Policy website: www.gla.ac.uk/publicpolicy.

In this episode of ‘Spotlight: On the Election’ Prof. Kezia Dugdale speaks to world leading economist Prof. Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal & Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, about the big economic challenges facing the parties and the potential policy solutions for the next government. 

Also in this episode, Prof. Graeme Roy and Dr Tanya Wilson, Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Glasgow, discuss how these economic issues impact people’s lives, especially low-income households, and what the parties are proposing as solutions. 

In this first episode of our ‘Spotlight: On the Election’ miniseries Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale from the Centre for Public Policy speak to Stephen Noon, former senior policy adviser for the first SNP Government, and Eddie Barnes, former adviser to Ruth Davidson and the Scottish Conservatives. They reflect on the timing of the election, what's likely happening in party HQs and the big seats to watch in the coming weeks. 

In this episode Professor Kezia Dugdale, Associate Director of the Centre for Public Policy speaks to Professor Sarah Armstrong, criminologist at the University of Glasgow. They discuss an important report by the Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research on deaths in custody and care in Scotland, titled Nothing to See Here?

On this week's episode we focus on The Promise - the term used for the work required to deliver the findings of a review published in 2020 into the care system and what it would take to ensure  every child in Scotland could grow up loved, safe and respected.

We speak to Fraser McKinley, Chief Executive of The Promise Scotland, the organisation set up to support and drive the change to deliver on the promise.

We also talk to Sarah Davidson, Chief Executive of Carnegie UK, about wider challenges around delivering on The Promise in the context of wider public sector reform.