UofG Spotlight

Today's podcast focuses on a big question in public policy – why is prevention so hard? Can we spend money more wisely? Given the fiscal pressures on the system, prevention is now not just an option but a necessity to create sustainable public services. Policymakers know we should be tackling the root causes of issues, but systems, short-termism and complexity get in the way. We discuss overcoming these barriers with the former Auditor General for Scotland, Caroline Gardner, and Fiona Duncan, the Independent Strategic Advisor on The Promise Scotland.

With regular University of Glasgow hosts Prof. Graeme Roy and Prof. Nicola McEwen.

In today's episode, we're exploring the impact of austerity on life expectancy, population health and health inequalities across the UK. Since the early 2010s life expectancy stopped improving in the UK; in fact, for those living in the more disadvantaged areas, it actually declined. This means people have been dying younger and in larger numbers year on year.

Dr David Walsh and Professor Gerry McCartney, both from the University of Glasgow, have been working in the population health space for a long time and have published a book setting out the evidence on how austerity policies have impacted health inequalities.

Our regular host Kez Dugdale is joined by Centre for Public Policy colleague Dr Claire MacRae to discuss the findings.

You can now purchase the book 'Social Murder? Austerity and life expectancy in the UK', with all proceeds going to NHS charities: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/social-murder

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/

This week's episode focuses on some of the vital work happening at the University of Glasgow in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and takes a look at some of the legal reforms passing through the Scottish Parliament on this issue.

Prof Sara Carter, the University's Gender Equality Champion, highlights the campaigns and events happening across campus to mark the 16 Days of Activism. Kez speaks to Dr Anastacia Ryan about her new organisation 'SISU' and its work to dismantle the systemic barriers that perpetuate gender-based violence and inequality. Kez then chats to Eamon Keane, co-director and Principal Solicitor of the Emma Ritch Clinic, about his work and the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill currently passing through the Scottish Parliament.

Content Warning: This episode focuses on Gender-Based Violence. If you would like to access support without listening further, please follow this link, which includes resources on sexual harassment, assault and violence.

Links mentioned during the episode:

• SISU Website and Launch Event: https://www.sisu-group.org/events

• Fight for the Night March and other events to mark the 16 Days by the SRC: https://www.glasgowunisrc.org/representation/campaigns/gender-equality/16days/

This week Kez Dugdale reflects with guests on what the Budget means for families at the sharp end of poverty across the UK. She speaks to Chris Birt, Associate Director for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Morag Treanor, Professor of Social Policy and Inequality at the University of Glasgow. Graeme Roy also walks us through the Budget process, what it means for Scotland and why the upcoming Scottish Government Budget might be slightly different to recent years.

With the US Presidential Elections on 5 November 2024 rapidly approaching, we're bringing you two University of Glasgow experts to unpack the election campaign so far.

Hosts Professor Graeme Roy and Professor Nicola McEwen speak to Professor Christopher Carman, Stevenson Professor of Citizenship at the University of Glasgow, about the state of the race, the possible impacts of the results on the UK and the wider world, the role of misinformation and disinformation in the campaigns, and how the election itself might run.

Dr Hannah Salamon, Research Associate at the Centre for Public Policy, gives us a closer look at what the election might mean for climate policy, about the records of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on the climate, and the correlation between women's representation and leadership and and climate outcomes, drawing on Hannah's area of research. In her interview, Hannah uses the acronym EPA, which is the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Keep in touch - sign up to the Centre for Public Policy mailing list: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/stayintouch/

Find out more about the Stevenson Trust for Citizenship events: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/politics/stevensontrust/newsandevents/

In this episode Prof. Graeme Roy and Dr David Waite, both Senior Fellows at the Centre for Public Policy discuss alternative economic development approaches such as Doughnut Economics and Community Wealth Building that seek to balance growth with social and environmental justice to create more inclusive and sustainable cities.

They're joined by Prof. Anne Green, City-REDI, University of Birmingham, and Richard Crisp, researcher at the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University. They discuss the findings of their research with David on this topic and the policy context of these concepts.

In this episode Nicola McEwen speaks with Kezia Dugdale, former leader of Scottish Labour, and Stephen Noon former senior policy adviser for the first SNP Government, about their experiences of the referendum, the years that followed, and an upcoming report they've written for the Centre for Public Policy about what could be next for Scotland's constitution. The report is designed to stimulate debate on the path to indyref2, further devolution and how the operation of the constitution relates to some of the big domestic social challenges we face.

In the second half of the episode Nicola and Kezia discuss public opinion and polling on independence and devolution with Mark McGeoghegan, a University of Glasgow researcher of nationalism and contentious politics and an Associate Member of the Centre on Constitutional Change.

To ensure make sure you don't miss the upcoming report from the Centre for Public Policy, make sure to join our mailing list: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/stayintouch/

In this episode Professor Nicola McEwen and Professor Kezia Dugdale from the Centre for Public Policy speak to the Rt Hon. Ken Macintosh, former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, and Liz Lloyd, former Strategic Adviser and Chief of Staff to the First Minister of Scotland. They discuss the First Minister's Programme for Government announcement, what it means about the direction of this government and the fiscal challenges it faces. As two very experienced practitioners in this political event, they also dive into the process involved in drafting the Programme for Government and the Parliament's ability to scrutinise its content.