Dods Political Intelligence

The latest analysis and insight from the Dods Political Intelligence team

Articles

Stick or twist? Looming review fuels debate about gambling regulation

The government’s plan to update regulations for gambling must balance campaigners’ calls for more stringent safeguards and stakeholders’ warnings that additional measures could stifle the industry and fuel black market betting.

29 Jun Defence

To boldly go? UK aims to boost defence capabilities in space

The government’s first full Defence Space Strategy will not rocket the United Kingdom to the front of the space arms race, but it promises to be a launch pad for developing new satellite capabilities and domestic know-how in an increasingly important military domain.

24 Jun Economy

Scientific Britannia - how can Britain become a science and tech powerhouse?

The government has been clear in its aim to turn Britain into a science and technology powerhouse. But in a difficult climate for public spending, can it hope to do so? Tom Hunter from Dods Political Intelligence looks at the plans.

22 Jun Political parties

Conservatives Could Be Facing Double By-Election Defeat, Polls Suggest

Boris Johnson’s Conservatives could face a double defeat in by-elections this Thursday. Polling suggests partygate and the cost-of-living crisis could drive losses in both a red wall marginal in Wakefield and a traditionally safe Conservative seat of Tiverton and Honiton.

22 Jun Environment

Net Zero: mission impossible?

No one said achieving net zero would be easy, but it’s clear the financial, technological, and industrial challenges are immense. Dr Joshua Wells, Environmental Policy Consultant at Dods Political Intelligence, explains.

21 Jun Energy

The energy balancing act

The British Energy Security Strategy aims to make the UK’s energy supply secure, affordable, and environmentally friendly – but an unprecedented price crisis raises questions over whether it’ll be possible. Michael Thorogood from Dods Political Intelligence explains.

20 Jun Brexit

Concerns raised over new post-Brexit state subsidy regime

Such has been the lack of fanfare and media attention that you could be forgiven for not noticing that the government has set up a new post-Brexit state subsidy regime. However, as Dods Political Intelligence Principal Consultant Harry Banton explains, there are concerns the new rules could raise costs for local councils and pose risks to the competitive landscape.

24 May Environment

Who will be the next chair of the Efra Committee?

Last month’s resignation of Tory MP Neil Parish left more than just his Devon constituency seat vacant, it also left the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee without a chair.

10 May Environment

Reliance on untested climate change technologies fuels concerns

Some MPs and experts have expressed concern that the government’s reliance on Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs), which aim to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, could jeopardise its climate targets and may even allow heavy industry to avoid cutting emissions as fast as they should.

09 May Home affairs

Ukrainian refugee crisis exposes new immigration law concerns

The war in Ukraine has called into doubt the United Kingdom’s ability to manage a large-scale emergency refugee crisis. Now, critics fear new rules could exacerbate the challenge. Analysis by Alexandra Ming of Dods Political Intelligence.

06 May Political parties

What to expect from the Queen's Speech in 2022

The Conservative government is scheduled to set out its legislative plans for the coming months in the Queen’s Speech, the centerpiece of the State Opening of Parliament, on 10 May 2022.

04 May Home affairs

Is citizenship a right or a privilege?

Stripping someone of their British citizenship is contentious, so a new clause allowing the government to revoke it without notice has reinvigorated the debate on how the Home Office views citizenship. Analysis by Laura Hutchinson of Dods Political Intelligence

04 May Political parties

Dods Polling Report Looks At Local Elections

Voters head to the polls for local elections in England – including London – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland on Thursday May 5.

29 Apr Political parties

Dods Political Intelligence launches "What to expect in the upcoming UK local elections" report

On the 5th of May local elections are due to be held in Scotland, Wales and parts of England including London, while voters in Northern Ireland are set to elect members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

28 Apr Economy

Should the government be doing more to help millions of households facing the worst cost of living crisis in decades?

Britain faces its worst cost of living crisis for decades, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and the pandemic. Pressure is mounting for more action from government. Sheila Amedodah from Dods Political Intelligence analyses the issues.

25 Mar Communities

Making homelessness statistics count

If the government can’t count how many people are on the streets with any degree of confidence, how can ministers be sure of meeting the target of ending rough sleeping in England by the end of the parliament? Analysis by Harry Banton of Dods Political Intelligence

11 Mar Home affairs

No recourse – no hope?

Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are affected by a Home Office policy denying them access to welfare. Most Black or from minority ethnic backgrounds; many have British-born children; and most are living below the poverty line.

28 Feb Culture

Government urged to do more to protect women and girls from online abuse

The government recently introduced changes to toughen up its Online Safety Bill, with plans for new offences and measures against anonymous troll. But some MPs and campaigners say Nadine Dorries — the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport — could still do more to protect women from cyber flashing and other forms of online abuse.

12 Feb Environment

Meating the net-zero challenge?

Will ministers have the stomach to tell us to eat less meat in their overdue Food Strategy white paper? And does the public have the appetite for change?

25 Jan Home affairs

Will 2022 be a year of reckoning or reset for the Metropolitan Police?

Many police forces in England and Wales would have been glad to see the back of 2021, a year of changing Covid restrictions and bad press. None more so than the Metropolitan Police which, according to its commissioner, experienced some of the “most dreadful events” in its 190-year history.

17 Jan Environment

Should the government be urging us to eat less meat to combat climate change?

The government has been conspicuously quiet since the Climate Change Committee warned last year that we need to consume 20 percent less meat and dairy by 2030 to achieve our net zero targets. Will ministers have the stomach to tell us to eat less meat in an upcoming food white paper, and does the public have the appetite for change?

10 Dec 2021 Home affairs

Preventing the worst: analysis of the Prevent strategy review

The shocking footage of a taxi driver bolting from his cab seconds before it exploded in flames in a terror attack outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital last month has focused minds ahead of the release of an independent review of the government’s controversial Prevent anti-radicalisation strategy.

09 Dec 2021 Health

Are the kids alright? The hidden pandemic

Experts are warning that lockdowns have resulted in many young people feeling isolated and unprotected as they face disrupted schooling and greater mental strain. Analysis by Tom Hunter

16 Nov 2021 Social affairs

Is ending anonymity the price to pay for online safety?

Home Secretary Priti Patel’s suggestion that the government could look at restricting online anonymity in the wake of the killing of veteran Conservative MP Sir David Amess highlights the difficult balance lawmakers must strike in regulating powerful social media companies to reduce online harm while protecting those who need to hide their identity to speak truth to power.

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We provide insight, intelligence and impact through our comprehensive suite of policy tools. Our services comprise of three main elements: Dods Consultancy – based in Brussels and London, our industry experts offer real-time analysis and impartial guidance on the latest policy developments and trends. Dods Monitoring – our recently relaunched platform offers instant alerts and contextual insight from over 13,000 sources across the UK and the EU. Dods People – the original who is who in politics, Dods Parliamentary Companion, was established in 1832. Today, our stakeholder management tools cover the UK and the EU, helping you identify and communicate effectively with key contacts.

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