All articles written by Laura Hutchinson, Head of UK Political Intelligence on PoliticsHome.com

22 Nov Communities

As human rights groups call for an overhaul of the government’s flagship Prevent counter-radicalisation strategy, what might we see in the Home Office’s long-awaited publication of the independent review into the scheme’s effectiveness?

02 Nov Communities

Police Watchdog Warns Misogyny, Sexism And Predatory Behaviour Still Prevalent In Many Forces

The independent inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) have warned that a culture of misogyny, sexism and predatory behaviour towards members of the public and female colleagues persists across many UK police forces today.

15 Jul Home affairs

Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism Is On An "Upward Trajectory", New Report Warns

A damning new report by the secretive Intelligence and Security Committee has warned that MI5 desperately needs increased funding in order to stave off a worrying growth in extreme right-wing terrorism.

29 Jun Communities

Where Are They Now? Heidi Allen

Heidi Allen, Conservative, Change UK and Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire 2015 – 2019

29 Jun Home affairs

What Does It Mean That The Met Police Have Been Placed In ‘Special Measures’?

The police watchdog Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has announced they will place Britain’s largest police force – the Metropolitan Police – into special measures following a string of high-profile incidents and “systemic” failings.

27 May Home affairs

Campaigners Say The Government Must Stop Charging Migrants’ Children For British Citizenship

Children’s charities have called for the government to go further after it made changes this week to the fees it charges the children of migrants who wish to claim British citizenship.

24 May Parliament

Where Are They Now? Melanie Onn

Labour MP for Great Grimsby, 2015 - 2019

09 May Foreign affairs

Plans That Allow Female Ukrainian Refugees To Be Placed With Single Men Dismissed As “Dangerous”

Women from Ukraine who come to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine refugee scheme could be placed with single men, sparking concern from housing charities.

09 May Home affairs

The Lord Harrington Interview: 'I wouldn’t have taken the job on if I thought I was being built up as the patsy'

Lord Harrington earned his stripes before becoming minister for refugees. So why is his Homes for Ukraine scheme beset by criticism?

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

26 Apr Home affairs

David Cameron Accuses Prevent Critics Of “Enabling Terrorism”

David Cameron has warned that the UK’s counter-radicalisation strategy Prevent “will not survive” just three years after its launch, unless the government addresses anti-Prevent narratives.

19 Apr Home affairs

Government Calls On Army Reserves To Help Stop Migrant Crossings

The government has made a new order to allow the Armed Forces to call up voluntary reservists to deal with illegal channel crossings.

14 Apr Home affairs

MPs Accuse Home Office Of “Shocking” Oversight On Migrant Poverty Statistics

A cross party group of MPs have accused the government of having “inadequate” data on how many people have a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition on their immigration visas, arguing that many British children are growing up in significant hardship and poverty because of their parents’ immigration status.

08 Apr Home affairs

Cressida Dick’s Legacy Has Been Torn In Two

When Dame Cressida Dick became the first female and openly gay Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 2017 there was optimism that her appointment would be a pivotal moment for Britain’s largest police force.

05 Apr Health

Cancer Charities Warn Government Is Failing To Address Chronic NHS Staff Shortages

MPs have warned that the NHS is not on track to meet the NHS Long Term plan target to diagnose 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2 by 2028, with chronic cancer workforce shortages meaning the UK is now performing behind other comparable countries for cancer outcomes.

17 Mar Home affairs

Majority Of Late-Stage Terror Plots Foiled Last Year Were From Right Wing Extremists

The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing has warned of the growing threat posed by the extreme right-wing in the UK, with three out of four late stage disrupted terror plots last year relating to extreme right-wing terrorism.

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.

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.

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.

02 Sep 2021 Foreign affairs

What now for Global Britain after Afghanistan crisis?

The government’s 'Integrated Review of foreign policy' foretold 2021 would be a year of British leadership, stating that with the UK chairing the G7 and COP26 it would demonstrate their global commitment and “interoperability with allies”.

18 Jun 2021 Home affairs

Exclusive: Hundreds Of Police Officers Accused Of Abusing Powers For Sexual Gain

Hundreds of police officers are referred to the official police watchdog every year for abusing their powers for sexual gain, according to exclusive figures obtained by PoliticsHome.

18 Jun 2021 Home affairs

New measures to tackle police corruption must be properly funded

On 10 March 1987, a 37-year-old private detective named Daniel Morgan was found dead in the car park of a south London pub with an axe embedded in his head. No-one has ever been convicted of his murder, despite five separate investigations

24 May 2021 Home affairs

The rape conviction review should concentrate as much on prevention as prosecution

Campaigners fear a long-delayed government review to address the persistently low level of rape convictions will focus too much on prosecutions and not enough on prevention. Laura Hutchinson reports

19 Mar 2021 Coronavirus

Can the Prime Minister get away with legal gymnastics on cuts to the aid budget?

While cutting international development spending may be unpopular with parts of the Tory backbenches and charities, without concerted public pressure the government may be able to avoid legislative action

08 Feb 2021 Brexit

The UK and EU must be honest about the consequences of Brexit in Northern Ireland

With the delicate Northern Ireland Protocol facing more than just “teething problems”, all parties must take responsibility for their part in negotiating and now upholding it

19 Nov 2020 Brexit

With the rush for a deal on, the government should consider a Brexit implementation period so businesses aren’t left in the lurch

After a tumultuous year for business, if a trade deal with the EU is agreed, an implementation period may be needed to help both government and business adjust with minimum impact

07 Sep 2020 Defence

The UK must now concentrate on unseen destabilising forces for the Integrated Review

The UK is at a crossroads. After almost 50 years of membership, it will leave the European Union and begin a new chapter. From 1 January 2021 , Great Britain will no longer be part of a 28 strong political union – the second largest economy in the world, and the world’s largest trading bloc – but instead a small, sovereign, archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean.

20 Jun 2020 Brexit

Without compromise on both sides there will be no breakthrough in Brexit talks, regardless of any transition extension

Despite Covid-19 causing delays, the UK is still looking to secure a Brexit deal by July – to achieve this, both the EU and the UK need to will need to let go of their wilful misunderstandings

05 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Coronavirus has demonstrated the importance of a ring-fenced overseas aid budget

Many hope that when the time comes, the lessons learnt from coronavirus will translate into a shift of priorities for the Government. This includes recognition of the importance of having a ring-fenced overseas aid budget and a single, separate, Department responsible for spending it.

20 Mar 2020 Coronavirus

The first 100 days: Boris Johnson’s pledge to ‘Get Brexit Done’ is now unsustainable

Sunday marks the first 100 days since the General Election. No significant progress has been made thus far in Brexit trade talks, and future talks are in limbo as we try to overcome this global health crisis.

31 Jan 2020 Home affairs

The UK is leaving the European Union – now the real work begins

10 months on from the date the UK was meant to leave the EU, the UK will leave the European Union after almost 50 years of membership tonight at 23:00 GMT. Dods Monitoring's Laura Hutchinson considers the next steps.

09 Jan 2020 Economy

ANALYSIS: The general election delivered a mandate for Brexit, but not an end to uncertainty

Boris Johnson's convincing majority put an end to the parliamentary drama, but can he "Get Brexit Done" by the end of the year? Laura Hutchinson explores the possibilities ahead

20 Dec 2019 Home affairs

Boris Johnson has a blank cheque to 'Get Brexit Done', what is he likely to do with it?

With a majority of 80 there is no question that the Government will pass its Withdrawal Agreement Bill - Dods Monitoring's Laura Hutchinson explains what might happen next.

11 Nov 2019 Brexit

A general election is a gamble for all parties - whatever the outcome, the Brexit crisis will continue

An election will not offer a conclusive answer to the Brexit question and there is a very real possibility that the UK will be left with another hung Parliament in which there is no clear mandate, no majority, and no consensus on the way forward, says Dods Monitoring's Laura Hutchinson.

22 Oct 2019 Brexit

EXPLAINED: The key points in Boris Johnson’s EU withdrawal bill ahead of crunch Commons votes

MPs are set to vote on whether they support the principle of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal through the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB).

08 Oct 2019 Brexit

Can a feasible alternative to the 'Irish backstop' be reached before 31st October?

Even if Boris Johnson were to soften his position on the ‘Irish backstop’ a time limit or exit clause is an unworkable position for the EU, writes Dods Monitoring’s Laura Hutchinson.