The Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair is taking place in London this week. The 2021 DSEI event demonstrates the need for a complete reassessment and overhaul of the UK government’s support for the UK arms industry, similar to that of 2007/2008 when the Defence Export …
Introducing Ryan
According to my mum, when you asked me as a child what I wanted to be as an adult I would reply (un-ironically) “Prime Minister!”. Whilst my lofty ambitions have tempered somewhat since then, politics, the way it shapes people’s lives and opportunities, remains extremely close to my heart. I …
Meet Beth
Hello! I’m Beth, and I will be one of the JPIT/House of Commons Interns for this year. I’m from Bournemouth, on the south coast of England. I have moved to London in the last couple of weeks to start working for JPIT. I love the outdoors and getting to explore new places, so I am excited to …
Introducing Matt
I am delighted to be joining JPIT as the Team Intern for 2021-22. Having followed the excellent work of the team for a while now, I am excited to be contributing to their output myself over the coming year. I will be the face behind much of JPIT’s social media content, as well as working on …
Explainer: Social Care
Following the government's announced social care reforms in September 2021, JPIT's Paul Morrison provides a guide to some of the issues involved. What is social care? Social care covers a wide umbrella of services to people of working age as well as the elderly. It varies from light …
Why fixing social care will take more than funding reforms
From the reporting of last week’s announced reforms to the social care system in England, you might be forgiven for thinking that the key issue was National Insurance contributions, or broken election promises, or even grand political gambles. Fascinating as this is (for political nerds like me at …
Power and protest
Church leaders have joined representatives of hundreds of civil society organisations to express concern about government proposals to restrict protest and increase police powers. As consideration of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill begins in the House of Lords, they have written …
We need wisdom
Guest blogger Simon Peters, project manager of the URC’s Walking the Way, offers a reflection after reading from Proverbs 1:20-33. Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice.At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:“How …
Wave of debt and uncertainty set to hit Universal Credit claimants after planned cut
Data released this week by Citizens Advice paints a distressing picture for levels of household debt in the UK if the proposed cut to Universal Credit goes ahead at the end of September. Universal Credit has been uprated by £20 per week during the pandemic, to help families relying on the benefit …
Why the UK is setting itself up to struggle in response to conflict in Afghanistan
Yesterday, MPs returned from their recess to the UK parliament to debate the UK’s action in Afghanistan. There was widespread criticism from both sides of the house, and questions were raised about the UK’s course of action over the last week. The government have also confirmed that a scheme …