Premium Columnists Let’s be friends! The Australia-UK free trade agreement Economy & Industry 'Global Britain' turns its gaze favourably upon distant Australia for a free trade deal 'in principle' negotiated with speed — even haste.
Northern Ireland, born of strife 100 years ago, again erupts in political violence Tuesday April 13, 2021 By James Waller Editors' Picks Roiled anew by the impact of Brexit, Northern Ireland is seemingly moving in a darker and more dangerous direction.
The sound and the fury signifying nothing: some observations on the new politics Wednesday February 3, 2021 By Nicholas Gruen Australian Capital Territory Electoral politics has been transformed into non-stop campaigning. In the past few years the 24/7 campaigning has started to be done not so much in…
Tony Abbott: why Boris Johnson would want Australia’s controversial ex-PM as a trade envoy Friday September 4, 2020 By Simon Torme Career Advice What on earth could drive the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, and his advisers to reach out to someone whose toxicity matches Donald Trump in…
Tony Abbott rumoured to be UK’s new trade envoy Wednesday August 26, 2020 By Shannon Jenkins Federal Former prime minister Tony Abbott has reportedly been appointed joint president of the United Kingdom government’s Board of Trade.
When great powers fail, small states must organise to protect their interests Friday July 24, 2020 By Robert G. Patman Editors' Picks To be sure, the rules-based international order was under assault before COVID-19 – challenged by the authoritarian style of Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Xi Jinping’s…
‘Weirdos and misfits’ — your time has come to shine, all your dreams are on their way Monday January 13, 2020 By Sarah Nickson Career Advice Dominic Cummings has remarkably conventional views about the shortcomings of the civil service. His challenge will be to make in-roads on those shortcomings where others…
Work-related stress, depression and anxiety in the UK civil service are at their highest rates in decades Tuesday December 17, 2019 By Sarah Nickson Editors' Picks The civil servants who will deliver Boris Johnson’s agenda have been under considerable strain. The UK’s election result will bring about profound and lasting change…
Boris Johnson’s flirtation with populism will have lasting consequences for the Conservative Party Tuesday October 8, 2019 By Andy Knott Career Advice Among the core features that distinguish conservatism and populism are their different approaches to the rule of law and their conception of “the people”. The…
Centre-left politics: dead, in crisis, or in transition? Tuesday June 25, 2019 By Rob Manwaring Editors' Picks Across the advanced industrial world, the centre-left largely remains in opposition, with poor prospects for immediate future government. If it is a story of decline,…
What UK pollsters can tell Australians about citizen engagement and the 2019 federal election Wednesday May 22, 2019 By Brenton Prosser Features After the unexpected Brexit result and the 2015 British general election, a British Polling Council Inquiry investigated what went wrong in the polls. Its findings…
Dr Martin Parkinson: Brexit, multilateralism and how the media impacts policy work Friday October 19, 2018 By Martin Parkinson Career Advice The secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet was interviewed by the UK government's Civil Service Quarterly about what a post-Brexit UK can…
Brexit triggers unlikely civil service renaissance Monday October 15, 2018 By David Donaldson Editors' Picks Brexit is placing huge strain on the UK government but has re-energised parts of the civil service, says the Institute for Government's Jill Rutter.
Trust crisis: can a big government still act local and involve citizens? Monday November 27, 2017 By Stephen Easton Features To earn back public trust, perhaps the "policy elite" need to get over themselves. Big government might be back but better solutions may also lie…
Cabinet reshuffle: 'specialists welcome' minister sacked Friday July 15, 2016 By David Donaldson News Is workforce reform dashed already? The UK Cabinet reshuffle leaves plans in disarray. There are concerns about attracting staff to the new Brexit department, and…
