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The EU needs a win

Could citizens‘ panels be the answer? Emily Iona Stewart writes This year is pivotal for European climate policy, with the European Green Deal ushering in the historic Climate Law, as well as a raft of climate legislation introduced as part of the Fit for 55 package. Although popular support for environmental issues has never been […]

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CBAM to hit UK?

What’s behind the latest export complication for UK firms In her blog piece for PWB in September 2020 Emily Stewart warned of the fall out from the UK’s potential de-alignment from EU climate provisions and within that the potential for Carbon Border taxes. In this quick explainer Emily discusses how it has come to pass […]

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MFF – no more drama

So it came to pass. The EU’s 7 year budget framework (MFF) was approved by the Council. Hungary and Poland effectively conceded their position, having known from the outset that the Article 7 sanction measures on rule of law conditionality that had been approved separately by qualified majority could not be revisited and that inflicting […]

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Covid has accelerated UK structural change: how should we respond?

For the past fifty years the stock answer of politicians under pressure when jobs are threatened, has been to talk of ‘retraining’. Usually ‘retaining for new skills in new technologies’, or something similar. The UK conference season in early Autumn this year saw  both Government and Opposition floating offers of ‘retaining’ to address the undoubted […]

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MFF veto – a very timely crisis

The saga of the next EU seven year budget (MFF) and recovery fund (NGEU) goes on. As explained here last week, the agreement between the European Parliament and the Council (the member states) could requires unanimity so could be vetoed – and today it was – by Hungary and Poland. This is already being explained […]

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EU MFF edges toward conclusion

The long running sage of the European Union Multiannual Financial Framework has concluded, as forecast on this site, before the UK’s payments into the EU Budget come to an end next month. The negotiations between Parliament and the Council took longer than ideal, meaning that ratification the MFF and the NGEU recovery package by member […]

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What now for pro-Europeans in the Labour Party?

PWB Co-director Seb Dance writes: Brexit is a tragedy for the UK. It removes us from a key western alliance and the world’s largest trading bloc. It restricts the rights and life chances of millions of British citizens. It makes our country poorer. It massively increases the chances of a break-up of the UK. And […]

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A Green and Just economic recovery from Covid

Planning for the post-Corona economy requires vision to make the right investments for a Green and Just future. For PWB, Emily Stewart warns against the locking-in of inequalities and high-carbon industry, and the need to think green for the future. Those following news of the British economy will know that gloomy economic times loom on […]

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Tax reform is essential, so make it a virtue

An incoming Labour Government will face fiscal challenges unknown for generations. While the instinct to run a mile from wholesale tax reform there is little doubt that it is long overdue and in the long term unavoidable. John Howarth argues that Labour must learn to think like a taxpayer. Among Labour’s Shadow Cabinet, who are […]

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Turning Britain Outward Again

Labour can offer a vision of an outward looking internationalist Britain by rejecting the Conservatives assaults on Foreign Aid. Ahead of the Labour Party Conference discussion on ‘maintaining independent aid as a policy objective’; PWB explores the history and benefits of the UKs Foreign Aid schemes, and asks how Labour can position itself as the […]