scholarly journals Working Hard or Hardly Working? Examining the Politics of In-Work Conditionality in the UK

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Joan Abbas ◽  
Joe Chrisp
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Welfare Reform ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Unemployment Benefits ◽  
Parliamentary Debates ◽  
Party Manifestos ◽  
Avoidance Strategies ◽  
Blame Avoidance ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Uk

The intensification of behavioural requirements and punitive measures in unemployment benefits by UK governments has been popular and instrumental to the politics of welfare reform. Yet there is scant research into the politics of extending this approach to working households, known as ‘in-work conditionality’ (IWC), which was introduced in the UK under Universal Credit in 2012. Addressing this gap, we examine the preferences of political parties and voters towards IWC, using data from an online survey of 1,111 adults in 2017, party manifestos and parliamentary debates. While we find evidence of a partisan split between voters and politicians on the left (oppose IWC) and right (support IWC), intra-party divides and the relative infancy of IWC suggests the politics of IWC is not set in stone. This helps to explain the blame avoidance strategies of current and previous Conservative governments responsible for IWC.

Funding Local Political Parties in England and Wales: Donations and Constituency Campaigns

2007 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Johnston ◽  
Charles Pattie
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Liberal Democrats ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

The funding of political parties is an issue of considerable contemporary concern in the UK. Although most attention has been paid to the situation regarding national parties, the new funding regime introduced in 2001 also applies to constituency parties, and some concerns have been raised regarding the limits on spending and expenditure there. Using data released by the Electoral Commission on all donations above a specified minimum to constituency parties, this article looks at the pattern of donations over the period 2001–05. It then analyses the impact of spending on the 2005 constituency campaigns, showing that for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats substantial donations enhanced their vote-winning performances in seats where their candidates were challengers whereas for Labour substantial donations aided its performance in marginal seats that it was defending.

Foreign threat and political party change: Russia and changes in party manifestos

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-335
Author(s):  
John Ishiyama ◽  
Christopher Pace ◽  
Brandon Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Political Party ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Far Right ◽  
Party Change ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Party Manifestos ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Military

How do political parties react to foreign security threats? There has been very little attention paid in the literature generally to how parties react to international events, particularly how parties react to foreign policy threats. Using data from the Comparative Manifesto Project, we examine how political parties in countries in Europe have reacted to Russian actions in terms of their emphasis on security issues. Based upon our analysis of the manifestoes from 331 parties in 36 countries we find that, generally, interstate threats have no significant effect on the military position adopted by political parties, although these effects vary by party type and by the type of threat. Russian based threats appear to be associated with the Far Left becoming more dovish (which is consistent with what would be expected by the literature) and the Far Right becoming significantly less hawkish.

Anticipative strategies of blame avoidance in government

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sten Hansson
Keyword(s):  
Public Communication ◽  
Discursive Strategies ◽  
Government Communication ◽  
Avoidance Strategies ◽  
Blame Avoidance ◽  
Communication Practices ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Professional Guidelines

Abstract Public communication practices of executive governments are often criticised by journalists, politicians, scholars, and other commentators. Therefore, government communication professionals routinely adopt various blame avoidance strategies, some of which are meant to ‘stop blame before it starts’ or to reduce their exposure to potential blame attacks. The linguistic aspects of such anticipative strategies are yet to be studied by discourse analysts. I contribute towards filling this gap by showing how written professional guidelines for government communicators could be interpreted as complex discursive devices of anticipative blame avoidance. I outline historically and institutionally situated issues of blame that inform the occupational habitus of government communicators in the UK. I bring examples from their propriety guidelines to illustrate how the use of certain discursive strategies limits the possible perceived blameworthiness of individual officeholders. I conclude by explicating the discursive underpinnings of two common operational blame avoidance strategies in government: ‘protocolisation’ and ‘herding’.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study: Understanding the Longitudinal Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK; a Methodological Overview Paper

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherie Armour ◽  
Emily McGlinchey ◽  
Sarah Butter ◽  
Kareena McAloney-Kocaman ◽  
Kerri E. McPherson
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Uk

Abstract The COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study was designed and implemented as a rapid survey of the psychosocial impacts of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), known as COVID-19 in residents across the United Kingdom. This study utilised a longitudinal design to collect online survey based data. The aim of this paper was to describe (1) the rationale behind the study and the corresponding selection of constructs to be assessed; (2) the study design and methodology; (3) the resultant sociodemographic characteristics of the full sample; (4) how the baseline survey data compares to the UK adult population (using data from the Census) on a variety of sociodemographic variables; (5) the ongoing efforts for weekly and monthly longitudinal assessments of the baseline cohort; and (6) outline future research directions. We believe the study is in a unique position to make a significant contribution to the growing body of literature to help understand the psychological impact of this pandemic and inform future clinical and research directions that the UK will implement in response to COVID-19.

scholarly journals Expectant parents' perceptions of healthcare and support during COVID-19 in the UK: A thematic analysis.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezra Aydin ◽  
Kevin A Glasgow ◽  
Staci Weiss ◽  
Topun Austin ◽  
Mark Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Uk

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, expectant parents experienced changes in the availability and uptake of both NHS community and hospital-based healthcare. Objective: To examine how COVID-19 and its societal related restrictions have impacted the provision of healthcare support for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A thematic analysis using an inductive approach was undertaken of data from open-ended responses using data from the national COVID in Context of Pregnancy, Infancy and Parenting (CoCoPIP) Study online survey (N = 507 families). Results: The overarching theme identified was the way in which the changes to healthcare provision increased parents' anxiety levels, and feelings of not being supported. Five sub-themes, associated with the first wave of the pandemic, were identified: (1) rushed and/or fewer antenatal appointments, (2) lack of sympathy from healthcare workers, (3) lack of face-to-face appointments, (4) requirement to attend appointments without a partner, and (5) requirement to use PPE. A sentiment analysis, that used quantitative techniques, revealed participant responses to be predominantly negative (50.1%), with a smaller proportion of positive (21.8%) and neutral (28.1%) responses found. Conclusion: This study provides evidence indicating that the changes to healthcare services for pregnant women during the pandemic increased feelings of anxiety and have left women feeling inadequately supported. Our findings highlight the need for compensatory social and emotional support for new and expectant parents while COVID-19 related restrictions continue to impact on family life and society.

scholarly journals Demonstrating trustworthiness when collecting and sharing genomic data: public views across 22 countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Milne ◽  
Katherine I. Morley ◽  
Mohamed A. Almarri ◽  
Shamim Anwer ◽  
Jerome Atutornu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Sharing ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Genomic Research ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Public Views

Abstract Background Public trust is central to the collection of genomic and health data and the sustainability of genomic research. To merit trust, those involved in collecting and sharing data need to demonstrate they are trustworthy. However, it is unclear what measures are most likely to demonstrate this. Methods We analyse the ‘Your DNA, Your Say’ online survey of public perspectives on genomic data sharing including responses from 36,268 individuals across 22 low-, middle- and high-income countries, gathered in 15 languages. We examine how participants perceived the relative value of measures to demonstrate the trustworthiness of those using donated DNA and/or medical information. We examine between-country variation and present a consolidated ranking of measures. Results Providing transparent information about who will benefit from data access was the most important measure to increase trust, endorsed by more than 50% of participants across 20 of 22 countries. It was followed by the option to withdraw data and transparency about who is using data and why. Variation was found for the importance of measures, notably information about sanctions for misuse of data—endorsed by 5% in India but almost 60% in Japan. A clustering analysis suggests alignment between some countries in the assessment of specific measures, such as the UK and Canada, Spain and Mexico and Portugal and Brazil. China and Russia are less closely aligned with other countries in terms of the value of the measures presented. Conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of transparency about data use and about the goals and potential benefits associated with data sharing, including to whom such benefits accrue. They show that members of the public value knowing what benefits accrue from the use of data. The study highlights the importance of locally sensitive measures to increase trust as genomic data sharing continues globally.

scholarly journals The Impact of Place of Origin on International and Domestic Graduates’ Mobility in China

2021 ◽  
pp. 019791832110262
Author(s):  
Keyu Zhai ◽  
Marta Moskal
Keyword(s):  
Career Development ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
Yangtze River Delta ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
International Graduates ◽  
Place Of Origin ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

This article addresses the cumulative effect of graduate migration and opportunities for career development. Using data from an online survey of 756 master’s-level graduates educated in China and the UK, it examines their geographical mobility patterns and reveals significant differences between Chinese students who graduated from domestic universities and those who were educated abroad. Spatial autocorrelation analysis shows that international returnees, who usually had more privileged family backgrounds, clustered in China’s highly developed core cities of the Bohai Economic Rim and Yangtze River Delta regions, such as Beijing and Shanghai, while domestic graduates tended to work and live in less affluent medium-sized cities around these regions. Women international graduates were more mobile than their men counterparts. Our results provide new evidence that draws attention to migration’s role in graduate career development opportunities and highlights inherent economic discrimination within China, which is perpetuated by the national residency permit system — Hukou. The case of Chinese graduates shows that the mobility patterns of international and domestic graduates are influenced by and contribute to growing regional inequalities for career development in China.

scholarly journals Changing the narrative around obesity in the UK: a survey of people with obesity and healthcare professionals from the ACTION-IO study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e045616
Author(s):  
Carly A Hughes ◽  
Amy L Ahern ◽  
Harsha Kasetty ◽  
Barbara M McGowan ◽  
Helen M Parretti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Weight Management ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Blame Culture ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Uk

ObjectivesTo investigate the perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and potential barriers to effective obesity care in the UK using data collected from people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the Awareness, Care, and Treatment In Obesity maNagement–International Observation (ACTION-IO) study.DesignUK’s PwO (body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2 based on self-reported height and weight) and HCPs who manage patients with obesity completed an online survey.ResultsIn the UK, 1500 PwO and 306 HCPs completed the survey. Among the 47% of PwO who discussed weight with an HCP in the past 5 years, it took a mean of 9 years from the start of their struggles with weight until a discussion occurred. HCPs reported that PwO initiated 35% of weight-related discussions; PwO reported that they initiated 47% of discussions. Most PwO (85%) assumed full responsibility for their own weight loss. The presence of obesity-related comorbidities was cited by 76% of HCPs as a top criterion for initiating weight management conversations. The perception of lack of interest (72%) and motivation (61%) in losing weight was reported as top reasons by HCPs for not discussing weight with a patient. Sixty-five per cent of PwO liked their HCP bringing up weight during appointments. PwO reported complex and varied emotions following a weight loss conversation with an HCP, including supported (36%), hopeful (31%), motivated (23%) and embarrassed (17%). Follow-up appointments were scheduled for 19% of PwO after a weight discussion despite 62% wanting follow-up.ConclusionsThe current narrative around obesity requires a paradigm shift in the UK to address the delay between PwO struggling with their weight and discussing weight with their HCP. Perceptions of lack of patient interest and motivation in weight management must be challenged along with the blame culture of individual responsibility that is prevalent throughout society. While PwO may welcome weight-related conversations with an HCP, they evoke complex feelings, demonstrating the need for sensitivity and respect in these conversations.Trial registration numberNCT03584191.

Divergent Paths of Inequality in Turkey and Spain

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekrem Karakoç
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Party System ◽  
Social Programs ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Unemployment Benefits ◽  
Social Security Systems ◽  
Security Systems ◽  
Electoral Campaigns ◽  
Key Sectors

Using most similar design and process-tracing methodology, this chapter investigates the divergent outcomes in income inequality in Turkey and Spain. Even though social-security systems in both countries have been hierarchical, benefiting civil servants, the security apparatus, and workers in key sectors and others in formal sectors at the expense of the rest, they have adopted different social policies over time. This chapter discusses how Turkish governments, with a focus on 1983 to the present time, have designed contributory and noncontributory pensions, healthcare, and other social programs that have affected household income differently. In democratic Spain, however, pension-related policies and unemployment benefits have been dominant forms of social policy, but the Spanish party system has not created major incentives for political parties to utilize these policies in electoral campaigns until recently. This chapter ends with a discussion of how social policies in Turkey and Spain have affected inequality since the two nations transitioned to democracy.

scholarly journals Survey of young people in one region of the UK on accessing COVID-19 information (SOCIAL)

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000942
Author(s):  
Oliver G P Lawton ◽  
Sarah A Lawton ◽  
Lisa Dikomitis ◽  
Joanne Protheroe ◽  
Joanne Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Young People ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Education Gaps ◽  
The Uk

COVID-19 has significantly impacted young people’s lives yet little is known about the COVID-19 related sources of information they access. We performed a cross-sectional survey of pupils (11–16 years) in North Staffordshire, UK. 408 (23%) pupils responded to an online survey emailed to them by their school. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. Social media, accessed by 68%, played a significant role in the provision of information, despite it not being considered trustworthy. 89% felt that COVID-19 had negatively affected their education. Gaps in the provision of information on COVID-19 have been identified.

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