University experts have been commenting and providing analysis on a number of the key issues in the General Election.
Dr Ben Seyd, Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics in the School of Politics and International Relations, commented on the issue of boosting trust in politicians in the Times Higher Education on 7 May. He also provided analysis for a piece in the Guardian, titled Can a second-placed party in an election legitimately call the shots?, on 5 May.
Dr Matthew Whiting, also of the School of Politics and International Relations, was interviewed as part of an election debate on BBC Northern Ireland’s Sunday Politics show on 4 May. his colleague, Dr Adrian Pabst, took part in an election discussion on BBC Radio Kent on 30 April.
Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, of the University’s School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, commented on 30 April on the leaking of Conservatives plans to make cuts to the welfare budget, including slashing child benefits and family support.
Writing in The Conversation, Professor Taylor-Gooby said: ‘Liberal Democrat minister Danny Alexander has brought benefits back into the election campaign by revealing that the Conservatives plan to make £8bn in immediate cuts to the welfare budget, including slashing child benefits and family support.
‘In recent years, successive governments have focused on the needs of older people and cut benefits for those of working age. For a long time, the public has generally shown support for this approach. But as the cuts begin to bite, the tide of opinion appears to be shifting. The next government may find itself up against greater opposition if it tries to trim the welfare budget back even further.’
Professor Feargal Cochrane, of the School of Politics and international Relations, contributed to the 2015 Political Manifesto Poverty Audit, launched on 23 April.
This report, published by Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP), assesses the impact of the main parties’ manifesto proposals ahead of the 2015 General Election across a range of 14 policy issues, including migration and security, health, education, employment, crime and justice, and international aid.
ASAP is an NGO that represents the intersection of academic, practitioner and policy constituencies, focusing on domestic and international poverty issues. The academics involved are drawn from over 20 leading universities in the UK and all contributions have been subject to blind peer review.
On 29 April, international students from the University took part in a discussion on BBC Radio Kent (08.15) on how the issue of immigration is being debated in General Election campaigning.
On 13 April Professor Stephen Peckham, Director of the Centre for Health Services Studies (CHSS), took part in a half-hour debate on BBC Radio Kent’s Breakfast show. Hosted by Breakfast presenter John Warnett, the debate considered the topic How do we cure the A&E crisis?
Politics expert Professor Richard Whitman has also been providing comment and analysis for the BBC and ITV Meridian.
He was interviewed on 9 April by BBC Radio Kent’s political reporter Tom Darby and last month provided ITV Meridian with analysis of the election landscape in the South East.
The University’s Press Office is seeking to offer the media a wide range of expert comment on General Election issues. Please contact us if you feel you can contribute.