Duncan O'Leary
Senior Researcher
Duncan works on projects looking at public services, skills and work.
- Polls Apart It’s a matter of weeks now before a new Prime Minister takes office and the clear favourite is Gordon Brown. From what we know, two of his biggest priorities are likely to be tackling inequality and leading a process of democratic renewal. But what about the combination of the two – unequal participation and influence in the democratic process itself? continue reading on 3rd April 2007 Comments (1)
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Soft paternalism
Aside from all the pessimism in Prospect this month there is also a really interesting article on what Jim Holt, it’s author calls ‘soft paternalism’.
Remember how Ulysses ordered his men to tie him to the mast of his ship so that he could hear the song of the Sirens without being lured to his destruction? That’s soft paternalism. You know it’s the right thing to do – you just need a bit of help. Ban yourself from a casino. Tell the barman not to serve you when you’re drunk. Get your flatmate to hide your cigarettes.continue reading on 27th February 2007 Comments (7)
- Who you gonna call? Neighbourhood Fix-it, apparently. It’s a new website from the evil geniuses at MySociety, which looks similar to New York’s 311 number. The idea is simple: continue reading on 26th February 2007 Comments (3)
- And finally.. What a shame that Martha Kearney is leaving newsnight. She is off to present the World at One. If only more broadcast journalists shared her ability to explore real issues and the political manoevering behind them – and to ask a difficult question without turning an interview into an exercise in personal vanity.There is an important (and seemingly never-ending) debate about the role of the media in politics. Things would be a lot more healthy if that kind of journalism was rewarded more... continue reading on 23rd February 2007
- American dream? So Barack Obama is standing for President. If you're wondering what all the fuss is about (as Tim Hames is) and a have a spare fifteen minutes, this is the speech that announced his arrival on the national stage in the US. Worth a watch, if you're into that kind of thing. continue reading on 12th February 2007 Comments (6)
- We don't need no thought control... Iain Dale writes an interesting post on his blog to today, criticising Alan Johnson and David Miliband’s decision to send a DVD of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth to every secondary school in the country. He argues: continue reading on 2nd February 2007 Comments (8)
- In the house Is it me, or is it becoming compulsory to offer some kind of metaphor to do with a house in every political intervention nowadays..? David Cameron explained his intentions to the Conservative Party at its conference, with: ‘Getting ready for the responsibility of government is like building a house together. Think of it in three stages. First you prepare the ground. Then you lay the foundations. And then, finally, brick by brick, you build your house.’ …then continue reading on 31st January 2007 Comments (1)
- Big Bother Ok i admit it. I watch Big Brother. And i’m worried. In the space of two weeks a whole series of tensions have emerged that look disconcertingly familiar. Today the media are picking up on the tension between Shilpa – the Bollywood star – and the white, English-born housemates, with some suggesting outright racism. But add in... continue reading on 16th January 2007 Comments (1)
- Demos skills event with Bill Rammell, 30th January Just a quick post to let you know that we are holding an event with Bill Rammell on January 30th, to launch a new Demos project, in partnership with City & Guilds. The event should be a good chance to talk through some of the key issues, principles and policies put forward by the Leitch Review of Skills, which was published last month and featured strongly in the Chancellor’s Pre-budget report. continue reading on 8th January 2007
- In demand I am just writing a provocation paper for a Demos event with Bill Ramell on January 30th (details to go up on the website shortly) looking at adult learning (see the Confronting the skills paradox project page) and just came across this from Martim Wolf in the FT on the Leitch Review of Skills. I think he makes one point that may be very important: continue reading on 3rd January 2007 in Confronting the Skills Paradox