Politics news

Political links with Putin have not harmed populist leaders’ election campaigns

Marine Le Pen’s ties to Vladimir Putin should have dented her French presidential campaign, but like other populist politicians who have aligned themselves with the Kremlin, she has managed to retain her popularity.

Important moment for UK Government to improve immigration policies

As thousands of displaced Ukrainian families arrive in Britain, the Government has an opportunity to improve the way it handles UK borders and refugee resettlement, says Dr Michelle Richey.

Ukraine war: Turkey’s unique role in peace negotiations

After more than a month of fighting, a fresh round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine has begun in Istanbul in the hope that progress can be made. Following weeks of fruitless talks in Belarus, negotiations were hosted by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who made a short opening statement telling both sides: “The world is waiting for good news, and good news from you.”

University launches podcast about the impact of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

A new podcast has been launched which examines the impact the conflict in Ukraine is having on the world as well as assessing the future implications for the global economy and our everyday lives.

St. Basil's Cathedral, Russia. Image courtesy of Getty Images.

Vladimir Putin: risk-taker who is gambling his country’s future

In the early 1990s, when he was deputy mayor of St Petersburg, Vladimir Putin was known to a member of the city’s legislature, Viktor Talanov. A psychologist by profession, Talanov prepared a study of Putin in which he concluded that one of his subject’s fundamental psychological characteristics was a very high tolerance of risk.
red square, moscow

SWIFT: ejecting Russia is largely symbolic – here’s why

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is horrifying. Western leaders, fearing a broader war, are responding primarily with economic sanctions. A prominent economic sanction has been Russia’s exclusion from the international payments messaging system SWIFT, presented as a powerful means of undermining its economy.

Debt-ridden companies with political affiliations are first in line for Government bailouts – new research

Businesses that have politicians on their boards are more likely to get COVID-19 bailouts from the Government – according to a new study.

Online book launch: Charting the evolution of political communication over the last four decades

The eleventh instalment of the long-running Political Communications book series, co-authored by Loughborough’s Professor Dominic Wring, will be launched online on December 13.

Delegation from the Indonesian Parliament visit campus

The University was honoured to welcome a delegation from the Indonesian Parliament to campus last week.
the sports minister visits UKAD

Sports Minister visits UKAD’s new HQ at Loughborough University: a Midlands powerhouse for sport

With a week to go before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston MP, visited the new HQ for UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) at Loughborough University.

Planned cuts to Universal Credit will hit incomes of millions of households unable to afford a minimum living standard

The planned £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit in October is set to leave out-of-work families with children receiving barely half of the income the public believes is required to achieve an acceptable standard of living, while adults without children will receive around a third, according to a new report.

One Britain One Nation Day is the perfect vehicle for the government’s values campaign

The UK government has officially endorsed the celebration of June 25 as One Britain, One Nation (OBON) Day.

Five questions that need answering in a COVID public inquiry

Where there is much to be positive about regarding the UK’s strong vaccine rollout, a public inquiry into how this pandemic has been handled in the country since the first signs of COVID emerged will be required, to ensure mistakes aren’t repeated in the future.
Woman holding 'we need a change' sign. Getty

Only 12% of sexual offence victims feel police investigations are fair and proportionate, new study reveals

Only one in five victims of sexual offences in England and Wales were satisfied with their criminal justice experience, a new Loughborough-led study has revealed.

Twitter analysis shows Trump on course to win US election – but is bot activity skewing results?

In depth analysis of US public emotion on twitter has revealed that Trump looks set to win the Presidential Election – but the impact of bot activity cannot be ignored.
US flag and the white house.

US election 2020: a toolkit for ‘democracy-worthy’ coverage for journalists

As election day approaches in the US, journalists around the world are working in the most challenging environment of their lifetimes.

Presidential podium in the White House.

New white paper published: Loughborough expert part of network working with journalists to improve the quality of US election coverage

The upcoming US Presidential election poses unprecedented challenges to journalists in the States and around the globe.

New data shows child poverty rates have risen sharpest in the Midlands and the North

Child poverty has risen most sharply in parts of the Midlands and in northern towns and cities over the past four years, according to new research published today (13/10).

Life beyond COVID-19: What are Loughborough’s experts concerned about?

Loughborough academics have voiced their concerns about the impact of coronavirus as part of a new UK Parliament report.
Vector of the UK

Loughborough experts awarded UKRI funding to explore and enhance local-level responses to COVID-19

Leicester is the first city in Britain to be placed in a local lockdown and the situation highlights how different agencies – such as regional councils, police, and health authorities – need to coordinate their activities quickly and effectively in response to an emergency.
Three UK police officers

Why we need to stay alert to the terror threat as the UK reopens

The UK has faced a persistent threat from terrorism over the past decade, with recent attacks focusing on busy public spaces. In June 2020, this threat was highlighted once again by an attack in a public park in Reading. This was the first reported terrorist event in the UK since the beginning of the pandemic.

Summer statement: Tory benefits policy under coronavirus is finally beginning to help the poorest

As Rishi Sunak announces that the government will pay the wages of hundreds of thousands of young adults for 25 hours a week over six months, it’s worth remembering that this will be on a minimum wage more than a quarter higher than it was five years ago.

Netflix account and a laptop for schoolwork are now essential requirements for homes according to new research into minimum living standards

People now consider access to Netflix and other basic technology such as laptops as fundamental requirements for a minimum acceptable standard of life in the UK.

The successes and failures of populism during the pandemic – new report

“My orders to the police and military ... if there is trouble and there’s an occasion that they fight back and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead.” “Is that understood? Dead. Instead of causing trouble, I will bury you.” – President Rodrigo Duterte (Philippines) in a televised address to lockdown violators, April 2020

Fears coronavirus lockdown will increase child poverty in UK as latest figures show rise of almost a fifth in the last four years

New research shows that child poverty in the UK has increased by 2.8% in the last four years, but experts fear the figure will grow due to the impact of coronavirus.