Policy Papers


The Feeding of Schoolchildren by the State

The Labour Government's plans for breakfast clubs are just the latest stage in a history of the state feeding children at school which stretches back for over a century. Policy in this area has been prompted by a far wider range of motivations than simply an altruistic concern for children's health, and debates about state-intervention have inevitably become politicised. John Stewart points to the importance of viewing new initiatives within the context of broader policies designed to tackle the structural problem of child problem, one that has proved depressingly persistent.

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Why Thames Water is Top of Sue Gray’s Risk Register

The pollution of the Thames is not a new phenomenon. For much of the twenieth century it was tolerated so long as London's tap water was adequate. Privatisation clearly did not provide the solution. But John Davis argues that Thames Water's current financial difficulties may offer an opportunity for the government to take decisive action.

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Opinion Articles


Trump 2.0 and the US-UK Special Relationship: A Role still for History and Memory in the Diplomatic Strategy?

How should the government of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer approach US-UK relations in the light of the recent electoral victory of Donald Trump? Dr Sam Edwards argues that despite the president-elect’s famously ‘transactional’ nature, British diplomats might still find the ceremony and ritual of ‘memory diplomacy’ useful. He also outlines a potential long term diplomatic strategy for the UK government based on the continued importance to the US military of British real estate, a careful diplomatic pivot to Europe, and keen attention to the likely future leadership of the Republicans.

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AI and the ‘spooky stuff’: a future history of the human

As policy-makers and scientists gather in San Francisco for the AI Action Summit, historians are well placed to help us imagine the more counter-intuitive or unexpected consequences of a future living with advanced AI. What’s the ‘spooky stuff’ that some believe sets us apart from machines? And how could that lead to a new ‘religious turn’ in our communities and public life?

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News


Dame Judith Hackitt reflects on forthcoming H&P conference

Dame Judith Hackitt, who chaired the Health & Safety Executive from 2007 to 2016, reflects on the conference History and Policy's Trades Union and Employment Forum will be hosting on 25 November on the history of health and safety at work.

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Colloquium in Honour of Simon Szreter

On Friday 7 June, St John’s College, Cambridge hosted a special colloquium entitled ‘Health and Wealth: debating demography, gender, politics, welfare and policy’ to mark the retirement of one of History & Policy’s co-founders, Professor Simon Szreter.

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Events


Health & Safety At Work Act - 50 Years On Still fit for purpose?

25
IHR Wolfson Room NB01, Basement, IHR, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
10:00 am - 16:00 pm
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Reflections on Official History

04
Online-via Zoom
17:30 pm - 19:00 pm
Book Tickets

History & Policy by Numbers

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Historians

Founded

No. 10 Guest Historian Series


H&P is working in partnership with the Prime Minister's Office and the National Archives to help revitalise the history content of the new History of Government Blog website.

H&P commissions and edits the No. 10 Guest Historian series, written by expert historians from the H&P network, as well as creating lively new biographies of previous Prime Ministers.

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About Us


H&P is based at the Institute of Historical Research, Senate House, University of London.

We are the only project in the UK providing access to an international network of more than 500 historians with a broad range of expertise. H&P offers a range of resources for historians, policy makers and journalists.

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