Latest Blog Posts
Fabulous Fashion or Cruel Convention? The Future of the fur trade in the UK
With the EFRA committee calling for an consultation to be held on the possibility of banning the import and sale of fur in the UK, Dod's Monitoring Alex Tiley examines the future of the industry.
What you need to know about the Mental Capacity Bill
Peers are set to debate the Government’s legislation to reform the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards scheme over four years since the Lords Committee called for it to be replaced. Dods Monitoring's Daniel Laing explains.
Data protection post-Brexit
Dods Monitoring's Connor Smart writes about future EU and UK data sharing arrangements after Brexit, ensuring that UK businesses can still have access to EU personal data, even if we leave without an agreement in place.
The road to 'effectively' zero emissions strategy: Driving the electric vehicle market
Dods Monitoring's Josh White writes about the recently published Road to Zero Emissions strategy for PoliticsHome.
Eighth time lucky? Housing gets another Minister
Dods Monitoring consultant Roisin Buckley says the appointment of Kit Malthouse as the new Housing Minister could at least mean some much-needed continuity for the housing brief.
The Wright man for Digital Minister?
It would be harder to find many Ministers who have shown less interest in the topics contained in their brief than newly appointed Minister for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, Jeremy Wright QC, says Dods Monitoring's, Andy Frain.
Will Matt Hancock oversee a digital revolution within the NHS?
Dods Monitoring’s Health consultant Sophie-Rose Feary writes about the funding and policy challenges facing the new Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock.
Relocation, Relocation, Relocation – A Look at Channel 4’s new HQ
To declare Channel 4’s new HQ as a major move step towards a London-less future would be an exaggeration, writes Dods Monitoring's Culture and Media Consultant Andy Frain.
The future of food: will Defra embrace GMOs post-Brexit?
Dods Monitoring consultant, Alex Titley, says 'tremendous opportunity' lies ahead for UK farmers if Defra looks to encourage agri-tech post-Brexit.
Equipment highs and Budget lows: How ‘no votes in Defence’ may be coming to an end
Dods Monitoring's Connor Smart sets out the current challenges for UK defence and predicts 'the way we look at and deal with defence will change and the debate about capability, funding and the ever-present politics will become a more mainstream agenda'.
Will the Government deliver on its new childhood obesity strategy?
Dods Monitoring’s Bruce Reilly assesses the recent Health and Social Care Committee report on childhood obesity and predicts what is likely to be included in the Government’s refreshed childhood obesity plan, expected imminently.
ANALYSIS From the jaws of seeming defeat over Ireland Theresa May has snatched some respite
The puffs of white smoke which emanated over Brussels and Arlene Foster’s Enniskillen home in the early hours of this morning seemed unlikely yesterday.Back then the DUP’s hardball attitude to the
NHS Chief gears up for Budget day battle
With Budget Day fast approaching, Simon Stevens, the Chief Executive of the NHS, set out his stall with one of his most political speeches yet, which is saying something for a public servant with a
Judgement day fast approaching for FOBTs
When Culture Secretary Karen Bradley announced last October that the Government would conduct a review of gaming machines and social responsibility in the gambling industry, she added fuel to a lon
Single Digital Gateway
On October 10, the IMCO Working Group on the Digital Single Market held its thirteenth meeting. The topic of debate was the Single Digital Gateway.
Social housing featured at the forefront of Conservative and Labour conference agendas
Social housing was very much at the forefront of the agenda as party members and lobbyists descended on Brighton and Manchester for conference season.
Labour and Conservative conferences focus on need to build an educated, skilled workforce
Despite the contrasting atmospheres in Brighton and Manchester and the tonal differences from the respective party platforms, both Labour and the Conservatives were unanimous about the need to prov
Brexit, trade and foreign affairs – the view from party conference
Brexit was everywhere and nowhere this Conference season.
Utilities market interference more likely after party conference pledges
It is of the Government’s own making that a price cap on domestic bills continues to be the biggest headline in the energy sector given the constant cycle of a gradual ramping up of rhetoric and th
Screening of foreign investment in strategic sectors
On September 25, the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) held a first exchange of views on the European Commission’s proposal for an EU screening mechanism of foreign invest
What the German election result will mean for Brexit
Angela Merkel secured a fourth term as German chancellor on Sunday, despite significant losses in vote share.
Business as usual for transport sector at party conferences
With the completion of Crossrail near, demands for a Crossrail 2 ramp up, as the capital seeks to satisfy the relentlessly increasing appetite for added capacity in its transport network.
Groundhog day for environment sector as post-Brexit farming once again dominates conference season
As the focus shifts from Westminster to Brighton and Manchester for the annual festivities of the party conference season, it is Groundhog Day all over again for the environmental sector, with the
Conservative conference could be a launch pad for new education policy
Having had a ‘bumper year’ during the last parliamentary session, education and skills policy is set to be lower key during the following six months, in terms of legislation at least.
Building regulations top Government housing agenda ahead of party conferences
With Brexit dominating the Queen Speech agenda, the Draft Tenant’s Fees Bill was the only firm legislative action promised to help tackle the housing crisis in this two-year parliamentary session.
European Parliament discusses ETS
On September 11, a debate took place on the EU Emissions Trading System at the European Parliament Plenary session in Strasbourg.
MoD targets exports with budget warships in new strategy
The MoD published its long-awaited National Shipbuilding Strategy this week, with Defence Secretary Michael Fallon hailing it as an “ambitious vision” for the future of UK shipbuilding.
The Sexual Offences Act 1967: 50 years on
2017 marks 50 years since the Sexual Offences Act 1967 came into force.
Untangling EU law: How the Withdrawal Bill will reveal tensions between executive power and Parliamentary scrutiny
The cornerstone of the Government’s Brexit legislative programme is the European Union (Withd