Newsroom University of Manchester

Department Hosts the 19th Annual Political Networks Conference

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:30:53 +0100

From 4–7 August 2026, the University of Manchester welcomed international scholars to Oddfellows Hall for the 19th Annual Political Networks Conference (POLNET 2026), hosted and organised by Professor Philip Leifeld(Department of Social Statistics).

Marking the first time the premier international conference has taken place in Europe after previous iterations at Harvard, Duke, Michigan, and other universities, the event brought together leading researchers and practitioners from across North America, the UK, Europe, and beyond.

A Vibrant Programme of Methods and Research

The four-day conference showcased cutting-edge methodological developments and empirical applications in political network analysis:

114 participants attended across the four days.
96 research presentations were delivered across 30 sessions in 4 parallel panel tracks, spanning topics from policy networks and political polarization to international relations and online discourse.
8 intensive training workshops took place over the first two days, covering introductory and advanced network analysis in R, causality-aware temporal networks, deep graph learning, data collection and management, and statistical modelling.
Featured sessions included a mentoring lunch, workshops with senior academics, and a publishing panel with the editors of Network Science, where a dedicated special issue for the conference is hosted, and Nature Human Behaviour.

Strong Local Engagement and Institutional Partnerships

The event saw substantial local participation, with 25 attendees from the University of Manchester taking part thanks to conference stipends provided by the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMI). North American graduate students were supported by 10 APSA travel grants sponsored by the APSA Political Networks Section.

The conference was organised in partnership with the Department of Social Statistics, the Mitchell Centre for Social Network Analysis, the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research, the APSA Section on Political Networks, the ECPR Standing Group on Political Networks, and the International Network for Social Network Analysis (INSNA). Generous support was provided by the University of Manchester's Hallsworth Conference Fund, the Mitchell Centre, and the CMI.

For full access to session abstracts and the conference archive, visit the POLNET 2026 website.

Four Manchester academics become Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0100

The Academy of Social Sciences has elected four experts from The University of Manchester as Fellows in recognition of their significant contributions to social science, highlighting the relevance of the social sciences in understanding and addressing the many varied societal challenges facing the UK and the world today.

Professor Richard Kingston is an expert in the use of digital technologies, data and geographic information to support planning and decision-making.

His research focuses on Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS), planning support systems, spatial analysis and data science. He is Director of the University’s Digital Futures platform and the NERC Digital Solutions Programme, which develops digital tools and services designed to deliver economic, societal and environmental benefits across the UK. His work has also helped develop tools to support more socially aware responses to climate change.

Professor Yaojun Li is an internationally recognised sociologist whose research focuses on social mobility and social stratification, ethnic integration, social capital, education and labour markets.

Professor Li has conducted extensive research into social mobility and inequality, with a particular focus on class, education, employment, income and ethnic integration in Britain and China. He was awarded an OBE in the 2025 New Year Honours for services to the advancement of knowledge in social mobility and to ethnic integration, and was previously elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Professor Konstantinos Stathopoulos is a leading corporate governance scholar whose research examines how companies are governed and how corporate decision-making affects different stakeholders. His work has a particular focus on executive compensation and the ways in which poor governance practices can affect stakeholder wealth. More recently, his research has examined the interests and influence of stakeholders, including employees, in corporate decision-making and governance.

He is Vice President of the International Corporate Governance Society, Chair of the Corporate Governance Special Interest Group of the British Accounting and Finance Association and an Otto Mønsted Visiting Professor at Copenhagen Business School. He was Editor-in-Chief of Corporate Governance: An International Review from 2019 to 2024.

Professor Andreja Zevnik is an interdisciplinary scholar whose research explores political resistance, protest, race, identity and marginalisation.

Her work draws on psychoanalysis, continental philosophy, and postcolonial theory to examine how political identities and forms of resistance are produced. Her recent research has focused particularly on the racialisation and political mobilisation of Roma communities in Europe, Black Lives Matter and other forms of anti-racist political mobilisation. Her research with colleagues has also helped to raise awareness of antigypsyism and strengthen political representation and advocacy among Roma communities in Slovenia.

“Our newest Fellows represent some of the most influential voices in social science today,” said Will Hutton, President of the Academy of Social Sciences. “Their work is expanding knowledge, challenging assumptions and generating insights that are informing and even redefining decision making across government, business, education and civil society.”

“I am delighted to welcome these leading experts to the Academy, and look forward to working with them to raise the profile and impact of the social sciences across the UK and beyond.”

Trying to compete with China could slow global climate action, report warns

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0100

China’s dominance of key green technologies is helping to subsidise the global transition to a low-carbon economy, but trade tensions could make it harder for other countries to meet their climate targets, according to a new report led by researchers at The University of Manchester.

The report argues that China’s large-scale support for green industries has helped to make technologies such as batteries, electric vehicles and solar power cheaper and more widely available.

However, China’s dominance is also making it increasingly difficult for European and US companies to compete, creating a dilemma for governments seeking to decarbonise while protecting their own domestic industries.

Key findings and recommendations

China’s state support for green industries is effectively subsidising the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
China has become dominant in the so-called ‘new three’ green technologies - batteries, electric vehicles and solar power.
Attempts by countries such as the US and EU states to compete with China could slow the adoption of green technologies and increase the cost of decarbonisation.
Governments increasingly face four broad choices - compete with China, cooperate with it, accept Chinese dominance, or abandon parts of the green transition.
The UK should strengthen cooperation with China on green technologies rather than trying to compete directly.
The UK should continue to avoid tariffs on Chinese green technologies and seek Chinese investment in UK manufacturing.

A global climate dilemma

The report says China now occupies a leading position across many of the technologies needed for the green transition including solar, wind, batteries, hydrogen and electric vehicles. Its dominance has helped drive down the cost of these technologies, but this has also created growing geopolitical and economic tensions.

“China’s dominance of green technology presents a fundamental dilemma for governments,” lead author Dr James Jackson of The University of Manchester’s Sustainable Consumption Institute. “The world needs these technologies to decarbonise, but efforts to compete with China risk making the transition more expensive and more difficult.”

The authors argue that countries should focus more heavily on cooperation - particularly where access to affordable green technologies is essential to meeting climate targets.

Opportunities for the UK

The report identifies green technology as an opportunity to improve UK-China relations following a period of strained diplomatic ties. It recommends that the UK should seek closer trading relationships with China, while maintaining the ability to challenge Beijing on other issues such as human rights.

Among its recommendations, the report says the UK should encourage Chinese EV manufacturers to establish production facilities in Britain, while using the country’s expertise in financial services to support investment in green technologies. It also recommends that the Bank of England consider measures used by China’s central bank to support the development of green industries.

Publication details

Subsidising Global Decarbonisation: China-UK Relations is published by The University of Manchester. Dr Jackson is the lead author, alongside Mathias Larsen of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics.

Sexual role identities among gay and bisexual men vary by age and region

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:45:57 +0100

A new study has found that sexual role identities among men who have sex with men vary systematically by age and geographic region.

Written by Dr Morten Thomsen, University of Oxford; Dr Francesco Rampazzo, The University of Manchester and Associate Member, University of Oxford; and Milan Kovačič; the paper argues that these labels are shaped by social and cultural contexts rather than being fixed or universal.

The findings challenge assumptions that younger generations are moving away from traditional sexual role labels, suggesting instead that these identities are being used in increasingly flexible ways shaped by context.

Men who have sex with men may use specific labels to refer to their preferred sexual role within penetrative sexual activities. The most common of these are Top (someone who prefers a penetrative role), Bottom (someone who prefers a receptive role), and Versatile (someone who may take either role without a strong preference).

However, the study notes that these categories are not just descriptions of sexual preferences; they also function as social identities that can carry significant meanings extending beyond sexual behaviour.

Because these labels can carry social consequences – including stigma, assumptions about gender, and perceived group membership – individuals may avoid labels that accurately describe their desires or behaviour, or adopt labels that do not fully reflect them. This means that sexual role labels are often chosen strategically, decided not only by sexual preferences but also by wider social norms and cultural contexts that may vary across generations and settings.

To examine these patterns, the researchers analysed cross-sectional data from 141,156 active users of Surge, a gay dating app and chat platform with more than 8.5 million users.

The study found that most users did not specify a sexual role, although younger men were more likely than older users to disclose one. Younger users were also more likely to identify as Bottom or Versatile, while older users were more likely to identify as Top.

This contrasts with previous research suggesting that younger cohorts are increasingly rejecting traditional labels, pointing instead to a more complex dynamic in which labelling and non-labelling may coexist as parallel strategies of self-presentation, rather than representing a simple generational divide.

“Sexual role identification remains an important dimension of sexual and romantic culture among many men who have sex with men," said Dr Thomsen. “Our findings suggest that sexual role categories are being used in increasingly flexible and context-dependent ways within contemporary digital environments, especially among younger users.”

Regional differences were also identified – Versatile was the most common identity in Europe and Oceania, while Bottom was most common in the Americas and Africa. Users in Europe and Asia were substantially more likely to specify a sexual role than those in the Americas or Africa, consistent with differences in social stigma, local sexual cultures, and platform-specific norms.

The study demonstrates that large-scale dating app data can provide valuable insights into sexuality, identity, and self-presentation among men who have sex with men worldwide, while also highlighting how app design and platform features may influence what users choose to disclose.

Publication details

The study was published in the Journal of Sex Research.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2026.2710145.

Student interns capture stories of belonging in Manchester through documentary with SICK! Productions

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:16:17 +0100

A group of student interns from the University of Manchester worked in collaboration with SICK! Productions to create a short film exploring identity, belonging and what it means to make North Manchester home.

Students from the School of Social Sciences and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures have taken part in a creative internship with SICK! Productions, a North Manchester-based arts organisation, to gain hands-on experience in research, storytelling and film production.

Now in their third year, the Creative Track internships offer students the opportunity to spend two weeks working with SICK! Productions in collaboration with video production company Freshrb. The interns are given a creative brief to research and produce a short film, developing their ideas with support from industry mentors.

This year’s interns created Manchester Through Her Eyes, a short documentary exploring the internationalisation and interculturality of Manchester, focusing particularly on North Manchester. The film follows the story of a young Italian woman of West African descent who has chosen to make Manchester her home, offering a personal perspective on identity, community and belonging in the city.

The cohort of students included Abigail Elias and Sofia Sarosh from the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, and Jude Pfieiffer, Jasmin Khaled Araby Aly and Lailah Boateng from the School of Social Sciences. The experience gave them the opportunity to develop practical creative media skills while engaging with local communities and reflecting on the real-world stories that shape Manchester’s cultural life.

Fragmented system hampering UK response to economic crime, researchers find

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:21:36 +0100

A new study from The University of Manchester has offered the most comprehensive look to date at how the UK coordinates its response to economic crime, identifying the structural challenges that make this difficult to do well.

The study examines the tensions that make these challenges resistant to easy resolution, and the enabling conditions needed for multi-agency collaboration to work more effectively.

The research examined the work of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), a multi-agency body established in 2018 to coordinate the UK's response to economic crime including fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption.

Drawing on interviews with 22 senior officials from organisations including the National Crime Agency, HM Revenue & Customs, the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Conduct Authority, the City of London Police and private-sector partners, the researchers identified a series of structural challenges limiting the effectiveness of the UK's response.

Key findings

Multiple agencies share responsibility for tackling economic crime, in some cases creating uncertainty over leadership and accountability
Competing priorities and budget pressures can limit organisations' ability to devote resources to economic crime investigations
The broad and evolving nature of "economic crime" makes it difficult to define priorities and measure success
Outdated technology and poor data-sharing arrangements continue to hamper investigations and intelligence gathering
The UK's response relies heavily on cooperation between organisations with different responsibilities, cultures and objectives

Economic crime has become one of the UK's biggest crime threats

The researchers say economic crime encompasses a vast range of offences, from online fraud and investment scams to money laundering, bribery and sanctions evasion.

However, a key issue identified by the study was ambiguity surrounding the term ‘economic crime’ - which lacks clear boundaries and scope - and how different threats should be prioritised.

The research found that political priorities and major world events can rapidly reshape which forms of economic crime receive attention and resources. As a result, agencies can find themselves responding to an ever-expanding range of threats, stretching already limited resources.

The authors argue that while the broad label of economic crime helps attract political attention and funding, it can also obscure important differences between offences that require very different responses.

Outdated systems slowing investigations

Participants in the study also highlighted concerns about the technological tools available to investigators. Some reported that basic collaboration and data-analysis capabilities lag behind those available in the private sector, with information-gathering processes that should take days sometimes taking months.

The researchers found that these limitations can make it more difficult to identify emerging threats, share intelligence and coordinate action across agencies.

What is needed

The researchers say the enabling conditions needed to tackle the problem are:

A shared definition of economic crime, clear enough to guide prioritisation yet flexible enough to serve both political and operational purposes
Data-sharing arrangements and intelligence infrastructure that allow partners to act and build understanding simultaneously
Clear incentives and dedicated resourcing that allow partners to commit meaningfully beyond their core organisational mandates
Clear delineation of roles and responsibilities across agencies, with recognised leadership
Formalised but flexible accountability arrangements that create soft mechanisms for ensuring participation without undermining partner autonomy

Why this matters

Fraud is now one of the most common crimes affecting people in the UK, while money laundering enables a wide range of serious criminal activity, from organised crime to corruption.

The findings also have wider relevance for governments around the world that are increasingly relying on multi-agency partnerships to tackle complex forms of crime that cross organisational and national boundaries.

What the researchers say

"The National Economic Crime Centre was created to bring together the many organisations involved in tackling economic crime, recognising the need for a collective response” said Professor Nicholas Lord. “However, coordinating agencies with different responsibilities, priorities and resources is not straightforward, and certainly needs more than goodwill.”

"What emerges from this study is a picture of a system that depends heavily on cooperation between organisations,” added Professor Elisa Bellotti. “The challenge is not simply understanding economic crime itself, but creating the conditions that allow different institutions to work together effectively in responding to it.”

Publication details

The study was published in the Journal of Economic Criminology.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconc.2026.100228

Family courts must do more to hear children's voices, study says

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:56:17 +0100

Researchers say children's rights and wellbeing must be placed at the heart of family court proceedings

Children involved in private family law proceedings in England can experience serious harm to their mental and physical health because their voices are too often ignored or dismissed, according to new research led by the University of Manchester in partnership with SHERA Research Group members and The Survivor Family Network.

The study argues that children are frequently treated as passive participants in family court proceedings, with their accounts of abuse, distress and fear often minimised or interpreted through adult assumptions rather than being given meaningful weight in decisions that affect their lives.

Researchers analysed the experiences of 77 children involved in private family law cases, based on interviews with 45 mothers. Using the concept of "childism" – prejudice and discrimination that devalues children's perspectives and how to challenge these prejudices – they found evidence of systemic failures that can leave children feeling unheard and exposed to further harm.

Serious impacts on children's health

The study found children experienced a wide range of psychological, emotional and physical impacts during family law proceedings.

These included anxiety, depression, trauma responses, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, social withdrawal, disrupted schooling, developmental regression and other health problems.

Researchers found many children who expressed fear or reluctance to have contact with an abusive parent were viewed as unreliable or as having been influenced by their mother. Meanwhile, children who appeared outwardly compliant were often assumed to be safe, even though silence may itself have reflected fear or trauma.

The research also found some children became "aged" by the court process, taking on inappropriate caring responsibilities or feeling responsible for the consequences of court decisions, with some facing threats that their mothers would go to prison if they did not comply.

Children's voices often overlooked

The study identified examples of what researchers describe as "institutional silencing", where children's wishes were reportedly summarised in some cases without professionals speaking to them directly, or where children's views carried little influence over final court decisions.

The researchers argue that children's rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are not consistently reflected in current family court practice and that children's participation is often more symbolic than meaningful.

The study also raises concerns that coercive control can continue after parental separation through the misuse of technology. Some participants described abusive fathers allegedly using access to children's medical information to monitor or intimidate them, which the authors describe as a form of technology-facilitated abuse that requires recognition by both legal and healthcare professionals.

Child-centred support can make a difference

Despite the challenges identified, the research also found examples of good practice.

Trauma-informed counselling, play therapy and healthcare professionals who prioritised children's privacy and wellbeing were all reported to help children recover, build resilience and regain confidence.

The researchers say these examples demonstrate that child-led approaches can improve both children's wellbeing and their ability to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting them.

What the researcher says

"Our findings suggest that children are often the least powerful people in proceedings that determine the course of their lives,” said Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno from The University of Manchester. “Too often, their experiences of abuse, fear and trauma are filtered through adult assumptions rather than being heard on their own terms."

She added: "While I welcome the child-focused courts that the government has introduced, the family justice system has an opportunity to move from seeing children as passive recipients of adult decisions to recognising them as active participants. If children's voices are consistently heard, respected and acted upon, family courts will be better protect their safety, wellbeing and long-term health."

Recommendations

The researchers are calling for major reforms to private family law proceedings, including:

Ensuring children's voices are routinely and meaningfully heard throughout family court proceedings.
Embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child more fully into domestic law.
Reforming family court practice so children's views genuinely influence decisions affecting them.
Providing specialist training for judges, legal professionals and safeguarding practitioners on children's rights, trauma, coercive control and child sexual abuse.
Introducing stronger safeguards against technology-facilitated abuse, including the misuse of children's medical information.
Expanding access to child-centred, trauma-informed interventions such as play therapy and specialist counselling.

The authors conclude that meaningful reform will require not only legislative change but also a cultural shift across the family justice system towards recognising children as equal rights holders whose lived experiences should guide judicial decision-making.

Publication details

The paper was published in the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law.

This study was supported by a grant from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Participatory Research Fund to Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno, Principal Investigator. The findings remain the responsibility of the research team.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09649069.2026.2696734

Netflix's Heartstopper sparked global book-buying boom, study finds

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:30:00 +0100

A Netflix adaptation helped transform Heartstopper from a popular graphic novel into a global mainstream publishing success, according to new research from The University of Manchester and Princeton University.

The study found that the release of Heartstopper on Netflix in April 2022 triggered a dramatic and sustained rise in book sales across eleven countries, introducing the series to new audiences and helping it break out of its original graphic-novel niche.

Researchers analysed international sales data, online reader and viewer reviews, and UK book-buying trends to understand how the adaptation reshaped the reach and cultural standing of Alice Oseman's bestselling series.

In the weeks following the first season's release, weekly sales across the countries studied rose by more than 76,000 copies.

The research suggests the Netflix adaptation did far more than boost sales. It helped move Heartstopper into mainstream young-adult fiction and encouraged readers, families and gift-buyers who may never previously have encountered the books.

Key findings

Weekly sales increased by more than 76,000 copies following the release of the first Netflix season.
Strong sales growth occurred across both English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries.
In Brazil and Mexico, around 99% of sales came from translated local-language editions.
UK buyers most commonly discovered Heartstopper through its television adaptation.
Nearly two-thirds of UK buyers were aged between 13 and 24.
Around a quarter of purchases were gifts or purchases made for other people.

"The Netflix series did not simply amplify an existing audience,” said Dr Francesco Rampazzo, Lecturer in Social Statistics and Demography at The University of Manchester. “It brought in new readers and changed how the books travelled, from a specialist graphic-novel readership into mainstream young-adult, retail and family purchase contexts.”

A global success built through local book markets

The study found that the Heartstopper effect extended well beyond English-speaking audiences. Countries including Poland, Spain, Brazil and Mexico all experienced substantial increases in book sales following the Netflix release.

Researchers say this demonstrates the importance of local publishing, translation and retail networks in turning global streaming successes into sustained book-market demand.

"What is striking is that the same story travels across very different countries, but it does so through local infrastructures,” said Kristopher Velasco, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Princeton University. “Translation, retail channels and media visibility all matter for whether a screen adaptation turns into sustained book demand.”

More than a bestseller

The researchers also examined thousands of reader and viewer reviews to understand how audiences engaged with Heartstopper across different media.

They found that viewers discussing the Netflix series were far more likely to emphasise themes of LGBTQ+ visibility and personal recognition, while book readers more often discussed recommending, gifting and sharing the series with others.

According to the researchers, this suggests that adaptations can change not only who consumes a story, but how it is understood and discussed.

"The same story means different things in different media settings,” said Dr Rampazzo. “On screen, Heartstopper was often discussed as a moment of visibility and recognition. In book reviews and buyer data, it also appears as something to buy, recommend, gift and pass on.”

Shared across generations

The study found evidence that Heartstopper's success extended beyond its core young-adult readership.

Reader reviews frequently described parents, grandparents and other relatives buying the books for younger family members. UK consumer data also showed that gifting accounted for a significant share of purchases.

The researchers argue that this wider circulation helped establish Heartstopper as a mainstream cultural phenomenon rather than a niche publishing success.

Final chapter approaches

The findings are published shortly before two major milestones for the franchise: the release of the final Heartstopper book on 2 July, and the Netflix film adaptation on 17 July.

Researchers say the ending of the series offers a rare opportunity to examine whether audiences built through streaming platforms continue to drive demand for books.

Publication details

Turning Pages into Screens: Media Adaptation and the Reclassification of Cultural Objects can be viewed here.

PhD candidate wins Faculty of Humanities MDC Excellence Award for research impact

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:14:07 +0100

Tetyana’s research focuses on fashion sustainability, with particular attention to over-consumption, clothing repair and ethical manufacturing. Through her work, she connected with ‘The Making Room’, a community organisation led by Jess O’Riley (J.O.STUDIO), James Robinson (COLD ON A SUNDAY), and Connor Thomas-Davidson which aims to bring ethical fashion manufacturing to the UK.

This collaboration led to ‘The Making Room Fair’, an ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025 , designed to equip people with practical repair and upcycling skills. The fair featured making station pop-ups from Manchester Mending Club, Krass Community Collective and Print Parlour, alongside workshops on alterations and upcycling led by fashion professionals and volunteers leading workshops.

The event was a large success, attracting more than 120 attendees, from students and local residents to sustainability‑minded participants. It introduced members of the community to practical clothing repair skills, encouraged conversation about how we consume clothing and provided an accessible space to explore small but meaningful changes in how we use and value clothes.

Tetyana Solovey said:

Read more about Tetyana’s award-winning research on the Sustainable Consumption Institute blog: Sustainable Consumption Institute blog | What We Learned from The Making Room Fair.

University of Manchester recognised at national lifelong learning awards

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:35:15 +0100

The event brought together institutions from across the UK to share best practice, explore innovation in lifelong learning, and celebrate impactful partnerships that are widening participation and supporting learners at all stages of life.

The University was proud to be recognised on the national stage, receiving the Institutional Partnership Award for its collaboration with the Bank of England on the Teach Economics programme.

This flagship initiative is designed to support the teaching of economics in schools and colleges, equipping educators with the tools, resources and confidence to inspire the next generation of economists. A key ambition of the programme is to improve diversity within the subject, helping to broaden access and encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue economics through further study and into higher education.

The award recognises the strength of collaboration between academic, professional services and external partners, as well as the programme’s continued evolution and commitment to evaluation and impact.

Professor Ang Davies, University Academic Lead for Lifelong Learning, said:

The recognition reflects the University’s continued commitment to lifelong learning and to creating opportunities that enable learners from all backgrounds to engage with higher education.

New survey seeks women's experiences of travel and road safety in Greater Manchester

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:34:24 +0100

Women across Greater Manchester are being invited to take part in a major new study exploring how safe they feel when travelling around the region, as researchers seek to know more about the unique challenges women face on and around the region’s road and transport networks.

The University of Manchester and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have joined forces to launch a new survey asking women about their experiences as drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.

The research will help build one of the most detailed pictures yet of women's experiences of road safety in Greater Manchester and help identify practical ways to improve safety, confidence and inclusion across the region’s transport system.

The project is funded through the Vision Zero Innovation Fund and is informed by the Gender-Based Violence Strategy. It forms part of Greater Manchester's wider Vision Zero ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the region's roads.

Researchers Dr Caroline Miles and Professor Rose Broad are leading the study, which will examine inequalities faced by women road users and explore how experiences of safety can differ depending on how people travel.

The team is particularly interested in understanding barriers that may affect women's confidence when using roads and transport networks, as well as identifying opportunities to improve safety for current and future generations of road users.

Women living, working or travelling in Greater Manchester are being encouraged to complete the short online survey and share their insights and concerns.

The survey will explore issues including:

Experiences of travelling as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist or public transport user
Feelings of safety and confidence while travelling
Worries about road safety and personal security
Barriers that influence travel choices
Ideas for improving safety and accessibility
Evidence to support future changes

The survey is the first part of a wider research project being delivered by The University of Manchester on behalf of the Safer Roads Greater Manchester Partnership Board.

Alongside the survey, participants will have the opportunity to take part in follow-up focus groups to provide more detailed insights into their experiences.

The findings will be presented to the Greater Manchester Safer Roads Partnership Board later this year.

The researchers hope the project will help ensure women's perspectives are better reflected in future road safety policies, interventions and transport planning.

By capturing the insights of women from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and travel habits, the study aims to create a stronger evidence base to support safer, more inclusive streets across Greater Manchester.

“It is vital that everyone feels safe travelling on foot, by bike or in a vehicle, and we need to understand specifically how women experience Greater Manchester's roads so we can continue to address barriers they may face,” said Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester.

"Women use roads and transport networks every day, but their experiences are not always fully reflected in the evidence that informs road safety policy and planning,” said Dr Miles. “We know that concerns about safety can influence how, when and whether people travel, yet there has been relatively little research exploring these issues from women's perspectives.

“By listening to their experiences, we can build a clearer understanding of the challenges women face and identify where improvements could make the greatest difference.

"Road safety is about more than preventing collisions - it's also about ensuring people feel confident and secure when moving around their communities,” said Professor Broad. “The insights gathered through this research will help us understand what helps women feel safe, what creates barriers or concerns, and what practical changes could improve their experiences.

“We want the findings to support evidence-based action that makes Greater Manchester's roads and transport systems safer and more inclusive for everyone.”

Women interested in taking part can complete the survey by clicking here.

New Publication in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:12:06 +0100

Philip Leifeld, Professor in Social Statistics at The University of Manchester, together with Sebastián Martínez and Laurence Brandenberger, has published a new study in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A (Statistics in Society) (2026): Disentangling Social Contagion from Prior Similarity in Time-Ordered Behavior Sequences.

Abstract

Behaviour by individuals or organizations is often interdependent. Social contagion posits that behaviour spreads from unit to unit due to the presence of network or equivalence relations as transmission pathways. Contagion of a single behaviour has been modelled in cross-sectional and temporal data contexts. But existing statistical approaches have not been able to identify multiple contagion pathways in temporal processes where multiple actors can display or adopt multiple behaviours. This data structure and problem setting is common, for example in health behaviours by peers, treaty ratification by states, the spread of wildfire incidents in forests, or the diffusion of policies or political beliefs.

We explore the application of bipartite relational event models of actors and behaviours and find that temporally backward-looking specifications confound social contagion with prior similarity, the tendency of similar units to adopt the same behaviour independently. We construct a set of sufficient statistics parsing information bidirectionally along the event sequence to establish an atemporal prior similarity null distribution against which contagion hypotheses for multiple pathways can be tested. Using simulations and four empirical cases, we show the efficacy of this parametric approach for disentangling contagion from prior similarity, contributing to causal inference for temporal networks.

Read the article in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A (Statistics in Society): https://academic.oup.com/jrsssa/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jrsssa/qnag069/8699341.

New Publication in Computational Statistics and Data Analysis

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:09:14 +0100

Philip Leifeld, Professor in Social Statistics at The University of Manchester, together with Jackie Siaw Tze Wong, has published a new study in Computational Statistics and Data Analysis (2026): Fully Bayesian Estimation of Temporal Decay in Ordinal Relational Event Models.

Abstract

Relational event models (REMs) can infer the generative properties of longitudinally observed social networks with instantaneous edges. They assume conditional independence of edges given sufficient network statistics formed over the past event sequence. A popular specification in REMs is to subject these statistics to exponential temporal decay with a fixed half-life parameter to attribute higher importance to more recent edge events in the formation of network statistics. Assuming a fixed half-life parameter may cause biased estimates and obfuscates the temporal horizon over which network effects operate in empirical social systems. These limitations are addressed by proposing fully Bayesian estimation of REMs and designating the half-life parameter as an estimable quantity. A “pre-computation” strategy is devised to speed up calculations for practical feasibility of the sampling procedure.

The approach is adapted to discourse network analysis, which models political actors’ statements about their preferred policy beliefs as dynamic networks. An application to the policy debate on reforming the German public pension system illustrates how temporal decay for inertia, actor activity, belief popularity, and actor homophily can be estimated alongside the main coefficients. Convergence diagnostics and an illustration of bias correction relative to fixed parameters are provided, stabilisation using hyper-parameters and computational complexity are discussed, and the approach is extended to include both Breslow’s and Efron’s methods for breaking ties in the event sequence.

Read the article in Computational Statistics and Data Analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167947326000976?via%3Dihub

New Publication in Journal of Common Market Studies

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:05:54 +0100

Philip Leifeld, Professor in Social Statistics at The University of Manchester, together with Kristijan Garic , has published a new study in Journal of Common Market Studies (2026): Measuring Frame Evolution: Smoothed Temporal Framing Trajectories in Complex Policy Debates.

Abstract

The European Union faces long-term governance challenges in contested domains, such as migration management, health data sharing, and facial recognition technology. Across these fields, political debates are shaped by shifting ways in which actors frame problems and solutions. Understanding how such framing contests evolve over time is crucial for explaining both integration dynamics and the capacity of EU institutions to govern effectively.

This article develops the mathematical foundations of a comparative approach to frame evolution by extending discourse network analysis, acknowledging the relational nature of collective action framing. Partitioning trajectories into distinct states and phases reveals key types of frame evolution: progressive versus regressive, entangled versus disentangled, and fast-paced versus slow. This typology provides a basis for linking framing dynamics to EU integration and policymaking processes. The article makes three contributions: operationalising collective framing trajectories; introducing a temporal kernel smoothing approach; and identifying comparative dimensions across policy debates.

Read the article in the Journal of Common Market Studies: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcms.70119

New screening series explores how ‘global China’ is negotiated on the ground

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:42:47 +0100

In-between China and the World, funded by the British Academy’s Chinese Global Orders programme, will present a series of five short audio-visual portraits capturing the lived experiences of individuals working at the intersection of China and diverse global contexts.

Rather than focusing on high-level geopolitics, the event highlights the role of brokers, translators and traders who operate in “contact zones” such as border markets, development projects, restaurants and cultural settings. Through these stories, the event aims to show how global processes are shaped through everyday encounters, negotiations and exchanges.

The screening will examine how these actors mediate communication, navigate cultural differences and shape understandings of “global China” on the ground. Organisers hope the event will prompt discussion on how power, knowledge and relationships are formed across borders in practice.

The event is open to researchers and those interested in global migration, China studies and the social dynamics of international engagement. You can register for remaining tickets here.

Study warns unequal access to NHS social prescribing could reinforce inequalities

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:05:11 +0100

A major new study has found patients living in England’s most deprived communities are significantly less likely to be offered ‘social prescribing’, an NHS scheme designed to connect people with community support such as exercise groups, debt advice, arts activities and social clubs.

Researchers from The University of Manchester analysed primary care records from more than 12 million NHS patients, and found referrals to social prescribing services were disproportionately concentrated among people living in less deprived areas.

The researchers warn that the findings raise concerns that a programme intended to reduce health inequalities may instead risk reinforcing them unless access improves in poorer communities.

The study examined data collected between 2019 and 2024 following the national rollout of NHS social prescribing link workers across England.

Key findings

Just 4% of patients in the dataset were offered social prescribing between 2019 and 2024
Patients living in the least deprived areas were significantly more likely to be offered social prescribing than those in the most deprived communities
Women were substantially more likely than men to be offered social prescribing
Older patients and people with multiple long-term conditions were more likely to receive offers
More than three quarters (77.7%) of those offered social prescribing received a referral
Ethnic minority patients were generally as likely - or more likely - to accept referrals

What else did the study find?

The researchers analysed anonymised NHS primary care records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), one of the largest healthcare datasets in England.

The study explored which groups of patients were offered social prescribing and which went on to receive referrals after offers were made.

Social prescribing schemes aim to support people whose health may be affected by wider social issues such as loneliness, poor housing, financial stress or isolation by linking them with non-medical community services through dedicated NHS link workers.

Clear inequalities

Patients in more affluent areas consistently had higher odds of being offered social prescribing than those in deprived areas, despite evidence that poorer communities often experience worse health outcomes and greater levels of long-term illness.

Women were also more likely to be offered referrals than men across almost every age group examined.

The study found strong links between long-term illness and social prescribing access, with patients suffering multiple health conditions far more likely to receive offers and referrals.

Why it matters

Researchers say the findings are significant because social prescribing has become a major part of NHS plans to reduce pressure on healthcare services and improve public health.

Since 2019, thousands of social prescribing link workers have been recruited across England through the NHS Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme.

The researchers warn that unequal access to these services could risk widening existing health inequalities if patients in deprived communities are less likely to benefit. However, the study also found encouraging signs once offers had been made.

Patients from ethnic minority backgrounds were often more likely than white patients to accept referrals, while deprivation itself did not appear to reduce uptake after an offer was made.

Researchers say this suggests the key inequality may lie in access to offers rather than willingness to engage.

Men and older patients less likely to engage

The study also found important differences between being offered social prescribing and accepting referrals.

While older patients were more likely to be offered support, they were less likely to go on to receive referrals once offered. Male patients were consistently less likely than women to both receive offers and proceed to referral.

Researchers say more work is needed to understand why some groups may be underrepresented or less likely to engage with social prescribing services.

What the researchers say

“It is concerning that the patients most likely to benefit from social prescribing support appear to be among the least likely to be offered it,” said Research Fellow Anna Wilding. “People living in deprived communities are more likely to experience long-term illness, financial hardship, isolation and poor mental health - the very issues social prescribing is designed to help address.”

“Our findings suggest the biggest challenge is not whether people will engage with social prescribing once offered support, but ensuring disadvantaged communities are not left behind in the first place.”

Publication details

The study was published in journal PLOS One.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0350842

Experts issue climate warning ahead of expanded FIFA World Cup

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:44:25 +0100

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup could become the ‘most polluting ever’, according to a new report examining football’s relationship with climate change.

The study, released ahead of this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, claims football’s governing bodies are prioritising commercial expansion over environmental concerns, saying the sport has become deeply tied to fossil fuel interests and unsustainable growth.

Delivered by The University of Manchester, Loughborough University and the University of Bristol, the report states football’s carbon footprint is not simply caused by fan travel or stadiums, but is politically produced through decades of commercial growth, globalisation, ties to fossil fuel companies and Petrostates.

A Petrostate is a nation whose economy and political power are largely dependent on the extraction and export of oil or natural gas.

Key findings

Elite football increasingly relies on investment from fossil fuel-rich states and companies, including sponsorships and ownership models linked to Gulf nations and energy firms.
FIFA’s partnership with Saudi oil giant Aramco is singled out by the authors, who claim football has become central to a wider strategy of sportswashing by fossil fuel interests.
The expanded 48-team format for the 2026 Men’s World Cup will significantly increase emissions due to the greater number of matches and the vast travel distances across North America.
The tournament will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities spanning the entire continent. The last Men’s World Cup in 2022, Qatar, saw 64 matches played across the 32-team tournament.
FIFA’s environmental policies are scrutinised, with the research team accusing the organisation of promoting sustainability rhetoric while simultaneously expanding competitions and strengthening ties with fossil fuel sponsors.

The study highlights concerns over future tournaments, noting that Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup while the United States withdrew from the Paris climate agreement under President Donald Trump.

Why this matters

The researchers say the expanded 48-team format for the 2026 Men’s World Cup will significantly increase emissions due to the greater number of matches and the vast travel distances across North America.

The tournament will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities spanning the entire continent. The last Men’s World Cup in 2022, Qatar, saw 64 matches played across the 32-team tournament.

FIFA’s environmental policies are also scrutinised, with the research team accusing the organisation of promoting sustainability rhetoric while simultaneously expanding competitions and strengthening ties with fossil fuel sponsors.

The study also highlights concerns over future tournaments, noting that Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup while the United States withdrew from the Paris climate agreement under President Donald Trump.

What the researchers say

Lead researcher, Dr Mark Doidge, Reader in Sociology of Sport at Loughborough University, said: “Football is the world’s most popular sport, and probably the most popular activity. It is for this reason that football authorities, like FIFA, continue to exploit it for commercial profit."

“Football is also a cultural powerhouse with millions of fans, volunteers, and players trying to make the sport better. Football can, and should, use its influence to mitigate against climate change.”

Dr James Jackson, Lecturer at The University of Manchester, said: “Despite the last World Cup offering a preview of what football would be like in a significantly warmer world, FIFA has remained indifferent to better regulation. Rather than being proactive and ensuring football helps mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change, they are - at best - pursuing meagre adaptation measures for things which affect fans and players."

Dr Oscar Berglund, Senior Lecturer in International Public and Social Policy at the University of Bristol, said: “FIFA has made elite men’s football the primary target of Petrostate sportswashing. This World Cup, with the ridiculous Trump Peace Prize and having Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest polluter, as its main sponsor, reaches new levels.

“It has been a key strategy of Petrostates to use football’s unrivalled cultural influence globally. They don’t need to convince us that fossil fuels are good, just that they are inevitable. So, as we watch and love our beautiful game, we come to accept the necessary evil of fossil capital.”

Club sustainability and commercial pressure

As part of the study, researchers interviewed sustainability managers working in football clubs across Europe, many of whom described tensions between environmental targets and the commercial demands of the modern game.

According to the report, sustainability initiatives are often only approved if they do not disrupt football’s core product, including the scheduling and broadcasting of matches.

Some interviewees said clubs remained more focused on increasing revenues than reducing environmental costs, despite the growing financial risks posed by flooding, heatwaves and fixture disruption.

Recommendations

The investigation proposes a series of recommendations aimed at reducing football’s environmental impact.

FIFA should stop awarding tournaments to Petrostates.
Restrictions should be placed on fossil fuel ownership of clubs.
Fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship should be banned in football.
Football authorities should halt the expansion of competitions.
Sustainability managers should be embedded into all levels of club decision-making rather than operating in isolated compliance roles.

FIFA response

FIFA has previously defended its sustainability strategies and said major tournaments can drive investment, infrastructure and development in host nations. The organisation has also said that expanding competitions increases global participation and opportunities for smaller footballing nations.

Publication details

To read the full report, click here. The findings will form part of Football and Climate Change: The Unsustainability of the Beautiful Game, due to be published in 2027.

Therapy may be judged by the wrong standards, argues new analysis

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:28:27 +0100

Psychological therapies may be evaluated using research methods designed for drugs rather than talking treatments - potentially limiting patient choice and shaping mental health services in the wrong way - according to a new academic analysis from The University of Manchester.

Based on analysing existing research, the article argues that Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), widely seen as the gold standard of medical evidence, may be a poor fit for assessing therapy.

Rather than presenting new experimental findings, the editorial brings together and critiques the current evidence base, making the case that talking therapies are often personal, flexible, relationship-based and evolve over time - characteristics that are difficult to capture in standard trial designs.

The analysis suggests that relying too heavily on RCTs may favour short, standardised therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), while overlooking other approaches that may benefit many patients.

Key arguments

Psychological therapy is often assessed using research models originally developed for medicines
Unlike drugs, therapy is typically personalised, open-ended and shaped by the therapist–client relationship
Heavy reliance on RCT evidence may narrow treatment options in public healthcare and insurance systems
Short-term symptom measures may miss broader outcomes such as improved relationships, stability and self-understanding
A broader evidence base is needed, including real-world outcomes and patient experience

Why this matters

RCTs are commonly used to decide which treatments receive funding, policy backing and public provision.

The editorial argues that this has had significant consequences in mental healthcare, where therapies with strong trial evidence - particularly CBT - have become dominant in many systems.

In England’s NHS Talking Therapies programme, only a small minority of high-intensity practitioners offer non-CBT approaches, according to evidence discussed in the article.

Why therapy is different from drugs

The article highlights key differences between medicines and psychological therapies.

While drugs can typically be standardised and tested under controlled conditions, therapy is more fluid. Sessions evolve in response to the individual, progress can be non-linear, and meaningful change may include outcomes that are harder to quantify.

What current evidence may miss

The editorial argues that many therapy studies are relatively short, often capturing early symptom improvement but missing longer-term change, setbacks or deeper psychological development.

It also suggests that recovery is often more complex than a single score or endpoint, and may involve ongoing change over time.

To illustrate this, the author uses a fictional case study showing how different therapy models can lead to very different long-term outcomes, even where short-term symptom improvement appears similar.

Towards a broader understanding of evidence

Rather than rejecting trials altogether, the editorial calls for a more pluralistic approach to evidence, including:

Real-world service data from routine NHS and community settings
Research into how therapy works, including the role of relationships and context
Greater emphasis on patient perspectives and lived experience

What the researcher said

“We have become so used to treating Randomised Controlled Trials as the gold standard that we rarely stop to ask whether they are the right tool for every intervention,” said Dr Sahanika Ratnayake, philosopher of psychiatry at The University of Manchester.

“This editorial is not based on a new experiment, but on analysing the strengths and limits of the existing evidence base. Therapy is not a pill - it is a human relationship shaped by trust, timing, context and individual need.

Why it matters now

Demand for mental health support is rising, while services face pressure over waiting times, staffing and budgets.

The article argues that policymakers need evidence systems that better reflect how therapy is actually practised, and what patients themselves value from care.

Publication details

The editorial was published in BJPsych.

DOI: https://DOI.org/10.1192/bjp.2026.10674

School of Social Sciences Research and Scholarship Showcase Highlights Teaching, Research and Real-World Impact

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:54:28 +0100

From oral exams in the age of AI to community-led research on public safety, healthcare, inclusion, and sustainability, the School of Social Sciences Research and Scholarship Showcase brought together academics, researchers, postdoctoral scholars, students, and external partners from across the School to highlight how teaching, research, and collaboration are shaping conversations far beyond the University.

The morning’s first session focused on inclusive and practice-based approaches to assessment. Dr Stephen Ingram discussed interdisciplinary group debates within the PPE programme, where students work across Philosophy, Politics, and Economics to tackle complex questions from multiple disciplinary perspectives, while also building a stronger sense of cohort identity and academic community.

Questions around assessment and emerging technologies continued in presentations from Dr Simon Rudkin who explored the use of generative AI within an MSc Data Science module. Students used tools including ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and DeepSeek to co-create research reports while critically reflecting on AI-generated outputs and workflows.

Dr William Floodgate then examined the growing use of oral exams within Criminology. Their presentation explored how scenario-based oral assessment can support critical thinking, communication skills, deeper engagement with learning, and academic integrity in the context of increasing AI use, while also acknowledging challenges around anxiety, scalability, workload, and accessibility.

Questions of participation, belonging, and student partnership continued in the showcase’s co-creation session. Dr Cristina Masters, Dr Aoileann Ní Mhurchú, Izzy Shah and Miza Fatahillah presented the Politics Inclusive Classrooms Project, a student-led initiative developed through years of staff–student collaboration around decolonising the curriculum, neurodiversity, inclusive assessment, and student voice.

Dr Tatjana Kecojević, Dr Diego Perez Ruiz, Rishik Kalagara, Maan Mittal, Zhengyang Wu, Betty Lewis and Gavin Brady explored how student-led peer learning communities are helping widen access to data and digital skills through Data4All initiatives, mentoring, reproducibility workshops, GitHub portfolio development, and informal “data hangouts”.

The afternoon research sessions turned to questions of impact, public engagement, and collaboration beyond academia. Dr Caroline Miles and Professor Rose Broad shared research on the abuse experienced by women runners, including fear, harassment, and the extensive safety work many women undertake while running.

Dr Frederique Janssen-Lauret and Dr Ajinkya Deshmukh discussed outreach work introducing Indian and Buddhist philosophy to secondary school pupils, while Dr Alex Nunn explored how research on labour market governance has informed policy development and evidence-based approaches to employment practice through collaboration with governments and international organisations.

Professor Simona Giordano examined ethical questions surrounding the clinical management of transgender and gender-diverse young people, reflecting on engagement with clinicians, advocacy groups, policymakers, and guideline development bodies around evidence standards, harm reduction, and healthcare ethics.

Collaboration also sat at the centre of the “It Takes a Village” panel, where researchers and external partners reflected on the opportunities and complexities of co-produced research. Cath Bowden discussed a multidisciplinary radiotherapy project developed with patients, clinicians, and public contributors to better understand treatment experiences and evidence in healthcare settings. Torik Holmes explored collaboration across the plastics recycling sector, while Katie Smith shared research with Chester Cathedral examining volunteering, belonging, and service through ethnographic work and public engagement.

Across the discussion, speakers reflected on how collaboration can produce richer and more grounded research, while also raising important questions around trust, shared ownership, institutional pressures, and meaningful involvement. External contributors including Tony Mulhall, Brian Turner, and Lisa Hamrang also highlighted the importance of integrating professional expertise, patient perspectives, and public-facing engagement into research processes.

The final session, “Thinking Outside the Box”, explored how creative and participatory methods are reshaping research practice and public engagement. Dr Patty Doran discussed co-produced research on ageing in cities developed with older people, local authorities, and community organisations. Professor Hannah Knox presented the “Travelling Power Station”, a mobile exhibition and community energy project developed with grassroots energy groups.

Dr Chika Watanabe shared life-history research developed with a coastal community in Chile, including illustrated storytelling, intergenerational workshops, and documentary film exploring resilience and disaster experience. Professor Andreja Zevnik concluded with work addressing anti-Gypsyism through visual storytelling, including a competition featuring films, drawings, poetry, and creative submissions from young people, with the winning entry produced by Romani girls.

Across the day, a recurring theme emerged: research and teaching were most impactful when developed collaboratively — with students, communities, policymakers, clinicians, charities, and external partners helping shape not only outcomes, but the questions being asked in the first place. Together, the showcase reflected a School increasingly focused on inclusive learning, interdisciplinary thinking, creative practice, and research that connects directly with the communities and challenges beyond the University.

Pierre-Richard Agénor delivers joint Arthur Lewis and Vital Topics lecture on gender equality and economic growth

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:51:20 +0100

Professor Pierre-Richard Agénor recently delivered a joint lecture hosted by the School of Social Sciences and Alliance Manchester Business School, sharing insights from more than 15 years of research behind his upcoming book on gender equality and economic growth. Focusing on developing economies, the book uses overlapping generations models to examine the relationship between economic forces, gender inequality and growth, and the role public policy plays in shaping those outcomes.

The event was chaired by Vice-President for Research Professor Colette Fagan, with Professor Ken McPhail, Head of Alliance Manchester Business School, contributing to the Q&A moderation. In her introduction, Professor Fagan highlighted the breadth of the University’s work on gender equality through centres including the Global Development Institute and the Work and Equalities Institute. She also emphasised the wider relevance of Professor Agénor’s research, noting that it was particularly fitting for the lecture to bring together two flagship University series: the Arthur Lewis lecture series, which celebrates the economist’s pioneering work on development, and the Vital Topics lectures, which explore the major issues shaping the world today. The full lecture is available to watch in the embedded video below.

Professor Agénor began by placing the book in a broader context through frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and OECD reporting. He showed how economic modelling can help identify the structural challenges that continue to shape gender inequality.

He highlighted two core analytical contributions from the book. First, he suggested that increasing penalties for firms that violate equal pay laws can, in some cases, worsen the gender pay gap. Rather than changing behaviour, companies may pass those costs on to female employees, challenging conventional approaches and prompting a reconsideration of enforcement strategies.

Second, he explored the misallocation of female talent in innovation-driven sectors, arguing that closing pay gaps alone is not enough to maximise economic growth. Instead, targeted policies are needed to ensure high-ability women can contribute in areas where their skills can drive innovation and progress.

The Q&A session brought practical policy issues to the forefront, including the role of childcare support in enabling women’s participation in the workforce and wider questions around women’s agency in advancing gender equality. The discussion also highlighted opportunities to explore connections between emerging and developed economies through global supply chains, pointing to potential directions for future research.

Professor Fagan closed the lecture by encouraging attendees to reflect on how they might advance gender equality in their own professional and personal lives. The event underlined the continuing importance of rigorous research and effective policymaking in addressing one of the defining economic and social challenges of our time.

Watch the full lecture in the embedded video:

The British General Election of 2024 two years on – Labours Wobbling Jenga Tower

Thu, 21 May 2026 16:20:13 +0100

Titled Labour’s Wobbling Jenga Tower: The 2024 general election two years on, the event brought together academics, students, and members of the public to explore how electoral strategy, political fragmentation and voter behaviour are reshaping the UK’s political system.

Opened by the Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Fiona Devine CBE, the lecture formed part of the Faculty’s ongoing commitment to engaging wider audiences in understanding political and social change. Fiona highlighted in her opening remarks that research on democracy, elections and political behaviour “sits at the heart of what the Faculty does, helping to provide rigorous, independent insight into voter behaviour, political identities and electoral volatility.”

Understanding a landmark election

Drawing on the research undertaken by Professor Ford and his co-authors, Rob outlined how Labour’s 2024 victory combined a substantial parliamentary majority with relatively modest popular support, underpinned by what he described as an “electoral Jenga” strategy targeting key marginal constituencies while weakening traditional strongholds.

This approach delivered electoral success but as explored during the lecture, has left the party exposed to political volatility in the years since.

Fragmentation and volatility in modern politics

In a live interview recorded with Jack Dulhanty from The Manchester Mill, Professor Ford explained how British politics is undergoing a deeper structural transformation.

“The dominant theme of our politics, I think today is that you can’ get back to the box of two-party politics,” he said, noting that voters are now increasingly drawn to a wider range of political parties.

He added that this fragmentation reflects broader shifts in voter identities and expectations: “Voters have a bigger diversity of preferences, and they’re not willing to accept half measures in a big tent two party system. They want the full fat measures”

The discussion highlighted how emerging parties such as Reform UK and the Greens are reshaping electoral competition, challenging traditional assumptions about how votes are won and held.

A fragile governing position

While the 2024 election delivered a decisive parliamentary outcome, Professor Ford emphasised that the foundations of that victory may be less secure than the headline result suggests.

Reflecting on Labour’s time in office, he pointed to the consequences of early strategic decisions and messaging: “That first year was absolutely critical and the disaffection that set in really follows on from that.”

He also highlighted the risks of attempting to balance competing electoral coalitions, warning that efforts to appeal to diverse voter groups may ultimately prove unsustainable: “Their efforts to try and bridge a divide could end up being their undoing.”

Bringing research into public conversation

The event concluded with a Q&A session, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the research and its implications for the future of British politics.

A continuous focus on UK politics at the University of Manchester with the British Election Studies.

The British Election Studies, which is currently based at The University of Manchester, are public opinion surveys done after every general election, were also started by David Butler and began in 1964 (with some earlier waves traced back to 1959 is run by Professor Ed Fieldhouse and colleagues from Manchester, Nuffield College, University of Oxford and Royal Holloway, University of London.

A podcast recording of the interview is available via Acast - https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/the-manchester-weekly-from-the-mill or wherever you get your podcasts from.

Buy the book here

Learn more about our research here

Booking site crackdown failed to cut online hotel prices – but unlocked cheaper deals offline

Tue, 19 May 2026 11:27:14 +0100

A major French policy designed to make hotel prices more competitive online may not have worked as intended, but it did unlock cheaper deals for customers booking directly with hotels.

A new study of European hotel markets finds that banning ‘price parity clauses’ – rules which stop hotels from offering lower prices outside major booking platforms – had little impact on publicly advertised online prices.

Instead, savings appeared in less visible places – direct bookings made offline, where prices fell significantly and hotels saw a shift in bookings away from online platforms.

Key findings

·        Small and statistically insignificant drop in hotel prices on major online platforms and hotel websites
·        Prices fell by around 5% for bookings made directly with hotels offline
·        Customers shifted away from online travel agents towards direct booking
·        Offline bookings – the largest channel at the time – increased their relative sales share
·        Total consumer savings were meaningful, but modest relative to the overall market

Why this matters

Online platforms like Booking.com and Expedia play a major role in how people find and book hotels.

For years, many of these platforms used ‘price parity clauses’ to prevent hotels from offering cheaper deals elsewhere, including on their own websites.

Policymakers expected that banning these rules would lead to lower prices across the board. However, the study suggests the reality is more complicated, and that headline online prices may not tell the full story.

Hidden cheaper rooms

For most travellers, booking a hotel is simple - search the internet, compare prices and click - but this research suggests that the best deal may not always be the one you see.

Instead, customers willing to call, email or walk into a hotel directly were more likely to find lower prices after the policy change. In other words, the cheapest room may be the one that never appears online.

What actually changed

The study focuses on France, which in 2015 became the first country to fully ban price parity clauses in the hotel sector. Researchers analysed data from 166 hotels across Europe, comparing France with countries where the rules were still in place.

They found:

·        Online prices showed small decreases of around 1–2%, but these are not statistically distinguishable from zero
·        Offline prices dropped significantly, around 5% or €8.50 per booking
·        Bookings shifted away from online platforms towards direct offline channels

Why online prices didn’t fall

One reason may be that online platforms still have powerful ways to influence hotel behaviour. Hotels that offer lower prices elsewhere risk being pushed down search rankings, making them less visible to customers.

As a result, many hotels appear to have avoided cutting prices on visible online channels, even after the rules were removed. Instead, they offered discounts where platforms were less able to monitor - in direct, offline bookings.

What customers may be missing

The findings suggest that:

·        Not all price competition is visible online
·        Some of the best deals require extra effort to find
·        Consumers who rely only on platforms may miss cheaper options

At the same time, many users continue to use online booking tools for the convenience and additional services they offer – such as price comparison, guest reviews, and streamlined booking – even if it means paying slightly more.

A mixed success

The policy did lead to more competition between booking channels, lower prices for some consumers and a shift away from platforms.

But overall, the impact was smaller than expected, especially on the highly visible online prices policymakers hoped to change.

Why it matters now

The findings are particularly relevant as new regulations, including the EU’s Digital Markets Act, aim to curb the power of large online platforms.

Understanding how businesses respond in practice is crucial to ensuring these policies deliver real benefits for consumers.

Publication details

The paper was carried out by economists from The University of Manchester, the University of Oxford, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and partner institutions across Europe. It was published in The Economic Journal.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ej/ueag059

Winners of the 2026 Sociology Impact and Engagement Prize announced

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:17:17 +0100

The winners of the 2026 Sociology Impact and Engagement Prize have been announced, recognising outstanding work that shares sociological research beyond academia.

This year’s prize was judged by Claire Fox (Director of EDI and Social Responsibility, School of Social Sciences) and Gemma Edwards (Research Director, Sociology).

Liang Ge wins the staff category for Queer Asia as Method, six years of work connecting queer Asian academic research with LGBTQ+ communities across Asia, Britain and diaspora. This international programme of work brings together practitioners, artists, activists and academics to produce film screenings and Q&As with filmmakers, workshops, partnerships with Queer East, the Queer Asia Film Festival and the London Queer Museum, a co-edited special issue, and a new downloadable digital resource pack for community educators, youth workers, cultural practitioners and LGBTQ+ communities.

Jonas Weselake‑George wins the PhD student category for helping preserve and widen access to Métis cultural archives in Canada. Métis are an Aboriginal nation within Canada for whom violin music and dance are particularly significant. After identifying that important archival recordings held in museums were not digitised or accessible, especially to Métis groups, he wrote policy briefings for Métis political groups and museum policy makers and used Freedom of Information requests to clarify museum holdings and access. Following this work the Canadian Museum of History has now digitised key archival collections and work continues to share copies to Métis organisations to increase accessibility.

Pippa Winship was highly commended in the PhD student category for her work supporting residents and community groups to engage with redevelopment plans in North Manchester. Pippa’s research explores the impact of regeneration on local communities, and she used her knowledge of the concerns, needs and aspirations of people she does research with to produce a technical document that community groups could use to leverage power in the urban planning process. She also facilitated an event to allow residents to present their alternative plans for their area to the local authority and developers.

Congratulations to all our winners!

From Data4All to Civic Data Labs: building student-led pathways into reproducible and inclusive data practice

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:43:02 +0100

Led through the Manchester Q-Step Centre and developed collaboratively with students and alumni, the initiative now includes Data4All events, Introduction to R workshops, GitHub portfolio sessions, Data Hangouts, mentoring activities, and reproducibility-focused learning communities across Social Sciences.

A central aim of the initiative has been to make data and digital skills feel more accessible and less intimidating for students across different disciplines, particularly for students who may not initially see themselves as “technical”. Rather than focusing only on coding or software, the project emphasises collaboration, transparency, peer learning, and confidence-building.

Dr Tatjana Kecojević, Lecturer in Social Statistics and Director of the Manchester Q-Step Data Fellowship Programme, said:

Recent activities have included the Data4All Hangout, Introduction to R workshops, reproducibility sessions, GitHub portfolio workshops, and collaborative mentoring activities where students work together on transparent and reproducible workflows.

Students involved in the initiative contribute not only as participants, but also as organisers, GitHub contributors, peer mentors, workshop facilitators, and collaborators. The project therefore places strong emphasis on co-creation and student leadership.

The initiative was also recently presented at the School of Social Sciences Scholarship Showcase, where five students co-presented alongside staff, each showcasing their own activities, GitHub portfolios, and reflections on their experiences with mentoring, reproducibility, collaboration, and digital skills development.

The presentations were exceptionally well received, with colleagues across the School praising the students’ confidence, professionalism, collaborative work, and the quality of their portfolios and contributions.

Several students also reflected on how these activities helped strengthen their confidence, presentation skills, sense of community, and employability.

Dr Kecojević added:

Alongside its teaching and learning focus, the initiative is also beginning to develop wider civic and international connections.

One of the next goals is the development of a Q-Step Civic Data Lab initiative that would connect students, community partners, policy organisations, and applied data practice through inclusive and scalable learning pathways.

The wider relevance of this work is also being recognised internationally through the proposal “Inclusive Data Practice Lab, developed collaboratively with partners from the Office for IT and eGovernment in Serbia, which is selected for the UN World Data Forum 2026 programme.

Dr Kecojević said:

The initiative also highlights the growing importance of reproducible and transparent workflows in both academic and professional contexts. By encouraging students to document and reflect on their analytical processes through GitHub and e-portfolios, the project helps students develop transferable skills increasingly valued by employers.

Future plans include expanding mentoring opportunities, developing Civic Data Lab collaborations, strengthening civic and policy partnerships, and creating further opportunities for students to engage with applied and socially impactful data practice.

Further information:

Data4All: https://dataforall.netlify.app/
Data4All 2025: https://data4all2025.netlify.app/
SoSS GitHub Organisation: https://github.com/SoSS-UoM
Reproducibility resources: https://rrmcrsoss.netlify.app/
Introduction to R resources: https://sossintroductionr.netlify.app/
Scholarship Showcase slides: https://canva.link/7adgd7acudw41k7

I. Stephanie Boyce delivers Christabel Pankhurst Lecture on power, equality and legal reform

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:03:13 +0100

Legal leader and equality advocate I. Stephanie Boyce visited the School of Social Sciences in April to deliver the Annual Christabel Pankhurst Lecture, offering a powerful reflection on women, power and the unfinished fight for equality within the legal profession.

In her lecture, “PUSHing for Justice: Women, Power and the Unfinished Fight for Equality,” she reflected on leadership, power and persistence within a legal system that often rewards conformity while resisting structural change. Drawing on her own lived experience from growing up in a low‑income, first‑generation British household on a council estate to leading the Law Society of England and Wales, she examined how inequality operates not only through access, but through culture, influence and accountability.

Central to the lecture was her lifelong mantra, P.U.S.H. — Persevere Until Something Happens - which she framed as an active commitment to challenging entrenched structures and resisting symbolic progress without substantive change. While acknowledging the importance of representation, she argued that equality cannot be measured by presence alone, but by whether institutions redistribute power and create conditions in which women, particularly those affected by intersecting inequalities, can thrive.

Reflecting on the legacy of Christabel Pankhurst, Stephanie reminded the audience that “justice is never given — it is claimed,” drawing parallels between the suffrage movement’s insistence on deeds, not words. She highlighted ongoing challenges within the legal profession, including pay disparity, barriers to progression, workplace culture and access to justice.

The Q&A focused on leadership and conformity within the profession, routes into the judiciary, the future of equality and inclusion work, and the challenges facing students and early‑career researchers navigating insecure or unequal career pathways.

Responding to a question on whether the legal profession remains resistant to reform, Stephanie acknowledged the weight of tradition while noting that “some of what we protect as tradition now acts as a barrier,” particularly when ideas about leadership and merit are narrowly defined. The discussion also addressed mentorship, solidarity and resilience. Speaking directly to students, she encouraged them to seek out allies, ask for support, and recognise that leadership is practised as much in everyday actions as in formal roles. Reflecting on her own journey, Stephanie noted that progress often depends on persistence over time, adding that her greatest hope is “not that I was the first, but that I am not the last.”

The evening concluded with a networking reception, where attendees continued conversations sparked by the lecture.

Speaking after the lecture, Claire Fox, Director of EDI and Social Responsibility, School of Social Sciences said:

This year’s lecture reaffirmed the role of the Annual Christabel Pankhurst Lecture as a space for critical debate on equality, justice and democracy.

Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group recognised with national Team Achievement Award

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:40:47 +0100

Led by Professor Tine Buffel, MUARG brings together researchers from across social sciences, architecture, geography, public health and the arts to explore the relationship between population ageing and urban change. Central to its work is a commitment to co‑production – working in long‑term partnership with older people, community organisations, policymakers and practitioners to ensure research is grounded in lived experience and leads to real‑world change.

Professor Buffel said the award recognises the collective effort that underpins MUARG’s work:

Research driven by partnership and lived experience

MUARG’s work is shaped by long‑standing collaborations with partners across Greater Manchester and beyond, including local and regional government, third‑sector organisations and older people themselves. A key part of this approach is MUARG’s Older People’s Forum, a diverse group of residents from across Greater Manchester who help to set research priorities and guide activity.

Elaine Unegbu, Chair of the Greater Manchester Older People’s Network and a longstanding MUARG co‑researcher, said:

Reflecting the University’s commitment to social responsibility, MUARG’s work focuses on tackling inequalities in later life and supporting people to age well in their communities. Projects span creative and participatory methods, from collaborative filmmaking and comics co‑created with older refugees and asylum seekers, to the co‑design of age‑friendly neighbourhoods and arts‑based interventions including exhibitions, films and zines.

Recognising collaboration across Greater Manchester

MUARG’s partnerships across the city‑region were highlighted by Paul McGarry, Head of the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub and Assistant Director for Public Service Reform at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, who represented the team during the award process:

Niamh Kavanagh, an urban sociologist in the University’s Department of Architecture and a core member of MUARG, added:

Celebrating 10 years of MUARG

The award comes at a landmark moment for the group. In April, MUARG celebrates its 10th anniversary with an interactive event in Manchester showcasing the creative, participatory methods that have defined its work over the past decade.

The event will also mark the launch of a new collective publication, Collaborative Research for Ageing in Place: Stories of Co‑Production in Practice, bringing together insights from 18 MUARG projects. The book shares practical learning on co‑producing research in communities shaped by inequality – highlighting partnership, trust‑building and experimentation as essential ingredients for impactful research.

“With this book, we want to be open about what co‑production looks like in practice — the challenges as well as the potential,” said Professor Buffel. “It’s about sharing learning that others can build on.”

Investing in people and future impact

Looking ahead, MUARG hopes to build on this recognition by developing as an international centre of excellence on urban ageing, rooted in Manchester but globally connected. Funding associated with the award will support three priority areas:

Co‑production and community leadership
Knowledge exchange and policy engagement
Team culture, mentoring and capacity‑building

At least half of the funding will be directed towards supporting community leadership, including paid roles for older people as co‑researchers.

Find out more: Read MUARG’s publication Collaborative Research for Ageing in Place: Stories of Co‑Production in Practice and learn more about the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group on their website.

RISE awards £450,000 to innovative projects addressing violence against women and girls

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:01:17 +0100

Nine interdisciplinary research and innovation projects have been awarded up to £50,000 each through RISE, an accelerated programme tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) led by researchers at the University of Manchester.

Delivered between April and August 2026, the projects bring together VAWG researchers with partners such as police forces, local authorities and specialist charities.

Together, they will pilot evidence-based approaches focused on early intervention, structural drivers of harm, safer streets and parks, disability‑specific prevention, improving responses to repeat victimisation and mapping online misogyny ecosystems.

“Violence against women and girls is a complex challenge that demands collaborative, nuanced and evidence‑driven responses,” said Professor Mark Elliot, SPRITE+ Director and RISE Co-Investigator.

Funded teams will soon take part in a cross-sector event in June 2026 which will lay the foundations for sustained collaboration and future funding, as well as a showcase event in September to share overall findings and lessons learned.

List of successful projects

Safer Spaces, Stronger Voices: Co‑Creating and Evaluating a Learning Disability‑Specific VAWG Prevention Intervention
Proximal Risks: Understanding the Pathways from Socioeconomic Disadvantage to Intimate Partner Violence
Safer Parks: Improving Access for Women and Girls – Training for Professionals
Producing policy‑critical knowledge about the harms to women and girls caused by com‑networks: Accelerating beyond steps to strides in raising safeguarding awareness, risk prevention and reducing future victimisation
Adolescent TFVAWG: A Practice Framework for Early Detection and Response
HARMONY: Hidden Abuse Research and Mapping of Online Misogyny Ecosystem
BRAVO: Boys (as) Responsible Allies against Violence Online: The Future Digital Leaders Programme
SaferStreetsAI: AI‑informed pedestrian routing based on perceived safety
The Development of a Digital Repeat‑Victimisation and Attrition Dashboard: A Strategic Innovation for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences in Bedfordshire

Advice and support

National Domestic Abuse Helpline (England): 0808 2000 247
Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line (England and Wales): 0808 500 2222
Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline (Northern Ireland): 0808 802 1414
Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline (Scotland): 0800 027 1234

In an emergency call 999. If it’s unsafe to speak and you call from a mobile, press 55 and you will be transferred to a police call handler trained to deal with ‘silent calls’.

Education saves lives: new study reveals global link between learning and longevity

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:01:05 +0100

A major international study involving researchers from The University of Manchester has found that education is one of the strongest predictors of how long people live. Using a new statistical approach to overcome gaps in global data, the research shows that people with more education live significantly longer - even in countries where official records are incomplete.

Key findings

Higher levels of education are consistently linked to longer life expectancy
In some countries, the gap between education levels exceeds a decade of life
Women aged 20-49 show particularly large differences in mortality by education
New statistical methods allow researchers to estimate mortality even where data is missing
The study provides new evidence from under-researched regions including North Africa and Western Asia

What did the study find?

The study, funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences analysed mortality patterns across 13 countries in South-East Europe, Western Asia and North Africa between 1980 and 2015.

Researchers reconstructed mortality rates by age, sex and education level using a new statistical model designed to work even where official data is incomplete or inconsistent.

The findings revealed a clear and consistent pattern: people with more education live significantly longer than those with little or no formal education.

How was the research done?

The research was carried out by Professor Arkadiusz Wiśniowski from The University of Manchester, alongside Dr Andrea Tamburini and Dr Dilek Yildiz from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria.

The team developed an innovative modelling framework that combines data from multiple international sources, including the United Nations, Eurostat and Demographic and Health Surveys.

This approach made it possible to estimate life expectancy differences even in countries where reliable birth and death records are limited.

Where are the biggest differences seen?

In some countries included in the study, the difference in life expectancy between people with higher and lower levels of education was equivalent to more than ten years.

The gap was particularly striking among women aged 20 to 49, where those with secondary education or higher experienced much lower mortality rates.

Why does education affect life expectancy?

The findings highlight the wide-ranging impact of education on people’s lives.

“Access to education means better health knowledge, better jobs, and better access to healthcare - but it also changes how people make decisions about their lives,” said Professor Arkadiusz Wiśniowski. “It’s a powerful social equaliser.”

Why has this been hard to measure before?

Until now, much of the global evidence linking education and life expectancy has come from high-income countries with strong data systems.

In many parts of the world, incomplete or inconsistent records have made it difficult to understand how education shapes health outcomes.

Why does this matter?

By filling these data gaps, the study provides one of the most comprehensive pictures to date of how education influences survival across diverse global populations.

The model could now be applied more widely to help governments and international organisations better understand population health and plan future services.

What are the implications?

The researchers say the findings strengthen the case for treating education as a key public health intervention, not just a social or economic priority.

“We hope this work helps policymakers see education not only as a path to better jobs, but as a key public health intervention,” said Professor Wiśniowski. “Investing in education is investing in life itself.”

Publication details

This research was funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences and is published in Demographic Research.

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2026.54.28

New Faculty of Humanities Vice-Dean for Teaching, Learning and Students appointed at the University of Manchester

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:19:47 +0100

Currently Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education Innovation and Enhancement, and Professor of Economics Education at the University of Bristol, Alvin will take up the Vice-Dean for TLS role on 1 August 2026. He will take over from Professor Fiona Smyth, who was appointed full-time to the role of Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University in November.

Alvin is an alumnus of the University of Manchester, graduating with an undergraduate degree in Economics and Econometrics. He has previously held the positions of Director of Bristol Institute for Learning and Teaching, and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor and Academic Director for Teaching and Learning at the University of Bristol. Alvin has also been Director of the Economics Network since 2012.

Mandelson vetting scandal: why Whitehall is the worst of all worlds when it comes to accountability

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:28:32 +0100

Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US keeps coming back to haunt him. It has now emerged that Mandelson was granted security clearance by the Foreign Office, despite concerns raised during the vetting process. Top Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins was sacked over these revelations.

Mandelson was controversial long before Starmer appointed him in 2024. A New Labour figure known as the “prince of darkness” due to his reputation as an adept but often ruthless and underhand political operator, Mandelson had already been embroiled in a number of scandals involving allegations of corruption. He was also known to have had a close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as close business links in China.

Starmer fired him in September 2025 after emails were released showing Mandelson offering supportive messages to Epstein, who faced charges of soliciting a minor at the time. Further emails released by US officials suggested that Mandelson might have passed privileged and market-sensitive information to Epstein during the fallout of the financial crisis. In February 2026, the former ambassador was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied criminal wrongdoing and has not been charged.

Therefore, it is perhaps unsurprising that Mandelson did not pass the vetting process carried out by the Cabinet Office’s UK Security Vetting team. Almost all civil servants are required to go through some form of vetting. But as a top diplomat, Mandelson was subject to the most intensive form of scrutiny. From what is known about the process, red flags were probably raised about Mandelson’s links with Chinese and Russian business interests, though the exact details have not been made public.

Starmer and his allies have argued that Robbins did not tell the prime minister about concerns raised in the vetting process as he should have. In giving evidence to MPs, Robbins said that Number 10 took a “dismissive” approach to the vetting process. He also said that he was under “constant pressure” to approve Mandelson’s clearance due to this being a political priority for Starmer. Mandelson’s appointment was announced publicly before the vetting took place.

The opposition is piling on the pressure for Starmer to resign. But behind speculation about the prime minister’s future stands a deeper set of constitutional questions about accountability and standards in public life.

From Starmer’s perspective, the scandal has revealed a pressing need to improve the independent scrutiny of appointments. He has ordered a review into vetting procedures, and argued that failings lie with civil servants in the FCDO and with the robustness of vetting processes – not with him.

On one level, this defence is an effort to deflect blame. Yet the response also fits with Starmer’s approach to politics as a follower of rules and lover of process.

In arguing for a more robust independent process around vetting in their attempts to avoid blame, Starmer and his allies invoke a longstanding critique of Whitehall culture. This view treats independent, depoliticised scrutiny and checks and balances as key missing links in British politics. Building these would be vital for ensuring transparency and accountability around appointments and politics more broadly.

Since coming to office, Starmer has consistently argued for a rewiring of the British state to modernise the government. Like academics, thinktanks, journalists and former Whitehall insiders before him, Starmer’s view suggests that Whitehall and the centre of the British state operate in an antiquated way. When it comes to accountability and standards, the government arguably lacks proper independent scrutiny and constitutional checks and balances to hold decision-makers to account.

Instead, Whitehall is too reliant on a “good chaps theory of government”, which suggests politicians typically act with the best of intentions and therefore do not need to be subject to independent scrutiny.

Who is responsible?

Critics, echoing Robbins’ testimony, have argued that Starmer and his allies pressed Mandelson’s ambassadorship as a political priority, announcing it before vetting procedures had been completed in order to push through the appointment.

Many have pointed out that Mandelson’s reputation as a potentially suspect character was well known before the release of the Epstein files. Within this narrative, blame for the appointment of Mandelson lies squarely with Starmer.

In a sense, this approach offers a different view of British politics. In terms of appointments – both to top civil service positions and to more political posts – the UK’s approach has been argued to resemble medieval “court politics”. Here, the ruler decides their key advisers on the basis of their own preferences and objectives.

This too implies a lack of proper checks and balances around appointments. But one of the proposed advantages of such a system is that it places accountability and responsibility for decisions clearly in the hands of elected politicians. Britain has a longstanding tradition of individual ministerial accountability.

Starmer, however, is now seemingly weakening this tradition by deflecting blame onto the civil service and its processes. It is this notion of direct political accountability that Starmer’s opponents are invoking when they call for his resignation.

Overall, these two images of British politics are contradictory and indicative of the emergence of an increasingly incoherent form of government. On the one hand, the state has failed to move towards modern and robust independent scrutiny of ministerial decision-making around appointments. On the other hand, politics has shifted away from a culture of clear, individual ministerial accountability.

This leaves Britain in a “worst of both worlds” scenario when it comes to accountability and standards in public life. It has neither robust independent scrutiny, nor clear lines of political accountability. More than anything, the Mandelson vetting scandal reveals the need to fix this broken system.

Nathan Critch, Research Associate, Department of Politics, The University of Manchester and Darcy Luke, Research Associate, University of Edinburgh
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

New Head of Law appointed at the University of Manchester

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0100

Amir, who is currently Head of the Law School and Professor of Law and Social Justice at the University of Sussex, will take up the Head of Law role on 1 September 2026.

Amir’s teaching and research interests are around labour and employment law, jurisprudence, social rights and social justice, and legal aspects of privatisation. In 2014, he founded Sussex Clinical Legal Education and was Founding Director of the Law clinics until 2022.

Generous gift from the niece of Law alumna Nancy Rigby funds extra Lemn Sissay Bursaries

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:43:53 +0100

Nancy graduated in 1945, one of only a handful of women studying law at the University at that time. Her great niece, Jen Gibbons, Clinical Legal Education Supervisor at the University’s Justice Hub made the generous gift using her inheritance from Nancy.

Established in 2017 and named after the University’s former Chancellor, Lemn Sissay, the bursary aims to address the disproportionately low numbers of Black and Black-mixed heritage individuals from socio-economically underrepresented backgrounds entering the legal and criminal justice professions.

At the time of the donation, Professor Carolyn Abbot, Interim Head of The University of Manchester Law School said:

Economics, Football and the Future

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:10:52 +0100

Young people in the North West are significantly less likely to study economics than their peers in London, despite the subject opening doors to high‑value careers and essential life skills. Research commissioned by the Bank of England shows that students in London are more than twice as likely to take economics at A‑Level as those in the North West, raising concerns about the region’s future representation in the economists and policymakers who shape the UK’s economy.

To help close this gap, the University of Manchester, in partnership with Discover Economics, The Bank of England and the Office for National Statistics, hosted an engagement event, The Economics of Football, on 31 March, bringing over 100 Year 10 pupils from widening‑participation schools across the region onto campus for a hands‑on introduction to economics.

Using Football to Bring Economics to Life

The one‑day event used the universal language of football to show how economics connects directly to everyday life. Pupils rotated through three interactive sessions linked to the 2026 Men’s World Cup:

Pricing the World Cup: A dynamic workshop where pupils learned about supply, demand and price elasticity before setting real ticket and merchandise prices based on fan demand and stadium capacity.

Football and the National Economy: Students explore how football contributes to the UK economy and debate economic concepts behind footballer wages, taxation, productivity and broader social value.

The day concluded with a panel discussion featuring University of Manchester alumni, economists and current economics students.

Creating Aspirations and Broadening Participation

Economics is one of the fastest‑growing subjects in the UK, with A‑Level entries rising 60% between 2012 and 2023. Yet participation remains uneven. The recent Understanding Trends in the Study of Economics report highlights persistent inequalities by region, gender and socio‑economic background, with disadvantaged students and girls consistently underrepresented.

As part of a new three‑year partnership, the University of Manchester and the Bank of England are working to tackle these gaps by co‑creating the Teach Economics initiative, which supports teachers in delivering high‑quality economics in more state schools, starting in the North West.

Teach Economics is delivered by the University of Manchester and co-created by the University of Manchester, and the Bank of England.

Manchester researchers shape major parliamentary report on Women, Peace, and Security

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:16:11 +0100

Professor Toni Haastrup, Chair in Global Politics, University of Manchester, played a central role in the inquiry, advising the Committee on its terms of reference, providing written and oral evidence, and helping shape the lines of questioning used with ministers and senior officials. Her research on feminist foreign policy and the limitations of current WPS implementation forms a core part of the Committee’s conclusions.

Professor Haastrup said: “I am pleased to see the Committee acknowledge both the importance of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and the urgent need to strengthen its implementation. Our research at Manchester shows that while the UK has made strong rhetorical commitments, meaningful progress requires sustained resources, genuine cross government ownership, and a more inclusive understanding of whose security counts."

The report makes recommendations based on written evidence submitted by Dr Laura McLeod, Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Manchester, and Dr Georgina Holmes (Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at the Open University). They provided expert evidence drawing attention to the need for more robust monitoring and evaluation of the UK’s WPS implementation.

Dr Jamie J Hagen, Lecturer in International Politics, University of Manchester, also provided expert written evidence, drawing attention to gaps in cross-government implementation and the need for the WPS agenda to better protect LGBTQ rights.

Many of the recommendations made by the Committee, including the call to review and strengthen the UK’s National Action Plan on WPS, reflect arguments advanced by the Manchester academics who collectively offer breadth and depth of expertise on the WPS agenda. In addition to Haastrup, McLeod and Hagen, the WPS-focused research is delivered by Dr Hannah Wright, Lecturer in Global Politics, and several PhD students.

The publication comes amid ongoing cuts to the Overseas Development Assistance budget. The Manchester team has warned that diminishing resources may further undermine the UK’s ability to lead on gender equality, conflict prevention, and inclusive peacebuilding.

You can read the full report and evidence submissions on the Committee website.

References:

Peace under pressure: Protecting Women, Peace and Security report
Written evidence from Dr Georgia Holmes (Open University) and Dr Laura McLeod (The University of Manchester): https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/144749/pdf/
Written evidence from Professor Toni Haastrup (The University of Manchester: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/141926/pdf/
Oral evidence from Professor Toni Haastrup at the International Development Committee, House of Commons, Tuesday 18 November 2025: https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/16735/pdf/
Written evidence from Dr Jamie J Hagen (The University of Manchester): https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/141927/html/

Manchester researchers launch major UKRI funded project to understand “air inequalities”

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:36:26 +0000

Led by sociologist Professor Sophie Woodward, Air Spaces: Getting the Measure of Air will explore the social, scientific and environmental dimensions of air quality, focusing on communities in Manchester where pollution levels are significantly above WHO guidelines.

Air pollution does not affect everyone equally. Housing conditions, neighbourhood geography, transport infrastructure, and work environments all contribute to unequal exposure. Yet research and policy responses often rely on narrow or fragmented datasets. This project seeks to address that gap by combining:

atmospheric sensor data
qualitative research
creative and heritage-based methods
community knowledge and participation

By developing a new framework for understanding “air inequalities”, the team aims to inform more inclusive and effective approaches to air quality policy and public health intervention.

The research will work closely with community groups and local authorities and brings together UoM academics across multiple faculties: Dr Jenna Ashton, Dr Andrew Balmer, Dr Thomas Bannan, Dr Steve Hicks and Dr Vladimir Jankovic. The project was selected by UKRI as a featured award within its latest Cross Research Council Responsive Mode scheme which is a highly competitive call highlighting breakthrough interdisciplinary ideas. The project partners include Ardwick Climate Action, Love Old Trafford, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and Trafford Council.

Overstretched councils ‘set up to fail’ in SEND crisis, report reveals

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

As the government considers future reforms to services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England, a major new report has highlighted the pressures facing overstretched councils trying to deliver this support - and warns that many are being ‘set up to fail’ by the system.

Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the research - led by The University of Manchester’s Professor Robert Thomas - examines how local authorities respond to recommendations from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), which investigates complaints from families when SEND provision goes wrong. It also sets out a range of recommendations to help strengthen the system.

Behind the statistics are families navigating delays, uncertainty and missed opportunities. The study highlights how waits for assessments and gaps in support can have a huge impact on young people’s education and wellbeing.

Professor Thomas, an expert in public law, led the research using interviews with SEND professionals across England alongside analysis of Ombudsman cases. His work reveals a system under huge strain, where demand has surged but resources have not kept pace with the increase.

The study found SEND complaints make up 27% of the complaints received by the LGSCO and 48% of the cases that it upholds. Common issues include delays in carrying out Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessments, and failures to deliver the support children are legally entitled to.

Despite these challenges, the research also points to the impact of the Ombudsman’s work. Its recommendations can help councils identify problems, strengthen accountability, and push for improvements that benefit families.

In some cases, the findings have empowered local officials to argue for more resources or rethink how services are delivered - however, the report also highlights limitations including the time and capacity required to respond to investigations, and repeated recommendations on issues councils recognise but lack the means to resolve.

A key gap identified is that the Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints directly against schools - even though they play a central role in delivering SEND support - which can leave families without clear routes to resolve issues.

The report sets out recommendations to strengthen the system, which include extending the Ombudsman’s powers to cover schools, raising awareness of joint investigations with health bodies, and improving communication between councils and the Ombudsman. Crucially, it emphasises that meaningful reform must address underlying pressures on the SEND system, including funding shortages and workforce gaps.

“This research comes at a key moment for SEND system reform,” said Ash Patel, Programme Head for Justice at the Nuffield Foundation. “The Government’s intention to improve complaints and mediation processes - enabling faster and more collaborative, resolution of disagreements and reducing the need for appeals to the SEND Tribunal - is welcome. However, the proposals are silent on the role of the LGSCO, and it remains frustratingly unclear how disputes will be avoided or how routes for appeals and complaints will operate.”

“The report points to high levels of tension between the education system and families of children with SEND; without greater attention to minimising these conflicts, it is difficult to see how existing pressures on complaints and appeals will ease.”

Attorney General makes case for international rules-based order during Harry Street Lecture

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:04:01 +0000

The University of Manchester was honoured to welcome Attorney General The Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC, an esteemed alumnus, to deliver the 38th Annual Harry Street Lecture on Monday 23 March 2026.

The Attorney General used his speech, titled ‘The Harry Street Legacy: Defending Rights in a Changing World’, to highlight the importance of upholding the international rules-based order as essential for the UK’s interests and security, and how human rights deliver everyday protections to working people.

The lecture series, organised by the School of Social Sciences and Department of Law, continues Harry Street’s legacy as a distinguished Manchester academic, inspiring lively debate, challenging the status quo and prompting reflection on law’s role in shaping society.

Opening the event, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Fiona Devine reflected on the legacy of legal scholar Harry Street and the significance of the lecture series. Head of Law, Professor Javier Garcia Oliva, introduced Lord Hermer, emphasising his advocacy for vulnerable groups and his crucial role in defending rights amid current political and social challenges.

In his compelling address, Lord Hermer underscored Britain’s commitment to human rights and the value of a rules-based international order. He warned against the current shift by some into an age of power dictating outcomes and stressed the importance of legal frameworks in protecting all citizens, not just the privileged few.

Lord Hermer used his speech to reflect on his student days in Manchester, while sharing Manchester’s long history in advancing fundamental rights.

He discussed the importance of the European Convention on Human Rights, emphasising real-life examples where international protections have supported vulnerable communities and the vital role of personal stories in driving change.

He made the compelling case that the robust and thoughtful leadership generated by a rules-based approach, combined with a distinct British sense of fairness and justice that is fundamental to international law, serves to enhance Britain’s reputation as a cooperative and tradable nation.

The Attorney General’s speech concluded with an appeal for principle and pragmatism, reiterating his belief in the convention as a reflection of national values and a means of enabling cooperation with 46 other countries.

The evening concluded with Lord Hermer engaging with staff, students and members of the public, encouraging lively debate on the enduring importance of rights and international cooperation.

The Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC: “Shared rules make Britain more prosperous, allowing us to trade with confidence. They make us more just by underpinning protections for our citizens. And they make us more secure, by enabling cooperation with allies.”

Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC to deliver 38th Annual Harry Street Lecture

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:53:33 +0000

The Harry Street Lecture, established in 1985, has featured an impressive roll call of distinguished figures, including prominent judges and policymakers. Richard Hermer KC was appointed Attorney General in 2024 and acts as chief legal advisor to the Crown, as well as overseeing Law Officers' departments. Called to the Bar in 1993 and taking silk in 2009, Hermer has spent his career championing justice, most notably representing Grenfell families and serving on the Task Force on Accountability for Crimes Committed in Ukraine in 2022.

The Attorney General, a proud alumnus of the University of Manchester, returns to a city shaped by a long tradition of citizens standing up to power – from the reformers of Peterloo to the fierce campaigners of the suffrage movement.

In his upcoming lecture, he will argue that Britain’s commitment to human rights and international law are lynchpins of the UK’s national security and our personal security as human beings. Lord Hermer will draw inspiration from the legacy of Harry Street and the pioneering post-war architects who shaped the modern legal order.

At a time when conflict and instability are testing the rules-based international system, the Attorney General will make the case that the answer is not retreat, but renewal: to modernise and strengthen the institutions that safeguard our rights.

Professor Fiona Devine, Vice-President and Dean of Faculty of Humanities, will be giving the opening remarks alongside chair Javier Garcia Oliva, Head of Law.

Harry Street, a well-known British jurist and legal scholar, spent much of his time at the University of Manchester where he developed a keen interest in civil liberties and the law of torts. This annual lecture series celebrates the contributions of leading figures in legal and political spheres, encouraging attendees to engage with contemporary issues.

To attend, please register via the Eventbrite page for full event details. The lecture will begin promptly at 5pm, with a networking reception following at 6pm for those attending in-person.

The University is delighted that Lord Hermer will join us, inspiring both students and academics, and looks forward to an insightful and thought-provoking evening.

Reluctance to rely on China for green technology could slow climate action

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

New research suggests that concerns about relying too heavily on Chinese manufacturing are shaping climate policy - and could even delay the adoption of green technologies around the world.

The study by Dr James Jackson from The University of Manchester, working alongside Dr Mathias Larsen from the London School of Economics, examined how China’s rapid rise as a clean-technology powerhouse has transformed the global energy transition.

While Chinese investment and industrial policy have helped reduce the cost of renewable energy technologies, the research - published in the journal Climate Policy - found that geopolitical tensions are increasingly influencing how governments respond.

For households and businesses, the impact of China’s manufacturing boom has been clear - solar panels, electric vehicle batteries and other low-carbon technologies are far cheaper than they were a decade ago. According to the researchers, this is partly because China has built enormous production capacity through long-term industrial planning, state investment and support for domestic manufacturers.

Those policies helped create the global supply chains that many countries now rely on to roll out renewable energy systems, making the technologies needed for climate action more accessible worldwide - but the study argues that this success has also created new political tensions.

As Chinese firms dominate key sectors of the clean technology economy, governments elsewhere are increasingly concerned about dependence on overseas supply chains for critical infrastructure. Solar panels on rooftops, batteries in electric cars and components used in renewable energy systems often trace back to factories in China.

According to the researchers, this has changed how climate policy is debated. Instead of focusing only on environmental targets, policymakers are also asking where the industries of the green transition will be located - and which countries will benefit economically.

The result is a push in some countries to build domestic clean technology industries, including batteries and electric vehicles. Governments in Europe and North America are investing heavily in new factories and supply chains to try to compete with China’s industrial strength.

While these policies aim to boost economic security and protect local jobs, they can also create tensions in climate policy. Producing technologies domestically can be more expensive and slower than importing them from established global suppliers, creating a difficult balancing act.

“The fastest way to cut emissions may be to deploy the cheapest technologies available, many of which are produced in China - however, political pressure to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing may encourage governments to prioritise local production, even if this delays deployment” said Dr Jackson. “As the world works to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, the success of climate action may depend not only on technological innovation, but also on how countries manage growing competition over the industries that power the transition.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2026.2640257

Five Manchester academics become Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:34:02 +0000

The Academy of Social Sciences has elected five experts from The University of Manchester as Fellows in recognition of their significant contributions to social science, highlighting the relevance of the social sciences in understanding and addressing the many varied societal challenges facing the UK and the world today.

Professor Lucy Frith is a leading bioethicist whose work spans socio-legal studies and health research. She is internationally recognised for her work in empirical bioethics and her research on the social and ethical implications of reproductive donation, and the governance of emerging reproductive technologies.

Lucy is Co-Director of the University’s Centre for Social Ethics & Policy, and she serves on the Executive Committee of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). She has held visiting professorships at the Centre for Medical Ethics and Law at The University of Hong Kong and at Charles University, Prague, and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical Ethics.

“I am delighted to be elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, and I am grateful to the Society of Socio-Legal Studies for the nomination,” said Lucy. “I am looking forward to working with colleagues across disciplines and further integrating bioethical analysis into the social sciences, as such interdisciplinary research is increasingly vital to addressing complex global challenges.”

Professor of Politics James Pattison is an international political theorist specialising in ethical issues relating to peace and conflict. His research examines moral responsibility in war, including humanitarian intervention, private military force and economic sanctions, with his current work focusing on ethical responses to rising global authoritarianism and the challenges posed by a shifting international order.

James is the author of several influential books that have shaped both academic scholarship and policy debates on global peace and security. His work is widely recognised across political theory and international relations, contributing significantly to contemporary debates on war and intervention.

“I’m delighted and honoured to receive this award,” said James. “It means a lot to me to become a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences and I look forward to working to promote the social sciences further in my work, highlighting the vital role of social science in shaping the ideas and ethical frameworks that guide global responses to war, authoritarianism, and mass atrocities.”

Professor of Innovation Studies Elvira Uyarra is a leading expert on innovation policy, regional development, and public procurement. Her research examines how public policy can foster innovation, support economic transformation, and enable sustainability transitions.

Elvira has played a key role in major interdisciplinary research programmes and contributed extensively to academic and policy debates on innovation and regional growth. Her work has helped inform government strategies on innovation-led development and strengthening regional innovation systems.

“I’m honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences,” said Elvira. “This recognition reflects not just my own work, but the value of collaborative research on innovation, place, and public policy. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the social sciences community.”

Professor of Politics and Development Sam Hickey is a leading scholar of the political economy of development. His research examines how political institutions, governance and elite incentives shape poverty reduction, social protection and inclusive growth, particularly in Africa.

Sam has played a major leadership role in international research programmes, including the Effective States and Inclusive Development Research Centre, and has advised organisations such as the World Bank and UNICEF. He has also contributed to influential books and policy debates on governance and development, helping shape contemporary approaches to inclusive development.

Professor of International Relations Oliver Richmond is a leading figure in peace and conflict studies. His research focuses on peacebuilding, international intervention, and post-conflict political order, and he is known for developing critical approaches that emphasise local agency and “hybrid peace.”

Oliver has authored numerous influential books which have helped reshape scholarly and policy understandings of peacebuilding. His work has had a major global impact on debates about how sustainable peace is formed and maintained.

The Ethics of Intervention in Iran

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:29:43 +0000

In justifying the joint United States-Israel airstrikes on Iran, US politicians have adopted humanitarian rhetoric, claiming that their action will enable the liberation of the repressed Iranian population.[1] The leader of the Iranian opposition in exile, Reza Pahlavi (the son of the deposed Shah of Iran), has called the action a “humanitarian intervention”, suggesting that its “target is the Islamic Republic, its repressive apparatus, and its machinery of slaughter”.

In light of the awful brutality by the Iranian government against the uprising in late December 2025, the case for humanitarian intervention in Iran is not obviously implausible. The Iranian writer, Hamidreza Zarifinia, argued in early January 2026 that “intervention is not only permissible, but is regarded as a moral duty” and “can be considered entirely legitimate and humanitarian”. In similar vein, writing shortly before the strikes, the Volt party in Europe argued that the Iranians “deserve” intervention “in the face of a mounting number of civilian deaths and unlawful executions”, although cautioned about a US-led military intervention without the authorisation of the Security Council and in contravention of the requirements of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine.

In this respect, there are echoes of the justifications presented in the buildup to the 2003 War in Iraq, where those supporting the action highlighted the brutality of the Saddam Hussein regime to help defend the war. Like the 2003 War in Iraq, moreover, the intervention in Iran is illegal. It is also not the last resort, given that diplomacy was starting to work in exerting pressure on the Iranian regime, and it lacks legitimate authority, without any attempt to seek the approval of the United Nations Security Council.[2] Indeed, like Iraq, the intervention in Iran fails to meet all the traditional criteria of Just War Theory. But I want to argue that the action in Iran is even worse, having even weaker grounds to be deemed humanitarian than the War in Iraq.

1. Humanitarian Regime Change?

The United States and Israel’s actions suggest that they desire regime change in Iran. Regime change generally has a bad rap. Yet it would be an error to claim, as some did in response to the intervention in Libya and the debate around the War in Iraq, that regime change can never be humanitarian.[3] The removal of a repressive regime can potentially be humanitarian – and a legitimate goal of humanitarian intervention, to the extent that it facilitates the end of a humanitarian crisis (which is rare). But for regime change to be humanitarian, it needs to be likely that the regime will be replaced by something better – by a stable liberal democracy, for instance.

Yet, in the case of Iran, it seems that, even if there were successful regime change, it is questionable that any alternative regime would be much better. The Shah’s son has been mooted as a potential successor, but it is unclear that he would have sufficient support within Iran. It’s also dubious that there is a clear path to regime change. The Ayatollah was not the regime; the removal of the Iranian Revolution Guard Corps will be extremely difficult, with most commentators suggesting it would require boots on the ground or a major internal uprising. As Max Boot argues, “[t]here are good reasons why previous presidents were reluctant to become embroiled in a War in Iraq. Trump has ignored all the caveats”.

2. Motives and Intentions

Moreover, the motives of Trump and Netanyahu for undertaking the action seem to be far from humanitarian, with some suggesting that their motives are to help them with their upcoming elections, and, in the case of Trump, to help to provide a distraction to relieve some of the pressure about his ties to Epstein. Likewise, the motives for George W. Bush’s actions in the War in Iraq were widely suggested to ultimately be about securing oil, as well as to fulfil the legacy of his father, who had failed to remove Saddam Hussein 12 years previously.

But the motives of those undertaking intervention don’t determine whether it’s a humanitarian intervention. Motives are far too difficult to determine reliably, given the difficulty of knowing another’s mindset. This is why criminal law rarely relies on motives for assessing the violations of the law; it uses them only to determine sentencing, and even then only when they are apparent. Instead, we look to intentions to help define actions – to the purposes of actions rather than underlying reasons.

How does one determine an intervener’s intentions? There are three potential indicators. On all three indicators, the action against Iran scores very poorly – and even worse than Iraq.

a. General rhetoric

The first is to examine the general rhetoric of the actors and the role that humanitarian justifications are playing. In the case of the intervention in Iran, the rhetoric is generally inconsistent. At best, humanitarian claims are largely an afterthought. With Iraq, there was a clear plan for the combat phase to achieve the stated objectives – the removal of Saddam Hussein’s regime. (As is well known, there was no plausible post-war plan, leading to carnage). With Iran, there is not even a clear plan for achieving the objective of regime change, given that bombing alone seems unlikely to lead to this. So, even if the stated goal of regime change were potentially humanitarian, there is no clear plan for this.

b. Actions

The second indicator is to examine the ongoing or likely actions. Are they indicative of a humanitarian response, such as by attempting to minimise civilian casualties? Here it seems extremely unlikely. Already there are reports that an elementary school has been hit, killing 165 people, most of them girls aged between 7 and 12. There are also reports of double tap strikes (a strike followed by another one once aid workers arrive) and attacks on civilian infrastructure. An intervener with a humanitarian intention would surely take much more care.

It was warned prior to the intervention that there would be major humanitarian blowbacks with action, with warnings that the Strait of Hormuz could be shut, leading to a potential food crisis as the region lacks sufficient fertiliser, as well as harm to the global economy – which typically greatly affects the most vulnerable, who bear much of the costs. It was also expected that Iran would strike civilian targets and those of allies of the United States and Israel. Although Iran is clearly responsible for such harm, and is itself fighting a hugely unjust war of self-defence, its intervening agency does not completely abrogate the responsibility of Israel and the United States, given that the harm was foreseeable, and agents are still responsible for mediated harms.[4] My point, then, is that the likely disproportionality of the action – the likely severe humanitarian effects – demonstrates a lack of humanitarian intention.

c. Past behaviour

The third test is previous behaviour. Has the agent undertaken humanitarian action previously that suggests that this is a pattern of behaviour? It might be thought that only legitimate states can undertake humanitarian intervention. But the history of humanitarian intervention has been littered with cases of seemingly illegitimate states – of states that are far from being liberal democracies – intervening for humanitarian purposes in other states, such as Tanzania’s intervention in Uganda in 1979 and the Nigerian-led interventions in Sierra Leone and Liberia in the early 1990s.

What matters for this assessment is not the intervener’s treatment of its own population, but its record of external behaviour. The human rights violations and growing authoritarianism of the Trump and Netanyahu regimes internally don’t discount the possibility that their states could in principle undertake humanitarian intervention. But their external behaviour – their recent foreign policy – clearly suggests that this is highly unlikely. There’s no need to belabour the point that this indicator is clearly not met, given the Israeli abuses in Lebanon and beyond, and ongoing US support for human rights abuses in the West Bank, as well as the destruction of the humanitarian aid regime by the Trump administration.

3. Justification versus Classification

Some might hold that whether the action in Iran is a humanitarian intervention is beside the point. Indeed, it’s important to separate the classification of an action from its justification. There have been humanitarian interventions that were unjustified; some claim that was true of the 2011 intervention in Libya. There are also some nonhumanitarian interventions that have been justified, such as those that aim to ensure self or other-defence against serious external aggression. Yet it’s quite clear that the intervention in Iran is hugely morally problematic, even if it were somehow deemed still ‘humanitarian’. Indeed, it seems even worse than the War in Iraq in another way.

The War in Iraq demonstrated deep hubris and led to hundreds of thousands dying, as well as wider regional instability. The intervention in Iran threatens this – indeed, this seems a likely outcome at the time of writing. And, like the War in Iraq, the intervention causes huge damage to the laws and norms governing the resort to force. But, in Iraq, there was at least a commitment to attempt to stay and sort out the mess, even if this did lead to a hugely problematic post-war occupation. Colin Powell famously invoked the Pottery Barn Rule – ‘you break it, you own it’. For all its problems, the Pottery Barn Rule at least demonstrates a sense of duty to redress wrongs and to attempt to ensure beneficial consequences over the long term. With the intervention in Iran, by contrast, there seems to be the opposite to the Pottery Barn Rule – break it and run.[5] There is no commitment to the population, to fulfil the remedial duties to fix the likely major mess.

We can see then not only is the war in Iran far from being humanitarian intervention and a just war, it’s even worse than the 2003 War in Iraq, the quintessential unjust war of the past three decades.

James Pattison is Professor of Politics at the University of Manchester and an expert on ethical issues in global peace and security. He is the author of several books on war, intervention, and global justice, including Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect: Who Should Intervene? (OUP, 2010) and The Alternatives to War: From Sanctions to Nonviolence (OUP, 2018).

Notes:

[1] Trump claimed that “[f]inally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand…when we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.” Various Republican figures have come out strongly in support of the action and some have invoked humanitarian justifications. For instance, Don Bacon states that “[a]fter the regime just murdered approximately 50,000 Iranians, it is time to help the Iranian people get rid of the Ayatollah once and for all”.

[2] The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has described the US-Israeli strikes as squandering the opportunity for diplomacy.

[3] Marc Wellar hints at this view on Iran.

[4] The mainstream view on intervening agency is that responsibility for harm is only somewhat diminished and agents are still responsible for bringing about reasonably foreseeable harms.

[5] Trump’s move away from the Pottery Barn rule is celebrated by one commentator.

Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed on The Public Ethics Blog are solely those of the post author(s) and not The Stockholm Centre for the Ethics of War and Peace, Stockholm University, the Wallenberg Foundation, or the staff of those organisations.

This blog post was originally shared to The Public Ethics Blog and has been shared with permission. You can access the original blog here: The Ethics of Intervention in Iran.

University of Manchester to lead accelerated research project tackling violence against women and girls

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:18:01 +0000

Content warning: References to sexual violence, domestic abuse, sexual harassment and homicide.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a widespread and underreported issue across the UK. According to official statistics, more than 200,000 sexual offences were recorded by UK police in England and Wales in 2024/25, and 2.2 million women aged 16+ experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025.

In response to this crisis, RISE – a new project hosted by SPRITE+, SALIENT and NSEC – has been awarded £625,000 from UKRI’s R&D Missions Accelerator Programme to accelerate national efforts to prevent and respond to VAWG. Bringing together leading researchers, practitioners and policymakers, RISE will feed in to the delivery of the UK Government’s Safer Streets Mission and recent cross-government strategy which aim to halve VAWG within a decade.

The project will consist of four team‑led research projects covering primary prevention (working with men and boys), women’s safety in public spaces, management of domestic abuse perpetrators and child-parent homicides. RISE will also provide grant funding of up to £50,000 to enable researchers and practitioners across policing, third sector and policymaking to collaborate and pilot new approaches.

RISE draws on the expertise of Professor Rose Broad and Dr Caroline Miles, whose influential research on abuse of women runners was recently cited in Parliament, Professor David Gadd, a leading authority on domestic abuse and masculinities, and Dr Reka Solymosi, co‑director of M‑PACE and specialist in crime data analysis.

The project is further strengthened by NSEC and SALIENT Principal Investigator Dr Richard Kirkham, who will support the team in securing complex multi‑agency research data, and Professor Mark Elliot, privacy expert and SPRITE+ director, who will lead stakeholder engagement and lead an in-depth evidence review of primary prevention strategies.

More information on RISE

Advice and support

National Domestic Abuse Helpline (England): 0808 2000 247
Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line (England and Wales): 0808 500 2222
Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline (Northern Ireland): 0808 802 1414
Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline (Scotland): 0800 027 1234

In an emergency call 999. If it’s unsafe to speak and you call from a mobile, press 55 and you will be transferred to a police call handler trained to deal with ‘silent calls’.

‘The Plastic Divide’ - how carrier bag bans impact the poorest communities

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:11:00 +0000

A new study from The University of Manchester has shed light on an unexpected consequence of plastic bag bans in East Africa, and why well-intentioned environmental laws may actually be making life harder for the people they aim to protect.

Anthropologist Dr Declan Murray spent nine months in Tanzania’s capital city Dar es Salaam, following the everyday journeys of plastic bags from small shops and street food stalls to people’s homes and workplaces. Tanzania banned plastic carrier bags in 2019, joining more than 120 countries around the world attempting to tackle plastic waste – but six years later, the ban has produced surprising results.

Despite the law, small thin plastic pouches - used to package everyday essentials like flour, oil and cooked snacks - remain a lifeline for millions of residents. For many families who live day-to-day, buying small amounts of food is the only affordable option. Without these cheap pouches, there is no practical way for shopkeepers to portion out food.

The research - which has been published in the Journal of Material Culture - shows that the ban has removed large plastic bags from supermarkets and wealthier neighbourhoods, but the poorest communities have been left with few real alternatives. Paper, cloth and woven bags are too expensive, too big, or not suited to carrying wet or hot foods. As a result, small plastic pouches continue to circulate quietly, helping people to manage the daily “search for life” - a Swahili phrase many Dar es Salaam residents use to describe the struggle to earn enough money each day.

The study introduces the idea of “The Plastic Divide” - the gap between those who can easily switch away from plastics, and those whose livelihoods depend on them. Well-off residents can afford reusable bags and buy pre-packaged goods from supermarkets, but low-income families rely heavily on small shops, street food vendors and local markets - all of which depend on these plastic pouches to function.

It also highlights how many people make a living from plastics. Small-scale manufacturers, market sellers and bicycle-riding wholesalers all depend on selling the pouches. Others reuse plastic creatively - as fuel for cooking fires, rain protection, or even as a way to keep insects away from food. For these groups, plastics are not simply waste - they are tools for survival.

“Plastic pollution is a real problem, but these findings show that bans which don’t consider everyday life can hit the poorest communities hardest,” said Dr Murray. “People aren’t using plastic because they want to harm the environment - they’re using it because it’s the only option that works for them.”

The study raises important questions for governments, charities and environmental groups worldwide. It suggests that reducing plastic waste must go hand-in-hand with supporting people’s daily needs - whether through affordable alternatives, changes to food supply systems or involving low-income communities in designing solutions.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13591835261421143

Law Professor invited to the United Nations UNCITRAL Colloquium harmonizing law in the age of digital trade and finance in New York

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:29:02 +0000

Orkun Akseli, Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Manchester and a former Fulbright Scholar in the United States of America, recently spoke at the United Nations Colloquium in New York, on the possible updates to the rules of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Secured Transactions.

His talk to the UNCITRAL concentrated on making a security interest effective against third parties (perfection) and priority by registration or a less transparent method of control in relation to new emerging types of assets and their impact in the case of the grantor’s insolvency. These new asset types include data and digital assets.

The talk suggested, in the light of emerging new asset classes, revisions to the Model Law in perfecting security interests over digital and other types of emerging assets and how priority may be established between creditors.

The Model Law is used as a template for law reform of secured transactions around world. It is a modern law, but not contemporary, and needs revisions in the light of developments in law and finance. If the revisions are agreed by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, Professor Akseli’s recommendations on revising the rules on perfection and priority, and the effect on grantor’s insolvency in relation to new asset types will contribute to the debate by influencing and shaping the reform and the Model Law on Secured Transactions.

MA Visual Anthropology graduate film showcased in Second World War museum

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:24:22 +0000

Marianna Łoboda, 2025 MA Visual Anthropology graduate, was invited to showcase her graduation film, (Dis)connnection, earlier this year at the Second World War museum in Gdańsk.

Based on her final MA project, (Dis)connnection highlighted the issue of unpaid labour at a Polish petrochemical investment project. Following the screening, the film was discussed by a national labour inspector, and a representative from the Polish Migration Forum.

Marianna was also invited to screen her film in other major cities across Poland, including Warsaw, Wrocław, Kraków.

To address the cases of unpaid labour during her fieldwork, Marianna approached journalists for news coverage, filed official complaints with the National Labour Inspectorate and the Polish Ombudsman and contacted the Ministry of State Assets.

She also approached politicians and distributed brochures to raise awareness about the rights of migrant workers in Poland.

Since the film’s release, the company administering the project changed its subcontractor agreement practices to address the issues highlighted in the film, and the national labour inspector has imposed financial penalties on companies that withhold salaries from migrants. Marianna also learned that the affected workers received their outstanding salaries.

Visit the Granada Centre website to read more about the Marianna’s graduation film and its impact.

New EU Report on Non-Discrimination by Law experts at the University of Manchester

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:30:59 +0000

EU equality law prohibits not only direct discrimination but also giving instructions to discriminate against others. This rule applies broadly, covering all forms of discrimination and many areas of social and professional life. Yet despite its wide reach, the meaning and practical implications of “instructions to discriminate” remain unclear. There is no case law from the EU courts clarifying the concept, and decisions at national level are limited and rarely examined in depth.

As a result, important questions remain unanswered. These include who is protected by the rule, who can be held responsible when discrimination occurs following an instruction, and what kind of relationship must exist between the person giving the instruction and the person who follows it. Different EU Member States have taken different approaches to these issues.

This report, authored by Elaine Dewhurst and Ricardo Buendia, seeks to improve understanding of EU law on instructions to discriminate and to clarify both its limits and its potential. It offers practical guidance and recommendations for strengthening the concept at EU level, alongside a comparative overview of how all 27 EU Member States regulate and apply this form of discrimination in their national legal systems.

Dr Jennifer Cearns highlights risks of AI companionship for young people

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:13:44 +0000

Dr Jennifer Cearns, Lecturer in AI Trust in the Department of Social Anthropology, contributed analysis on why young people are developing a reliance on AI chatbots and the potential harms associated with this trend.

The BBC article features voices from young people across the North West, alongside youth workers and academics, drawing on new survey data showing that 21% of young people in the region find it easier to talk to AI than to another person.

Dr Cearns highlighted why AI chatbots can be particularly appealing to young users, describing them as “compelling, personable, and never irritable or jealous or manipulative – at least in theory.” Unlike human relationships, she explained, AI systems are always available and never push back unless explicitly instructed to do so.

Concerns were raised about the potential long-term impact of extensive interactions with AI systems that do not challenge harmful ideas or behaviours. If these technologies fail to address issues such as misogyny or hate speech during critical developmental stages, there is a risk that such attitudes could later influence how individuals relate to other people.

Her comments draw directly on her wider research into human–AI relationships, intimacy and trust. This includes her latest research on AI intimacy, empathy and emotional development, as well as publications exploring personhood, kinship and ethics in human–machine interaction.

Dr Cearns’ expertise has previously informed national discussions on the social impact of AI, including University of Manchester research on emotional attachment to AI companions and the risks of uncritical trust in emerging technologies.

This body of work highlights the University of Manchester’s influence on public understanding of artificial intelligence, particularly in areas of social wellbeing, ethics, and trust. It demonstrates the importance of human-centred approaches as AI becomes increasingly integrated into sensitive aspects of daily life.

Read the full BBC News article, ‘“I spoke to ChatGPT eight times a day”: Gen Z’s loneliness crisis’ on the BBC News website.

British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant to Dr Diego Andrés Pérez Ruiz & Professor Arkadiusz Wisniowski

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:52:47 +0000

The Department of Social Statistics is pleased to share that Dr Diego Andrés Pérez Ruiz has been awarded a British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant for a project entitled Bayesian Integration of Probability and Non-Probability Samples via Entropy-Based Stopping Rules. Professor Arkadiusz Wisniowski is a co-applicant. This funding will support ongoing methodological work on Bayesian approaches to combining survey data sources, to strengthen the robustness, efficiency, and practical usability of data integration techniques in applied social research.

The project will advance current statistical methods for survey inference, enabling more profound exploration of entropy-based diagnostics, improved modelling strategies, and the development of accessible tools for analysts working with complex multi-source datasets. The award also facilitates collaboration with colleagues across institutions and will lead to a series of academic outputs and practitioner-focused guidance materials.

Overall, this grant represents a significant opportunity to advance methodological innovation in the field and support more reliable, evidence-based decision-making in the social sciences.

Find a list of British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants Awards 2025 here.

Gorton and Denton by-election: Reform could benefit from split vote on the left

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:55:05 +0000

A by-election has been set for February 26 in the Manchester constituency of Gorton and Denton. This will be a big test for Keir Starmer’s Labour party and a temperature check on the state of multi-party politics in the North. Although Labour won the seat comfortably in 2024, some early polls are already suggesting Reform could win.

By-elections are awkward beasts and don’t necessarily follow the usual rules. What makes things harder in this case is that Gorton and Denton is a new constituency. It was formed by boundary changes in 2024 from parts of three different Manchester constituencies (Gorton, Denton & Reddish and Manchester Withington).

When we try to understand what might happen in a by-election, we rely on the constituency’s past election results as a marker, which is obviously limited to just one election in this case. Gorton and Denton is also “a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster”, as my colleague Rob Ford has written.

It has an elongated shape and combines areas with huge socio-demographic differences. Its Tameside wards are predominantly white, with a sizeable working class while its Manchester wards have a much higher student and Muslim population.

Labour has everything to lose

Ordinarily, this would be a constituency which Labour should easily win. Manchester is a Labour heartland through and through. Its other five constituencies are all held by Labour MPs, it boasts all but a handful of seats on the City Council and Andy Burnham trounced his opponents in the city’s last mayoral elections with a 68,000 majority.

But by-elections are difficult for governments and Keir Starmer’s track record so far is not good. Labour lost a by-election in the Cheshire constituency of Runcorn and Helsby in May 2025 to Reform’s Sarah Pochin. Pochin won on a narrow margin of just six votes but had managed to overturn a majority of over 14,000. That makes Labour’s majority of 13,000 in Gorton and Denton look less than secure.

The real danger here is that Labour finds itself in the squeezed middle. It risks losing voters to Reform on the right and the Greens on the left. This is what happened in the Caerphilly Senedd by-election in November, which saw Labour pushed back into third place behind Reform and winners Plaid Cymru.

Reform has everything to prove

Nigel Farage’s party has the momentum at the moment. Polls suggest they are outperforming Labour nationally right now and the recent high-profile defections of Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman have increased the size of their parliamentary group to 8 MPs.

The Reform candidate in Gorton and Denton, former university academic and GB News presenter Matthew Goodwin, may be the most recognisable candidate to voters, but his political views may not go down well throughout the constituency.

His views on the white working class being left behind may resonate in some of Manchester’s Tameside wards, but his extreme views on immigration and what it means to be British will not play well in others, something the Greens in particular are trying to capitalise on.

Pitching the by-election as a “referendum” on Starmer’s leadership is a sensible strategy by Goodwin, especially as a recent YouGov poll showed that 76% of voters in the North think the prime minister is doing a bad job. Reform may struggle to bring together enough voters ready to sign up to all the party stands for, but may be able to borrow the votes from those who nevertheless want Labour out and would benefit from a split on the left.

Victory in Gorton and Denton would not only mean that Reform will equal the SNP in party group size in the Commons, it will be a further pull for disgruntled or panicking Conservative (or Labour) MPs, ahead of the May 7 deadline Farage has imposed on MPs thinking about defecting to his party. But there is a sizeable chunk of voters across the UK who say they would never vote for Reform, and who could vote tactically for Labour just to keep Reform out.

Green performance could be key

The Greens did not perform brilliantly in Gorton and Denton at the 2024 elections, but nationally the party received 7% of the vote and they hold over 800 seats on local councils. Since the election, they have elected a new leader, Zack Polanski, who has been instrumental in raising the Green voice in the media.

Their candidate is Hannah Spencer, a councillor in the region who stood for mayor in 2024 and finished in fifth place, behind Reform.

Polanski is confident that only the Greens can beat Reform in Gorton and Denton. And while that’s a bold claim, his supporters will be buoyed by the seat they took from Reform in a Derbyshire local by-election last year.

And even if they don’t win, a solid Green performance could be very bad news for Starmer.

Louise Thompson, Senior Lecturer in Politics
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

UK expert in energy and climate governance joins The University of Manchester

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:04:51 +0000

The University of Manchester has appointed Professor Rebecca Willis as Chair of Energy and Climate Governance – a role which bridges the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Science and Engineering through the Sustainable Consumption Institute and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change.

A leading academic and thought leader in environment, climate, energy policy and politics, Rebecca will also bring a team of highly regarded researchers and academics to join her at the University. Rebecca leads the Climate Citizens research group, which investigates public engagement and citizenship. She is a co-investigator for the Centre for Joined-Up Sustainability Transitions (JUST), the Energy Demand Research Centre, and a new initiative, PACT (Production and Consumption Transformations) which provides decision support to government departments.

Rebecca Willis has previously been a professor at Lancaster University and is an expert advisor to the Climate Change Committee and Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Initiative.

Speaking on her appointment, Rebecca said: “The wealth of expertise based here at Manchester is highly valued around the world. I am excited to be part of a community working on global challenges with practical outcomes for people, planet and society.

Professor Claire Alexander, Head of the School of Social Sciences added: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome Rebecca and her team to the University of Manchester. Rebecca brings significant insight and expertise in terms of applying policy to innovation in the challenging fields of energy and climate governance. She will be working closely with colleagues in the Sustainable Consumption Institute, a collaboration between the School of Social Sciences and Alliance Manchester Business School, who are leading the way in terms of the economic and social and policy dimensions of climate justice and environmental sustainability.”

Professor Sarah Cartmell, Head of the School of Engineering said: “Through the Tyndall Centre, Rebecca will strengthen our capacity to link cutting-edge engineering, climate science, social science and governance insights with policy that works in practice. Her expertise will help accelerate the impact of our work, deepen our partnerships and enhance Manchester’s role as a leading contributor to the UK and global climate policy landscape.”

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Student interns capture stories of belonging in Manchester through documentary with SICK! Productions

Fragmented system hampering UK response to economic crime, researchers find

Family courts must do more to hear children's voices, study says

Netflix's Heartstopper sparked global book-buying boom, study finds

PhD candidate wins Faculty of Humanities MDC Excellence Award for research impact

University of Manchester recognised at national lifelong learning awards

New survey seeks women's experiences of travel and road safety in Greater Manchester

New Publication in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society

New Publication in Computational Statistics and Data Analysis

New Publication in Journal of Common Market Studies

New screening series explores how ‘global China’ is negotiated on the ground

Study warns unequal access to NHS social prescribing could reinforce inequalities

Experts issue climate warning ahead of expanded FIFA World Cup

Therapy may be judged by the wrong standards, argues new analysis

School of Social Sciences Research and Scholarship Showcase Highlights Teaching, Research and Real-World Impact

Pierre-Richard Agénor delivers joint Arthur Lewis and Vital Topics lecture on gender equality and economic growth

The British General Election of 2024 two years on – Labours Wobbling Jenga Tower

Booking site crackdown failed to cut online hotel prices – but unlocked cheaper deals offline

Winners of the 2026 Sociology Impact and Engagement Prize announced

From Data4All to Civic Data Labs: building student-led pathways into reproducible and inclusive data practice

I. Stephanie Boyce delivers Christabel Pankhurst Lecture on power, equality and legal reform

Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group recognised with national Team Achievement Award

RISE awards £450,000 to innovative projects addressing violence against women and girls

Education saves lives: new study reveals global link between learning and longevity

New Faculty of Humanities Vice-Dean for Teaching, Learning and Students appointed at the University of Manchester

Mandelson vetting scandal: why Whitehall is the worst of all worlds when it comes to accountability

Who is responsible?

New Head of Law appointed at the University of Manchester

Generous gift from the niece of Law alumna Nancy Rigby funds extra Lemn Sissay Bursaries

Economics, Football and the Future

Teach Economics is delivered by the University of Manchester and co-created by the University of Manchester, and the Bank of England.

Manchester researchers shape major parliamentary report on Women, Peace, and Security

References:

Peace under pressure: Protecting Women, Peace and Security report

Written evidence from Dr Georgia Holmes (Open University) and Dr Laura McLeod (The University of Manchester): https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/144749/pdf/

Written evidence from Professor Toni Haastrup (The University of Manchester: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/141926/pdf/

Oral evidence from Professor Toni Haastrup at the International Development Committee, House of Commons, Tuesday 18 November 2025: https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/16735/pdf/

Written evidence from Dr Jamie J Hagen (The University of Manchester): https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/141927/html/

Manchester researchers launch major UKRI funded project to understand “air inequalities”

Overstretched councils ‘set up to fail’ in SEND crisis, report reveals

Attorney General makes case for international rules-based order during Harry Street Lecture

Rt Hon Lord Hermer KC to deliver 38th Annual Harry Street Lecture

Reluctance to rely on China for green technology could slow climate action

Five Manchester academics become Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences

The Ethics of Intervention in Iran

1. Humanitarian Regime Change?

2. Motives and Intentions

3. Justification versus Classification

University of Manchester to lead accelerated research project tackling violence against women and girls

More information on RISE

Advice and support

‘The Plastic Divide’ - how carrier bag bans impact the poorest communities

Law Professor invited to the United Nations UNCITRAL Colloquium harmonizing law in the age of digital trade and finance in New York

MA Visual Anthropology graduate film showcased in Second World War museum

New EU Report on Non-Discrimination by Law experts at the University of Manchester

Dr Jennifer Cearns highlights risks of AI companionship for young people

British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant to Dr Diego Andrés Pérez Ruiz & Professor Arkadiusz Wisniowski

Gorton and Denton by-election: Reform could benefit from split vote on the left

UK expert in energy and climate governance joins The University of Manchester