The Open University

Net neutrality is worth saving, but business bias is a concern, says OU academic

13 July 2017

In the light of protests against threats to “net neutrality” by many of the big internet giants recently the OU’s Robert Herian, Lecturer in Law, explains why its such a worthy cause yet warns one must still be conscious of the competitive bias which exists online already: “The importance of maintaining net neutrality cannot be overstated […]

General Election produced “political earthquake” says academic

9 June 2017

In the wake of a memorable General Election, Richard Heffernan, Reader in Government in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, gives his academic observations on the results: “The one thing we have not got from this election is a strong and stable government. What we have instead is a weak and unstable minority Conservative […]

General Election means new life outside politics for some, says OU academic

8 June 2017

The General Election will almost certainly mean the loss of a parliamentary seat for many MPs, some of whom might only have been in the role for two years since 2015. Dr Jane Roberts, Research Fellow in Public Leadership at The Open University Business School, considers the situation now facing them, drawing on her extensive […]

Fact Check: do the police spend over a million hours a year fighting cannabis?

27 May 2017

According to the authoritative Crime Survey for England and Wales, 6.5% of 16 to 59-year-olds use cannabis. But fewer people are using cannabis than in 1996, when information first became available. While much of the debate surrounding cannabis use has focused on the extent of potential harm to users, recently demands for a change in […]

Why the pensions ‘triple lock’ has become a key general election issue

2 May 2017

In the last Prime Minister’s Questions before the 2017 general election, Theresa May refused to guarantee the “triple lock” policy that guarantees pensions will rise in line with inflation, earnings or 2.5% – whichever is highest. It’s a contentious issue, as pensions make up a the biggest portion of the nation’s welfare budget. It’s also […]

Doctor Who takes an ethical stance towards alien life – so why isn’t he vegan?

12 April 2017

Since the Doctor Who series was rebooted in 2005 the television show has consistently presented the Doctor as a moral leader, a key element of which is his respectful relationship with other species. The Doctor expresses admiration and wonder for others, even when they threaten him or his human companions. Christopher Eccleston, who played the […]

Car firms are still pushing hands-free phone tech – despite how dangerous it is

4 April 2017

Get caught using your smartphone while driving in the UK and you’ll be in serious trouble. Authorities recently doubled the penalties for using a handset behind the wheel to six points on your licence and a £200 fine. Yet the law – and the car industry itself – hasn’t caught up with the equal […]

Act tough and hide weakness: research reveals pressure young men are under

30 March 2017

A rigid construct of how “real” men are supposed to behave leaves many feeling trapped, new research we carried out suggests. While most support gender equality, the young men in the UK, US and Mexico reported feeling pushed to live in the “man box”. They feel pressure to act tough, hide weakness and “look good”. […]

A linguist’s guide to the Theresa May Article 50 letter

30 March 2017

With the delivery of Theresa May’s letter to Donald Tusk, the European Council president, the UK gave official notification of its intention to leave the EU. The letter not only signalled the legal start of the Brexit process, but also gave the British prime minister the chance to frame the tone of the negotiations. The […]

Higher inflation’s hidden, but hazardous, boost to Britain’s economic recovery plans

22 March 2017

Inflation in the UK has surged, with the consumer price index jumping to 2.3% in the year to February – up from 1.8% in January. This is far better news for the government than it likes to admit. The early-year price rise can largely be traced to a passing-through of higher import costs following the […]

OU News

Category: Society and politics