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The future of public services
Public services matter. Many tell us that the parties' policies on these issues are very important in helping them decide how to vote. However, Britons are feeling pessimistic about the future and the government's ability to improve public services. As parties draft their manifestos ahead of the much-speculated next general election, they will need to balance the current restraints of the public purse with an urgent need to start planning for these inevitable challenges that face the public sector.
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The future of the NHS
The NHS is currently facing significant pressures due to various challenges which will further escalate in the future if unaddressed. Additional funding and evolving NHS services are necessary remedies, as are the greater use of technology and measures to retain staff. But it’s also important to take action on areas outside of the NHS’s control like social care and the social determinants of health. Policy-making for the NHS should adopt a long-term approach, grounded in evidence and incorporating the perspectives of patients, the public and NHS staff in a meaningful way, to ensure that long-term investments are sustainable.
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The future of energy and climate adaptation
The UK’s climate is undergoing significant changes. Our future will be affected by unprecedented climate events with far-reaching consequences for our economy and society, and the public services that assist us. But climate change is likely to have different impacts on different communities. The challenge lies in adapting to these changes in an equitable and just manner. Public services play a crucial role in this process by working to adapt to the impacts of climate change and ensuring the necessary measures are taken to address the specific needs of each community.
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The future of AI in public services
AI has the potential to automate repetitive tasks and enhance efficiency in our public services. Using insights from Ipsos research and an interview with Dr. Jonathan Bright from The Alan Turing Institute, Daniel Cameron and Reema Patel identify different types of AI technology and their applications in the public sector. However, they also explore the challenges such as bias, lack of transparency, data privacy, and the broader social impacts facing the use of AI in this capacity.
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The future of local delivery
The UK is facing rising demands for public services and the need to address social issues like homelessness, poverty, and mental health. However, regional disparity is a major concern, with regional imbalances ranking highest among advanced economies. Dr. Eleanor Carter, Research Director, Government Outcomes Lab, joined us to discuss how place-based policy initiatives can be improved and what policy-makers should consider to fully harness the potential of place-based policy making.
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The future of the UK workforce
Future public services should enable people to develop skills and change career mid-life to meet the economy’s skills needs. Many people would change career and retrain but don’t know how. We discussed with Fiona Aldridge, Head of Insight at the West Midlands Combined Authority, how the WMCA Trailblazer devolution deal offered an opportunity to design solutions to integrate skills, employment, and careers services, and target funding at regional skills gaps. However, there remain national challenges for the devolution model to meet skills needs.
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Just one in four think David Cameron’s government did a good job on foreign affairs
New Ipsos polling explores the public response to David Cameron’s appointment as Foreign Secretary and Suella Braverman’s removal as Home Secretary.
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Eight in ten say it is important to mark Remembrance Day but one in four Gen Z say it’s not very important
Baby Boomers are much more likely to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day this Sunday than younger generations according to a new Ipsos poll.
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Labour seen as more likely to offer a ‘fresh start’ and improve public services if they win the next election than the Conservatives
Expectations for a future Rishi Sunak government are much weaker than they were when he first took office according to the October 2023 Political Pulse polling by Ipsos.