Between 1997 and 2007, New Labour sought to reshape Britain into a more cohesive and forward-thinking society. The decade saw the rise of socially liberal attitudes and flourishing public services under a government committed to rebuilding and investing in them. Yet New Labour's track record was far from flawless and its legacy remains complicated and contested. Glen O'Hara, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at Oxford Brookes University, examines both the intentions behind New Labour's policies and their real-world effects, and traces the lasting impact of the Blair years. Chaired by Nick Pearce, Institute for Policy Research. This Institute for Policy Research event took place on 5 May 2026.

Authoritarian populists now govern one-quarter of the world's democracies. But is this peak populism, or the populists' tipping point? Liam Byrne exposes the forces propelling the populist surge and reveals how to stop it. He outlines populism's five tribes and shows which voters can still be won back. He traces the millions of pounds flowing into Britain's populist media-political complex, and maps the rhetoric that populists use. He explains why simply shouting louder from the political mainstream never works and instead makes the case for rebuilding a confident, values-driven radical centre – one that tackles inequality head-on, restores economic dignity and reconnects with communities who feel unseen. Chaired by David Klemperer, Institute for Policy Research. This Institute for Policy Research event took place on 30 April 2026.

Liberalism has long shaped political life across the modern West. But in recent years, post-liberalism has become one of the most talked-about ideas on the ‘New Right’, attracting supporters including American Vice-President JD Vance. Professor Matt Sleat (University of Sheffield) discusses post-liberalism: what it is, where it comes from, and why it has gained momentum. He examines the problems he sees in the movement’s diagnosis of today’s political challenges, and argues that its proposed solutions come with grave risks, from authoritarianism to coercion. He also considers how liberals might respond to post-liberalism, and what the shift means for the future of conservative politics. He is in conversation with Dr David Moon (University of Bath). This Institute for Policy Research event took place on 26 March 2026.

Millions of people throughout the UK provide unpaid care for family members and friends who are disabled, older, or who have a chronic health condition and need support. While the economic value of this care exceeds £180 billion a year, it often comes at a significant personal cost, particularly when adequate support is lacking. Drawing on research and lived experience, Kate Hamblin (Centre for Care) and Emily Kenway (author of Who Cares) examine the social and economic pressures faced by carers. They consider the policy challenges surrounding unpaid care and outline the steps needed from government, employers and public services to improve recognition, protection and support for carers, and to address the growing pressures shaping the future of care. Chaired by Diana Teggi (University of Bath). This Institute for Policy Research event took place on 18 March 2026.

While Big Tech promotes AI as a frictionless technology that will bring wealth and prosperity, James Muldoon exposes a different reality hidden beneath this surface: a precarious global workforce of millions that make AI possible. He examines the power structures that govern digital work and explains what we need to do to build a more just digital future. He is in conversation with Aida Garcia-Lazaro. This Institute for Policy Research event took place on 12 March 2026.

The 2024 UK Insecure Work Index estimated that 6.8 million people living in the UK (over 20% of the workforce) are in severely insecure work. It also showed that inequality in the labour market means that women, young people, ethnic minorities and disabled people are disproportionately likely to be in an insecure job. Rebecca Florisson is Principal Analyst at the Work Foundation at Lancaster University and leads a research programme on insecure work. In conversation with Fran Bennett, she discusses the realities of low pay, unpredictable hours and poor protections, and the steps that can be taken to transform the labour market to improve access to secure jobs. What is the potential impact of reforms in the Employment Rights Bill? Does the Act go far enough? This Institute for Policy Research event took place on 29 January 2026.

When it was introduced, the Modern Slavery Act 2015 was hailed as a world-leading piece of legislation. But a 2024 review of the legislation by the Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee concluded that developments since, worldwide and in the UK, have led to the UK falling behind internationally. The number of people identified as victims of modern slavery has been rising year on year, with over 19,000 people referred to the authorities in 2024. Andrew Wallis is CEO of Unseen and chaired the landmark Centre for Social Justice report It Happens Here, widely acknowledged as a catalyst for the 2015 Act. In conversation with Andrew Crane (University of Bath), he discusses the current landscape of modern slavery in the UK. They explore what has changed over the past decade, where the gaps are, and what can be done. This IPR event took place on 21 January 2026.

In this webinar, we spoke to Everardo González, a Mexican director who is considered one of the strongest voices in the documentary genre in Latin America. Everardo's filmography includes Pulque Song (2003), The Old Thieves (2007), The Open Sky (2011), Drought (2011) and El Paso (2015), all screened and awarded at various festivals like Berlin, IDFA, Toulouse, Locarno, Montreal, BAFICI, Sarajevo, Guadalajara and Morelia. His film Devil’s Freedom (2017) was awarded the Amnesty International Film Prize at the Berlinale in 2017. In 2018, he directed A 3 Minute Hug, a Netflix Original in Latin America. He collaborated with the New York Times OpDocs with the film Children from the Narcozone, which was nominated for a News and Doc Emmy Award. His most recent film, A Wolf Pack called Ernesto (2024), has young gang members tell their chilling, occasionally poetic stories, revealing the ease with which violent organisations target young people in Mexico. Everardo is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas. He is also the founder of the Mexican Documentary Net, which looks for social, political, and cultural impact for bringing documentary filmmakers better conditions for the future. In 2007, he founded Artegios, a production and distribution company based in Mexico City, which focuses on international documentaries. Its main goal is to release documentary films mainly in Mexico and Latin America. Artegios also serves as a platform for workshops on documentary research, ethics, and production.

In this episode, Katherine and her guests talk about the joy and challenges of going abroad for a placement year.

Join Katherine Bright and fellow Placement Officer, Gina Pollock, plus a range of students, to find out how to stop scrolling through adverts and work out what jobs are a good match for you.