The Policy Institute Podcast https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com Welcome to the Policy Institute podcast, where you can catch up on our latest events.

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]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 09:58:33 -0300 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Education 1440 episodic thepolicyinstitutepodcast thepolicyinstitutepodcast No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/22139996/PI_pod_logo_20246fnwe.png The Policy Institute Podcast https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com 144 144 Why are populists winning? Disillusionment, delivery and the future of democracy Why are populists winning? Disillusionment, delivery and the future of democracy https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/why-are-populists-winning-disillusionment-delivery-and-the-future-of-democracy/ https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/why-are-populists-winning-disillusionment-delivery-and-the-future-of-democracy/#comments Tue, 19 May 2026 09:58:33 -0300 thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/95345c89-40d6-300c-ba0c-0d21b8a43c61 Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

In 2024, two billion people went to the polls, with populist movements making significant gains across many Western democracies. From the return of President Donald Trump in the United States, to the surge of Marine Le Pen in France, to the electoral breakthroughs of Reform UK, established political systems are now facing mounting pressure.

As voters across the UK prepare to head to the polls, these trends feel increasingly close to home. Is this peak populism or populism’s tipping point? Disillusionment with traditional parties has grown alongside a new information environment that rewards outrage and erodes trust – in institutions, in expertise, and in the idea that the system still delivers for ordinary people.

So how did we end up here? Is Viktor Orban’s defeat the beginning of the turning of the tide? What does research tell us about who is turning to populist movements, and why? And what might this shift mean for the future of democratic governance, policymaking and public services?

Join our panel ahead of the vote to discuss these questions and more.

]]> Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

In 2024, two billion people went to the polls, with populist movements making significant gains across many Western democracies. From the return of President Donald Trump in the United States, to the surge of Marine Le Pen in France, to the electoral breakthroughs of Reform UK, established political systems are now facing mounting pressure.

As voters across the UK prepare to head to the polls, these trends feel increasingly close to home. Is this peak populism or populism’s tipping point? Disillusionment with traditional parties has grown alongside a new information environment that rewards outrage and erodes trust – in institutions, in expertise, and in the idea that the system still delivers for ordinary people.

So how did we end up here? Is Viktor Orban’s defeat the beginning of the turning of the tide? What does research tell us about who is turning to populist movements, and why? And what might this shift mean for the future of democratic governance, policymaking and public services?

Join our panel ahead of the vote to discuss these questions and more.

]]> thepolicyinstitutepodcast false No 3257 7 full What next for higher education across Europe? What next for higher education across Europe? https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/what-next-for-higher-education-across-europe/ https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/what-next-for-higher-education-across-europe/#comments Tue, 19 May 2026 09:44:51 -0300 thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/36b4a5b4-c4cb-3249-a191-24b8f9f24f56 Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events   Higher education in Europe is at a crossroads. Across the continent, and not just in the UK, long-established university systems are being reshaped by widening participation, demographic change and intensifying global competition. Institutions that were once small, elite and nationally focused must now navigate complex financial, political and societal pressures – raising fundamental questions about their future direction.   Join us as we explore where European higher education is heading. The discussion will draw on a new essay collection from the Policy Institute, with contributions and insights from senior academics in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. It will highlight key trends across Europe – from funding and governance to the role of domestic politics in shaping higher education policies – and offer timely insights into the choices facing the sector, its future sustainability, and its global standing.]]> Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events   Higher education in Europe is at a crossroads. Across the continent, and not just in the UK, long-established university systems are being reshaped by widening participation, demographic change and intensifying global competition. Institutions that were once small, elite and nationally focused must now navigate complex financial, political and societal pressures – raising fundamental questions about their future direction.   Join us as we explore where European higher education is heading. The discussion will draw on a new essay collection from the Policy Institute, with contributions and insights from senior academics in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. It will highlight key trends across Europe – from funding and governance to the role of domestic politics in shaping higher education policies – and offer timely insights into the choices facing the sector, its future sustainability, and its global standing.]]> thepolicyinstitutepodcast false No 3611 6 full Policy Idol 2026 Policy Idol 2026 https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/policy-idol-2026/ https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/policy-idol-2026/#comments Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:26:17 -0300 thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/0cb89f72-62a3-3b01-bf35-5a6c5dda5522 Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

Policy Idol is an annual competition open to all current students at King’s, in which participants pitch their policy ideas to an elite panel of leading figures from the worlds of politics, academia and industry.

]]> Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

Policy Idol is an annual competition open to all current students at King’s, in which participants pitch their policy ideas to an elite panel of leading figures from the worlds of politics, academia and industry.

]]> thepolicyinstitutepodcast false No 4495 5 full A Pivotal Year for Democracy: The Attlee Foundation Lecture delivered by Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH A Pivotal Year for Democracy: The Attlee Foundation Lecture delivered by Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/a-pivotal-year-for-democracy-the-attlee-foundation-lecture-delivered-by-rt-hon-sir-john-major-kg-ch/ https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/a-pivotal-year-for-democracy-the-attlee-foundation-lecture-delivered-by-rt-hon-sir-john-major-kg-ch/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:32:01 -0300 thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/87f790c1-84d2-30f7-96fe-74dd7b714bf3 Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

The Attlee Foundation, in partnership with The Strand Group of King’s College London host the 2026 Attlee Foundation Lecture, was delivered by Sir John Major on Wednesday 18 March 2026.

]]> Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

The Attlee Foundation, in partnership with The Strand Group of King’s College London host the 2026 Attlee Foundation Lecture, was delivered by Sir John Major on Wednesday 18 March 2026.

]]> thepolicyinstitutepodcast false No 2135 4 full The case for cash: do cash transfers work in practice? The case for cash: do cash transfers work in practice? https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/the-case-for-cash-do-cash-transfers-work-in-practice/ https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/the-case-for-cash-do-cash-transfers-work-in-practice/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:17:11 -0300 thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/d656f17b-c384-30fc-b271-b864930409b2 Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

 

Could giving people cash directly, with few or no strings attached, be a better way to tackle poverty?

Cash transfers are increasingly debated as a simpler and more efficient approach – one that restores dignity and agency to recipients while supporting better life outcomes. But how effective are they in practice, and what role could they play in UK policy?

This online event, hosted with the Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI), will explore what the evidence says about cash transfers, as well as revealing findings from a pioneering new trial, carried out by the Experimental Government Team at the Policy Institute and supported by CHI, which examines the effects of an unconditional £2,000 cash transfer to young people leaving care.

Our panel will discuss how cash transfers compare to more traditional interventions; what the evidence shows on wellbeing, health and stability; and what the implications are for policymakers and local authorities considering cash-based approaches to social problems.

Speakers
  • Professor Michael Sanders, Director, Experimental Government Team at the Policy Institute
  • Dr Lígia Teixeira, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Homelessness Impact
  • Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute (chair)
]]> Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

 

Could giving people cash directly, with few or no strings attached, be a better way to tackle poverty?

Cash transfers are increasingly debated as a simpler and more efficient approach – one that restores dignity and agency to recipients while supporting better life outcomes. But how effective are they in practice, and what role could they play in UK policy?

This online event, hosted with the Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI), will explore what the evidence says about cash transfers, as well as revealing findings from a pioneering new trial, carried out by the Experimental Government Team at the Policy Institute and supported by CHI, which examines the effects of an unconditional £2,000 cash transfer to young people leaving care.

Our panel will discuss how cash transfers compare to more traditional interventions; what the evidence shows on wellbeing, health and stability; and what the implications are for policymakers and local authorities considering cash-based approaches to social problems.

Speakers
  • Professor Michael Sanders, Director, Experimental Government Team at the Policy Institute
  • Dr Lígia Teixeira, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Homelessness Impact
  • Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute (chair)
]]> thepolicyinstitutepodcast false No 3640 3 full No place like home? The crisis of child homelessness in the UK No place like home? The crisis of child homelessness in the UK https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/no-place-like-home-the-crisis-of-child-homelessness-in-the-uk/ https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/no-place-like-home-the-crisis-of-child-homelessness-in-the-uk/#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:42:54 -0300 thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/d35ad041-3140-3a3c-b931-4b5da4c8b3e6 Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

 

Child homelessness in the UK has reached crisis point. The latest official figures reveal a record 172,420 homeless children in England are now living in temporary accommodation – more than the entire population of Oxford. Many are growing up in unsafe, unstable environments, cut off from their schools, GPs, and communities. The crisis is deepening – but what will it take to change course?   Speakers:
  • Kwajo Tweneboa, campaigner, activist, and author of Our Country in Crisis
  • Dan Hewitt, ITV News Investigations Editor
  • Professor Katherine Brickell, Professor of Urban Studies at King’s College London and author of Debt Trap Nation: Family Homelessness in a Failing State
  • Karen Torres, Advocacy, Research and Campaigns Manager, Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation Professor
  • Michael Sanders, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the School for Government at King’s College London (Chair)
]]> Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events

 

Child homelessness in the UK has reached crisis point. The latest official figures reveal a record 172,420 homeless children in England are now living in temporary accommodation – more than the entire population of Oxford. Many are growing up in unsafe, unstable environments, cut off from their schools, GPs, and communities. The crisis is deepening – but what will it take to change course?   Speakers:
  • Kwajo Tweneboa, campaigner, activist, and author of Our Country in Crisis
  • Dan Hewitt, ITV News Investigations Editor
  • Professor Katherine Brickell, Professor of Urban Studies at King’s College London and author of Debt Trap Nation: Family Homelessness in a Failing State
  • Karen Torres, Advocacy, Research and Campaigns Manager, Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation Professor
  • Michael Sanders, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the School for Government at King’s College London (Chair)
]]> thepolicyinstitutepodcast false No 2924 2 full Are Culture Wars Finally Taking Hold? Division, tension and identity in the UK today Are Culture Wars Finally Taking Hold? Division, tension and identity in the UK today https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/are-culture-wars-finally-taking-hold-division-tension-and-identity-in-the-uk-today/ https://thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/e/are-culture-wars-finally-taking-hold-division-tension-and-identity-in-the-uk-today/#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:41:06 -0300 thepolicyinstitutepodcast.podbean.com/62ee906b-b685-3ae1-90cc-52bcb6d7dfae Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events   The UK has seemed relatively immune to the full-blown culture wars that we’ve seen in the US: our data from the World Values Survey and a series of joint studies with Ipsos suggested that, despite the political and media rhetoric, we still quite liked each other and saw through efforts to divide us.   But has that shifted?   The latest findings from our work with Ipsos reveal perceptions of division in the UK have reached their highest point since trends began in 2020, while the share of the public who believe the nation is divided by culture wars specifically has risen from 46% to 67% during this period.   At the same time, the country has become increasingly nostalgic for the past and uneasy about the pace of cultural change, with tensions rising around immigration and national identity – providing a lot of the conditions for a more populist turn.   What does the data tell us about the nature and scale of division today? To what extent are political leaders and the media environment driving cultural tensions? What role do foreign actors have in encouraging division, and how is national cohesion connected to national security? And fundamentally, is the UK following America's path to a proper culture war – or is there still time to chart a different course?   Speakers:
  • The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
  • John Burn-Murdoch, Chief Data Reporter at the Financial Times
  • Dr Kate Ferguson, Co-Executive Director of Protection Approaches
  • Gideon Skinner, Senior Director of UK Politics at Ipsos
  • Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London (chair)
]]> Subscribe to the Policy Institute mailing list for invites to future events   The UK has seemed relatively immune to the full-blown culture wars that we’ve seen in the US: our data from the World Values Survey and a series of joint studies with Ipsos suggested that, despite the political and media rhetoric, we still quite liked each other and saw through efforts to divide us.   But has that shifted?   The latest findings from our work with Ipsos reveal perceptions of division in the UK have reached their highest point since trends began in 2020, while the share of the public who believe the nation is divided by culture wars specifically has risen from 46% to 67% during this period.   At the same time, the country has become increasingly nostalgic for the past and uneasy about the pace of cultural change, with tensions rising around immigration and national identity – providing a lot of the conditions for a more populist turn.   What does the data tell us about the nature and scale of division today? To what extent are political leaders and the media environment driving cultural tensions? What role do foreign actors have in encouraging division, and how is national cohesion connected to national security? And fundamentally, is the UK following America's path to a proper culture war – or is there still time to chart a different course?   Speakers:
  • The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
  • John Burn-Murdoch, Chief Data Reporter at the Financial Times
  • Dr Kate Ferguson, Co-Executive Director of Protection Approaches
  • Gideon Skinner, Senior Director of UK Politics at Ipsos
  • Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London (chair)
]]> thepolicyinstitutepodcast false No 5280 1 full