Are All-Women Shortlists the Answer to Underrepresentation?

Women make up 52% of the general population, yet they are heavily under-represented in positions of political power. Only 23% of MPs in the House of Commons are female and only 4 out of 23 cabinet ministers are women. The number of women MPs has increased by a mere 4.1% over the last 15 years,…

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Cannabis Users Are Unfairly Punished by the Proceeds of Crime Act: An Exclusive Interview With a Cannabis Grower

The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) came into force in 2002 and it is meant to allow the government to confiscate proceeds which are crime-related. Prior to the introduction of the 2002 Act, a prosecuting lawyer had to prove that the money or assets were the proceeds of crime and also what ‘type’ of crime…

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The UK Could Learn From Colorado’s Legalisation of Cannabis

The recent legalisation of cannabis in Colorado and Washington state – not to mention Uruguay, the first country ever to legalise cannabis – serve as experiments for the pro-legalisation argument. So what is the result of these recent legalisation measures? Are we seeing a monumental increase in the number of cannabis smokers? Are people dying…

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New NHS Database Will Encroach on Our Privacy

The NHS plans to launch a giant central database which will see patients records extracted from GP systems across the country. This is known as the ‘Care.data scheme’. This is a completely new move – patient data has never been collected from GPs before as it is usually considered confidential and for their eyes only.…

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Denmark Bans Kosher Slaughter Methods

Denmark has recently decided to ban the kosher and halal methods of slaughter. Denmark’s Agriculture and Food Ministry announced that this new ban will come into effect today. Similar bans already exist in Poland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden. The halal and kosher method of slaughter involves exsanguination – slitting the throat of the animal…

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