Insight Type: Blog

This afternoon, Rachel Reeves delivered the first Budget of a Labour Government in 15 years, and the first ever delivered by a female Chancellor.

Foucault’s Theory of Power describes a conceptualisation of power in which actors neither hold power, nor take it. Instead, it exists within everyday interactions and is embedded in daily life through the creation and dissemination of knowledge.

According to his theory, certain actors have the authority to determine what is considered true, facilitating a common understanding that benefits either themselves or the group they represent. In his view, power is inherently linked with truth, and he suggests that power influences what is accepted as truth as part of the way it “produces reality.”

As the general election campaign gathers pace, Lord Tom Watson, Former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and election stalwart for over 25 years offers his perspective in this Guest Political Note.

Labour’s approach to education is firmly focussed on addressing the missions set out by Keir Starmer, particularly those around the economy, getting Britain building again and breaking down barriers to opportunity. Labour views the education system as crucial to ensuring people have the right skills to help rebuild the economy.

Make no mistake, a potential incoming Labour Government would make major reforms to the education system, the largest shift in education policy since Gove’s interventions.

Labour has set out the most detail on its plans for childcare, schools, and skills reform, with the strength of the party’s relationship with teaching unions evident in the policy platform, and to date the party has shared less detail on its plans for Higher Education.