Wednesday, 17 July 2024
As the King outlines the new government's plans at the State Opening of Parliament, University of Nottingham academics have reacted to some of the announcements being made.
The King announced a number of new draft laws, including changes to the House of Lands, health policies and protection for renters.
Experts from the University of Nottingham have reacted to some of the announcements that were made today.
Professor Christopher Pich, Associate Professor in Marketing
on the new Labour government
He said: “Labour and Sir Keir will use this opportunity to showcase that the new Government has a robust, bold, yet controversial plan, and they are keen to emphasise they are ‘getting on with the job’, and not wasting any time to ‘change’ and ‘rebuild’ the UK after 14 years of Conservative rule.
“The new Government want to keep up momentum and pro-long their political honeymoon. They want to reinforce they are committed to delivering on their manifesto pledges and want to remind voters they are a changed Labour Party and a government of service, stability and integrity compared to a government of chaos and instability under the Conservatives.”
Professor Lucelia Rodrigues, Professor of Sustainable and Resilient Cities
on UK housing plans
She said: "The UK has been steadily and successfully reduced the carbon emissions from electricity supply by more than 70% in 30 years. A new energy company to support green industry and renewable energy innovation will likely enable the UK to fully decarbonise the electricity grid.
“However, buildings still account for about 17% of the UK's emissions, mainly due to fossil fuels used for heating and previous attempts to electrify heating have failed. UK homes are very energy inefficient and for many of these heat pumps are not a suitable form of heating. We need investment to enable home retrofitting across tenures and at scale.”
Dr Ergul Celiksoy, Assistant Professor in Law
on modern slavery and county lines
He said: "To ensure the effective prevention and identification of children and young adults at risk of modern slavery, child exploitation, and county lines in the UK, the new government must adopt a comprehensive strategy. First, a UK-wide, evidence-based child exploitation strategy should be developed in collaboration with devolved administrations, relevant departments, and civil society organizations.
“Adequate funding and resources are essential for local authority children's services to implement effective preventative services and interventions. Early intervention programs tailored to the diverse needs of vulnerable children should be prioritised. These programs must address socio-economic challenges, lack of protective family structures, and school exclusion. Enhanced training for frontline professionals, including social workers, police officers, and educators, is crucial.
“Training should focus on recognizing exploitation indicators, effective communication with children, and adopting a victim-centric approach. Community engagement initiatives should raise awareness about modern slavery and child exploitation. Educating communities on exploitation signs and encouraging reporting can create a protective environment for children.
“Legislative reforms are also vital; immigration and asylum policies must be reviewed and amended to prevent increasing exploitation risks. By implementing these initiatives, the government can create a safer environment for vulnerable children and young adults, effectively preventing and identifying those at risk of modern slavery, child exploitation, and county lines involvement.”
Professor Elvira Perez Vallejos, Professor of Digital Technology for Mental Health
on online safety
She said: "The UK Government's Online Safety Act has been a topic of much debate. While the intention to protect children online is commendable, concerns have been raised about rules being insufficient, difficult to put in practice and monitor their impact. On the other hand, the new act could bring potential limitations on free speech and innovation. Striking a balance between safety and openness will be crucial.
“The rapid development of generative AI, which can create realistic and interactive content, presents a new layer of complexity. It's vital that research and development in this field prioritizes responsible innovation and societal benefit. This means ensuring that AI is not used to create harmful content that could target children, and that safeguards are in place to prevent misuse. By combining responsible AI development with effective online safety measures, we can create a better online environment for children.
“The race to keep children safe online feels like a constant game of catch-up. The online world and its persuasive design evolves at a different speed than regulation. This is why we see parents taking proactive steps – forming strong community groups or delaying smartphone access until later teenage years – to try and counter-balance the potential harm their children might face (e.g., spending too much time passively scrolling, not socialising offline, sedentary lifestyle, apathy).
"However, a multi-approach is needed. Parental guidance is crucial, but it shouldn't be the sole line of defence. It is not the responsibility of parents or users, but tech developers to ensure products and services are safe. Effective online safety measures and responsible AI development are essential to creating a truly safe digital environment for all.”
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More information is available from Faith Pring in the Press Office on faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
Faith Pring - Media Relations Manager
Email: faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
Phone: 0115 748 4411
Location: University of Nottingham, University Park
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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