Civilised Society

Analysis, expert opinion, insights, and thought-provoking comment. A respectful forum for debate where you can disagree, so long as you disagree agreeably.

Civilised

Society

Analysis, expert opinion, insights, and thought-provoking comment. A respectful forum for debate where you can disagree, so long as you disagree agreeably.

SUE TAYLOR

No such thing as drinking responsibly

Imagine a product causing seven types of cancer, one million hospital admissions a year, and draining public resources of billions across healthcare, social services, crime and disorder and our economy. Then imagine that product sponsoring major sports events, delivering relentless advertising on TV and cinema, getting piled up at the entrance to supermarkets and being …

THE CONVERSATION

Maybe it’s time to create a fuss about freeze on funding for arts subjects

Tick tock, tick tock….

Tony Henderson

It was a favourite song belted out in social club concert rooms after a surfeit of Fed Special or, in the case of the ladies, Babycham and/or snowballs. “Enjoy yourself it’s later than you think, Enjoy yourself while you’re still in the pink The years go by as quickly as you can blink Enjoy yourself, …

Bob Hudson

We need to talk about academies and free schools

Complex policies need time to demonstrate whether, or to what extent, they have worked. The recent report on the impact of Sure Start is a case in point. Only now, after two decades, is it possible to show the positive impact on health, family functioning and academic achievement. Or take the new tobacco and vapes …

Addicted to a smokefree generation

There are very few families in the North East who haven’t seen a loved one suffer because of smoking… So that is why this week Fresh has welcomed the first vote in Parliament by MPs to create a smokefree generation in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill — this would raise the age of sale for …

Ailsa Rutter

EYES &
EARS

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Kate Fox

The freedom of missing out

Paul Linford

Who will join Bridget in the Cabinet?

Bethany Usher

Creating a new brand for the WHOLE region

GRAHAM SOULT

The enduring wonder of Woolies

Newcastle Building Society has 15 free-to-use, bookable community rooms across 31 branches in Northumberland, County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, and North & South Tyneside.

THE CONVERSATION

How to make homes more affordable

In the latest figures on UK house prices, new builds are particularly eye-catching. The price for such homes has increased by 17% in the past year, while the average price for existing homes cooled by 2.4%. While these figures may grab attention for a day or two, there is little awareness of the long-term trend, …

Arlen Pettitt