\n
", "buttontext" : "Find out more", "buttonlink" : "/clearing/" } },"Undergraduate" : {"title" : "Undergraduate","link" : "/undergraduate/","children" : [{"title" : "Undergraduate Fees and Finance","link" : "/undergraduate/fees-and-finance/"},{"title" : "Chat with our students","link" : "/chat-with-our-students/"},{"title" : "Degree apprenticeships","link" : "/apprenticeships/"},{"title" : "How to apply","link" : "/undergraduate/how-to-apply/"},{"title" : "Open Days","link" : "/open-days/undergraduate/"},{"title" : "Parents and carers","link" : "/undergraduate/parents-and-carers/"},{"title" : "Placements","link" : "/undergraduate/placements/"},{"title" : "Schools and Colleges Liaison Service","link" : "/undergraduate/schools-and-colleges-liaison-service/"},{"title" : "Student blogs","link" : "http://blogs.hud.ac.uk/students/"},{"title" : "UCAS exhibitions","link" : "/undergraduate/ucasexhibitions/"},{"title" : "Undergraduate courses","link" : "https://courses.hud.ac.uk/undergraduate"}],"featured" : [{"title" : "Order a prospectus", "desc" : "Request a printed prospectus", "link" : "/order-a-prospectus/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-book" },{"title" : "Undergraduate courses", "desc" : "Find a course", "link" : "https://courses.hud.ac.uk/undergraduate", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-graduation-cap" },{"title" : "Why choose Huddersfield?", "desc" : "Here's why to study with us", "link" : "/uni-life/why-huddersfield/why-hud-ug/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-random" },{"title" : "Open Days", "desc" : "Visit Huddersfield", "link" : "/open-days/undergraduate/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-flag" }],"cta" : { "html" : "", "buttontext" : "Read the blogs", "buttonlink" : "http://blogs.hud.ac.uk/students/" } },"Postgraduate" : {"title" : "Postgraduate","link" : "/postgraduate/","children" : [{"title" : "Taught courses ","link" : "/postgraduate/taughtcourses/"},{"title" : "Studies to suit you","link" : "/postgraduate/flexible-study/"},{"title" : "Funding your studies","link" : "/postgraduate/funding-studies/"},{"title" : "Research degrees","link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/research-degrees/"},{"title" : "How to apply","link" : "/postgraduate/how-to-apply/"},{"title" : "Research degrees","link" : "/postgraduate/research/"},{"title" : "Enhance your career","link" : "/postgraduate/enhance-your-career/"},{"title" : "Types of study","link" : "/postgraduate/types-of-study/"},{"title" : "Specialist Support","link" : "/postgraduate/specialist-support/"},{"title" : "Fees and finance","link" : "/postgraduate/fees-and-finance/"},{"title" : "Continuing your studies","link" : "/postgraduate/continuing-your-studies/"},{"title" : "Postgraduate blog","link" : "http://blogs.hud.ac.uk/students/postgraduate/"},{"title" : "Degree apprenticeships","link" : "/apprenticeships/"},{"title" : "Chat with our students","link" : "/chat-with-our-students/"}],"featured" : [{"title" : "Why choose Huddersfield?", "desc" : "Top reasons to study here", "link" : "/uni-life/why-huddersfield/why-hud-pg/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-random" },{"title" : "Order a prospectus", "desc" : "Get a postgraduate prospectus", "link" : "/order-a-prospectus/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-book" },{"title" : "Graduate School ", "desc" : "Postgraduate researchers", "link" : "https://www.hud.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/graduate-school/", "rank" : "0", "icon" : "fas fa-graduation-cap" },{"title" : "Open Days", "desc" : "Visit Huddersfield", "link" : "/open-days/postgraduate/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-flag" },{"title" : "Postgraduate courses", "desc" : "Find a course", "link" : "https://courses.hud.ac.uk/postgraduate", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-graduation-cap" }],"cta" : { "html" : "", "buttontext" : "Book now", "buttonlink" : "/open-days/postgraduate/" } },"International" : {"title" : "International","link" : "/international/","children" : [{"title" : "Our global community","link" : "/international/your-global-community/"},{"title" : "Connect with your regional officer","link" : "/international/connect-with-your-regional-officer/"},{"title" : "Applicants ","link" : "/international/applicants/"},{"title" : "International Arrival and Enrolment ","link" : "/international/leaving-for-the-uk/"},{"title" : "Meet Us","link" : "/international/meet-us/"},{"title" : "International Information Day","link" : "/international/international-information-day/"},{"title" : "Chat with our students","link" : "/chat-with-our-students/"},{"title" : "Visa and Immigration","link" : "/international/immigration/"},{"title" : "YourHud","link" : "/international/your-hud/"}],"featured" : [{"title" : "Courses and entry requirements", "desc" : "Explore our course portfolio ", "link" : "/international/courses-and-entry-requirements/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-language" },{"title" : "Fees and funding ", "desc" : "Discover our competitive fees ", "link" : "/international/fees-and-funding/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-money-bill-alt" },{"title" : "Applying to the University", "desc" : "For international students", "link" : "/international/applying-to-the-university/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-book" },{"title" : "Scholarships opportunities ", "desc" : "See if you are eligible ", "link" : "/international/scholarships/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-life-ring" }],"cta" : { "html" : "", "buttontext" : "Book Now", "buttonlink" : "/international/international-information-day/" } },"Research, innovation and skills" : {"title" : "Research, innovation and skills","link" : "/research/","children" : [{"title" : "REF 2021","link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/strategy/ref/"},{"title" : "Areas of Strategic Research Importance ","link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/strategy/unsdg-asri/"},{"title" : "Ways for business to work with us","link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/business/"},{"title" : "Open Research, Impact and Public Engagement","link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/impact/"},{"title" : "Our academic experts","link" : "https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/persons/"},{"title" : "Research strategy and governance","link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/strategy/"},{"title" : "Research integrity","link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/strategy/concordat-research-integrity"},{"title" : "Athena SWAN","link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/strategy/athena-swan"},{"title" : "Degree apprenticeships","link" : "https://www.hud.ac.uk/business/degree-apprenticeships/"}],"featured" : [{"title" : "Skilled people and training", "desc" : "Excellent training for staff", "link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/skilled-people/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-wrench" },{"title" : "Research degrees", "desc" : "Step by step help to apply", "link" : "https://hud.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-flask" },{"title" : "Specialist facilities", "desc" : "Excellent range of facilities", "link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/institutes-centres/facilities/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-building" },{"title" : "Institutes and centres", "desc" : "Interdisciplinary research", "link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/institutes-centres/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-university" },{"title" : "The Graduate School", "desc" : "Enhance your potential", "link" : "https://students.hud.ac.uk/grad/graduate-school/", "rank" : "5", "icon" : "fas fa-graduation-cap" }],"cta" : { "html" : "\n
", "buttontext" : "Order your copy now", "buttonlink" : "https://www.hud.ac.uk/order-a-prospectus" } },"Uni life" : {"title" : "Uni life","link" : "/uni-life/","children" : [{"title" : "Chat with our students","link" : "/chat-with-our-students/"},{"title" : "Student Accommodation","link" : "/uni-life/accommodation/"},{"title" : "Explore our campus","link" : "/uni-life/our-campus/"},{"title" : "Supporting you through your journey","link" : "/uni-life/support/"},{"title" : "Why Huddersfield?","link" : "/uni-life/why-huddersfield/"},{"title" : "Visit us at Open Days","link" : "/open-days/"},{"title" : "Order a prospectus","link" : "/order-a-prospectus/"},{"title" : "Huddersfield Students’ Union","link" : "/uni-life/su/"},{"title" : "Student blogs","link" : "http://blogs.hud.ac.uk/students/"},{"title" : "University experience: How to make the most of Uni life","link" : "/uni-life/experience/"},{"title" : "Thinking of commuting to Huddersfield?","link" : "/uni-life/commuting-to-university/"}],"featured" : [{"title" : "Why choose Huddersfield?", "desc" : "as your first choice", "link" : "/uni-life/why-huddersfield/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-random" },{"title" : "Accommodation", "desc" : "We have great accommodation", "link" : "/uni-life/accommodation/", "rank" : "0", "icon" : "fas fa-bed" },{"title" : "Our campus", "desc" : "Explore our beautiful campus", "link" : "/uni-life/our-campus/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-industry" },{"title" : "Explore Hud", "desc" : "Location, location, location..", "link" : "/uni-life/explore-hud/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-arrows-alt" }],"cta" : { "html" : "", "buttontext" : "Read the blogs", "buttonlink" : "http://blogs.hud.ac.uk/students/" } },"Students/Staff/Hubs" : {"title" : "Students/Staff/Hubs","link" : "#","children" : [{"title" : "Unimail - student email","link" : "https://students.hud.ac.uk/studies/it/unimail/"},{"title" : "Togetherall","link" : "https://students.hud.ac.uk/help/wellbeing/247support/togetherall/ "},{"title" : "ActiveHud","link" : "https://active.hud.ac.uk/"},{"title" : "Brightspace","link" : "https://brightspace.hud.ac.uk"}],"featured" : [{"title" : "Business", "desc" : "Information for businesses", "link" : "https://research.hud.ac.uk/business/", "rank" : "0", "icon" : "fas fa-briefcase" },{"title" : "Alumni", "desc" : "Resources for former students", "link" : "https://alumni.hud.ac.uk/", "rank" : "0", "icon" : "fas fa-graduation-cap" },{"title" : "Staff Hub", "desc" : "University staff network", "link" : "http://hud.ac/o1o", "rank" : "0", "icon" : "fas fa-user-circle" },{"title" : "Students", "desc" : "Resources for students", "link" : "https://students.hud.ac.uk/", "rank" : "null", "icon" : "fas fa-users" }],"cta" : { "html" : "", "buttontext" : "Login to MyHud", "buttonlink" : "https://myhud.hud.ac.uk/" } },"The University" : {"title" : "The University","link" : "/the-university/","children" : [{"title" : "Fee status - learn how your university fee status is determined","link" : "/the-university/fee-status/"},{"title" : "Jobs","link" : "/hr/jobs/"},{"title" : "Jobs Temp","link" : "/the-university/jobs-temp/"},{"title" : "MHM Our students and graduates","link" : "/the-university/our-students/"},{"title" : "Politics","link" : "/the-university/politics/"},{"title" : "Student Ambassadors","link" : "/student-ambassadors/"},{"title" : "Supporting success at Huddersfield","link" : "/supporting-success/"}]}}honeypot link...delivering the 2019 Harold Wilson Lecture
Bishop of Leeds Nick Baines sought answers as the invited speaker at the 2019 Harold Wilson Lecture
WHAT exactly is the “will of the people” over Brexit?
Seeking an answer, the Bishop of Leeds – a regular broadcaster who also sits in the House of Lords – analysed what he called the “paralysing mess of the last three years” when he delivered the latest edition of a prestigious lecture series at the University of Huddersfield.
Among his conclusions was that UK democracy needed to be reshaped, with a written constitution, proportional representation and even a redesign of the Commons chamber to reflect a new politics in which the two-party system was a thing of the past.
Speaking to a packed lecture theatre at the University, the Rt Revd Nick Baines was highly critical of Brexit and its likely impact. “For the first time in our history, we have a Government whose approved policy is to make the country poorer,” he said during the question-and-answer session that followed his talk.
The Bishop was giving the annual Harold Wilson Lecture, which commemorates the Huddersfield-born Labour politician who was Prime Minister during most of the 1960s and early 1970s.
“For the first time in our history, we have a Government whose approved policy is to make the country poorer,” said Rt Revd Nick Baines when he delivered the 2019 Harold Wilson lecture.
He concluded the lecture by saying UK democracy needed to be reshaped, with a written constitution, proportional representation and even a redesign of the Commons chamber to reflect a new politics in which the two-party system was a thing of the past.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan welcomed the late Harold Wilson’s son, Professor Robin Wilson, accompanied by his wife Joy. The lecture series commemorates the Huddersfield-born Labour politician who was Prime Minister during most of the 1960s and early 1970s.
It is co-organised by the University in tandem with the Huddersfield Episcopal Area and it's Bishop, Dr Jonathan Gibbs.
“Theresa May is not the only politician to refer to the 2016 referendum result as the ‘will of the people’ and that it is the responsibility of the Government to ‘deliver’ it,” said Bishop Baines.
“But doesn’t she really mean the will of the majority of those who voted in the referendum? Does ‘the people’ not include the 48 per cent who voted for a different outcome?” he continued.
“The delivery of the referendum result in an almost equally divided country must inevitably involve and include the people who lost. Yet the referendum was taken as a zero sum result. A divided will and a divided people demands compromise and consultation.”
The Bishop discussed the history and theory of democracy and the UK’s current “quagmire experience” over Brexit.
“But only 37 per cent of the entire electorate voted to leave, and 35 per cent voted to remain. Technically, the referendum result might say something about the will of less than half the UK’s total population on a single issue,” said Bishop Baines.
“The people answered the question put to them. The UK voted to leave the EU. Other consequent and contingent questions were not put.
“For example, what do you want to leave the EU for? You can’t just leave something and enter a vacuum,” said the Bishop, who argued that “the reasons given and the grievances expressed for leaving the EU often had nothing to do with the EU and everything to do with Westminster, with the inevitable effect that the surgery of Brexit will simply not deal with the disease itself”.
The Bishop discussed the distinctions between national sovereignty and Parliamentary sovereignty and cited a range of political thinkers, past and present.
He said that those elected to Parliament were obliged constitutionally not only to listen to all voices, remainers as well as leavers, but also to take responsibility for such “inconvenient questions” as what happens next.
“Swaggering rhetoric that makes contradictory promises or despises people who know what they are talking about – experts – takes no responsibility for actually making something happen,” continued Bishop Baines.
But it was clear that the genie is now out of the bottle, he concluded.
“The UK now has the unique – if not welcomed by all – opportunity to leave behind the myths of empire and an obsession with simplistic readings of World War II rooted in an assumption of British exceptionalism, in order to shape a new future in Europe regardless of how Brexit and the EU develop from here.”
There was also an opportunity to recover popular trust in politics by examining new ways of reforming political institutions and processes.
“This would mean moving to a codified constitution subject to legal protection – as most countries in Europe have – a more representative electoral system, some form of proportional representation, the establishment of rules for referendums, the proper and honest consideration of the consequences of devolution, and the physical redesign of the Palace of Westminster to reflect a changed political world in which a two-party system will probably not persist.”
Bishop Baines was introduced by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, Professor Bob Cryan, who welcomed the late Harold Wilson’s son, Professor Robin Wilson, accompanied by his wife Joy. The lecture series is co-organised by the University in tandem with the Huddersfield Episcopal Area and its Bishop, Dr Jonathan Gibbs, thanked the lecturer and conducted the Q&A session that concluded the lecture.
Over 250 people made up the live audience for the programme
MP for Leeds West Rachel Reeves draws a large audience for a talk about her new book at the University
The words of former Prime Minister The Rt Hon Gordon Brown when he delivered the University’s 2018 Harold Wilson Lecture