Opinion

Welcome to the Northern Rose’s opinion section:


Speaking Green: How Labour’s Comms Misfire While the Greens Cut Through

·
October 7, 2025
Speaking Green: How Labour’s Comms Misfire While the Greens Cut Through

What did we learn from the Green Party conference and what are they doing right?


Why “They’re All the Same” Is the Most Dangerous Lie in Politics

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October 1, 2025
Why “They’re All the Same” Is the Most Dangerous Lie in Politics

Dr North discusses one of the most dangerous lies in politics.


Whose Flag? The Battle Over St. George and the Shadow of Racism

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September 24, 2025
Whose Flag? The Battle Over St. George and the Shadow of Racism

Do we want our national flag to be a racist symbol? Or can we reclaim it?


The Business of Hate: Who Profits When We’re Divided?

·
September 19, 2025
The Business of Hate: Who Profits When We’re Divided?

Dr North's follow up on The Northern Rose's recent podcast on the monetisation of hate.


Manchester for the Few: The Cost of Growing Inequality

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September 11, 2025
Manchester for the Few: The Cost of Growing Inequality

Dr Adam North suggests what Manchester might look like if wealth inequality continues to grow.


Building the Fire: How to Organise Protest for Real Change

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September 4, 2025
Building the Fire: How to Organise Protest for Real Change

Dr. Adam North looks at the history of effective protests to see what lessons can be learnt.


Laughing Along: Why Populist Politics Hits Different Up North

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August 28, 2025
Laughing Along: Why Populist Politics Hits Different Up North

Dr Adam North offers a follow up on his recent article in The Conversation.


A Nation of Builders: Why Britain Must Rekindle Its Creative Ambition

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August 26, 2025
A Nation of Builders: Why Britain Must Rekindle Its Creative Ambition

Dr Adam North puts forward the case for rebuilding Britain.


Inertia: Seasons Change but Decisions Stay the Same

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August 21, 2025
Inertia: Seasons Change but Decisions Stay the Same

Henry talks about how the lack of proactive decision-making in Westminster will have disastrous consequences.


Reform’s Britain: A Nation Shrinking in on Itself

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August 19, 2025
Reform’s Britain: A Nation Shrinking in on Itself

Henry talks about how the lack of proactive decision-making in Westminster will have disastrous consequences.


Why Your Brain Gets Stubborn with Age (and How to Make It Flexible Again)

·
August 15, 2025
Why Your Brain Gets Stubborn with Age (and How to Make It Flexible Again)

Dr Adam North explains why it becomes harder to change our minds with age.


Growth Doesn’t Come from Hoarding: Why Spending Is the Real Engine of the Economy

·
August 11, 2025
Growth Doesn’t Come from Hoarding: Why Spending Is the Real Engine of the Economy

Dr Adam North discusses how economic growth is driven by spending and not saving.


A Case Study of Royal Interference: King Charles and Homeopathy - A Royal Influence on NHS Policy

·
August 7, 2025
A Case Study of Royal Interference: King Charles and Homeopathy - A Royal Influence on NHS Policy

Dr Adam North examines an example of royal interference in UK politics.


Ideology vs Cohesion: The Structural Limits of Left-Wing Unity

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August 5, 2025
Ideology vs Cohesion: The Structural Limits of Left-Wing Unity

Dr Adam North explores the failings of left-wing groups to unify.


Make It Prestigious to Pay: Plotting Wealth Tax Incentives

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July 30, 2025
Make It Prestigious to Pay: Plotting Wealth Tax Incentives

Dr. Adam North discusses methods for incentivising the ultra-rich to contribute to a wealth tax.


Is Everything Politics and Religion?

·
July 25, 2025
Is Everything Politics and Religion?

Dr Adam North asks whether the everyday choices we make—from what we wear to how we work—are more political and spiritual than we realise.


Why a Wealth Tax Would Be Good for the Wealthy

·
July 21, 2025
Why a Wealth Tax Would Be Good for the Wealthy

Is it fairer to pay more tax? Dr. Adam North discusses why a wealth tax would benefit the wealthy.


The Rich Paid More Tax in 1949 Than They Do Today. Why?

·
July 15, 2025
The Rich Paid More Tax in 1949 Than They Do Today. Why?

Dr. Adam North discusses the decline of wealth taxes in the UK


Spain Has a Wealth Tax — So Why Isn’t the Economy Collapsing?

·
July 9, 2025
Spain Has a Wealth Tax — So Why Isn’t the Economy Collapsing?

Dr. Adam North outlines the qualities of Spain's successful wealth tax and what the UK could learn from it.


The Struggle for Originality in National Newsrooms: Why All News Seems the Same

·
July 3, 2025
The Struggle for Originality in National Newsrooms: Why All News Seems the Same

Henry North reflects on how newsroom cuts and digital shortcuts are eroding the originality and diversity of stories we see.


We Can’t Afford to Cut Welfare. The Economy Depends on It!

·
June 30, 2025
We Can’t Afford to Cut Welfare. The Economy Depends on It!

Dr. Adam North reacts to Labour's decision to cut welfare for the disabled.


The Hotspur Press Blaze: What It Reveals About the Spread of Conspiracy Theories

·
June 25, 2025
The Hotspur Press Blaze: What It Reveals About the Spread of Conspiracy Theories

Dr. Adam North examines the conspiratorial claims originating from the Hotspur Press fire and they reflect a feeling in the city.


From Satanic Mills to Joy Division: Can Manchester Reshape the Spaces We Call Home?

·
June 23, 2025
From Satanic Mills to Joy Division: Can Manchester Reshape the Spaces We Call Home?

Dr Adam North presents some practical approaches to making Manchester a more liveable and enjoyable city for everyone.


The Future of Work Is Worker-Owned: Understanding Syndicalism

·
June 17, 2025
The Future of Work Is Worker-Owned: Understanding Syndicalism

Feeling unfulfilled by your job? Dr. Adam North explains how syndicalism - a system which seeks to empower workers - could help.


Who’s More Efficient? The Case for a Stronger Public Sector

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June 12, 2025
Who’s More Efficient? The Case for a Stronger Public Sector

Dr Adam North examines why public institutions can be more efficient than private companies.


Crown or Country? Why Britain Must Rethink the Monarchy

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June 5, 2025
Crown or Country? Why Britain Must Rethink the Monarchy

Dr Adam North discusses why it's time for Britain to move into the modern era.


Northern Power: Rethinking Westminster's Geographical Position in the UK

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May 29, 2025
Northern Power: Rethinking Westminster's Geographical Position in the UK

Dr. Adam North discusses the possible benefits of moving Parliament to the North.


Rebuilding Britain Starts With Taxing Extreme Wealth

·
May 24, 2025
Rebuilding Britain Starts With Taxing Extreme Wealth

Dr Adam North discusses how there is money in the UK for public services - and plenty of it - although we're constantly told that there isn't.


Bullshit Jobs and Real Change: The Revolutionary Thought of David Graeber

·
May 21, 2025
Bullshit Jobs and Real Change: The Revolutionary Thought of David Graeber

Dr Adam North talks about what we can learn from David Graeber. Described as "one of the thinkers of his time," Graeber's ideas seem more relevant today than ever before.


AI Could Save Local Journalism – or Bury It in Misinformation

·
May 16, 2025
AI Could Save Local Journalism – or Bury It in Misinformation

There's a lot of unknown about the future with AI, but Dr Adam North discusses how it could make or break local journalism.


Weaponised Wokeness: How the Right Wins With a Word No One Understands

·
May 12, 2025
Weaponised Wokeness: How the Right Wins With a Word No One Understands

Dr. Adam North talks about what it means to be "woke" and the politicisation of the word.


What Voters Really Want: Bravery, Not Just Better Policy

·
May 6, 2025
What Voters Really Want: Bravery, Not Just Better Policy

Dr Adam North calls for Labour to be bolder in the aftermath of the Runcorn election.


The Red Zone: How Labour Can Win the Media War by Flooding the Zone

·
April 29, 2025
The Red Zone: How Labour Can Win the Media War by Flooding the Zone

Last week I wrote an article titled ‘Flood the Zone: Why the Left Must Match the Right’s Media Blitz Tactics’ and this week I will provide some concrete ideas for how Labour could implement this tactic.


Flood the Zone: Why the Left Must Match the Right’s Media Blitz Tactics

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April 24, 2025
Flood the Zone: Why the Left Must Match the Right’s Media Blitz Tactics

Dr. Adam North talks media tactics and if the left can learn something from the right.


"Opinion Overload: Talking Heads Are Not the News"

·
April 22, 2025
"Opinion Overload: Talking Heads Are Not the News"

Dr. Adam North discusses how original reporting is being overshadowed by easily produced opinion pieces.