John Harris

A strike by more than 1,500 Arriva bus drivers in north London highlights the growing danger of extreme workplace heat, with bus cabs reportedly reaching 40–44C and inadequate cooling, toilets and water access. Similar risks are affecting nurses, construction workers and outdoor employees internationally. The column argues that employers and governments have failed to invest adequately in heat protection, criticizes Andy Burnham for giving little attention to the climate crisis, and calls for mandatory maximum workplace temperatures and stronger safety regulations.

Data centres are rapidly expanding in Slough, the UK’s densest data-centre cluster, driven by its proximity to London and major communications cables. The facilities support the AI boom but consume large amounts of electricity and water, generate noise and may intensify local heat. Residents are concerned about these effects, while industry representatives dispute conclusive evidence of local temperature increases. The piece argues that government plans to triple the UK’s data centres by 2030 could intensify competition for scarce water, energy and land, potentially forcing a choice between servers and new homes. Examples from the United States show growing political resistance, including pauses and regulatory reviews, while UK planning decisions continue to favor data-centre development despite housing shortages.

Andy Burnham’s character, humility and commitment to decentralising power are presented as sources of optimism as he prepares to become prime minister. His background and personality are contrasted with Labour’s internal contradictions and the ambitious goals he aims to pursue, including rebalancing the state and addressing long-term inequalities. Concerns remain over his limited institutional backing, the tension between his radical agenda and more cautious party figures, and the challenges he may face on the global stage. Despite these uncertainties, his approach rooted in empathy, modesty and collaboration inspires guarded hope for a fairer and more effective period of government.

Farage’s resignation and push for a new byelection in Clacton is framed as an attempt to evade mounting scrutiny over financial ties, a controversial £5m gift, connections to fraudster George Cottrell, and allegations of lobbying on behalf of cryptocurrency interests. Major parties plan to boycott the vote, undermining its significance, while Farage portrays himself as a victim of elite persecution. The piece contrasts his wealth and associations with the deprivation in Jaywick and questions how politicians can present themselves as champions of ordinary people while operating within elite financial networks.

Decline of heavy industry left deep economic and emotional scars across Britain, and past governments failed to develop a meaningful strategy for recovery. Andy Burnham’s reindustrialisation agenda marks a major shift toward sovereign manufacturing and devolved industrial planning, but it faces huge financial, structural and political challenges. His proposals demand long-term investment, confront the Treasury’s power, and must produce tangible results in struggling towns to avoid further disillusionment. Rebuilding industry requires more than economic intervention; it must address cultural loss, identity and social stability. The scale of the task is immense, yet the ambition offers a rare sense of possibility, and success will hinge on whether transformative change can be delivered across regions long marked by decline.

Extending the current 14‑day legal limit on embryo research to 21 days is presented as a scientifically justified and ethically manageable step that would advance understanding of early development, miscarriages and stem‑cell therapies. The historical religious rationale for the original rule is criticized as outdated, and the stability of UK regulation is cited as evidence that changing the limit will not create a slippery‑slope scenario. Retaining the current restriction is characterized as a missed opportunity for medical and humanitarian progress.

Argues that human gene editing research should continue to advance toward safe clinical use, rejecting objections related to effects on future generations, consent, and the sanctity of the human germline. Criticizes international policies restricting germline modification and maintains that decisions affecting future people are unavoidable. Emphasizes the moral duty to pursue scientific progress to reduce genetic diseases and enhance human capabilities for long‑term survival.

Ezekiel Emanuel’s argument for refusing medical interventions after age 75 prompts a debate between John Harris and Michele Hanson about autonomy, quality of life, euthanasia, and longevity. Harris challenges Emanuel’s opposition to assisted dying and argues that desires about death change with circumstance, while Hanson highlights the suffering and loss of dignity many elderly people face and contends that real choice requires access to assisted death. They differ on the value of radically extended lifespan, with Harris open to functional immortality and Hanson rejecting it as socially and practically troubling. The exchange explores how ageing, medical care and personal autonomy shape decisions about when and how life should end.

Teachers across England describe heavy workloads, constant assessments and fear-driven accountability systems that undermine morale, narrow the curriculum and heighten student stress. Government reforms under Michael Gove, including performance-related pay, expanded testing and academy conversions, are depicted as intensifying pressure on staff and pushing many out of the profession. Ofsted’s inspection regime is cited as a major source of anxiety, reinforcing data-driven priorities over creative or holistic teaching. Testimonies highlight the impact on students, who face increased anxiety and reduced opportunities for arts and enrichment, and portray a growing divide between policymakers and educators committed to broader child development.

Argues that concerns over mitochondrial replacement therapy are exaggerated and that describing resulting children as having three parents is misleading, stressing that donated mitochondrial DNA is minimal and not identity‑defining. Criticizes the regulator’s framing as alarmist and highlights the severe consequences of mitochondrial disease, contending that the therapy offers significant benefits with limited risk. Questions the rationale for disclosing mitochondrial donor identity and emphasizes that fears of future uncertainty are common to all reproduction. Encourages approval of the therapy as a valuable, life‑improving scientific advance.

Advances in neuroscience such as brain–machine interfaces, cognitive-enhancing drugs and potential memory manipulation raise significant ethical challenges around responsibility, freedom and civil liberties. Emerging technologies may improve safety and welfare but also risk eroding autonomy, enabling intrusive monitoring and prompting difficult judgments about caution versus innovation. The need to protect scientific progress while ensuring it remains subordinate to human values is emphasized.