University of Leeds
Leeds Policy Institute
Founding partner of the National Student Policy Trust, supported since 2026.
Disclaimer for Prospective Donors: The National Student Policy Trust does not yet actively sponsor Leeds Policy Institute. This page is a mockup for demonstration purposes only to show how supported think tanks will be displayed once the Trust is operational.
Leeds Policy Institute (LPI) is a UK-based, student-led think tank affiliated with Leeds University Union. Established in April 2023, LPI is committed to producing empirically driven, non-partisan policy research that addresses both local and national challenges.
Operations
- Conducts research across seven distinct policy areas, supported by an Academic Advisory Council.
- Publishes annual flagship research reports, policy briefs, and student-authored opinion pieces.
- Hosts regular speaker panels and events that bring together professionals and thought leaders from across the political and policy spectrum.
Achievements
- Featured in major national publications and broadcasters, including the Financial Times and the BBC.
- Attracts an audience of over 8,000 yearly website visits.
- Empowers students by encouraging critical engagement and providing opportunities to build marketable skills.
Research outputs
Policy research and reports produced by Leeds Policy Institute.
England's School Absence Crisis Needs Support, Not Fines
2026 report finds England's school absence crisis requires structural support rather than punitive fines to address root causes.
Read on LPI websiteBritain's Frozen Council Tax Is De-Funding the North
2026 report finds that a Council Tax system anchored to 1991 valuations captures none of the North's modern property wealth, starving local services.
Read on LPI websiteBrexit Hit Britain's Capital-Raising, Not Its Headline Markets
2026 report finds the FTSE 100's resilience masks a deeper structural hit to Britain's capital-raising capacity post-Brexit.
Read on LPI websiteBritain's Centralised Trade Policy Is Holding Its Regions Back
2026 report finds subnational diplomacy delivers real investment and jobs for regions like West Yorkshire, but centralised control caps its impact.
Read on LPI websiteThe Case for Polyclinics: Closing the NHS Diagnostic Gap
2026 report argues the NHS patient flow crisis is driven by a diagnostic gap in primary care, and makes the economic case for targeted polyclinics.
Read on LPI websiteEnergy-Efficient Homes in Leeds Come at a Price the Poorest Cannot Pay
2026 report finds a statistically significant green premium is locking low-income households out of energy-efficient homes in Leeds.
Read on LPI websiteProfits with Principles
New research calls for harmonised disclosure standards and clearer rating practices to unlock sustainable returns and build investor trust.
Read on LPI websiteUK Democracy Is Defenceless Against Encrypted Propaganda
New report warns that outdated laws leave Britain wide open to AI-driven disinformation and foreign influence campaigns.
Read on LPI websiteBritain Can't Afford to Go All In on Centralised Growth
2025 report calls for dynamic fiscal rules and a thriving municipal bond market to fuel local growth and turn Britain's debt story around.
Read on LPI websiteOne Size Fails All: Labour's Childcare Plan Risks Deepening Regional Inequality
Report analysing the regional impacts of Labour's proposed childcare policies and their potential to deepen inequality.
Read on LPI websiteBritain Can't Reach Net Zero Without Nuclear
New report calls for streamlined SMR regulation, international collaboration, and public trust to power the UK's low-carbon future.
Read on LPI websiteSerious Faults Exposed in Bank of England Forecasting
Inflation, Money Growth, and Second-Round Effects: How Effective has the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Been?
Read on LPI websiteMarket Regulators Aren't Ready for the Digital Age
The CMA's new Digital Market, Competition, and Consumers Bill (DMCC) is far too ambiguous and inflexible.
Read on LPI websiteLondon Alone Can't Fix the Climate Crisis
Without further devolution, with powers over green energy granted to local councils, the UK's transformation towards its net-zero target may never happen.
Read on LPI websiteFinancial Regulators Are Operating in the Dark
When regulating Non-Bank Financial Intermediaries (NBFIs), serious gaps in data collection have led to poorly informed decisions.
Read on LPI websiteShining a Light on Hidden Homelessness
Sofa-surfing is the largest form of homelessness in the UK, but policymakers provide few methods of support for those in need.
Read on LPI websiteMedia appearances
Articles, interviews, and presentations by Leeds Policy Institute members.
Leeds Policy Institute Presents at BCUR 2026
LPI researchers presented their research at the 2026 British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR), hosted by the University of Glasgow.
View appearanceLessons from OTT's 2026 School: A hybrid think tank model
Exploring LPI's hybrid think tank model and lessons learned.
View appearanceUK needs Norway-style national service to fight rise of populism
Head of Media & Communications Hubert Kucharski writes for the Financial Times.
View appearanceLeeds Policy Institute presents at Newcastle University
LPI presents for the second time at the British Conference of Undergraduate Research.
View appearanceSetting a new standard for the minimum wage
Nicolas Padula Pinho appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss minimum wage standards.
View appearanceBernanke's sound words will fall flat on deaf ears
Nicolas Padula & Hubert Kucharski write for the Financial Times.
View appearanceLeeds Policy Institute presents research at the London School of Economics
LPI presents research at its first academic conference.
View appearanceBritain is heading for a cost of credit crisis
Hubert Kucharski writes for the IEA.
View appearanceFlexible labour markets prove a better alternative to industrial policy
Hubert Kucharski writes for CapX.
View appearanceSupport Leeds Policy Institute
Fund bursaries and operational grants that back Leeds Policy Institute's researchers at University of Leeds.