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Ailsa Henderson

@ailsahenderson.bsky.social
2.1K followers 580 following 129 posts

PoliSci Prof at Edinburgh - run Scottish Election Study, co-run Union survey/Future of England survey Voting, polling, attitudes to the union @scotvoting.bsky.social @theunionsurvey.bsky.social

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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Hydronym search trends The @mark-carney.bsky.social effect
Graph showing spike in Google searches for hydronymMap showing search interest in hydronym is highest in CanadaMark Carney's 'let's just stick with calling it Lake Ontario' post
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Typo. Sorry.
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I'm not sure we have the data to know whether it is better than nothing. Even a clunky system could be less iniquitous. Private school could be disqualifying for a 'disadvantaged' access spot. School of origin could be prioritised over simd Etc etc
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
But since the test is for the geographic area in which one lives not individual circs, it's a v clunky system that can enhance priviledge: -higher deprivation postcode but private school? Flag -dad/mum didn't go to uni but private school? Flag -low achieving school but parents are professors? Flag
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Excited about our event as part of RSE's Festival of Knowledge 5 Sept 5pm, free hybrid event with me, @cjcarman.bsky.social and Prof John Curtice Tickets bookable on link below. Bring your questions! rse.org.uk/event/scotla...
rse.org.uk
Scotland's 2026 election explained
What does the recent Scottish election tell us about the future of Scottish democracy?
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
To learn more about our work, please check out our website www.boundaries.scot Please do drop me a line if you'd like additional details, info on what it's like to be part of the Commission etc. I've served as a member, as deputy chair and now as chair so know it well (and obviously like it!)
boundaries.scot
Scottish Boundary Commission | Enter Your Postcode
Explore maps, data and the latest boundary review reports from Scottish Parliament constituencies, council wards, and local governments.
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
We're recruiting a new member to join the excellent team at Boundaries Scotland. Fair electoral boundaries are essential to the democratic process so this is an important and rewarding role. @boundaries-scot.bsky.social Ad is here: fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com
Appointment of Member to the Board of Boundaries Scotland
The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans is seeking to appoint a Commissioner to Boundaries Scotland.
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
@ccc-research.bsky.social @ukcla.bsky.social www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/fellows/prof...
thebritishacademy.ac.uk
Professor Stephen Tierney FBA
The Constitution of the United Kingdom and comparative constitutional law. The constitutional theory and practice of the state, Parliament, democracy and federalism
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Excellent news from the social-media-free Professor Tierney. Richly deserved, though I would say that! @uoelawschool.bsky.social www.law.ed.ac.uk/news-events/...
law.ed.ac.uk
Professor Stephen Tierney elected Fellow of the British Academy | Edinburgh Law School
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
A always B be C checking the availability of GGR tickets
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Alas no.
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
TODAY SES Annual Lecture. Professor Richard Wyn Jones, The Decline and Fall of Welsh Labour 6pm, Usha Kasera Lecture theatre, Old college, University of Edinburgh Eventbrite: edin.ac/4mHfPKZ
edin.ac
The decline and fall of Welsh Labour
The annual SES lecture 2026 will look at Wales. Join us for an insight into the future of Welsh politics.
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Folks in Scotland waiting for a referendum bill might find this collection of reactions to Alberta referendum prospects interesting.
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Well phrased!
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
MMP w one vote counted across const and list, if memory serves. Never went anywhere, as w various other elec reform efforts at provincial levels in 00s
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Fascinating stuff. Only thing I'd add is that ability of list to compensate for disproportionality in const depends on limited split ticket voting. Prelim SES data suggest *split tickets at an all time high* this election, thus further weakening Lab and Con chances esp Quebec proposed a model of ...
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Yes it's me, drawing on data from the State of the Union survey. Scots, and folks in NI, much less nostalgic than English. Independence debate changes temporal frame of reference of political debate for both Yes and No supporters
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Ha ha!
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
All elections are exciting, but the 2026 Senedd election could be the election of a century in Wales. To hear more about it, join us 25 May for the 2026 SES annual lecture, delivered by @walesgovernance.bsky.social 's @richardwynjones.bsky.social Will probably contain Venn diagrams
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Join David Phillips, @ailsahenderson.bsky.social and Sean Smith from 6pm tonight at @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social for our joint event on tax, spending and the economy ahead of next week's Scottish elections. ➡️ Find out more and register to attend here: ifs.org.uk/events/scott...
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
The doll room 👀👀
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
We do in pre/post SES. Religious denom and religiosity
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Daniel Devine @danjdevine.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
There is a rare permanent job in the UK - assistant prof (lecturer) in political science with a focus on quant methods www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DRD143/a...
jobs.ac.uk
Assistant Professor in Political Science at University of Nottingham
Recruiting now: Assistant Professor in Political Science on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Great news. Well done you!
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
SES scoop out @scotvoting.bsky.social
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Andrew Learmonth @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Scottish Labour trailing in fourth behind a resurgent Scottish Greens, according to new poll. Story by @hannahmargbrown.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2589383...
heraldscotland.com
Fractured Scottish poll bodes ill for Labour and Conservatives this May
Scottish Labour trails in fourth on the regional list as the SNP lead on 34 and Reform UK hold second place, the final Scottish Election Study poll…
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Calls to mind Parizeau's rx to 1995 Quebec referendum defeat
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Wales Governance Centre | Canolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru @walesgovernance.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Trafodir ymchwil @theunionsurvey.bsky.social gan @richardwynjones.bsky.social ac @ailsahenderson.bsky.social yn yr erthygl hon 👇 / This article discusses our research about Englishness from The Union Survey 👇 www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
japantimes.co.jp
So what does it mean to be properly English?
There’s nothing wrong in anybody taking pride in being English, of course, but as Orwell said, there’s something very un-English in shouting about it.
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Congratulations Chris!! Clicking on that link is going to shake up the ads I now see Having used same products for all mine, my sense is some are sleepers and some are screamers regardless of sleep routine, surroundings, etc.
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Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
The underlying study: "Experimental evidence of the effects of large language models versus web search on depth of learning" academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar... "participants reported developing shallower knowledge from LLM summaries even when the results were augmented by...web links" vs. search
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Polling Canada @canadianpolling.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
"I am willing to accept slower economic growth in Canada if it means greater economic independence from the United States" 🟢 Agree: 70% 🔴 Disagree: 19% Read it here: canadianpolling.substack.com/p/budget-wee...
canadianpolling.substack.com
Budget Week Opens with Rising Public Skepticism
Canadians remain split on Carney's ability to deliver results, while dissatisfaction with Ottawa ticks upward
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Newly out from James Mitchell and me, explaining the 2024 UKGE in Scotland @edinburghpir.bsky.social academic.oup.com/pa/article-a... Email me if you want access and can't get it via your institution
academic.oup.com
Shifting sands: Sources of voter volatility in the 2024 UK General Election in Scotland
Abstract. In one sense, the 2024 UK General Election in Scotland provided a significant departure from what we have come to expect from elections in the af
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
New SES methodology incoming. Flawless.
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Was just drawing distinction with English single tier locals, London boroughs etc Not a comment on speed, flavour of devolved govt formation!
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Indeed. While often ignoring the devolved elections in May, which *will* lead to government formation Both UK Lab and UK Cons making life difficult for their devolved parties by fighting the next UKGE 4 years early
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
You need breadcrumbs to navigate back out
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Advice for the age
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Jac Larner @jaclarner.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
Latest ITV BarnCymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 poll confirms trend seen over last 6 months - neck and neck race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK for largest party, with Labour falling to even more distant third. Evidence growing of distinct realignment in Wales 🧵
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Ariel Edwards-Levy @aedwardslevy.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
158. AP-GfK, 2009: "If you had to choose, would you prefer to attend a wedding that served champagne and caviar, wine and chicken breasts, or beer and pigs in a blanket?"
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Ariel Edwards-Levy @aedwardslevy.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
153. Gallup/CNN/USA Today, 1998: "For the next question, assume that the Seinfeld characters were real people. Aside from how funny you think they are, would you generally consider them to be likeable people or annoying people?"
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Well done James!
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Calls to mind this beloved Quebec classic. Wee Habs fan's mum navigates the English catalogue badly, gets him a Leafs sweater by mistake. Drama ensues Can't imagine it quite working like that with mystery SPL options tho
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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Humanities, arts and social sciences degrees are disappearing in many UK regions. With more young people than ever studying close to home, course cuts are narrowing their choices at university. @timeshighered.bsky.social covers our 'Cold Spots' report today. Read more at bit.ly/46e3wOy
bit.ly
Humanities and arts degrees disappearing in parts of UK
Students from rural and disadvantaged areas disproportionally affected by subject cuts, British Academy warns
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
No!!
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Polling Canada @canadianpolling.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Those who say the Western provinces should join the United States: 🔴 MB: 6% 🔴 AB: 6% 🔴 BC: 4% 🔴 SK: 3% Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
open.substack.com
Western Canadians Cooling On Separation
While many believe they'd be better off on their own, support for leaving remains low
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Department of Offense
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Featuring @scotvoting.bsky.social data and our recent blog You can read it, and other great SES analysis, here: scottishelections.ac.uk/category/blog/
scottishelections.ac.uk
Blog
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Benedict Douglas @benedictdouglas.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Lovely use of the phrase "constitutional Tetris" in explaining why lack of effective devolved (and local?) democracy in England enables Farage to stir up xenophobia
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
My own was mostly loop of Cartier to Riel, but esp 1759-1885. Could have wept when 1st yr uni history was New France to Confederation. Again. Did get a break for causes ww1, Russian revolution at one pt in high school
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Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Up here we get WW2 as a break from the endless cycle of Romans and wars of independence
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