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James Kanagasooriam

@jameskanag.bsky.social
5.1K followers 188 following 92 posts

Pollster. Chief Research Officer of @focaldata.bsky.social and Honorary Professor @UofGlasgow.bsky.social

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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Huge fun with Marina Hyde doing a mini series on culture with Goalhanger’s Rest is Entertainment. 1st episode we is on “Tradwives”. Later episodes cover celebrities and politics, Taylor Swift, changing tastes in music. All with lots of @focaldata.bsky.social polling open.spotify.com/episode/0yvo...
open.spotify.com
Have Tradwives Killed Feminism?
Spotify video
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Patrick English @patrick-pme.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Join Scarlett Maguire, @jameskanag.bsky.social and myself live with @mattchorley.bsky.social from 5 past 3 for our regular @bbc5live.bsky.social Poll Position segment! Do tune in!
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
A rather glum New Year’s Eve Times column on Scottish independence and the rise of Reform UK. www.thetimes.com/article/57aa...
thetimes.com
Farage is pushing Scotland to independence
Wales and Northern Ireland may not be far behind as the further right Westminster goes, the more the Union falters
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Interesting piece by Bloomberg’s Alan Crawford fleshing out my thesis on “collar flipping” in the UK, and how this might shift the political geography of the U.K. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
open.substack.com
The "collar flip"....what if class politics shifted in the UK?
Why the rise of AI, might change our politics in the UK (and US!)
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Very likely to be the truest measure of voting intention today given their Methodology and the expense of doing so / record at the general election. Reform surge real, labour collapse at worse end of expectations, big gains for liberals and greens. Tories at higher end of polling
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
New post just out: Six lessons from the 2024 election. And what they mean for the next one. Covering: Labour's fatal misunderstanding about why they won; effects of a more fragmented system; changes in media/polling. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/six-lesson...
samf.substack.com
Six lessons from the 2024 election
And what they mean for the next one
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The Ruffian @ianleslie.skystack.xyz · 08/09/2025
Podcast: Why Is Britain So Depressed? • James Kanagasooriam On Our "Low Agency" Culture And How To Fix It
ian-leslie.com
Podcast: Why Is Britain So Depressed?
James Kanagasooriam On Our "Low Agency" Culture And How To Fix It
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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Why we should pay more attention to political humour @jameskanag.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/article/8bf3...
thetimes.com
We’ve underestimated the power of humour in political revolutions
If Keir Starmer could make us laugh like Donald Trump or Nigel Farage, he’d be doing far better in the opinion polls
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
I had enormous fun writing this piece over the half term break for @thetimes.com Why humour is the superpower of politics. Featuring polling from @focaldata.bsky.social and @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
George Abaraonye takes hard to nail. It’s interesting for orthogonal reasons. 1/ private fleeting moments blowing up to global scrutiny - a la Coldplay 2/ Oxford’s admissions criteria 3/ political reasoning across left and right that is sociopathic 4/ free speech debate 5/ why is Oxford in the news
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John Smith Centre @johnsmithcentre.com · 31/03/2025
🚨 The UK Youth Poll 2025 is here! 🚨 Young people believe in democracy but fear for its future. They want better politics & financial stability. 📊 Read the #UKYouthPoll2025 now: www.ukyouthpoll.com @focaldata.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social #Nationwide
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Parenting becoming more effort filled is downstream of so many things - the necessity of dual incomes in some areas, housing, atomised living, geographically dislocated families, a public realm that doesn’t have lots of nice free stuff, a culture of individualism over community, declining faith.
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
I’ve written today for @thetimes.com on how our shortening attention spans are damaging our politics. Another slightly doomery column
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
Just read this and it’s a pretty astonishing paper download.ssrn.com/2024/10/20/4...
download.ssrn.com
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
The sheer number of non voters towards the lower end of the income spectrum indicates the potential for much higher turnout in a multiparty system
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Paula Surridge @psurridge.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
The lovely people @britishelectionstudy.com released the random probaility data which means we can begin to unravel some unanswered questions about turnout in 2024. A substack to follow but a starter of social class and vote/non-vote. Which party represents the working class? None of the above.
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
My latest substack is a labour of love (link below) on the issue of agency, and how bringing it back at the personal and institutional level might be critical to improving our politics again. Featuring detailed polling and analysis from us here at @focaldata.bsky.social
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
Fascinating as per from @jameskanag.bsky.social - loads of great data and analysis but this particular graphic shows shares of those lucky people who are optimistic and have a strong sense both of their own agency/efficacy and trust in others. politicalwhiteboard.substack.com/p/agency-cou...
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
My latest substack on agency and the role it plays in our politics, inspired by chats with @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @luketryl.bsky.social and @cate.bsky.social substack.com/@jameskanag/...
substack.com
James Kanagasooriam (@jameskanag)
My latest substack on agency and politics. I think the time for thinking about agency has come featuring thoughts from @Cate Hall
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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 17/07/2025
Politics faces its own AI reckoning on.ft.com/3UjioFy | opinion
on.ft.com
Politics faces its own AI reckoning
A new class of imperilled white-collar workers could radically reshape British democracy
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
I’ve written up my thoughts on AI and the impending white collar hiring doom to come for the @thetimes.com. Reader I am not optimistic www.thetimes.com/article/a064...
thetimes.com
March of AI could prompt a white-collar revolt
The middle classes will lose job security in automated Britain, so what happens politically if everyone feels left behind?
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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
This is really thoughtful stuff, as per, from @jameskanag.bsky.social. I suspect that elites will be better at protecting their jobs, and that ultimately the number of hand/heart jobs has a (Baumol cost-related) upper limit. But so much to think through here.
politicalwhiteboard.substack.com
The "collar flip"....what if class politics shifted in the UK?
Why the rise of AI, might change our politics in the UK (and US!)
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Some afternoon thoughts on UK politics and AI exposure and how it’s so different by geography politicalwhiteboard.substack.com/p/the-collar...
politicalwhiteboard.substack.com
The "collar flip"....what if class politics shifted in the UK?
Why the rise of AI, might change our politics in the UK (and US!)
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
Our take on the Canadian election from @focaldata.bsky.social + @politico.com. Liberals ahead by 3 pts which is likely to translate into a small majority. Trump has had a material effect. One pause for thought. “Wisdom of the crowds” has a 4 point Conservative lead. www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
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Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
2 pieces youshould read side by side today - first fantastic piece from @jameskanag.bsky.social on importance of volunteering/associational life. 2nd a BBC report on the cancellation of 150 year old Shrewsbury Flower Show & Margaret's quote about what it means to her www.thetimes.com/article/d86f...
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
In an age of defence and geopolitical uncertainty it’s domestic issues like lack of “social capital” that are likely to fall by the wayside. Me in today’s @thetimes.com Making friends is what keeps us happy www.thetimes.com/article/d86f...
thetimes.com
Making friends is what keeps us happy
Meeting people through volunteering or a hobby builds ‘social capital’ and we need more of it
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Popped into the local church - curious over anecdata about crowd sizes this Easter and was pretty astonished by the hundreds packing it out with no seats available. Interested in the official data when it’s out
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
Enjoyed writing this new year piece for The Times on celebrities and politics
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
Enjoyed doing this with @pimlicat.bsky.social about macro trends in public opinion. Link to my substack here which references some of my thinking open.substack.com/pub/politica...
open.substack.com
The Political Whiteboard | James Kanagasooriam | Substack
Substack looking at public opinion trends in politics, business and culture. Click to read The Political Whiteboard, by James Kanagasooriam, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
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Miranda Green @greenmirandahere.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
this is wonderful from HTSI - the loveliest places of worship - I had absolutely no idea there is a church full of Chagall stained glass in Kent and am now campaigning for a day out www.ft.com/content/9ad2...
ft.com
The world’s most wonderful places of worship
FT editors and contributors nominate 32 awe-inspiring holy buildings, from the Temple of Light in Texas to Thailand’s Khuha Kharuehat Pavilion
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
James Kanagasooriam - @jameskanag.bsky.social - one of the smartest politics analysts out there - now has a substack, which is well worth a read. Check it out here: politicalwhiteboard.substack.com/p/is-there-a...
politicalwhiteboard.substack.com
Is there another way to think about the political cycle?
Politics always goes from left to right, and back again. But what else?
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
This is going to be one to follow. V interesting first post.
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Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Really interesting way to think about political cycles, to understand how their speed might be behind some of Labour’s struggles and what they might mean for the future of the Tories vs Reform. Well worth a read!
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
I've started a substack - The Political Whiteboard - where I analyse polls, trends and politics. Click through to read. It's free. The first post is about whether there's another way to think about the political cycle politicalwhiteboard.substack.com/p/is-there-a...
politicalwhiteboard.substack.com
Is there another way to think about the political cycle?
Politics always goes from left to right, and back again. But what else?
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
This petition for a UK general election now is such errant nonsense. We’ve had an election.
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Bluesky reaction to Jaguar advert/rebrand is a red flag for its degree of representativeness. More than I can remember early Twitter. We have a poll showing most brits don’t like it all. Bluesky disagrees. Jury still out on whether Bluesky leads the U.K. left down a massive rabbit hole. Again.
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
I'm baffled by the Jaguar advert/rebrand. A tale of branding failure & the culture wars. Here at @focaldata.bsky.social towers we were intrigued - in a kind of Friday afternoon-esque way - to understand if the online viral backlash was as bad in the real world. In short, yes. In short. Yes.
media.tenor.com
a jaguar car is parked in front of a large jaguar logo
ALT: a jaguar car is parked in front of a large jaguar logo
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Sebastian Payne @sebastianpayne.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Third Onward person here - after @jameskanag.bsky.social
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
@alwynturner.bsky.social posted the following screen grab, and I’ve never seen a better example of the decline of British political culture.
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Thinking of starting a substack to write about polling - but much shorter pieces. What’s the best advice you could give as readers and writers? @stephenkb.bsky.social @sundersays.bsky.social @robfordmancs.bsky.social @benansell.bsky.social @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
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Sebastian Payne @sebastianpayne.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Here’s a centre right starter pack, for those who want to ensure this isn’t entirely an echo chamber go.bsky.app/DNLEPTu
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Still reflecting on the US polling miss and our Focaldata “wisdom of the crowds” question indicating massive differences to voting intention. Similar to Brexit. Interestingly in the Australian Voice referendum the two converged and were both right
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 14/08/2024
Headed out to the democratic convention with Focaldata next week - if others are around and would be up for coffee in Chicago.
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James Kanagasooriam @jameskanag.bsky.social · 07/08/2024
Not convinced this platform will take off yet…What are the key differences to X?
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