Reposted by Karl PikeNick Garland @npjgarland.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Really excited to be relaunching Progressive Review, @ippr.org's journal of politics, ideas and public policy, with a new editorial team + advisory board: 14115
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 18/09/2026I have a short essay in this relaunched Progressive Review from @ippr.org, called ‘A Liberalism of Public Things’. Open access link below: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...onlinelibrary.wiley.comA Liberalism of Public ThingsThe social democratic ideological tradition - including the liberalism within it - should be described more accurately and defended. Liberalism within social democracy is the liberalism of public thi... 0109
Reposted by Karl PikePeter Allen @peterallen.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Last month, my most recent book ‘How to Think About Politics’ was released in Portuguese with the title ‘Política na vida real’ (trans. Thais Entriel). It is extremely weird but also very cool to see it on sale, a first for me: www.travessa.pt/Artigo/Detal... 042
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Very good piece on some of the fiscal and temporal dilemmas Labour - and so Andy Burnham - still face. 130
Reposted by Karl PikeNick Garland @npjgarland.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Pleased to be publishing Karl’s essay. One of the v valuable things he does here is show that it’s just nonsense to see liberalism as somehow incompatible with many of the aspects of social democracy - community, belonging, solidarity - which post-liberals have tried to co-opt. 061
Reposted by Karl PikeJohn Springford @johnspringford.bsky.social · 19/08/2026@benzaranko.bsky.social on immigration and wages in Norway: winners and losers, net *rise* in native wages. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...observer.co.ukRemember: immigrants create jobs as well as take themA narrow focus on the jobs immigrants move into ignores the fact that by spending money, they create new jobs elsewhere 1237
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 17/08/2026I have written a short essay for the IPPR called A Liberalism of Public Things: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...onlinelibrary.wiley.comA Liberalism of Public ThingsThe social democratic ideological tradition - including the liberalism within it - should be described more accurately and defended. Liberalism within social democracy is the liberalism of public thi... 164
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 11/08/2026New research from @mbarnfield.bsky.social here on support for Andy Burnham’s policy priorities, and views on timing - the politics of patience. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...newstatesman.comIs Andy Burnham already doomed?New polling suggests the Prime Minister understands what voters want – but has limited time to deliver it 231
Reposted by Karl PikePolitical Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Focusing on centrism as a purported set of ideas – a centre beyond left and right – @karlpike.bsky.social offers a new theory of centrism as a structure for political action: a politics which oscillates between left and right. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/fRxUuSv @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #poliskybuff.lySage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher. 064
Reposted by Karl PikeNick Garland @npjgarland.bsky.social · 10/07/2026🧵 Progressives need to think much more ambitiously about citizenship: it can't only be a debate about the "who" - the boundaries of citizenship. Our new @ippr.org report today makes the case for a new politics of "democratic citizenship": www.ippr.org/articles/the...ippr.orgThe democratic citizen: Renewing citizenship and the public domain | IPPROften, this descends into little more than an argument about eligibility for welfare benefits. This is a disaster for progressives, who find themselves fig 32822
Reposted by Karl PikeMayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 29/06/202610 years ago, the air outside Aldgate School didn’t meet legal limits. Children were breathing polluted air every day. I made it my mission to change that. Here’s the difference our bold policies have made ⬇️ 522549646
Reposted by Karl PikeDaniel Gover @danielgover.bsky.social · 22/06/2026Very informative from @karlpike.bsky.social on whether or not there should be a leadership contest. 001
Reposted by Karl PikeKarl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 22/06/2026There may be some debate about whether a contest would be a “good thing” - for policymaking, for a leader, for Labour etc. 142
Reposted by Karl PikeColm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 22/06/2026Karl on the idea that a contest for the next leadership would be good for 'stress testing' ideas. I fear that he may be right. 182
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 22/06/2026There may be some debate about whether a contest would be a “good thing” - for policymaking, for a leader, for Labour etc. 142
Reposted by Karl PikePhilip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 07/06/2026Latest piece for the @financialtimes.com, on who gets to vote for a new Labour Prime Minister www.ft.com/content/d2d9...ft.comThe strange case of who chooses the next Labour prime ministerAround three-quarters of those who can vote in any contest on who succeeds Starmer are not Labour Party members 21011
Reposted by Karl PikeDaniel Gover @danielgover.bsky.social · 04/06/2026Grateful for the chance to discuss private members' bills (usage, reform, etc) today at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk - alongside @kimleadbeatermp.bsky.social, @paulbrand.bsky.social, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social & Luke Norbury. Recording here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/assist...instituteforgovernment.org.ukAre private members' bills a good way for MPs to decide on difficult policy issues? | Institute for GovernmentAn expert panel drew on lessons from the recent assisted dying bill and other PMBs to consider how backbench MPs should approach complex issues. 01313
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 04/06/2026Discussed ongoing research with @mbarnfield.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social on the BBC’s Moral Maze yesterday evening - about what the ‘short term’ and the ‘long term’ mean in politics and policymaking. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...bbc.co.ukMoral Maze - Who is morally responsible for Britain's political short-termism? - BBC SoundsLive debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories. 297
Reposted by Karl PikePolitical Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · 18/04/2026Focusing on centrism as a purported set of ideas – a centre beyond left and right – @karlpike.bsky.social offers a new theory of centrism as a structure for political action: a politics which oscillates between left and right. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/r8Nq38r @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #poliskybuff.lySage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher. 033
Reposted by Karl PikeMatthew Barnfield @mbarnfield.bsky.social · 15/05/2026A write-up of the key findings and points made in this thread on my Substack: open.substack.com/pub/drmatthe... The way I see it, the argument that the public’s irrational impatience makes it ungovernable can’t be defended rigorously because it simply hasn’t been put to the test.open.substack.comTesting the public's patienceEven if the electorate is short-termist, it's hard to argue irrational public impatience is to blame for the prime minister's woes 1910
Reposted by Karl PikeStephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 12/05/2026The most damning resignation letter yet, I think: 4436376
Reposted by Karl PikeStella Creasy MP @stellacreasy.bsky.social · 10/05/2026Going to be a lot of talk about who in the coming days. True labour values compel us to ask what and why first. This is my piece for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social on how we can again show our values lead our vision of the country Britain can be with Labour. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...newstatesman.comBy being true to itself, Labour can win againAt the moment the government knows the price of everything and the value of nothing 10357
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 10/05/2026An unhappy Labour Party very uncertain about what to do next - has been the case for a while now, and remains the case. 020
Reposted by Karl PikeThe Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 08/05/2026What do the results mean for Labour – and is it the end of two-party politics in the UK?tcnv.linkElections 2026: Experts react to the Reform surge and Labour lossesWhat do the results mean for Labour – and is it the end of two-party politics in the UK? 058
Reposted by Karl PikeMatthew Barnfield @mbarnfield.bsky.social · 04/03/2026My thoughts on the poll showing the Greens have overtaken Labour following the Gorton and Denton by-election, whether this could be a "bandwagon effect", and what that means, for The Conversation: theconversation.com/how-to-under...doi.orgHow to understand the post-Gorton and Denton national poll that puts the Greens ahead of LabourIt’s not the byelection win that matters but the scale of the swing to Zack Polanski’s party. 01512
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 23/02/2026A blog on my centrism paper for @ecprtheloop.bsky.social theloop.ecpr.eu/centrism-as-...theloop.ecpr.euCentrism as a structure for political actionA distinct centrism which goes ‘beyond’ left and right remains elusive, argues Karl Pike. Centrists act as a managers of an ideological context shaped by existing ideologies of left and right, moderat... 011
Reposted by Karl PikePolitical Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · 15/02/2026Focusing on centrism as a purported set of ideas – a centre beyond left and right – @karlpike.bsky.social offers a new theory of centrism as a structure for political action: a politics which oscillates between left and right. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/rdRQJBU @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #poliskybuff.lyWhat Is Centrism? - Karl Pike, 2026Centrism, an ambiguous political term, requires greater analytical scrutiny. After summarising conceptualisations of centrism – and of a centre in politics – th... 055
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 01/02/2026Good discussion piece from @philipjcowley.bsky.social on the issue of by-elections after defections. www.ft.com/content/5d7d...ft.comHow to deal with defecting MPsVoters should be able to force parliamentarians who change parties to face the electorate 031
Reposted by Karl PikePolitical Studies @polstudies.bsky.social · 29/01/2026Focusing on centrism as a purported set of ideas – a centre beyond left and right – @karlpike.bsky.social offers a new theory of centrism as a structure for political action: a politics which oscillates between left and right. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/rdRQJBU @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #polisky 132
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 26/01/2026I have a new article just published in Political Studies: What is Centrism? Open access here: doi.org/10.1177/0032...doi.orgWhat Is Centrism? - Karl Pike, 2026Centrism, an ambiguous political term, requires greater analytical scrutiny. After summarising conceptualisations of centrism – and of a centre in politics – th... 43616
Reposted by Karl PikeTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 20/01/2026He's right - terrific stuff. 'You cannot “live within the lie” of mutual benefit through integration when integration becomes the source of your subordination.' 610430
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 21/11/2025“Let a carrot be a carrot.” www.ft.com/content/cbe1...ft.comSt John’s founders are stepping back. What comes next for the trailblazing nose-to-tail restaurant?Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver are retiring from day-to-day operations after 31 years 030
Reposted by Karl PikeKarl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 22/10/2025We are seeing increased illiberalism, and anti-liberalism, in our politics. The Labour party has a responsibility, as a government and as a centre-left political tradition, to counter this illiberalism, which takes different forms. fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...fabians.org.ukHearts and minds | Fabian SocietyFabian Society 032
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 14/11/2025The consequences of Labour’s manifesto tax pledge continue to be significant. Real shame there wasn’t enough debate about it, particularly within the party. That it was a key pledge, though, is impossible to ignore: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1... 295
Reposted by Karl PikeKarl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 28/10/2025But those choices were made, and there will surely be consequences to breaking such a clear commitment - including in terms of trust. Debate about tax and spend is much needed - it was in 2024, it is now - but the context is very relevant. 122
Reposted by Karl PikeJessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 04/11/2025What an absolute hero Samir Zitouni is - doubtless he saved lives that day www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukTrain hero who saved passengers during attack namedThe rail worker credited with saving multiple lives is named as Samir Zitouni. 11709169
Reposted by Karl PikeStijn van Kessel @stijntvankessel.bsky.social · 30/10/2025One observation re. the Dutch election is the enduring strength of the far right (I am not fully subscribing to the 'shift back to the centre' narrative). I should be on ABC Australia News channel at around 11 CET to talk about this and to show my plants (again). www.youtube.com/live/vOTiJkg... 33213
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 28/10/2025Think the budget discussion, specifically about tax rates and the big three, could use a little more acknowledgment of the costs of breaking a clear manifesto pledge, as I wrote here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...journals.sagepub.comSage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher. 231
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 28/10/2025Have written for the Conversation on Labour’s deputy leadership contest. Of course, one big thing has not changed: Labour’s difficulty governing, stemming from Starmer’s ideologically confusing leadership. theconversation.com/lucy-powell-...theconversation.comLucy Powell becomes Labour’s deputy leader – what that means for the party and Keir StarmerPowell beat Keir Starmer’s preferred candidate, Bridget Phillipson, in a ballot of members. 010
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 22/10/2025We are seeing increased illiberalism, and anti-liberalism, in our politics. The Labour party has a responsibility, as a government and as a centre-left political tradition, to counter this illiberalism, which takes different forms. fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...fabians.org.ukHearts and minds | Fabian SocietyFabian Society 032
Reposted by Karl PikeFabian Society @thefabians.bsky.social · 21/10/2025“Having a coherent ideology is an underappreciated way of avoiding or managing a busy, unpredictable political environment.” A renewed confidence in its liberal social democratic roots can help Labour shape the narrative, writes @karlpike.bsky.social ⬇️ fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m... 062
Reposted by Karl PikeMatthew Barnfield @mbarnfield.bsky.social · 20/10/2025Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social. www.ft.com/content/e984...ft.comLabour sheds support from impatient BritonsResearch shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains 61714
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 20/10/2025Some coverage from the FT today of our ongoing project on the politics of patience, and the Labour govt: www.ft.com/content/e984...ft.comLabour sheds support from impatient BritonsResearch shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains 000
Reposted by Karl PikeTom Clark @tom-clark.bsky.social · 15/10/2025In one crisp para — & the 2 charts he highlights — @chrisgiles.ft.com bursts a huge number of “welfare” myths www.ft.com/content/ee67... 7303216
Reposted by Karl PikeTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 09/10/2025"In more positive news for the Lib Dems,..research carried out by [the party members project] after the 2024 election showed that the @libdems.org.uk were the most active of all the memberships of the political parties."bbc.co.ukLiberal Democrat membership has halved in 5 years, figures showAnalysis of available figures shows the number of party members has fallen by 49% since August 2020. 275
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 06/10/2025Reform in local govt, latest: www.ft.com/content/277c...ft.comReform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive faltersNigel Farage’s party promised to revive local authority finances by slashing wasteful spending 42811
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 26/09/2025My contribution to this issue calls for Labour to counter the growing illiberalism in British politics. 084
Karl Pike @karlpike.bsky.social · 24/09/2025Another fab read from Phil which mentions one of the best books written about Labour: Henry Drucker’s Doctrine and Ethos in the Labour Party. 233