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Laura Serra

@lauraserra.bsky.social
1.3K followers 1K following 92 posts

🪄 research manager @focaldata.bsky.social 🪐 associate researcher @lsegovernment.bsky.social 🗞️ assistant editor @electoralstudies.bsky.social more about my work here: lauraserra.co.uk

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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Very excited for this to be out soon! It was wonderful to contribute a chapter on what age and generational dynamics look like in the city I love so very very much
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Elizabeth Simon @elizabethsim0n.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
🚨The Politics and Policy of London: Elections, Demography and the Reshaping of Power in the Capital is now available for pre-order.🚨 www.routledge.com/The-Politics...
routledge.com
The Politics and Policy of London: Elections, Demography and the Reshaping of Power in the Capital
This book examines the changing demographics, attitudes and electoral behaviours of Londoners over the last 50 years and considers the impact these changes have had on the policy agendas of the capita...
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Fresh off the press from me in @uk.theconversation.com: why reforming the triple lock may not be as electorally mad as some have made out – and why it's one of the few issues where young and old broadly agree 👇 theconversation.com/plans-to-tam...
theconversation.com
Plans to tamper with the pension triple lock might not be as dangerous for Labour as some believe
Young and old voters aren’t actually that divided over the triple lock.
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
such a humbling experience 🥲
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Americans will literally shoot you to defend their privacy but have also come up with these toilets 🙃
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Details here 👇🏼
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
In Boston for my first ever APSA and excited to present our latest research on generational identity and political behaviour. If you are around come say hi! #APSA26
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John Smith Centre @johnsmithcentre.com · 11/08/2026
We’re pleased to announce that the #UKYouthPoll2026 survey data is now available via the UK Data Service! 🎉 🔗 doi.org/10.5255/UKDA... It offers unrivalled insight into young people’s views of politics, society, and the big issues they face. We’d be delighted to see it used by others! ✨️
Designed graphic with text reading: "UK Youth Poll 2026. How are young people feeling about themselves and the country at large? What do they want from society and government? We've asked 2000+ young people. Explore the findings today." The graphic also shows the logos of the John Smith Centre, Nationwide, the University of Glasgow, and Focaldata.
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Reto Mitteregger @indubioproreto.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
New publication out in @epsrjournal.bsky.social! We know young voters vote for different parties and hold different attitudes than older citizens. What we know less about: whether they also care differently about political issues. Using novel experimental survey data, I show: they do! 👇
cambridge.org
“Nothing else matters?” Salience differences between young and old | European Political Science Review | Cambridge Core
“Nothing else matters?” Salience differences between young and old
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Leonardo Carella @leonardocarella.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
🗳️ Electoral Reform Alert 🗳️ Yesterday, the Italian Lower House approved a new electoral reform, now headed to the Senate. This would be the fifth major reform of the electoral system in Italy since 1993, and it could bring an even more radical right-wing party into the next government coalition. (1)
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Don't think people realise quite how deeply split by age current voting intention is. This is the latest YouGov for under-50s: Green: 26% Lab: 18% Reform: 14% Tories: 12% LD: 11% And over 50s: Reform: 36% Tory: 22% Lab: 16% LD: 12% Greens: 9%
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Electoral Studies @electoralstudies.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
With the UK govt in turmoil, you might be wondering what happens when parties change leaders... and we have just the paper for you! Check out this note by Ron Johnston, Todd Hartman and Charles Pattie on how leaders can shape perceptions of parties and attract or repel voters. bit.ly/4wwoOTF
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Petter Törnberg @pettertornberg.com · 23/04/2026
Social media is no longer social. Most of it is passive viewing of videos and pictures from people we've never met. But we're still studying social media like it's 2010. We've entered the post-social media era — and research needs to catch up. osf.io/preprints/so... preprint w/ Richard Rogers
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Electoral Studies @electoralstudies.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
🚨 New research alert 🚨 Check out this paper by Thiago do Nascimento Fonseca, @deborathome.bsky.social and @guedesneto.bsky.social on how financial incentives can boost diversity. Brazil’s party funding reform increased nominations of women and Afro-descendants, but funding gains were uneven ⬇️
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John Smith Centre @johnsmithcentre.com · 22/04/2026
🌟 The UK Youth Poll 2026 is here! 🌟 Young people no longer think their lives will be better than their parents’. They want better politics & financial stability. 📊 Read the #UKYouthPoll2026 now: www.ukyouthpoll.com @glasgow.ac.uk @nationwideuk.bsky.social @focaldata.bsky.social
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
fantastic evening at the House of Commons yesterday celebrating the launch of the @johnsmithcentre.com UK Youth Poll 2026! looking forward to digging into this excellent data
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Varie testate scrivono che la vittoria del NO sia stata "trascinata" dai giovani ma, dati alla mano, il contributo più ampio è arrivato dagli anziani. E se i giovani non avessero votato affatto, avrebbe comunque vinto il NO. lauraserra.co.uk/il-no-e-stat...
lauraserra.co.uk
Il NO è stato “trascinato” dagli anziani, non dai giovani
Dopo l’esito del referendum si è diffusa con grande rapidità una lettura del risultato secondo cui il NO sarebbe stato “trascinato dai giovani”. È una narrazione intuitiva, accattivante e politicam…
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Il divario generazionale presente in molti altri paesi, in Italia non esiste. Gli anziani tendono a collocarsi più a sinistra dei giovani. E chi pensa che i giovani voteranno in massa per la sx l'anno prossimo farebbe bene a ricordare che nel 2022 il loro primo partito era Azione e il secondo FDI...
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
E mentre molti rimarcano quanti giovani abbiano votato NO, è ben più interessante riflettere su quanti abbiano votato SI. Che in contesto di alta partecipazione il SI si collochi al 44,7% tra i 18-34 e al 41,5% tra i Gen Z è notevole, e contraddice la narrazione che stiamo leggendo.
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Soppesando i risultati al peso elettorale di ogni fascia d’età, è evidente (ma anche ovvio) che il vero motore trainante del voto siano stati gli anziani.
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
I numeri di Opinio Italia ampiamente citati secondo cui tra i 18-34 il NO abbia raccolto il 61% di preferenze sono fuorvianti, perché questa fascia contiene poco piu del 20% dell'elettorato. Gli over 55 sono il 46%!
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Varie testate scrivono che la vittoria del NO sia stata "trascinata" dai giovani ma, dati alla mano, il contributo più ampio è arrivato dagli anziani. E se i giovani non avessero votato affatto, avrebbe comunque vinto il NO. lauraserra.co.uk/il-no-e-stat...
lauraserra.co.uk
Il NO è stato “trascinato” dagli anziani, non dai giovani
Dopo l’esito del referendum si è diffusa con grande rapidità una lettura del risultato secondo cui il NO sarebbe stato “trascinato dai giovani”. È una narrazione intuitiva, accattivante e politicam…
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Maria Sobolewska @profsob.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
I wrote a few words
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
my latest piece on the voting age reform, where I reiterate why the measure is a fundamentally good thing, respond to criticism that it redefines what “children” are in UK law, and highlight the importance of ensuring effective, rather than just nominal, enfranchisement ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
the colour-coded binders 😭
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
my latest piece on the voting age reform, where I reiterate why the measure is a fundamentally good thing, respond to criticism that it redefines what “children” are in UK law, and highlight the importance of ensuring effective, rather than just nominal, enfranchisement ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Da leggere se si e' indecisi, ma forse anche se si e' decisi. lauraserra.co.uk/perche-dico-...
lauraserra.co.uk
Perché dico SI alla riforma della magistratura
Io voto SI al referendum sulla riforma della magistratura. Non per ragioni di schieramento politico, ma perché – guardando al merito – sono modifiche necessarie. 1) Separazione delle carriereL’Ital…
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LSE British Politics and Policy @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Following the Green Party's victory in the Gorton and Denton byelection, Labour is facing a more serious challenge on its left than on its right. @lauraserra.bsky.social and Jenevieve Treadwell trace the movement of voters to the left. blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
The Greens, Your Party and Labour’s left challenge | LSE British Politics
With the creation of Your Party and the Green's soaring popularity, Labour is facing a more serious challenge on its left than on its right.
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Leonardo Carella @leonardocarella.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
In a new pre-print, @fraraffaelli.bsky.social and I ask: what are the effects of anti-immigration appeals that portray migrants as a threat to a native group (e.g. the working class or Christians)? TL;DR: people change their *identity* to back up their attitudes to migrants. osf.io/preprints/so...
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Vannacci defects to Reform
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Alice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
a) a century is not a long time in the context of the UK parliament and the law b) it's only a century old if you count the 1911 Parliament Act and ignore the 1949 Parliament Act which amended it c) Parliament Acts are established parts of the UK system- reporting them as "old" is a weird framing
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Florian Foos @florianfoos.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
This is just ridiculous. There is no political space for a party that has the same positions as Reform. This space is taken. There is a space for a centre-right political party in the UK, but it’s currently vacant: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Centrist ideas no longer wanted in Conservative party, says Kemi Badenoch
Party leader tells MPs that one-nation Tories doubting her rightward direction ‘need to get out of the way’
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
life these days
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Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 15/01/2026
Robert Jenrick: an apology. thecritic.co.uk/fran...
Ishould begin with an apology. Last month, I described Robert Jenrick as “the most shameless man in parliament”. His office complained at the time, but I was stubborn and refused to back down. Well, it’s never too late to say you were wrong. Robert Jenrick is not simply the most shameless man in parliament. He is the most shameless man in Britain, the most shameless man on Earth. Quite possibly the most shameless man in history. It is not simply that Jenrick has no shame. He is like a black hole for shame, sucking in the embarrassment of people around him. Which will be quite handy in his new party, Reform.

Nothing became Jenrick’s time in the Conservative Party so much as the leaving of it. For years he had eased his way up the greasy pole, switching positions when necessary, a heating-seeking missile for whichever pose could help him advance, poster boy for the importance of self-belief over ability or integrity. And finally he was undone because he forgot to pick something up off a
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
In case you missed it, here is mine and Jen’s latest piece on how Labour’s vote is fragmenting across two of its strongholds: London and the youth ⬇️
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LSE British Politics and Policy @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
💡New! With the creation of Your Party and the Greens’ soaring popularity, @lauraserra.bsky.social and Jenevieve Treadwell trace the movement of voters to the left, and argue that Labour is facing a more serious challenge on its left than on its right. blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
The Greens, Your Party and Labour’s left challenge | British Politics and Policy at LSE
With the creation of Your Party and the Green's soaring popularity, Labour is facing a more serious challenge on its left than on its right.
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Calum Weir @cwp-weir.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Overall, we find that immigration looks important in polls because it’s highly salient, not because it outranks daily concerns. Polling captures the salience, but requires a bit of digging to see the whole picture of public priority. You can read more here!: www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/...
labourtogether.uk
Measuring What Matters — Labour Together
Knowing what issues are most important to the public is the bedrock of understanding voters. Ironically, its own importance can’t go understated. This report applies some overdue methodological experi...
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David Wearing @davidwearing.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
The only Legitimate Concerns about asylum seekers are concerns for their well being and safety. For a rich country like ours to incessantly whine about these people as if we are their victims is perhaps the single most pathetic spectacle in British politics over the past quarter century.
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Thank you! ☺️
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
🚨 New paper with Maria Grasso on generational shifts in political values. Despite talk of rising age polarisation, we show that gaps in attitudes are stable or even narrowing. Economic attitudes move in cycles, while social values have become more liberal – mainly due to generational replacement.
link.springer.com
Political Socialisation in the UK: Describing Generational Changes of Values - International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society
A growing bulk of research examines intergenerational shifts in attitudes and the extent to which they are attributable to new cohorts of voters being socialised under different socioeconomic and cult...
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Emilia Y Belknap @emiliabelknap.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
🚨 🆕 analysis w/ @turnbulldugarte.com: most British young men reject the far right @ukandeu.bsky.social Despite media claims, 71% of young men & 75% of young women say they’d never vote Reform UK. The gender gap exists, but it’s steady across ages—not youth-driven. 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/most-british...
ukandeu.ac.uk
Most British young men reject the far right - UK in a changing Europe
Emilia Belknap and Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte explain their analysis on the demographics of Reform UK voters in the UK. They argue that while the dominant narrative is that young men are the most likely ...
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Peter Allen @peterallen.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Print and send this chart (from your newsletter on Tuesday) to every household in the country.
A graph from the FT showing government spending by age cohort. Over-70s have more spent on them than any other age cohort.
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Rachel Cunliffe @rmcunliffe.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Hollow laughter
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Electoral Studies @electoralstudies.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Today is #WorldPostDay, marking the establishment of the Universal Postal Union—a UN agency coordinating postal policies globally. The post revolutionised communication and is an increasingly common voting method, so to mark the occasion, here are some of our recent articles on postal voting... 📫 ✉️
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Politics is not like selling biscuits, where the task is to find out what people like & flog it to them. It's a moral activity. It's about arguing for the things you believe in. It's about *shaping* the "median voter". Farage has moved the centre-ground of politics. His opponents can move it back.
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
I'll have more to say on Reform's proposals to scrap ILR at some point but for now I'll just note this - anyone telling you this is a popular idea doesn't know the polling. Overwhelming majority of public back giving people who work and pay taxes most or all rights after 5 years or less
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
🤭🫶🏼🫶🏼
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Laura Serra @lauraserra.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
And that’s a wrap for another EPOP – my all time favourite conference 🫶🏼 Always the greatest pleasure to reconnect with this lovely bunch of people, meet new ones and share ideas over panels and (too many) late nights
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Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 19/08/2025
what if I don't really care about career stuff but instead actively enjoy choosing to live in a smaller place because I get to be surrounded by interesting people and music and culture and art and things to do! what then Bloomberg!!!!
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