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mds49.bsky.social

@mds49.bsky.social
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Reposted by Marc Stears
UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Last night, we welcomed guests from politics, civil society, philanthropy and the arts to the new V&A East Museum for an evening exploring how storytelling can connect rather than divide us, and build a stronger sense of shared belonging.
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Reposted by Marc Stears
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
If you are looking for something stimulating to do in London next weekend it is the @britishacademy.bsky.social Ideas Festival - lots of free fun for curious minds
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Pete Miles @petermiles.eurosky.social · 29/05/2026
A lot of good stuff in this new (and accessible) Demos report. (Spot the paragraph linking Proust and the Stone Roses) @pollycurtis.bsky.social @mds49.bsky.social demos.co.uk/research/a-n...
demos.co.uk
A Nation of Neighbours: Rebuilding Britain from the Ground Up
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
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Reposted by Marc Stears
UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
How can public confidence in UK democracy be restored? Join @pollycurtis.bsky.social, @mds49.bsky.social and Sue Tibballs to discuss what works to restore confidence in democracy, at our free, online conference on 24 June. Sign up 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....
The Constitution Unit Conference 2026. How can public confidence in UK democracy be restored? 24 June 2026, 11:30am–12:30pm. Polly Curtis (Chief Executive of Demos). Prof Marc Stears (Director of the UCL Policy Lab). Sue Tibballs (Chief Executive of Involve). Chair: Prof Alan Renwick (Director of the Constitution Unit).
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Every single piece of evidence in the UK shows that ethnic minorities are nore pro-migratiion than white British people. Ethnic minorities like white British people have mixed pro, balancer and sceptical views but they are more liberal + softer sceptics. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Shabana Mahmood swears at ‘white liberal’ hecklers over Reform remarks
Home secretary accuses protesters of trying to ‘delegitimise’ concerns people have over immigration
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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
What can you say about that post? Other than that the President is threatening war crimes and sounds absolutely unhinged?
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Tony Vaughan MP says the settlement reform should be abandoned, not tinkered with, as @ippr.org analysis shows it will increase child poverty by 60,000 - 90,000 yet not make a net fiscal saving at all, because 300k children will wait longer for settlement www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Catherine West MP says the govt needs to rethink "unfair" settlement proposals - on those already here - to triple settlement for health care staff & care workers - to disadvantage children from poor v rich backgrounds with new hurdles+barriers to uni www.catherinewest.org.uk/latest-news/...
catherinewest.org.uk
I have spent my political life fighting for a fairer Britain: The proposed changes to the immigration rules are not fair - Catherine West
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK. The Government’s proposal to change the UK residency period for those who wish to qualify for ILR from five year...
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Reposted by Marc Stears
UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
It was a great honour to host Diego Martínez Belío, Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs. We were joined by those from across politics, philanthropy, journalism and campaigning to hear the distinctive Spanish approach to our current global disorder.
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UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
The government’s social cohesion plan marks a major step forward for communities. As UCL Policy Lab research shows, the government's new Social Cohesion Action Plan is right to focus on how local communities are the bedrock of cohesion. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
ucl.ac.uk
Government’s social cohesion plan marks a major step forward for communities
As UCL Policy Lab research shows, the government's new Social Cohesion Action Plan is right to focus on how local communities are the bedrock of cohesion. Yet other elements of the government's curren...
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Reposted by Marc Stears
John Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Best thing I've read on the SEND reforms: personal, really lucid, great on the policy context jimlauder.substack.com/p/the-white-...
jimlauder.substack.com
The White Paper
There are some good bits, but also an approach that isn't going to work for my family
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Marc Stears @mds49.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
It was fantastic to celebrate UCL’s 200th birthday today. Do come and see the brilliant exhibition if you’re in London. I was so delighted to see the Policy Lab profiled in it!
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UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Today marks 200 years since UCL first opened its doors 🎉 This year will see an exciting and varied programme of activities, events and storytelling across our community as we celebrate this milestone, and look to the future.
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UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
You may notice that the UCL Policy Lab's brand is looking a little different. That's because we're getting a fresh new look as we celebrate UCL's 200th anniversary. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/fe...
ucl.ac.uk
UCL celebrates 200 years: A landmark year begins
Today, UCL marks 200 years since its foundation. Based in the heart of London, UCL is rooted in curiosity, tolerance and academic excellence. Throughout the year we will celebrate two centuries of lea...
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Reposted by Marc Stears
UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Neither rain nor fire, Sir Keir Starmer's fading search for a story. New on HopeWorks: @mds49.bsky.social reflects on what the artists Turner and Constable can tell us about Keir Starmer's leadership. thisishopeworks.substack.com/p/rain-nor-f...
thisishopeworks.substack.com
Neither rain nor fire, Sir Keir Starmer's fading search for a story
Guest writer, Marc Stears, Director, UCL Policy Lab & former chief speechwriter to the Labour Party, reflects on what the artists, Turner and Constable, can tell us about Keir Starmer's leadership.
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Reposted by Marc Stears
Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Had forgotten until reading @duncanrobinson.bsky.social’s peerless column that Peter Mandelson once publicly said Keir Starmer was too fat.
economist.com
Britain’s worst political scandal of this century
The Mandelson affair threatens Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership
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Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 04/02/2026
Keir Starmer has told parliament today that, when vetting Peter Mandelson for US ambassador, his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein came up. But as Alan Rusbridger wrote last year, even a cursory Google should have disqualified him
prospectmagazine.co.uk
I helped bring Mandelson down before
Peter Mandelson is brilliant, but slippery. Connected, but compromised. Why was Starmer too naive to recognise that?
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Marc Stears @mds49.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
This is a truly excruciating column. The definition of shameless. www.thetimes.com/article/8429...
thetimes.com
Labour owes debt to giant of politics in modern era
Mandelson has been on the right side of every important argument in the politics of the left since the 1990s
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Don't think I've ever felt as sick reading a newspaper story as I have looking at this morning's Epstein coverage. Just the open amorality of all the powerful people involved for so long.
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John Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Increasingly obv that the govt wants to remodel a big chunk of the SEND system so that provision based on specific/individual needs & provision becomes one where support is delivered to groups.That will have the benefit of saving money & it suits some ideological prefs. It also defies what SEND is
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Marc Stears @mds49.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Congrats to @drjennings.bsky.social on this really important work. Let’s hope the government listens. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves Britain’s high streets, study finds
Decay of town centres a top issue among voters especially Reform UK supporters and is fuelling resentment against Westminster
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Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
The BBC coverage is absolutely terrible. It leads on "sharply contested narratives" It has a dramatic skew to the US government It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue
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UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
"Britain has only ever been able to stand tall in the world, alongside partners, when it’s allowed all parts of the country to succeed." @mds49.bsky.social on @andyburnham.bsky.social speech at @uclpolicylab.bsky.social and @theifs.bsky.social. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
newstatesman.com
Manchesterism could revive Britain's fading grandeur
The towns and cities of the north and the Midlands were key to Britain's global success
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Reposted by Marc Stears
Josh Westerling @joshwesterling.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Good piece by @mds49.bsky.social tying this to our collective security, where all of the country can play its part. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
newstatesman.com
Manchesterism could revive Britain's fading grandeur
The towns and cities of the north and the Midlands were key to Britain's global success
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Reposted by Marc Stears
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
‘Vulnerable children use social media for connection, peer support and trusted advice. Many of us have feared that a ban may solve one set of mental health risks but unleash new ones.’ The father of Molly Russell impressively thoughtful about policy on social media www.thetimes.com/article/fc74...
thetimes.com
Why I oppose banning children from social media
Sir Keir Starmer must target addictive tech design and promote online wellbeing rather than a popular but ineffective solution, writes the father of Molly Russell
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Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
What do people in England think about their local area? In this short report I take a look at surveys we conducted with @yougov.co.uk in 2022, 2024 and 2025 to gain some insights... Some key findings...
southampton.ac.uk
Perspectives on Place: what the English think about their local area
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Diane Coyle @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Delighted we’re welcoming @drodrik.bsky.social to Cambridge on Thursday to give the STLee public lecture - free but book here www.csap.cam.ac.uk/events/share...
csap.cam.ac.uk
Shared prosperity in a fractured world - a new economics for the middle class, the global poor, and our climate - Centre for Science and Policy
The 2026 Dr S T Lee Public Policy Lecture A talk by Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Overview Fighting...
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Marc Stears @mds49.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
The relationship with Donald Trump has killed the Starmer brand. Starmer came to office promising to respect voters, tell hard truths and prioritise substance over slogans and soundbites. By refusing to step out of line from Trumpian fantasy, he undermines each of those commitments.
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
Marvellous column by @edwardluce.bsky.social on Trump’s new world order: “no obvious rules, does not respect allies, celebrates the jungle and is almost always about money”:
ft.com
Trump now owns Venezuela
The US president has a growing appetite for military adventure
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John Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
If rumblings about Special Needs changes are true,they'll place huge pressures on schools, in the absence of the necessary resources.Also, taking rights away & putting schools in the driving seat would be a retrogressive move: the Labourism of institutions rather than the empowerment of families 1/2
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Marc Stears @mds49.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Our best family tradition! The brilliant @hackneyempire.bsky.social panto on Christmas Eve. And this year’s was one of the best!
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Cambridge University Press Political Science & IR @cambup-polsci.cambridge.org · 19/12/2025
#OpenAccess from @poppublicsphere.bsky.social - The Relational Method: How Community Organizing Can Reshape University Research - cup.org/4pIlRLX - Amanda Tattersall & @mds49.bsky.social #FirstView
Image featuring the text 'Perspectives on Politics' over a background of a dandelion seed head, with the hashtag 'OpenAccess' at the bottom.
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Perspectives on Politics @poppublicsphere.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
NOW OUT ON FIRSTVIEW!! The #Relational #Method: How #Community #Organizing Can Reshape #University #Research By @amandatattersall.bsky.social & @mds49.bsky.social doi.org/10.1017/S153...
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John Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
New Substack post from me... it's free, so subscribe if you fancy it maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/thank-you-...
maybeimamazed.substack.com
Thank you for this year... and why 2026 will see huge battles about neurodiversity
The Maybe I'm Amazed Substack will be returning regularly, and with good reason
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UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
ECHR Reform: A Danger of Contagion in Relation to Article 3 Veronika Fikfak from @uclspp.bsky.social on the propsed changes to the ECHR. ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/09/v...
ukconstitutionallaw.org
Veronika Fikfak: ECHR Reform: A Danger of Contagion in Relation to Article 3
On Wednesday 10 December, which is also Human Rights Day, Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe will meet in Strasbourg to discuss how the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) should …
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Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
It's right to explore what's driving increased prevalence & what support people need. But as @johnharris1969.bsky.social says, in "a country in which questioning other people’s needs is almost becoming a national sport" the government risks stoking a toxic debate www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
The right’s callous overdiagnosis bandwagon is rolling. Wes Streeting should not be on it | John Harris
Thankfully, we now know more about conditions such as autism and ADHD. The health secretary must not be part of this attempt to turn back the clock, says Guardian columnist John Harris
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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 04/12/2025
For generations, the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has brought light to the heart of London. Thank you, Norway, for this gift of friendship since 1947.
Trafalgar Square Christmas treeCarol singers at Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square Christmas treeMayor of London at Trafalgar Square Christmas tree
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UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
“Place is where trust is built or broken. So, place must be our orienting principle.” It was a pleasure to welcome @joshsimonsmp.bsky.social to Britain Renewed 2026 with @futuregovforum.bsky.social to discuss how we can drive a new era in public service reform.
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Becca Dove @beccadove2.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
Fancy reading an unashamedly unfinished history of relational public services? @nick80.bsky.social asked his Linkedin network if such a thing existed. @simonparker.bsky.social, @antlerboy.com and I had a go, drawing on 200 comments on Nicks post. Its a fascinating story www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
ucl.ac.uk
A Hundred Origin Stories – an Unfinished History of Relational Public Services
Simon Parker, Becca Dove and Benjamin Taylor explore the history of relational public services, ahead of Britian Renewed 2026, a major one-day conference exploring a more place-based approach to public service reform.
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Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
I'm really delighted to announce that- in a restructure of the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s senior team - I've appointed @gemmatetlow.bsky.social to the new role of Executive Director of Research & Innovation & @alexgathomas.bsky.social to the new role of Executive Director of Impact & Influence
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
If the Chancellor had told the OBR what the Home Secretary says here is a firm commitment of the government, she would need > £7.5 billion of tax rises or spending cuts to afford to lift the two child limit. The fiscal forecast is based on not cutting immigration further & it drifting up to > 300k
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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Praise where praise is due: scrapping the two-child benefit cap is an excellent move. And the most consequential of any of the measures announced today.
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UCL Policy Lab @uclpolicylab.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
New research shows that empowered local communities are most effective at responding to crises. A new report from Lauren Andres @thebartlettucl.bsky.social and Jennifer Constantine takes lessons from COVID-19 for how we build resilience. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
ucl.ac.uk
Local communities are shown to respond best in a crisis
From Crisis to Resilience: Radical Transformations for Food Security, Health and Social Justice shows that local responses to the COVID-19 pandemic were effective in supporting resilience and tackling food insecurity.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Question on Monday Is it now your principle that every Ukranian refugee in Britain should leave, must leave once it is safe + that they will all be made to leave?
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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
The whole of the HMRC Board got me to present to them about the opportunities and risks of AI about 18 months ago and my main messages were be very careful with high stakes decision making and remember the Horizon Post Office scandal which was about governance and accountability…
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The New Statesman @newstatesman1913.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Our universities can save us from America's political division New research shows Britain is proud of its institutions’ ability to foster disagreement By James Baggaley
newstatesman.com
Our universities can save us from America's political division
New research shows Britain is proud of its institutions' ability to foster disagreement
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