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Rod Hick

@rodhick.bsky.social
1.3K followers 955 following 123 posts

Professor of Social Policy at Cardiff University. Poverty | social security | work | housing www.rodhick.com

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Reposted by Rod Hick
Ashwin Kumar @ashwin-kumar.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Re the debate on the cliff edge where tax-free childcare is lost at £100k leading to people keeping their income below this amount, it’s obvious that such cliff edges are bad as it skews decisions about work – no-one should be worse off if their earnings increase. /1 🧵
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Congrats, Ida!
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Lee Gregory (he/him) 🏳️‍🌈 @academiclee.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Time, Welfare and Society is now published!! We talk a lot about money in welfare debates — but far less about time. Yet time is the resource people lose first: waiting, repeating, proving, recovering. This book asks: What if welfare began with time instead? www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/tim...
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Current mood
A British Shorthair with its tongue out, struggling in the heat
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stuart @stuartp.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
iron rule of British politics is even if a guy who dresses as a bin becomes prime minister he will have been to Oxbridge
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Bad news, since the UK wants to understand the European Union much less than it wants to rejoin it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
If the UK wants to rejoin the European Union, it first needs to understand it | Timothy Garton Ash
A full return will require a marathon of democratic persuasion, on the continent as much as in Britain. For one side holds most of the cards, says Guardian columnist Timothy Garton Ash
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Some thoughts from me on Plaid Cymru's Welsh Child Payment pilot.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Some thoughts from me on Plaid Cymru's Welsh Child Payment pilot.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Quite a thing to read while trying to arrange a long-overdue catch-up with some very old friends. Recommended. timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/civil-...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The quiet grief of adult friendship
A few weeks ago, a friend called me at 01:40 AM. Not texted. Called. For a brief second, my body prepared itself for bad news. Adulthood has conditioned most of us to believe that late-night...
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
And real promotions for some of the class of 2024, who will need to be in the mix in another couple of years should Plan B fail.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
A man for the moment 😉
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Polymarket odds that he's *out* by year-end are down 20 points in a day.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Nothing quite makes the case for PR like the amount of campaigning - and campaign material - it stimulates.
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Dr Sioned Pearce @sionedps.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Next Wednesday 29 April in London I'm discussing my new book on youth unemployment and devolution along with six other authors. The event is free, hosted at the Resolution Foundation and is organised by the SPA Employment Policy Group. Sign-up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-and-w...
eventbrite.co.uk
Work and welfare: employment policy in Britain and beyond
What's happening to employment policy in Britain and beyond?
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Only about who the final decision-maker was. Mostly they're incredulous about the evidence being presented.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
A good morning for Keir Starmer: Robbins' evidence - essentially that the oral report on Mandelson's security vetting does not match the paperwork, that he wasn't informed of the final SV recommendation and that records of communications with No.10 might be incomplete - is pretty unimpressive.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
And this despite the imposition of extremely punitive fines for protestors.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
This doesn't get enough attention. Every. Single. Day.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
The government's line also seems to suggest that the options are either divulging sexual proclivities or disclosing nothing at all about the vetting process. Why couldn't it be: some concerns have emerged, do you still want to proceed? Or, PM, how much risk are you willing to take on here?
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Interesting. But Starmer at fault for a lack of clear communication, surely. And little mention of Lammy in any of this: what of his communication with his Perm Sec?
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Calum Miller @calummillerld.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
No10’s account is incredible. I held Developed Vetting for nearly ten years and spent three years at the heart of the Cabinet Office. I have never heard of a Developed Vetting denial being overruled. Here’s why…🧵 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Revealed: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision
Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassador
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Inconceivable that Starmer can cling to his current lines for long. As @newseye.bsky.social reminds us below, the Independent reported that Mandelson had failed security vetting back in Sept. Not credible to believe government didn't investigate at that point.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Oh, nice! I didn't know you were writing this. Look forward to reading!
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Lee Gregory (he/him) 🏳️‍🌈 @academiclee.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
New book! Housing Inequality in the 21st Century is now published. The book explores how policy, markets and wider social change are reshaping housing inequality—and why this matters for wellbeing and justice. policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/housing-ineq... #Housing #Inequality #PublicPolicy
policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
Housing Inequality in the 21st Century
Housing Inequality in the 21st Century - Social Policy and the Political Economy of Housing in the UK; This book exposes how deep-rooted political and economic forces continue to shape unequal housing...
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Martin O'Neill @martinoneill.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
This has not been discussed in parliament. If the British military are aiding and abetting war crimes in Lebanon, and our politicians have not even explained to us why this is happening, in what sense are we living in a genuinely democratic society any more?
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Nonsense. The exact opposite - that no-one's mind has turned - is very much closer to the truth.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Are you looking for post-doc funding to publish from your PhD or conduct new engagement work? The ESRC's post-doc scheme call is now live. If you'd be interested in being mentored by me (or someone at Cardiff), then do reach out - internal deadlines are quite tight www.ukri.org/opportunity/...
ukri.org
ESRC postdoctoral fellowships
Apply for a postdoctoral fellowship to develop your career by consolidating your PhD through developing publications, your networks and your research and professional skills.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Are you looking for post-doc funding to publish from your PhD or conduct new engagement work? The ESRC's post-doc scheme call is now live. If you'd be interested in being mentored by me (or someone at Cardiff), then do reach out - internal deadlines are quite tight www.ukri.org/opportunity/...
ukri.org
ESRC postdoctoral fellowships
Apply for a postdoctoral fellowship to develop your career by consolidating your PhD through developing publications, your networks and your research and professional skills.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
If you read one thing on the UK's latest poverty estimates, read this
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Alex Clegg @alexclegg.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
🧵 New HBAI data out yesterday from DWP and it comes with a big methodological upgrade. For the first time, Family Resources Survey responses have been linked to benefits admin records, fixing years of benefit under-reporting. Here's what it means for how we understand poverty in the UK...
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
What lessons should government learn from the cost-of-living shock that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine for how to support households in the face of the current energy price spike? open.substack.com/pub/rodhick/...
open.substack.com
Learning from the last crisis
Four lessons for tackling the cost-of-living crisis arising from the war on Iran
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
What lessons should government learn from the cost-of-living shock that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine for how to support households in the face of the current energy price spike? open.substack.com/pub/rodhick/...
open.substack.com
Learning from the last crisis
Four lessons for tackling the cost-of-living crisis arising from the war on Iran
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Counterpoint: not every crisis is akin to the pandemic and we shouldn't normalise the overnight design of multibillion pound policy responses. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Swinney - UK government must 'get a move on' with heating oil support
The first minister responds to Chancellor Rachel Reeves' promise of help with rising energy costs caused by war in the Middle East
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Rense Nieuwenhuis @rnieuwenhuis.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Household classification, family diversity and poverty risks in Europe: Addressing a North-Western bias New paper, by @wvlancker.bsky.social, @bartovalzbeta.bsky.social, @thaning.bsky.social and myself. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
27 stays 27: 'No problem'. 27 becomes 29: "No; problem"
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Looking forward to speaking at 2.30pm today alongside @haylesben.bsky.social & Richard Machin about progress in tackling poverty since the 2024 UK election and the upcoming Welsh and Scottish elections. To sign up: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... Thanks to @academiclee.bsky.social for organising.
docs.google.com
ASAP UK February Seminar: Social Security and Poverty reflecting on the post General Election period and looking ahead to the Devolved Parliament elections.
26th February 2026 2:30-4pm This webinar will bring together one of the ASAP UK election auditors with two academics from Wales and Scotland to discuss the current social security challenges in rela...
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
'Experts' are invited to speculate about what kind of food shock could lead to civil unrest. So they do. Then this is reported as if they claimed a riot is imminent. Very bad stuff. Ultra-high volume journal publishing is a huge threat to scientific integrity www.theguardian.com/food/2026/fe...
theguardian.com
‘Tinderbox’ UK may be one shock away from food riots, experts say
Weakened food security could tip into unrest after a cyber-attack, extreme weather or conflict, analysis finds
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Birthday week is off to a strong start.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
These are surely complements, not substitutes.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Somewhat surprised to hear the BBC reporting that the cabinet are rallying around Starmer. There's no way he can limp on now, the Scottish Labour leader having just wielded the knife, just because the main challengers have decided May would be a more convenient time to dethrone him.
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Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
I’m not sure ‘our national security developed vetting technique can be beaten if a candidate is prepared to lie’ is an especially helpful line to push.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
More flat-footedness by Starmer's government. A statement overtaken by events by the time of its delivery. Conservative response much more powerful.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Three errors here. First, in confusing some kind of SEND classification (20%) with EHCPs (5.5%). Secondly in assuming it gives automatic right to DLA. Though there is a strong ECHP/DLA overlap. Third in assuming that those moving to DLA to PIP never work (it's not an out of work benefit).
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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
I'll be contributing to the Academics Stand Against Poverty Webinar on 26th February 2026 (2:30-4pm) discussing social security and Welsh and Scot Elections alongside Richard Machin and @rodhick.bsky.social eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
Academics Stand Against Poverty UK | Manifesto Audit
ASAP UK brings together a range of academics who have carried out a review of 9 key topics to consider the effectiveness of the public policy platforms in reducing poverty.
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Xiaowei Xu @xiaoweixu.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
The latest USoc wave lets us split out the Covid years from what came after. So striking that they look the same! Average mental ill health (based on a general screening instrument) is no better now than during the lockdown years, at any age. @alexbryson.bsky.social @dannyblanchy.bsky.social
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
This was, ofc, a remarkable thing to say. In the podcast, Morgan goes out of her way to draw this comparison with Drakeford, raising it more than once. What's less clear is how her growth-centric orientation really differs from Keir Starmer's policy approach. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Welsh finance secretary never interested in economy - Eluned Morgan
Eluned Morgan said there was a fundamental difference between her and Mark Drakeford, who handles Wales' £25bn budget.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Indeed! *That's* the provision in 40.2.2. (also, I read online that the Irish gov ignore MBEs & OBEs. Nice bit of shade there).
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Prohibited like this? www.rte.ie/news/politic...
rte.ie
Donohoe awarded Chevalier rank in French Legion of Honour
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has been awarded the rank of 'Chevalier' in the French National Legion of Honour.
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Thoughts from me on yesterday's budget statement from Rachel Reeves. A day to celebrate in terms of tackling child poverty, but how credible is increasing taxation in each year of this decade and beyond? open.substack.com/pub/rodhick/...
open.substack.com
Good riddance to the two-child limit!
Reflections on Autumn Budget 2025
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Rod Hick @rodhick.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Some reflections from me on today's Autumn Budget statement open.substack.com/pub/rodhick/...
open.substack.com
Good riddance to the two-child limit!
Reflections on Autumn Budget 2025
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