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The Union Survey

@theunionsurvey.bsky.social
857 followers 407 following 46 posts

The Union Survey is a long-running, 360° survey of constitutional attitudes in each of the UK’s four component parts. Led by Profs Ailsa Henderson (@ailsahenderson.bsky.social) and Richard Wyn Jones (@richardwynjones.bsky.social).

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Reposted by The Union Survey
NationCymru @nation.cymru · 31/08/2025
A petition calling on the UK Government to recognise Cornwall as a nation — alongside England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — has gained more than 19,000 signatures
nation.cymru
Petition calling for Cornwall to gain nation status closes on symbolic milestone
A petition calling on the UK Government to recognise Cornwall as a nation — alongside England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — has gained more than 19,000 signatures. The campaign, which follow...
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Reposted by The Union Survey
NationCymru @nation.cymru · 29/08/2025
Analysis of English political attitudes suggests that Keir Starmer’s efforts to resolve the linked protests around flag-flying and ‘asylum hotels’ is unlikely to settle longstanding discontent among large numbers of the English electorate ✍️Emily Price
wp.me
'Politicised Englishness most potent force in contemporary UK politics' - think tank
Emily Price Analysis of English political attitudes suggests that Keir Starmer’s efforts to resolve the linked protests around flag-flying and “asylum hotels” is unlikely to settle longstanding discon...
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Great article by ‪@emilypricejourno.bsky.social‬ in @nation.cymru quoting our work and research leads @ailsahenderson.bsky.social and @richardwynjones.bsky.social. There's lots more detail on the underpinning research on our website. nation.cymru/news/for-mar...
nation.cymru
'Politicised Englishness most potent force in contemporary UK politics' - think tank
Emily Price Analysis of English political attitudes suggests that Keir Starmer’s efforts to resolve the linked protests around flag-flying and “asylum hotels” is unlikely to settle longstanding discon...
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Great article in @nation.cymru quoting our research and offering analysis from @ailsahenderson.bsky.social and @richardwynjones.bsky.social on how a current protests in England derive from a "longstanding discontent among large numbers of the English electorate". nation.cymru/news/for-mar...
nation.cymru
'Politicised Englishness most potent force in contemporary UK politics' - think tank
Emily Price Analysis of English political attitudes suggests that Keir Starmer’s efforts to resolve the linked protests around flag-flying and “asylum hotels” is unlikely to settle longstanding discon...
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Professor Richard Wyn Jones of Cardiff University said:

"As flags continue to proliferate on roadsides and bridges and as Farage’s Reform – a party that in England enjoys overwhelming support among those who emphasize their English identity – continues to lead in the polls, it is clear that politicized Englishness is the most potent force in contemporary UK politics. In this, our latest investigation of English politics, we show how ‘anger’ and ‘fear’ have come to characterize the political attitudes of the English. Those who wish to understand the on-going radicalization of middle England should start here."
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Professor Ailsa Henderson of the University of Edinburgh said: 

“For more than a decade our Future of England Survey data have tracked English frustration with political life in the UK. There is no shortage of grievance, about the EU, about resources going to Scotland, about immigration and about a lack of English political voice in the UK.  The latest political developments suggest two things. First, there remains a fundamental problem with efficacy in England. Folks don’t think their voices matter, they think that England is poorly served by its political system and keep identifying foreigners – Europeans, Scots, immigrants - as the source of the problem. Second, since none of the previous efforts to address this have solved the grievance problem - not Brexit, not English Votes for English Laws, not metro mayors – there is little reason to believe radical immigration changes will either. But address the efficacy issue and the grievance might well resolve itself.”
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Wales Governance Centre | Canolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru @walesgovernance.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
Erthygl newydd ar anfodlonrwydd cymdeithasol a radicaleiddio yn Lloegr gan @ailsahenderson.bsky.social a @richardwynjones.bsky.social New piece in the @theconversation.com from the research team at @theunionsurvey.bsky.social about contemporary social and political discontent in #England 👇
theconversation.com
Nigel Farage and the political power of English grievance
The Conservatives and Labour have allowed resentment to fester in the biggest part of the UK – and the only region not to have its own parliament.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
jacqmclean.bsky.social @jacqmclean.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
Excellent article .
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Daniel Wincott @danielwincott.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
The Union Survey: tracking English political attitudes for 15 years (long hard work excavating these issues from sedimented assumptions about ‘British’ politics). Here’s hoping folk pay attention now English grievance is ubiquitous on the surface of the political news. @theunionsurvey.bsky.social
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
Fantastic new article by @ailsahenderson.bsky.social & @richardwynjones.bsky.social on the @uk.theconversation.com. "...UK governments find it easier to address Farage’s successive foreigner problems than to look at their own role in stoking English grievance." theconversation.com/nigel-farage...
theconversation.com
Nigel Farage and the political power of English grievance
The Conservatives and Labour have allowed resentment to fester in the biggest part of the UK – and the only region not to have its own parliament.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Gerry Hassan @gerryhassan.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Good item on #c4news on the English & Union Jack flags. Agree with @jydenham.bsky.social that the two flags cannot be ceded to the far right. Much of the UK have problems with these flags & legacy of Empire as Kehinde Andrews says but that doesn't meaning giving these flags up to the right.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
John Denham @jydenham.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Make your own mind up www.channel4.com/news/is-engl...
channel4.com
Is England flag flying campaign patriotism or provocation?
We’re joined by Professor John Denham, a former Labour minister who is now Director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Southampton, and Kehinde Andrews, a Professor o...
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Our most recent report found that those voters in England who identify primarily as English rather than British are made both angry and fearful by contemporary political life. Report by @ailsahenderson.bsky.social and @richardwynjones.bsky.social on the anger of the English: www.theunionsurvey.com
theunionsurvey.com
The Union Survey | Public Attitudes on the State of the State
The project and this website will provide a home for data, analysis and a network of researchers and others with an interest in the relationships between the UK's component parts. Drawing on rigorous ...
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Wales Governance Centre | Canolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru @walesgovernance.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
@ailsahenderson.bsky.social & @richardwynjones.bsky.social "among those English-identifiers, we found ambivalence towards the Union as a project and a commonly held sense of grievance about the perceived cost and political influence of the other nations within the UK" @theunionsurvey.bsky.social
irishtimes.com
If there’s so much buyer’s remorse about Brexit, why is Nigel Farage the rising figure in UK politics?
Ten years on, an angry tribe sees itself as more English than British - and Ireland must stay alert to the dangers
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Great to join @ailsahenderson.bsky.social and other @scotvoting.bsky.social colleagues at Scottish Politics conference.
Prof Ailsa Henderson in front of a Scottish Election Study banner.
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
"The second point to note is that with the sole exception of 2020, English devolution as championed by the current government is always the least popular option for English governance across the electorate as a whole." The Shameful Conquest of England, p. 23 www.theunionsurvey.com/reports
Chart showing EVEL to be the most popular option for English governance across the country.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Gerry Hassan @gerryhassan.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Reform move into 13% lead over Labour with Find Out Now. Tories just holding 3rd place & facing the prospect of falling to FOURTH PLACE. Reform projected majority with not a single Scottish Reform MP. REF 33% (+4) LAB 20% (-1) CON 16% (-3) LD 15% (+2) GR 11% (-) Sample: 7/5 Change: +/-30/4
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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
I spoke with Kez Dugdale and Nicola McEwen about the English local elections last week, the fallout, and what to expect from the upcoming Hamilton by-election. Plus great interviews with Andre Lecours and Ariadne Vromen about the Canadian and Australian elections.
open.spotify.com
Parallel Politics: 2025 Elections in England, Canada, and Australia
UofG Spotlight · Episode
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Christopher Carman @cjcarman.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Seen the headlines in today's Scottish papers? Join @scotvoting.bsky.social team TONIGHT 6pm @uofglasgow.bsky.social for an analysis of the the state Scottish electoral politics One Year Out from the 2026 Holyrood elections. Boyd Orr Bldg in-person and on-line www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/one-year-o...
eventbrite.co.uk
One Year Out: The outlook for the 2026 Holyrood election
Join us on Thursday 8 May for this Stevenson Lecture with the Scottish Election Study Team.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
Scots will be looking at the Labour figures from that Welsh poll and thinking, "first time"? But for context, Labour have won every Westminster and Welsh election for *103* years. When they lost to the SNP in 2011, that streak in Scotland was 'just' 47 years long.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Dr Adam Evans @a-b-evans.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
New ITV Wales @yougov.co.uk @walesgovernance.bsky.social has been published. #Senedd voting Intentions: Plaid 30% Reform 25% Labour 18% Cons 13% Libdems 7% Greens 5% Others 2% Westminster Plaid 24% Reform 24% Lab 20% Cons 13% Libdems 9% Green - 7% Other - 2% www.itv.com/news/wales/2...
itv.com
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
We're building a network of people with a professional interest in the politics of the Union. Your interest might be one territory or all of them, electoral behaviour, economics, public policy, the constitution, identity, or something else. You might be a journalist, official, academic,...
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Ailsa Henderson @ailsahenderson.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
MSPs to sign off on Scotland's new electoral map
Boundaries Scotland has carried out its first review of the country's electoral geography since 2010.
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
These vacous people, who by any measure have got exactly the government they were asking for in 2013, but who are so detached from both policy thought and the people they ventriloquise that they simply have not noticed and never will:
politicshome.com
Blue Labour's Jonathan Rutherford Is Helping No 10 Find Purpose, Energy And A Story To Tell
Can Blue Labour help Keir Starmer’s government develop a clear direction and sense of purpose? Sienna Rodgers talks to Jonathan Rutherford, a polit...
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Reposted by The Union Survey
The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
83% of English Labour voters think the UK was wrong to leave the EU. 37% of English Tories agree with them.
A chart which reads: 

In hindsight, was the UK right or wrong to vote to Leave (2024)? 

Reform R:77% W:16% DK:7%
Conservative R:58% W:37% DK:5% 
Lib Dem R:10% W:86% DK:4%
Labour R:13% W:83% DK:4%
Green R10% W:86% DK:4%

Source: FoES 2024. Party support as measured by vote intention at the time of the survey.
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Supporters of most other parties lean in favour of thinking that Reform speaks for the interests of England over those of the UK as a whole. But its own supporters think that the reverse is true.
Clip from table.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Jane Green @profjanegreen.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
This is our piece on Reform’s hurdles, even with a good night tonight.
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
51% of English voters think that the Scottish Parliament should control the majority of taxes raised in Scotland (50% for NI Assembly, 48% for Senedd Cymru). Majorities would exclude Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish MPs from voting on England-only legislation.
Chart setting out attitudes of English voters think on constitutional questions.
 
[The devolved legislature] should be given control over. 
majority of taxes raised in devolved territory (NI) 50 (S) 51 (W) 48 

Levels of public spending in [devolved territory] should be 
reduced to the levels in the rest of the UK (NI) 38 (S) 41 (W) 39

MPs from [devolved territory] should be prevented from 
voting on laws that apply only to England (NI) 56 (S) 61 (W) 56

No MP from [devolved territory] should ever be a member 
of the UK government (NI) 18 (S) 17 (W) 17
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Some of the most interesting findings from the most recent edition of the Future of England Survey involved how supporters of different parties prioritise their different identities. Here are the top three for each of the main parties in England.
Breakdown of top three identities by supporters of different parties. 

Reform	
Being English	45
Being a parent	32
Being British	27

Conservative
Being a parent	41
Being English	31
Being British	29

LibDem
Being a parent	25
Being British	22
Age group / Generation	22

Labour
Age group / Generation	29
Gender / Sex	27
Being a parent	26

Green
Age group / Generation	32
Gender / Sex	32
Hometown / Region	23
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
@ailsahenderson.bsky.social considers the implications of our most recent report in a blog post for the @ccc-research.bsky.social. www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/news-and-opi...
centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk
The Shameful Conquest of England
Following today's release of the report ‘The Shameful Conquest of England’, read Ailsa Henderson's accompanying blog piece exploring the attitudes of the English to their neighbours in the UK, the mec...
011
Reposted by The Union Survey
Conor J. Kelly @conorjkelly.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
This looks like a fascinating event on transparency and the past, present and future of Northern Ireland. @benworthy.bsky.social @bbkhistorical.bsky.social When: 6 May 2025, 15:00 — 16:30 Venue: Birkbeck College, 43 Gordon Square, London Sign up: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...
bbk.ac.uk
Contested Transparency and the Fragile Peace: Secrecy and Openness in Northern Ireland.
How can openness and secrecy shape the past, present and future of Northern? Explore this pressing question with Birkbeck's Ben Worthy.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Anyway, as much fun as I find it to use, you know, empirical reality to poke around at Scottish politics, there are some serious implications here. First for researchers, secondly for Unionists.
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
New research by @ailsahenderson.bsky.social and @richardwynjones.bsky.social explores English political attitudes towards their neighbours in the UK, Brexit and which party best represents the UK’s most populous nation. www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/news-and-opi...
centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk
The Shameful Conquest of England
Following today's release of the report ‘The Shameful Conquest of England’, read Ailsa Henderson's accompanying blog piece exploring the attitudes of the English to their neighbours in the UK, the mec...
003
Reposted by The Union Survey
John Denham @jydenham.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Tremendous and long-needed update to their earlier seminal work on England and identity from @ailsahenderson.bsky.social and @richardwynjones.bsky.social emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
The Union Survey (@theunionsurvey.bsky.social)
New blog by @ailsahenderson.bsky.social on the @ccc-research.bsky.social site sets out key findings from the Future of England Survey 2024-25. https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/news-and-...
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Reposted by The Union Survey
John Denham @jydenham.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Love the Shakespeare here. Perhaps English anger is explained by these John of Gaunt 'This land...is now leased out...like a tenement or pelting farm...England...is now bound in shame with inky blots and rotten parchment bonds' @ailsahenderson.bsky.social @richardwynjones.bsky.social
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
83% of English Labour voters think the UK was wrong to leave the EU. 37% of English Tories agree with them.
A chart which reads: 

In hindsight, was the UK right or wrong to vote to Leave (2024)? 

Reform R:77% W:16% DK:7%
Conservative R:58% W:37% DK:5% 
Lib Dem R:10% W:86% DK:4%
Labour R:13% W:83% DK:4%
Green R10% W:86% DK:4%

Source: FoES 2024. Party support as measured by vote intention at the time of the survey.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Really interesting report conveying the most recent findings of @theunionsurvey.bsky.social's Future of England Study, detailing an English politics increasingly marked by 'anger' and 'fear':
theunionsurvey.com
The Union Survey | Public Attitudes on the State of the State
The project and this website will provide a home for data, analysis and a network of researchers and others with an interest in the relationships between the UK's component parts. Drawing on rigorous ...
188
The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Almost twice as many English Reform voters says 'English' best describes their nationality as say 'British' does. The reverse is true for Labour. Full report and data at: www.theunionsurvey.com
Party support by national identity. Do party supporters mainly identify as British, English or European? Reform: Brit 33, Eng 64, Eur 1. Conservative: Brit 42, Eng 53, Eur 1. Lib Dem: Brit 53, Eng 30, Eur 11. Labour: Brit 56, Eng 28, Eur 10. Green: Brit 46, Eng 27, Eur 13.
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
New blog by @ailsahenderson.bsky.social on the @ccc-research.bsky.social site sets out key findings from the Future of England Survey 2024-25. www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/news-and-opi...
centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk
The Shameful Conquest of England
Following today's release of the report ‘The Shameful Conquest of England’, read Ailsa Henderson's accompanying blog piece exploring the attitudes of the English to their neighbours in the UK, the mec...
013
Reposted by The Union Survey
The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Lots of interesting findings in today's report, such as this gem on top three identities by party affiliation. More at: www.theunionsurvey.com
Breakdown of top three identities adopted by supporters of different parties.
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
You can sign up for updates on Ailsa and Richard's research into the changing face of English politics at www.theunionsurvey.com/network
theunionsurvey.com
network & contact | The Union Survey
We are very happy to answer any question about the contents of this site from other researchers, members of the media of other interested parties. We are also keen to develop a network of interest for...
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Reposted by The Union Survey
The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Research by @ailsahenderson.bsky.social & @richardwynjones.bsky.social published today. The Future of England Study 2024-25 is published with colleagues from @walesgovernance.bsky.social and @ccc-research.bsky.social. Report & data on our website: www.theunionsurvey.com
theunionsurvey.com
The Union Survey | Public Attitudes on the State of the State
The project and this website will provide a home for data, analysis and a network of researchers and others with an interest in the relationships between the UK's component parts. Drawing on rigorous ...
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Interesting conversations from lots of people, including @stephenkb.bsky.social about the devolution in England and the size of the areas involved. We have found consistent support over 15 years for England-wide solutions rather than regional ones. More at www.theunionsurvey.com/reports
theunionsurvey.com
reports | The Union Survey
The project and this website will provide a home for data, analysis and a network of researchers and others with an interest in the relationships between the UK's component parts. ​ Our surveys hav...
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
You can sign up for updates on Ailsa and Richard's research into the changing face of English politics at www.theunionsurvey.com/network
theunionsurvey.com
network & contact | The Union Survey
We are very happy to answer any question about the contents of this site from other researchers, members of the media of other interested parties. We are also keen to develop a network of interest for...
011
The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Lots of interesting findings in today's report, such as this gem on top three identities by party affiliation. More at: www.theunionsurvey.com
Breakdown of top three identities adopted by supporters of different parties.
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Reposted by The Union Survey
Dr Adam Evans @a-b-evans.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
For those interested in political identity in England, this latest installment of the Future of England survey ( @theunionsurvey.bsky.social) from @ccc-research.bsky.social & @walesgovernance.bsky.social is yet another fascinating read: www.theunionsurvey.com/_files/ugd/1... #devolution #Brexit
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
New blog by @ailsahenderson.bsky.social on the @ccc-research.bsky.social site sets out key findings from the Future of England Survey 2024-25. www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/news-and-opi...
centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk
The Shameful Conquest of England
Following today's release of the report ‘The Shameful Conquest of England’, read Ailsa Henderson's accompanying blog piece exploring the attitudes of the English to their neighbours in the UK, the mec...
013
Reposted by The Union Survey
Centre on Constitutional Change @ccc-research.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
The report was co-authored by @richardwynjones.bsky.social and has been published today by @ccc-research.bsky.social @walesgovernance.bsky.social & @theunionsurvey.bsky.social Full details are at www.theunionsurvey.com
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The Union Survey @theunionsurvey.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Great coverage of our research in @holyroodmag.bsky.social. New report out today with @walesgovernance.bsky.social & @ccc-research.bsky.social. Full details: www.theunionsurvey.com
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Centre on Constitutional Change @ccc-research.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
New report! The Shameful Conquest of England report by & @ccc-research.bsky.social & @walesgovernance.bsky.social has found that national populism is becoming a significant force in England as it is elsewhere in the global North. Read more: edin.ac/3GnakjB
edin.ac
English politics are marked with ‘Anger, Frustration and Fear’, according to new research from CCC
The majority of voters in England describe themselves as ‘angry’ or ‘fearful’ about British politics, according to new research co-published by the Centre on Constitutional Change. The research is pub...
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