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Reposted by Tom Chidwick

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 12h

A rather sad announcement from @anandmenon.bsky.social on the future of UK in a Changing Europe. ukandeu.ac.uk/announcement...

UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE) was founded 12 years ago. We hired our first member of staff on the day of the 2015 election, the outcome of which guaranteed that there would be a referendum on EU membership. The subsequent period has been tumultuous, yet, throughout it all, we have done our utmost to be a source of impartial, research-based analysis.
We were initially supported by the Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC), who generously funded the organisation for over a decade. Their foresight in recognising the need to bring social science to the attention of external audiences in this area was impressive.
Our ESRC funding ended in April 2025. Since that time, we have kept going courtesy of the generosity of King’s College London and donations from numerous other sources including the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Amazon Web Services and the Spanish Government. I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have contributed to the organisation’s longevity.
Sadly, it is now time to bring down the curtain on this act. UKICE will cease to operate at the end of this year. This is – for us at least – a sad occasion. However, we will soon be able to inform you of the exciting ways in which our work – blogs, reports, lunchtime seminars and more – will continue. The website, containing its rich treasure trove of blogs, reports, videos and the Brexit Witness Archive will, of course, remain accessible thanks to the generosity of the Policy Institute at King’s College London.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last decade and of the way we have assessed the Brexit process, the development of the United Kingdom since 2016 and the evolution of UK-EU relations. UKICE has attempted to bridge the gap between social scientists and what some people call the ‘real world’. We have shown a new way of doing social science – engaging, accessible and impartial. While it would be too much to claim to have shaped the debate, I g…

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Mile End Institute @mileendinstitute.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Calling anyone interested in the politics and policy of London! @elizabethsim0n.bsky.social and Patrick Diamond's new book - "vital reading for ... understanding the volatile political landscape in London" (H/T @robfordmancs.bsky.social) - is now available for pre-order. Order your copy now!⬇️

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Liesbeth Corens @onslies.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

YAY! Tickets now available! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-2026-a... Stefan Collini on '"Serious, but not narrowly professional”: the idea of a university-based general periodical in post-war Britain'. Should make for great conversation about the role of universities in 'serious' public discourse #UKHE

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Alistair Grant @alistairkgrant.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

🎥 In this week’s episode of The Steamie I spoke to @ewangibbs.bsky.social about his new book, An Injury to All: The Unmaking of the British Working Class You can watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts now m.youtube.com/watch?v=-1zN...

m.youtube.com

How the working class disappeared from British politics

YouTube video by The Scotsman

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Tom Chidwick @tomchidwick.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Next month, I'm going to be launching my new @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social book at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social! Speakers include the voice of Radio 4 Carolyn Quinn, @politicalquarterly.bsky.social's Ben Jackson and a MYSTERY Scottish politician. Do come! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/now-or-nev...

eventbrite.co.uk

Now or Never! The First Scottish Referendum and its Legacy, 1979-2026

Join us at the Mile End Institute to celebrate Tom Chidwick’s new book Now or Never! A History of the First Scottish Devolution Referendum.

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Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Latest piece for @thehousemag.bsky.social - on the Norway vote in 1940, drawing on a great piece just published in Parliamentary History. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

politicshome.com

The Professor Will See You Now: Norway

Lessons in political science. This week: Norway

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Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

For the last four weeks, I've been doing a slot on Matt Chorley's programme on Radio 5, in which we take an interesting or historic parliamentary vote and discuss its significance. So far we've done Norway (1940), the Shops Bill (1986), seatbelts (1981) and yesterday we did Iraq (2003).

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Tom Chidwick @tomchidwick.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

It was a pleasure to host Lord Clement-Jones, Parliament's leading authority on AI, at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social last night. His experience and expertise will be a real asset to @qmulsse.bsky.social's staff and students as we grapple with the impact of AI on universities!

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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

As the government abandons its plans to restrict jury trial, here's a @mileendinstitute.bsky.social webinar from March. We explored what the government was proposing, why it was contentious, what juries get right and wrong, and what other changes might be beneficial. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiep...

youtube.com

Reforming the Jury System: Speeding up Justice or Ending 800 Years of Liberty?

YouTube video by Mile End Institute

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Tom Chidwick @tomchidwick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

And you can pre-order my forthcoming @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social book, "Now or Never! A History of the First Scottish Devolution Referendum", on Bloomsbury's website: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/now-or-ne... "The best book on the 1979 referendum" according to the legendary historian Sir Tom Devine!

bloomsbury.com

Now or Never!

On 1 March 1979, voters went to the polls in Scotland's first national referendum to decide whether to establish a Scottish Assembly, nearly three centuries aft…

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Tom Chidwick @tomchidwick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Lovely to see the new statue of Diana the Huntress in Bedford Square this morning, marking @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social's 40th birthday! Some of the wonderful people who make Bloomsbury Britain's best independent publishing house are handing out free books so do visit the statue if you're nearby.

New statue of Diana the Huntress, poorly photographed by an excited but photographically inept author of a forthcoming Bloomsbury book.

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Tom Chidwick @tomchidwick.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Thank you, Gill! You’ll get a proper invite from the MEI soon but I really hope you’ll be able to join us for the launch on 18 November. It would be lovely to see you!

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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This will be excellent, from our wonderful @mileendinstitute.bsky.social manager Tom Chidwick! And we will of course be launching it at the MEI, with a great line-up of speakers. Keep an eye out for updates...

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Tom Chidwick @tomchidwick.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

It will be launched at @qmulsse.bsky.social on 18 November with an event about why the referendum took place, why Scotland failed to secure its Assembly, and the lessons for supporters of devolution, independence or a stronger Union today. All are welcome and details to follow soon!

Promotional Banner for the launch of "Now or Never!" at the Mile End Institute, featuring the front cover of the book and the author looking even more smug than he usually does ...

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Tom Chidwick @tomchidwick.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Held just two months before the 1979 general election, the referendum was Scotland's first opportunity to determine the "constitutional question" that had dogged its politics for a century. My book explores how the referendum campaign shaped Scotland's politics and public life for a generation.

John Smith pinning a "Vote Yes" button on the Secretary of State for Scotland, Bruce Millan, while immaculately coiffured David Owen looks on.

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Tom Chidwick @tomchidwick.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I've (finally) made it to Bluesky so I thought I'd start as I mean to go on with some shameless self-promotion ... On 12 November, my new book on the first Scottish devolution referendum will be published by @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social, thanks to @atifajiwa.bsky.social! t.co/Rkv3VRWp29

Front cover of "Now or Never! A History of the First Scottish Devolution Referendum" by Tom Chidwick, which will be published by Bloomsbury in November 2026. It shows the delightfully eccentric "Sheriff" Peter Thomson with his "Last Chance for Scotland" against a Saltire background.

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