"One of the secrets of Farage’s success has been to challenge the rules of the game and dictate the narrative. In this instance, he has lost control of the conflict." ✍️ Ben Worthy & Laura Richards-Gray on Farage's gamble in triggering the by-election in Clacton 🔗 https://ow.ly/cLwZ50ZuX8p

A Fool and His Money? Why Nigel Farage’s by-election gamble could backfire - UK in a changing Europe

Ben Worthy and Laura Richards-Gray make the case that in triggering the by-election in Clacton, Nigel Farage sparked a conflict which he hoped he could control. They argue his gamble has not paid off since he has not been able to do so. 

ow.ly

Vanilla’s top spot doesn’t surprise me but I am quite shocked to see mint choc chip in second place. The sensation is one of eating a piece of low quality milk chocolate and brushing your teeth immediately afterwards. Not pleasant.

YouGov@yougov.co.uk · 5d ago

YouGov's latest scoop: vanilla is Britain's favourite ice cream flavour Vanilla: 18% Mint choc chip: 14% Chocolate: 13% Strawberry: 5% Salted caramel: 5% Rum and raisin: 5% Pistachio: 4% Coffee: 3% Raspberry ripple: 3% yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

🧵On @thenewsagents.co.uk yesterday, school closures and the lab leak theory were offered as two examples of legitimate questions that were hard to ask. Both have in fact been asked constantly since 2020. But here's a thread on why I think they were wrong and dangerous on school closures 1/12

A bit on something that’s worrying me as.ft.com/r/9fe0cfe2-f...

Mayoral scrutiny is a pressing issue

As Burnham devolves power, remember much of the country lacks Manchester’s media ecosystem

as.ft.com

🚨New paper Like most things in democracies, achieving climate action in the form of sustainable policy needs a significant amount of political mobilization. We investigate when & where this is more likely to happen across places on the climate frontline: the Global South🧵 📌 osf.io/preprints/so...

I have blogged! The State of the Present: Andy Burnham’s new government or - Why the abolition of DSIT is baffling and bad - Why I'm worried about what it means for civil service reform - Some opportunities for the new government around data, digital, open government medium.com/state-of-the...

The State of the Present: Andy Burnham’s new government

In common with lots of other policy people in recent weeks, I’ve been reading Head North, the (very readable) book by new Prime Minister…

medium.com

🚨New Science Advances🚨 Untrustworthy sources on Facebook and Instagram in 2020: Concentrated exposure but no attitudinal effects www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... -Exposure very low but highly concentrated -Reducing exposure by ~70% for months had no measurable effects *even among frequent consumers*

Why Farage's by-election could backfire by myself and Laura Richards- Gray, inspired by @davekarpf.bsky.social and Schattschneider ukandeu.ac.uk/a-fool-and-h...

A Fool and His Money? Why Nigel Farage’s by-election gamble could backfire - UK in a changing Europe

Ben Worthy and Laura Richards-Gray make the case that in triggering the by-election in Clacton, Nigel Farage sparked a conflict which he hoped he could control. They argue his gamble has not paid off ...

ukandeu.ac.uk

So this was a nice surprise to wake up to, thanks to all Cambridge University Press & Assessment and series editor @woolf-atthedoor.bsky.social Delighted that it is Open Access doi.org/10.1017/9781... @researchireland.ie @ucc.ie

Absence in the Archives

Cambridge Core - Global History - Absence in the Archives

doi.org

Really looking forward to reading this - now open access.

Ciara Breathnach@ciarab.bsky.social · 2mo ago

So this was a nice surprise to wake up to, thanks to all Cambridge University Press & Assessment and series editor @woolf-atthedoor.bsky.social Delighted that it is Open Access doi.org/10.1017/9781... @researchireland.ie @ucc.ie

'The “social” in “social media” has slowly become a misnomer.' 'In 2006, we imagined a social media ecosystem that prioritized strengthening connections through media rather than one that replaced connections with media.' Such a punchy short reflection on "social media" by @zephoria.bsky.social 👏

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

journals.sagepub.com

The House of Lords Constitution Committee is starting a wide-ranging inquiry into strengthening our constitutional safeguards - as proposed by (Lord) Peter Hennessy. Look East, look West, and see the urgency. Written evidence requested by 28th of September. committees.parliament.uk/committee/17...

The UK’s constitutional safeguards inquiry launched by Lords Constitution Committee - Committees - UK Parliament

The House of Lords Constitution Committee has today published a call for evidence for its inquiry into the UK’s constitutional safeguards. It is inviting interested individuals and organisations...

committees.parliament.uk

Suspended Reform UK MP James McMurdock had two of his companies blocked from winding up because they had failed to pay back taxpayer-backed Covid loans, The Times can reveal after a 20-month FOI battle. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Suspended Reform MP’s company closures halted over Covid loans

Disclosure over the businesses of James McMurdock raises further questions about candidate vetting and financial conduct

thetimes.com

“If this were occurring abroad, to an ethnic minority, we would call it ethnic cleansing.” www.liberalcurrents.com/the-american...

The American Transgender Refugee Crisis

If this were occurring abroad, to an ethnic minority, we would call it ethnic cleansing.

liberalcurrents.com

Keeping on top of #FOI requests is hard. A lack of staff and poor systems are common problems, but a lack of enthusiasm may not help either:

Freedom of Information in the news – week ending 5/12/2025 – #FOIFriday - Words + Numbers

Keeping on top of Freedom of Information requests is hard. I mean for public bodies across the country, rather than just me trying to see what's overdue in my spreadsheet. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has taken some more enforcement action in the past couple of months, on top of the notices already issued. Much

clairemiller.net

15 years after the Welsh further powers #devolution referendum, my latest article (published open access in Parliaments Estates & Representation) examines the path that led from the 2006 Govt of Wales Act, via 2007’s post-election coalition negotiations & the LCO process, to the referendum #senedd

Taking that next step forward: the 2007–2011 Welsh Assembly, the Legislative Competence Order (LCO) process and the path to the 2011 devolution referendum

In introducing the Government of Wales Act 2006, the then Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain expressed optimism that the legislation, the product of an intensely negotiated internal compromise...

tandfonline.com

I think it was Ian Kershaw who argued they key difference is that Post Stalin USSR and Fascist Italy eventually stagnated, while Nazi Germany became more radical.

Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · last wk.

Ever-escalating purity spirals and race panic. Admittedly one reason why the hypotheticals don’t touch this is because basically the problem is one has to make the Nazis less mad for the counterfactual to work.

American democracy no more? @benworthy.bsky.social argues that Trump is becoming a dictator, one who combines the transactional pursuit of profit and power with racism, white supremacy, and personalised rule @lseusablog.bsky.social

Trump’s attacks on democracy reveal his authoritarian ambitions | LSE United States Politics and Policy

Trump is becoming a dictator, one who combines the transactional pursuit of profit and power with racism, white supremacy, and personalised rule.

blogs.lse.ac.uk

They genuinely believe he won't come for them. And perhaps he won't. Yet.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2w ago

Trump jokes about serving a third term — and gets laughs at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

The Romans never stopped thinking they lived in a Republic, even after the Emperors had been in charge for generations

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2w ago

Trump jokes about serving a third term — and gets laughs at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

RELAUNCH – a new design for my #data newsletter "Quantum of Sollazzo". With 4,000+ subscribers, it's a little but strong community. Subscribe at quantumofsollazzo.com for a weekly data shot: AI, dataviz & journalism, tools, tutorials, and think pieces. #AI #opendata #ddj #datajournalism #dataviz

Andy Burnham started his time as Prime Minister pledging to eradicate rough sleeping I’ve spoken to people involved in Liverpool’s housing and homelessness crisis, from those on the streets to those working to help them to find out exactly what is needed to address this It’s a huge task 👇

Liverpool's 'scary' rough sleeper crisis & its lessons for Burnham

Special report: Liverpool has seen a worrying spike in rough sleeping, those at its sharpest end and the people looking out for them explain what is needed for the new Prime Minister to achieve his am...

liverpoolecho.co.uk

It's been a busy week in government, and at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk We've been keeping up with the key moves and announcements this week, so you don't have to Here's a round up of my top picks of analysis from my excellent colleagues 🧵

He wants to be adored – Burnham’s people-pleasing policy debut | Institute for Government

The Manchester Mill's Joshi Herrman joins the podcast team to explore Andy Burnham's first week as prime minister.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

I'm reading the final three chapters of Karl Polanyi's Great Transformation with the most care I think ever & it's AWESOME. Ch 19: Popular Gov't & Market Economy -On socialism Ch 20: History in the Gear of Social Change -Covers fascism Ch 21: Freedom in a Complex Society -Inspiring future vision

👇👇👇

Jane Green@profjanegreen.bsky.social · 2w ago

One thought today. When parties switch leaders, they’ve been seen as answers to recent problems. But they get undone by different problems they’re not well suited to. Burnham meets the need for relatability, political skill, a plan. But his biggest challenges will be ones we can’t yet see coming.

Not surprised to see Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley get chief whip. She’s known as a brilliant organiser and fixer. Wrote this about her background and life a few weeks ago for anyone interested.

The Merseyside MP helping to power Andy Burnham's rise

Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley was one of the key figures behind the successful Makerfield campaign - but what is her background and what role could she play in a Burnham administration?

liverpoolecho.co.uk

Anneliese Midgley also has a background in trade unions, as well as working in senior roles with a couple of Labour leaders- so clearly has previous experience engaging with Labour MPs and acting as a bridge between them and the party leadership. That’s also important. But…

We have a new chief whip- Anneliese Midgley. In some ways unsurprising as an appointment- was a key figure in Burnham’s by-election and leadership campaign, and so will be seen by backbenchers as having the PM’s ear, which is important.…

A swift kicking outside a kebab shop?

Trump the Dictator: a Caudillo and a Mussolini by Me for @lseusablog.bsky.social blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/20...

Trump’s attacks on democracy reveal his authoritarian ambitions | LSE United States Politics and Policy

Trump is becoming a dictator, one who combines the transactional pursuit of profit and power with racism, white supremacy, and personalised rule.

blogs.lse.ac.uk