Heather Rolfe
@heather-rolfe.bsky.social
Senior Research Fellow @britishfuture.bsky.social Mostly interested in immigration, employment, migrants’ new lives in UK and public attitudes
It’s not an invasion or a crisis says @drernestocast.bsky.social Moroccans have crossed the border for temporary jobs for decades. They are now being used as a chess piece in national, EU and cross-Atlantic disputes about immigration. See his interview👇
Ernesto Castañeda@drernestocast.bsky.social · 5d ago
No one thinks they will have to pay for social care. Until they find they do
John Crace@mrjohncrace.bsky.social · last wk.
"A liberal and flexible system towards economic migration routes is likely to produce better results overall than one whose primary aim is to limit eligibility to a very narrow set of potential migrants." ✍️ @jdportes.bsky.social on selective migration systems 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/the-paradox-...
The paradox of selectivity - UK in a changing Europe
Jonathan Portes analyses how increasingly strict immigration policies may have impacted the overall economc contribution of migrants in the UK. He argues that if the objective is to maximise economic ...
ukandeu.ac.uk
The Times corrects its splash story headlined "Migrant care workers bring dozens of family members." The Times got this totally wrong. It then used its own error as the basis for an editorial calling explicitly for forced expulsions of people living here legally. www.thetimes.com/comment/regi...
Join our Migrant Lived Experience panel. Fanstastic paid enagegment opportunity. Deadline: 17th August migrationpolicyscotland.org.uk/project/paid...
Paid Engagement Opportunity with Migration Policy Scotland - Migration Policy Scotland
Apply to join the MPS Migrant Lived Experience Panel Duration: October 2026 – March 2028 Migration Policy Scotland is a home for informed responses to migration and the challenges and opportunities it...
migrationpolicyscotland.org.uk
‘I don’t know where the kids will go’: beloved football cage in east London to be demolished
‘I don’t know where the kids will go’: beloved football cage in east London to be demolished
Hackney council will close Keith Miller sports pitch at end of year to build urgently needed social homes
theguardian.com
‘We plant belonging’: how nature charities and asylum seekers work together in UK countryside
‘We plant belonging’: how nature charities and asylum seekers work together in UK countryside
Environmental and refugee groups have joined forces to benefit lives and wildlife in Wales and elsewhere
theguardian.com
Black doctors in England four times less likely to get training places than white counterparts
Black doctors in England four times less likely to get training places than white counterparts
For one placement, black applicants had a less than 1 in 100 chance of being offered a place, NHS data shows Black doctors in England are four times less likely to be offered a training place than their white counterparts, according to analysis. As part of their medical training, doctors across the NHS are able to apply to placements within specific branches of practice such as psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology, and emergency medicine. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
First indications that an Andy Burnham government may soften its stance on immigration. The proposed earned settlement rules may no longer be applied retrospectively to people already in the UK.
Home Office may relax immigration reforms for Andy Burnham
Up to 1.6m migrants who are already in Britain — known as the Boriswave — could be exempted from a doubling of the qualifying period for leave to remain
thetimes.com
"It suggests, if the objective is to maximise economic contribution, the UK system may now be ‘too selective’: a liberal & flexible system towards economic migration routes is likely to produce better results overall." ✍️ @jdportes.bsky.social on UK migration policy 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/the-paradox-...
The paradox of selectivity - UK in a changing Europe
Jonathan Portes analyses how increasingly strict immigration policies may have impacted the overall economc contribution of migrants in the UK. He argues that if the objective is to maximise economic ...
ukandeu.ac.uk
Spoke to Libby Brooks of the Guardian for her briefing on the asylum bill + whether immigration politics changes after the transition from Keir Starmer to Andy Burnham www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Tuesday briefing: Inside Shabana Mahmood’s new UK asylum reforms
In today’s newsletter: As the home secretary details reforms to the asylum system, a look at the challenges Labour faces – and what better story could be told about immigration
theguardian.com
Hartlepool has had the most regeneration funding per head of anywhere in England. But the response from residents, still struggling with the cost of living, can feel muted. Read more: ft.trib.al/t7R6cMm
What breaks my mind about this is that there was precisely zero public glamour to reform indefinite leave to remain, outside of a highly online right fringe. The public debate is about small boats, not whatever the hell this is.
Jonathan Portes@jdportes.bsky.social · last mo.Leaving aside the political/personal/personnel drama, it should be absolutely clear to Burnham/his team that these proposals have disintegrated on contact with reality. Much better to ditch them or at least have another round of consultation on more realistic/sensible options.
Deeply unethical. Also it won't work, as the UK farrago demonstrated
Nektaria Stamouli@nstamouli.bsky.social · last mo.A group of EU countries is considering sending rejected asylum seekers to Rwanda and Uzbekistan, three European diplomats confirmed, as the bloc moves to shift part of its migrant returns system beyond its borders for the first time. www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
‘A total, utter nightmare’: small businesses on Brexit, 10 years on
‘A total, utter nightmare’: small businesses on Brexit, 10 years on
Cheesemakers, farmers, exporters and wine merchants say red tape, lack of vision and rising costs mean they have stopped trading, sold up or retired early
theguardian.com
🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨 🔟 Marking 10 years since the EU referendum, we've got a new report on the UK-EU relationship 🔦 It highlights ‘stark divide’ between the economic impact of Brexit and the govt.’s proposed response 🪜And sets out a ‘staircase’ of options for the future 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/events/ten-y...
It is extremely important that Labour understands that the movement of voters between Lab and Ref was not the crucial factor, it was consolidation of the anti-Ref vote and Lab voters turning out in droves. Otherwise Burnham will make the same mistakes as Starmer in targeting only one set of voters.
Nathan@nwylabour.bsky.social · 2mo agoConcerned about this 'swathes of ex-Reform voters returning to Labour' narrative taking hold. On the numbers it does not seem likely to be true - Reform got more votes at this by-election than they did across the constituency's wards at the locals.
If you know of research positions (academia, advocacy etc) lemme know pls. I’m esp interested in anything that contributes to fighting authoritarianism / far right / unaccountable corps/govs / global warming / for human rights I got a fancy PhD and a ridiculously long CV hire me UK/online
Some vg on the ground reporting of Makerfield, which tended to find Burnham outpolling Labour significantly, and especially with women (as polls, before inaccurate reweighted, showed). Overall, national media had skewed perceptions/expectations. Not realising X is a distorting mirror key to that
Having spoken to social care workers affected by the changes, I *hate* this language. Party management/vibes is a terrible way to make policy at the best of times but when the futures of several hundred thousand people is at stake, unforgiveable.
Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social · 2mo agoPolitco suggests the Home Secretary is finally going to concede/retreat on the central plank of the settlement reforms - as a "sop" to the left - to try to stay in her post. This sop is not making it impossible for a few hundred thousand legal migrants to retain legal status in the UK after 2028
Division in UK probably worse now than in run-up to Brexit, says Kim Leadbeater
Division in UK probably worse now than in run-up to Brexit, says Kim Leadbeater
Labour MP warns of voices fanning hatred on eve of 10th anniversary of the murder of her sister, the MP Jo Cox Political hatred and division in the UK is probably worse now than during the Brexit referendum, when Jo Cox was murdered, says Kim Leadbeater, Cox’s sister who is now also a Labour MP. Speaking to the Guardian’s Today in Focus podcast Leadbeater, who was elected to the same Yorkshire seat held by Cox in a 2021 byelection, said everyone in public life had a responsibility to try and ease tensions. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
More than half of Muslims experienced prejudice based on their religion in the last year, but three-quarters still feel the UK is a good place to be Muslim, according to a new report, ‘Understanding Anti-Muslim Hostility: Foundations for Action’ by @britishfuture.bsky.social & British Muslim Trust
Catching Any Answers in the car, I was struck by persistence in 2026 of a v tired trope about immigration. Does Belfast-style violence happen because legit concerns suppressed? Risks unthinking condoning of illegitimate racism & violence based on a silly claim about legit concerns being blocked
‘X accused of giving racists impunity after failing to take down ‘n-word’ and ‘p-word’ abuse’ - @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
X accused of giving racists ‘impunity’ after refusing to bar N- and P-word posts
Site takes no action over hate posts against UK politicians including Kemi Badenock, Shabana Mahmood and Zia Yusuf
theguardian.com
🇪🇺 🇬🇧 NEW: A decade on from the Brexit vote, the public have become more doubtful that the referendum should ever have taken place and more likely to say Britain should allow free movement for EU citizens in return for Single Market access – though they are still far from a wholesale change of heart
The Brexit vote 10 years on: study shows desire for closer EU relationship – but trade-offs temper rush to rejoin | King's College London
More people – though still not a majority – now think the referendum was a mistake
kcl.ac.uk
Luqman Saeed in Belfast: we are under some kind of house arrest. Members of ethnic minority are asking white friends to accompany them to reduce risks of attacks. www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/ju...
If you are a policy interested researcher we have opened a fantastic call for our Innovation Fellowships. Spend a year working with a policy partner on themes of resilient communities or digital society. We offer up to £120k. More detail below in this 🧵 www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...
