There are so many reasons to agree with Calum here, not least of which is that local government is genuinely important to the lives of millions of people, and its reform should not be treated with a mix of whimsy and neglect by national government.

Calum Miller@calummillerld.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Deeply alarming reports that Ministers overruled official advice on council reorganisation. Oxfordshire should be worried. Labour must not carve up our county to deliver Oxford City Council’s Greater Oxford dream. One Oxfordshire is the fairest, strongest option. www.thetimes.com/article/8c8a...

💡A full house tonight with @schoolforgovt.bsky.social, @helenpearson.bsky.social, @anjahuja.bsky.social , Will Moy & @michael-sanders.bsky.social discussing growing global ‘evidence revolution’ movement Livestream ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4dd...

Last week I launched a new initiative with my friend and colleague Eliza Kozman - EduBoost, which aims to build, test and scale interventions to improve access to higher education - we've written about it here; medium.com/@michael.san...

Introducing EduBoost

By Michael Sanders and Dr Eliza Kozman

medium.com

This @policyatkings.bsky.social event tomorrow on evidence looks great - with @helenpearson.bsky.social @anjahuja.bsky.social @michael-sanders.bsky.social & Will Moy www.kcl.ac.uk/events/the-f...

The fight for facts: from ‘beyond belief’ to embracing evidence | King's College London

This event will discuss the ‘evidence revolution’ - the global movement that promotes the idea that scientific evidence should guide our decisions rather than unreliable opinions or beliefs – and the ...

kcl.ac.uk

This is what people have to resort to if you shame people for playing Warhammer.

"most people get some support from their parents... these people don't... so I can see there's a kind of very strong case for it" 💬 On Political Currency, Osborne and Balls react to our findings that direct cash transfers for care leavers lead to positive outcomes 🎧 www.podbean.com/media/share/...

70% of ppl believe at least one false or unproven health claim — such as ‘risk of childhood vax outweighs benefits’ or ‘paracetamol use during pregnancy causes autism’, suggests a new survey. My story for @nature.com examines the questioning of scientific evidence www.nature.com/articles/d41...

‘Staggering’ number of people believe unproven claims about vaccines, raw milk and more

Survey results suggest a rise in questioning of scientific evidence.

nature.com

Finally. When Cabinet Ministers warn the PM not to alienate the civil service, they’re saying what the rest of us see: this Government has a problem with how it governs. I served three PMs and a deputy PM as a civil servant. This matters for the change people voted for.🧵 bsky.app/profile/pick...

Jim Pickard@pickardje.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Starmer was challenged in cabinet on Tuesday re handling of Mandelson scandal Mahmood questioned his effusive praise of Sir Olly Robbins despite sacking him Reeves and Streeting raised concerns re damage to relationship between ministers and the civil service www.ft.com/content/8fea...

Read @michael-sanders.bsky.social's piece for the Big Issue on the findings from our major trial of cash transfers for care leavers ⬇️

Big Issue@bigissue.com · 4mo ago

Benefit cuts and sanctions are often part of government reforms to save money – but studies show free cash handouts could be more effective.

"The study is incredibly strong in terms of its rigour and the quality of its findings" 💬 In our latest blog, @michael-sanders.bsky.social & Hannah Piggott reflect on findings from the Irish government's recent large scale pilot of a basic income for artists ➡️ www.kcl.ac.uk/news/what-ha...

Family court delays are leaving families thousands of £ out of pocket, with no route to recover those costs when hearings are pulled at the last minute. I pressed the minister to explain what the Govt is doing to tackle these delays & the financial strain they place on families.

"what stands out is not just what the money was used for, but what it made possible" 💬 @ligia-teixeira.bsky.social at our event w/ @homelessnessimpact.bsky.social yesterday on our landmark trial on cash transfers for care leavers 📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJg1... 📊 www.kcl.ac.uk/news/2000-no...

Really pleased that this study is now out in the world. For everyone who worked on the project, many taking what felt like substantial risks, these results are a validation of being willing to take a risk and trusting young people to make better decisions for themselves.

School for Government@schoolforgovt.bsky.social · 5mo ago

A new landmark trial from @policyatkings.bsky.social, led by our director @michael-sanders.bsky.social, found that young people leaving care who were given a "no strings" £2,000 payment were more likely to be in stable housing and less likely to be sofa-surfing than those who did not receive it. ⬇️

💬 @michael-sanders.bsky.social: "These results highlight the potential benefits of conditional cash transfers, which are not only easier and cheaper to administer than other types of interventions, but also allow recipients more agency and dignity" Read more ⬇️

£2,000 'no strings' cash helps care leavers stay in stable housing, landmark trial finds | King's College London

Giving young people leaving care an unconditional cash lump sum improved their housing, wellbeing and health

kcl.ac.uk

Inspired by @jim.londoncentric.media @londoncentric.media recent coverage, I've written for @schoolforgovt.bsky.social a defence of "unreasonableness" by government in the name of protecting renters rather than landlords; www.kcl.ac.uk/news/in-defe...

In defence of unreasonableness | King's College London

Trying to be fair to landlords, the government was deeply unfair to tenants – before the Renters' Rights Act had even come into force

kcl.ac.uk

EVENT: The case for cash: do cash transfers work in practice? Join us, @policyatkings.bsky.social, @homelessnessimpact.bsky.social, @ligia-teixeira.bsky.social, @michael-sanders.bsky.social & @bobbyduffy.bsky.social to explore the impact of cash transfers on poverty ➡️ www.kcl.ac.uk/events/the-c...

“People used to say that the US was the world’s policeman. Some people will be wondering today whether Donald Trump is now behaving like the world’s hit man.” My comments on LBC this morning, urging the Government not to let the UK get drawn into this illegal, unilateral war.

This ruling shows that proscribing Palestine Action was a grave misuse of terrorism laws. Labour must accept its mistake, drop its appeal and stop wasting taxpayers' money suppressing civil liberties. Degrading counter-terror powers is a genuine threat to national security.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 6mo ago

UK ban on Palestine Action unlawful, high court judges rule

BOUNDED RATIONALITY (probably my least-bad book in recent years, over 500 pp.). @cfcamerer.bsky.social @ichotiner.bsky.social @michael-sanders.bsky.social @katymilkman.bsky.social www.amazon.com/Bounded-Rati...

Bounded Rationality: Heuristics, Judgment, and Public Policy

Amazon.com: Bounded Rationality: Heuristics, Judgment, and Public Policy: 9780262543705: Dhami, Sanjit, Sunstein, Cass R.: Books

amazon.com

🔊 "You'll be learning from the academics, as well as from people who are currently at the forefront of policymaking in health and social care" 🎓 🏥 Our Health and Social Care Policy MSc offers the opportunity to study alongside officials from the UK Department of Health and Social Care...

💬 Read @michael-sanders.bsky.social and Hannah Piggott's piece on the background of the Cash Lab, launched yesterday, and its plans to explore whether giving people direct financial support – without conditions on how they spend it – can break the cycle of poverty 🔗 ➡️ www.kcl.ac.uk/news/cash-wh...

“...universities need to be mindful of how their cohorts are becoming more diverse and what additional support people might need" @michael-sanders.bsky.social quoted in @timeshighered.bsky.social on the changing demographics of UK universities and what this means for institutional inclusivity

Quarter of students identify as LGB at some UK universities

Changing demographics prompt call for universities to review what support they offer

timeshighereducation.com

Congratulations to Prof Jennifer Rubin, Chair of our Advisory Board, who has been awarded a CBE for services to science and research in the New Year Honours List! SfG Director @michael-sanders.bsky.social said: “This is thoroughly deserved recognition for Jennifer’s exceptional contribution"

Prof Jennifer Rubin awarded CBE in New Year 2026 Honours | King's College London

She has been recognised for services to science and research

kcl.ac.uk

In which we learn from Francesca Gino that if, for example, some of your alleged research assistants were to allegedly fake data in some of your studies you should, as their boss, bear responsibility for it rather than trying to pass the buck. Incredibly valuable advice from Ex-prof Gino.

Every year, people mock this tree. But I love it anyway. It reminds us that if we stand together in tough times, we can overcome anything. Merry Christmas from my family to yours. 🎄✨

🌎 In the second of our Solidarity Symposia – Keeping democracy strong – join Prof Peter John, @gsamaras.bsky.social , Dr Joseph Sherlock & like-minded researchers to explore how we can understand & tackle developing risks to democracies £500 prize for best talk! ➡️ www.kcl.ac.uk/events/solida...

"...if you’re in favour of more radical solutions to workplace wellbeing interventions, I’d argue you should be pleased that we ran this trial. We now know that this doesn’t work..." @michael-sanders.bsky.social defends trials as an essential tool for ruling out what does, as well as doesn't, work

Why you should be pleased we run trials on nudges, even if you don't like nudges (or trials) | King's College London

Trials are essential to ruling out what doesn't work, as well as identifying what does

kcl.ac.uk

📅 Join us and @schoolforgovt.bsky.social TOMORROW to hear from Tamara Finkelstein – one of the most experienced former civil servants in the UK – as she reflects on policymaking in an age of uncertainty with @michael-sanders.bsky.social ➡️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1952171510...

I am mad! But I’m also fanpersoning that @statmodeling.bsky.social has mentioned me on his blog!

This guy’s mad about fake research, and he should be. Research incompetence, research fraud, and the promotion of fraudulent or incompetent work . . . these are not victimless crimes. statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/11/19/t...

EVENT | Dame Tamara Finkelstein DCB: in conversation Join @schoolforgovt.bsky.social, @michael-sanders.bsky.social and us to hear from one of the UK’s most experienced former civil servants, as she reflects on policymaking in an age of uncertainty ➡️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dame...