Pat Leslie
@palesl.bsky.social
Politics researcher at ANU (Australian politics, comparative institutions, quantitative methods). patleslie.net fan: Sheffield United F.C. ⚔️
@grugstan.bsky.social u like what you see??? www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
How could Britain look under proportional representation? See the results for your area
These visualisations from exclusive polling modelling show how the UK parliament could change under different voting systems
theguardian.com
Australia bucks the global trend by not panicking at polling like this. ON started the term on 5%, and only Samaras is flailing and shouting. Albanese looks as solid as any PM in the last 25 years. It's almost impressive that the establishment response has been virtually non-existent.
#Newspoll federal poll. Here is the table graphic as it appears on page 4 of The Australian, 20 July 2026, including primary votes, leader approval ratings, preferred PM, Hanson's performance, ranked first PM. No TPP is given. The poll was of 1238 voters, taken 13-16 July. #auspol
Most amazing local angle I've ever seen www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...
Artist behind Clinton portrait in Epstein files remembers first piece
A high school art portrait launched Petrina Ryan-Kleid's career. Forty years and several satirical portraits later, she has been reunited with the person who bought her first work.
abc.net.au
This will be a fun test of ballot-order effects. Binface at #3, Farage at #12.
A Record 3️⃣4️⃣ Candidates are Standing in the Clacton By-Election: 🙋 77 (Ind) ⏩ Alkhatip (FWD) 🗑️ Binface (CBF) 🎩 Brick (MRLP) 🙋 Cane (Ind) 🙋 Carrzee (Ind) 🔴 Clouston (SDP) 🙋 Cowne (Ind) 🙋 Cummings (Ind) 🕊️ Davies (FA) 🙋 Erlam (Ind) ➡️ Farage (RFM) [1/2]
Who Thinks Like an Economist? by Beatrice Magistro. This book shows how thinking like an economist can make voters resistant to populist appeals and supportive of welfare-enhancing policies. 📚 https://cup.org/4oSXage
Very happy to be a part of this great team with @ndelacerda.bsky.social, @rbakker.bsky.social, @sethkjolly.bsky.social, @jonathanpolk.bsky.social, @rdassonneville.bsky.social, @jellekoedam.bsky.social, @palesl.bsky.social, and @jillesheppard.bsky.social.
Several years of data collection, 2 editorial teams and a few rounds of R&R were all well worth it to finally see this paper in print. Thanks to all the survey teams and the many experts who helped make this possible. doi.org/10.1086/736578
Binface has never kept his deposit. Who is the shadowy financier behind him?
In politics, we’re torn between ideals and practicalities, aspirations and realities, the world as we want it, and as we find it But one day a manifesto comes along that reconciles both in every pledge. A rare moment of clarity and hope
ASPG seminar next week on Burnham’s proposed constitutional reforms in the UK by @palesl.bsky.social
Guardian stop telling Nigel your story about his crimes before you publish it challenge (2026). www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Revealed: Farage’s £5m gift reported to UK crime agency over money laundering concerns
Exclusive: Latest Guardian revelation about gift from cryptocurrency tycoon comes as Reform UK leader forces byelection
theguardian.com
We have been banging this policy drum for nearly a decade... see our report with New Local from 2018.
Place-based policymaking after Brexit: In search of the missing link? - New Local
This report explores the dividing lines that drove 2016’s decision to Leave. This report reveals the Brexit vote was a visible expression of the diverse economic trajectories, experiences and identiti...
newlocal.org.uk
Worth a look at how much of Andy Burnham’s stated preference (see below) is revealed today in his first major policy speech since becoming defacto pm. 🧵
England is more economically divided than north and south Italy or east and west Germany. Now that it looks like Andy Burnham is odds on to be the first northern PM since Harold Wilson, it’s worth my taking another looking at his book.
Quietly (250 views quietly) there is building cross-party support for Burnham’s primary vision: the decentralisation of governance and public services. Jeremy Hunt, an almost ludicrously dry fiscal conservative and former Tory Health Secretary, is cheering Burnham on here. youtu.be/Nn1OhcJ0688?...
Substack #3 Can Andy Burnham fix the NHS?
YouTube video by Jeremy Hunt MP
youtu.be
‘Confederate States of America’ No. ‘Um (surely not…) Child Sexual Abuse’? Nooo. ‘Okayy what about Casual/Sessional Academic’ Closer! ‘Aahhh. How about: Community Strong Australia’? Bingo!
"There is essentially a broken governance accountability framework within every Australian university.” Marija Taflaga is frank and very articulate on the deep systemic problem in our universities. I spoke to her on @3rrrfm.bsky.social about the effect on academics and students
Segments: Future Perfect: The Corporatisation Of Australia’s University Sector — Triple R 102.7FM, Melbourne Independent Radio
Earlier this month, a report from the Australian National Audit Office found that Australian National University (ANU) leadership approved a $250 million cost-cutting program without clear evidence of...
rrr.org.au
gough whitlam was a bazball PM. insane strike rate on a real shit tip
📢 New #DemocracySausage episode is out now! 🌭🎙️ Political Scientist @palesl.bsky.social joins @markgkenny.bsky.social & @marijataflaga.bsky.social to make sense of the collapse of the Starmer government and the rise of Andy Burnham. 🎧👉 ausi.anu.edu.au/news/democra...
Can we get Brendan McCallum in as a spad for Burnham. None of our batters last so we need to up the strike rate
In the times from former Tory leader William Hague. Even he hates party members voting for leaders, and it was his idea!!