Dungcargum, in the NE of Scotland. When you have crammed in a lot of gum, while driving in the car, go past a phenomenal amount of stinky dung, and have to decide whether or not to stop chewing.

Teams is still terrific for conducting and transcribing interviews, except when it comes to recording the positive noises I make when someone is saying something interesting and I want them to continue. Hello!

My first research assistant job (1995, while a Masters student) involved mapping all the regional boundaries in England to highlight the mismatch and invite the UK government to do something about it.

Stuart Hoddinott@stuarthoddinott.bsky.social · 2w ago

NEW BLOG: organisational boundaries in local govt, the NHS and police do not match up That's a problem for Burnham's devo ambitions He should intervene now to create an aligned system that paves the way for future public services devo More 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...

"Scenarios are tools for characterising uncertainty, not for making predictions of one most-likely future." Lazurko et al. present a framework to help researchers & practitioners make #biodiversity scenarios intentional, transparent, & aligned with policy-relevant questions. doi.org/10.1002/pan3...

You can't orchestrate the money markets

Dom White@domw.bsky.social · 4w ago

"Quick, we need a picture of John Williams for an article about the Fed's balance sheet"

Do you wonder about how women in the UK are known to be ‘more traditionalist’ and yet vote more progressive? Well, wonder no more! @cerifowler.bsky.social and I have a new paper in @electoralstudies.bsky.social on how this supposed paradox is a measurement artefact 1/ 8

Theories and measurement of political values and under-represented groups: the case of women in the UK

This paper argues that the primary divide in values (Inglehart, 1977; 1990) between safety and self-expression lies in a different place for discrimin…

sciencedirect.com

In our case we argue that the liberal/authoritarian scale contains one such item: support for censorship. We show this single item make women ‘more traditionalist’ We show women associate this item with pornography, and for many women this is an area of threat/safety. 5/8

Le Guin on the idea that there is a secret to getting good at writing.

Somewhat more constructively, and in lieu of me saying something rude.

Making Slides

I was asked to give a short talk in my Departmental Proseminar yesterday on the topic of giving presentations, and specifically about making slides effective. There is more than one way to give a good...

kieranhealy.org

If Algeria lose 2-0 and Croatia lose 3-0 Scotland might get one more chance to lose 5-0.

Delighted to see Scotland offer such strong support to Vinicius Jr #goldenboot

THREAD: How do the dynamics of devolution and the politics of health inequality interact? My new paper in @cphjournal.bsky.social explores the differentiation function of area-health comparisons. 🚨Contains Andy Burnham content!🚨 journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jc... 1/9

Tim is right, of course. Which means Burnham will be asked over and over and cant provide a straight answer. He has to say he’s getting on with the job of fixing the country, and everyone will roll their eyes, still wondering if there will be an early election if the polls change dramatically…

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · last mo.

Not sure I agree; but it's maybe worth making two points. 1: What you can't do as a takeover PM is rule out an early election and then call one (Theresa May's mistake). 2: What you can't do as a takeover PM is allow people to believe that you might and then not do it (Gordon Brown's mistake).

Burnham should show his mettle and grit, grasp the nettle, become PM, call a snap election, win 900 seats, turn around the country, get a late call up for England, and win the world cup 10-0. Not necessarily in that order.

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · last mo.

Not sure I agree; but it's maybe worth making two points. 1: What you can't do as a takeover PM is rule out an early election and then call one (Theresa May's mistake). 2: What you can't do as a takeover PM is allow people to believe that you might and then not do it (Gordon Brown's mistake).

Yet again, the ice lolly brigade trots out this biased framing of the key social Q: do you want an ice cream? The ice cream club is far more accepting of any absolute weirdo who says they want a Calippo. In my day, you were thankful to get an ice pole at home or one scoop of ice cream from the van.

YouGov@yougov.co.uk · last mo.

But is a Magnum actually an ice lolly? Despite being voted Britain's favourite ice lolly, the majority of Britons (59%) say a Magnum is not, in fact, an ice lolly yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

I have a chapter in this book on the (constitutional) effect of Brexit on Scotland. I'm sure it will surprise no-one that I don't think it has been good: www.cambridge.org/core/books/b...

The Brexit Effect, 2016–2026

Cambridge Core - British Government, Politics and Policy - The Brexit Effect, 2016–2026

cambridge.org

Oooh, we're entering the era of academic journals dropping their "qualitative checklists". Well done, Implementation Science. Maybe I'll send you a paper now. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Embracing complexity by reducing rigidity: guiding principles for the intersection of implementation science and qualitative research - Implementation Science

In this editorial we reflect on recent contributions that have focused on how researchers should involve qualitative research in implementation science. Implementation science as a discipline has firm...

link.springer.com

In full, here are the three job adverts, with details of the role we're seeking to hire - they are: i) T&S (three year fixed) www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DRW437/l... ii) T&R (perm) www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DRW437/l... iii) Research Associate (fixed) www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DRT154/r...

Lecturer in Politics and/or International Relations - Grade 7 at University of Liverpool

Discover an exciting academic career path as a Lecturer in Politics and/or International Relations - Grade 7 at jobs.ac.uk. Don't miss out on this job opportunity - apply today!

jobs.ac.uk

My contribution to the Brexit 10-year anniversary industry. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

The Professor Will See You Now: Tribal politics

Lessons in political science. This week: tribal politics

politicshome.com

It's a sort of recommendation...

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · 2mo ago

If ever I wanted to raise my blood pressure to the point where my own demise was likely imminent I would listen to this awful show. But I may make an exception for this episode since it features research by fab colleagues @karlpike.bsky.social, @philipjcowley.bsky.social & @mbarnfield.bsky.social

Much research about #science-policy interfaces focuses on providing #evidence to #policymakers. But the interfaces are 2-way & understanding policy processes is needed. @paulcairney.bsky.social et al. discuss the importance of overcoming “patchy knowledge" of those processes doi.org/10.1080/2574...

This morning the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have published a refreshed and updated list of Areas of Research Interest. These are an important way for researchers to engage with policy, so please do read them! www.gov.uk/government/p...

DCMS Areas of Research Interest

gov.uk

65.2 🫐 The honest, the efficient, & the trustworthy 🕊️ 🏭️ 🚓 @adinaakbik.bsky.social & Christina L. Toenshoff examine the relationships between national stereotypes and #Policy preference within the EU, uncovering the influence of stereotypes in #PublicOpinion

The honest, the efficient, and the trustworthy: National stereotypes and public support for EU redistribution | European Journal of Political Research | Cambridge Core

The honest, the efficient, and the trustworthy: National stereotypes and public support for EU redistribution - Volume 65 Issue 2

buff.ly

youtube.com/shorts/gJRtz... Mabel was not awestruck when encountering the rutting buck

20 May 2026

YouTube video by Paul Cairney

youtube.com

Just received this in my inbox - interesting both for what it says and that the Mayor's office (Burnham's office) saw the need to say it. Burnham can *run* for Westminster and remain Mayor while doing it, but if he wins he has to immediately resign. That's good for Burnham & Lab prospects imho 1/2

New from Professor Alistair Clark - Must do better: What the Q Manivannan row reveals about Scottish Parliament lawmaking www.holyrood.com/comment/view...

Must do better: What the Q Manivannan row reveals about Scottish Parliament lawmaking

The Green MSP has done nothing wrong, but the new session is off to an inauspicious start

holyrood.com

King (1975).

Sky News@news.sky.com · 3mo ago

Is Britain ungovernable?

In this blog Prof Catherine Durose, @sarahayres.bsky.social, Prof John Boswell, @paulcairney.bsky.social, @ianelliott.bsky.social, Prof Matthew Flinders, Prof Steve Martin & Prof Liz Richardson make the case for an optimistic & constructive agenda for English devolution. acss.org.uk/walking-on-t...

Pals, here is the complete session 7 starter pack for Members of the Scottish Parliament:

Terrific short piece by @paulcairney.bsky.social that's equally applicable to Canada's federal govt. Important for advocates (in public health and otherwise) to get past the 'speaking truth to power' understanding of advocacy that buys into this mistaken view of how policymaking works.

Policymaking doesn’t work the way Westminster thinks | LSE British Politics

There is a prevailing story in Westminster about how policymaking works. That story is a myth, but it still matters.

blogs.lse.ac.uk