Stephen Boyd
@stephenboydippr.bsky.social
Director IPPR Scotland Views my own
✍️Following the recent anti-Muslim attacks on Leith Walk, @sukhadatatke.bsky.social reflects on and the rise of the far-right, racism and anti-immigrant protests across Scotland for @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...
Why anti-immigrant attacks don’t define Scotland’s true welcome
Sukhada Tatke reflects on the recent anti-Muslim attacks on Leith Walk and the rise of far-right, anti-immigrant protests across Scotland, tracing…
heraldscotland.com
Highly recommend my colleague @sukhadatatke.bsky.social's @heraldscotland.bsky.social article on the recent Edinburgh attacks, her experience of living in the city and how policy should respond to rising nativism www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...
Why anti-immigrant attacks don’t define Scotland’s true welcome
Sukhada Tatke reflects on the recent anti-Muslim attacks on Leith Walk and the rise of far-right, anti-immigrant protests across Scotland, tracing…
heraldscotland.com
On the @quietriotpod.bsky.social "Kenny Campbell is joined by someone who knows the Scottish political scene extremely well: Stephen Boyd, director of the progressive think tank IPPR Scotland." @stephenboydippr.bsky.social @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
B-SIDE: The Scotland Lab
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 3 July · 1hr 1min
podcasts.apple.com
My latest piece for the @heraldscotland.bsky.social is essentially a plea for everyone to read @sarahoconnorft.ft.com 's brilliant book www.heraldscotland.com/news/2625048...
It is time to face up to the full facts on AI
We would do well to reconsider the prospect of Artificial Intelligence replacing people while degrading work and care
heraldscotland.com
Very much enjoyed speaking to @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social for the @quietriotpod.bsky.social podcast bsky.app/profile/quie...
Quiet Riot@quietriotpod.bsky.social · last mo.🏴 B-SIDE: The Scotland Lab 👨🏽🎓 Can Burnham learn from Scot devo? 🪨 What might his plans mean for Scots? 🌹 Should Scot Labour split off? @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social with @ipprscotland.bsky.social's @stephenboydippr.bsky.social 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/7555... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
🏴 B-SIDE: The Scotland Lab 👨🏽🎓 Can Burnham learn from Scot devo? 🪨 What might his plans mean for Scots? 🌹 Should Scot Labour split off? @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social with @ipprscotland.bsky.social's @stephenboydippr.bsky.social 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/7555... 🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
B-SIDE: The Scotland Lab
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 3 July · 1hr 1min
podcasts.apple.com
🏴 15 years ago today, the Christie Commission set out a bold vision for Scotland's public services. Most agreed change was needed. But its recommendations were never fully implemented. ☠️ What did happen next was what it had warned against. 🎙️Hear it from @davehawkey.bsky.social
Sadly this from Larry Elliott is factually wrong (and Hunt, if he was cited accurately). Even if UK GDP were 4% larger today, it would have grown 19% from 2015 to 2025. US has grown by 27% in that time. This is bad: it gives a false impression that a 4% better performance is somehow outlandish.
The Guardian@theguardian.com · last mo.I stand by what I said 10 years ago. We were right to leave the European Union | Larry Elliott
New PM and new Scottish parliament must seize “double reset” to deliver for the people and the planet. Read our full statement here ⤵️https://www.ippr.org/media-office/new-pm-and-new-scottish-parliament-must-seize-double-reset-to-deliver-for-people-and-planet-says-ippr-scotland
Really enjoyed these. Few unconnected reflections having spent some time on this issue 1. public consistently ask for long form communication from politicians. Social I think is a dead end for ‘elected’ officials or government. You need other people on there doing politics but ministers? Not sure
Chris Clarke@warringfictions.bsky.social · 2mo ago1/ I have written a series of articles this week, ‘Notes on Trust’, about where cynicism towards politicians comes from. The below chart, which I shared last year, was the thing which initially prompted me to write the piece. I just want to set out some of the key arguments here…
I've been thinking a lot about Neil's interview with the RtF Commission alongside @stephenboydippr.bsky.social's critique of the SNP's 'timid' brand of social democracy. The challenges the former is talking about are ultimately a consequence of the problems the latter identifies...
Expert warns SNP policies including free university and dental care 'not free'
When it forces difficult trade-offs between spending and taxation, the free services model requires honest debate about costs, priorities, and…
heraldscotland.com
Neil Mackay@neilmackay.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe privilege, entitlement and ignorance of the middle class when it comes to children going hungry is as sickening as it’s disgraceful There’s 14m people going without food in Britain and all the middle class do is sneer and blame. The lack of empathy is astonishing In @heraldscotland.bsky.social
"Oh," the producer said, "all of that." In 13 minutes. You see the problem, right? The AI industry has made so many claims about its past, present and future that it's almost impossible to have a reasonable critical conversation about it: bsky.app/profile/pete... 7/
Pete Miles@petermiles.eurosky.social · 2mo agoCory Doctorow was interviewed by Anna Foster on BBC Radio 4 Today on the topic of AI. I've captured a transcript of the questions here in a short thread (with the help of Google AI voice-to-text. Good AI, thank-you.) 1/5
that would make a great title for a report :) www.ippr.org/articles/mor...
More than a safety net: The welfare state as springboard to economic success and a better country | IPPR
It is widely proposed that higher social spending – especially in the form of social security benefits – is damaging to the economy. Yet the evidence prese
ippr.org
Anticipating a weekend of sublime, transcendent beauty...
"The compensation fund will purportedly be set up without congressional authorisation and operate under a Trump-appointed committee accountable only to him" Why this isn't a bigger story is beyond me - the corruption is now completely overt and off the scale giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Trump’s egregious deal with his own justice department
Anti-lawfare fund could offer payouts to president’s allies and Capitol rioters
giftarticle.ft.com
"McKee should conduct an urgent short-term review of the 'messy, contradictory and wholly unfit for purpose' current policy framework for public service reform." @stephenboydippr.bsky.social spoke to @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social for @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2612526...
Swinney insists new cabinet is about reform, not cuts, as SNP slims top team to eight
Jenny Gilruth has been named Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary in John Swinney's new 'focused and streamlined' Cabinet.
heraldscotland.com
A very good afternoon to the absolute hero who organised and parked this beauty in the middle of little Tommy’s far-right hate march. ❤️
I see Simon Heffer, in Michael Gove's Spectator, is once again repeating his lie that Enoch Powell's Rivers of Blood speech wasn't about race.. I debated Heffer recently (at the Oxford Litfest) - here's what I said. archive.ph/bqKZF
It is not the most important point, but nice to see Jess Phillips cite the brilliant civil servants with the ideas here. The caricature of the change-blocking bureaucrat is badly inaccurate
Cat Neilan@catneilan.bsky.social · 3mo agoJess Phillips has quit
For the love of God, can you please stop referring to the forecast fiscal gap as a "black hole"?? #bbcscotland #SundayPolitics
🗳️ Before you head out to vote, here are some of our recent publications linked to the election. 1. A blog setting out five key tests on what will make a good manifesto: www.ippr.org/articles/wha...
What makes a good Holyrood 2026 manifesto? | IPPR
A good manifesto, in general terms, must surely blend a positive vision for the country with a credible and coherent policy programme which addresses voter
ippr.org
Like a gut punch, this quietly spoken sentence from Lubaina Himid who is representing the UK at the Venice Biennale www.ft.com/content/2a58...
![Himid has lived in Britain for more than seven decades, grown up here, been educated here, built a life and a career here
- and yet the question of what "here" actually means, of who gets to belong and who is merely tolerated, has never left her work. "We do a thing, Magda and I, if we're booking a table on the phone, I will always do it," says Himid, whose RP-ish English has little trace of either London or Lancashire. "But when we go to a place we don't know, I always want Magda [who was born in Poland and is white] to go first. She signifies one thing visually and I signify another thing audibly. Together, we are incredibly belonging and unbelonging."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yhbp52uzo4vsn5hlkbrfvxoq/bafkreieix4etf3ysmqh3q7byirpq77phrqnu46njn466psddyk46qhi46i)
"It's difficult not to be really disappointed. The manifestos don’t engage with the very significant challenges Scotland faces." Enjoyed my long chat with @neilmackay.bsky.social in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Head of top Scottish think tank issues warning to parties ahead of election
Stephen Boyd heads the influential think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland. As the election looms, writer-at-large Neil Mackay…
heraldscotland.com
‘No political party is offering Scotland what it needs. And none are levelling with the people about how bad things are’ As elections loom, the head of the influential think-tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, puts political manifestos under the spotlight In @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Head of top Scottish think tank issues warning to parties ahead of election
Stephen Boyd heads the influential think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland. As the election looms, writer-at-large Neil Mackay…
heraldscotland.com
Characteristically brilliant and insightful @chrisdillow.bsky.social piece that will resonate with those following/enduring the Scottish election campaign. bsky.app/profile/chri...
Chris Dillow@chrisdillow.bsky.social · 3mo agoNew substack: Westminster politics is something which no intelligent person can look upon with anything other than revulsion. chrisdillow.substack.com/p/the-stupid...
"The consequences of a political culture that shuns hard decisions, trade-offs and the grind of effective policy implementation are becoming manifest." My piece for @prospectmagazine.co.uk on the Scottish election. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/sco...
Scotland needs renewal—but will these elections deliver it?
Parties from across the political spectrum are unable to face up to reality
prospectmagazine.co.uk
Paywall down at @prospectmagazine.co.uk! And for the next 10 days when loads more interesting stuff will be coming up Here's my last piece, on Mandygate, but don't just read that! Poke around and you'll find so much more. Fill your boots for free! www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/730...
The Mandelson saga is really about Labour factionalism
Keir Starmer is a process man, but his mishandling of it in appointing a US ambassador shows how rule-by-clique dominates his party
prospectmagazine.co.uk
"The consequences of a political culture that shuns hard decisions, trade-offs and the grind of effective policy implementation are becoming manifest." My piece for @prospectmagazine.co.uk on the Scottish election. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/sco...
Scotland needs renewal—but will these elections deliver it?
Parties from across the political spectrum are unable to face up to reality
prospectmagazine.co.uk