Malt & Hops pub in Leith is asking for support as planning app was submitted to convert offices above the pub into Airbnb. They're worried this will reduce local business and potentially harm them as a music venue (Leith Jazz & Blues Fest). See link below: www.facebook.com/realaleleith...

Free online seminar this summer with John Clarke, one of the original authors of Policing the Crisis, on his brilliant recent book, The Battle for Britain: Crises, Conflicts and the Conjuncture. Co-hosted with The Autonomy Institute. culturepowerpolitics.org/the-battle-f...

Day 8 and 9 of our strike action against unnecessary redundancy plans. No debt, big reserves and we've already lost far too many people on voluntary.

Stop. Make them clarify if they actually mean 'cutting people's income because we think that will force them into work and magically get rid of all the barriers'. Because, if that's what this code means, it goes against the evidence and will do immense damage. And if that's not what they mean...

why does Jeremy Corbyn, a man who clearly does not enjoy leading political parties, keep running political parties

: Half of UK universities face a deficit next year. Up to 50 could close. That is a sector in crisis. Simply blaming a tuition fee freeze and nudging fees up with inflation is not a plan. Where is the long-term strategy for higher education? #Universities #HigherEducation

NEW on Wonkhe: Jim Dickinson assembles cross-national evidence showing Britain's shrinking graduate premium is a demand-side problem – and that closing courses won't fix it buff.ly/dGzdEAF

True. But look at the axis. A 40%+ premium is still a lot. It's the trend that should concern us, not the level (tho obvs there's variation around the average).

This is very good. It's easier to blame universities for a poor economy than it is to blame, well, everything else. But you certainly won't *fix* the economy by just forcing people into trades apprenticeships.

I've written something on Lisa Nandy's rhetoric of popular empowerment and her record in office. It speaks to a broader problem on the contemporary centre left: politicians seem to think they can say whatever they like, and act completely differently. modernmediatheory.wordpress.com/2026/02/18/r...

Join us next week! How do scientists use policymaking power if they have it?, with Erik Baekkeskov, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Melbourne. 25 Feb, 12.30-2pm, Room 2.15, Chrystal Macmillan Building Register: edin.ac/4rYm1jh

For those at @uoe-sps.bsky.social: Feb 17th: CAHSS Network for the Study of Work www.sps.ed.ac.uk/news-events/...

Brilliant report from @ipprscotland.bsky.social. A must read for all policy makers!🔻

Are you interested in where a career with social science could lead? From business & entrepreneurship to helping others in the community or shaping public policy, the social sciences provide the flexibility & skills to shape the career you want. Explore our careers hub➡️ acss.org.uk/what-is-soci...

Working isn't working. Our analysis confirms that work is not a guaranteed route out of poverty. In the latest data, the majority (55 per cent) of non-pensioner families in poverty had someone in work. This is up from fewer than two-in-five families in the mid-1990s.

Quite funny that Starmer's allies are waking up to this point now … Cuts to Winter Fuel… not in the manifesto Disability benefit cuts… not in there either Cutting jury trials… also not there Digital ID… no mention Raising employers NI… nope Freezing tax threholds… nah Contracts with Palantir… no

Why has the populist radical right failed in Scotland? @davidevampa.bsky.social, Alan Convery & @frasmcm.bsky.social examine how symbiotic polarization between SNP and Conservatives blocked PRRPs, until recently. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/WeHXRFw @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #polsky #PartyPolitics

Useful timeline of when different bits of the Employment Rights Act will take effect. www.gov.uk/government/p...

ASAP UK webinar: 'Social Security & Poverty reflecting on the post General Election period & looking ahead to the Devolved Parliament elections'. ASAP UK manifesto audit & the anti-poverty challenges in the lead up to the Scottish & Welsh elections: 26.2.26 2:30-4pm docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Will be here in March: SCOTTISH LEFT REVIEW IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE WORKERS' OBSERVATORY PRESENTS Platform Power and Edinburgh's Gig Economy www.tickettailor.com/events/scotl...

IMO this is indeed revealing about - JP Morgan (& maybe others) threatened to crash the gilts market in retaliation for the bank bonus tax. What happened? As @faisalislam.bsky.social says not much. So much for "bond vigilantes" (1/2) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In the UK academic recession, you will be at one of these stages since many unis buy the same cuts model from the same consultancies. It is always the same process: *Talk of belt-tightening *Incidental savings (e.g. printing, refreshments) *Travel budgets cut *Promotion freeze (1/4)

Tanzanian students! The Nyerere Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh - open for applications. Fully funded Master's scholarship for the MSc in Africa & International Development. For Graduates / current students of the University of Dar es Salaam. Closes: 12 Feb 2026. bit.ly/SPS-Nyerere

A dignified, fair and respectful culture within a benefit system, does not mean it is a ‘soft touch’. We can see this when comparing award rates for PIP and the relaunched Adult Disability Payments in the Scottish system.

ICYMI: here's my interview with David Edgerton, the historian of technology and of modern Britain, about the politics of technology and the climate crisis, the rise of China, AI, and much more open.spotify.com/episode/4tGI...

This is quite the comparative stat. And all for a system where universities are still all but keeling over.

There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen

Well that’s me locked out. No pay for the foreseeable future, all because I refuse to reschedule lost teaching, for which I have already lost pay as part of the strike. Please donate to support @sheffielducu.bsky.social members like me at www.gofundme.com/f/heubvb-sup...

For clarity, this government has so far: - cancelled HS2 north of Birmingham (previous government hadn't actually done that formally) - cancelled electrification of the Midland Main Line - cancelled West Yorkshire mass transit - cancelled the trans-Pennine high speed line

Placing the power to set the rates of interest & unemployment in the hands of an independent body whose regional branches are run by bankers and whose top job is held by exceptionally conservative and Wall Street-friendly technocrats has been a 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘺 in the United States. 1/2

We're looking for a dynamic leader to join the senior leadership team. The postholder will teach on postgraduate courses & contribute to research, research leadership, & policy engagement. We welcome applicants from different disciplinary backgrounds. Apply by 9 February: bit.ly/4qRkQlb

Couldn't resist this unwitting echo of 'it's time for some game theory'

There are early signs of a zombie apocalypse 🧟 Low-productivity 'zombie firms' appear to be perishing, with the share of jobs destroyed by closing firms at its highest level since 2011. This could indicate some short-term pain, but ultimately bodes well for future productivity growth.

New substack: why politicians should not be like newspaper columnists: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/more-than-...

Completely right from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com that we are increasingly in an age of zero-sum politics. In the latest edition of @renewaljournal.bsky.social, @paulmason.bsky.social wrote about what this means for social democrats: renewal.org.uk/articles/soc...

Reforms to Scottish disability payments imply the system can be kinder w/o being costlier. The Scottish benefit is paid at the same rate, but delivered with greater dignity and empathy (according to claimants). Fewer enhanced awards have been paid in Scotland ⤵️ buff.ly/IHtIJrE

Clear and concise. @drodrik.bsky.social is always important to read.

“15,000 university jobs are up for the chop. This is a national crisis in higher education and it is being allowed to happen.” Jo Grady on BBC politics live today.

Policy makers need to focus on forgotten driver of Britain’s jobs downturn – rising unemployment. Read our latest Labour Market Outlook 👉 buff.ly/I7Rng5S

Applications are still open to join the IFS for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in collaboration with the Administrative Fairness Lab. 📊 Find out more and apply here by midnight, Sunday 4 January 2026: econjobmarket.org/positions/12...

A graph that tells you everything you need to know about why British politics is in the state it is in.

Good news - DWP has finally published UC Health data, splitting out those who have migrated over from legacy benefits (ESA). What does the data tell us? ESA migration accounts for most of the rise in UC Health claims over the past year - but new claims explain more of the rise since the pandemic.

Definitely worth a read.

🚨New research published today🚨 Reforms to Scottish disability payments suggest that the system can be kinder without being costlier. Full story 👉 buff.ly/OAMzq06

Oxford Brookes University has a huge raft of AHRC-funded PhD studentships in the Arts, Humanities and allied subjects! Both fees and a stipend covered. Take a look at the ad below - the closing date is 30th January 2026. Anyone interested at all, get in touch! www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPM937/p...

Not a drill - there's a Britain-focused lectureship (FT, permanent) available. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ588/l...

Increasingly obvious yet usually badly discussed. The 1960s / 70s was the ending of the post-war European industrial growth era, 2010s the breakdown of its free market replacement together with the fraying of 1940s rules indirectly by 21st century technology.

Just before that OBR document dropped, I wrote this about why sluggish household spending is part of the grim plan open.substack.com/pub/gileswil...

The flat fee of £925 is a 6% levy on fees of £15,419 - a higher rate on lower costs, a lower rate on higher cost degrees. This will have a smaller impact than a 6% levy on the 19 institutions who thought it could cost them > £10m as their average international fees are above £15k

Yeah. The correct 'reform' of the OBR is it should be Parliament's creature first and foremost. It's good for HMT to have its own forecasts and for the Chancellor's ideology to be a partial driver to them!