Wasn't this on Black Mirror?

Poverty rates in the UK are higher than at any point in the 20th century. The government is once again being urged to scrap the two-child benefit limit, this time by the cross-party Poverty Strategy Commission. Eliminating child poverty is a moral obligation for our party.

It’s out! An article by @clemmiehilloconnor.bsky.social and I about lived experience as a form of evidence in anti-poverty policymaking. Published in Policy & Politics journal bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...

I can’t help but wonder that if proposing a nationwide bathroom ban for trans people isn’t enough to get supposed trans allies to leave the Labour Party, what will actually do it? You should campaign for parties that align with your beliefs. If you don’t believe in bathroom bans, resign.

There are decades and more of research into how damaging the social security system is. But governments just remain wedded to an economic ideology that punishes the poor in a misguided belief it's the right thing to do.

Cuts to the health element of universal credit will push tens of thousands of people into poverty despite the increase in the standard rate.

Since publishing Rainbow Trap in June, I've been sharing ideas from the book across the UK and getting a feel for what ideas about LGBTQ data resonate with audiences and what ideas fall flat. Here's my list of 10 things I've learnt when talking about LGBTQ data 👇 📝 kevinguyan.com/2025/08/07/1...

19th July was my last visit as an event ambassador to one of the events I supported and one of several I set up. I'm stepping away from the Event Ambassador role now and stepping into the Regional Event Ambassador for Birmingham and the Black Country - with some big shoes to fill!

Govt dropped cuts to PIP, but today's Committee report highlights MPs' concerns that many disabled people will be pushed into poverty by remaining cuts to Universal Credit's health element. In evidence to the inquiry I warned of the hardship this will cause. 1/5 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Disabled people’s access to flexible work is not evenly spread. There is significant variation by workplace size, sector and education level. Read 'Opening doors' now ⤵️ buff.ly/d9KvJpj

TalkTV is airing attacks on trans people without broadcasting the views of those who support trans rights. Call on Ofcom to take action:https://goodlaw.social/66f6a3

Our special issue of the Journal of European Social Policy on bridging the continental divide in social policy research is out: journals.sagepub.com/toc/espa/35/3 We have an amazing line up of contributors and great papers that feature both European and North American cases. Must read :-)

Amnesty warns DWP's use of AI and automation in welfare is harming disabled people and digitally excluded claimants.

There are 130 UK universities. Many currently on recruitment freezes so no staff replacement (jobs dissolve). Many have already shed 200-400 staff (eg Cardiff, Durham, York). Some like Edinburgh are going for major job cuts. And others like Dundee nearly collapsed making 700 redundancies.

Parents are taking unpaid leave from work and "racking up debts" as a result of high childcare costs over the summer holidays

What are the impacts of the new Employment Rights Bill? Raising job quality and tackling hours insecurity will be key. Here's what you need to know ⬇️ Get all the details our latest Low Pay Britain report: buff.ly/9KXMofS

Well this is very much worth a read by @pollytoynbee.bsky.social "Former trustees suggest Aberdeen may have had complaints from clients who hate research about poverty and wealth that exposes unjust tax reliefs for the rich" www.inkl.com/news/to-all-...

Over 1.6m children are now impacted by the Two-Child Limit - 11.6% of all children This is a cruel policy that unnecessarily drags children into deeper levels of hardship It needs to go, and the longer it is kept, the greater the scarring effects on children's health and education will be

Excellent work by Academics Stand Against Poverty @academiclee.bsky.social www.bigissue.com/news/politic...

🏳️‍🌈 Rainbow Trap is currently 30% off in the Bloomsbury Summer Sale! Get your hands on a hardback copy for just £14.00 or $18.90: 📕UK: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/rainbow-t... 📘US: www.bloomsbury.com/us/rainbow-t... @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social @bloomsburypol.bsky.social

The problem is an exploitative, extractive economic system rigged against most people and our planet. The solution is not further cuts - we need to tax extreme wealth instead. 10 alternative proposals to disability benefit cuts from Labour MPs last week, totalling up to £120bn:

A Ministry of Poverty Prevention and Cure could look for answers to the terrible damage done by poverty to schooling, health and prospects.

Here is further press coverage of Lacking ambition: insights from three poverty audits of UK election manifestos by @academiclee.bsky.social & G. Arriaga-Garcia @unibirmingham.bsky.social The full article is open access here: doi.org/10.51952/978... @phys.org.web.brid.gy phys.org/news/2025-06...

Pleased to see coverage of @academiclee.bsky.social & G. Arriaga-Garcia @unibirmingham.bsky.social in the @bigissue.com You can read the full article in our new edition of SPR37 plus other excellent contributions to contemporary social policy. All chapters are open access! doi.org/10.51952/978...

Second presentation of @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social later today

Day two of @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social and the first of my presentations (a paper in the early stages of development) is ready to go... honest...

All ready for my first conference event for @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social - I've probably got more notes to speak to for this than my presentations...

And see @bigissue.com for coverage www.bigissue.com/news/politic... “The is a general lack of ambition to tackle poverty, and that’s what we need to revisit and challenge. It’s been a consistent problem in our society for over 100 years... 1/2

Open access version of the chapter is now online: bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/edcollchap-o...

New book chapter now published (I think open access soon to follow)

New blog post - Transforming Society ~ A call to action on poverty and inequality: Why the UK must enact the socioeconomic duty with @vanessaboon.bsky.social and @drdavebeck.bsky.social www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/06/25/a...

Continuing my work with my long-time collaborator, Dr hefin Gwilym, I want to share a digested version of probably one of our most cited articles (we call it the Safety-Net article). Available in this @SubstackInc blog open.substack.com/pub/drdavebe... #Food, #FoodInsecurity. #Foodbanks

In this webinar with Prof Richard Wilkinson, @academiclee.bsky.social & @vanessaboon.bsky.social of the Equality Trust, we discussed the Socio-Economic Duty as England has now opened up consultation. Here my webinar and read my article 👇 drdavebeck.substack.com/p/implementi...

📘 Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything. Join Kate Pickett for a talk & Q&A to celebrate the launch of the new Policy Press book 'Basic Income'. 📅 Wed 16 July | 7–8:30 PM 📍 Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham 🔗

This covers a number of the things I felt at the end

It’s almost as if real homophobia was hidden under a false sense of lgbtq normalisation and now that elites are happy to pull off their mask, the public is happy to follow…

Our May seminar is happening next week -details can be found here: forms.gle/grftG5DYJZjE... This month presenting will be @academiclee.bsky.social (aka me)

“At the die-in, while a narrator slowly read through a list of devastating health outcomes that HHS funding cuts will have on the LGBTQ+ community, over 100 participants fell to the ground, symbolizing the thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals who will die.” www.advocate.com/news/hrc-pro...

No parkrun this weekend but renovations on the allotment

Typical Easter Sunday at junior parkrun

@psrm.bsky.social publishes really cool stuff! This paper shows from that far-right parties get away with more explicitly anti-LGBT positions when they are normalised because moderate voters (hi centrist dads 🫡) *assume* they are less committed to these positions doi.org/10.1017/psrm...

Space adventure and exploration should be for the benefit of all humankind, not the whimsy of a few.

Added to the holiday reading pile @pauls-h.bsky.social

Tax cuts for American billionaires Benefit cuts for disabled people in Britain inews.co.uk/news/politic...

UK: Brexit is the biggest act of economic self harm any country will ever perform USA: Hold my beer...

Squeeze of low/middle income families is part of a deeper malaise. Political system is captured by big business and the rich. They fund political parties; control media & industry. Govts reluctant to cut corporate welfare, tax the rich. Power of corporations/rich is cause of austerity/poverty.

The OBR expects 2025 economic growth to fall to 1%, half the rate forecast in October 2024. Living standards to fall over the next five years. Govt cuts will reduce incomes of the poorest half by 1.5%. Austerity makes no economic sense. Must redistribute.

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Unlike my last study leave where I brought a flat in the lead up to a global pandemic, this one is going better not just location but also getting things written. Unheard of.