You have work on politics in Europe, European integration or the EU? Submit it to next year's @epssnet.bsky.social conference section on "European and EU Politics“ 👇 @bjornhoyland.bsky.social & I are open to diverse proposals with a European dimension.

Delighted to feature in the latest issue of Political Insight! My piece describes how data-driven campaigning works in practice, challenges the dystopian narratives surrounding it, and outlines key safeguards to ensure that these techniques enhance - rather than undermine - democracy.

Radical right accommodation really does not work. New paper out with this exceptionally talented team @katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk doi.org/10.31235/osf...

The lovely people @britishelectionstudy.com released the random probaility data which means we can begin to unravel some unanswered questions about turnout in 2024. A substack to follow but a starter of social class and vote/non-vote. Which party represents the working class? None of the above.

Thrilled to share this 16-country conjoint experiment with @catherinedevries.bsky.social & @simonhix.bsky.social. We find strong support for majoritarian reforms and tougher legal enforcement, even when paired with policies people dislike. Policy-inelastic institutional preferences exist! A 🧵...

EPSA have announced that they will hold a conference in July 2026. 😵‍💫 We understand that there might be some confusion about EPSS and EPSA. 👉🏽 So we thought we would clarify some things. A short 🧵

The European Political Science Society is now accepting paper & panel proposals for its annual conference! 📢 Call for Papers: EPSS 2026 – Belfast
 🗓️ June 18–20, 2026
 📍 ICC Belfast
 📬 Deadline: Nov 7, 2025 🧵

This is one of the central things to understand when it comes to polling on policy, the reason you pay people to do it properly is so you aren't just feeding clients a bunch of "here's what people's top of the head views are" and actually design something useful

A new 'public opinion analytics lab' has been launched: publicopinionanalyticslab.github.io/people/ Led by @miriamsorace.bsky.social, @sarahobolt.bsky.social , @drjennings.bsky.social and a thematic leadership team, POAL advances research & teaching of public opinion measurement and analysis.

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If we wish to mentor better, at any level, we need to: 
📝 Normalize messy work
💬 Separate critique from identity
🎯 Praise process, not just product
🧭 Teach how to navigate feedback
💖 Model compassion (for ourselves, too) 9/

We have a new political science association that is not-for-profit. We can create the best kind of European political science in an association with transparency and accountability. Where we work on being more inclusive instead of creating profits for a few. Sign up below to learn more and join.

#EPSA2025 prelude 😍

Out now🎉 - Evidence (from distribution analyses and machine learning models on EES 2014-2024 data) of strong similarities and growing convergence in EU public opinion, particularly on economic issues. Common right-ward shifts on immigration, yes - but underlying drivers still vary. shorturl.at/KCx0S

Together with @paugrau.bsky.social, we have just posted our first Substack, which is our quick take on the outcome of the labour rights and citizenship referendums in Italy on 8-9 June 1/ open.substack.com/pub/simonhix...

Kick-off Meeting and Workshop on AI for Survey Data Collection Methods and Data Analysis — connect and learn from other researchers in this field 📅 Wed 9th July, 10am-4pm 📍UCL IOE, London Submit your proposal by: Thursday 29th May, 5pm Link for info and sign up: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

🚨 Labour is hiring a data scientist in our data and insight team! It's an incredibly interesting and high impact job where you'll get to work on cutting edge polling, modelling and analysis that helps Labour win elections. Apply below 👇 labour.org.uk/about-us/wor...

You wouldn't know it from today's newspaper front pages screaming "betrayal", but new YouGov polling finds that 66% of British people now want the Government to deliver a closer relationship with the EU, compared to just 14% who don't

Some sharp insights from our very own @laurenleek.eu on the challenges AI poses to survey quality!

Some snapshots from our event on Friday, where we discussed the future of polling, the challenges ahead, and how AI is shaping survey research. Massive THANK YOU to all panelists for sharing their wisdom with us! Here’s a thread with some key take-aways:

Delighted that my paper with @kevincunning.bsky.social on "Still second-order national elections? Evaluating the classic model after the 2024 European elections" has just been published by @wepsocial.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0140... 1/

Our @pimlicat.bsky.social: "It signals a shift away from years of pointless divergence towards something more pragmatic, even constructive. But while this deal may ease tensions and smooth select trade flows, it’s no game-changer for the UK economy. Not yet." ~AA www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...

A UK-EU deal (roadmap?) aligned with the "Bresignation" mood (theconversation.com/bresignation...) : very cautious tinkering around the edges of the TCA, but the direction of travel is the right one. Strategically weird to close on fisheries first ... they must enjoy setting traps for themselves!

Very much enjoyed the launch today of Public Opinion Analytics Lab @poalab.bsky.social - a partnership set up by @miriamsorace.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social and me - bringing together researchers at Reading, LSE and Soton. Fascinating discussion of polls, bots/AI and identity politics.

Irresponsible policy and at the worst possible time for universities in the UK. I’m still waiting for as much as a concept of a plan from this government for HE.

Funded workshop at Southampton on the topic of "Public Opinion, Identity, and Security in Europe"! Workshop will be held on June 16. Please submit your proposals/abstract by May 21. (Please help circulate widely!) Kamil Zwolski, John Denham, and I are the coordinators of this event.

Once again everyone will pay the price for a govt that refuses to confront the trade-offs it faces. Failing to fix or pay for social care not only makes social care worse, it makes local govt and the NHS worse. I suspect voters will care more abt that than 50k off net migration via care visas.

And politically stupid, too. Alienates core vote (& they do have places to go) in pursuit of votes he'll rarely get, & demolishes his core policy agenda of growth, making his re-election more unlikely. Even those (inc. me) willing to cut him a lot of slack feel betrayed. A truly awful day for UK.

What Labour needs now is *not* Unis making mass redundancies and worse social care and NHS outcomes … As someone in leadership pointed out to me this week, there’s a lack of coherence, strategy, which means we must also doubt many (any?!) could say what Labour stands for.

Exactly. When people have economic opportunities and functioning public services, immigration doesn’t even register for many. But when immigrants are viewed as competition for resources, demand for anti-immigrant policies and parties increases

And the left falls for it …

Given the local election results in the UK, a short #thread - based on much of our own research - on the vicious cycle of radical right support that we have seen in many countries. 1) When radical right parties (such as Reform) are electorally successful established parties move right on immigration

The Treasury has made it clear it thinks allowing young people to come to the UK to work or study could boost the economy. And it's popular too. Our polling shows two thirds of the British public are in favour of a youth mobility scheme with the EU. So let's make it happen. 👏

Come work with us!! We're a research-intensive department, investing heavily in political behavior research—and we're a super-friendly bunch 😊. Happy to answer any questions if you're interested, and if not, please help us spread the word! www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMK616/l...

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Substantial shift in British public opinion towards the US Only 3 in 10 Britons now agree there is currently a 'special relationship' between the US and UK - a 17-point drop from May 2024. (1)

Hopefully this means bolder and more inspiring action on UK govt’s side than what we’ve been seeing so far - while some EU-UK rel options may still be perceived as radical, there is ample space for important concessions! theconversation.com/bresignation...

Come work with us!! We're a research-intensive department, investing heavily in political behavior research—and we're a super-friendly bunch 😊. Happy to answer any questions if you're interested, and if not, please help us spread the word! www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMK616/l...

I had a sneak peek at some data which is being published by Meta today, showing that Britain is less divided by class than you might expect: www.economist.com/britain/2025...

Despite regrets about the UK’s decision to leave the #EU, the majority of voters are resigned to the fact & ready to move on. Miriam Sorace @miriamsorace.bsky.social looks at this public sentiment in one of our most read @uk.theconversation.com articles of 2024. #Politics #Brexit #Bregret #Rejoin

There's a golden job to join us as a research fellow with @rikkidean.bsky.social on democratic process preferences in Europe, funded by the ERC ✅ 3 years 📊 Mixed methods 💰 Resources for data & conferences 👥 Good group of people working on similar things www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMI418/r...

@eui-eu.bsky.social writing paradise 😍

Deadline extended to Feb 28th! Great opportunity which comes with secondments in top political analytics/insights units too!

Election studies not only provide research data, they are a part of a democracy. With them, there can be nationwide accountability over claims of why electorates support different options and therefore what that support justifies, or not. They are a crucial litmus test of political consequences.

Exciting news for legislative scholars! We're thrilled to announce the release of #ParlLawSpeech, featuring full texts of parliamentary speeches and corresponding bills & laws in 7 parliaments + in the EP. Access full texts via @gesis.org & check out www.parllawspeech.org for R tutorials. (1/2)

Our article 'A Crisis of Political Trust?' led by @viktorv.bsky.social is now out in @bjpols.bsky.social! We use >3,000 surveys in 143 countries between 1958 and 2019, finding that trust in representative institutions has generally been declining in recent decades. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Deadline extended to Feb 28th! Great opportunity which comes with secondments in top political analytics/insights units too!

If you want to win an election against far right opposition you need to bring together two groups. The activated liberals outraged by the other side and the more moderate groups who want govt to make their lives less difficult. Not by trying to win the enthusiastic supporters of the other side.

My bit for tomorrow’s Observer on Farage’s rise, Tory existential crisis and the wobbling Labour Jenga tower www.theguardian.com/politics/202...