This vagueness is a key tactic. If Farage outright rejected the anti-vax conspiracy he’d risk losing those voters; if he embraced it, he’d alienate moderates. By staying “open-minded” he signals to everyone that he’s on their side.

I'm struggling to get wound up by a Minister for Business saying "I think it would be good for UK graduates to be more entrepreneurial". Sounds pretty sensible to me. Maybe I'm insufficiently Bluesky-brained today.

First Past the Post cannot handle this level of fragmentation. It will produce completely freak results. We can grasp this problem now, or wait for the train to crash.

Moving jobs is always a bit of a mishmash of life admin to sort. One that I actively enjoy is re-establishing my Payroll Giving. If you don't already use it (sometimes called GAYE), please do think about whether you can. It makes a big difference to charities to have reliable income.

This is disappointing and should absolutely be a signal to policymakers about the state of the life sciences market in the UK Merck aren't as significant as some of the other players in the UK, but global boardrooms are not impressed with UK life sci policy at the moment www.ft.com/content/5ace...

The only sensible reaction to a political assassination is "political assassinations are bad - full stop".

Very good article, this.

Ok, you can get to the files from The Oversight Committee site. Warning: It is not easy reading. oversight.house.gov/release/over...

Laurie Magnus: Rayner acted "in good faith", had "the intention to pay all appropriate taxes", "was twice informed in writing" that the lower rate was due, "sought quickly to correct the mistake", "acted with integrity", but didn't seek expert advice. That was a mistake. But I find this much worse⬇️

End of an era. Who would be a good replacement for Bragg? Needs a bit of a "renaissance" figure. My two ideas - David Willetts or Hannah Fry.

When my wife annoys me, the next time I make her a sandwich, I'll make the two slices of bread "point" in opposite directions knowing full well she'll hate the lack of symmetry but can't exactly complain about something made for her.

From 1 September I will be starting a new role as the inaugural Director of the Imperial Policy Forum at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social I've spent much of my career working w/ academia. Looking forward to working within a university for the first time since my PhD. www.imperial.ac.uk/the-forum/

Having to work away from both home and office today, meaning plenty of "cafe camping". I'm reminded that, despite its many other challenges, McDonalds basic coffee is pretty much the best available on the high street! ☕

How one of the gravest security lapses in history was kept secret https://on.ft.com/44u8wik

As the government's 10 Year Health Plan is announced, @swoolnough.tkf.bsky comments on the specific topics in the plan, saying 'The government has to be honest with the public over what trade-offs we should expect in the care we receive.' buff.ly/Xm0jmUN

Busy day, only just checking into the test match... How on earth is Shubman Gill still batting??!

Willing to admit I'm more excited about this England team than any since 2005. Ready to have my heart broken - memories of England batting collapses litter my cricket fandom - but.....

Edi Rama as usual rocking his white shoes look

Wrote this about Twitter... could write it today about Truth Social.

This whole thread by @paulskidmore.bsky.social on org change in policy/political environments is excellent, but this one stood out for its neat encapsulation of a perennial challenge I've seen in every place I've worked

Delighted to share this news on the appointment of Professor Samra Turajlić as the Director of the @cruk-mi.bsky.social.

Just discovered @duncanweldon.bsky.social's peak Centrist Dad skeet thread. It's like moths to a flame in there. (This was an incredible line up year, btw. Foos played in a thunderstorm in Reading. Magical)

Immigrant families are being forced to put up signs saying 'I work in a care home' to escape the racist violence that's been unleashed in Northern Ireland I come from this part of the world and I cannot tell you the sense of profound shame and horror this fills me with. It disgraces us

Today is #SocialMobilityDay. Take seven minutes to watch the incredible video below ❤️ www.linkedin.com/posts/93perc...

Was the #SpendingReview good for UK R&D? Read @cancerresearchuk.org's perspective from Iain Foulkes here - it is a mixed picture... www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-res...

UK government R&D spending settlement is essentially flat in real terms, locking in place the substantial increase promised in the last parliament. Plotted here in 2023 £bns, corrected for inflation with GDP deflator

I made a streetview roadtrip simulator where we all vote on a direction every 10 seconds Also we have to vote to change the radio station. Enjoy! > neal.fun/internet-roa...

A column which raises the frankly wholly believable / quite worrying scenario of a generation of diplomats who learned their first diplomatting through Civilisation 2...

Excellent thread on the challenges for health spending, even as health is set to get an above-inflation budget increase this week 👇

R&D spending is in the headlines today on the back of a breathless press release. Enthusiastic coverage is always welcome, but - Pretty much flat in real terms - No info on whether increases are backloaded - Could still be tough for UKRI Need the detail on Weds www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

This is a pivotal moment for cancer research and the wider UK R&D environment. Today, building on insights from our research community, we have outlined 5 steps Govt must take to strengthen cancer research and continue delivering life-saving discoveries. news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/06/05/5...

Massive h/t to @nickhuwjones.bsky.social for a lot of work pulling the article together

The next few months will determine the outlook for the UK #LifeSciences research landscape for a decade. An article from me on how Government needs to maximise the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls: news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/06/05/5... 1/

Survival for many cancer types is continuing to improve, highlighted by new data released by @cancerresearchuk.org today. However, it is improving at the slowest rate for fifty years. Changes are needed to ensure the UK is making the most of new research 👇 www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

115. Disappointed with myself. Creeping realisation that I might be getting to an age where I find it easier to remember faces than names...

Punitive state vandalism. What might play well politically with the voter base will hurt America in the short and long term. on.ft.com/4kq1bW4

ECB: England's big year of cricket starts here! Warm dry spring, ready for an important summer! England weather:

Brilliant partnership with other charities and Tesco 👏

Outstanding

Skype pulled most incomprehensible bag fumble of all time. A 15 year head start. Total ubiquity. Added to the Oxford English Dictionary by 2014. Only to fall nuts-first into irrelevance at the exact moment when all other communication was made illegal. Truly, the Pete Best of videoconferencing. RIP.

Stellar panel for this webinar on R&D clusters - do sign up at the link below 👇 #ResearchAndDevelopment #SciPol #UKresearch #universities

As we enter a period of major global instability- what The Economist termed ‘the Age of Chaos’ we need new thinking. So I’m delighted to announce this major new programme on Global Disorder, in partnership with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...

This is a brilliant scheme. I strongly recommend people to apply. www.ukri.org/opportunity/...

Went one better. It seems to have invented an entirely imaginary film for mine.

As someone who spent an early part of my career having to advocate for military kit projects with silly acronyms/names, if the below is legit, absolute respect to the person responsible for naming the "Wide Wet Gap Crossing" 🤜🤛

Apparently educating yourself about supply chains, trade and international relations, and explaining how they work to people is elitist. But spending your life reading opinion polls and devising strategies how to use them to your advantage to get into power makes you a man of the people.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has just announced that £13.9 billion of funding will be allocated for research & development for the coming year.

Classic @jburnmurdoch.ft.com thread

A brilliant day at @cruk-si.bsky.social today with Scotland’s First Minister @johnswinney.bsky.social , Iain Foulkes and Owen Sansom! It was great to meet with some of our amazing volunteers and researchers, and hear about all the incredible science that’s going on in Scotland.