Speak for England, Big John In the face of racist attacks, the food influencer represents a form of patriotism that is modest and decent. By James Baggaley

Terrific piece on England by my greet @uclpolicylab.bsky.social colleague James Baggaley: www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Big John, England and why an ordinary, decent patriotism matters. My piece for the @newstatesman.com. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Fantastic piece by @jimbaggaley.bsky.social on Big John in the @newstatesman.com “For Keir Starmer…to respond to the growing division and isolation, they must speak about these people, lend them their platform, and stand up for them: their decency, love of community, and country.”

“Today’s Maga-inflected version has far more in common with the “move fast and break things” worldview of Dominic Cummings than it does with the everyday, practical wisdom of Aristotle.” Top piece from @mds49.bsky.social on the new MAGA blue labour. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/703...

Today we launch This Place Matters in partnership with @citizensuk.org and @moreincommonuk.bsky.social. The project aims to reimagine social cohesion policy in light of recent tensions. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

“It's uncomfortable for the government, it's uncomfortable for the OBR itself. And I think in a democratic process, it feels pretty uncomfortable more widely still.” @chrisgiles.ft.com UCL Policy Lab Hon Prof on the challanges for the OBR and economic projections. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Keir Starmer must reassure pragmatic liberals. There is no appetite among British voters for Trump-style disruption and populism. @mds49.bsky.social and @luketryl.bsky.social on latest polling from UCL Policy Lab and @moreincommonuk.bsky.social. www.newstatesman.com/comment/2025...

“First and foremost there’s Luke Littler, the teenage wizard who lives on pizzas and vapes, and spends his winnings on FIFA packs but carries himself like a wizened member of the local Rotary Club”. magazine.newstatesman.com/2025/01/03/h...

A look back on a fantastic year @uclpolicylab.bsky.social and some reflections on why understanding the connections between people, place and politics will be essential to building a better politics. Thank you to all the brilliant folks we worked with in 2024 👏 www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Our year in review and finding hope in the politics of connection. @jimbaggaley.bsky.social provides reflections from a year of activity at the UCL Policy Lab and the role connection plays in building a better world in 2025. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

World-leading experts gather to explore new tools to tackle shared political and social challenges. @sjakeco.bsky.social reflects on a week of action and why we’re helping lead an ambitious project to develop new tools for building social change and understanding. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

We were delighted to host Pat McFadden MP at @uclofficial.bsky.social East today as he set out the governments plan to reform the state. At UCL Policy Lab we’re proud to be partnering with researchers, community leaders, civil society and govt to help drive a new era in public service reform.

@transportforlondon.bsky.social you keep over charging me on tap out and in - but your saying your system is still down for refunds. When are people getting the money they’re owed?!

I can't believe Dems are posting Pete Buttigieg clips with “this guy has to run”. People really haven't learnt. The McKinsey pipeline ain't it.

As always a brilliant bit of work from the team at @powertochange.bsky.social. At the risk of loving anything that proves with my priors, focusing on the physical spaces in which we meet and connect is vital. We love talking about council-run closures (the report rightly highlights them)...

We're hiring a Project Manager (Progressive Ecosystems) to join our team! The role will help lead the Progressive Ecosystem project, fostering the skills, networks and ideas that social changemakers need to transform our politics and policy. Deadline: 1 December 2024. More info ⤵️ bit.ly/3V1z1Xg

We're hiring! Join the @uclpolicylab.bsky.social as Project Manager (Progressive Ecosystems). Apply here ➡️ bit.ly/3V1z1Xg

"Belonging comes before belief" Fantastic to hear from @hahrie.bsky.social alongside a brilliant room of organisers, campaigners and changemakers. Vital reflections on how we bring more people, regardless of our differences, into the work of social and economic transformation.

Creating a sense of place and community in a time of social unrest @jimbaggaley.bsky.social www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

It can feel like authenticity is hard to come by in politics lately. Prescott was authentic to his fingertips, his strengths but also his flaws on show for all to see. He was a working-class lad with a passion for politics, combative yet caring, two Jags and a bitter. We need more like him today.

Reeves will be judged on who she speaks 'for'. The Chancellor set out wide-ranging reforms in her Mansion House speech. But can her measures deliver on the economic and political aims of the government? Our latest anylsis: www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

"A push for more effective economic tools is essential for long-term investment. Still, it will remain vital for these more high-level strategic interventions to be bridged with voters' everyday concerns". Our latest anylsis on Mansion House and more. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

We're hiring a Project Manager (Progressive Ecosystems) at the @uclpolicylab.bsky.social. Join the team and help support those endeavouring to bring about social change 👏👇 www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/40...

Joined us on Bluesky? You can also sign up to get the latest edition of our magazine, which has the latest news, anylsis and interviews with leading thinkers, leaders and organisers. Sign up today ➡️ bit.ly/3D5a6cS Read the latest edition 📷 bit.ly/4eF75PZ

“By coming together, we give life to our democracy.” A glimpse of what it will take to build a healthier politics at tonight’s founding assembly for Liverpool Citizens at St George’s Hall.

"We have to revive the central elements of that mid-century settlement: a mixed economy in housebuilding and careful regulation of credit and property markets". @tobylloyd.bsky.social on how we plan and build better homes. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n... .

Come for the piping hot takes and stay for the charity shop bargins 💫

It's understandable why climate campaigners 'go big' when talking about decarbonisation but as @samalvis.bsky.social points out....ensuring we focus on the everday is vital to long-term support for net-zero. Folks aren't thinking about COP when they go to change their boiler...

“They were asking residents to do seven-page risk assessments for £500 grants”. Britain has developed a growing tendency for fairly pointless bureaucracy and it isn’t just bats. What is striking is how community orgs are far better at identifying ways to adapt. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

We've created a UCL starter pack. go.bsky.app/CXM2zSJ

Your blue-sky reminder to go read @thefence.bsky.social and not man baby’s ’democracy dies in the dark’ newsletter. thefence.substack.com/p/off-the-fe...

As it seems to be getting busy here, we've created a starter pack for UCL People. Check out our brilliant colleagues. Do reply, and we'll add you to the list 👏 go.bsky.app/CXM2zSJ

At the very real risk of triggering a debate on what we mean by 'reform'. I've created a "Public service reform" starter pack. @danhonig.bsky.social @gracewyld.bsky.social @halimakhan.bsky.social @samfr.bsky.social amongst the many others who've inspired us at the Policy Lab. go.bsky.app/BybN6sr

“There is a long history of environmentalism within the Labour movement and the left, in being interested in access to nature, and the quality of that environment.” How might politics build a lasting environmental movement with @guyshrubsole.bsky.social. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

I get the Guardian has quit twitter but when is the campaign to end pub queuing arriving on Blue-sky!? We can’t lose one of the great campaigns of our generation.

“If Democrats won’t learn from this defeat and argue for system change rather than the status quo, then Donald Trump will. And he will carve a new tomorrow in his own image”. Spot on from @bnhwalker.bsky.social. Dems need to stop being the status quo. www.newstatesman.com/internationa...

Why we can find hope in the everday. A week on from the US election...now seems a good time to reshare an essay I wrote for @uclpolicylab.bsky.social Ordinary Hope publication on the power of the everyday in politics. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Today @uclpolicylab.bsky.social and the University of Sydney are launching a new report on social isolation and loneliness. We think connection matters for us as individuals, but it also matters for building better politics. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Successful public services reform will be driven by improving the human interactions within services. A key message from today's UCL @instituteforgov.bsky.social public service conference.

How can we transform public service design and delivery by focusing on the power of human relationships? We talked to @nick80.bsky.social and Osian Jones about the work being done at Camden Council to build a new relational approach to public services. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

New to Blue Sky and looking for starter packs on policy and politics? 🧵 @jesstud.bsky.social pulled together the original UK public policy starter pack. go.bsky.app/LtNiL1o

"Tools of empowerment, not compliance, are needed to achieve Labour’s missions....moving towards empowerment need not and ought not mean abandoning a focus on outcomes". @danhonig.bsky.social for the UCL Policy Lab on the need for a new era in public service reform. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

“But what I have found at the Trump rallies I’ve been to is not stupidity, but frustration, pain and a longing for respect.” Peter Hyman indeintyfing need for respect, something we also found in @uclpolicylab.bsky.social + More in Common research. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Smart piece in today’s Observer by Peter Hyman, one of the architects of the Government’s long term“missions”, with a big hint that Starmer will now also take aim at more immediate goals on living standards, making work pay and (brace yourselves) immigration. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

"Seemingly small acts of community can be incredibly transformative." I sat down with the brilliant Francesca Zanatta, who is developing the kinds of relational approaches we'll need to see real improvements in NHS and social care. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

The killer line from UK commentary of US election comes from Peter Hyman “There is a swamp, and it does need draining...government hasn’t performed for about 20 years, hasn’t performed on the economy for working people. It’s done what people see as unnecessary wars.” www.thetimes.com/article/aa36...

“It is worth reflecting on the need for Democrats, and those who share their politics more broadly, to once again confront how many ordinary Americans view them as distant from their everyday concerns”. Early reflections from the team here @uclpolicylab.bsky.social. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...