In a new blog, @alwalker.bsky.social looks at Labour’s record on intergovernmental relations so far—where there have been improvements, where cracks are showing, and why devolved elections next year could mean a more challenging political environment for devolution. Read: bit.ly/4jbAR2r

For #devolution anoraks/those with a passing interest in how this blessed realm is governed, this is an interesting piece by @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk @alwalker.bsky.social of the current UK Govt’s ‘reset’ of intergovernmental relations & how IGR might be shaped by next year’s devolved elections

Wrapping up for Christmas with a piece looking back at how the UK government has approached devolved relations since Labour took office, and looking ahead to 2026 and the upcoming elections in Scotland and Wales. www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/uk-inte...

Interesting piece on the history of post-war place-based policy (which spells out some clear lessons for the government's pride in place programme)

We're looking for a Professor of Public Policy to join our senior leadership team. They'll play a leading role in teaching on the School's postgraduate courses, & make a significant contribution to its research & research leadership. Apply by 9 February 2026: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/profess...

Great new piece from @akashpaun.bsky.social on the decision to delay next year’s mayoral elections. “even on the government's own terms… then the case for shifting these polls to 2027 is far stronger than delaying them until 2028” www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mayo...

Can confirm this is an excellent role! You'll be joining a fantastic team at an exciting time and working on some really interesting stuff. Plenty of time to apply over the Christmas break!

If you’re involved in research impact, public engagement (in any form) then you really need to read this from @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social and @michaelkenny.bsky.social at @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Important piece on the challenges facing evidence-informed policy and how researchers and universities should respond (including acknowledging uncertainties and trade-offs, a wider understanding of what counts as evidence, and stronger connections between unis and local communities)

Excellent to see this from The Economist. We are slow walking into a constitutional crisis driven by the electoral system, and very few people are taking it seriously enough yet.

Exciting new MPhil at the Bennett School - applications open!

Really pleased to see a new commitment to place-based budgets today. Further progress towards the implementation of 'Total Place' principles as urged with @jesstud.bsky.social a couple of years ago. www.newlocal.org.uk/publications....

From now on, when discussing the budget, please use “is this measure bigger than the cost to the exchequer of gen Z drinking less” as your metric for assessing whether something actually raises or costs a significant sum

The Public Services Performance Tracker is regularly described as ‘sobering’ but this is definitely the first time we’ve had ‘almost lyrical’ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Devolution is essential for empowering our communities, councillors & mayors - but also our MPs. Read why in my opinion piece for @labourlist.bsky.social✍️ Do you agree? labourlist.org/2025/11/no-m...

Gov just published a new list cabinet committees. In short, looks like (1) big vote of confidence in Darren Jones from the PM, (2) existing missions + immigration are top of the government's agenda, (3) PM wants things to happen faster, and (4) Rayner's priorities perhaps no longer front of mind?🧵

For Welsh politicos, or those with a newfound interest in Senedd elections, this is an interesting read on the dynamics, and pressures building, within Welsh Labour after the Caerphilly by-election and ahead of next Spring's Senedd election #devolution #senedd

Excellent thread on Barbara Castle and the introduction of the breathalyser! It's an episode with an important moral: that having the courage to do the right thing, even if it's unpopular at the time, can save lives and bring public opinion with it over time.

Nothing like a communiqué being issued promptly! Surely worth the wait…

Good to see the government moving toward giving mayors this (relatively modest) fiscal power. As @jillongovt.bsky.social & @tompope.bsky.social argue here, more local revenues will support strategic authorities to become a mature tier of government: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...

This is the point. Policy *should not* be adjusted or fine-tuned in response to minor forecasting judgements. Decisions about whether or not to break a prominent manifesto promise *should not* depend on minor forecasting judgements. This stuff matters. We've got to do better than this.

In my view it doesn't make sense to have Police & Crime Commissioners in the context of mayoral devolution being rolled out across the country - among other things, mayors have a higher public profile and this should help better integrate services But an important "if" from @jimmcmahon.co.uk below

Nice example of how our @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk framework for measuring social and cultural infrastructure can cast a different light on important initiatives that may sit at the edge of policymakers' thinking.

Which is a long way round of saying: a lot of the pieces I’m reading on the crucial role of the BBC massively overweight news and underplay the wider role of 50 odd radio stations, a dozen TV stations and the vast majority of its output.

Fantastic Inside Politics by Jen Williams today:

Our new divergence is tracker out: auditing the extent to which UK/EU rules and regs have aligned/diverged since June. It highlights the increasingly awkward position which the UK occupies: of wanting to act like the EU on most regulatory issues, but without being part of the club.

I’ve written for @financialtimes.com about the need for belief in the future to get things built on.ft.com/47cO3Qs Why optimists build better infrastructure

Worth noting that in Nov 24 the govt wrote to South Cambridgeshire to say that voters were best placed to decide on council effectiveness and that Labour would bring an “end to micromanaging” I’d like to see the full text of this latest letter to see what has changed

Really enjoyed recording this discussion with David Runciman, covering threats to democracy, early 20thc theories of oligarchy, how algorithmic social media is changing politics, the problem with 19thc approaches to suffrage - and much, much more!

Tory policy is to revoke permanent residence (ILR) for everybody who does not earn £38k - deporting most nurses who have ILR This is put in the video as "who is unlikely to contribute more than they cost" NB: video does not say EU settled status is exempt No govt since Idi Amin has done this

EXC: English councils will still be poorer in 2029 than they were in 2010, according to the IfG. Report finds councils are increasingly providing social care and little else. Libraries, youth services, parks, all falling by the wayside. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

📣 Waves - the largest trial of digital democracy in Britain - is now live on the streets of #Camden. If you're a Camden resident and want to help shape @camdencouncil.bsky.social's future plan on adult social care, have your say now: who-cares.commonplace.is

Much to agree with in this piece on the Pride in Place programme @alwalker.bsky.social, on why it matters and where the questions still are.

Great blog from my @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk colleague @alwalker.bsky.social on the government's new pride in place programme. www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/unpacki...

The government's ‘pride in place’ programme aims to revitalise local places and empower communities. But it remains to be seen whether the expanded regeneration scheme will mark a meaningful shift in power from the centre, writes @alwalker.bsky.social. www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/unpacki...

New blog for @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk on the pride in place strategy I explore why the government is going quite big on this and has adopted the language of pride in place, and look at whether it marks a real shift in power away from the centre www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/unpacki...

The map below shows how far behind France and Germany we are in mass transit. In France, every place with over 150,000 people has some form of tram or metro. But if mayoral areas can 'become builders' as @tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social puts it in the foreword, we can turn this around. 🧵 1/9

📢 Applications are now open for 2026–27 entry to our two MPhil programmes 🎓 New: MPhil in Digital Policy 🎓 MPhil in Public Policy Ideal for professionals in government, business & civic sectors. 🔗 Learn more about the courses & funding & apply: www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/study/

I enormously enjoyed this conversation with David Runciman about the history of compulsory voting, how it came to be adopted in countries like Belgium and Australia, and what it could for British politics today.

Two great opportunities being advertised here at @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk! (Feat. me looking serious and determined)

'Democracy is not just about voting, but it is also about thinking through the issues and working out what you think.' Our Deputy Director, @alanrenwick.bsky.social, appeared on David Runciman's Past Present Future podcast to talk about referendums. Listen on YouTube 👇

Is there a reason I ask that the Times are using a picture of asylum seekers in a boat to describe rules for migrants who came on legal routes such as skilled worker visas for doctors?

I was delighted to contribute to this excellent @uclpolicylab.bsky.social & @powertochange.org.uk essay collection on “Labour and the communitarian tradition”, alongside @ewallis.bsky.social, @mds49.bsky.social, @caitprowle.bsky.social, @kirstymcneill.bsky.social & @andyburnham.bsky.social

This Pride in Place story is much more important for any Labour recovery imo than ID and ought to form a central part of its focus: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Interesting FGF report on regional growth and devolution - lots of common ground with our recent @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk report on collaborative territorial government (which gets a shout out) In particular, both reports argue for a more substantial role for the Council of the Nations and Regions

With today's announcement on Pride in Place, worth noting that policies such as this (it's a rebranding & expansion of Plan for Neighbourhoods) are popular but haven't cut through. Same goes for community right to buy, and community energy. w/ @luketryl.bsky.social @moreincommonuk.bsky.social

Starmer gambles on ‘levelling up’-style initiative to tackle Reform threat

This country made significant progress against racism in my lifetime - but we did not do so by chance. There is a visible visceral regression in experiencing of overt racism because the toxic fringe with the most extreme views have a sense of permission & impunity www.easterneye.biz/racism-in-uk...

The Government is doing its best at the moment to imply it has no problem with the ethnonationalism now rearing its ugly head. And I don't understand why. 1/5