Reading London Playbook ("The PM seems confident, which is why he got his PPS to text all Labour MPs last night begging them not to sack him / giving important context on the Mandelson case") has reminded me: this just came out (doi.org/10.1093/pa/g...). Possibly of interest to Thatcher 'fans', too?

QMUL is advertising an exciting opportunity: a fully funded PhD studentship, working on European politics, ideology, and political 'myths' with @karlpike.bsky.social and @timbale.bsky.social. Details below. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DRB421/p...

Properly funding part-time study would be transformational for UK HE, enabling students to work full time while spreading their higher education over 5-6 years instead of the traditional 3. It's mad that the whole student finance system focuses on full-time study. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Other than the assisted dying bill, what happened to all the other private members’ bills this session? I was asked about this for Today in Parliament on BBC Radio 4. Full episode here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

New article for @thehousemag.bsky.social, this time on Early Day Motions. They are often dismissed as parliamentary graffiti, but even graffiti can sometimes be revealing. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

I was pleased to speak to Susan Hulme for yesterday's episode of BBC Radio 4's Today in Parliament about parliamentary war powers and the prospect of a House of Commons vote before any military deployment to the Middle East (segment starts at 8:05). www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Very happy to have been able to contribute to the latest Commons Library briefing paper on private members’ bills. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

"In the history of British government, the President of the [Privy] Council is a relatively recent creation. The first certain appointment to the office was that of the Duke of Suffolk in 1529..." Saving this one for the next time I'm teaching intro to British government to US exchange students...

A recent article in PQ advocated a ‘sortition of candidature’, where parliamentary candidates would be chosen at random from within the membership of political parties. But @philipjcowley.bsky.social, Paul Web & @timbale.bsky.social explain why this idea is unlikely to work. tinyurl.com/32fjx99v

*PSA OPPORTUNITY* 📢 New #ALevel Essay Competition for #Schools #Students & #Teachers run by PSA American Politics Group (APG) @psaamericanpol.bsky.social with the Financial Times @financialtimes.com 📆 Application deadline 16 March ➡️ Full details

Me in the D.Tel today www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02...

Interested in the intersection between policymaking, especially in the UK, and academic research? Come work with us! The @mileendinstitute.bsky.social at @qmulsse.bsky.social is advertising for a new Policy Partnerships Officer. Details and application here: qmul-jobs.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...

📢 Job alert - Lecturer in Public Policy (Teaching & Scholarship) A new position has opened at SPIR, one of the UK’s leading centres for the research and teaching of Politics and International Relations, with a uniquely diverse cohort of students. Find out more 👇 qmul-jobs.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...

A useful reminder on today of all days from our @qmulsse.bsky.social colleague @colmpm.bsky.social

Thoughts in the FT on why I don't like the idea of an automatic by election if an MP changes party - but understand why some people do, along with a possible compromise... How to deal with defecting MPs - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT

I have a new article just published in Political Studies: What is Centrism? Open access here: doi.org/10.1177/0032...

50% off all books at Bristol University Press 😲 - use code BUP01 to get your copy of 'The No-Fly Zone in US Foreign Policy' until 31 January! bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-no-fly-z...

New piece by me for @uk.theconversation.com, explaining yesterday’s Lords vote on under-16s’ social media use. ‘The House of Lords has voted to stop under 16s using social media – what happens now?’ theconversation.com/the-house-of...

My latest article is out in British Politics. I try to account for the distressed confusion gripping the UK government's economic strategy. In honour of the article's namesake, I include a tortured football analogy. It's free to read (open access) here. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Our latest Mile End Institute/Savanta London Poll is out! Labour - 31% Reform - 19% Greens - 18% Cons - 17% LD - 13% @standard.co.uk.web.brid.gy @mileendinstitute.bsky.social @savanta.bsky.social www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...

🎙️ NEW: Is being Prime Minister now an impossible job? 🤯 We are joined by historian @robertsaunders.bsky.social from the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to unpack why recent PMs burn out so fast: Brexit, COVID, new media pressure, and a broken leadership pipeline. 🎧 Listen: buff.ly/bhvHQf6

The House magazine: we'd like you to write about recently-published academic work... Me: www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

I rhyme to see myself / to set the darkness echoing.

My second most niche UK parliament opinion is that the official Elizabeth Tower rubber duck is too top heavy. Technically this is my three-year-old's opinion but I definitely agree. My most niche opinion relates to the fact that its official name is "Big Ben Duck". Not in our house, obviously.

I don't know what you're all complaining about, my Spotify age is 21...

“A pact or merger also helps Reform overcome one of the biggest doubts that people have about voting for it –namely its sheer inexperience. Nigel Farage as prime minister and Robert Jenrick as chancellor? Be afraid – be very afraid.”

Join and help to lead the Constitution Unit! @uclspp.bsky.social is looking for a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics who will also join our senior team and contribute to our research and impact activities. Applicants must have, or be near to finishing, a PhD. Apply 👇

Please join us this Thursday for the book launch of: 'Populist Radical Right Parties in Action: The Survival of the Mass Party' (Oxford University Press). 📕 🚀 Date: Thursday 20th November 2025, 17.00-18.30hrs (followed by reception) Location: Queen Mary University, Graduate Centre, Room GC201. /1

As Patrick Diamond and I wrote a few days ago for @renewaljournal.bsky.social..... renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...

Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society. Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇 renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...

Andrej Zaslove and I wrote down our thoughts on the recent Dutch election results, noting the continuing relevance of the far right and the hollowing of the (liberal) centre. 👇 @qmul-sse-cgd.bsky.social @qmulsse.bsky.social

Last week, inspired by @ldfreedman.bsky.social's "Hennessy Lecture", we explored the foreign and domestic policy implications of Britain's support for Ukraine. Feat. @drjamesstrong.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social, Patrick Porter and @evieaspinall.bsky.social⬇️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUvQ...

One observation re. the Dutch election is the enduring strength of the far right (I am not fully subscribing to the 'shift back to the centre' narrative). I should be on ABC Australia News channel at around 11 CET to talk about this and to show my plants (again). www.youtube.com/live/vOTiJkg...

At lunchtime today, we'll be exploring the policy implications of supporting Ukraine until the end, inspired by @ldfreedman.bsky.social's "Hennessy Lecture". You can book your place to hear @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social🔽

"‘Whatever It Takes?’ The Policy Implications of Supporting Ukraine". What does supporting Ukraine mean in practice? What are the implications for national security, tax policy, EU relations, energy security & more? 28 Oct 12:00 at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

I wrote a pre-election briefing / commentary ahead of the Dutch parliamentary election next week (October 29th). The main focus is on the enduring relevance of the far right, the salience of the immigration issue, and how mainstream parties contribute to its politicisation.

My write-up for The Conversation on how a strategy of "short-term pain for long-term gain" could be losing the government support from the more short-term-focused of its voters: theconversation.com/keir-starmer... Trailed in the FT this morning (www.ft.com/content/e984...)

Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social. www.ft.com/content/e984...

Latest from our politics of impatience project - some excellent analysis by @mbarnfield.bsky.social showing Labour is losing the jam today voters. Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h

Latest article in @thehousemag.bsky.social - on opposition. What % of government bills do you think are opposed in full by the opposition? That is, what % see the opposition vote against at second and/or third reading? www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

🚨 Job Opportunity! 🚨 Applications are now open for a new 2.5-year postdoc at @edinburghpir.bsky.social to examine how parliaments gather, analyse and use different types of knowledge - see the full job listing here: elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...

With Andrej Zaslove, I wrote a piece on the recent extreme-right riots in the Netherlands, and what should be learned from them 👇

My contribution to this issue calls for Labour to counter the growing illiberalism in British politics.

Very happy to be back on the Parliament Matters podcast, discussing the latest developments on the assisted dying bill with @ruthfox.bsky.social & @matthewengland.bsky.social. Thank you for having me! Listen to the episode here: pod.link/1714627828/e...

The assisted dying bill begins its substantive Lords scrutiny this Friday. Re-posting my piece on what we should expect now that the Lords has the bill. theconversation.com/assisted-dyi... #assisteddyingbill

After a fantastic few years, I'll soon be leaving @qmpoliticsir.bsky.social and the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social. I've been surrounded by inspiring and generous colleagues, had lots of time and freedom to pursue my own research agenda, and had the pleasure of running the Polling London project.

The London Mayoralty is 25 this year. As a birthday present, the Mile End Institute asked Londoners whether they feel politically empowered. In short, no. But why? For @theconversation.com, @elizabethsim0n.bsky.social and I dig into the clashing explanations. theconversation.com/its-25-years...

This moment never ceases to excite. Out in shops on 9 Sept...

I have a new article out at @polstudies.bsky.social. In "Electoral Hope", I make the case that supposedly irrational "wishful thinking" is actually a crucial part of how voters make rational sense of their role in democracies. OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...

Latest article for the @thehousemag.bsky.social - in which I think I discover most common politicians name, worldwide, is David Smith. Only then to discover it might actually be Maria... www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...