Are out-of-work benefit claims at a record high? My new post open.substack.com/pub/inequali... , and also my take on More or Less this morning at www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Gall #datganoli a #chymdeithassifil helpu i greu gwrth-naratif ar gyfer #ceiswyr lloches – Blogbost newydd WISERD gan @sionedps.bsky.social a Nivedita Narayan @prifysgolcdydd.bsky.social ➡️ bit.ly/3K2hxrd

#Devolution and #civilsociety could help to create a counter-narrative for #sanctuaryseekers – A new WISERD blog post by @sionedps.bsky.social and Nivedita Narayan @cardiffuni.bsky.social ➡️ bit.ly/3VXvpW8

The committee recommends extending the period people are given to look for work from four weeks to three months.. to take a trauma informed and person centred approach amongst other things….

This week is a 5 day strike at University of Edinburgh in response to management decisions and practices around £120m cuts & UCU’s concerns around workloads, teaching, and research quality.

New blog from @ilonapin.bsky.social shares how government proposals and reforms to immigration policy mean we’re likely to see a growth, in poverty for children in immigrant families blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

📰What are the 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 in federalism, regionalism and territorial governance? 📌Don’t miss our editorial note 👉https://doi.org/10.1080/13597566.2025.2518752 @davidevampa.bsky.social @filippoboni.bsky.social @assefafy.bsky.social @merylkenny.bsky.social @marielylopezs.bsky.social & M.Zulianello

Thank you so much @haylesben.bsky.social :)

Back from annual leave to great news: our project on the rise of Reform UK in Scotland - co-led with A. Convery (and in collaboration with F. McMillan) has been awarded RSE funding. Starting Oct 2025, it explores Reform's breakthrough in Scotland in comparative perspective rse.org.uk/rse-awards-o...

In this blog we outline how UK government changes to Jobcentre Plus might play out in Scotland where skills, careers, health, are devolved responsibilities. We also ask whether it's an opportunity for a more radical rethinking of what a job centre is for.

New blog from group members @sionedps.bsky.social and @haylesben.bsky.social asking some questions about the potential future of Jobcentre Plus in Scotland

New job alert 📢 We're hiring a Senior Policy Advisor for our Scotland office. If you believe as passionately as we do that we can deliver a fairer Scotland free from poverty then this job could be for you. 🔽 1/3

📣 New blog: 'The future of Jobcentre Plus in Scotland: Multi-level messiness or a window of opportunity?' By Dr Hayley Bennett (@haylesben.bsky.social) and Dr Sioned Pearce (@sionedps.bsky.social). Read on the SPA website here ➡️ social-policy.org.uk/news/blog-th...

Looking forward to reading this 👍🏻

"This is absolutely the time when we must work out how to do a social tariff and build the infrastructure now" @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social explains why creating social tariffs can't wait until the next energy price spike 👇

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill has made its debut in parliament. It promises to deliver a Community Right to Buy

The closing down of youth clubs has only exacerbated the problems young people face, says a reader with experience in youth work.

Why devolution matters to the Labour social security reforms in an LSE Blog with @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social @haylesben.bsky.social Ciara Fitzpatrick, Mhairi-Jean Ross and Mark Simpson @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social

My first @ppp-journal.bsky.social conference was enjoyable and excellent! Loved seeing wonderful colleagues from way back when and now, interesting sessions in sunny Sheffield. Keynotes by @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social on inspiring @changingrealities.bsky.social alongside Lord Blunkett #ppp2025

Of interest to colleagues on @safety-nets.bsky.social including @sionedps.bsky.social who’s here today, David points to the tensions and contradictions inherent in this government’s devolution and decentralisation agenda #PPP2025

Some heatwave weekend reading on why devolution needs to be talked about more in connection with the disability social security cuts. @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

Excellence in social policy teaching, research and impact has been recognised by the 2025 Social Policy Association awards. Many congratulations to the winners! View the list of winners for each category in this thread and our story on the awards here: lnkd.in/eqN2PeVs (Images: Elizabeth Bailey)

The end of another great @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social conference ( @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social )was jam packed with papers on employment & social security research. You can join us: social-policy.org.uk/news/spa-pol... @sionedps.bsky.social & @ceridwenhughes.bsky.social or Levana Magnus. #York2025

🔥Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR job vacancies now live working at @uofglasgow.bsky.social on @safety-nets.bsky.social @changingrealities.bsky.social with some amazing colleagues first: a research assistant post on Changing Realities www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNQ284/r... 🧵for links to vacancies

Excitedly, today I'll be in a workshop to develop a special issue on Scottish social security (led by Mark Simpson, @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social & Sharon Wright). Am presenting a paper (co-authored with @clemmiehilloconnor.bsky.social & Anna Baillie) on governance & third sector in soc sec policymaking

🚨 New and led by the brilliant Giada Lagana: The EU and Northern Ireland — how peacebuilding is shaped by metagovernance, overlapping territorialities, and the strategic interplay of diverse actors. #EU #NorthernIreland #Peacebuilding #Metagovernance onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

How do devolved Scottish and Welsh employment programmes interact with reserved UK welfare and benefits on the ground? What could that mean for young people who are unemployed or in insecure work? Find out here (open access): www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Interesting work. Often 'empowering cities' is discussed in the context of England & the relationship with UK gov/Westminster, but for Glasgow there is an existing devolved governance layer i.e. Scottish Government, so a different context. (Might be of interest to @ccc-research.bsky.social members)

In ten years, the estimated value of unpaid care across England and Wales has increased by 29%, reaching £162 billion annually.

How do Scottish and Welsh devolved employment programmes interact with UK reserved welfare and benefits on the ground? What could that mean for young people who are unemployed or in insecure work? Find out here (open access): www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Hi 👋 we're moved over from X. This is the bluesky account for the @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social policy group for Employment (and Social Security). social-policy.org.uk/news/spa-pol...

A joy of @safety-nets.bsky.social project is doing timely research on local welfare assistance & working with Household Support Fund geeks (@alexclegg.bsky.social & @jedmeers.bsky.social). Our HSF briefings: safetynets.study/publications & Alex's excellent 🧵 below on today's #spendingreview changes

Dsaaaa up m ugg u

On my way to Derby to attend and co-chair this panel on Labour’s record (so far) regarding main social policy areas. More info below. And it’s hybrid, so still time to sign up 👇. Will post more later…

Are you a post-doctoral researcher with strong qualitative skills, a critical mind and a love for digging into the complexities of how people navigate work and health? Check out our vacancy at the Uni of York School for Business and Society: jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/rese... @uoysbs.bsky.social

Delighted to see this VSR publication comparing Wales, Quebec and Manitoba -six years and lots of discussion in the making (I was expecting my six year old when we all met in Amsterdam!)- we examine the dynamic relationship between shifting sub-state spaces of governance and civil society:

At the upcoming Spending Review, the Government can deliver a long-term settlement for the Household Support Fund, the largest form of discretionary crisis support in England. Read 'Renew and improve' today, published with support from @nuffieldfoundation.org‬ ⤵️ buff.ly/3YtKvZA

Didn't even clock that this had come out. A particular joy to get to write with Tracey Jensen @lancasteruni.bsky.social on the very hard work done by larger families living on a low-income. Hopefully timely in demonstrating the very hard work that getting by on not enough demands [tiny 🧵]

Excellent work by JRF in Scotland @carlaonion.bsky.social notably... "housing costs can significantly contribute to poverty, pulling people who would otherwise have incomes above the poverty line into poverty or deeper poverty" www.jrf.org.uk/child-povert...

Where will the cuts to sickness & disability benefits hit hardest? New @jrf-uk.bsky.social constituency analysis shows the % of working age people receiving these benefits in England & Wales. Some MP inboxes are likely to be brimming, as concern about these plans is widespread

absolutely - and we are already at such a low baseline - see Brian's responses to the announcements in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Something poignant in receiving my son’a first DLA payment on the eve of @teamlabouruk.bsky.social announcements on disability benefits cuts. Disabled people need support & solidarity not another, even harsher, dose of austerity. Wish I could tell my son that our leaders are better than this.

A focus just on 'costs' ignores how social security is an investment in people, to ensure they are able to engage in society, family, community, and work. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...

This is so disingenuous. People being in this benefit group does not mean they cannot be offered voluntary employment support (DWP just largely fails to do so) All it prevents is mandatory appointments under the threat of sanctions. That is not "support" www.gov.uk/government/n...

Flagging to Scottish based social policy researchers, charities, thinktanks, welfare rights, academics, community groups, public services etc. The Scottish Government is currently consulting on their commitment to 'mitigate the 2 child limit' until 18th April: www.gov.scot/publications...

For welfare reform to be successful, we need to rebuild trust in the system. Too many claimants experience long waits and wrong decisions.

Useful insight into Cardiff University reforms, (sadly could have been written about Edinburgh Uni too). nation.cymru/opinion/how-...

“The politics of unemployment” book launch seminar. Panel: Jay Wiggan, @annedaguerre.bsky.social and @chrisgrover.bsky.social

Side note: we have been working on this collaboration since 2015, just after my eldest was born. It’s a true labour of love. I’m thrilled that tomorrow we can finally share some results with the world thanks to @nuffieldfoundation.org having enough faith in this project to let us expand