Philip Cowley
@philipjcowley.bsky.social
📤 7553
📥 446
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Professor of Politics.
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Philip Cowley
Roland Smith
about 15 hours ago
'We're all going to hell in a handcart.... well not me personally.'
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Philip Cowley
Tilda Martin
2 days ago
🚗30 years after Yes Minister’s Jim Hacker ditched his chauffeur and ended up face down in the gutter, David Cameron also tried his hand at efficiency and attempted to reduce the use of chauffeur-driven cars across govt But did it work?
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
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'Economy Begins At Home': David Cameron's Attempt To Do Away With Government Cars
David Cameron, channelling Jim Hacker, tried to stop his ministers from using their cars in a bid to demonstrate thrift. Matilda Martin recalls how...
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/economy-begins-home-cameron-government-car-service-jim-hacker
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Making news in the Netherlands...
www.demorgen.be/nieuws/de-ke...
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De Kerstman is links-progressief, denken Britten
Als de Kerstman mocht stemmen bij de Britse verkiezingen, zou hij volgens kiezers in het land waarschijnlijk voor de links-progressieve Groene Partij gaan.
https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/de-kerstman-is-links-progressief-denken-britten~b45b9700/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
about 21 hours ago
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Philip Cowley
Stephen Bush
2 days ago
Galaxy Quest - a perfect movie, just a wonderful love letter to actors, sci-fi, Star Trek in particular, and to fandom - really deserves a proper physical release with decent extras. Think Weaver's right that releasing a R-rated cut would be fun, too.
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Sigourney Weaver Says She Wishes DreamWorks Released A Director’s Cut Of ‘Galaxy Quest,’ Reminisces On Sequel That Never Came To Pass
Sigourney Weaver reflected on cult classic Galaxy Quest and how she wishes the sci-fi satire had released an R-rated director's cut.
https://deadline.com/2025/12/sigourney-weaver-galaxy-quest-sequel-directors-cut-1236654835/
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Philip Cowley
Tom Gauld
3 days ago
“The last-minute christmas rush at the bookshop.” - my latest cartoon for
@theguardian.com
books
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Philip Cowley
Lewis Baston
3 days ago
An essay I wrote about the idea of building motorways in London. It is - I am not joking - nuanced. That’s my brand. I hope
www.onlondon.co.uk/lewis-baston...
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Lewis Baston: What if the London Ringways had been built?
Few regret plans for blasting circular motorways through the capital being abandoned, but the counterfactual is well worth pondering
https://www.onlondon.co.uk/lewis-baston-what-if-the-london-ringways-had-been-built/
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Philip Cowley
Mark Pack
4 days ago
Finally polished off a couple of stray chapters that had escaped me previously in this very good book from
@philipjcowley.bsky.social
- so good I did a podcast with him about it -
www.markpack.org.uk/175771/the-s...
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Late to this, as always, but my TV recommendation is Death by Lightning on Netflix. You just need to persevere past the first episode. The book on which it is (closely) based, Destiny of the Republic, is also really good.
5 days ago
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19 December - and the email arrived from S E Water explaining why the hosepipe ban is still in place...
5 days ago
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Philip Cowley
QMCBS
6 days ago
Check out Colm Murphy's
@colmpm.bsky.social
latest article in Past and Present:
academic.oup.com/past/advance...
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The Political Crisis of British Keynesianism, 1973–1983*
Abstract. In histories of Western political economy in the 1970s–1980s, Keynesianism is conventionally depicted as a victim of neoliberal ascendancy. Build
https://academic.oup.com/past/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pastj/gtaf012/8140335
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I agree - but it does pose the question of how (and why) the original REF proposals got it wrong.
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7 days ago
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Philip Cowley
The House magazine
8 days ago
🚨 The last issue of the House for 2025 is in Parliament now! 🚅 Heidi Alexander interview 🚗 The taxman v electric cars 🚯 Illegal waste dumping and crime bosses 📱 Laura Trott on phone-free schools 🎅 Is Santa a left winger? Read a sample and subscribe here:
www.politicshome.com/house-magazi...
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Philip Cowley
Paula Surridge
8 days ago
You'd think we could devise a way of flagging student work for AI use that didn't require the marker to put in more effort than the student did on the original submission *and* still write constructive feedback on that submission
#grumpymarkingday
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Philip Cowley
Rob Ford
9 days ago
Absolute brilliant christmas cracker from
@philipjcowley.bsky.social
here looking at who voters think Santa and Scrooge (and Postman Pat) would support, and what this tells us about party images and partisan projection (and dubious poll headlines)
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
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Santa votes Green, Scrooge votes Reform
Who do you think Santa votes for? Chances are it's whichever is your preference. But once that bias is discounted, it turns out Father Christmas is...
https://www.politicshome.com/opinion/article/santa-votes-green-scrooge-votes-reform
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Philip Cowley
Mile End Institute
9 days ago
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the final
@mileendinstitute.bsky.social
event of 2025 last week, where we marked the publication of "The British General Election of 2024" with own very own
@timbale.bsky.social
,
@psurridge.bsky.social
,
@stephenkb.bsky.social
and
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social
!
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Philip Cowley
John Peters
9 days ago
Two things are going on: First, voters tend to think ‘good’ characters would do the same thing they would do. Second, even some of these voters thought Santa would vote Green which must say something about the party’s image. (£)
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
@philipjcowley.bsky.social
on his poll
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Santa would vote Green and Scrooge would go for Reform, poll finds
Many voters see Father Christmas as a left-wing progressive who would back Zack Polanski’s party — although people tend to think he would share their own views
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/santa-vote-green-party-zack-polanski-2tmgnvrzw
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Philip Cowley
Oh...
9 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Article for the House magazine, in which I get a bit Scrooge-like about my Santa poll
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
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9 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Alan White
9 days ago
A very merry bit of political science from
@philipjcowley.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
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Santa votes Green, Scrooge votes Reform
Who do you think Santa votes for? Chances are it's whichever is your preference. But once that bias is discounted, it turns out Father Christmas is...
https://www.politicshome.com/opinion/article/santa-votes-green-scrooge-votes-reform
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Article for the House magazine, in which I get a bit Scrooge-like about my Santa poll
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
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9 days ago
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Philip Cowley
What sort of shameless headline-seeking shyster would do a poll like this...?
www.thetimes.com/article/8653...
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Santa would vote Green and Scrooge would go for Reform, poll finds
Many voters see Father Christmas as a left-wing progressive who would back Zack Polanski’s party — although people tend to think he would share their own views
https://www.thetimes.com/article/8653fd4e-f053-4380-9e04-381d5909715e?shareToken=00c7d68ae29c7b451394d374891ba0ab
9 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Photo caption writer on good form
9 days ago
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What sort of shameless headline-seeking shyster would do a poll like this...?
www.thetimes.com/article/8653...
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Santa would vote Green and Scrooge would go for Reform, poll finds
Many voters see Father Christmas as a left-wing progressive who would back Zack Polanski’s party — although people tend to think he would share their own views
https://www.thetimes.com/article/8653fd4e-f053-4380-9e04-381d5909715e?shareToken=00c7d68ae29c7b451394d374891ba0ab
9 days ago
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Ten league defeats in a row...
11 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Jim Waterson
11 days ago
Going to do a full culture war pivot over whoever decided we can’t have cling film on rolls of Christmas wrapping paper.
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Philip Cowley
Tim Bale
12 days ago
One of our
@qmulsse.bsky.social
students writing for
@brightblueuk.bsky.social
👏
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Lowering the voting age won’t fix political apathy
Just 18% of this newly enfranchised group would actually vote if there was an election tomorrow
https://centrewrite.brightblue.org.uk/lowering-the-voting-age-wont-fix-political-apathy/
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Philip Cowley
Ben Stanley
13 days ago
Looks like she canto repayo her advance-o
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Philip Cowley
Ben Yong
13 days ago
Everyone using a Durham university toilet is confronted with this exhortation
#inspirational
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Two weeks to go and the book they are all* calling "the perfect Christmas present for that difficult relative in your life who likes politics" is 23% off at Amazon.** * Well, me. * Other bookstores are available.
www.amazon.co.uk/Smallest-Roo...
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The Smallest Room in the House: 50 political oddities to read in more than one sitting
Buy The Smallest Room in the House: 50 political oddities to read in more than one sitting by Philip Cowley (ISBN: 9781785909702) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smallest-Room-House-Political-oddities/dp/1785909703/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AO0G1Y2AZ9X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pnBD_mP82ldtEgQUkntKiQ.p77K8Jt1arfjSAQLf7ItDPoars1jSLB6wFpi4yV8jk8&dib_tag=se&keywords=philip+cowley+the+smallest+room&qid=1760451015&sprefix=%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-1
13 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Chairman Moët
13 days ago
Imagine the poor immigration officer who has to read 5 whole years of your social media posts. You may not kill them but surely you've diminished their capacity to truly love again
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This is one for the academics... I have never understood the argument for allowing REF portability for "long form" outputs but not others. What's the logic?
14 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Dr Adam Evans
14 days ago
Another day, another example of the awesome headline power of the word 'could'
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Philip Cowley
Lewis Baston
14 days ago
‘The damp pink cylinders’
@secondmentions.bsky.social
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reposted by
Philip Cowley
But this bit did make me laugh. "So, Apsana, if you regain the whip, you will behave?" "Of course, Chief Whip. Sure thing"
15 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Jim Waterson
14 days ago
London Centric has got hold of Reform UK's internal candidate training plan for next year's local elections, where it hopes to make big gains in London. "Don't drink and tweet", focus on bin collections, and copy the Lib Dems' tactics.
www.londoncentric.media/p/reform-uk-...
(£/free trial).
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"Don't drink and tweet": The leaked Reform UK plan to win in London
Plus: Is this Google Map the way to unlock London's real hidden gem restaurants, are you the driver who owes Hackney council £250,000, and is the Bakerloo finally getting new trains?
https://www.londoncentric.media/p/reform-uk-leaked-candidate-training-nigel-farage-london
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Philip Cowley
The House magazine: we'd like you to write about recently-published academic work... Me:
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
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The professor will see you now - party unity
Published a century ago, “The Behavior of Legislative Groups: A Method of Measurement” did what it said on the tin. The Rice Index – as its creator...
https://www.politicshome.com/opinion/article/professor-see-now-party-unity
15 days ago
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Philip Cowley
As reported in the Times diary...
14 days ago
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reposted by
Philip Cowley
John Rentoul
15 days ago
Apsana Begum regained the Labour whip in late Sep & rebelled against it on her very next vote –
@philipjcowley.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
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The professor will see you now - party unity
Published a century ago, “The Behavior of Legislative Groups: A Method of Measurement” did what it said on the tin. The Rice Index – as its creator...
https://www.politicshome.com/opinion/article/professor-see-now-party-unity
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Philip Cowley
Steve Fisher
15 days ago
The Appendices for The British General Election of 2024 book are available (for free) under "Back Matter" at
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
The first 71 pages are constituency results analysis by John Curtice,
@lottehargrave.bsky.social
,
@patrick-pme.bsky.social
, and myself.
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The British General Election of 2024
The British General Election of 2024 is the definitive account of one of the most consequential elections in recent times.
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-95952-3
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Preach, sister.
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15 days ago
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The House magazine: we'd like you to write about recently-published academic work... Me:
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
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The professor will see you now - party unity
Published a century ago, “The Behavior of Legislative Groups: A Method of Measurement” did what it said on the tin. The Rice Index – as its creator...
https://www.politicshome.com/opinion/article/professor-see-now-party-unity
15 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Robert Hutton
16 days ago
Keir Starmer's Substack: the obvious choice for a middle-aged man about to find himself unexpectedly out of a job.
thecritic.co.uk/hes-...
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"I wonder why the public aren't aware of much of the amazing research that goes on in universities..."
16 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Robert Hutton
18 days ago
2Casa2Blanca
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Philip Cowley
Zoë Crowther
18 days ago
My
@politicshome.bsky.social
story from the summer about the AI-generated "I rise to speak" phenomenon in Parliament has made it into
@nytimes.com
🇺🇸 (sadly, without credit)
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Ceri Fowler
19 days ago
Deadline today!! :)
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The excellent David Cowling has been monitoring local by-election results. Of the 153 between 8 May and 27 November, which were contested by Labour, Labour defended 54 seats, holding 14 and losing 40. The Conservatives lost three-quarters of the seats they were defending and gained eight.
19 days ago
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Dr Nick Dickinson
20 days ago
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.
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Late to this, but the idea that every single budget resolution (and presumably clauses in the Finance bill?) is akin to a vote of confidence seems novel to me. clauseshttps://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/labour-mp-suspended-rebel-farm-tax-l6mlq5wxw?utm_source=Sailthru
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Labour MP suspended as dozens rebel over farm inheritance tax
Markus Campbell-Savours had the whip removed after voting against the change to agricultural property relief. He said he had a duty to represent his constituents
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/labour-mp-suspended-rebel-farm-tax-l6mlq5wxw?utm_source=Sailthru
20 days ago
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Philip Cowley
Stephen Bush
20 days ago
I need the most “Labour’s strategy and its obvious consequences” poll finding you have, and make it snappy!
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