Stephen Holden Bates
@stephenholdenbates.bsky.social
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Senior Lecturer in Political Science, Birmingham, UK.
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Stephen Holden Bates
Phil Burton-Cartledge
about 19 hours ago
At a loose end on the evening of Wednesday 20th May? In or around Birmingham? Wondering why politics is in a right state and where it's heading? This is the talk for you.
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the_beka
6 days ago
Declassified photos of Stasi agents modeling undercover disguises.
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Better Streets for Birmingham
5 days ago
This morning we took a 43 minute cycle from Longbridge to the City Centre. We wanted to show what the current end-to-end
@a38cycleway.bsky.social
cycle route experience is like. Note that it includes section on pavements, which are shared paths, indicated by the circular blue signs.
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A38 Cycle Lane - Longbridge to Birmingham City Centre 2026 (Sped up)
YouTube video by Better Streets for Birmingham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p46xs6Vy3uA
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Laurence Cooley
11 days ago
This is a great opportunity for someone with research expertise in processes of autocratisation and democratic resilience to work on a cool project with nice people.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQY811/r...
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Research Fellow at University of Birmingham
Discover Research Fellow jobs and more in higher education on jobs.ac.uk. Apply for further details on the top job board.
https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQY811/research-fellow
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Chris Dillow
13 days ago
New substack: income inequality has fallen slightly, but inequalities of power are a big problem:
chrisdillow.substack.com/p/one-cheer-...
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One cheer for falling income inequality
Income inequality has fallen slightly. This does not mean inequality isn't a problem.
https://chrisdillow.substack.com/p/one-cheer-for-falling-income-inequality
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Ralph Scott
28 days ago
🚨 NEW REPORT! 🚨 What is the state of the UK academic job market in politics, and what does this mean for the field and
#highered
? In a new
@psaecn.bsky.social
report,
@lawrencemckay.bsky.social
@williamlallen.bsky.social
and I find worrying trends in job adverts and HESA data from 2012-25
#PSA26
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Academic Job Market Trends in Politics and International Relations - Political Studies Association
Academic Job Market Trends in Politics and International Relations: Evidence from the UK, 2012-25 Authored by: Dr Ralph Scott, Dr Lawrence McKay, and Dr William Allen Read the full report here Execu...
https://www.psa.ac.uk/resources/academic-job-market-trends-in-politics-and-international-relations/
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PSA Parliaments
29 days ago
🎉 Our first
#PSA26
panel, “What is Parliament?”, was a fantastic start to our programme! Thank you
@stephenholdenbates.bsky.social
,
@alyssamartin.bsky.social
, James Strong, Shirin Rai and
@pandapoliticus.bsky.social
😊
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This article reminded me of this
@psa-parliaments.bsky.social
blog that we had in draft form for some years and which I eventually found behind the sofa:
psaparliaments.org/2026/03/25/e...
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
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Margot Finn
about 1 month ago
The dismal tide accelerates, sweeping from Coventry through Sheffield Hallam to London South Bank. 1/2
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London South Bank to create ‘two track’ academic workforce
Staff to be divided into teaching and research roles, with new starters hired via subsidiary firm
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/london-south-bank-create-two-track-academic-workforce
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Many thanks to Andy Street for coming to speak to our
@unibirmingham.bsky.social
students yesterday! A great way to end our guest speaker sessions on our new POLSIS module "UK Politics in Times of Crisis".
about 1 month ago
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UK Parliamentary Studies 2026 beano.
about 1 month ago
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Very pleased to see our article on backbench roles in the HoC published in
@hansardsociety.bsky.social
Parliamentary Affairs.
@carolinebha.bsky.social
@socialpolicy.bsky.social
& I group MPs by activity across 26 measures, identifying 7 roles. It's free to read!
academic.oup.com/pa/advance-a...
about 2 months ago
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Simon Evans
about 2 months ago
NEW ANALYSIS: UK emissions fell 2.4% in 2025 as coal fell to a 400-year low. Incredibly, we used less coal last year than than in 1600, when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne and Shakespeare was writing Hamlet. All the details in our article:
www.carbonbrief.org/...
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Better Streets for Birmingham
about 2 months ago
106 people will be killed on Birmingham's roads next council term. Along with 15 organisations, we're calling for Birmingham's future leaders to adopt 10 practical steps to prevent these deaths and many more serious injuries. Who will make Birmingham's roads safer?
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Will you make Birmingham's roads safer?
Better Streets joins with 15 organisations to make ten asks of tomorrow's politicians to address road safety.
https://betterstreetsforbirmingham.org/our-campaigns/birmingham-2026-ten-asks-to-address-the-road-safety-emergency/
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Birmingham UCU
2 months ago
“When I began teaching, I joined UCU because the people in the union seemed cool – and because I quickly realised I needed to organise with my peers. If you’re feeling isolated or precarious at UoB, BUCU is where you’ll find your people.” Betsy Porritt - BUCU Anti-casualisation officer
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Alan Lester
2 months ago
The Spectator published this attack on me & colleagues just as the High Court is considering Sussex’s request for review of the Office for Students fine. It accuses us of ‘repressing’ our students. The magazine ignored my request for to reply. Please disseminate.
alanlester.co.uk/blog/smearin...
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Smearing Sussex (and Me): Responding to Nigel Biggar’s Latest Attack in The Spectator
The University of Sussex, Feb 2026, taken by the author. Alan Lester The Spectator has published an article by Nigel Biggar smearing the University of Sussex as repressing students who ‘don&#…
https://alanlester.co.uk/blog/smearing-sussex-and-me-responding-to-nigel-biggars-latest-attack-in-the-spectator/
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Birmingham UCU
2 months ago
UoB Professional Services - you make student success happen. Join Birmingham UCU to fight for fair workload and recognition.
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UCU - Join UCU Today
Welcome to UCU’s Membership Portal where you can join the union, manage and update your personal information and find answers to the most frequently raised questions relating to Membership, Employment or the Legal Scheme.
https://join.ucu.org.uk
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Cristina Leston-Bandeira
2 months ago
Remembering David Judge (1950 - 2026). I first met David in 1999. He was such an incredible person, we could do with more Davids in academia. Here is something I wrote when I heard the news last week, published by
@psa-parliaments.bsky.social
:
psaparliaments.org/2026/02/17/r...
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Kinder Scout is nice.
2 months ago
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Look mum, I’m cited!
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months ago
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Stephen Holden Bates
Research Professional News
3 months ago
Scrapping REF should be “serious’ option”, says Manchester VC. Duncan Ivison questions “usefulness” of “massive, bureaucratic” research assessment exercise.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
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Scrapping REF should be ‘serious’ option, says Manchester VC - Research Professional News
Duncan Ivison questions “usefulness” of “massive, bureaucratic” research assessment exercise
https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-universities-2026-2-scrapping-ref-should-be-serious-option-says-manchester-vc/
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UCL Constitution Unit
3 months ago
NEW BLOG: Why we need to strengthen and codify small party rights in the House of Commons Louise Thompson explains the obstacles facing small parties and calls on parliamentary institutions to formalise informal arrangements and consider ways to increase equalities of opportunity for all parties
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Why we need to strengthen and codify small party rights in the House of Commons
Following the Unit's January seminar, Can the House of Commons handle multi-party politics?, panellist Louise Thompson explains the procedural and logistical obstacles facing small parties in the House of Commons. She calls for parliamentary institutions to adapt their processes, and concludes that formalising some current informal arrangements and looking at ways to increase equalities of opportunity across all opposition parties would be sensible next steps.
https://constitution-unit.com/2026/01/26/why-we-need-to-strengthen-and-codify-small-party-rights-in-the-house-of-commons/
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Mark Pendleton
3 months ago
Monday and the start of a second week of being prevented from working by my employer, the University of Sheffield. Management has decided that massive damage to staff morale, student experience and the university’s reputation is worth it in a futile attempt to break the union. Shame on them.
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Stephen Holden Bates
Birmingham UCU
3 months ago
HSE found UoB failed to follow its own stress policy, had inadequate stress risk assessments and no effective monitoring of stress. This is about legal duties, not ‘wellbeing extras’.
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Birmingham reprimanded over management of work-related stress
Investigation by Health and Safety Executive found institution ‘does not have appropriate arrangements in place’ to manage burnout among staff
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/birmingham-reprimanded-over-its-management-work-related-stress
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Jack Bernhardt
3 months ago
TRUMP: honk honk honk, I'm a big goose. everyone tells me whenever I enter a room, that's the biggest goose I've ever seen and I say yes. I'm a big goose. in a good way. a lot of Somalians are small stupid gooses but I'm a big goose BBC NEWS: a disciplined Trump sticks to the script on the economy
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Margot Finn
3 months ago
'Several universities’ undergraduate student intakes fell by between 20 and 30 per cent for this academic year, as many elite institutions reported record numbers.' Sector as a whole accepted 2% more students. Russell Group up 9% (29% of all UK enrolments). 1/3
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Intakes down by a third at some providers, latest Ucas data show
Half of Russell Group universities accept record number of undergraduates, according to end-of-cycle admissions figures
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/intakes-down-third-some-providers-latest-ucas-data-show
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Liam Stanley
3 months ago
I'm a bit late to the game on this, but this is exacting overview of the problems with US-style political science is compelling and well-worth reading. But rather than a lack of interpretation, I'd say the major issue is a lack of history (or historicism).
harpers.org/archive/2026...
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In the Land of the Data Blind, by Jason Blakely
Why political science can’t grasp Trumpism
https://harpers.org/archive/2026/01/in-the-land-of-the-data-blind-jason-blakely-political-science-trumpism/
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Paradise Circus
3 months ago
It's Blue Monday Like a stopped clock PR companies are sometimes right. Also like a stopped clock, they need two AA batteries shoved up them and the knob twisted until their hands point in the right direction. Birmingham: It’s Not Shit, Reason No 12: Mr Blue Sky
paradisecircus.com/2024/11/19/b...
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Birmingham: It’s Not Shit — Reason No. 12: Mr Blue Sky – Paradise Circus
https://paradisecircus.com/2024/11/19/birmingham-its-not-shit-reason-no-12-mr-blue-sky/
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Chris Havergal
3 months ago
Ninety UK universities to have posted accounts so far cut 13,300 jobs last year, spending £303 million on severance pay - sector-wide total clearly going to be well in excess of predicted 10,000. Great reporting by
@patrickjack.bsky.social
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spe...
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Pay-off spend up by two-thirds as universities shed 13,000 jobs
Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spend-two-thirds-universities-shed-13000-jobs
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Times Higher Education (THE)
4 months ago
The average salary among Russell Group leaders increased above £350,000 last year, despite these universities losing almost 7,000 staff members due to cost-cutting.
Patrick Jack
crunches the numbers #highered #academicsky
https://ow.ly/gJK850XU77K
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Very pleased to have presented on this panel, although disappointed that I couldn't be there in person because of the snow...
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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Margot Finn
4 months ago
'An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the Russell Group university “does not have appropriate arrangements in place” for managing workplace stress and was unable to demonstrate that it is managing the risks associated with excessive workloads.' 1/2
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Birmingham reprimanded over its management of work-related stress
Investigation by Health and Safety Executive found institution ‘does not have appropriate arrangements in place’ to manage burnout among staff
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/birmingham-reprimanded-over-its-management-work-related-stress
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Thanks to
@philbc3.bsky.social
for a very interesting talk on the crisis of right-wing political reproduction at
@unibirmingham.bsky.social
yesterday!
5 months ago
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Cat Neilan
5 months ago
“The whole system is near-criminal in its ability to harvest public money so that exploitative providers can provide inadequate housing & support to vulnerable people" For our last Naked Week-Observer investigation of the year, we delve into exempt accommodation
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
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‘Even Dickens would be lost for words’: inside the supported housing scandal | The Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/even-dickens-would-be-lost-for-words-inside-the-supported-housing-scandal
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Excellent article on landlords exploiting lack of robust regulations on supported exempt accommodation and causing misery for tenants and wider communities. A real problem in Birmingham!
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
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‘Even Dickens would be lost for words’: inside the supported housing scandal | The Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/even-dickens-would-be-lost-for-words-inside-the-supported-housing-scandal
5 months ago
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Thanks to
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk
and
@houseoflords.parliament.uk
for another brilliant visit! University of Birmingham ftw!
5 months ago
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Traditional photo of traditional early start for
@unibirmingham.bsky.social
visit to
@houseofcommons.parliament.uk
and
@houseoflords.parliament.uk
.
5 months ago
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Stephen Holden Bates
ana valdivia
6 months ago
Given that people is asking me for the numbers, here the table provided by UKRI:
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Stephen Holden Bates
ana valdivia
6 months ago
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results: - AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2% - ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1% - ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
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Stephen Holden Bates
UCL Constitution Unit
6 months ago
Meg Russell is now giving oral evidence to @commonsproccom.parliament.uk with @marcgeddes.uk and @stephenholdenbates.bsky.social about elections within the House of Commons. Read Meg, @alanrenwick.bsky.social and Tom Fleming's written evidence 👉
committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...
. Watch it 👇
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22 October 2025 - Elections within the House of Commons - Oral evidence - Committees - UK Parliament
14:30 - Room 16, Palace of Westminster
https://committees.parliament.uk/event/25243/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/
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Grace Cooper
6 months ago
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 🎉 The PSA Parliaments Annual Conference 2025 will be hosted by the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York in conjunction with The White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership on the 27th-28th November!
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Paul Seaward
6 months ago
Michael Rush and the Database
historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/m...
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Michael Rush and the Database - The History of Parliament
We were sad to hear recently of the death of Professor Michael Rush of the University of Exeter. Michael was a pioneering and indefatigable scholar of
https://historyofparliament.com/2025/10/15/michael-rush-and-the-database/
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QM_UCU
7 months ago
The VC of Leicester has been announced as the new Chair of UCEA. He's been VC of Leicester since 2019. He's the one responsible for forcing out scholars in ways that employment tribunals showed was not permitted. The the kind of guy UCEA values.
www.collectiveinkbooks.com/zer0-books/o...
#UKHE
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Stephen Holden Bates
Plashing Vole
7 months ago
With thanks to @pressfuturist for remembering that it was Littlejohn v Self, not Bushell v Self, a literary conversation of the ages.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1390...
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Chris Dillow
7 months ago
This. The Tories, Reform UK Ltd & even Labour hate the actually-existing British economy, whose comparative advantage lies in higher education & the creative industries.
add a skeleton here at some point
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Stephen Holden Bates
Marc Geddes
7 months ago
🚨 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...
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow (SPARK)
We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with experience in the politics of the UK, Scottish, German or Bavarian parliaments to join the UKRI-funded research project, ‘Studying Parliaments an...
https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/13180
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It's that time of year again. 🦉
www.youtube.com/watch?v=alSM...
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Parliamentary Studies
YouTube video by Stephen Holden Bates
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alSMdiMCPbc
7 months ago
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Bloomsbury Set hangout. Nice venue for the Birkbeck / Birmingham /
@psa-parliaments.bsky.social
sponsored workshop on what is a parliament.
7 months ago
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Stephen Holden Bates
Rosie Collington
8 months ago
this is ridiculous
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Philip Cowley
8 months ago
Very sorry to hear of the death of Prof Michael Rush, formerly of Exeter University. He was both an excellent scholar and a lovely kind man, always supportive of his colleagues and fellow academics.
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