Catherine West MP says the govt needs to rethink "unfair" settlement proposals - on those already here - to triple settlement for health care staff & care workers - to disadvantage children from poor v rich backgrounds with new hurdles+barriers to uni www.catherinewest.org.uk/latest-news/...

It was a great honour to host Diego Martínez Belío, Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs. We were joined by those from across politics, philanthropy, journalism and campaigning to hear the distinctive Spanish approach to our current global disorder.

The government’s social cohesion plan marks a major step forward for communities. As UCL Policy Lab research shows, the government's new Social Cohesion Action Plan is right to focus on how local communities are the bedrock of cohesion. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Best thing I've read on the SEND reforms: personal, really lucid, great on the policy context jimlauder.substack.com/p/the-white-...

It was fantastic to celebrate UCL’s 200th birthday today. Do come and see the brilliant exhibition if you’re in London. I was so delighted to see the Policy Lab profiled in it!

Today marks 200 years since UCL first opened its doors 🎉 This year will see an exciting and varied programme of activities, events and storytelling across our community as we celebrate this milestone, and look to the future.

You may notice that the UCL Policy Lab's brand is looking a little different. That's because we're getting a fresh new look as we celebrate UCL's 200th anniversary. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/fe...

Neither rain nor fire, Sir Keir Starmer's fading search for a story. New on HopeWorks: @mds49.bsky.social reflects on what the artists Turner and Constable can tell us about Keir Starmer's leadership. thisishopeworks.substack.com/p/rain-nor-f...

Had forgotten until reading @duncanrobinson.bsky.social’s peerless column that Peter Mandelson once publicly said Keir Starmer was too fat.

Keir Starmer has told parliament today that, when vetting Peter Mandelson for US ambassador, his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein came up. But as Alan Rusbridger wrote last year, even a cursory Google should have disqualified him

This is a truly excruciating column. The definition of shameless. www.thetimes.com/article/8429...

Don't think I've ever felt as sick reading a newspaper story as I have looking at this morning's Epstein coverage. Just the open amorality of all the powerful people involved for so long.

Increasingly obv that the govt wants to remodel a big chunk of the SEND system so that provision based on specific/individual needs & provision becomes one where support is delivered to groups.That will have the benefit of saving money & it suits some ideological prefs. It also defies what SEND is

Congrats to @drjennings.bsky.social on this really important work. Let’s hope the government listens. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.

The BBC coverage is absolutely terrible. It leads on "sharply contested narratives" It has a dramatic skew to the US government It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue

"Britain has only ever been able to stand tall in the world, alongside partners, when it’s allowed all parts of the country to succeed." @mds49.bsky.social on @andyburnham.bsky.social speech at @uclpolicylab.bsky.social and @theifs.bsky.social. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

And @mds49.bsky.social has written on some of the thinking here for those interested. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Good piece by @mds49.bsky.social tying this to our collective security, where all of the country can play its part. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

‘Vulnerable children use social media for connection, peer support and trusted advice. Many of us have feared that a ban may solve one set of mental health risks but unleash new ones.’ The father of Molly Russell impressively thoughtful about policy on social media www.thetimes.com/article/fc74...

What do people in England think about their local area? In this short report I take a look at surveys we conducted with @yougov.co.uk in 2022, 2024 and 2025 to gain some insights... Some key findings...

Delighted we’re welcoming @drodrik.bsky.social to Cambridge on Thursday to give the STLee public lecture - free but book here www.csap.cam.ac.uk/events/share...

The relationship with Donald Trump has killed the Starmer brand. Starmer came to office promising to respect voters, tell hard truths and prioritise substance over slogans and soundbites. By refusing to step out of line from Trumpian fantasy, he undermines each of those commitments.

Marvellous column by @edwardluce.bsky.social on Trump’s new world order: “no obvious rules, does not respect allies, celebrates the jungle and is almost always about money”:

If rumblings about Special Needs changes are true,they'll place huge pressures on schools, in the absence of the necessary resources.Also, taking rights away & putting schools in the driving seat would be a retrogressive move: the Labourism of institutions rather than the empowerment of families 1/2

Our best family tradition! The brilliant @hackneyempire.bsky.social panto on Christmas Eve. And this year’s was one of the best!

#OpenAccess from @poppublicsphere.bsky.social - The Relational Method: How Community Organizing Can Reshape University Research - https://cup.org/4pIlRLX - Amanda Tattersall & @mds49.bsky.social#OpenAccess #FirstView

NOW OUT ON FIRSTVIEW!! The #Relational #Method: How #Community #Organizing Can Reshape #University #Research By @amandatattersall.bsky.social & @mds49.bsky.social doi.org/10.1017/S153...

New Substack post from me... it's free, so subscribe if you fancy it maybeimamazed.substack.com/p/thank-you-...

ECHR Reform: A Danger of Contagion in Relation to Article 3 Veronika Fikfak from @uclspp.bsky.social on the propsed changes to the ECHR. ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/09/v...

It's right to explore what's driving increased prevalence & what support people need. But as @johnharris1969.bsky.social says, in "a country in which questioning other people’s needs is almost becoming a national sport" the government risks stoking a toxic debate www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

For generations, the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has brought light to the heart of London. Thank you, Norway, for this gift of friendship since 1947.

“Place is where trust is built or broken. So, place must be our orienting principle.” It was a pleasure to welcome @joshsimonsmp.bsky.social to Britain Renewed 2026 with @futuregovforum.bsky.social to discuss how we can drive a new era in public service reform.

Fancy reading an unashamedly unfinished history of relational public services? @nick80.bsky.social asked his Linkedin network if such a thing existed. @simonparker.bsky.social, @antlerboy.com and I had a go, drawing on 200 comments on Nicks post. Its a fascinating story www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

I'm really delighted to announce that- in a restructure of the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s senior team - I've appointed @gemmatetlow.bsky.social to the new role of Executive Director of Research & Innovation & @alexgathomas.bsky.social to the new role of Executive Director of Impact & Influence

If the Chancellor had told the OBR what the Home Secretary says here is a firm commitment of the government, she would need > £7.5 billion of tax rises or spending cuts to afford to lift the two child limit. The fiscal forecast is based on not cutting immigration further & it drifting up to > 300k

Praise where praise is due: scrapping the two-child benefit cap is an excellent move. And the most consequential of any of the measures announced today.

Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements. Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...

New research shows that empowered local communities are most effective at responding to crises. A new report from Lauren Andres @thebartlettucl.bsky.social and Jennifer Constantine takes lessons from COVID-19 for how we build resilience. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Question on Monday Is it now your principle that every Ukranian refugee in Britain should leave, must leave once it is safe + that they will all be made to leave?

The whole of the HMRC Board got me to present to them about the opportunities and risks of AI about 18 months ago and my main messages were be very careful with high stakes decision making and remember the Horizon Post Office scandal which was about governance and accountability…

Our universities can save us from America's political division New research shows Britain is proud of its institutions’ ability to foster disagreement By James Baggaley

Our new report with @uclpolicylab.bsky.social, Shared Institutions, is a deep dive of public opinion on universities. At a top level Britons feel positively about our universities impact on the UK & their local area. But emerging divides show the sector can’t take public opinion for granted

Our new report Shared Institutions with @moreincommonuk.bsky.social explores the public's view of universities. We find universities encapsulate the challenges facing a range of Britain's institutions. Strong support remains, but gaps are emerging among reform voters. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Love this new video from @johnharris1969.bsky.social - perfectly captures the beautiful spirit of a town I know so well from childhood. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The education system is failing too many working-class pupils, but we can turn it around. Jonathan Slater, Former Perm Sect at the Department for Education on BBC Radio 4 Today, discussing a new report from the UCL Policy Lab on how we can improve standards for poorer pupils.

Not close in the end

Stephen Bush on the extraordinary draft legislation which Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Matt Vickers, Katie Lam and backbench colleagues have proposed in parliament It is a proposal that would seek to deport around 5% of the resident population, including over a quarter of a million with ILR

Hadn’t, in truth, really absorbed the scale of what the Conservatives are proposing on ILR and immigration more broadly until this week’s Sunday Times interviews. Some thoughts on that in today’s note: