1/ New school exclusion data out today - another big rise as schools continue to struggle with behaviour. But it’s not just a story about volume - some children are disproportionately more likely to be suspended or excluded.

With oil prices currently at their highest since the Iran war began, the energy crisis is far from over. And it could get worse before it gets better. As a result, the Bank will likely keep its rates higher for longer - hitting growth and hurting household incomes.

Rents have outpaced wages for decades, now over 2 million renters spend over 30% of their income on housing. We need more homes long term. But right now, a rent cap could ease pressure, protect tenants, and keep things fair for landlords 📻️ @harryqp.bsky.social on @listentotimesradio.bsky.social 👇

It’s becoming harder to ignore the growing weight that extremely wealthy donors appear to carry in British politics, not just in scale, but in proximity to key political decisions.

King Charles’s speech matters because it reinforces the deeper ties between the UK and the US, offering a gentle reminder of the shared values most Britons and Americans still support: the rule of law, democracy, cooperation and peace.

Liz Kendall is right that our dependence on a handful of US tech companies is a national security risk. Three US tech companies control 80% of UK cloud infrastructure, we don’t have a single frontier AI company in the UK, and AI firms are increasingly deciding who gets access to their models. 🧵

Millions of renters are being pushed to the brink by a housing market that simply isn’t working for them, and without action, things will get worse. Rent caps could rebalance the market, protect households, and ensure affordability. More on this soon 👀

BP’s having another huge earnings season, profiting from the havoc caused by Trump’s war against Iran. What is a dire threat to UK growth and living standards is a bumper pay day for energy companies.

These stats reveal a deep divide across the country – with many living 20 years fewer in good health. Not driven by life expectancy but living longer in poor health.

Manifestos are never perfect, but the 2026 Holyrood editions leave big holes where clear policy agendas are needed - on climate, on inequality. Pinning so much hope on growth without a clear story as to why it has been so disappointing since the financial crisis is a very risky strategy.

📢 Speaker announcement! Join us on Wednesday 29 April to find out how to bring people along on the UK’s vital clean energy mission. 🗓️ Weds 29 April 🕜 11am–12pm BST📍Online 👉 Sign up: climateoutreach.org/webinar-engaging-communities-clean-energy-transition/

Can the next Scottish govt revive the economy? Have the parties risen to the challenge? 📈 🎧@stephenboydippr.bsky.social was on the #UofGSpotlight podcast hosted by @graemeroy.bsky.social with other experts Prof Sara Carter and @davidwglasgow.bsky.social Tune in ⤵️ open.spotify.com/episode/4iec...

Can the UK, the EU, or anyone compete with China when it comes to the production of critical minerals? 📺 @praneshippr.bsky.social shares his views with the DBT Select Committee in Parliament yesterday 👇 youtu.be/FHtb8_u72dU

From housing to energy, what would a politics of abundance look like? The latest IPPR Progressive Review explores the question. 📘 Free to read until the end of the month: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/25732331...

💰️ Energy network companies are set to make £5 billion in excess profits from 2021 to 2026, while households face rising bills. Our research shows this could mean a £183 rebate for households if that windfall were clawed back. 🔗 Read more: www.ippr.org/articles/flex-factor-network-costs

⚡️ | NEW REPORT: Cheaper electricity is often available but households can’t always benefit. Our research shows the system isn’t helping people use energy when it’s cheapest - fixing this could cut bills and reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels. 👇 www.ippr.org/articles/fle...

📈 The cost of running the grid is the second biggest part of energy bills and is continuing to rise. Government must ensure investment in the system doesn’t add unnecessary costs for households. Read our solutions here 🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/fle...

⚡️ | NEW REPORT: Cheaper electricity exists but households aren’t benefiting. The system isn’t set up to help people use energy when it’s cheapest - fixing this could cut bills and reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels. The latest from us 👇https://www.ippr.org/articles/flex-factor-network-costs

Today’s inflation figures are bad news for the government. Prior to the conflict, their plan was working, inflation was expected to fall to 2% and households were starting to feel better off. That plan is now out of the window.

Ed Miliband is right: the transition to net zero is the only way to protect the UK from a never-ending wave of international conflict driving up energy prices. Closing the Strait of Hormuz won’t push up the price of solar. Trump invading Greenland wouldn’t make wind more costly.

In the US, the Democrats are already making AI a major part of their campaigns. I wrote about what Labour might learn from this, and why it isn't so easy for our politicians to ride any tidal wave of anti-AI sentiment. labourlist.org/2026/04/the-...

AI rose in salience more than any other issue for US voters last year, with backlash from creatives, X-risk activists, parents, workers, environmentalists and more We expect pressure to build in 2026 as AI gets even more capable, and @ippr.org we argue governments need to urgently spread the upside

NEW: Should progressives in the UK adopt an 'Abundance' agenda? Is this 'the new third way'? What would such policies actually look like in practice? Lots of thought-provoking essays on these questions in IPPR's latest Progressive Review. Check it out here👇 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

Latest @ippr.org Progressive Review is out, focused on the "abundance agenda" - including @christabelcoops.bsky.social & @katealexandershaw.bsky.social on the politics of growth, and satisfyingly blunt realism from @gilesyb.bsky.social & @colmpm.bsky.social onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/25732331...

🤖 | NEW REPORT: The UK risks a full-blown AI techlash unless the government shows who actually benefits. Our new report sets out a plan to make AI work for the public, not just big tech. Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/acc...

Why is the UK economy hit harder by the Iran conflict than others? Because we are a net importer of energy, leaving us more vulnerable to global price shocks. The solution: double down on clean, homegrown renewable energy. 📺 @harryqp.bsky.social on BBC News👇

Last night, we spoke about how to make social media social again, with: 👉 @kirstymcneill.bsky.social 👉 @avasantina.bsky.social 👉 Giles Derrington, TikTok 👉 @sofiahewson.bsky.social Watch back here 👇 youtu.be/vIUU6zyCWuc

The IMF’s latest outlook paints a bleak picture and underlines a hard truth: the UK’s economy is still at the mercy of global crises. Our dependence on volatile fossil fuels leaves households and businesses exposed to yet another wave of energy price shocks.

📖 NEW Progressive Review What would a politics of abundance look like? This issue explores how progressives can move beyond scarcity, and build an economy that delivers security, prosperity and possibility for all. Read now 👇 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/25732331...

Becoming increasingly obsessed with the living standards debate- interesting that Gen Z is actually more positive about their economic situation than Millennials were at the same age. 53% of Gen Z thought they were 'low income' in 2019, compared to 63% of Millennials in 2008 (who are a big outlier)

One hundred and eighty years after the fax machine was invented, the NHS is still using the technology. 📺 @sebrees1.bsky.social talks to Jacob Rees-Mogg about NHS funding and modernisation 👇

Great to release Bismarck versus Beveridge Revisited this morning at an even with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Here you can see me in my centrist dad outfit explain the findings, but quick 🧵 below 1/

Our analysis of 22 countries reveals that tax-funded healthcare systems have lower admin costs compared to insurance-based healthcare systems. Administrative costs consume 2.2 per cent of health spending in tax-funded systems compared to 3.5 per cent in insurance systems.

Delighted to be joined by the health secretary Wes Streeting at the launch of our new report! Tune in live here 👇 www.youtube.com/live/93z0rjG...

Would switching the NHS to an insurance model fix it? Our new research says no. 🎥 IPPR head of health, @sebrees1.bsky.social breaks down why changing the funding model is a distraction, and what would actually make a difference. 🔗 Read more: www.ippr.org/articles/bismarck-versus-beveridge-revisited

🩺 | NEW REPORT: Changing the NHS funding model would be a costly distraction. We analysed 22 countries and found: ❌ No evidence insurance systems perform better 💸 Higher admin costs in insurance systems 🏥 The real issue = underinvestment Read now: www.ippr.org/articles/bis...

“Social media really isn’t very social... We’re not really seeing each other anymore, we’re being shown things to watch and buy.” 🎙️ @sofiahewson.bsky.social on BBC Radio Wales. 🔗 Read more: www.ippr.org/articles/stu...

Over half of what we see on social media is posts from influencers, ads, brands and recommended content. Content from people we know makes up only 18% of what we see. These platforms personalise our feeds and promote one-sided relationships with influencers over social ones. We can demand better.

🚨📲 Social media users now see twice as much content from strangers as from friends and family. IPPR analysis found that in the top four posts in feeds across major platforms, only 18% come from someone users actually know. 🧵

📱| NEW REPORT: Social media platforms are prioritising influencers, adverts and brands over posts from friends and family - contributing to a more divisive and less social online experience. Read our solutions here 👇 www.ippr.org/articles/stu...

The government has capped interest rates on some student loans at 6%. Here's why that won't make a difference to the majority of those paying them back in the UK. 🎙️ @henryippr.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social this week 👇

🚨 | NEW BLOG: The government’s cohesion plan is a welcome step, but can it deliver? We explore its strengths, gaps in prevention, and tensions with immigration policy 👇 www.ippr.org/articles/hol...

Over the weekend 5 european ministers called for coordinated action on windfall taxes. With the UK reconnecting with the EU, working together on this and throughout the crisis will have clear benefits - and be the tangible legs behind Labour's comms on profiteering www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Today the gov has adopted IPPR policies which will make the world of work fairer: 👉 Workers can now access sick pay from the first day of illness, reducing the risk of “presenteeism” 👉Improved access to sick pay for low-paid workers by abolishing the “lower earnings limit”

"British workers have half as many robots, machines or modern equipment than their equivalents in France and Germany. And that is setting them up to fail". 📻 @samalvis.bsky.social on LBC 👇

British workers are being set up to fail. A factory worker in Germany or France has access to nearly twice as many machines, robots & modern equipment as a worker doing the same job here. Businesses need to invest and the government needs to incentivise them to do so: www.ippr.org/articles/tur...

🚨 UK business investment is second lowest in the G7. Our new blog argues that as energy prices rise again, government must use policy to drive investment, not just keep firms afloat: www.ippr.org/articles/tur...

🔋 | NEW REPORT: High energy costs are squeezing UK industry, but support must do more than keep firms afloat. Our new blog argues the government should target support to businesses who will invest more as a result. Read more here: www.ippr.org/articles/tur...

In other news, @mariemcnairmsp.bsky.social asked @sa4dunfermline.bsky.social if she agreed with IPPR Scotland's assessment that high spending on social protection does more than just place a safety net for the economically disadvangated, that it helps economies to grow. The cabinet secretary did.