This was really fun. Energy has always been a way to embody politics - it’s literally about power. So many choices of who benefits, how, where and who politicians articulate that energy is for. Was great to talk to @sulaimanij.bsky.social about that. @ippr.org

Not only are these shocks coming at pace. But it is depressing that four years on from the last we have done literally to materially change our options to respond 🧵

Had a great time speaking to @sulaimanij.bsky.social for the Energy Revolution podcast about the disconnect between energy system engineers and politicians. open.spotify.com/episode/1Slz...

Young people face a grim economic squeeze. NEET levels may be below their 2011 peak, but those in work face stagnant pay and huge student debt. @ashwin-kumar.bsky.social spoke to @therestpolitics.bsky.social about NEETs and student loans 👇

Great piece today by @samfr.bsky.social today on how progressives need to ‘pick fights’ to cut through in today’s attention economy. Our recent piece on “a war on bills” shows what this could look like for the cost of living. www.ippr.org/articles/a-w...

The BBC is facing a series of lose-lose choices. Partner with Big Tech and risk compromising what makes it unique. Or resist and fail to reach the audiences it exists to serve. @sofiahewson.bsky.social and I consider how Charter Renewal can help change this. 1/5

📺 | NEW BLOG: How can the BBC compete in a media landscape increasingly dominated by global tech giants? Our latest analysis looks at what it will take to level the playing field - and why it matters for the future of UK public service media. www.ippr.org/articles/lev...

Across the world, the populist right is reshaping politics. What’s the progressive response? Lea Ypi, @parth0.bsky.social and @tommctague.bsky.social explore how to rebuild a politics that can inspire and win power 📺️ Watch live from 6pm www.youtube.com/watch?v=09d6...

If geopolitics triggers another energy price shock, relying on interest rates alone to bring down inflation could leave the economy “too cold for too long”. @theguardian.com's @guardianheather.bsky.social cites @josephevans.bsky.social & @carsjung.bsky.social 👇 www.theguardian.com/business/202...

My thoughts on the Home Sec's immigration speech @ippr.org The Home Sec believes in control + compassion. It's the right ambition. But her plans may struggle to tackle small boat crossings and risk making integration harder. I make the case instead for a more focused approach to migration reform

🌍 NEW REPORT: Britain is entering a decade of danger. The post-war order is fracturing, US leadership is uncertain, and Europe is re-arming. In this paper, Mark Leonard makes the case for a new grand strategy. Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/bri...

🏘️ | NEW BLOG: Planning reform alone won’t make housing affordable. England needs the right mix of homes in the right places or ambitious supply targets risk leaving people behind. Read the latest from us here 👉 www.ippr.org/articles/wil...

Delighted to see IPPR's @emmanorris.bsky.social recognised in Politics Home's 100 Women in Westminster. Well-deserved recognition of "the think thankers think tanker", who we are proud to call a colleague www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...

Grateful to the wise @jydenham.bsky.social for engaging with my work on nationalism with Parth Patel for @ippr.org. Much I agree with. www.ippr.org/articles/rec...

🚨 | NEW BLOG: How could the government deliver a controlled and compassionate immigration system? 1️⃣ Deeper cooperation with France on small boat crossings 2️⃣ Get a grip on asylum hotels 3️⃣ Renewed strategy for community cohesion 🔗 bit.ly/4b5DBe5

At IPPR today, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set out her vision for a “compassionate but controlled” immigration system. The ambition is right — but the test will be whether the policies deliver control, fairness and stronger integration.

We are delighted to welcome the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood today. Tune in here 👇 www.youtube.com/live/6yFLnx5...

Lovely to be named one of this year's 100 'Women in Westminster', and proud to to be alongside such an incredible group of women helping to shape policy and politics for the better. #wiw100 www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...

No news is good news. Despite the crisis in Iran driving up energy prices, the Spring Statement didn’t require tax rises or spending cuts. But, the Chancellor could use fiscal headroom to ease the cost of living and help bring inflation down. 📺 @carsjung.bsky.social on Sky News 👇

⏰ | NEW BLOG: If progressives won’t talk seriously about nationhood, the populist right will keep owning the argument. Former minister John Denham writes on why civic slogans and better “delivery” won’t be enough: www.ippr.org/articles/rec...

New forecast: Over the next 4 years, the Treasury will be transferring £18 billion per year to reimburse the Bank of England for its losses from QE. Down slightly but still huge. Neither the ECB nor the Fed do this. Undoing this could free up £5bn per year for the rest of this parliament.

If we get a sustained energy price shock, the government should learn the lessons from the past and act early, to put a lid on inflation. See below 4 policy areas to start 👇

Good news for wages: OBR expects economic growth to be driven relatively more by productivity increases & investment, and less reliant on low wage labour.

UK - heading for another energy induced CoL shock? Maybe but not huge 🤞 1) It's at the moment an oil price issue not yet gas. We'll pay more at the pump. ~2/3 of UK oil comes from US/Norway, more expensive but not threatened. 2) Gas prices don't really track oil. 40% of UK gas is imported...

Student loans are back at the top of the political agenda. But what are the policy options, what are the trade-offs, and who really wins (or loses) under each. 🧵

🚨 | NEW BLOG: Student loans have become one of the biggest political flashpoints of the year. Our new blog breaks down the pros, cons and costs of the three main options, and who really gains from each. Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/stu...

For the government, questions about Mandelson should focus on two things. First, the victims. Second, the fundamental issue of trust in politics. This isn't a case of "one bad apple" - the relationship between money and power needs to be addressed 📺 @harryqp.bsky.social on #politicslive👇

Some headline thoughts on asylum stats out today: Government has made good progress on asylum backlog. Numbers have fallen from around 62,000 cases in September to around 49,000 cases at the end of December 2025. This is now well below half the peak in summer 2023.

Blaming net zero policies for rising bills is completely unfounded. They have soared mainly because of global conflict and gas prices. But there is a fairer way to cut costs by shifting levies off bills and onto progressive taxation. 🎥@harryqp.bsky.social on #politicslive 👇

Donald Trump doesn’t have the answer to the UK’s immigration debate — but maybe America does. Migrants make a net contribution, and part of pushing back on ethno-nationalism is celebrating that. 📺 @harryqp.bsky.social on #politicslive 👇

Reform’s plans to scrap the Employment Rights Act won’t tackle the cost of living and aren’t popular with the public – or even with their own supporters www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLDB...

💥 Trump’s tariffs continue to shake global trade - but countries aren’t waiting around. The world is trying to move on and adapt to America’s unpredictability. 📺️ Laura Chappell on TalkTV 👇

Policymakers are careful to avoid overheating the economy, but may undersell the harms of a cold one When inflation is at target, running the economy at full speed can deliver higher wages for low-paid workers, lower pay inequality and stronger growth www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

Support in mainstream schools has been hollowed out. Help often only comes once a child qualifies for an EHCP — by then, it’s crisis point. Earlier intervention means more kids get support sooner — better for families and better for the taxpayer. 📺 @harryqp.bsky.social on BBC News👇

The current SEND system doesn’t work for kids, parents or teachers - it’s a "nettle that needs to be grasped.” @harryqp.bluesky.social on why putting more support into mainstream schools earlier is “absolutely spot on”. 📻️ LBC News 👇

The reliance on EHCPs means that funding and resources are taken away from early intervention in mainstream schools, which in turn creates a self-perpetuating cycle of high costs, growing waiting lists and more children with unmet needs. 📺 @avneem.bsky.social on Sky News👇

Demand for EHCPs has soared by 250 per cent since 2014, with thousands of young people waiting more than a year for an initial assessment. The system is broken.

The government is right to set out a plan to reform the SEND system. For too long it has not been working for children, families, schools or councils, and the scale of the challenge means doing nothing is not an option.

The Bank of England and Treasury are currently still deliberately 'running the UK economy cold'. This year, output is 1 per cent below what it could be. The aim is to help bring inflation down to target, but they risk overdoing it. Read our solutions 🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/the-full-speed-economy

The US ran its post-pandemic economy hot and saw wages rise. The UK ran it cold — and fell behind. Keeping the economy below its potential means lower wages and slower growth. Read the latest from us 👉 www.ippr.org/articles/the-full-speed-economy

📉 | NEW REPORT: UK policy may be holding the economy below its potential. Our new research shows how a full‑speed economy could unlock stronger wages and growth. Read the report 👇 www.ippr.org/articles/the...

🗞️ "Today’s figures show that where you live determines how many years you spend in good health – and that gap isn’t closing." @jamie-ohalloran.bsky.social in the @the-independent.com 👇 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

❤️‍🩹 "Most of what shapes our physical and mental health lies outside the health system... Without tackling those root causes, we won't see the gains we need." @jamie-ohalloran.bsky.social on healthy life expectancy www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

👥 Local democracy is about to change... 🗳️ Government’s plan to scrap district councils in favour of unitary authorities risks moving local residents further from power - unless action is taken to empower communities. @ryanswift93.bsky.social explains why that matters...

What's one of the best ways to measure population health? We'd argue it's Healthy Life Expectancy - capturing not just how long we live, but how many of those years are spent in good health. New figures are out today. The picture isn't good. At a national level, England's HLE continues to fall.

"Labour does have a growth strategy — even if it doesn’t appear to know it." 📰 @harryqp.bsky.social in the @Financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/f765...

Our new report is out today! Me and @aditisriram.bsky.social looked at the links between transport and growth, and tried to answer the evergreen question of why Leeds still doesn't have a tram (among other things) 1/🧵

A few thoughts on Chris Wright's intervention at the Int. Energy Agency. www.reuters.com/business/ene... The IEA was set up to respond to a crunch in oil supply on the basis that more forms of energy are good for energy security. Turns out relying on a limited set of unreliable partners was bad?

🚎 Mass transit drives thriving high streets and local growth – but mayors and cities currently take the risk and don't always reap the rewards. Letting them keep and invest in that growth could unlock UK cities 📻️ @aditisriram.bsky.social on @LBCNews 🔗 www.ippr.org/articles/transport-and-growth

A century ago, Bristol had 17 electric tram routes running across the city. Today, it has no mass transit system at all. Meanwhile, 23 smaller cities in France have modern tram networks.