What breaks my mind about this is that there was precisely zero public glamour to reform indefinite leave to remain, outside of a highly online right fringe. The public debate is about small boats, not whatever the hell this is.

This is remarkable.

Deeply unethical. Also it won't work, as the UK farrago demonstrated

‘A total, utter nightmare’: small businesses on Brexit, 10 years on

🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨 🔟 Marking 10 years since the EU referendum, we've got a new report on the UK-EU relationship 🔦 It highlights ‘stark divide’ between the economic impact of Brexit and the govt.’s proposed response 🪜And sets out a ‘staircase’ of options for the future 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/events/ten-y...

It is extremely important that Labour understands that the movement of voters between Lab and Ref was not the crucial factor, it was consolidation of the anti-Ref vote and Lab voters turning out in droves. Otherwise Burnham will make the same mistakes as Starmer in targeting only one set of voters.

If you know of research positions (academia, advocacy etc) lemme know pls. I’m esp interested in anything that contributes to fighting authoritarianism / far right / unaccountable corps/govs / global warming / for human rights I got a fancy PhD and a ridiculously long CV hire me UK/online

Some vg on the ground reporting of Makerfield, which tended to find Burnham outpolling Labour significantly, and especially with women (as polls, before inaccurate reweighted, showed). Overall, national media had skewed perceptions/expectations. Not realising X is a distorting mirror key to that

Having spoken to social care workers affected by the changes, I *hate* this language. Party management/vibes is a terrible way to make policy at the best of times but when the futures of several hundred thousand people is at stake, unforgiveable.

Division in UK probably worse now than in run-up to Brexit, says Kim Leadbeater

More than half of Muslims experienced prejudice based on their religion in the last year, but three-quarters still feel the UK is a good place to be Muslim, according to a new report, ‘Understanding Anti-Muslim Hostility: Foundations for Action’ by @britishfuture.bsky.social & British Muslim Trust

Catching Any Answers in the car, I was struck by persistence in 2026 of a v tired trope about immigration. Does Belfast-style violence happen because legit concerns suppressed? Risks unthinking condoning of illegitimate racism & violence based on a silly claim about legit concerns being blocked

‘X accused of giving racists impunity after failing to take down ‘n-word’ and ‘p-word’ abuse’ - @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

🇪🇺 🇬🇧 NEW: A decade on from the Brexit vote, the public have become more doubtful that the referendum should ever have taken place and more likely to say Britain should allow free movement for EU citizens in return for Single Market access – though they are still far from a wholesale change of heart

Luqman Saeed in Belfast: we are under some kind of house arrest. Members of ethnic minority are asking white friends to accompany them to reduce risks of attacks. www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/ju...

The business model of white victimhood ft.trib.al/LPjfl0o

If you are a policy interested researcher we have opened a fantastic call for our Innovation Fellowships. Spend a year working with a policy partner on themes of resilient communities or digital society. We offer up to £120k. More detail below in this 🧵 www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/sche...

So glad that Luqman Saeed - an academic at Ulster University - has written this piece about the Belfast riots. I hope I could write this clearly and perceptively were I under similar pressure right now. www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/ju...

A briefing of what is known about the violence + disorder in Belfast overnight from Hope Not Hate hopenothate.org.uk/2026/06/10/b...

From a friend in Belfast.

Everyone on X and elsewhere who called for a violent response should be charged with incitement. Everyone involved in the pogrom should be locked up with exemplary sentences. Govt should make it clear that will be the response in future anywhere else. Enough.

Absolutely crucial piece of research on misinformation in local news on Facebook, X and Nextdoor by @smfthinktank.bsky.social Full report is here (www.smf.co.uk/publications...) but these are some key findings:

Don't think people realise quite how deeply split by age current voting intention is. This is the latest YouGov for under-50s: Green: 26% Lab: 18% Reform: 14% Tories: 12% LD: 11% And over 50s: Reform: 36% Tory: 22% Lab: 16% LD: 12% Greens: 9%

I made a little cameo on the radio this morning Thanks BBC More or Less for having me back - this time to debunk the Daily Express' claim that ‘Migrants will get half of all new homes’, based on a calculation from the Conservatives www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

📆 23 June marks a decade since the EU referendum 💥 Join us, @policyatkings.bsky.social & @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social for an evening of drinks & discussion as we reflect on 10 years of Brexit 👀 And for a look at some exclusive new polling 📍In London or online Sign up 👉 ukandeu.ac.uk/events/10-ye...

YouGov most important issues tracker, 30 May - 1 June 2026 Economy: 54% (no change from 23-25 May) Immigration: 47% (+2) Health: 25% (-4) Crime: 22% (+4) Defence: 21% (-1) Welfare: 20% (=) Environment: 17% (+2) Housing: 16% (-1) Tax: 16% (-1) Europe: 14% (=) yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...

"Brexit has made the UK economy smaller than it otherwise would have been... The effect has not been a sudden collapse, but a gradual and cumulative drag on trade, investment and productivity." ✍️ @jdportes.bsky.social looks at the economic impact of Brexit 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/brexit-ten-y...

"British Future’s latest immigration tracker survey finds that more than half (55%) of the public would like immigration to be reduced. Most people are not aware that it already has." ✍️ @heather-rolfe.bsky.social looks at British attitudes to immigration 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/how-can-poli...

Cuts in migration for work aren’t supported by the public and put Labour’s economic growth plans at risk My new blog for @ukandeu.bsky.social

How can policies on migration for work and economic growth gain public support? Our @heather-rolfe.bsky.social writes for @ukandeu.bsky.social on the findings of the new @britishfuture.bsky.social Immigration Attitudes Tracker: ukandeu.ac.uk/how-can-poli...

"Attitudes to migration for work are more positive than other forms. But they also vary by political allegiance in ways that reflect political values and priorities." ✍️ @heather-rolfe.bsky.social looks at British attitudes towards immigration 🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/how-can-poli...

Justin Webb manages to take the mantle 'unlistenable' and eke out even more irritability from listeners at home. Torsten Bell sighing inside throughout that interview #r4Today

“Employers say now it’s just too expensive to hire a young person” - Sky’s Leah Boleto “There are challenges.. but the vast majority do want to take on younger people” - Work and Pensions Minister Torsten Bell

If net migration becomes negative in 2026 it will be because of a collapse in international student numbers right at the same time that the graduate visas of the largest student cohort expire.

Race and space: the rise and fall if "net migration". Prompted by @drjennings.bsky.social & @aveek18.bsky.social, I analyse the social and political construction of a statistic. ukandeu.ac.uk/race-and-spa...

Focus on jobs, not benefits, to cut welfare bill, says thinktank

Scotland was one of the big emigrant nations of the 19th century. I look forward to visiting this museum when it’s up and running. www.thetimes.com/article/da91...

Reform are again saying this. BBC were clear it is a drop in immigration today. Broadcasters should challenge/correct inaccurate versions of claims the fall is about emigration

Record number of overseas applications for British passports in early 2026 - presumably because the Home Office began insisting that dual nationals need one to travel to the UK (rather than using their Australian or Canadian passport, say)

New ONS data: net migration has fallen to 171,000. Our @sundersays.bsky.social said: “This is the lowest net migration since Covid yet only 1 in 6 people know the numbers fell at all last year. “These misperceptions are fuelled by an immigration debate that hasn’t kept pace with reality."

Labour lost almost four times as many voters to the Greens as they did to Reform UK in the local elections, according to new YouGov polling

Whoever is in charge, Labour needs a new immigration strategy. Me in @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pol...

Most of Britain thinks net migration is still rising — when it has actually fallen by more than three-quarters From our new 2026 @britishfuture.bsky.social study of public attitudes to immigration, published online here www.britishfuture.org/britain-thin...

Published today: ‘After the fall: Why hasn’t falling immigration changed public attitudes?’ reporting the 2026 findings of British Future’s annual Immigration Attitudes Tracker.

Big story by @jessicaelgot.bsky.social & @kiranstacey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

New net migration figures covering 2025 will be published on Thursday. Here's what our team will be watching out for – from the trajectory of net migration to the use of asylum hotels and a surge in citizenship applications. www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-05...

Delighted that @msumption.bsky.social will join @sundersays.bsky.social @heather-rolfe.bsky.social for our 21 May webinar 'Net Migration Figures - Policy, Politics and Public Attitudes' discussing ONS net migration stats published that morning. Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/net-migrat...

Streeting backs Burnham for return to Westminster, saying he is ‘best chance of winning’ byelection – UK politics live

Absolutely correct from Starmer here. Sharp contrast to the equivocal response to the last Robinson/Musk rally - a very welcome change.