Former leader of Reform UK in Wales pleads guilty to bribery charges relating to statements in favour of Russia in the European parliament. But Reform UK want to get rid of regulators and cut govt spending ... leading to less investigation and enforcement ... more bribery and security threats.

Thanks to @ldattaro.bsky.social for this lovely write-up of Getting Better. If this sparks your interest, you can get the book open access here: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/getting-better @profkatsmith.bsky.social @profbambra.bsky.social @pennldi.bsky.social @pennaging.bsky.social

We're are now accepting applications for an exciting DPhil at the @oxprimarycare.bsky.social, *FUNDED* by the THRIVING Food Futures research hub! The project is about divisive policies, supervised by me, Dr Rachel Pechey @petescarbs.bsky.social @ashakaur.bsky.social lnkd.in/eezGaZZ3 Pls share! ✨

It would be good if the only political pushback against Nigel Farage's plans to mass deport hundreds of thousands of our neighbours, friends, family and colleagues didn't just come from a handful of backbench MPs and one regional mayor

As well as the fantasy £234 bn, journalists should also be clear Farage's claims most new migrants don't work, and those who do are on low wages, are entirely false. In fact, 1.8 million recent migrants are on payrolls (others will be self employed). migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...

Any journalist quoting this absurd, invented £234 billion number cited by Farage/Reform should make absolutely clear that it has been withdrawn by *its own authors* (the Centre for Policy Studies) after they admitted it contained several major errors (1/3)

This is not OK www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/how...

Uplifted to be with these three inspirational leaders today. Inequality is not fate. We can build a more equal world - benefiting everyone.

ICYCMI some insights from our panel discussion at the launch of the new SHERU report out today on how to prevent premature deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide amongst men in Scotland (a 🧵):

Oxford people - tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 11.30 there is a gathering at the Holiday Inn Express near the Kassam Stadium to counter anti-refugee protesters.

See coverage of today's report from SHERU on how younger adult men, at risk of deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide, are a 'policy blindspot': www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/policy-...

(1/3) At the launch of SHERU's report this morning, we were joined by the Auditor General Stephen Boyle to hear about the work of @auditscotland.bsky.social on how to best deliver on preventative policy in Scotland.

Thank you to Peter MacMahon for chairing our next session on making economics accessible for the public, with three fantastic editors to discuss. #FAI50

"If we don't make these choices, our successors will be faced with an even tougher environment." Auditor General Stephen Boyle on the need to prioritise effective prevention of health inequalities. #FAI50

SHERU's second annual report is now live. Our attendees got an exclusive look at the findings and recommendations this morning before launch. #FAI50 buff.ly/hog5bHK

Good to see report has already had some media pick up: www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/policy-...

New annual report from @scothealtheq.bsky.social just launched - as well as providing an update on key stats + qualitative insights on socioeconomic drivers of health inequalities, report places spotlight on preventable deaths from drugs, alcohol & suicide scothealthequity.org/2025-inequal... 1/3

1/7 This morning we launched our 2025 Inequality Landscape report at the Fraser of Allander Institute 50th Anniversary conference #FAI50

Our special guest revealed! Welcome John Swinney, First Minister, to the conference. #FAI50

We're at the Fraser of Allander 50th conference today talking about our work on Strengthening Policy Implementation.

'Britain’s political class... needs to stop “chasing whatever’s trending on Twitter” and start governing with substance' - Very good read on the spread of disinformation via social media from @petergeoghegan.bsky.social

🏡 Our new report: what role can Scottish housing policy play in reducing health inequalities? See here: scothealthequity.org/raising-the-...

Powerful read: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

My 11 poetry workshops here have had 280k views. They're free to use in any way you want, with children, for yourselves, in classroom, at home, however you want. www.youtube.com/c/MichaelRos...

I have a new op-ed out 'Celebrate Adolescence's Emmy win - but don't forget the message at its core' @lbc.co.uk www.lbc.co.uk/article/cele...

Bear with me, I anticipate your disagreement. There is a clear pattern to the advice given to those who want to press back against rising racism. What it boils down to is that if you point out that racism is often being dressed up as “legitimate concerns” you will alienate people. /1

👀 Eyes on 2026! Join Professor Sir John Curtice for a sneak peek at the next Scottish election, the latest polling insights, and your chance to ask the questions that matter. 2:30pm on Friday 19th September #FAI50 buff.ly/R37Qwm7

This is abysmal

There is a serious failure in UK govt, politics & media to take sufficiently seriously what Musk said & meant with "fight back or die" = Violence (interethnic civil war) is inevitable so pre-emptive violence - vs migrants, minorities & political opponents - is necessary to avoid existential erasure

Today people went around my neighborhood in north east London spray painting St George’s crosses onto people’s homes. Many of these houses have non British people living in them. This is getting very dark, very quick.

As Chair, here is our cross-party joint statement from the Parliamentary Black Caucus, regarding the rising threat of racism and violence from the far-right.👇🏾

Taking a moment out of anger & despair to value fab family & friends. Partner saw I was struggling & stepped in; friend took our daughter kayaking; D's bestie & mum dropped off homemade food. In this mix are Muslim/Christian/Jewish/Pakistani/Nigerian/Irish roots—this is the multicultural Britain I ❤️

Paid a visit to the London arms fair today... Found a component for cluster munitions, banned under international law, on full display. Confirmed by staff, and removed swiftly by event organisers. But what else remains? These vile weapons should never be peddled in the UK.

This is like something out of the deepest darkest depths of British nineteenth century capitalism. ASDA workers indirectly helping to pay the rents the company now has to pay on the warehouses it used to own itself, through high interest payday lending: www.theguardian.com/business/202...

The silence is deafening. A lot of people are feeling anxious and scared tonight. For their loved ones. For themselves. For their community. For their country. For our country. Those who lead us must use their voices, unequivocally, now.

That feeling of desperately wanting your elected government to loudly call out racism & far right violent extremists... And nothing. Labour so afraid to lose power, it has forgotten both how to use it & that with power comes responsibility. As America gets ever darker, too little light here.

Many Labour MPs will have been active in fighting the far right for their whole lives. Number 10's unwillingness to condemn racism and extremism will not help the PM's shaky position.

I’m inclined to agree with this. It’s disturbing to see how explicit racism is becoming more acceptable, and the extent to which it is going unchallenged. I don’t know if it’s down to an increasingly fragmented media landscape, inertia of government, or what, but it is frightening.

A powerful call to action from @jdportes.bsky.social - as things descend into chaos in the US, the risk is rising in the UK (pushed by the same agitators). The silent majority has to stand up and be counted to show our leaders that sucking up to the far right is unacceptable.

Personal note: went to (some) of the countermarch yesterday, and then watched TV coverage of both. @sundersays.bsky.social is right that the far-right/racists on the main march are a (small) minority whose numbers are not growing. It's the apparent paralysis of the majority that scares me. [1/n]

I was expecting to be disappointed by response from Keir Starmer & UK Labour party about the far right march in London, but the silence is now deafening & Peter Kyle's 'shows free speech is alive & well' line is sickening. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Incredible that those covering far right march in London are failing to link to history of far right in UK. Tell it how it is: this extremist movement is the descendant of the BNP, Combat-18, Moseley's black shirts. Either short memories or deliberate forgetting.

Radical right accommodation really does not work. New paper out with this exceptionally talented team @katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk doi.org/10.31235/osf...

📖CHP BOOK LAUNCH: Advancing Health Rights and Tackling Inequalities Join us 4-5:30 19.9.25 for a conversation interrogating the intersection of health, rights, and social justice. ⚖️ Tickets: tinyurl.com/ynvf2hj8

Beautiful, heart wrenching words & songs from so many voices outside the Scottish Parliament this evening, calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza, framed by a multitude of flags crafted by children across Scotland, with some very clear messages...

Iconic moment at the Downton Abbey premiere

Gaza HM say IDF killed 76 in past day inc 12 aid seekers. Total killed 63,633, including 2,306 aid seekers. 13 people, including three children, died of starvation or malnutrition in the past day, bringing the total famine-related death toll to 361, inc 130 children. Are we covering this enough?

The recording of our latest webinar can now be watched here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Dj... Featuring contributions from @gjallan.bsky.social and Justine Holmes @shareaction.bsky.social

1/7 New stats from @NatRecordsScot show 1017 drug misuse deaths in Scotland in 2024. That’s down 13% from 2023 - the lowest level since 2017. A welcome shift but drug deaths remain far higher in Scotland than elsewhere in Europe & are deeply tied to poverty and inequality.

📢 We're launching a new training project to help young people spot and challenge disinformation online. In partnership with @cilipscotland.bsky.social, @youngscot.bsky.social, thanks to support from @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk. Find out more more: theferret.scot/the-ferret-h...