Scrapping the two-child limit *is* welfare reform. Defining ‘reform’ solely as ‘cut’ is one reason why it’s proved so difficult

This focuses on politics. But we should also care about *outcomes*. In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes. Why would we want to copy that?

If you are U.K. based and angered by Shabana Mahmood's latest efforts to make migrants lives even more difficult (and I know some of you will be), please do take the time to submit a response to the Home Office consultation. Dan's advice below is excellent as a guide on how to respond.

Is scrapping the two-child limit enough to tackle poverty? blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

Those who are pursuing increasingly racialised politics lecture the rest of us about how we are out of touch. All the time, it is they who have fundamentally misread the public. Yes, people want managed migration. No, they do not want the country torn apart by aggressive nationalism.

Mahmood/government should say explain *objective* of increasing time to settlement for 15 years for care workers who arrived 2022-24 Is it A) to get them to leave? Why? B) to save money? Then why not just restrict benefits? C) to "encourage integration"? How? Will do opposite.

Which of these is the "cause of our division"? Those who came under the Ukraine Schemes to be protected from Russia's aggression? Those sponsored to work in the Health and Care sector? The BNOs from Hong Kong? The students attending our universities?

The Daily Telegraph is being bought by the Daily Mail. With columnists who write this kind of incel style bilge about someone they disagree with on immigration think it’s unnecessary tbh …

I wrote for @indyvoices.bsky.social about whether competing to win the "least welcoming nation" league is either desirable or possible for Britain www.independent.co.uk/voices/uk-as...

What Kenan Malik has failed to do here is distinguish between mundane bigotry (the "visceral") and programmatic racism. The language of "invasion" and "white decline" does not arise organically from working class anxiety or xenophobia but is imposed from above.

New from FM: Home Secretary opens consultation on “earned settlement” | Sonia Lenegan

This focuses on politics. But we should also care about *outcomes*. In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes. Why would we want to copy that?

“So besotted are conservatives with Mahmood, many even praise her use of the “race card”. Experience of racism, though, is no guarantee of wisdom in combating it.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...

Do we really think tinkering with rules about ILR etc will fundamentally change the incentives of those risking their lives, and those of their kids in dinghies? And is legitimising racism by seeing it as a logical reaction to policy failure really takes basis on which to proceed?

It's infuriating to see so much of the media give Kruger the same kid gloves treatment that Rees-Mogg used to get because he is posh and polite and able to wrap his bigotry in enough intellectual tissue paper to make it seem like a political philosophy rather than an expression of white supremacy.

Why do people think England flags have been raised on lampposts? White adults National pride: 26% Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49% Both: 19% Ethnic minority adults National pride: 15% Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55% Both: 20% yougov.co.uk/society/arti...

Excellent by @chrisdillow.bsky.social. Explains "dark Keynesianism" — why you have to tax the middle class, the money of the rich (alone) is no good, to make space for public services. Also goes beyond fiscal policy to think in real terms and targeted policy. There are immigration implications. 1/

After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low. European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths! Me in @theguardian.com

The Economist on the British government's proposal that the country with the comparatively best record on integration in one generation could emulate Denmark, which struggles in integration, and where the tough line on asylum presents further barriers

Cas Mudde (@casmudde.bsky.social) for the @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

(I have read the government's consultation paper carefully. Nowhere does it answer this very simple question -what is this policy supposed to achieve?)

It’s just nuts. Even if you accept Labour’s policy diagnosis, we “lost control” of our borders, and concern about immigration was rising long before the alarming rise of racism. The big change on racism has been we traded an anti-racist government for one that is at best Trappist on it.

Half (49.7%) of people of colour are migrants (2021 Census data for England & Wales) 54% of Asian British 51% of Black British 18% of 'Mixed' 68% of 'Other' Racism affects both the 5.5 million ethnic minorities who were born in Britain and the 5.4 million ethnic minorities who were born elsewhere

The reality that I think increasingly dawns is that none of A, B or C are tenable answers. Which unfortunately suggests it is D) To signal hostility in the hope that people with anti-migration views will see this as them being 'tough'.

Implying that the "cause of our division" is too many care workers, as Mahmood does here, is both absurd and sinister.

If there is a decision—which I hope there is not—in the Government or somewhere else to say, “That person is so rich, powerful, and politically connected these days that we cannot uphold the rule of law on his platform” people need to say that out loud committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

Mahmood/government should say explain *objective* of increasing time to settlement for 15 years for care workers who arrived 2022-24 Is it A) to get them to leave? Why? B) to save money? Then why not just restrict benefits? C) to "encourage integration"? How? Will do opposite.

Implying that the "cause of our division" is too many care workers, as Mahmood does here, is both absurd and sinister.

 "so deep was the fiscal crisis that public spending was cut and taxes on the rich went up. The result is that Britain’s top 10 per cent is the only segment paying more in taxes today than in 2010" on.ft.com/4a6clNL if this were more widely understood, Reeves' job would be somewhat easier

Shabana Mahmood's Indefinite Leave To Remain Culture War 3 years - if you're earning £125k+ 15 years - if you're e.g. a nurse, or a teacher Labour's two tier system which rewards high earners and insults those who work just as hard but don't earn as much - really sad to see Labour fall

@lennyhenryofficial.bsky.social v Lord Nigel Biggar on reparations. Now online open access: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

📆 ONE WEEK TO GO 📆 🍂 Once again our expert economics panel are meeting to dissect the details of the chancellor's Autumn Statement With @anandmenon.bsky.social, @jillongovt.bsky.social, @jdportes.bsky.social, @gemmatetlow.bsky.social & @benchu.bsky.social Sign up👇 ukandeu.ac.uk/events/ukice...

VERY funny that Labour are being pointlessly cruel and haemorrhaging support from their base and yet none of what they're offering is ever going to be enough for the people whose approval they're seeking, WHO could have predicted it

In 2023 @tom-clark.bsky.social got me to write a chapter for his book on UK poverty about how immigration limbo, which Labour wants more of, makes people destitute. It was the most distressing piece I've ever worked on. We sent a copy to every MP. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/society/6081...

📢 #CallForPapers 7th Workshop on the Economics and Politics of Migration CEPR @ebrd.bsky.social King's College London & Sapienza University are co-organising a workshop on 28-29 May 2026 in Rome Submit by 23 January cepr.org/events/7th-w... @micheledimaio.bsky.social @plvezina.bsky.social #EconSky

tomorrow's newsletter is literally called "aren't you tired of feeling insane all the time?" and boy isn't this a darling example, a phrase popularised by full-on racists on Elon Musk's Twitter now being bandied around in the mainstream press and sold as a Labour term

❔| #TTP: Are Europe’s New Asylum Policies a Betrayal of its Values? Hard-line approaches to migration are being proposed even by parties that traditionally hold liberal views. But does the shift break with Europe’s fundamentals? Nine experts give their takes ⤵️ carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

Home Office media release on new settlement rules. 5 years to settlement for family members of British citizens; BNO Hong Kong visas + public sector workers Keir Starmer's government proposes 15 year, 20 year + even 30 year settlement routes: deliberately off the charts of any precedent anywhere

Across Europe, politicians promise to “stop illegal migration” as if it were a problem that comes from the outside. What if irregular migration is not something that happens despite the system, but because of it? #EUmigration #ShabanaMahmood politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/how-eur...

In a context of shifting US commitments, external threats, and global competition, Philipp Hildebrand, Hélène Rey, & @schularick.bsky.social outline key principles for establishing a European Future of Defence Architecture and a framework for its financing. cepr.org/voxeu/column... #EconSky

Either you support a tax on wealthier people or you don’t. on.ft.com/44azcE6 Rachel Reeves under pressure to scale back Budget raid on expensive homes

The whole problem with current Labour is encapsulated right here in this paragraph. One hand tries to ameliorate child poverty while the other hand makes it worse. Some of us think immigrants and their children count. That they, too, are people. Some of us don’t.

NEW | The Daily Telegraph, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and some very weird Winnie the Pooh fan fiction... A column from Allison Pearson shows how Labour's attitude to asylum seekers will never be cruel enough for the Right. brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/the-daily-...

On est pas bien là ? :)

Reminder - this doesnt just affect trans people. Hannah Botterman is a icon and English legend - is scared to go to the loo alone in case people now challenge her. And this advice would entirely empower them.

I suspect they're delaying it because its mental and unworkable - and is clearly aimed at the exclusion of trans, and gender conforming people, from society.

Shabana Mahmood is already the third British Asian woman to be a tough talking Home Secretary on asylum. But the fate of Priti Patel's very similar reforms cast doubt on how far these changes are the key to control in the Channel. My Eastern Eye column this week www.easterneye.biz/shabana-mahm...

When I was a young boy, the next word out of Goodwin’s mouth here would be “blacks”. I don’t particularly see it as any type of progress that now it will be some euphemism for “Muslims”.

NEW: Labour inherited public services in crisis. Performance had fallen, investment had been cut + spending plans were undeliverable. It's made some progress, providing stability and positive long-term plans. But it has been undermined by poor prep in opposition and lack of co-ordination in govt 🧵

Fundamentally, the UK is a massive success story on integration and most of the anxiety around it from the right should be treated as in insincere concern trolling it actually is.