NEW PAPER from @labourtogether.bsky.social argues we should allow Thames Water to go down the drain. The alternative is a fudged deal that softens pollution targets and sees large returns for hedge funds. This will fuel calls for nationalising the industry, and the uncertainty could push up bills.

For the craic - The trendines for each pollster from 2024 to now

Bought in a wee antiques market today - When did we stop calling political rows/scandals “The X Affair” and start using “-gate”?

We keeping hearing that polls show immigration is a top priority for voters - but how are such polls designed, and does tweaking the way we ask the question affect the answer? Fascinating chat with Calum Weir of @labourtogether.bsky.social on just that www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/pol...

Yesterday, we put out a report on the most important issues to voters. We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk). But that doesn't tell the full story. Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):

Pollsters who ask questions that add nuance are rewarded with a richer look at the public’s outlook argues Labour Together's @cwp-weir.bsky.social

This is a great post on how to understand what’s important to people - it’s shocking that this might be news to political decision makers

Essential reading from Calum Weir - on findings from some innovative polling from Labour Together. His words "Immigration is salient, polarising and important. Cost of living is foundational, unifying and in some ways, even more important." labourlist.org/2025/11/immi... @cwp-weir.bsky.social

Top top work here from @cwp-weir.bsky.social

Fascinating piece.

Really interesting experiment by @cwp-weir.bsky.social labourlist.org/2025/11/immi...

I found this so interesting. We talk about polling results endlessly but rarely discuss how we ask the questions. This salience vs importance question is fascinating.

As immigration dominates the brief this morning, here’s my two cents on the salience vs. the importance of the issue: labourlist.org/2025/11/immi... (Full report linked below - Many thanks to @emmaburnell.bsky.social!!)

On the service to barking, no less

This photo from a local Bath FC match just feels very wholesome

Today’s newsletter: some thoughts on a shocking new poll and a great speech by John Major:

Did you know that the invention of vampires being scared of the dawn / the sun / the rooster crowing is actually a Chinese invention, and older than the publication of Dracula?? It’s in the Zi Buyu which (like me) you can horrendously google translate through this: zh.wikisource.org/zh-hans/%E5%...

The map below shows how far behind France and Germany we are in mass transit. In France, every place with over 150,000 people has some form of tram or metro. But if mayoral areas can 'become builders' as @tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social puts it in the foreword, we can turn this around. 🧵 1/9

If you asked me to imagine the most French looking man ever, seeing this would exceed all my wildest expectations

Ridiculous headline, not much better polling phrasing either Agree-disagree scales! I weep

A majority of Labour party members - who are on any metric rather more socially liberal than the average voter - back ID cards. Plenty of polling showing they are popular with voters in general. Perhaps the zombie myth that British voters oppose them will die at last? labourlist.org/2025/09/digi...

RIP Giorgio Armani

This screenshot on the last TikTok I watched has absolutely floored me - Pure Cinema

If you see me staring into the distance today, this is what I’m thinking about

genuinely losing in, what is the food in this tesco advert

Spotted in Bristol - A 2005 poster featuring Tim Martin boasting about “Wetherspoon’s Value”

I think I may have a whole tube to myself? What do I do? Run up and down? Play my music out loud? The world is full of possibilities and that’s the scariest thing of all

Yes, that's the point. Folks, its already hard to reach 18-24 year olds, loads harder among 18-24 non-grads who are very important to survey, and if we want to understand 18-24 non-grad-males (who may vote Reform), it becomes harder still. Its not impossible, but its hard already.

PS. We'll need to be careful about polls of 16-17 yr olds until we have good confidence in samples and adjusting for turnout. I say Greens only because its Greens who are capturing protest votes from Labour among young voters atm, and may be able to mobilise preferences>votes.

Fewer than half of adults know how many millions there are in a billion. (Polling for Tax Policy Associates) taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/10/26/t...

✈️ Britain’s talked about a third runway at Heathrow for two decades. Our new report with @BritishProgress shows how a flight could take off before 2029 - if Parliament chooses to speed up the process through a Public Bill.

It could well be! Labour lead on the “best PM” question and much else besides. The first Wilson government was re-elected too and it also started disastrously.

Here's one for you - Amongst age groups, Labour voter movement is remarkably steady. The retention drops off over age, Reform is more popular with older voters and the Greens are more popular amongst young voters - Otherwise, there are only fairly minor differences.

My Big Beautiful Bill is Horrible Histories-casted romp “Bill” from 2015

Apparently the big difference in the results is that those who claim to have had more than 20+ partners in the last year are much more likely to have voted Trump A telling reminder: people who have had 20+ partners in the past year ≠ people who *say* they’ve had 20+ partners in the last year

Anyway, let's see if Nigel pops one of these out in the next few weeks

With Trump just using the word "fuck" in an interview on Iran-Israel, this has become weirdly prescient! I doubt it's going to be the most important thing you look at today, but have a read on a UK perspective on swearing in politics below:

With Trump just using the word "fuck" in an interview on Iran-Israel, this has become weirdly prescient! I doubt it's going to be the most important thing you look at today, but have a read on a UK perspective on swearing in politics below:

The rise of Nigel Farage could lead you to believe that a more abrasive way of doing politics is popular. So, we wanted to test: Does the public want politicians to swear more? Should politicians try to be more colourful, by using more colourful language? The answer is ‘no’(-ish). A thread 🧵:

Cracking article about the GOAT of things to watch while you commute www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Interesting thread, especially as I don't think I've heard Farage swear any more than I've heard Starmer swear?

The rise of Nigel Farage could lead you to believe that a more abrasive way of doing politics is popular. So, we wanted to test: Does the public want politicians to swear more? Should politicians try to be more colourful, by using more colourful language? The answer is ‘no’(-ish). A thread 🧵:

A personal update: yesterday was my last day at Deltapoll. I’m going travelling for a couple of weeks before starting my new gig, where I will continue asking people for their opinions about politics and trying to figure out when they’re lying.

Bit of personal news: Last Thursday was my last day at @opiniumresearch.bsky.social after (bloody hell) almost 14 years. I've had a brilliant time working with some wonderful people and I'm leaving everything in the more than capable hands of @mrjcrouch.bsky.social and @priyaminhas.bsky.social

An absolute joy to work with and to be mentored by - Enjoy your weeks off heartily! 🍻

Today @labourtogether.bsky.social called for a Digital ID for all UK citizens and residents. There are many good reasons for this - convenience, efficiency of public services, avoiding another Windrush scandal, but also the impact on perceptions of migration. www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/...

Some thoughts on our report, www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/...

Completely commend the work of my colleagues on this - Take a read!: www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/...

I’ve never understood the irrational opposition to universal ID in this country so very happy to see this in my inbox today

Downing Street exploring options for ‘progressive’ UK digital IDs