Work and welfare: employment policy in Britain and beyond What's happening to employment policy in Britain and beyond?

Next Wednesday 29 April in London I'm discussing my new book on youth unemployment and devolution along with six other authors.

The event is free, hosted at the Resolution Foundation and is organised by the SPA Employment Policy Group.

Sign-up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-and-w...

Only about who the final decision-maker was. Mostly they're incredulous about the evidence being presented.

A good morning for Keir Starmer: Robbins' evidence - essentially that the oral report on Mandelson's security vetting does not match the paperwork, that he wasn't informed of the final SV recommendation and that records of communications with No.10 might be incomplete - is pretty unimpressive.

And this despite the imposition of extremely punitive fines for protestors.

This doesn't get enough attention. Every. Single. Day.

The government's line also seems to suggest that the options are either divulging sexual proclivities or disclosing nothing at all about the vetting process. Why couldn't it be: some concerns have emerged, do you still want to proceed? Or, PM, how much risk are you willing to take on here?

Interesting. But Starmer at fault for a lack of clear communication, surely. And little mention of Lammy in any of this: what of his communication with his Perm Sec?

Revealed: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision Guardian investigation uncovers decision by UK security officials to deny clearance before Mandelson took up role as US ambassador

No10’s account is incredible.
I held Developed Vetting for nearly ten years and spent three years at the heart of the Cabinet Office. I have never heard of a Developed Vetting denial being overruled. Here’s why…🧵

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Inconceivable that Starmer can cling to his current lines for long. As @newseye.bsky.social reminds us below, the Independent reported that Mandelson had failed security vetting back in Sept. Not credible to believe government didn't investigate at that point.

Oh, nice! I didn't know you were writing this. Look forward to reading!

Housing Inequality in the 21st Century Housing Inequality in the 21st Century - Social Policy and the Political Economy of Housing in the UK; This book exposes how deep-rooted political and economic forces continue to shape unequal housing...

New book! Housing Inequality in the 21st Century is now published.
The book explores how policy, markets and wider social change are reshaping housing inequality—and why this matters for wellbeing and justice.
policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/housing-ineq...
#Housing #Inequality #PublicPolicy

This has not been discussed in parliament. If the British military are aiding and abetting war crimes in Lebanon, and our politicians have not even explained to us why this is happening, in what sense are we living in a genuinely democratic society any more?

Nonsense. The exact opposite - that no-one's mind has turned - is very much closer to the truth.

ESRC postdoctoral fellowships Apply for a postdoctoral fellowship to develop your career by consolidating your PhD through developing publications, your networks and your research and professional skills.

Are you looking for post-doc funding to publish from your PhD or conduct new engagement work?

The ESRC's post-doc scheme call is now live.

If you'd be interested in being mentored by me (or someone at Cardiff), then do reach out - internal deadlines are quite tight

www.ukri.org/opportunity/...

ESRC postdoctoral fellowships Apply for a postdoctoral fellowship to develop your career by consolidating your PhD through developing publications, your networks and your research and professional skills.

Are you looking for post-doc funding to publish from your PhD or conduct new engagement work?

The ESRC's post-doc scheme call is now live.

If you'd be interested in being mentored by me (or someone at Cardiff), then do reach out - internal deadlines are quite tight

www.ukri.org/opportunity/...

If you read one thing on the UK's latest poverty estimates, read this

🧵 New HBAI data out yesterday from DWP and it comes with a big methodological upgrade. For the first time, Family Resources Survey responses have been linked to benefits admin records, fixing years of benefit under-reporting. Here's what it means for how we understand poverty in the UK...

Learning from the last crisis Four lessons for tackling the cost-of-living crisis arising from the war on Iran

What lessons should government learn from the cost-of-living shock that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine for how to support households in the face of the current energy price spike?

open.substack.com/pub/rodhick/...

Learning from the last crisis Four lessons for tackling the cost-of-living crisis arising from the war on Iran

What lessons should government learn from the cost-of-living shock that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine for how to support households in the face of the current energy price spike?

open.substack.com/pub/rodhick/...

Swinney - UK government must 'get a move on' with heating oil support The first minister responds to Chancellor Rachel Reeves' promise of help with rising energy costs caused by war in the Middle East

Counterpoint: not every crisis is akin to the pandemic and we shouldn't normalise the overnight design of multibillion pound policy responses. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

Household classification, family diversity and poverty risks in Europe: Addressing a North-Western bias

New paper, by @wvlancker.bsky.social, @bartovalzbeta.bsky.social, @thaning.bsky.social and myself.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

27 stays 27: 'No problem'. 27 becomes 29: "No; problem"

ASAP UK February Seminar: Social Security and Poverty reflecting on the post General Election period and looking ahead to the Devolved Parliament elections. 26th February 2026 2:30-4pm This webinar will bring together one of the ASAP UK election auditors with two academics from Wales and Scotland to discuss the current social security challenges in rela...

Looking forward to speaking at 2.30pm today alongside @haylesben.bsky.social & Richard Machin about progress in tackling poverty since the 2024 UK election and the upcoming Welsh and Scottish elections.

To sign up: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Thanks to @academiclee.bsky.social for organising.

‘Tinderbox’ UK may be one shock away from food riots, experts say Weakened food security could tip into unrest after a cyber-attack, extreme weather or conflict, analysis finds

'Experts' are invited to speculate about what kind of food shock could lead to civil unrest. So they do.

Then this is reported as if they claimed a riot is imminent.

Very bad stuff. Ultra-high volume journal publishing is a huge threat to scientific integrity

www.theguardian.com/food/2026/fe...

Birthday week is off to a strong start.

These are surely complements, not substitutes.

Somewhat surprised to hear the BBC reporting that the cabinet are rallying around Starmer. There's no way he can limp on now, the Scottish Labour leader having just wielded the knife, just because the main challengers have decided May would be a more convenient time to dethrone him.

I’m not sure ‘our national security developed vetting technique can be beaten if a candidate is prepared to lie’ is an especially helpful line to push.

More flat-footedness by Starmer's government. A statement overtaken by events by the time of its delivery. Conservative response much more powerful.

Three errors here. First, in confusing some kind of SEND classification (20%) with EHCPs (5.5%).

Secondly in assuming it gives automatic right to DLA. Though there is a strong ECHP/DLA overlap.

Third in assuming that those moving to DLA to PIP never work (it's not an out of work benefit).