Chris Butler

"We called London a war zone and moved to Dubai by mistake"

For anyone who wants to geek out on comparing parties' selection procedures, we also detail the extent to which different parties allow members to get involved

Our findings tentatively suggest that involving members more in candidate selection does not harm female candidates’ prospects but may harm those of ethnic minority and working-class aspirants who are more likely to be selected under centralised selection procedures.

Pleased to see this work with @rozemarijnvandijk.bsky.social @martamiori.bsky.social & @robfordmancs.bsky.social published: We look at the effects of involving party members in candidate selection at the 2019 UK general election: eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

Just spent an hour on the streets witnessing and hearing about the Iranian community here in London, and quite striking how their reaction differs to liberal commentators on BlueSky

They are shouting Miga - Make Iran great again

Quite a few American flags being waved too

Finchley has a large Iranian Christian community and they’ve taken over the high street in joyous celebration

I also had this come out in 2025 :)

Immigrants Against Immigration: British Ethnic Minority Brexit Voter Attitudes to Immigration - cup.org/3WPrz1S

Surely 1) Reform with either combination after will cause the most repercussions?

Means is another example of the trust trap.

It's a 10/10 plot twist. If it's true, it's incredible. If Lindsay Hoyle was just believing some random gossip, it's incredible. If he just hates Mandelson, it's incredible

In what is sadly still a relevant and timely piece, @drjennings.bsky.social, Gerry Stoker and I spoke to those who have served at the ehart of UK governments to understand how they reconcile with low political trust, depressingly finding little motivation to take action to remedy it

These findings of right wing bias in perceptions have also recently been disputed here: adamzelizer.com/wp-content/u...

To be fair, that paper found that politicians’ perceptions of immigration were relatively more accurate than the right wing bias in their perceptions of public opinion on economic and social issues.

A book cover, featuring an image of an incomplete bridge, bearing the title 'The Unfulfilled Electoral Potential of West European Liberal Parties', and the author's name, 'Alexander Davenport'.

Excited to announce that my new book, 'The Unfulfilled Electoral Potential of West European Liberal Parties', is available in both online and print formats with Oxford University Press as of today! academic.oup.com/book/62000 Below is a brief summary of the arguments:

Absolutely - hope they don’t just stop at the misconduct in public office

Looks like he's been arrested for misconduct in public office rather than for sex trafficking?

When I worked at the University of Manchester, we once received a recommendation that we shouldn't pile books or papers on our desks because it was a fire hazard....

IN NEW ISSUE: How do UK political elites reconcile with a low trust environment? @chrisbutlerpol.bsky.social, @drjennings.bsky.social & Gerry Stoker examine this question in @polstudies.bsky.social: buff.ly/3E6DkuS (OPEN ACCESS)

@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social #polsky

It is so embarrassing that it has taken nearly a decade for a British minister to say this, a statement of the absolute bloody obvious

Lib Dems call for ‘anti-growth’ Treasury to be split up – UK politics live Liberal Democrats call for Treasury to be replaced with big growth department, and smaller spending department

Lib Dems call for 'anti-growth Treasury' to be split up, and replaced with big growth department, and smaller spending department - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Perhaps it’s a defection gone wrong?

I wonder what Reform canvassers say to people they encounter during the day in Gorton who are working from home?

Sir Keir Starmer suggests he sacked Richard Leonard as Scottish Labour leader SIR Keir Starmer has suggested he sacked Richard Leonard as Scottish Labour leader.

What's also notable about the Sarwar intervention is that Starmer and his office worked to push aside previous Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard www.heraldscotland.com/politics/234...

The Founding Myth of Morgan McSweeney Reports of Keir Starmer's chief adviser's supposed campaigning genius do not appear to match up with the facts

Wrote this last year on the myth of Morgan McSweeney's supposed campaigning genius

www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-foundi...

Calling all cliches: Wielding the knife The roots of ‘He who wields the the knife never wears the crown’.

thelionandunicorn.com/2016/07/02/c...

Calling all cliches: Wielding the knife The roots of ‘He who wields the the knife never wears the crown’.

I couldn't think of one, so just wondered where the heuristic arose from. This article attributes it to Heseltine but points out that Thatcher knived Heath in the back & emerged victorious. I'm not sure that how much Heseltine's early resignation really damaged his 1990 campaign?

@philipjcowley.bsky.social I’ve been wondering about this Westminster ‘rule’ that the first over the line never wields the crown. Is it really the case that serious contenders for leadership have lost out because they were the first to break ranks? I thought you of anyone might know of examples