Mile End Institute

Tonight, the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social will be hosting our next “Hennessy Lecture” when @ldfreedman.bsky.social will be discussing the UK’s commitment to Ukraine.

A handful of tickets are still available, particularly for @qmul.bsky.social staff and students, so do join us if you can!

Still “Thatcher’s Britain”? The Thatcher Legacy, 1925-2025

Still, a good opportunity to advertise our next event at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social on 20 October:

"Still Thatcher's Britain? The Thatcher Legacy, 1925-2025".

Featuring Gillian Shephard, Simone Finn, @philipjcowley.bsky.social and me.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...

'As Long As It Takes': What does it mean to commit to Ukraine's security? Join the Mile End Institute for our fourth distinguished Hennessy Lecture by the legendary Professor of War Studies, Sir Lawrence Freedman!

"'As Long As It Takes': What does it mean to commit to Ukraine's security?"

We are delighted to be welcoming Sir Lawrence Freedman to the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social on 8 Oct, 18:30, for this term's distinguished Hennessy Lecture.

Book your free ticket here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/as-long-as...

“As Long As It Takes”: What does it mean to commit to Ukraine's security?

We are thrilled to welcome Sir @ldfreedman.bsky.social to @qmul.bsky.social to deliver the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social’s fourth distinguished “Hennessy Lecture” on 8 October.

You can book your free ticket below!

Very happy to be back on the Parliament Matters podcast, discussing the latest developments on the assisted dying bill with @ruthfox.bsky.social & @matthewengland.bsky.social. Thank you for having me!

Listen to the episode here: pod.link/1714627828/e...

'As Long As It Takes': What does it mean to commit to Ukraine's security? Join the Mile End Institute for our fourth distinguished Hennessy Lecture by the legendary Professor of War Studies, Sir Lawrence Freedman!

'"As Long As It Takes": What does it mean to commit to Ukraine's security?'

We are thrilled to welcome Sir Lawrence Freedman (@ldfreedman.bsky.social) to Queen Mary to deliver our 4th distinguished Hennessy Lecture on 8 October, 6:30.

Get your free ticket here!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/as-long-as...

'As Long As It Takes': What does it mean to commit to Ukraine's security? Join the Mile End Institute for our fourth distinguished Hennessy Lecture by the legendary Professor of War Studies, Sir Lawrence Freedman!

On 8 October, we will be hosting our fourth distinguished "Hennessy Lecture" at @qmul.bsky.social.

We're delighted to announce that
@ldfreedman.bsky.social will be lecturing on Europe's commitment to Ukraine and asking what can be done to make it more credible.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/as-long-as...

Congratulations to Tom Chidwick who has (finally) finished the draft manuscript of his book on Scotland’s first devolution referendum in March 1979!

It will be published by @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social next spring. Tom hasn't moved to Bluesky yet so we'll post updates in the months to come!

I was interviewed on Today in Parliament on Radio 4 on Friday, discussing how the assisted dying bill might fare in the House of Lords.

Listen here (around 7 mins in): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Ten years ago, in July 2015, 48 Labour MPs defied party whips to vote against the Tory government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill. Two Corbyn leadership election wins and one Starmer landslide election victory later, here we are again.

Me on why and how the Labour welfare rebellion got this big ⬇️

Rebel rebel: parliamentary humiliations didn’t start with Starmer Government climbdown on welfare reveals the perpetually problematic relationship between Labour’s front and backbench

Another cracking history lesson from @philipjcowley.bsky.social on the welfare battles of previous Labour PMs and what makes this different www.ft.com/content/f637...

Labour’s disability cuts rebellion: a former government whip asks, how did Keir Starmer not see this coming? The government has been forced into another u-turn to see off a rebellion. But it really shouldn’t have come to this.

Some expert analysis from our @qmpoliticsir.bsky.social colleague (and former Labour minister, no less) @tonymcn64.bsky.social

New @mileendinstitute.bsky.social and @savanta.bsky.social polling out today shows that a quarter of Londoners who voted Labour in the 2024 GE would not do so again if there was a GE tomorrow - with Labour losing voters to parties on the right and left in roughly equal measure in the capital

London isn't a Labour city any more — the three key questions that new polling raises “London is a Labour city” was always something of an exaggeration but it’s even more misleading today than it has been for quite a while. Polling just released by the Mile End Institute (MEI) at Queen...

‘Labour isn’t a London city any more’

@timbale.bsky.social discusses new polling from @mileendinstitute.bsky.social on political attitudes in London.

www.standard.co.uk/comment/lond...

London isn't a Labour city any more — the three key questions that new polling raises “London is a Labour city” was always something of an exaggeration but it’s even more misleading today than it has been for quite a while. Polling just released by the Mile End Institute (MEI) at Queen...

He always looks so worried. Perhaps he should be. Did this for The Standard off the back of @mileendinstitute.bsky.social's fab London polling.

Assisted dying: what happens now the House of Lords has the bill? Peers would be on dicey political ground if they tried to stop the bill passed by MPs – but they may run into problems over timing.

After last week's vote in the Commons, could the assisted dying bill be blocked in the Lords? New piece by me for @uk.theconversation.com.

'Assisted dying: what happens now the House of Lords has the bill?'

theconversation.com/assisted-dyi...

#AssistedDyingBill

Picture of a very full lecture theatre listening two a speaker at the screen and two other panel lists sat ready

At the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social media cent on “does the Conservative party have a future” and we’re at Game of Thrones analogies, in case anyone wanted a sense of the state of play…

Public Expects To See Improvements In NHS, Education And Housing Before The Next General Election The public expects to see tangible improvements in this Parliament in the NHS, schools and housing, according to new polling.

New piece by @zoecrowther.bsky.social in @politicshome.bsky.social covering some of our ongoing research (w/ @karlpike.bsky.social @philipjcowley.bsky.social) into voters' time horizons and its implications for the current UK government's "politics of patience":

www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Abstract for 'Prudence from the left: Economic restraint and UK social democracy since 1945', authored by Colm Murphy and Patrick Diamond. The abstract is too long to put here, but click on the link in the second skeet to find a machine-readable version.

Very pleased to see my co-authored piece with Patrick Diamond for @bjpir.bsky.social published!

We use the case of the UK since 1945 to show that fiscal orthodoxy, macroeconomic prudence, and even 'austerity' can, in certain conditions, be pursued by the left as well as right.

But... (1/2)

Does the Conservative Party Have a Future? Join us to explore the causes of the Conservatives' problems, the challenges of Opposition and the prospects for the party in future.

What better way to celebrate Big Dog Boris Johnson's birthday today than by signing up to hear @nigelfletcher.bsky.social and the @newstatesman.com's @rmcunliffe.bsky.social and me discuss the death (sorry, future) of the Tory Party this coming Monday? www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-the-c...

Does the Conservative Party Have a Future? Join us to explore the causes of the Conservatives' problems, the challenges of Opposition and the prospects for the party in future.

📅Monday 23 June, 6.30pm📅

Does the #ConservativeParty have a future?

Join us to hear @timbale.bsky.social, @nigelfletcher.bsky.social and the @newstatesman.com's @rmcunliffe.bsky.social discuss the Conservatives' problems and the challenges of opposition.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-the-c...

Next Monday, we'll be hosting a fascinating conversation between @timbale.bsky.social, @nigelfletcher.bsky.social and the @newstatesman.com's Associate Political Editor, Rachel Cunliffe. They'll be discussing the causes of the Conservatives' problems and the challenges of opposition. Do join us!

The former Conservative MP, Neil Carmichael, speaking at the Mile End Institute on 10 June 2025.

Professor Sara Hobolt speaking at the Mile End Institute on 10 June 2025.

Professor Anand Menon speaking at the Mile End Institute on 10 June 2025.

Dr Robert Saunders speaking at the Mile End Institute on 10 June 2025.

Tonight, we are exploring what the 1975 and 2016 referendums can teach us about ‘How to Win a Referendum on Europe’.

We’re delighted to welcome Neil Carmichael, @sarahobolt.bsky.social and @anandmenon.bsky.social to QM, and to revisit @robertsaunders.bsky.social’s brilliant book, ‘Yes to Europe’!

How to Win a Referendum on Europe: 1975, 2016 and ...?

Stellar line-up ( @anandmenon.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @profsob.bsky.social @robertsaunders.bsky.social ). On tomorrow. What are you waiting for? Go book!
www.qmul.ac.uk/events/upcom...

This evening, we'll be marking 50 years since the 1975 referendum & 9 years since 2016 by asking "How to win a referendum on Europe"

Book your place to join @anandmenon.bsky.social, @sarahobolt.bsky.social, Neil Carmichael and @robertsaunders.bsky.social to explore how referendums are won or lost ⬇️

The Speaker's Conference on the security of MPs, candidates and elections published its first report last week. It cited oral evidence from our Director, Dr Sofia Collignon, on the threats that candidates face and how the media shapes the public's attitudes⬇️

committees.parliament.uk/publications...

What do we want? Everything. When do we want it? Right now! It turns out that we voters may be to blame for the UK’s short-termism

Great write up of their fascinating research on the different time horizons of politicians and voters by @qmpoliticsir.bsky.social's finest, @philipjcowley.bsky.social , @mbarnfield.bsky.social and @karlpike.bsky.social

Tickets are still available for our next event, marking 50 years since the 1975 referendum and 5 years since #Brexit!

Book your place to explore what lessons the 1975 and 2016 #referendums might hold for the future ⬇️

7 years ago, and still my favourite photo from a @mileendinstitute.bsky.social event.

With @philipjcowley.bsky.social, @stephenkb.bsky.social, Gisela Stuart, Sue Onslow and Andrew Cooper.

New report from the Speaker’s Conference on the security of MPs, candidates and elections - featuring lots of cited expertise from my @qmpoliticsir.bsky.social colleague Sofia Collignon. @mileendinstitute.bsky.social

committees.parliament.uk/publications...