Emma Norris

A senior Danish guy in the Social Democrats said to me that Denmark does not think of itself as a multicultural country whereas Britain does, which makes our situation very different.

What a lack of grace we've seen across the board today.

Whether you agree with her politics or not, Hannah Spencer was evidently a top notch candidate and Parliament will be richer with her there. Obvious from the off.

We all need to drink the water from this democratic well.

One of Labour's political challenges is that those things it has done that is popular tend not to be well known or high profile to the general public

A Reform threat to repeal employment rights is therefore a significant political opportunity, if they can seize it.

Support in mainstream schools has been hollowed out. Help often only comes once a child qualifies for an EHCP — by then, it’s crisis point.

Earlier intervention means more kids get support sooner — better for families and better for the taxpayer.

📺 @harryqp.bsky.social on BBC News👇

Have written about how the below is one symptom of a really bad set-up at the centre of government. It makes sense that in the moment prime ministers keep trying to find a different person to do various jobs, but the problem is also a structural one, and the dysfunctional structure keeps on winning

If Starmer wants a reset - and not yet another U-turn when the parliamentary party balks at a policy - here is his chance.

This was an inspiring blog six months ago from one of the new joint PM’s Chief of Staff

Precisely. Provided they don't quail before focus groups, strategists, the Daily Mail, the great and good, lobby gossip, guesswork dressed up as 'cost-benefit analysis', and over-cautious legal advice - but instead use their judgement, stick to their principles, and govern.

Rebuilding state capacity requires building the confidence of the civil service as well as investing in the dynamic capabilities needed to tackle grand challenges - not outsourcing to consultancies.

Nothing like enjoying your slightly cheaper pint while imagining the toddler crying from hunger that paid for it.

Smart question to ask.

AI-generated news should carry ‘nutrition’ labels, thinktank says The Institute for Public Policy Research also argues that tech companies must pay publishers for content they use

New report: AI is certain to transform the way we consume news. If we do nothing it could turn it into slop. We need policy action now, to ensure AI improves news & the public sphere.

Guardian coverage: www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Really excited to see the government announcing a cap on ground rents. As recommended in @samalvis.bsky.social and my "war on bills" piece. As we argue, the government should leave no stone on unturned to lower the cost of living in ways that people can feel.

www.ippr.org/articles/a-w...

I think this is exactly right.

www.ft.com/content/2642... Europe must not appease Trump on Greenland

Fantastic news that a government body is now on here. Zero excuse at this point for all others not doing the same

So... I've created a starter pack of UK government organisations currently on Bluesky: go.bsky.app/JHsY1Wz

(Currently includes all those listed under ministerial and non-ministerial departments here www.gov.uk/government/o... - let me know any I've missed, or got wrong)

Number of people who say Britons must be born in UK is rising, study shows Exclusive: Research finds ‘worrying’ surge in support for hard-right narratives on national identity

New YouGov research for ippr finds that civic conceptions of being British are held by most people, with a third prioritising birthplace. Reform voters are outliers, against the general public view, weighting ancestry and ethnicity more highly
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

How do you solve a problem like the high street? Time for a Troubled Buildings Programme

Every pollster and focus group will tell you that high street decline and broken down buildings are a key part of our political malaise. I'd love to see government pick a fight with derelict property owners.

howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/how-do-you...

Economist, International Policy | IPPR The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society.

🚨 WE'RE HIRING! Come and join the UK's most influential think tank. We are recruiting for an economist to join our international policy team. Find out more here 👇

www.ippr.org/jobs/economi...

Such important context for the scrapping of the two child limit:

70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.

A mansion tax is one of the most popular things that Labour has done - 67% in favour, 19% against.

The government *did do* what was right for the country - and what its MPs believed was right: lifting 450,000 children out of poverty.

Politics isn’t just polling or tactics. It’s using power to advance your values. The government acted on its values and improved opportunities for ~ 1.6m children.

Today’s Budget fired the starting gun on a fairer tax system and improving living standards – with several measures we have called for now taken up. There’s more to do, but this is a significant step forward. Here are the IPPR policies that were adopted 🧵

Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements.

Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...

Today the government is lifting the 2-child limit – a major IPPR win that boosts incomes and improves opportunities for ~ 1.6m children.

Extra income in low-income families boosts health and attainment. By the end of the parliament, 450,000 fewer children will live in poverty.

A landmark moment.

This Budget will show who the government is really for – and who it’s against. Our three tests:

1️⃣ Is it fair, asking more of those with the broadest shoulders?
2️⃣ Does it cut the cost of living?
3️⃣ Is it pro-growth and reassuring to markets?

📺 @carsjung.bsky.social on @gbnewsonline.bsky.social 👇

So much of UK politics seems as a weird tangled misreading of public opinion.

Shall we raise tax? Voters won’t like it. But need to deliver for voters and tax rises necessary to for that. Voters need to see change. But cant break promise, because voters. But is a U-turn even worse, because voters?

Ahead of Budget, where do voters stand on tax and the dilemmas facing government?

Big new @persuasionuk.bsky.social report out today on this.

TL;DR as risky as breaching the manifesto is for Lab - failing on public services, cost of living and child poverty is *far riskier* for Lab.

🧵