UCL Policy Lab

New research shows that empowered local communities are most effective at responding to crises.

A new report from Lauren Andres @thebartlettucl.bsky.social and Jennifer Constantine takes lessons from COVID-19 for how we build resilience. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

There are no simple solutions to the small boats crisis What will Labour do when its asylum reforms don't work?

There are no simple solutions to the small boats crisis.

My latest for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social on why the home secretary risks doing what every conservative home secretary has done: tackling the wrong problem while raising the political stakes.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Changing public services is hard - what can we learn from those already doing it? James Baggaley and Grace Wyld (Head of Policy and Research at The Future Governance Forum) explore the drive behind our upcoming conference, Britain Renewed 2025: Public Service for People and Place, ...

"Real change will not just be measured in political projects or opinion polls, but will be measured in the lives of people and places across Britain."

Read @jimbaggaley.bsky.social and @gracewyld.bsky.social on the need for a public service reform based on respect.

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Can AI help London plan better? In a special UCL Policy Lab policy insight blog, Profs Lauren Andres and Mike Raco discuss the role that AI can play in the capital's planning.

Can AI help London plan better?

In a special UCL Policy Lab policy insight blog, Professors Lauren Andres and Mike Raco (@thebartlettucl.bsky.social) discuss the role that AI can play in the capital's planning.

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Fantastic to join @locality.org.uk yesterday for the launch of their new report, Community powered neighbourhoods.

Read the full report here ⤵️

Don't miss Cricket, Imperial Culture and the Remaking of Postwar England at @ucl-ias.bsky.social this evening.

Find out more and sign up ⤵️

Our universities can save us from America's political division New research shows Britain is proud of its institutions' ability to foster disagreement

Universities showcase the strengths and possible weaknesses of British institutions.

I've written for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social about our latest research, Shared Institutions on universities from @uclpolicylab.bsky.social & @moreincommonuk.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

In a polarised Britain, universities remain a source of local and national pride A new report by the UCL Policy Lab and More in Common reveals that at a time of growing political divides, universities are a source of national success and local pride. However, universities and othe...

In a polarised Britain, universities are sources of local and national pride, finds a new @uclpolicylab.bsky.social @moreincommonuk.bsky.social report.

However, it shows a growing gap in support between grads and non grads and suggests unis must demonstrate their benefit to society as a whole.

Our new report with @uclpolicylab.bsky.social, Shared Institutions, is a deep dive of public opinion on universities. At a top level Britons feel positively about our universities impact on the UK & their local area. But emerging divides show the sector can’t take public opinion for granted

We found there is an emerging graduate gap. 81% of graduates say universities are good for the country, but this drops to just 55% among non-graduates.

Universities must work to demonstrate that they remain open and respectful of all if they're to continue being Shared Institutions.

In a polarised Britain, universities remain a source of local and national pride A new report by the UCL Policy Lab and More in Common reveals that at a time of growing political divides, universities are a source of national success and local pride. However, universities and othe...

Our new report Shared Institutions with @moreincommonuk.bsky.social explores the public's view of universities.

We find universities encapsulate the challenges facing a range of Britain's institutions. Strong support remains, but gaps are emerging among reform voters. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

New research from our colleagues at @uclgeography.bsky.social - @profmarkmaslin.bsky.social and Colm O'Shea highlight how wind power has cut at least £104bn from energy costs in the UK.

Read more about their research here:

The education system consistently fails society’s poorest children and requires thorough reform, finds a new @uclpolicylab.bsky.social report.

Report author Jonathan Slater, Former Perm Sect at the Department for Education, spoke to BBC Radio 4.

Very interesting idea here to pilot more collaborative, place-based working between schools to tackle the attainment gap in specific areas, and suspend Ofsted inspections during those pilots.

Failure of school system to support poorest students is leading to rising NEET figures The school system consistently fails society’s poorest children and requires thorough reform, finds new UCL Policy Lab report authored by former Department for Education Permanent Secretary, Jonathan ...

We encourage you to read this new @uclpolicylab.bsky.social report by former Department for Education Permanent Secretary, Jonathan Slater, on how the school system should be reformed to support society’s poorest children

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Failure of school system to support poorest students is leading to rising NEET figures The school system consistently fails society’s poorest children and requires thorough reform, finds new UCL Policy Lab report authored by former Department for Education Permanent Secretary, Jonathan ...

Read the full report here: www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

The education system is failing too many working-class pupils, but we can turn it around.

Jonathan Slater, Former Perm Sect at the Department for Education on BBC Radio 4 Today, discussing a new report from the UCL Policy Lab on how we can improve standards for poorer pupils.

Can data save democracy? When trust in public organisations falls, Professor Christian Schuster speaks to Maddy Breen about how the answer lies not in dismantling government, but in making it work better – and data can help.

In the latest edition of the UCL Policy Lab magazine, we speak to Prof. Christian Schuster (@uclspp.bsky.social) about how data can help rebuild trust in public organisations.

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Inflation looms over budget choices As Rachel Reeves prepares her budget, persistent inflation and its impact on ordinary people will have a significant impact on the kind of taxes and spending the chancellor opts for. Lukasz Rachel, Co...

As Rachel Reeves prepares her budget, inflation and its impact on ordinary people will have a significant impact on the kind of taxes and spending the chancellor opts for.

Lukasz Rachel @ucleconomics.bsky.social on the government's ongoing grapple with inflation.

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Blog: Reflections from the Party Conferences Dr Lauren Andres, UCL’s Pro-Vice-Provost for Inequalities, reflects on insights from the 2025 Party Conferences and how community, trust, and inclusion can help tackle inequality.

"A striking theme emerged across the two conferences this year: a return to community as the anchor for rebuilding the social fabric of the nation."

Lauren Andres, Pro-Vice-Provost for Inequalities @uclgrandchallenges.bsky.social reflects on Party Conference season.

www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challe...

YouTube video by Stone Centre at UCL Philippe Aghion: Rethinking capitalism

The UCL Policy Lab was honoured to host Aghion, along with the @stoneeconucl.bsky.social, for a discussion on Rethinking Capitalism, which you can watch back here:

youtu.be/_oXmB_FMGj0?...

Celebrating UCL Economics’ Former Colleague Philippe Aghion's Nobel Prize Win The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2025 has been awarded to former UCL Economics colleague Philippe Aghion.

Congratulations to Philippe Aghion for winning the Nobel Prize for Economics, together with Joel Mokyr and Peter Howitt.

www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...

A panel event with seven panellists, speaking to a packed out room on the topic of social cohesion

A panel of six panellists, speaking on the future of economics to a packed out room

A queue to attend a UCL Policy Lab event at the Conservative Party Conference 2025

A full room for a panel event on the future of universities at the Conservative Party Conference 2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Manchester for this year's Conservative Conference, for excellent, packed-out conversations - from the future of conservatism and public service reform, to how we can rebuild social cohesion.

About to hear what David Davis, Esther McVey and Penny Mordaunt think is the future of the right, with Luke Tryl and Marc Stears for @moreincommonuk.bsky.social & @uclpolicylab.bsky.social

A new future for universities: how can we ensure universities support British success and build local pride?

With @moreincommonuk.bsky.social

Economic Reset: The Future of Conservative Economics

With @moreincommonuk.bsky.social

This Place Matters: Social Cohesion for a New Age

With @moreincommonuk.bsky.social @citizensuk.org and @webelonguk.bsky.social

How can we put civil society at the heart of public service reform?

With @demos-uk.bsky.social @lbfew.bsky.social

Join us at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.

Firs up on Monday ➡️ Conservative Thinking at the Crossroads: Where Next for the Right?

💭 We're reflecting on a busy #LabourConference 2025, where the power of community, and the importance of growth that everyone can see and feel, were central themes.

Here are our 5 key highlights: #Lab25