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Reposted by Dr Simon Ubsdell

Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 10h

“Costs are not spiralling. Projected total welfare payments, at around 11 per cent of national income a year, are lower than when David Cameron was prime minister even though there are more pensioners.”

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 13h

A much needed corrective by @chrisgiles.ft.com to the "welfare is out of control" narrative, drawing on research by my colleague @benbgeiger.bsky.social

www.ft.com/content/ee67...

No need for a moral panic about the welfare system

It’s far from perfect, but the UK’s spending is broadly controlled and employment is high

www.ft.com

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Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 11h

Ha ha, trick question: it's those same parties benefiting from disillusionment who are saying you shouldn't trust democracy, that it's corrupt. We call these "populist" parties.

There's tons of work on populism, but everyone agrees it's associated with rhetoric that makes distrust commonsensical.

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Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 11h

With the assumptions in place, the main event: why are people distrustful of democracy?

Put simply: because they're told to distrust it. They're told it's betrayed them, that it's failing. That's why people are becoming disillusioned—& it's why some support parties who say so. But WHO'S SAYING IT?

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Michael DeMoor @michaeldemoor.bsky.social · 10h

Important thread about distrust of democracy. Sometimes the "simple" explanation is important and needs to be said: people distrust democracy because they are told to do so by people who stand to benefit from that distrust.

Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 11h

I'm gonna try to articulate something I've been thinking about for a while, regarding *why* disillusionment, distrust, & dissatisfaction with democracy are rising.

Almost everything I read takes this phenomenon as an exogenous shock, assuming no one chose to make it so. I suspect that's incomplete.

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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 10h

It was done so by the very tabloids that are doing it today.

And the government was so scared of upsetting the bigots that the small number of children who did come here came on condition that UK Jews covered the costs.

We've turned that horror into a self reinforcing myth of British generosity

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Center for Climate Integrity @climateintegrity.org · 1d

"The first-of-its-kind study shows that the world’s biggest oil and gas companies contribute less than 1.5% to global renewable energy — contradicting industry claims to be pioneers in the energy transition."

Study: Oil companies are not ‘part of the solution’

New research in the journal Nature reveals oil and gas companies own a “marginal” share of global renewable capacity, years after claiming they would lead the energy transition.

www.exxonknews.org

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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 13h

It's time for Starmer to abandon the race to keep up with the economy-sapping immigration policies of the man who brought us Brexit in the first place. Until he takes that step, the “severe and long-lasting” impact of leaving the EU, identified by Reeves today, will only keep getting worse.

Keir Starmer's 'Brexit Is Bad, Let's Make It a Bit Worse' Strategy

The Chancellor just admitted that Brexit has been an economic disaster. It's time the Government stopped making it even worse by imitating Nigel Farage's damaging anti-migration agenda, argues Adam Bi...

bylinetimes.com

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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 18h

I've spent *weeks* working on this special report for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social on GB News co-owner Paul Marshall – and the astonishing, unprecedented influence network he's built on the UK's right. There's never been anything like it before. www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-p...

Paul Marshall, the man who owns the right

The multimillionaire controls a network of news channels, publications and think tanks that the left could only dream of. If Reform or the Tories win the next election, he will become the country’s mo...

www.thenewworld.co.uk

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Dr Simon Ubsdell @simonubsdell.bsky.social · 15h

I was being silly, sorry. I should not attempt wordplay on a Wednesday :(

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Dr Simon Ubsdell @simonubsdell.bsky.social · 16h

Or maybe the much simpler explanation is that ordinary working people who aren't CEOs have realised that current AI is a busted flush ...

Business Insider @businessinsider.com · 16h

Marc Benioff says that customers are still figuring out how to deploy AI and that innovation has outpaced adoption.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says AI innovation is 'far exceeding' customer adoption

Marc Benioff says that customers are still figuring out how to deploy AI and that innovation has outpaced adoption.

www.businessinsider.com

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Dr Simon Ubsdell @simonubsdell.bsky.social · 16h

But Brexit is still only mentioned as an excuse for increasing tax rather than as something that needs to be undone.

It will be a very long time before we hear the latter from Labour. If ever.

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Dr Simon Ubsdell @simonubsdell.bsky.social · 16h

Molly Clayton is probably not easily influenced though and it's important that the work is reported.

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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 17h

Good piece. Growing threat to Labour from Greens on the left flank has been evident for a number of years now - clear in local election results, in polling, and in last year's general election. Polanski has increased this by (a) boost membership - crucial reource (b) increasing attention to Greens

George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 17h

Labour has a Green problem – why Zack Polanski’s first month as leader shows he’s the biggest threat the party has faced from the left. www.newstatesman.com/politics/mor...

Labour has a Green problem

Zack Polanski’s first month as leader shows he’s the biggest threat Keir Starmer has faced from the left.

www.newstatesman.com

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David, Host of The Cold War @coldwarhost.bsky.social · 1d

Murder. This is called murder.

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Matt Green @mattgreencomedy.com · 17h

A.I. generated videos are like dreams - you find your own fascinating and no one else gives a shit about them

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Brexit Bin 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 @brexitbin.bsky.social · 1d

The outgoing UK judge at the European Court of Human Rights, Tim Eicke KC: "We can be certain that over the last 70 years, the convention has repeatedly stepped in when domestic courts were unable to provide the protection we now take for granted and cherish."
#MyECHR 💙

ECtHR 'more necessary and relevant' now, says outgoing UK judge

Leading silk says he 'hardly recognises' the good work of the ECHR from recent criticism of Strasbourg court.

www.lawgazette.co.uk

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 20h

'Despite AI’s widespread use, 62% of the students said it has had a negative impact on their skills and development at school, while one in four of the students agreed that AI “makes it too easy for me to find the answers without doing the work myself”.' 1/2

Pupils fear AI is eroding their ability to study, research finds

One in four students say AI ‘makes it too easy’ for them to find answers

www.theguardian.com

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The News Agents @newsagents.bsky.social · 20h

"He told me that he was too honourable to break off a friendship in a text or a letter, and then that email says we'll 'play some more soon'," Emily Maitlis says.

"What does that even mean? It sends shivers down my spine"

www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/prin...

‘Prince Andrew’s Epstein email sent a shiver down my spine’, says Emily Maitlis | The News Agents

Prince Andrew is accused of maintaining a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein for at least a year later than he previously claimed to have cut all communications, suggesting he lied to Emily Maitlis…

www.thenewsagents.co.uk

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Dr Simon Ubsdell @simonubsdell.bsky.social · 20h

Double plus good.

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Arthur Snell @snellarthur.bsky.social · 20h

What is ridiculous is to conclude correctly that Brexit is the source of economic pain and then do nothing to reverse it.

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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 20h

BREAKING: “There is no doubting that the impact of Brexit is severe and long lasting” says Chancellor Rachel Reeves

It’s about time!

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Lee @justlee.bsky.social · 20h

No-one serious expects Labour to "just rejoin", it is however reasonable to expect them to note that re-joining would be in the strategic long-term interest of the UK and so is their eventual goal.

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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 1d

Brief moment of surprise that UKIP still exists as a thing (and I say that as someone who wrote a book on them once). Then once that passes, remembering that this person is likely not even in the top 5 oddest post Farage UKIP leaders...

Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 2d

UKIP have been taken over by the COO of the UK branch of St Charlie's Turning Point

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Nick Reeves #FBPE #NAFO @nickreeves.bsky.social · 1d

In this interview, Farage said, "Brexit is the best thing to happen to..." and the first country that came to his mind was Russia.

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 1d

It’s amazing how all the reporting is just memory-holing this part

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