Tim Bale

@timbale.bsky.social

28K followers 1K following 3.3K posts

Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London & author of The Conservative Party after Brexit: Turmoil and Transformation (now out in paperback). The bits and pieces I do for websites and newspapers turn up eventually at https://proftimbale.com .. more

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Timothy Paul Bale is an English political scientist who is professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London.

Source: Wikipedia

Political science 83%

Sociology 6%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Philip Cowley

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 1h

10 December, 6pm, QMUL.

Triumph and Trauma: The British General Election of 2024

Join the Mile End Institute to look back on the 2024 general election, the historic Conservative collapse and Labour's “loveless landslide"!

www.eventbrite.co.uk

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 2h

Hmmm, let me think....

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 3h

"With over 2.8 million across the country, Britain boasts roughly double the number of landlords as it does NHS staff, the country’s largest employer, while also outnumbering teachers 4 to 1. Yet this isn’t a singular class, but rather a motley bunch of part-timers", supported by Housing Benefit.

Can Britain escape its housing trap?

unherd.com

Reposted by Philip Cowley

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 3h

Finally got round to a deep reading of @tobysjames.bsky.social and Charles Clarke’s interview with Boris Johnson (done in Feb 2025). It’s well worth it. This passage in particular stuck out. Don’t agree that doing something different would have saved BJ’s skin but a refreshingly honest admission.

Reposted by Tim Bale

Elizabeth Taylor @elizabethtaylor47.bsky.social · 3h

This is something that really bothers me in so much talk about benefits including from some policy wonks.

Not everyone who is given something from the state is Oliver Twist, nor should they be.

The state should provide help to all sorts of people in different circs, not just gruel for the needy

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 3h

Sorry, no, Motability was not about 'helping the most vulnerable' - it was about providing people who need modified vehicles modified vehicles!

Reposted by Tim Bale, Jill Rutter

Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 3h

Minor point. But this is the OBR saying that the briefing about income tax being dropped because of improved forecasts is bollocks.

Reposted by Tim Bale

Ashwin Kumar @ashwin-kumar.bsky.social · 3h

Over 60 per cent of gambling profits come from just 5 per cent of users, many of whom are at high risk of serious harm, including debt, mental health issues, family breakdown and suicide

Reposted by Tim Bale

Glostermeteor 🔶 @glostermeteor.bsky.social · 4h

Since you are someone who has been on a jury you might understand this, but the other bit that concerns me is the jury's process of coming to a verdict. In my cases, what it ultimately came down to is a majority trying to cajole/bully the wavering members to vote a certain way so they cd all go home

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 4h

"Don't tell him, Pike!"

Chris Hanretty @chanret.bsky.social · 4h

Writing my conclusions section, including a paragraph on suggestions for future research, and then thinking, "but couldn't I do that here in this paper?"

a man is standing in front of a window and says just when i thought i was out they pull me back in

Alt: a man is standing in front of a window and says just when i thought i was out they pull me back in

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Tim Bale

Chris Hanretty @chanret.bsky.social · 4h

Writing my conclusions section, including a paragraph on suggestions for future research, and then thinking, "but couldn't I do that here in this paper?"

a man is standing in front of a window and says just when i thought i was out they pull me back in

Alt: a man is standing in front of a window and says just when i thought i was out they pull me back in

media.tenor.com

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 4h

That's good to hear. I can only speak for my experience, ofc.

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 5h

Having served on a jury in a rape trial, I'd have preferred a judge to decide guilt/innocence than a bunch of people who were sadly incapable of applying any logic to the clear evidence they were presented with and prepared, given their blatant sexism, to see the defence counsel destroy the victim.

Headline on Lammy's proposal to scrap jury trials except for rape and murder.

Reposted by Tim Bale, Aurélien Mondon

Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 5h

"It’s curious that the Orwell Prize – Britain’s most celebrated award for public interest journalism – has turned to a man who’s spent much of his career trying to stifle it.”

bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...

Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny

Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment

bylinetimes.com

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 5h

Indeed but tbf you need to know that it was up for about 30 secs and I asked audience solely to look at the *direction* of the arrows and at the very bottom one - not to read the entire thing! I like to think I know what I'm doing and reckon it did the job. This book (by a good friend) is fab, btw.

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Tim Bale

Lane Greene @lanegreene.bsky.social · 5h

The Interior Department has announced it will charge $100 per head for non-US residents to visit the most popular 11 national parks.

Stupid and self-defeating. Millions have visited those parks and left with with affection for America. No more, except those who can afford $400 per family per park.

Reposted by Tim Bale