Jonathan Portes

@jdportes.bsky.social

63K followers 620 following 4.6K posts

Professor of Economics and Public Policy, King's College London; Senior Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe. Immigration, economics, public policy. Personal views only; usual disclaimers apply.

Books: Immigration (Sage), Capitalism (Quercus)
.. more

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Jonathan Daniel Portes is a professor of Economics and Public Policy at the School of Politics & Economics of King's College, London and a senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe.

Source: Wikipedia

Political science 31%

Economics 28%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Jonathan Portes

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1h

The Times is reporting that Rachel Reeves has said “I am — I was — a geek. I played chess. I was the British girls’ under-14 champion" with the challenge that in fact she won the under-14 title for the British Women’s Chess Association (BWCA) Girls Championship!
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Rachel Reeves accused of overstating junior chess title

A former junior champion said Reeves did not hold the official British girls’ under-14 title, and critics ask broader questions about her CV and career claims

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Steve Peers

divineblessings.bsky.social @divineblessings.bsky.social · 6h

This should be the main story on all TV news programmes. The University of Essex is closing its Southend campus because of the fall in the number of foreign students and the loss of income they provided for the University. www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2566689...

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 12h

bsky.app/profile/jdpo...

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · Aug 27

The Times editorial line: "sieve" the entire population so we can put 100s of thousands of people into camps.

"Removing a city’s worth of people would be an extended exercise. Identity cards would be a must if the population was to be sieved into legitimate and illegitimate camps"

archive.ph/78dcP

Reposted by Stuart White

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 12h

Reminder that when the Times had similar worries about Reform, its response was to give Farage this advice on implementation:

"Removing a city’s worth of people would be an extended exercise. Identity cards would be a must if the population was to be sieved into legitimate and illegitimate camps"

Reposted by Jonathan Portes

Stephen Kinsella @stephenstroud.bsky.social · 13h

We are happy to advise on how to approach IPSO.
@pressjustice.bsky.social

Reposted by Jonathan Portes

Sue Marsh @suey2y.bsky.social · 14h

A woman writing about "Men's issues" isn't an easy sell.
I may have to ask @jpofgwynedd.bsky.social @jdportes.bsky.social @duncanweldon.bsky.social @tripeuk.bsky.social @neilrfoster.bsky.social @stegenmodem.bsky.social to share.
open.substack.com/pub/undercla...
Pls read, RT and subscribe.

Norman and Harry's Stories

"I want my baby back"

open.substack.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Brian Weatherson

Dan Davies @dsquareddigest.bsky.social · 14h

This was my answer - "bygones are bygones" open.substack.com/pub/backofmi...

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 14h

Well yes, that's precisely why the governments policy of reducing *legal* migration is so crazy -it is damaging economically/fiscally/to public services *and* it makes no sense politically. There is a rare consensus between economists and political scientists here!

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 16h

if you mean that govt policy is reducing the number of work/study visas issued (and hence the "ratio"), yes, that's correct - that's precisely what I mean by current policy deliberately reducing growth/tax revenues and worsening the fiscal balance.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

Did you read the article?

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

sure. But I doubt it will have a significant impact on the negative economic costs of the government's immigration policy.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

(I would do it but I currently have at least 4 outstanding cases at IPSO and they may be a bit bored with me.

Reposted by Steve Peers

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

I hope somebody will complain to IPSO about this (and the similar Express splash). If so this will be a very useful reference.

Gareth Morgan - Ferret @ferrinfo.bsky.social · 1d

Lies, damned lies and the Telegraph. They posted CSJ figures using an outrageously false comparison of 2 cases. It claimed a benefits family were better off by £18k than a working household when the real figure was £16k worse off. The details benefitsinthefuture.com #benefits #budget

Benefits in the Future – Welfare reform commentary and analysis

Welfare reform commentary and analysis

benefitsinthefuture.com

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

What projected loss? There are no credible estimates.

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Stephen Jones

Gareth Morgan - Ferret @ferrinfo.bsky.social · 1d

Benefits in the Future – Welfare reform commentary and analysis

Welfare reform commentary and analysis

benefitsinthefuture.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Holger Nehring

Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 1d

More fuel for the ‘some top jobs are becomg impossible’ to do. Yes the leak was bad and dumb and embarrassing! But on the whole i think resign when you have demonstrably hurt someone/failed in a core duty. Nobody died of ‘having an URL people can guess’ www.theguardian.com/business/202...

OBR chair quits after inquiry into early release of Reeves’s budget

Richard Hughes departs after investigation into how official forecaster accidentally published budget 40 minutes early

www.theguardian.com

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

I pointed this out in May. When it comes to choosing between growth/public services and reducing (legal) migration, the government chooses the latter.

ukandeu.ac.uk/immigration_...

Reposted by Jonathan Portes

Chaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 1d

Senior MPs including Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and Darren Jones are claiming tens of thousands of pounds a year in taxpayer-funded rent expenses while either calling for or implementing benefit cuts on the poorest

By me, for the Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/politic...

Revealed: MPs rack up huge rent expenses while pushing through cuts to benefits

MPs are allowed to rent a second home, but while they are simultaneously cutting benefits for the vulnerable, the cost feels hard to swallow.

www.bigissue.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings , and 2 more Jonathan Portes, Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings, Margot C. Finn, Christina Pagel

Tom Roberts @tpgroberts.bsky.social · 1d

There is an actual interesting little deceit in the budget, namely ther have the OBR still forecasting based on increasing net immigration back to 300-350k whilst the Home Secretary is promising to bring it down from 200k, which does dissolve about half the headroom, but somehow we're doing vibes.

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 1d

Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.

Jane Green @profjanegreen.bsky.social · 1d

All this budget news, claims, counter claims is confusing, but two things of consequence.

1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.

2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.

Reposted by Jonathan Portes

Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 1d

"If you believe a Palestinian child is equal in dignity and worth to an Israeli or American child, it is no longer possible to support this Israeli government while hiding behind platitudes about peace." www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/o...

Opinion | This Is the Story of How the Democrats Blew It on Gaza

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

If the Chancellor had told the OBR what the Home Secretary says here is a firm commitment of the government, she would need > £7.5 billion of tax rises or spending cuts to afford to lift the two child limit. The fiscal forecast is based on not cutting immigration further & it drifting up to > 300k

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Simon Wren‐Lewis

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

The Prime Minister and Home Secretary want to drive net migration lower than net 205k. The Chancellor could reduce borrowing £7.4 billion/year in 2029/30 using the OBR projection that it will return to net 340k later in the parliament
obr.uk/box/the-impa...

The impact of migration on the fiscal forecast - Office for Budget Responsibility

Following the upwards revision to our migration forecast, this box explored the implications of higher migration on our central forecasts for tax revenues, spending and borrowing. We also drew on alte...

obr.uk

Reposted by Jonathan Portes

Fari Bradley @faribrad.bsky.social · 2d

@ipso.co.uk
www.ipso.co.uk/making-a-com...

Making a complaint - IPSO

How to make a complaint to IPSO about an article in a newspapers, magazine or online, or the behaviour of a journalist.

www.ipso.co.uk

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 2d

This is the main issue here -they are absolutely *not* comparing "equivalent" families

bsky.app/profile/beel...

Beelbeebub @beelbeebub.bsky.social · 2d

Had a look at the "study" the article is based on.

They take a couple with children then assume the couple claim maximum disability benefits for themselves and the kids on top of UC and housing.

They then assume the working couple claim nothing at all....

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Ben H. Ansell, Stephen Evans , and 1 more Jonathan Portes, Ben H. Ansell, Stephen Evans, Sarah Hall

Adam Corlett @adamcorlett.bsky.social · 2d

Don't Panic: Britain is not broken. The UK can do better, but we shouldn't be too gloomy about things. If you look at the stats, there's a lot to be happy with (including how happy we are): adamcorlett.com/2025/11/30/d...

Don’t Panic: Britain is not broken – adamcorlett.com

adamcorlett.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes

Beelbeebub @beelbeebub.bsky.social · 2d

Reposted by John Appleby, Steve Peers

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 2d

Utter bullshit/lies from the "Centre for Social Justice" via the Express.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 2d

Wrote this pre-Budget but seems even more relevant now.

The obsession with OBR/forecasts (and even more so the current absurd media firestorm)is a pointless distraction from the UK's real economic and fiscal problems.

www.ft.com/content/a06d...

Blaming the OBR for the Budget maths is a waste of time

The government must explain why tax reform is necessary and desirable for fiscal sustainability

www.ft.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Steve Peers, Stuart White

Caroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 2d

Farage has vowed to cut funding to universities that undermine ‘free speech’. This is just the beginning of the Trump playbook and we know from Johnson’s time there are few constitutional guardrails to stop the abuse of power. Cosying up isn’t going to cut it.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Cambridge University cosies up to Reform

The vice-chancellor expects Nigel Farage to model his policies on Trump and says other Russell Group members are meeting his allies

www.thetimes.com

Reposted by Catherine Baker

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 3d

Under Mahmood's current proposals, presumably would have been deported to Czechoslovakia in 1945, when it was "safe" again.

Ian Fraser @ianfraser.bsky.social · 3d

R.I.P. Tom Stoppard, playwright most famous for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain at the age of eight. He later discovered all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust.

Sir Tom Stoppard, playwright famed for his wit and depth, dies at 88

Winning an Oscar for the screenplay for Shakespeare In Love, he captivated the hearts of audiences for more than six decades.

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