John Smith Centre
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John Smith Centre
@johnsmithcentre.com
We empower diverse voices across the UK to engage in politics.
Everyone benefits from a representative democracy.

Director: Eddie Barnes
🔗 www.johnsmithcentre.com
📍 University of Glasgow
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🚨 The UK Youth Poll 2025 is here! 🚨

Young people believe in democracy but fear for its future. They want better politics & financial stability.

📊 Read the #UKYouthPoll2025 now: www.ukyouthpoll.com

@focaldata.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social #Nationwide
We had a brilliant time at the Scottish Parliament on Monday for the second of our schools programme visits - thanks again to the @parliament.scot Education Service for working with us in partnership to make these visits happen 🙌

@uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 3:49 PM
📰 The John Smith Centre ran a focus group of young people on Wednesday evening, a few hours after the full details of Peter Mandelson's dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were revealed.

Read @eddiebarnes.bsky.social's blog to find out what they thought 👇

@uofgsocsci.bsky.social
MANDELSON: WHAT DO YOUNG PEOPLE THINK? - John Smith Centre
By Eddie Barnes THE John Smith Centre ran a focus group of young people on Wednesday evening, a few hours after the full details of Peter Mandelson’s dealings with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey E...
www.johnsmithcentre.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Centre Director Eddie Barnes on STV's Scotland Tonight last night reflecting on the impact of the Peter Mandelson scandal 📺

@uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
Eddie Barnes on STV's Scotland Tonight reflecting on the impact of the Peter Mandelson scandal
YouTube video by John Smith Centre
www.youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Thank you to all who attended #SurvivingPolitics with Kate Forbes MSP & Fraser Nelson on Monday evening! 🙌

Our Director Eddie Barnes shares his takeaways from the event in our latest blog post 📰

📹️ You can also watch the recording here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzS1...

@uofgsocsci.bsky.social
“AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE JUST NEED GOOD PEOPLE TO STEP FORWARD AND STAND" - KATE FORBES MSP AND FRASER NELSON IN CONVERSATION AT “SURVIVING POLITICS" EVENT - John Smith Centre
by Eddie Barnes THE John Smith Centre held its second “Surviving Politics” event in a packed Bute Hall at the University of Glasgow on Monday night. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Times…
www.johnsmithcentre.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM
📢 ICYMI: check out Dr Joe Greenwood-Hau's blog analysing #UKYouthPoll2025 data to show that young people are generally willing and able to give their views on politics.

🔗 www.johnsmithcentre.com/news/researc...

#UKYouthPoll #GenZ
February 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM
We are delighted to welcome Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP and Times columnist Fraser Nelson in Bute Hall @glasgow.ac.uk today to our annual Surviving Politics event.

If you can’t be here, it will be recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel soon - keep your eyes peeled.
February 2, 2026 at 6:49 PM
We're so excited for Surviving Politics with Kate Forbes MSP and @frasernelson.bsky.social at @glasgow.ac.uk on Monday evening! 🤩

If you haven't registered yet, don't worry: free tickets are still available at the link below 👇

#SurvivingPolitics @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
Surviving Politics: Kate Forbes MSP and Fraser Nelson in Conversation
The John Smith Centre brings together two of our leading political figures to set out their contrasting thoughts on the road ahead.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM
📢 New research blog out now!

We hear a lot about how polarised UK society is today – but are we getting the full picture? 🤔

Read Dr Elli Loose's blog to discover the nuance: 🔗 www.johnsmithcentre.com/news/researc...

#Polarisation @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Yesterday we were delighted to bring S5/6 pupils from West Dunbartonshire to the Scottish Parliament as part of our new schools programme 🌟

Many thanks to Jackie Baillie MSP & Colin McKay for taking time to speak to the pupils, and to the @parliament.scot Education Service for hosting us!
January 28, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Last week, our interns were warmly welcomed to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh 🤩

Huge thanks to the team at @parliament.scot for making it happen – our interns had a great day! 🙏

#JohnSmithIntern @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
January 27, 2026 at 12:02 PM
⌛ Just one week to go until #SurvivingPolitics, and places are going fast – register now to avoid disappointment! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/surviving-...

@kateforbes.bsky.social @frasernelson.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
📢 Event launch!

Politicis in 2026 is moving at a bewildering pace. Join Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP & Times columnist @frasernelson.bsky.social as they set out their contrasting views on the road ahead.

📅 2 Feb
📍 Bute Hall, @glasgow.ac.uk
🎟️ Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/surviving-...
January 26, 2026 at 12:00 PM
This #InternationalDayofEducation, we're calling for more #CivicEducation in schools - and for the strengthening of our civic spaces for #LifelongLearning 🧑‍🎓 📖 ✒️

#EducationDay
January 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM
❗Today's your last chance to join the #UKYouthPoll course: www.johnsmithcentre.com/youth-poll/u...
⌛ There's still time left for @uofgsocsci.bsky.social honours students to join our #UKYouthPoll course this semester!

Don't miss your chance to shape the national conversation about young people's political opinions and priorities – head to our website to find out more & sign up 👇
UK Youth Poll Course - John Smith Centre
Course at The John Smith Centre’s Youth Poll Project course offers honours students in the College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow a unique opportunity to gain practical experience of…
www.johnsmithcentre.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:19 PM
The #UKYouthPoll2025 tells us a lot about what young people think about politics – but what should we make of those who selected the 'don't know' answer options? 🤔

Dr Joe Greenwood-Hau investigates in our latest research blog 📰

#UKYouthPoll #GenZ @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT POLITICS, AND THEY ARE HAPPY TO TELL US - John Smith Centre
Joe Greenwood-Hau analyses our 2025 UK Youth Poll data to show that women, less educated people and those on lower incomes, as well as less politically active people, say ‘don’t know’ more when asked…
www.johnsmithcentre.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM
⌛ There's still time left for @uofgsocsci.bsky.social honours students to join our #UKYouthPoll course this semester!

Don't miss your chance to shape the national conversation about young people's political opinions and priorities – head to our website to find out more & sign up 👇
UK Youth Poll Course - John Smith Centre
Course at The John Smith Centre’s Youth Poll Project course offers honours students in the College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow a unique opportunity to gain practical experience of…
www.johnsmithcentre.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:00 PM
❗ ICYMI: free tickets for our event with Kate Forbes MSP and @frasernelson.bsky.social are available now!

📅 2 February
🕰️ 6.30 - 8.00pm
📍 Bute Hall, University of Glasgow

Don't miss out – register below 👇
Surviving Politics: Kate Forbes MSP and Fraser Nelson in Conversation
The John Smith Centre brings together two of our leading political figures to set out their contrasting thoughts on the road ahead.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 12:01 PM
📢 New research blog!

Find out how our perceptions of "hard work v privilege" differ when we are looking at ourselves rather than others in Dr Joe Greenwood-Hau's recent piece for @uk.theconversation.com ⚖️

@uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social
OTHER PEOPLE'S BACKGROUNDS SHAPE THEIR SOCIAL POSITION, BUT I WORKED HARD FOR MINE – THE PARADOX IN HOW WE VIEW STATUS - John Smith Centre
The concept of “hard work v privilege”, and what either one says about someone’s social status, is an important one. Politicians regularly draw dividing lines between “hardworking families” and…
www.johnsmithcentre.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Students on our new #UKYouthPoll course were treated to a guest lecture by @focaldata.bsky.social's James Kanagasooriam yesterday! 🤩

@uofgsocsci.bsky.social honours students can still join the course – sign up here 👇
www.johnsmithcentre.com/youth-poll/u...

@jameskanag.bsky.social
January 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM
📢 Event launch!

Politicis in 2026 is moving at a bewildering pace. Join Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes MSP & Times columnist @frasernelson.bsky.social as they set out their contrasting views on the road ahead.

📅 2 Feb
📍 Bute Hall, @glasgow.ac.uk
🎟️ Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/surviving-...
January 15, 2026 at 11:27 AM
🚨 NEWS ALERT: Our Political Conversations programme is expanding!

In partnership with Dr Marie Macklin CBE, the centre will take S5 & S6 students from schools across the west of Scotland to the Scottish Parliament at the end of this month. 🌟

Read more: www.johnsmithcentre.com/news/politic...
January 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM
We hear a lot about the shift of young men towards the political right - but what about young women? 🤔

🎙️ Listen to Dr Elli Loose on BBC Radio 4's 'Left Out' to find out what the #UKYouthPoll2025 tells us about young women's political views & priorities.

@uofgsocsci.bsky.social
Dr Elli Loose on the political views of young women in the UK - 'Left Out', BBC Radio 4
John Smith Centre Research & Engagement Manager Dr Elli Loose discusses what the UK Youth Poll 2025 tells us about young women's political views and priorities on 'Left Out' presented by Gaby…
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM
We're so excited that our new #UKYouthPoll course is kicking off at @glasgow.ac.uk today! 🤩

There are a few spaces left on the course for @uofgsocsci.bsky.social honours students – find out more: 🔗 www.johnsmithcentre.com/news/the-joh...

#UKYouthPoll2026 @focaldata.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Happy New Year 2026! 🥳🎉

We have so much planned for this year - sign up to our newsletter to make sure you're the first to hear about it all!

www.johnsmithcentre.com/newsletter

Can't wait to spend this year with you 🙌
January 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM
🎄✨ Merry Christmas from all of us at the John Smith Centre – and a few friends!

We’re officially closed from today and will reopen on 5 January.

Wishing you a joyful festive season filled with peace, happiness, and time with loved ones 🎅🌟
December 22, 2025 at 12:02 PM
2025 has been a huge year for the John Smith Centre - thank you to everyone who has supported us! 🙏🎊

We look forward to giving even more young people the #OpportunityToServe in 2026 by continuing to break down barriers to public life. 💪

@eddiebarnes.bsky.social @uofgsocsci.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 12:02 PM