Lorna Greenwood
@lornagreenwood.bsky.social
Strategic Communications / Deputy Director of @persuasionuk.bsky.social working with @steveakehurst.bsky.social
Books and politics, essentially.
Books and politics, essentially.
It's worth saying that I went to a opera at the Royal Opera House a couple of years ago where a Ukrainian flag was held up at the end and it did not prompt such coverage or, as far as I'm aware, such a response from the Royal Opera House. www.thetimes.com/article/gaza...
Gaza protester at Royal Opera House went to £48k a year school
A cast member who held up a Palestinian flag at the curtain call of Il Trovatore was reported to be a ‘queer dance artist’ called Daniel Perry
www.thetimes.com
July 21, 2025 at 6:36 AM
It's worth saying that I went to a opera at the Royal Opera House a couple of years ago where a Ukrainian flag was held up at the end and it did not prompt such coverage or, as far as I'm aware, such a response from the Royal Opera House. www.thetimes.com/article/gaza...
Kind of fascinating that Londoners support (by a small margin) cash going elsewhere even when it's to the detriment of London....
Secondly, some new polling via Opinium shows support for greater infrastructure spending is pretty robust to most trade-offs. Net support even (just about) holds in London when London explicitly loses out.
June 10, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Kind of fascinating that Londoners support (by a small margin) cash going elsewhere even when it's to the detriment of London....
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
Jason Cowley suggests that being 'net zero supporting' is the preserve of the 'metropolitan liberal-left' against 'working class Labour' when polling consistently shows that the majority of the public support net zero. Lazy stereotyping doesn't make it true. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Broken Labour agrees on one thing: frustration with Keir Starmer
Faced with a divided party and disaffected voters, this month’s spending review is of critical importance to the government as it seeks to balance the books and plan for the future
www.thetimes.com
June 2, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Jason Cowley suggests that being 'net zero supporting' is the preserve of the 'metropolitan liberal-left' against 'working class Labour' when polling consistently shows that the majority of the public support net zero. Lazy stereotyping doesn't make it true. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
"...core voter groups can leave political parties suddenly if they don’t feel we are serving them." This backs up Persuasion's research which is referenced in Jeevun's piece.
Newbie Labour MP (but very much *not* a newbie economist!) @jeevunsandher.bsky.social doesn't only down pints, he also posts consistently interesting stuff on his substack - this week on "We can’t just target Reform or Green voters. Here’s how we get both" jeevunsandher.substack.com/p/last-weeks...
May 7, 2025 at 10:50 AM
"...core voter groups can leave political parties suddenly if they don’t feel we are serving them." This backs up Persuasion's research which is referenced in Jeevun's piece.
'Maybe it’s not just schoolboys who should be sat down and made to watch Netflix’s Adolescence, as MPs keep arguing, but their fathers."
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social on our surprise finding that Gen Z men aren't as extreme as we might think.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social on our surprise finding that Gen Z men aren't as extreme as we might think.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
We obsess over the angry young men going Reform. But what of the anxious young women going Green? | Gaby Hinsliff
Desire for a politics that cares about global and local injustice is sharpening the political gender divide, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
www.theguardian.com
April 29, 2025 at 5:48 AM
'Maybe it’s not just schoolboys who should be sat down and made to watch Netflix’s Adolescence, as MPs keep arguing, but their fathers."
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social on our surprise finding that Gen Z men aren't as extreme as we might think.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social on our surprise finding that Gen Z men aren't as extreme as we might think.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
NEW: Who are the voters Labour risks losing to Reform?
How might Lab unite them with the rest of its election winning coalition? How might Reform win them over?
Some big new research out today with @persuasionuk.bsky.social as featured by @greenmirandahere.bsky.social in today's FT 🧵👇
How might Lab unite them with the rest of its election winning coalition? How might Reform win them over?
Some big new research out today with @persuasionuk.bsky.social as featured by @greenmirandahere.bsky.social in today's FT 🧵👇
Getting to know 'Reform curious Labour voters'
exploring the attitudes, demography and values of Reform curious Labour voters and the coalitional dilemmas they lose
persuasionuk.org
April 28, 2025 at 7:22 AM
NEW: Who are the voters Labour risks losing to Reform?
How might Lab unite them with the rest of its election winning coalition? How might Reform win them over?
Some big new research out today with @persuasionuk.bsky.social as featured by @greenmirandahere.bsky.social in today's FT 🧵👇
How might Lab unite them with the rest of its election winning coalition? How might Reform win them over?
Some big new research out today with @persuasionuk.bsky.social as featured by @greenmirandahere.bsky.social in today's FT 🧵👇
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
With the government mulling cuts to Tesla subsidies, our recent polling suggests that the public is likely to support this - particularly if the subsidies are directed towards UK car manufacturing. 1/3
April 1, 2025 at 11:49 AM
With the government mulling cuts to Tesla subsidies, our recent polling suggests that the public is likely to support this - particularly if the subsidies are directed towards UK car manufacturing. 1/3
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
Persuasion is 6 months old! To celebrate we've just sent out our first newsletter. You can sign up here for more updates on our latest research and insights: persuasionuk.org
February 19, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Persuasion is 6 months old! To celebrate we've just sent out our first newsletter. You can sign up here for more updates on our latest research and insights: persuasionuk.org
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
THREAD: New UK govt contract with Drax biomass power plant
* 4-yr contract 2027-2031
* £113/MWh (2012 prices – £155 in today's money)
* Output cap of 6TWh (<2% of UK supplies, cf recent yrs 12-15TWh)
* CfD cost ~£500m/yr
* 100% of fuel must be "sustainable", up from 70%
1/5
* 4-yr contract 2027-2031
* £113/MWh (2012 prices – £155 in today's money)
* Output cap of 6TWh (<2% of UK supplies, cf recent yrs 12-15TWh)
* CfD cost ~£500m/yr
* 100% of fuel must be "sustainable", up from 70%
1/5
February 10, 2025 at 9:18 AM
THREAD: New UK govt contract with Drax biomass power plant
* 4-yr contract 2027-2031
* £113/MWh (2012 prices – £155 in today's money)
* Output cap of 6TWh (<2% of UK supplies, cf recent yrs 12-15TWh)
* CfD cost ~£500m/yr
* 100% of fuel must be "sustainable", up from 70%
1/5
* 4-yr contract 2027-2031
* £113/MWh (2012 prices – £155 in today's money)
* Output cap of 6TWh (<2% of UK supplies, cf recent yrs 12-15TWh)
* CfD cost ~£500m/yr
* 100% of fuel must be "sustainable", up from 70%
1/5
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
How might the UK prevent backlash on the switch to Electric Vehicles?
Trump has just made hay with the anti-EV cause in the US. What are the prospects of that here and how might it be avoided?
Quick thread on some new @persuasionuk.bsky.social research out today with @ippr.bsky.social 🧵👇
Trump has just made hay with the anti-EV cause in the US. What are the prospects of that here and how might it be avoided?
Quick thread on some new @persuasionuk.bsky.social research out today with @ippr.bsky.social 🧵👇
January 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM
How might the UK prevent backlash on the switch to Electric Vehicles?
Trump has just made hay with the anti-EV cause in the US. What are the prospects of that here and how might it be avoided?
Quick thread on some new @persuasionuk.bsky.social research out today with @ippr.bsky.social 🧵👇
Trump has just made hay with the anti-EV cause in the US. What are the prospects of that here and how might it be avoided?
Quick thread on some new @persuasionuk.bsky.social research out today with @ippr.bsky.social 🧵👇
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
🚗 | NEW REPORT: Electric vehicles are not a culture war issue - most voters are instinctively positive towards them. In this report with @persuasionuk.bsky.social we polled the public to get their views and highlight policies to maximise the benefits of EVs.
www.ippr.org/articles/pub...
www.ippr.org/articles/pub...
Powering up public support for electric vehicles | IPPR
While electric vehicles are increasingly seen as ‘for normal people’, government must address the public’s pragmatic concerns and ensure EVs work for all –
www.ippr.org
January 30, 2025 at 7:20 AM
🚗 | NEW REPORT: Electric vehicles are not a culture war issue - most voters are instinctively positive towards them. In this report with @persuasionuk.bsky.social we polled the public to get their views and highlight policies to maximise the benefits of EVs.
www.ippr.org/articles/pub...
www.ippr.org/articles/pub...
You mean they don't really care about the victims of grooming gangs after all???
“There is an overlap between some manosphere narratives, in particular incel beliefs, and extreme rightwing ideology including racist narratives. Globalisation and multiculturalism… are often blamed as factors in incels’ celibacy.”
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Misogyny identified as breeding ground for extremism in UK, says leaked report
The ‘manosphere’ and Hindu nationalism were also identified by report commissioned after last summer’s riots
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2025 at 8:38 AM
You mean they don't really care about the victims of grooming gangs after all???
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
Buried in today's Daily Telegraph, Church Commissioner Alan Smith writes:
"Fossil fuel investors are at risk of becoming the real anti-capitalists"
"Fossil fuel investors are at risk of becoming the real anti-capitalists"
January 14, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Buried in today's Daily Telegraph, Church Commissioner Alan Smith writes:
"Fossil fuel investors are at risk of becoming the real anti-capitalists"
"Fossil fuel investors are at risk of becoming the real anti-capitalists"
Keir's concise yet somewhat earth shattering book shows that liberals and progressives need to urgently reevaluate their suspicion of defence, a tendency we cannot indulge when the threat is so imminent. If we care about the NHS / climate change / welfare we have to care about the military.
One of the most pressing questions in European security right now is what happens when/if the Ukraine war ends? @keirgiles.bsky.social has attempted to answer that question in his new book and I have reviewed it for @ForeignPolicy
foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/10/e...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/10/e...
Europe Is Still Trying to Pretend Putin’s Threat Isn’t Real
NATO leaders aren’t ready for a post-U.S. world.
foreignpolicy.com
January 14, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Keir's concise yet somewhat earth shattering book shows that liberals and progressives need to urgently reevaluate their suspicion of defence, a tendency we cannot indulge when the threat is so imminent. If we care about the NHS / climate change / welfare we have to care about the military.
A number of experts who have done the really grim, hard yards on this issue for a LONG time....must be frustrating when people who haven't start holding forth about what needs to be done.
Prof Alexis Jay, chair of public inquiry into child sexual abuse, says further national inquiry into grooming gangs isn’t needed & would delay action.
“The time has passed for more inquiries, we’ve had enough… We’ve set out action required & people should just get on with it, nationally & locally”
“The time has passed for more inquiries, we’ve had enough… We’ve set out action required & people should just get on with it, nationally & locally”
January 7, 2025 at 8:39 AM
A number of experts who have done the really grim, hard yards on this issue for a LONG time....must be frustrating when people who haven't start holding forth about what needs to be done.
Over half of Labour’s support (52%) came from its core group of urban progressives and soft left liberals…the party cannot aim for the centre ground safe in the knowledge that there is nowhere else for its core voters to go: it has to fend off competition from the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.
New post just out:
A guest post from Sir John Curtice (yes that one) and Lovisa Moller Vallgarda from NatCen looking at the fragmentation of the two-party system using exclusive new data from the election.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/h...
A guest post from Sir John Curtice (yes that one) and Lovisa Moller Vallgarda from NatCen looking at the fragmentation of the two-party system using exclusive new data from the election.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/h...
How the value divide is challenging Britain's two-party system
A guest article from Sir John Curtice and Lovisa Moller Vallgarda
open.substack.com
December 11, 2024 at 10:03 AM
Over half of Labour’s support (52%) came from its core group of urban progressives and soft left liberals…the party cannot aim for the centre ground safe in the knowledge that there is nowhere else for its core voters to go: it has to fend off competition from the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.
It’s striking that Reform voters aren’t really keen on anything - the most favourable ideologies are Conservatism and Nationalism but they don’t reach above 60%. What do they like?
December 11, 2024 at 6:00 AM
It’s striking that Reform voters aren’t really keen on anything - the most favourable ideologies are Conservatism and Nationalism but they don’t reach above 60%. What do they like?
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
Here are my book recommendations for the new year:
Read the books you already bought.
Read the books you already bought.
December 10, 2024 at 12:44 PM
Here are my book recommendations for the new year:
Read the books you already bought.
Read the books you already bought.
Would love to see this for the US - can imagine it would be very different
Which ideologies do Britons have a favourable view of?
Environmentalism: 64% favourable
Feminism: 56%
Liberalism: 41%
Socialism: 38%
Conservatism: 32%
Capitalism: 30%
Nationalism: 29%
Libertarianism: 24%
Populism: 13%
Communism: 10%
Anarchism: 8%
Fascism: 2%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Environmentalism: 64% favourable
Feminism: 56%
Liberalism: 41%
Socialism: 38%
Conservatism: 32%
Capitalism: 30%
Nationalism: 29%
Libertarianism: 24%
Populism: 13%
Communism: 10%
Anarchism: 8%
Fascism: 2%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
December 10, 2024 at 12:46 PM
Would love to see this for the US - can imagine it would be very different
Good from @georgeeaton.bsky.social “Despite his populist reputation, [Farage] is not a popular politician. He has a net approval rating of -20 – with 48 per cent of voters holding an unfavourable view of him…Farage is the voice of a people rather than the people.”
How dangerous is Reform to Labour?
Nigel Farage’s strengths are clear – but so are his weaknesses.
www.newstatesman.com
December 10, 2024 at 6:10 AM
Good from @georgeeaton.bsky.social “Despite his populist reputation, [Farage] is not a popular politician. He has a net approval rating of -20 – with 48 per cent of voters holding an unfavourable view of him…Farage is the voice of a people rather than the people.”
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
we are aware of the situation
December 9, 2024 at 7:44 PM
we are aware of the situation
The problem is that acts of speech give meaning to the world around us so a one sided conversation provides the language and concepts to understand our reality, even if we think people aren’t watching or don’t subscribe to it. www.theguardian.com/media/2024/d...
GB News broadcasts half of all UK stories about Muslims, analysis shows
Exclusive: CfMM report over two-year period says channel’s ‘negative’ focus on Islam borders on an ‘obsession’
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2024 at 5:07 AM
The problem is that acts of speech give meaning to the world around us so a one sided conversation provides the language and concepts to understand our reality, even if we think people aren’t watching or don’t subscribe to it. www.theguardian.com/media/2024/d...
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
there’s a limited share of the British vote that is enthused by Trump and most of it already belongs to Reform
Kemi Badenoch: “I am excited about DOGE and what President-Elect Trump and Elon Musk will do on government efficiency.”
December 8, 2024 at 7:56 PM
there’s a limited share of the British vote that is enthused by Trump and most of it already belongs to Reform
Reposted by Lorna Greenwood
Just had an interesting chat to @kateemccann.bsky.social on Times Radio about young people voting from Reform. This is often exaggerated in commentary. The data from the @britishelectionstudy.com post-election survey (online) shows a clear age gradient - though that is flatter for men vs women.
December 8, 2024 at 1:11 PM
Just had an interesting chat to @kateemccann.bsky.social on Times Radio about young people voting from Reform. This is often exaggerated in commentary. The data from the @britishelectionstudy.com post-election survey (online) shows a clear age gradient - though that is flatter for men vs women.