Mark McGeoghegan
@markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social
@uofglasgow.bsky.social PhD studying political contention of self-determination groups | 📊 Quant PoliSci | 🗳️ Scots politics & elections | Associate Member @ccc-research.bsky.social | ✍🏻 @heraldscotland.bsky.social | Some 📊 @uofgpolicy.bsky.social
Pinned
New Scottish Parliament poll tracker, incorporating yesterday's @moreincommonuk.bsky.social polling. Thanks to 12 marginal holds and 3 marginal gains, the SNP match their 2021 result.
Seats (+/- 2021):
SNP: 64 (-)
Lab: 18 (-4)
Ref: 16 (+16)
LD: 11 (+7)
Con: 10 (-21)
Grn: 10 (+2)
Alba: 0 (-)
1/4
Seats (+/- 2021):
SNP: 64 (-)
Lab: 18 (-4)
Ref: 16 (+16)
LD: 11 (+7)
Con: 10 (-21)
Grn: 10 (+2)
Alba: 0 (-)
1/4
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that would hand Putin a strategic advantage and hobble European security.
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Europe must wake up: Trump’s Ukraine plan hands victory to Russia
President Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that must wake European leaders up to the reality that we cannot rely on…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that would hand Putin a strategic advantage and hobble European security.
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
This is probably the strongest I've put it, but I think it's perfectly accurate.
Europe (pick your institutional configuration) is at war with Russia without a reliable superpower partner, and needs to act like it.
Europe (pick your institutional configuration) is at war with Russia without a reliable superpower partner, and needs to act like it.
November 28, 2025 at 5:37 PM
This is probably the strongest I've put it, but I think it's perfectly accurate.
Europe (pick your institutional configuration) is at war with Russia without a reliable superpower partner, and needs to act like it.
Europe (pick your institutional configuration) is at war with Russia without a reliable superpower partner, and needs to act like it.
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
Reading the document, it's the most batshit list of demands.
Cut UA's military personnel by a quarter
Retreat dozens of miles from the Fortress Belt and hand it over to Russia.
'Denazify' i.e. purge UA's political elites.
Etc.
Cut UA's military personnel by a quarter
Retreat dozens of miles from the Fortress Belt and hand it over to Russia.
'Denazify' i.e. purge UA's political elites.
Etc.
Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that would hand Putin a strategic advantage and hobble European security.
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Europe must wake up: Trump’s Ukraine plan hands victory to Russia
President Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that must wake European leaders up to the reality that we cannot rely on…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Reading the document, it's the most batshit list of demands.
Cut UA's military personnel by a quarter
Retreat dozens of miles from the Fortress Belt and hand it over to Russia.
'Denazify' i.e. purge UA's political elites.
Etc.
Cut UA's military personnel by a quarter
Retreat dozens of miles from the Fortress Belt and hand it over to Russia.
'Denazify' i.e. purge UA's political elites.
Etc.
This way they can form factions and split over whether ketamine is hallucinogenic or merely dissociative.
Your Party should, given it's not really anyone's party including those who apparently run it, just drop the Your and simply go by Party.
With the singular policy of hallucinogens free at the point of use.
With the singular policy of hallucinogens free at the point of use.
November 28, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This way they can form factions and split over whether ketamine is hallucinogenic or merely dissociative.
Your Party should, given it's not really anyone's party including those who apparently run it, just drop the Your and simply go by Party.
With the singular policy of hallucinogens free at the point of use.
With the singular policy of hallucinogens free at the point of use.
November 28, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Your Party should, given it's not really anyone's party including those who apparently run it, just drop the Your and simply go by Party.
With the singular policy of hallucinogens free at the point of use.
With the singular policy of hallucinogens free at the point of use.
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
I say this as a PhD student who is also in work: there is little reason to put the effort in to pursue an academic career, now. The job market was already extremely competitive, for very low pay vs. comparable private sector jobs.
The deteriorating state of HE is the final nail in that coffin.
The deteriorating state of HE is the final nail in that coffin.
'David Maguire and Alex Bols, vice-chancellor and chief of staff respectively at the University of East Anglia, updated their prediction made last autumn that 10,000 jobs could be lost in 2024-25, claiming this same amount could in fact be lost every year going forward.' 1/3
UK universities ‘could cut 10,000 jobs every year’
Academics claim changes made to higher education system a decade ago have divided sector into ‘winners and losers’, with government-imposed limits on income exacerbating financial challenges
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:05 AM
I say this as a PhD student who is also in work: there is little reason to put the effort in to pursue an academic career, now. The job market was already extremely competitive, for very low pay vs. comparable private sector jobs.
The deteriorating state of HE is the final nail in that coffin.
The deteriorating state of HE is the final nail in that coffin.
Reading the document, it's the most batshit list of demands.
Cut UA's military personnel by a quarter
Retreat dozens of miles from the Fortress Belt and hand it over to Russia.
'Denazify' i.e. purge UA's political elites.
Etc.
Cut UA's military personnel by a quarter
Retreat dozens of miles from the Fortress Belt and hand it over to Russia.
'Denazify' i.e. purge UA's political elites.
Etc.
Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that would hand Putin a strategic advantage and hobble European security.
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Europe must wake up: Trump’s Ukraine plan hands victory to Russia
President Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that must wake European leaders up to the reality that we cannot rely on…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Reading the document, it's the most batshit list of demands.
Cut UA's military personnel by a quarter
Retreat dozens of miles from the Fortress Belt and hand it over to Russia.
'Denazify' i.e. purge UA's political elites.
Etc.
Cut UA's military personnel by a quarter
Retreat dozens of miles from the Fortress Belt and hand it over to Russia.
'Denazify' i.e. purge UA's political elites.
Etc.
Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that would hand Putin a strategic advantage and hobble European security.
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
Europe must wake up: Trump’s Ukraine plan hands victory to Russia
President Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that must wake European leaders up to the reality that we cannot rely on…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” is a capitulation to Russia that would hand Putin a strategic advantage and hobble European security.
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
European leaders must wake up to the reality that we cannot rely on the US, and must write our own destiny.
My latest for @heraldscotland.bsky.social
I mean, student loan repayments basically aren't loan repayments in practice, given most graduates will never repay their loan in full.
It's a graduate tax set at a much higher rate, and designed more regressively, than anyone advocating such a tax has ever proposed AFAIK.
It's a graduate tax set at a much higher rate, and designed more regressively, than anyone advocating such a tax has ever proposed AFAIK.
I'm constantly shocked (but not surprised) by how little we discuss the additional financial burden placed on young people by the Clegg-Cameron student loan regime.
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
Rachel Reeves hits young graduates with a double stealth tax
The Chancellor plans to raise as much money from freezing loan repayment thresholds as from the mansion tax
www.newstatesman.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I mean, student loan repayments basically aren't loan repayments in practice, given most graduates will never repay their loan in full.
It's a graduate tax set at a much higher rate, and designed more regressively, than anyone advocating such a tax has ever proposed AFAIK.
It's a graduate tax set at a much higher rate, and designed more regressively, than anyone advocating such a tax has ever proposed AFAIK.
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
If you haven't heard of them @intergenerational.bsky.social do great work on this stuff. Young people are dealt a shit hand by govt after govt. I am increasingly wondering whether compulsory voting from 16+ could be a good first step to redressing the pensioner bias
I'm constantly shocked (but not surprised) by how little we discuss the additional financial burden placed on young people by the Clegg-Cameron student loan regime.
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
Rachel Reeves hits young graduates with a double stealth tax
The Chancellor plans to raise as much money from freezing loan repayment thresholds as from the mansion tax
www.newstatesman.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:23 AM
If you haven't heard of them @intergenerational.bsky.social do great work on this stuff. Young people are dealt a shit hand by govt after govt. I am increasingly wondering whether compulsory voting from 16+ could be a good first step to redressing the pensioner bias
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
I'm constantly shocked (but not surprised) by how little we discuss the additional financial burden placed on young people by the Clegg-Cameron student loan regime.
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
Rachel Reeves hits young graduates with a double stealth tax
The Chancellor plans to raise as much money from freezing loan repayment thresholds as from the mansion tax
www.newstatesman.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I'm constantly shocked (but not surprised) by how little we discuss the additional financial burden placed on young people by the Clegg-Cameron student loan regime.
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
wait that was it? I.....don't really think anyone from the OBR should be in trouble in that case?
November 28, 2025 at 9:23 AM
wait that was it? I.....don't really think anyone from the OBR should be in trouble in that case?
I say this as a PhD student who is also in work: there is little reason to put the effort in to pursue an academic career, now. The job market was already extremely competitive, for very low pay vs. comparable private sector jobs.
The deteriorating state of HE is the final nail in that coffin.
The deteriorating state of HE is the final nail in that coffin.
'David Maguire and Alex Bols, vice-chancellor and chief of staff respectively at the University of East Anglia, updated their prediction made last autumn that 10,000 jobs could be lost in 2024-25, claiming this same amount could in fact be lost every year going forward.' 1/3
UK universities ‘could cut 10,000 jobs every year’
Academics claim changes made to higher education system a decade ago have divided sector into ‘winners and losers’, with government-imposed limits on income exacerbating financial challenges
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:05 AM
I say this as a PhD student who is also in work: there is little reason to put the effort in to pursue an academic career, now. The job market was already extremely competitive, for very low pay vs. comparable private sector jobs.
The deteriorating state of HE is the final nail in that coffin.
The deteriorating state of HE is the final nail in that coffin.
There are two possibilities here, that Coburn was being bribed, or that he was just a useful idiot.
Either way, he joined the 'international editorial board' of a Russian influence operation in a country it had already invaded.
Either way, he joined the 'international editorial board' of a Russian influence operation in a country it had already invaded.
Former UKIP Scotland leader denies taking payments in Russian influence scandal
The former leader of UKIP in Scotland has denied involvement in a Russian influence campaign after being named in court documents
www.heraldscotland.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:57 AM
There are two possibilities here, that Coburn was being bribed, or that he was just a useful idiot.
Either way, he joined the 'international editorial board' of a Russian influence operation in a country it had already invaded.
Either way, he joined the 'international editorial board' of a Russian influence operation in a country it had already invaded.
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.
November 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.
Was out for lunch today with some in-laws (hello, annual leave) and the only, brief conversation about the Budget was about 1) income tax thresholds, and 2) student loan repayments on top of (1).
Never a good sign when you can get that chat at a family meal.
Never a good sign when you can get that chat at a family meal.
November 28, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Was out for lunch today with some in-laws (hello, annual leave) and the only, brief conversation about the Budget was about 1) income tax thresholds, and 2) student loan repayments on top of (1).
Never a good sign when you can get that chat at a family meal.
Never a good sign when you can get that chat at a family meal.
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
Are young people making just above minimum wage who are saddled with a 9pt higher marginal tax rate because they went to uni the losers from this Budget?
No, it must be those sitting on £millions in unearned wealth thanks to an inflated housing market that prices younger people out of owning a home
No, it must be those sitting on £millions in unearned wealth thanks to an inflated housing market that prices younger people out of owning a home
November 27, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Are young people making just above minimum wage who are saddled with a 9pt higher marginal tax rate because they went to uni the losers from this Budget?
No, it must be those sitting on £millions in unearned wealth thanks to an inflated housing market that prices younger people out of owning a home
No, it must be those sitting on £millions in unearned wealth thanks to an inflated housing market that prices younger people out of owning a home
Anas when a re-elected SNP government gets an extra £820m
November 26, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Anas when a re-elected SNP government gets an extra £820m
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
#Democracy thins at the edges when the state withdraws from places. #Hospitals closed, courthouses moved, what begins as an efficiency drive ends in alienation.
Fregoni & Leonardi's @regionalstudies.bsky.social paper links institutional retreat to #populism. doi.org/10.1080/0034...
Fregoni & Leonardi's @regionalstudies.bsky.social paper links institutional retreat to #populism. doi.org/10.1080/0034...
November 26, 2025 at 11:20 AM
#Democracy thins at the edges when the state withdraws from places. #Hospitals closed, courthouses moved, what begins as an efficiency drive ends in alienation.
Fregoni & Leonardi's @regionalstudies.bsky.social paper links institutional retreat to #populism. doi.org/10.1080/0034...
Fregoni & Leonardi's @regionalstudies.bsky.social paper links institutional retreat to #populism. doi.org/10.1080/0034...
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
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
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
The trans issue is particularly instructive because you can actually see how the spike in anti-trans newspaper articles significantly anticipated any shift in public polling. It very much started in the U.K. as an elite obsession.
November 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The trans issue is particularly instructive because you can actually see how the spike in anti-trans newspaper articles significantly anticipated any shift in public polling. It very much started in the U.K. as an elite obsession.
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
That's a really strong response from the council! 💪
If this were a Labour council, we all know they'd put out some crap about "legitimate concerns", etc, etc, and some minorty group would then be shat on from a large height.
If this were a Labour council, we all know they'd put out some crap about "legitimate concerns", etc, etc, and some minorty group would then be shat on from a large height.
November 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
That's a really strong response from the council! 💪
If this were a Labour council, we all know they'd put out some crap about "legitimate concerns", etc, etc, and some minorty group would then be shat on from a large height.
If this were a Labour council, we all know they'd put out some crap about "legitimate concerns", etc, etc, and some minorty group would then be shat on from a large height.
Reposted by Mark McGeoghegan
I'm a bit wound up about it, as someone who's done her time as an Eastern European immigrant kid in a working-class town - the sort of people who key your parents' car with slurs or egg your house are usually the same people responsible for antisocial behaviour towards everyone else anyway!
November 24, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I'm a bit wound up about it, as someone who's done her time as an Eastern European immigrant kid in a working-class town - the sort of people who key your parents' car with slurs or egg your house are usually the same people responsible for antisocial behaviour towards everyone else anyway!