Nicholas Allott
@nicholasallott.bsky.social
Linguist, Oslo Uni. Migrant. Cat bed. Pragmatics, related philosophy, politics and cat photos, not necessarily in that order. Culturally incoherent.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
New post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
It is now generally (although not universally) accepted that those of us who campaigned vigorously against the government’s auster...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
New post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Good journalism; horrifying story.
We should abolish the Home Office.
We should abolish the Home Office.
The life and limbo of a UK asylum seeker: one man’s harrowing 17-year wait for leave to remain
The life and limbo of a UK asylum seeker: one man’s harrowing 17-year wait for leave to remain
Ussu fled imprisonment and torture, only to find himself treated like a liar and outcast in the UK. Here’s how he survived homelessness and horrific injury in almost two decades without a decision
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Good journalism; horrifying story.
We should abolish the Home Office.
We should abolish the Home Office.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
This focuses on politics. But we should also care about *outcomes*.
In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes.
Why would we want to copy that?
In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes.
Why would we want to copy that?
After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low.
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM
This focuses on politics. But we should also care about *outcomes*.
In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes.
Why would we want to copy that?
In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes.
Why would we want to copy that?
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low.
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:59 PM
After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low.
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Me at the LRB blog on the atrocious refugee policy of Mahmood and Starmer
Christopher Bertram | ‘Core Protection’
Refugeehood is not supposed to be like this. The ideal envisaged by the Refugee Convention is that refugee status should...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Me at the LRB blog on the atrocious refugee policy of Mahmood and Starmer
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Here's a suggestion: let's create an
Association for the Abolition of Artsy Acronyms in Academic Applications and Research Groups in the Humanities.
("AAAAAARGH" for short because the full name is too long, and it has a second layer of meaning that beautifully captures the essence of the project...)
Association for the Abolition of Artsy Acronyms in Academic Applications and Research Groups in the Humanities.
("AAAAAARGH" for short because the full name is too long, and it has a second layer of meaning that beautifully captures the essence of the project...)
November 13, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Here's a suggestion: let's create an
Association for the Abolition of Artsy Acronyms in Academic Applications and Research Groups in the Humanities.
("AAAAAARGH" for short because the full name is too long, and it has a second layer of meaning that beautifully captures the essence of the project...)
Association for the Abolition of Artsy Acronyms in Academic Applications and Research Groups in the Humanities.
("AAAAAARGH" for short because the full name is too long, and it has a second layer of meaning that beautifully captures the essence of the project...)
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Time to reshare this piece on the pitfalls of following the road Denmark has taken on immigration: ukandeu.ac.uk/denmarks-mig...
November 8, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Time to reshare this piece on the pitfalls of following the road Denmark has taken on immigration: ukandeu.ac.uk/denmarks-mig...
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
I think this constant push for immigrants to feel & act ‘grateful’ is so insidious. Let’s change the narrative. Migration is a normal part of human behaviour, not a charity case. If you’re doing your best to do your best, you don’t need to do even more to be accepted. It’s your right to be accepted.
November 4, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I think this constant push for immigrants to feel & act ‘grateful’ is so insidious. Let’s change the narrative. Migration is a normal part of human behaviour, not a charity case. If you’re doing your best to do your best, you don’t need to do even more to be accepted. It’s your right to be accepted.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Neo-conservativism presaged Trumpian neo-fascism in several respects. It saw violence as a positive policy option not a defensive last resort. It held laws, norms and the lives of non-white people in total contempt. And many, many centrists either cringed in deference to it or actively collaborated.
Dick Cheney, vice-president and giant of Republican politics, dies aged 84
Dick Cheney, vice-president and giant of Republican politics, dies aged 84
*
VP served under presidents from Nixon to George W Bush
*
Cheney will be remembered for key role after 9/11
The former White House chief of staff, congressman, secretary of defense and US vice-president Dick Cheney has died, his family has said. He was 84.
A Yale dropout who avoided service in Vietnam, Cheney nonetheless became a giant of Republican politics. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Neo-conservativism presaged Trumpian neo-fascism in several respects. It saw violence as a positive policy option not a defensive last resort. It held laws, norms and the lives of non-white people in total contempt. And many, many centrists either cringed in deference to it or actively collaborated.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Research should inform policy but that’s tricky if it is almost entirely driven by policy. The independence of research is key to change because if you fund only research that responds to policy (even good policy) you’re less innovative, creative & responsive to the open options of the future.
October 24, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Research should inform policy but that’s tricky if it is almost entirely driven by policy. The independence of research is key to change because if you fund only research that responds to policy (even good policy) you’re less innovative, creative & responsive to the open options of the future.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
This, from @catherinedevries.bsky.social, is really useful advice for young (and, tbh, old!) academics. Worth passing on if you know any, maybe? catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/fail-bette...
October 14, 2025 at 7:24 AM
This, from @catherinedevries.bsky.social, is really useful advice for young (and, tbh, old!) academics. Worth passing on if you know any, maybe? catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/fail-bette...
October 4, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Black cats are normally quite hard to photograph. I like how this one turned out.
#caturday (as they say, although it’s actually from yesterday evening)
#caturday (as they say, although it’s actually from yesterday evening)
October 4, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Black cats are normally quite hard to photograph. I like how this one turned out.
#caturday (as they say, although it’s actually from yesterday evening)
#caturday (as they say, although it’s actually from yesterday evening)
This is great. Clear, very well informed, and rightly passionate.
It’s out! I spoke to @zoejardiniere.bsky.social about migration, the realities, the challenges and how to confront the real threat of far right takeover of our country on a platform of fear and disinformation.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
October 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM
This is great. Clear, very well informed, and rightly passionate.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
People recognised as refugees fleeing persecution & granted the right to live in the UK to be denied the right to be joined safely by their spouse & children.
This Labour govt is a moral void, a stinking darkness, an empty hollow of cowardice & contempt. #r4today www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
This Labour govt is a moral void, a stinking darkness, an empty hollow of cowardice & contempt. #r4today www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Starmer to end asylum ‘golden ticket’ of resettlement and family reunion rights
People granted asylum will have to earn right to invite family in plan charities call ‘straight from populist playbook’
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:13 AM
People recognised as refugees fleeing persecution & granted the right to live in the UK to be denied the right to be joined safely by their spouse & children.
This Labour govt is a moral void, a stinking darkness, an empty hollow of cowardice & contempt. #r4today www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
This Labour govt is a moral void, a stinking darkness, an empty hollow of cowardice & contempt. #r4today www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
September 30, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Filling classrooms with computers didn't have the huge and positive impact on learning that was promised. Filling them with tablets hasn't done it either.
I know this might sound absurd to many (especially politicians) but what if we filled them with highly skilled and properly supported educators?
I know this might sound absurd to many (especially politicians) but what if we filled them with highly skilled and properly supported educators?
Say it often, say it loud:
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
"Overall, research has not supported the common-sense presumption that digital approaches to schooling are better than non-digital alternatives. At the broadest level, widespread computer use in education has been found to be associated with lower student achievement."
Fit for Purpose? How Today’s Commercial Digital Platforms Subvert Key Goals of Public Education
Digital educational platforms have become ubiquitous in American classrooms, with tools like Google Workspace for Education, Kahoot!, Zearn, Khan Academy, and many others now structuring curriculum, i...
nepc.colorado.edu
September 29, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Filling classrooms with computers didn't have the huge and positive impact on learning that was promised. Filling them with tablets hasn't done it either.
I know this might sound absurd to many (especially politicians) but what if we filled them with highly skilled and properly supported educators?
I know this might sound absurd to many (especially politicians) but what if we filled them with highly skilled and properly supported educators?
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Instead of judging individuals by what they contribute to society, why not judge society by what it contributes to individuals? Like, y'know, civilized people would.
Dehumanisation as policy.
It ignores people's actual lives and experiences in favour of some sick idea that migrants are just resources to be used and discarded at will.
It is incredible how Labour has become, in practice, the most anti-immigration government in decades.
news.sky.com/story/shaban...
It ignores people's actual lives and experiences in favour of some sick idea that migrants are just resources to be used and discarded at will.
It is incredible how Labour has become, in practice, the most anti-immigration government in decades.
news.sky.com/story/shaban...
Shabana Mahmood vows law reforms to prove migrants 'contribute' to UK society
The home secretary signalled in her first major interview since taking over the reins that she believed migration "has been too high".
news.sky.com
September 28, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Instead of judging individuals by what they contribute to society, why not judge society by what it contributes to individuals? Like, y'know, civilized people would.
Developments continue
September 27, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Developments continue
It’s a developing situation
September 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It’s a developing situation
Lazy Saturday afternoon
September 27, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Lazy Saturday afternoon
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
There is an increasingly common and very lazy notion that universities are left biased. That needs countering as universities are under attack in the US but also elsewhere.
I wrote a thread about it.
I wrote a thread about it.
Listening to Rest is Politics, Rest is Politics US, and reading respected commentators, it's striking how 'left-wing bias' in universities is now taken for granted. That matters, especially in the US, where academia faces political attack. Thoughts from having worked in US/UK universities. 🧵
May 8, 2025 at 2:50 PM
There is an increasingly common and very lazy notion that universities are left biased. That needs countering as universities are under attack in the US but also elsewhere.
I wrote a thread about it.
I wrote a thread about it.