Philip Cowley
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philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley
@philipjcowley.bsky.social
7.5K followers 450 following 610 posts

Professor of Politics.

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Philip Cowley is a British political scientist and an academic at Queen Mary University of London in the School of Politics and International Relations. He previously held the same title at the University of Nottingham. Within academia he is particularly notable for his analysis of Parliamentary voting behaviour in the UK House of Commons and House of Lords and secondly his opposition to a lowering of the UK voting age below 18. .. more

Political science 86%
Sociology 5%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Simon Wren‐Lewis, Philip Cowley

duncanrobinson.bsky.social
Duncan Robinson @duncanrobinson.bsky.social · 6h
"If the OBR cannot organise its document handling, how can we trust it to get the judgment on productivity or the tax richness of GDP forecasts right?" Well, because they're different things, for one. www.ft.com/content/b1af...
The OBR’s careless leak has damaged us all
The fiscal watchdog’s error is worse than other Budget leaks because it exists solely to improve the process
www.ft.com

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 1d
"In this sermon, I delve into..."
vulture.com Vulture @vulture.com · 1d
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 1d
Tbh, Labour due to get such a kicking in next year's London elex that this is the least of their problems...
jaheale.bsky.social James Heale @jaheale.bsky.social · 1d
Nine of the ten constituencies most hit by the 'mansion tax' are held by Labour MPs, via Bradshaw Advisory

As I say on Coffee House Shots, the London borough elections next year could be interesting

Reposted by Philip Cowley

jaheale.bsky.social
James Heale @jaheale.bsky.social · 1d
Nine of the ten constituencies most hit by the 'mansion tax' are held by Labour MPs, via Bradshaw Advisory

As I say on Coffee House Shots, the London borough elections next year could be interesting

Reposted by Philip Cowley, Jens Rydgren

joshgoddard98.bsky.social
Josh Goddard @joshgoddard98.bsky.social · 1d
Really excited to share my new article published in @electoralstudies.bsky.social!

1/7

Reposted by Philip Cowley

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 1d
10 December, 6pm, QMUL.
Triumph and Trauma: The British General Election of 2024
Join the Mile End Institute to look back on the 2024 general election, the historic Conservative collapse and Labour's “loveless landslide"!
www.eventbrite.co.uk

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Gordon Hodson, Ian Campbell , and 18 more

vulture.com
Vulture @vulture.com · 1d
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com

Reposted by Philip Cowley

seankemp.bsky.social
Sean Kemp @seankemp.bsky.social · 1d
Introduce a tax on parliamentary speeches that have a call and response bit

Reposted by Philip Cowley, Toby S. James

timbale.bsky.social
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 1d
Finally got round to a deep reading of @tobysjames.bsky.social and Charles Clarke’s interview with Boris Johnson (done in Feb 2025). It’s well worth it. This passage in particular stuck out. Don’t agree that doing something different would have saved BJ’s skin but a refreshingly honest admission.

Reposted by Philip Cowley

stephenkb.bsky.social
Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 1d
I think that far too much weight is being placed on 'can you rules-lawyer your way through an interview about how you've put people's taxes up' and 'what will people actually experience' - if you're raising my taxes (you are), just raise them by enough to get out of the v tight 27-9 spending rounds!
A set of personal tax rises with a combined yield of £15 billion in 2029-30. These include: freezing tax thresholds from 2028-29 onwards, which raises £8.0 billion in 2029-30 and contributes to around 780,000 more basic-rate, 920,000 more higherrate, and 4,000 more additional-rate taxpayers by 2029-30 than in the March forecast; charging National Insurance on salary-sacrificed pension contributions, which raises £4.7 billion; and increasing tax rates on dividends, property and savings income by 2 percentage points, raising £2.1 billion.

Reposted by Philip Cowley

matildamartin.bsky.social
Tilda Martin @matildamartin.bsky.social · 1d
We knew it was coming, but introduction of the controversial international student levy definitely confirmed by OBR, we await more details on what this will look like...

@politicshome.bsky.social previously revealed govt tussle between 6% or a £1000 flat fee

www.politicshome.com/news/article...

Reposted by Philip Cowley

stephenkb.bsky.social
Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 1d
The disease of Hoyleism (no, it's not good parliamentary scrutiny, but oh boy, isn't it wonderful theatre!) has spread to his deputy.

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 1d
I said it could be. We wont, obviously.

Reposted by Chris Hanretty

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 1d
Both the OBR's cock-up (v funny), and the multiple briefings from the Treasury and Chancellor (v explicit) could be an opportunity to have a sensible discussion about what is and isn't allowed in advance of the speech.

Dalton resigned for much less than almost everyone does these days.

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 1d
Three income taxes that are going up, including basic rate...

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Philip Cowley, Maria Abreu

jim.londoncentric.media
Jim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · 1d
lol here’s the full OBR book someone pressed publish early here’s the budget obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
obr.uk

Reposted by Philip Cowley

psurridge.bsky.social
Paula Surridge @psurridge.bsky.social · 1d
When looking at how 'the public' receive the budget it is worth remembering about 50% actively dislike the govt and will be strongly against almost anything it does. This is a problem made worse by fragmenting vote intentions where govt has the direct support of a relatively small group of voters.

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 3 more

robfordmancs.bsky.social
Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 1d
Looking forward to a much briefed bumper hamper of politics? No, not the Budget, The British General Election of 2024! We had a wonderful all star launch event in London last night, with representatives of all five Britain-wide parties, and now I have a special launch gift for you...read on! 1/?

Reposted by Tim Bale, Philip Cowley

twlldun.bsky.social
Twlldun @twlldun.bsky.social · 1d
Can’t wait for the Budget to be over and the government to stop leaking stories every five minutes and go back to its constitutionally defined role of starting weird fights with Wes Streeting.

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 1d
Loads of them have jobs. But not always at uni. So that makes things worse - because they are working away from the uni and (potential) friends.

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 2d
This is a deeply depressing piece.

wonkhe.com/blogs/the-on...
The one where they still don't have any friends
Amid rising reports of student loneliness, Mack Marshall explores how UK universities are failing to design for connection - and why social isolation is no longer just a pastoral issue but a structura...
wonkhe.com

Reposted by Tim Bale, Philip Cowley

colmpm.bsky.social
Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 3d
I enjoyed a rare privilege today: seeing one of my new journal articles in print.

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 3d
If you buy it, I'll let you read it wherever you want.

www.amazon.co.uk/Smallest-Roo...
The Smallest Room in the House: 50 political oddities to read in more than one sitting: Amazon.co.uk: Philip Cowley: 9781785909702: Books
Buy The Smallest Room in the House: 50 political oddities to read in more than one sitting by Philip Cowley (ISBN: 9781785909702) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eli...
www.amazon.co.uk

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 3d
It was also Lee's book of the week, in the Attlee and Churchill podcast. He implies it's too good to be read on the loo.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...
How did Neil Kinnock defeat Militant?
Podcast Episode · Since Attlee & Churchill · 23/11/2025 · 1h 6m
podcasts.apple.com

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 3d
"If you are interested in this sort of thing, the Cowley book is excellent".

"For those who like that sort of thing, said Miss Brodie in her best Edinburgh voice, That is the sort of thing they like."

Reposted by Tim Bale

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 3d
Andy Sparrow. Sensible, wise, smart.

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 3d
Maybe. The cynic in me says you are assuming too much thought/competence (and am unsure how means testing would work). But let's see.

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 3d
This is from the Times briefing, v similar to lots of others. But I don't understand:

a) how are they valuing houses? Last sale value or what?
b) if it can be deferred until sale or death, why would anyone pay it upfront? surely this will trickle in... in the short term, how much does this raise?

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 3d
Yes - altho that is mostly (I think) a product of the first two factors

philipjcowley.bsky.social
Philip Cowley @philipjcowley.bsky.social · 3d
In general, just the scope. But what makes them *harder* now than before:
- party system more complex
- more data/analysis available
- academic life much tougher
- publishers less efficient