Cassie Barton
@cassierbarton.bsky.social
Housing Research and Analysis Manager at the Greater London Authority, on loan from the House of Commons Library. Interested in housing stats, demography, and data visualization.
We've just published Housing in London 2025, our annual statistical summary of more or less everything that's happened in London housing.
It's brilliant and you should read it (most of the work was done by colleagues, so it's not egotistical for me to say so).
data.london.gov.uk/housing/hous...
It's brilliant and you should read it (most of the work was done by colleagues, so it's not egotistical for me to say so).
data.london.gov.uk/housing/hous...
Housing in London annual report – London Datastore
data.london.gov.uk
January 16, 2026 at 2:16 PM
We've just published Housing in London 2025, our annual statistical summary of more or less everything that's happened in London housing.
It's brilliant and you should read it (most of the work was done by colleagues, so it's not egotistical for me to say so).
data.london.gov.uk/housing/hous...
It's brilliant and you should read it (most of the work was done by colleagues, so it's not egotistical for me to say so).
data.london.gov.uk/housing/hous...
Some of these are upsettingly far away, but still! ☀️
If you know me you know I am a sunlight obsessive and @dracos.co.uk made my year this year by making this!!
dracos.co.uk/made/sunligh...
dracos.co.uk/made/sunligh...
Sunlight optimism calculator - Matthew Somerville
dracos.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Some of these are upsettingly far away, but still! ☀️
Reposted by Cassie Barton
Courage comes in many forms. The bystander at Bondi beach is one example. This piece recounts an extraordinary different kind, where by having a conversation and listening, Nathan Newby talked Mohammad Farooq down from setting off a bomb. Recommend
www.ft.com/content/cd59...
www.ft.com/content/cd59...
‘It’s just a bomb’
The true story of two strangers and an extraordinary act of courage
www.ft.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Courage comes in many forms. The bystander at Bondi beach is one example. This piece recounts an extraordinary different kind, where by having a conversation and listening, Nathan Newby talked Mohammad Farooq down from setting off a bomb. Recommend
www.ft.com/content/cd59...
www.ft.com/content/cd59...
The Commons Library is recruiting a housing policy researcher!
As ever: highly recommended workplace, great people, interesting work, etc etc. Apply!
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
As ever: highly recommended workplace, great people, interesting work, etc etc. Apply!
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Housing Researcher - Houses of Parliament
Title: Housing Researcher. Employer: House of Commons. Salary: £43,614 - £50,374 per annum. Closes: 11/01/2026, 23:55
housesofparliament.tal.net
December 9, 2025 at 7:23 PM
The Commons Library is recruiting a housing policy researcher!
As ever: highly recommended workplace, great people, interesting work, etc etc. Apply!
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
As ever: highly recommended workplace, great people, interesting work, etc etc. Apply!
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Reposted by Cassie Barton
Entertaining myself with the definition of 'pet' being inserted by the Renters Rights Act 2025.
Probably should add:
'(e) Fear of retribution from the animal if otherwise'
to cover most cats
Probably should add:
'(e) Fear of retribution from the animal if otherwise'
to cover most cats
November 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Entertaining myself with the definition of 'pet' being inserted by the Renters Rights Act 2025.
Probably should add:
'(e) Fear of retribution from the animal if otherwise'
to cover most cats
Probably should add:
'(e) Fear of retribution from the animal if otherwise'
to cover most cats
Excited to be starting a secondment at the Greater London Authority next week, covering as best I can for @geographyjim.bsky.social in the realm of housing data and analysis!
October 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Excited to be starting a secondment at the Greater London Authority next week, covering as best I can for @geographyjim.bsky.social in the realm of housing data and analysis!
Reposted by Cassie Barton
Most of us are in a wobbly position when it comes to our understanding of immigration numbers.
How would things go if we didn’t make these half-remembered statistics so central to how we form and articulate opinions?
georginasturge.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
How would things go if we didn’t make these half-remembered statistics so central to how we form and articulate opinions?
georginasturge.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
How to make conversations about immigration less painful
Let's get one thing straight at the very least
georginasturge.substack.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Most of us are in a wobbly position when it comes to our understanding of immigration numbers.
How would things go if we didn’t make these half-remembered statistics so central to how we form and articulate opinions?
georginasturge.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
How would things go if we didn’t make these half-remembered statistics so central to how we form and articulate opinions?
georginasturge.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
Reposted by Cassie Barton
Why are we hooked on bad vibes when they don't reflect reality?
I took a deep-dive into the data, in search of what is really going on.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
I took a deep-dive into the data, in search of what is really going on.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
In search of bad vibes
A mood of boiling discontentment in Britain is the subject of daily news - but where is the evidence that it even exists?
open.substack.com
July 28, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Why are we hooked on bad vibes when they don't reflect reality?
I took a deep-dive into the data, in search of what is really going on.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
I took a deep-dive into the data, in search of what is really going on.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
Reposted by Cassie Barton
Oh, bugger. I mean, 97 is a bloody good innings, but the world is a sadder place with no Tom Lehrer in it. What a brilliant man
Tom Lehrer - We Will All Go Together When We Go
YouTube video by The Tom Lehrer Wisdom Channel
youtu.be
July 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Oh, bugger. I mean, 97 is a bloody good innings, but the world is a sadder place with no Tom Lehrer in it. What a brilliant man
I've published a new briefing bringing together the stats on leasehold housing in England (and a bit in Wales). Featuring:
- MHCLG data on leasehold stock
- Trends in transactions over time and for constituencies
- Experiences of leaseholders
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
- MHCLG data on leasehold stock
- Trends in transactions over time and for constituencies
- Experiences of leaseholders
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Leasehold housing in England: Statistics
This briefing explores statistics on leasehold housing stock and transactions, in the context of ongoing reforms to the leasehold system.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
July 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I've published a new briefing bringing together the stats on leasehold housing in England (and a bit in Wales). Featuring:
- MHCLG data on leasehold stock
- Trends in transactions over time and for constituencies
- Experiences of leaseholders
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
- MHCLG data on leasehold stock
- Trends in transactions over time and for constituencies
- Experiences of leaseholders
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
2031 census confirmed! 🎉
"Today HM Government has commissioned the Office for National Statistics to conduct a mandatory, questionnaire-based, whole-population census of England and Wales in 2031."
www.ons.gov.uk/news/news/hm...
"Today HM Government has commissioned the Office for National Statistics to conduct a mandatory, questionnaire-based, whole-population census of England and Wales in 2031."
www.ons.gov.uk/news/news/hm...
HM Government commissions the Office for National Statistics to deliver a whole-population census of England and Wales in 2031 - Office for National Statistics
www.ons.gov.uk
July 15, 2025 at 4:03 PM
2031 census confirmed! 🎉
"Today HM Government has commissioned the Office for National Statistics to conduct a mandatory, questionnaire-based, whole-population census of England and Wales in 2031."
www.ons.gov.uk/news/news/hm...
"Today HM Government has commissioned the Office for National Statistics to conduct a mandatory, questionnaire-based, whole-population census of England and Wales in 2031."
www.ons.gov.uk/news/news/hm...
Reposted by Cassie Barton
okay but be fair the British meaning of "billion" has changed within living memory, books I had as a kid in the 80s sometimes still used the word "milliard" for 10^6 and saved "billion" for 10^9
Fewer than half of adults know how many millions there are in a billion.
(Polling for Tax Policy Associates)
taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/10/26/t...
(Polling for Tax Policy Associates)
taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/10/26/t...
July 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
okay but be fair the British meaning of "billion" has changed within living memory, books I had as a kid in the 80s sometimes still used the word "milliard" for 10^6 and saved "billion" for 10^9
Heading home after a trip to Edinburgh for IPVIS, a tiny conference for data nerds working in parliaments. It's great to have a space to talk to people with the same weirdly specific job as me. Everyone had lots to say about the nuts and bolts of what we do, and how we try to do things better.
July 4, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Heading home after a trip to Edinburgh for IPVIS, a tiny conference for data nerds working in parliaments. It's great to have a space to talk to people with the same weirdly specific job as me. Everyone had lots to say about the nuts and bolts of what we do, and how we try to do things better.
Now that the 2031 census recommendation is here, it feels like I've done a full "census cycle" as a professional census nerd.
It's a brilliant part of my job, being paid to pay attention to something that's ever-changing and the setting for so many interesting debates about identity and society.
It's a brilliant part of my job, being paid to pay attention to something that's ever-changing and the setting for so many interesting debates about identity and society.
a man and a woman are standing next to each other and the man is saying it 's all the drama
Alt: A GIF from the TV series Gavin and Stacey. Pam, a middle-aged woman, announces excitedly to her husband: "It's all the drama, Mick. I just love it!"
media.tenor.com
June 20, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Now that the 2031 census recommendation is here, it feels like I've done a full "census cycle" as a professional census nerd.
It's a brilliant part of my job, being paid to pay attention to something that's ever-changing and the setting for so many interesting debates about identity and society.
It's a brilliant part of my job, being paid to pay attention to something that's ever-changing and the setting for so many interesting debates about identity and society.
A cool resource, literally❄️
🥵 Hot in #London? Find cool spaces 🥶 and water fountains 💧near you, with our interactive map: apps.london.gov.uk/cool-spaces/ 👍
June 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
A cool resource, literally❄️
Just had a v interesting couple of days at the @ukdataservice.bsky.social UK Census User Conference - hearing from ONS and others about future plans, and from researchers about how they're using 2021/2 census data.
Official recommendation on the 2031 census due next week, apparently 👀
Official recommendation on the 2031 census due next week, apparently 👀
June 13, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Just had a v interesting couple of days at the @ukdataservice.bsky.social UK Census User Conference - hearing from ONS and others about future plans, and from researchers about how they're using 2021/2 census data.
Official recommendation on the 2031 census due next week, apparently 👀
Official recommendation on the 2031 census due next week, apparently 👀
Reposted by Cassie Barton
Great opportunity for anyone with knowledge and experience of UK transport policy - a chance to work in the wonderful House of Commons Library, providing briefings to MPs.
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
Senior Researcher (Transport) - Houses of Parliament
Title: Senior Researcher (Transport). Employer: House of Commons. Salary: £56,180 - £66,497 per annum - Pay on Promotion rules apply. Closes: 29/06/2025, 23:55
housesofparliament.tal.net
June 12, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Great opportunity for anyone with knowledge and experience of UK transport policy - a chance to work in the wonderful House of Commons Library, providing briefings to MPs.
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...
A bit of census news from the Spending Review:
"Additional funding has been provided primarily to allow UKSA to start preparatory work for Census 2031, subject to the government’s decision on the census, expected this summer."
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
June 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
A bit of census news from the Spending Review:
Reposted by Cassie Barton
Sum of US is out now!! Find it at all good bookshops and online 🙌
April 14, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Sum of US is out now!! Find it at all good bookshops and online 🙌
Reposted by Cassie Barton
Ahead of the recall of parliament my colleague Ilze has published a briefing on the UK steel industry.
Impressive work
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Impressive work
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
UK steel industry: statistics and policy
The UK steel industry: a statistical summary of the UK and international industry; analysis of current prospects and challenges; summary of government policy.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
April 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Ahead of the recall of parliament my colleague Ilze has published a briefing on the UK steel industry.
Impressive work
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Impressive work
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Reposted by Cassie Barton
What do you think about double council tax for holiday homes and other empty property?
Here's some factual detail about how the new second home premium works in England: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/why-am-i-pay...
And....
Here's some factual detail about how the new second home premium works in England: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/why-am-i-pay...
And....
Why am I paying a council tax premium on my second home?
From 1 April 2025, English councils will be able to charge a council tax premium on second homes. Some second homes will be exempt from the premium.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
April 2, 2025 at 1:38 PM
What do you think about double council tax for holiday homes and other empty property?
Here's some factual detail about how the new second home premium works in England: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/why-am-i-pay...
And....
Here's some factual detail about how the new second home premium works in England: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/why-am-i-pay...
And....
Reposted by Cassie Barton
On the topic of the Bank Holidays API, it may well be the most quintessentially British API in existence, with a boolean (true/false) value for "bunting".
And, in case you were wondering, every bank holiday is a good day for bunting unless someone died for our sins! www.api.gov.uk/gds/bank-hol...
And, in case you were wondering, every bank holiday is a good day for bunting unless someone died for our sins! www.api.gov.uk/gds/bank-hol...
March 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
On the topic of the Bank Holidays API, it may well be the most quintessentially British API in existence, with a boolean (true/false) value for "bunting".
And, in case you were wondering, every bank holiday is a good day for bunting unless someone died for our sins! www.api.gov.uk/gds/bank-hol...
And, in case you were wondering, every bank holiday is a good day for bunting unless someone died for our sins! www.api.gov.uk/gds/bank-hol...
Reposted by Cassie Barton
🚨 Dream job alert! 🚨
Senior Researcher in statistics (my team) at the House of Commons Library.
The team is looking for someone with numeracy skills & research experience. Good communication skills also required.
Deadline 31 March 2025.
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Senior Researcher in statistics (my team) at the House of Commons Library.
The team is looking for someone with numeracy skills & research experience. Good communication skills also required.
Deadline 31 March 2025.
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
March 24, 2025 at 11:09 AM
🚨 Dream job alert! 🚨
Senior Researcher in statistics (my team) at the House of Commons Library.
The team is looking for someone with numeracy skills & research experience. Good communication skills also required.
Deadline 31 March 2025.
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Senior Researcher in statistics (my team) at the House of Commons Library.
The team is looking for someone with numeracy skills & research experience. Good communication skills also required.
Deadline 31 March 2025.
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Applications are still open for a Senior Researcher role in the Social & General Statistics team in the Commons Library.
Come and work with us to analyse data, explain it to MPs and their staff, and support parliament's work 📊
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Come and work with us to analyse data, explain it to MPs and their staff, and support parliament's work 📊
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Quick Check Needed
housesofparliament.tal.net
March 21, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Applications are still open for a Senior Researcher role in the Social & General Statistics team in the Commons Library.
Come and work with us to analyse data, explain it to MPs and their staff, and support parliament's work 📊
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Come and work with us to analyse data, explain it to MPs and their staff, and support parliament's work 📊
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Reposted by Cassie Barton
We in the House of Commons Library are recruiting a senior researcher in our Social and General Statistics team! Come work with us to develop new and improved ways to inform MPs and their staff about data.
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Quick Check Needed
housesofparliament.tal.net
March 14, 2025 at 12:01 PM
We in the House of Commons Library are recruiting a senior researcher in our Social and General Statistics team! Come work with us to develop new and improved ways to inform MPs and their staff about data.
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...