Martin Heneghan
@martinheneghan.bsky.social
Assistant Professor in Public and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham
I’ve been naively surprised at the hostile media reaction to the lifting of the 2-child benefit cap. I expect it from right wing press but it’s been negatively portrayed by broadcast media too. The problem for the govt is it has no guiding narrative to defend itself. New Labour had …
November 30, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I’ve been naively surprised at the hostile media reaction to the lifting of the 2-child benefit cap. I expect it from right wing press but it’s been negatively portrayed by broadcast media too. The problem for the govt is it has no guiding narrative to defend itself. New Labour had …
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
h/t @adamwren.bsky.social
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
November 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
h/t @adamwren.bsky.social
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
The UK’s majoritarian electoral system has necessitated a communicative political discourse (to the electorate) rather than a coordinative one (to potential coalition partners). At one time this entailed chasing favourable tabloid and rolling news headlines. Now it is in the sewer of social media.
I don’t think this is a “politicians have got dumber” issue for the most part. If you look at the *actual CVs* of previous cohorts of MPs, their background is not radically different when you account for, you know, the fact the economy is different! It is primarily a media and ecosystem issue.
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
November 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The UK’s majoritarian electoral system has necessitated a communicative political discourse (to the electorate) rather than a coordinative one (to potential coalition partners). At one time this entailed chasing favourable tabloid and rolling news headlines. Now it is in the sewer of social media.
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
Great post. What is interesting is that the government has had to be cautious because of their posturing on migration, which has done nothing to win over Reform voters but has constrained their ability to do anything transformative which would pay off in the future. Very bad politics
November 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Great post. What is interesting is that the government has had to be cautious because of their posturing on migration, which has done nothing to win over Reform voters but has constrained their ability to do anything transformative which would pay off in the future. Very bad politics
I respect @edconway.bsky.social a lot so it’s disappointing we don’t get enough context from him about why taxes are rising everywhere and not just the UK: ageing populations, increasing demands on the state for defence, climate change, industrial policy, mitigating shocks (like Covid, energy etc.).
November 27, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I respect @edconway.bsky.social a lot so it’s disappointing we don’t get enough context from him about why taxes are rising everywhere and not just the UK: ageing populations, increasing demands on the state for defence, climate change, industrial policy, mitigating shocks (like Covid, energy etc.).
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
I'm hearing criticisms of the end to the two child limit, because it was done just to mollify Labour backbenchers, at a cost of £billions.
I remember another govt delivering a referendum on EU membership, just to mollify restive backbenchers. That's costing way, way more... A little perspective?
I remember another govt delivering a referendum on EU membership, just to mollify restive backbenchers. That's costing way, way more... A little perspective?
November 26, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I'm hearing criticisms of the end to the two child limit, because it was done just to mollify Labour backbenchers, at a cost of £billions.
I remember another govt delivering a referendum on EU membership, just to mollify restive backbenchers. That's costing way, way more... A little perspective?
I remember another govt delivering a referendum on EU membership, just to mollify restive backbenchers. That's costing way, way more... A little perspective?
A brilliant piece this is. I think about nostalgia a lot lately – as I suspect a lot of people do in the tumultuous era we live in. Stephen really gets at what I think is important. It is not just reflecting back on being young but on a time where we all had shared cultural understandings.
A fascinating thing about season two IMV is how it is in some ways the only one that is even remotely close to being 'proper' period piece rather than just a 'this is cosy/and thank god there are no smartphones to ruin the plot!'
Pop culture has mastered nostalgia — by returning to a pre-smartphone era
‘Stranger Things’ is back for its final season, weaving fantasy set not in the future but in a past that its young fans never knew
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:38 PM
A brilliant piece this is. I think about nostalgia a lot lately – as I suspect a lot of people do in the tumultuous era we live in. Stephen really gets at what I think is important. It is not just reflecting back on being young but on a time where we all had shared cultural understandings.
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
I’m really surprised this isn’t bigger news. Just under 10 million people live in Tehran. Where can they go? Where else in Iran will have enough water? This will undoubtedly strain the country’s and the region’s politics, finances and governance capacity.
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I’m really surprised this isn’t bigger news. Just under 10 million people live in Tehran. Where can they go? Where else in Iran will have enough water? This will undoubtedly strain the country’s and the region’s politics, finances and governance capacity.
Well that’s one way to drive down immigration. I highly doubt it will raise anywhere near £600m though. Labour may well end up being worse for the higher education sector than the Tories.
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Well that’s one way to drive down immigration. I highly doubt it will raise anywhere near £600m though. Labour may well end up being worse for the higher education sector than the Tories.
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
Starmer isn't Britain's worst ever prime minister, but he is Labour's worst ever prime minister and it's not even close
November 14, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Starmer isn't Britain's worst ever prime minister, but he is Labour's worst ever prime minister and it's not even close
These bumps are fascinating and a great illustration how distorting the British tax system is.
NEW - we've data showing huge numbers of people reducing their income to avoid high marginal income tax rates. Not just at the £100k point (as previously reported). But at the £50k point:
November 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM
These bumps are fascinating and a great illustration how distorting the British tax system is.
If the BBC switched to a fee paying model proposed by Reform, it would be older voters who lost out as they disproportionately watch the BBC and don’t pay the licence fee. They are also far more likely to vote Reform.
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
If the BBC switched to a fee paying model proposed by Reform, it would be older voters who lost out as they disproportionately watch the BBC and don’t pay the licence fee. They are also far more likely to vote Reform.
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
NEW: Rachel Reeves signals she intends to remove the two-child cap *in full*
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
NEW: Rachel Reeves signals she intends to remove the two-child cap *in full*
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
The irony is that Nigel Farage would be a nobody were it not for the BBC.
Mail Online reports Nigel Farage says that the BBC may have no future.
He imagines bringing to an end century of public service broadcasting in the UK - because the populist politician and his US political ally Donald Trump do not want the BBC to survive
No thanks, Nigel.
No thanks, Donald
He imagines bringing to an end century of public service broadcasting in the UK - because the populist politician and his US political ally Donald Trump do not want the BBC to survive
No thanks, Nigel.
No thanks, Donald
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The irony is that Nigel Farage would be a nobody were it not for the BBC.
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
Drives me mad that people talk about Danish immigration policy as a *political* success without bothering to look at the polls.
Aside from the crucial voting system difference, the Social Democrats over this period have haemorrhaged votes to progressive parties and are currently on course for their worst result in 110yrs, while the Green Left are set for their best ever.
The Danish People's Party are currently gaining.
The Danish People's Party are currently gaining.
what are the odds that the people in Downing Street briefing this out would also break out in hives at the mere mention of proportional representation?
November 8, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Drives me mad that people talk about Danish immigration policy as a *political* success without bothering to look at the polls.
More fearless reporting from the @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social. If you live in Sheffield I highly recommend subscribing. High quality journalism at the local level.
“It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car,” one woman who paid Milne tens of thousands of pounds told us. “He has just wiped me out.”
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived
Exclusive: The Tribune can reveal that Andrew Milne has threatened leaseholders with high court action. It ‘broke my heart’ one woman says
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 6:58 AM
More fearless reporting from the @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social. If you live in Sheffield I highly recommend subscribing. High quality journalism at the local level.
Strong argument from @oilsheppard.bsky.social that, despite all the speculation and pitch rolling, Reeves will not raise income tax.
on.ft.com/3LvQRzA Why Rachel Reeves won’t raise income tax
on.ft.com/3LvQRzA Why Rachel Reeves won’t raise income tax
Why Rachel Reeves won’t raise income tax
An unpopular government cannot afford to be branded dishonest by the public
on.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Strong argument from @oilsheppard.bsky.social that, despite all the speculation and pitch rolling, Reeves will not raise income tax.
on.ft.com/3LvQRzA Why Rachel Reeves won’t raise income tax
on.ft.com/3LvQRzA Why Rachel Reeves won’t raise income tax
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
For as many years as anyone been counting two or more inmates been mistakenly released from British prisons most weeks. Record does not make it acceptable. System needs to be fixed. It does leave me asking why BBC now gripped by end-of-civilisation hysteria heard on Radio 4 Today programme.
November 6, 2025 at 10:52 AM
For as many years as anyone been counting two or more inmates been mistakenly released from British prisons most weeks. Record does not make it acceptable. System needs to be fixed. It does leave me asking why BBC now gripped by end-of-civilisation hysteria heard on Radio 4 Today programme.
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
Elon Musk is deliberately using his platform to poison our politics and divide our country.
It's time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our democracy.
It's time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our democracy.
November 6, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Elon Musk is deliberately using his platform to poison our politics and divide our country.
It's time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our democracy.
It's time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our democracy.
Ed Miliband was largely seen as a media dud ten years ago, but to my mind he’s the only senior Labour politician doing political comms right in 2025. He’s moved with the digital age in ways the others haven’t.
November 5, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Ed Miliband was largely seen as a media dud ten years ago, but to my mind he’s the only senior Labour politician doing political comms right in 2025. He’s moved with the digital age in ways the others haven’t.
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
Good from Martin Wolf, as usual, in today’s FT. But I have a couple of quibbles on.ft.com/47nYFvX
The UK tax system is a mess — these are priorities for Reeves to reform
The list of inconsistencies goes on and on. Nobody should have designed such an absurdity
on.ft.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Good from Martin Wolf, as usual, in today’s FT. But I have a couple of quibbles on.ft.com/47nYFvX
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
The guy who got famous betting against the housing market in 2007 just before that bubble burst - played by Christian Bale jn “The Big Short” - just wagered $1 billion on the collapse of the AI boom.
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
Michael Burry Returns With Two Big Shorts: Palantir and Nvidia
Signs of an AI bubble abound: Stock valuations have become uncomfortably rich, AI-related debt is ballooning, and a sustainable financial model for the technology has largely yet to emerge. Now Michae...
www.wsj.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:35 PM
The guy who got famous betting against the housing market in 2007 just before that bubble burst - played by Christian Bale jn “The Big Short” - just wagered $1 billion on the collapse of the AI boom.
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
If you’re a methods teacher who tells students that they can’t say anything about a result with a p-value of >.05, then you’re part of the problem so there’s no point looking all scandalised at this.
Look at the distribution of z-values from medical research!
November 4, 2025 at 10:40 PM
If you’re a methods teacher who tells students that they can’t say anything about a result with a p-value of >.05, then you’re part of the problem so there’s no point looking all scandalised at this.
Reposted by Martin Heneghan
Look at the distribution of z-values from medical research!
November 4, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Look at the distribution of z-values from medical research!