Matthew Barnfield
@mbarnfield.bsky.social
British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at Queen Mary University of London.
matthewbarnfield.co.uk
@drmatthewbarnfield on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram
matthewbarnfield.co.uk
@drmatthewbarnfield on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram
Pinned
I have a new article out at @polstudies.bsky.social. In "Electoral Hope", I make the case that supposedly irrational "wishful thinking" is actually a crucial part of how voters make rational sense of their role in democracies.
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
NEW ARTICLE: @palesl.bsky.social, Vesa Koskimaa and I have an letter out in JOP, "Politicians talk less about the future as they age" doi.org/10.1086/739406 (1/10)
Legislators talk less about the future as they age | The Journal of Politics: Vol 0, No ja
doi.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:53 PM
NEW ARTICLE: @palesl.bsky.social, Vesa Koskimaa and I have an letter out in JOP, "Politicians talk less about the future as they age" doi.org/10.1086/739406 (1/10)
So good by @duncanrobinson.bsky.social on British politics' (young) "male gaze":
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
The panic over a male crisis in Britain is overblown
But some manly problems are undeniable
www.economist.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:10 PM
So good by @duncanrobinson.bsky.social on British politics' (young) "male gaze":
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Latest piece for the @thehousemag.bsky.social, on the island of strangers speech and similar. Also ft Bob Hawke.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
The Professor Will See You Now: Island of strangers
Lessons in political science. This week: island of strangers
www.politicshome.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Latest piece for the @thehousemag.bsky.social, on the island of strangers speech and similar. Also ft Bob Hawke.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Several recent studies have found that politicians aren't very good at estimating public support for policies. But we have little idea about whether politicians are good at knowing which issues are more important to voters. Our new publication has a first go at answering this question rdcu.be/eQGm4
How Politicians (mis)Perceive Policy Salience
eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Several recent studies have found that politicians aren't very good at estimating public support for policies. But we have little idea about whether politicians are good at knowing which issues are more important to voters. Our new publication has a first go at answering this question rdcu.be/eQGm4
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Yesterday, we put out a report on the most important issues to voters.
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
November 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Yesterday, we put out a report on the most important issues to voters.
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
There is still time to register for today's (12:00) online Political Psychology seminar in which @stefaniereher.bsky.social is presenting work on public perceptions of politicians with mental health problems:
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e51a98...
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e51a98...
November 13, 2025 at 10:09 AM
There is still time to register for today's (12:00) online Political Psychology seminar in which @stefaniereher.bsky.social is presenting work on public perceptions of politicians with mental health problems:
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e51a98...
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e51a98...
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
*PSA EVENT* #Political #Psychology Seminar Series - Public perceptions of politicians with mental health problems in the UK with @stefaniereher.bsky.social, Rob Johns, @lbernardi.bsky.social by @psapolpsychology.bsky.social
📆 13 November
➡️ Full details and speakers
📆 13 November
➡️ Full details and speakers
Political Psychology - Public perceptions of politicians with mental health problems in the UK | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
‘Public perceptions of politicians with mental health problems in the UK’ with Stefanie Reher (Strathclyde), with Rob Johns and Luca Bernardi 13 November – 12:00 to 13:00 In recent years, an…
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 11:13 AM
*PSA EVENT* #Political #Psychology Seminar Series - Public perceptions of politicians with mental health problems in the UK with @stefaniereher.bsky.social, Rob Johns, @lbernardi.bsky.social by @psapolpsychology.bsky.social
📆 13 November
➡️ Full details and speakers
📆 13 November
➡️ Full details and speakers
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
This Thursday 13 November (12:00 UK), @stefaniereher.bsky.social is presenting important work on public perceptions of politicians with mental health problems, in the third session of our autumn seminar series!
Register to attend here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e51a98...
Register to attend here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e51a98...
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
This Thursday 13 November (12:00 UK), @stefaniereher.bsky.social is presenting important work on public perceptions of politicians with mental health problems, in the third session of our autumn seminar series!
Register to attend here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e51a98...
Register to attend here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e51a98...
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it
Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society.
It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...
renewal.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
There's still time to register - looking forward to seeing you around!
Our autumn seminar series continues tomorrow at midday, with
@klaramueller.bsky.social presenting important insights into causal inference in political psychology research.
Register to attend: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
@klaramueller.bsky.social presenting important insights into causal inference in political psychology research.
Register to attend: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
October 23, 2025 at 7:18 AM
There's still time to register - looking forward to seeing you around!
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Our autumn seminar series continues tomorrow at midday, with
@klaramueller.bsky.social presenting important insights into causal inference in political psychology research.
Register to attend: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
@klaramueller.bsky.social presenting important insights into causal inference in political psychology research.
Register to attend: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
October 22, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Our autumn seminar series continues tomorrow at midday, with
@klaramueller.bsky.social presenting important insights into causal inference in political psychology research.
Register to attend: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
@klaramueller.bsky.social presenting important insights into causal inference in political psychology research.
Register to attend: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Is it rational to expect to win elections? @mbarnfield.bsky.social argues so-called "wishful thinking" about election outcomes is part of how voters make rational sense of their role in democracies. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/VwihdOi
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
buff.ly
October 21, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Is it rational to expect to win elections? @mbarnfield.bsky.social argues so-called "wishful thinking" about election outcomes is part of how voters make rational sense of their role in democracies. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/VwihdOi
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social @sagepub.com
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
This is interesting from @mbarnfield.bsky.social for @theconversation.com - theconversation.com/keir-starmer.... #labour
Keir Starmer needs to give voters short-term gain to persuade them he can deliver long-term renewal
Keir Starmer says painful decisions are needed now to fix the country for the future. But voters may not stick around to find out if he’s right.
theconversation.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This is interesting from @mbarnfield.bsky.social for @theconversation.com - theconversation.com/keir-starmer.... #labour
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
“I want it now, I want it now
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings”
Impatient to read more from the excellent research here from @mbarnfield.bsky.social @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social - wonderful colleagues from
@qmulsse.bsky.social
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings”
Impatient to read more from the excellent research here from @mbarnfield.bsky.social @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social - wonderful colleagues from
@qmulsse.bsky.social
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons
Research shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains
www.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
“I want it now, I want it now
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings”
Impatient to read more from the excellent research here from @mbarnfield.bsky.social @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social - wonderful colleagues from
@qmulsse.bsky.social
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings”
Impatient to read more from the excellent research here from @mbarnfield.bsky.social @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social - wonderful colleagues from
@qmulsse.bsky.social
My write-up for The Conversation on how a strategy of "short-term pain for long-term gain" could be losing the government support from the more short-term-focused of its voters:
theconversation.com/keir-starmer...
Trailed in the FT this morning (www.ft.com/content/e984...)
theconversation.com/keir-starmer...
Trailed in the FT this morning (www.ft.com/content/e984...)
Keir Starmer needs to give voters short-term gain to persuade them he can deliver long-term renewal
Keir Starmer says painful decisions are needed now to fix the country for the future. But voters may not stick around to find out if he’s right.
theconversation.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:39 AM
My write-up for The Conversation on how a strategy of "short-term pain for long-term gain" could be losing the government support from the more short-term-focused of its voters:
theconversation.com/keir-starmer...
Trailed in the FT this morning (www.ft.com/content/e984...)
theconversation.com/keir-starmer...
Trailed in the FT this morning (www.ft.com/content/e984...)
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
The always clever @mbarnfield.bsky.social sharing some excellent research today.
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons
Research shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains
www.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:28 AM
The always clever @mbarnfield.bsky.social sharing some excellent research today.
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
This is really interesting by Matthew Barnfield and colleagues. Our research shows Labour is losing more support among its 2024 voters who feel financially insecure, which - together - suggests voters leaving Labour cant *afford* to wait for ‘jam tomorrow’.
Voters who think the least about the 'long term' are the most likely to have turned on the government.
Important research by my fantastic colleagues @mbarnfield.bsky.social , @philipjcowley.bsky.social and @karlpike.bsky.social cited in Inside Politics.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Important research by my fantastic colleagues @mbarnfield.bsky.social , @philipjcowley.bsky.social and @karlpike.bsky.social cited in Inside Politics.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons
Research shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains
www.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
This is really interesting by Matthew Barnfield and colleagues. Our research shows Labour is losing more support among its 2024 voters who feel financially insecure, which - together - suggests voters leaving Labour cant *afford* to wait for ‘jam tomorrow’.
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons
Research shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains
www.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Latest from our politics of impatience project - some excellent analysis by @mbarnfield.bsky.social showing Labour is losing the jam today voters.
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
October 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Latest from our politics of impatience project - some excellent analysis by @mbarnfield.bsky.social showing Labour is losing the jam today voters.
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons: on.ft.com/48EaX4h
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Voters who think the least about the 'long term' are the most likely to have turned on the government.
Important research by my fantastic colleagues @mbarnfield.bsky.social , @philipjcowley.bsky.social and @karlpike.bsky.social cited in Inside Politics.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Important research by my fantastic colleagues @mbarnfield.bsky.social , @philipjcowley.bsky.social and @karlpike.bsky.social cited in Inside Politics.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons
Research shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains
www.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Voters who think the least about the 'long term' are the most likely to have turned on the government.
Important research by my fantastic colleagues @mbarnfield.bsky.social , @philipjcowley.bsky.social and @karlpike.bsky.social cited in Inside Politics.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Important research by my fantastic colleagues @mbarnfield.bsky.social , @philipjcowley.bsky.social and @karlpike.bsky.social cited in Inside Politics.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
After a great first session today, our @psapolpsychology.bsky.social autumn seminar series continues next week with what promises to be a fascinating talk by @klaramueller.bsky.social!
Sign up here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
Sign up here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
*PSA EVENT* #Political #Psychology Seminar Series - 'Do Events Change Minds or Samples? Identifying Compositional Bias in Event Focused Causal Inference', with Klara Müller @klaramueller.bsky.social. Organised by @psapolpsychology.bsky.social
📆 23 Oct, 12.00 - 13.00, online
➡️
📆 23 Oct, 12.00 - 13.00, online
➡️
Political Psychology - Do Events Change Minds or Samples? A Framework for Identifying Compositional Bias in Event Focused Causal Inference | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
‘Do Events Change Minds or Samples? A Framework for Identifying Compositional Bias in Event Focused Causal Inference’ with Klara Müller (Mannheim) 23 October – 12:00 to 13:00 From political…
buff.ly
October 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
After a great first session today, our @psapolpsychology.bsky.social autumn seminar series continues next week with what promises to be a fascinating talk by @klaramueller.bsky.social!
Sign up here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
Sign up here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5edb84...
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
👇Find out more about the #Political #Psychology Autumn seminar series 👇taking place online 12.00 - 13.00 on
📆16 Oct 📆23 Oct 📆13 Nov 📆4 Dec
📆16 Oct 📆23 Oct 📆13 Nov 📆4 Dec
This time in two weeks, we will launch our autumn/winter seminar series. We have an exciting line-up of four online talks covering a range of topics in political psychology.
All presentations are on Thursdays at 12:00 UK.
Sign up to attend here!: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
All presentations are on Thursdays at 12:00 UK.
Sign up to attend here!: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
Political Psychology | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
Political Psychology is a multi-disciplinary group established to provide a forum for collaboration, discussion and support for political psychology scholars and practitioners as well as to facilitate...
www.psa.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 10:24 AM
👇Find out more about the #Political #Psychology Autumn seminar series 👇taking place online 12.00 - 13.00 on
📆16 Oct 📆23 Oct 📆13 Nov 📆4 Dec
📆16 Oct 📆23 Oct 📆13 Nov 📆4 Dec
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
*PSA EVENT* #Political #Psychology Seminar Series - The Bright and Dark Sides: Personality Traits & Party Members’ Campaign Activity, organised by @psapolpsychology.bsky.social
📆 16 Oct 📆 23 Oct 📆 13 Nov 📆 4 Dec
➡️ Full details and speakers
📆 16 Oct 📆 23 Oct 📆 13 Nov 📆 4 Dec
➡️ Full details and speakers
Political Psychology - The Bright and Dark Sides: Personality Traits and Party Members’ Campaign Activity | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
‘The Bright and Dark Sides: Personality Traits and Party Members’ Campaign Activity’ with Stavroula Chrona (Sussex), with Tim Bale and Paul Webb 16 October – 12:00 to 13:00 We offer a novel…
buff.ly
October 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM
*PSA EVENT* #Political #Psychology Seminar Series - The Bright and Dark Sides: Personality Traits & Party Members’ Campaign Activity, organised by @psapolpsychology.bsky.social
📆 16 Oct 📆 23 Oct 📆 13 Nov 📆 4 Dec
➡️ Full details and speakers
📆 16 Oct 📆 23 Oct 📆 13 Nov 📆 4 Dec
➡️ Full details and speakers
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Our autumn online seminar series gets started in two days' time, with a fascinating presentation on the personalities of UK party members - work co-authored by Stavroula Chrona, @timbale.bsky.social and Paul Webb.
For more info, and to register: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g....
For more info, and to register: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g....
October 14, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Our autumn online seminar series gets started in two days' time, with a fascinating presentation on the personalities of UK party members - work co-authored by Stavroula Chrona, @timbale.bsky.social and Paul Webb.
For more info, and to register: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g....
For more info, and to register: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g....
Reposted by Matthew Barnfield
Our autumn seminar series starts next Thursday 16th October at 12:00!
Stavroula Chrona (profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p226073-stav...) will give a fascinating presentation on the personality traits of UK political party members.
More info on the series and sign-up links here: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
Stavroula Chrona (profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p226073-stav...) will give a fascinating presentation on the personality traits of UK political party members.
More info on the series and sign-up links here: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
This time in two weeks, we will launch our autumn/winter seminar series. We have an exciting line-up of four online talks covering a range of topics in political psychology.
All presentations are on Thursdays at 12:00 UK.
Sign up to attend here!: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
All presentations are on Thursdays at 12:00 UK.
Sign up to attend here!: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
Political Psychology | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
Political Psychology is a multi-disciplinary group established to provide a forum for collaboration, discussion and support for political psychology scholars and practitioners as well as to facilitate...
www.psa.ac.uk
October 10, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Our autumn seminar series starts next Thursday 16th October at 12:00!
Stavroula Chrona (profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p226073-stav...) will give a fascinating presentation on the personality traits of UK political party members.
More info on the series and sign-up links here: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...
Stavroula Chrona (profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p226073-stav...) will give a fascinating presentation on the personality traits of UK political party members.
More info on the series and sign-up links here: www.psa.ac.uk/specialist-g...