Owen Jackson
@owenjackson.bsky.social
Policy 📑 | Science 💉 | Sport 🏈🏏🏉
Director of Policy
Trustee, 93% Club
Reposts ≠ endorsements, views my own
Director of Policy
Trustee, 93% Club
Reposts ≠ endorsements, views my own
Reposted by Owen Jackson
![Comic. Panels up to the 10-year point are grayed out. New panels since the Ten Years comic, which chronicles the first ten years of PERSON 1's journey with cancer: (1) [two people in bed] PERSON 1 (woman): One more chapter? PERSON 2 (man): Don’t we both have to get up early? PERSON 1: Nnnnnggggh PERSON 2: Sure, good point. (2) [many people wearing masks, walking while looking at graphs on their phones] (3) [birds landing on people] PERSON 2 in beanie and scarf: Hah! They like *my* seeds best. PERSON 1 in scarf holding phone with a bird sitting on it: Wait, how do I take a picture of this one? (4) [two people rowing boats with tree landscape] (5) [Person 1 carries overflowing stack of things to Person 2 in bed] PERSON 1: I brought you honey lemon tea, more pillows, a cinnamon roll, Tylenol, another blanket, a– PERSON 2: It was just Appendicitis, I’m really– PERSON 1: *It is my turn to take care of you and I am going to do it right!* (6) [Two people in car] (7) [still in car) PERSON 1: Oh my god. PERSON 2: Oh my god. (8) [car driving] PERSON 1: Pull over! PERSON 2: I am! (9) [both people get out of car] (10) [Large colored panel of aurora borealis over water with both people looking on] (11) [Person 1 sits against tree while Person 2 lies on the ground] PERSON 1: Fifteen years. No sign of the cancer. (12) I *am* having some weird symptoms. Joint pain. Fatigue. I think I’m losing my close-up vision. PERSON 2: Yeah. Me too. (13) PERSON 2: I think we’re getting old. (14) PERSON 1: I guess that’s okay. PERSON 2: It’s all I wanted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihwhjblp5lyiwp63ouar7ocfea7evmckytoeo7rkfuoo4gw5rnrra@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Just finished listening to this series last night. Incredible story, and highlights some failures in the UK policing, prosecutorial and judicial systems that really don't get enough attention.
“Blood Relatives,” a new series from the Pulitzer Prize-winning podcast In the Dark, examines the story of the Whitehouse Farm murders—the most infamous family massacre in British history.
In the Dark Releases “Blood Relatives,” an Examination of a Notorious British Crime
The New Yorker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative podcast returns with a six-part series that asks whether one of the U.K.’s most famous murder cases ended with a wrongful conviction.
www.newyorker.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Just finished listening to this series last night. Incredible story, and highlights some failures in the UK policing, prosecutorial and judicial systems that really don't get enough attention.
So can we all just shortcut the political theatre bit now and get to everyone publishing their "what the budget means for your finances" calculators a few hours early?
November 26, 2025 at 12:26 PM
So can we all just shortcut the political theatre bit now and get to everyone publishing their "what the budget means for your finances" calculators a few hours early?
Reposted by Owen Jackson
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Coming up with good photos for PR is hard. I'm jealous of this one - I reckon they could do even more with the theme of "babies playing in front of HMT", including making it clearer what building it is
edition.cnn.com/2025/11/24/u...
edition.cnn.com/2025/11/24/u...
Britain is one of the world’s richest countries. So why do a third of its children live in poverty? | CNN
Child poverty has reached a record high in the United Kingdom as the country’s cost of living soars and its social security safety net falters following years of government austerity.
edition.cnn.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Coming up with good photos for PR is hard. I'm jealous of this one - I reckon they could do even more with the theme of "babies playing in front of HMT", including making it clearer what building it is
edition.cnn.com/2025/11/24/u...
edition.cnn.com/2025/11/24/u...
Some valid and thought-provoking challenges in here @jamestplunkett.bsky.social!
On the opportunities to experiment, the Cabinet Office through the 2010s was doing this pretty effectively I thought - PolicyLab, OIT, BIT... People like Halpern, w/ministers like Letwin and Gove providing pol cover
On the opportunities to experiment, the Cabinet Office through the 2010s was doing this pretty effectively I thought - PolicyLab, OIT, BIT... People like Halpern, w/ministers like Letwin and Gove providing pol cover
Are a small number of legacy disciplines dragging the whole of government down? A provocation:
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Government seems increasingly unable to cope with the pace and complexity of today's world. Why? 1/n
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Government seems increasingly unable to cope with the pace and complexity of today's world. Why? 1/n
The disciplines theory of government
Are legacy disciplines dragging the whole operation down?
medium.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Some valid and thought-provoking challenges in here @jamestplunkett.bsky.social!
On the opportunities to experiment, the Cabinet Office through the 2010s was doing this pretty effectively I thought - PolicyLab, OIT, BIT... People like Halpern, w/ministers like Letwin and Gove providing pol cover
On the opportunities to experiment, the Cabinet Office through the 2010s was doing this pretty effectively I thought - PolicyLab, OIT, BIT... People like Halpern, w/ministers like Letwin and Gove providing pol cover
What a great one day match!
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 AM
What a great one day match!
Reposted by Owen Jackson
🚨 Just announced: your new favourite podcast!
We’re so excited to be partnering with Goalhanger, Europe’s largest independent podcast producer, to bring you The Rest Is Science: a brand-new podcast hosted by Professor Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens 👇
@fryrsquared.bsky.social #CRUKscience
We’re so excited to be partnering with Goalhanger, Europe’s largest independent podcast producer, to bring you The Rest Is Science: a brand-new podcast hosted by Professor Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens 👇
@fryrsquared.bsky.social #CRUKscience
November 18, 2025 at 10:33 AM
🚨 Just announced: your new favourite podcast!
We’re so excited to be partnering with Goalhanger, Europe’s largest independent podcast producer, to bring you The Rest Is Science: a brand-new podcast hosted by Professor Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens 👇
@fryrsquared.bsky.social #CRUKscience
We’re so excited to be partnering with Goalhanger, Europe’s largest independent podcast producer, to bring you The Rest Is Science: a brand-new podcast hosted by Professor Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens 👇
@fryrsquared.bsky.social #CRUKscience
This is absolutely brilliant.
Plug in your postcode. deprivation.communities.gov.uk
deprivation.communities.gov.uk
November 14, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This is absolutely brilliant.
Who wrote this headline? Peter Mannion? Alan Partridge? www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Brand Britain has bounced back
Despite all the gloom at home, the country’s reputation is surprisingly bright
www.economist.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Who wrote this headline? Peter Mannion? Alan Partridge? www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Shocking, but not surprising. The inevitable (?) unwinding of cross-subsidy between international student fees and domestic teaching and research will be painful for HE sector.
'Nottingham put part of the blame for the continued financial uncertainty on the proposed international student fee levy, pointing out that it will “wipe out any benefits” that will come from the Westminster government’s recent decision to link fees to inflation.' 3/3
November 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Shocking, but not surprising. The inevitable (?) unwinding of cross-subsidy between international student fees and domestic teaching and research will be painful for HE sector.
Reposted by Owen Jackson
There was a prominent article on the BBC home page recently exploring, with a particular angle, political views within town(s). By the number of people who sent me a link, I think you'll know the one I'm referring to!
🧵 1/n
🧵 1/n
November 5, 2025 at 10:49 AM
There was a prominent article on the BBC home page recently exploring, with a particular angle, political views within town(s). By the number of people who sent me a link, I think you'll know the one I'm referring to!
🧵 1/n
🧵 1/n
Having recently moved from one large, wealthy greater SE town to a smaller, less wealthy greater SE town, this has been my experience too. "Local" groups on social media platforms are the full smorgasbord of content - lots great, lots horrible, lots of power dynamics.
Disinformation swirls; bandwagons are jumped; kudos given to the hottest take; views rarely called out. It's a place where power playing is obvious. The combination of general disaffection, older population, racist or extreme views & power struggles in local groups creates certain conditions.
November 5, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Having recently moved from one large, wealthy greater SE town to a smaller, less wealthy greater SE town, this has been my experience too. "Local" groups on social media platforms are the full smorgasbord of content - lots great, lots horrible, lots of power dynamics.
Reposted by Owen Jackson
"What do you mean? We gave them TEN MILLION DOLLARS and they are using JOHN DEERE EXCAVATORS??!"
October 24, 2025 at 8:22 AM
"What do you mean? We gave them TEN MILLION DOLLARS and they are using JOHN DEERE EXCAVATORS??!"
Well there definitely isn't anything problematic here.
Disappointingly, the picture on the article suggests Caterpillar Inc aren't able to claim their payment is in the form of Gifts in Kind
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Disappointingly, the picture on the article suggests Caterpillar Inc aren't able to claim their payment is in the form of Gifts in Kind
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Who is paying for Donald Trump's new White House ballroom?
A former White House chief ethics lawyer described the ballroom donations as an ethical
www.bbc.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Well there definitely isn't anything problematic here.
Disappointingly, the picture on the article suggests Caterpillar Inc aren't able to claim their payment is in the form of Gifts in Kind
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Disappointingly, the picture on the article suggests Caterpillar Inc aren't able to claim their payment is in the form of Gifts in Kind
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Exciting post this morning! @markcooperjones.bsky.social @jayforeman.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Exciting post this morning! @markcooperjones.bsky.social @jayforeman.bsky.social
The vox pop quote on this story about a bridge collapsing is just too on the nose. Perfect, no notes
October 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
The vox pop quote on this story about a bridge collapsing is just too on the nose. Perfect, no notes
Starting to feel like we're into the interminable greyness of mid- to late-autumn. If that makes you feel as jaded as it does me, here is a photo I took last weekend
October 16, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Starting to feel like we're into the interminable greyness of mid- to late-autumn. If that makes you feel as jaded as it does me, here is a photo I took last weekend
Reposted by Owen Jackson
Windows 10 goes out of support today. My fave useless fact about w10 is that the iconic blue desktop background is a *photograph* - not CGI.
Tiny 'making of' vid here - youtu.be/_2RacX9DgWM...
Tiny 'making of' vid here - youtu.be/_2RacX9DgWM...
October 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Windows 10 goes out of support today. My fave useless fact about w10 is that the iconic blue desktop background is a *photograph* - not CGI.
Tiny 'making of' vid here - youtu.be/_2RacX9DgWM...
Tiny 'making of' vid here - youtu.be/_2RacX9DgWM...
Really important stuff coming out of ONS and NHSE, and fully agree with @thekingsfund.bsky.social commentary linked in thread below. Let's see how data linking can help address upstream health and wellbeing through better prevention.
1/3. A ground-breaking paper, & commentary, on @thekingsfund.bsky.social website today - using linked data on the connection between #health & #economy from @nhsengland.bsky.social & ONS on the economic #payback from meeting waiting list targets. Paper assets.kingsfund.org.uk/f/256914/x/6...
October 7, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Really important stuff coming out of ONS and NHSE, and fully agree with @thekingsfund.bsky.social commentary linked in thread below. Let's see how data linking can help address upstream health and wellbeing through better prevention.
This morning is a hard day to be an Arizona Cardinals fan
October 6, 2025 at 7:12 AM
This morning is a hard day to be an Arizona Cardinals fan
Do you work in a public sector leadership role? Are you grappling with how AI is changing your area of responsibility? Do you need to upskill yourself to deal with these challenges?
Applications open today for @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social AI Policy Fellowships
www.imperial.ac.uk/the-forum/co...
Applications open today for @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social AI Policy Fellowships
www.imperial.ac.uk/the-forum/co...
Fellowships
The Imperial AI Policy Fellowship is a unique development programme designed to support senior civil servants in understanding the role and impact of...
www.imperial.ac.uk
October 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Do you work in a public sector leadership role? Are you grappling with how AI is changing your area of responsibility? Do you need to upskill yourself to deal with these challenges?
Applications open today for @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social AI Policy Fellowships
www.imperial.ac.uk/the-forum/co...
Applications open today for @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social AI Policy Fellowships
www.imperial.ac.uk/the-forum/co...
So today is National Poetry Day!
I'm prosaic so have no great insights to share myself.
However, I've just found out one of my new colleagues at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, Jack Cooper, is a real honest-to-goodness poet! So below is one of his:
www.jackcooperpoet.com
@tamarindlit.co.uk
I'm prosaic so have no great insights to share myself.
However, I've just found out one of my new colleagues at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, Jack Cooper, is a real honest-to-goodness poet! So below is one of his:
www.jackcooperpoet.com
@tamarindlit.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 9:52 AM
So today is National Poetry Day!
I'm prosaic so have no great insights to share myself.
However, I've just found out one of my new colleagues at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, Jack Cooper, is a real honest-to-goodness poet! So below is one of his:
www.jackcooperpoet.com
@tamarindlit.co.uk
I'm prosaic so have no great insights to share myself.
However, I've just found out one of my new colleagues at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, Jack Cooper, is a real honest-to-goodness poet! So below is one of his:
www.jackcooperpoet.com
@tamarindlit.co.uk
Reposted by Owen Jackson
This vagueness is a key tactic. If Farage outright rejected the anti-vax conspiracy he’d risk losing those voters; if he embraced it, he’d alienate moderates. By staying “open-minded” he signals to everyone that he’s on their side.
September 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
This vagueness is a key tactic. If Farage outright rejected the anti-vax conspiracy he’d risk losing those voters; if he embraced it, he’d alienate moderates. By staying “open-minded” he signals to everyone that he’s on their side.
I'm struggling to get wound up by a Minister for Business saying "I think it would be good for UK graduates to be more entrepreneurial". Sounds pretty sensible to me. Maybe I'm insufficiently Bluesky-brained today.
September 19, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I'm struggling to get wound up by a Minister for Business saying "I think it would be good for UK graduates to be more entrepreneurial". Sounds pretty sensible to me. Maybe I'm insufficiently Bluesky-brained today.