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Reposted by Ben Worthy

conunitucl.bsky.social
NEW BLOG: The territorial constitution: what is it and why does it matter?

@lisajames.bsky.social, Meg Russell and @alanrenwick.bsky.social explain the relationship between the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the key tensions that can arise and debates about the Union's future.
The territorial constitution: what is it and why does it matter?
The UK’s territorial constitution seeks to accommodate various nations, regions and identities in a single state, and to devolve power closer to those being governed. But it also operates within the country’s system of parliamentary sovereignty, which can lead to practical tensions. Lisa James, Meg Russell and Alan Renwick explain the Union’s underpinning principles, and the key debates about its workings and future. This post is part of our series of new and updated briefings on key constitutional topics.
constitution-unit.com
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by Ben Worthy

benworthy.bsky.social
A fascinating topic and a truly brilliant title
a-b-evans.bsky.social
Dr Adam Evans @a-b-evans.bsky.social · 20h
My latest article, published in the latest edition of @publiclaw.bsky.social, looks at the proposals to establish a 'recall' system for Members of the Senedd, how they compare to recall mechanisms elsewhere & what they tell us about Senedd reform

uk.westlaw.com/Document/I1F...
#Senedd #devolution
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Reposted by Ben Worthy

a-b-evans.bsky.social
My latest article, published in the latest edition of @publiclaw.bsky.social, looks at the proposals to establish a 'recall' system for Members of the Senedd, how they compare to recall mechanisms elsewhere & what they tell us about Senedd reform

uk.westlaw.com/Document/I1F...
#Senedd #devolution
1 3 5

Reposted by Ben Worthy

rebeccamckee.bsky.social
Ages ago I did some research on Patsy Calton MP for Cheadle and I always remember this story about her going street to street in Cheadle with her surgeries!
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by Ben Worthy

benworthy.bsky.social
A big yes to this! Lots of this data comes in newsletters etc but back in 2022 we found only 1 MP actually publishing data about number of surgeries etc.
aliceolilly.bsky.social
Alice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 5d
Really interesting- and, I think, welcome- to see MPs sharing this kind of data about casework.

Casework is largely invisible (other than to the constituents it helps!) compared to what MPs do in the Commons chamber but is a huge part of MPs’ workload, and it’s really hard to get robust data on it
drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social
Dr Beccy Cooper MP @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social · 5d
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Reposted by Ben Worthy

rebeccamckee.bsky.social
It's 'funded' by parliament because it's a post about activity that the MPs' staff have undertaken to support the MP in their parliamentary role which they are paid to do by IPSA. If you're interested in MPs staff (it's fascinating!) I have a report on just this www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...
NEW REPORT: MPs' Staff, the Unsung Heroes: An Examination of Who They Are and What They Do
A new Constitution Unit report examines the key role played by MPs' staff in our political system, shedding new light on who they are, and what they do.
www.ucl.ac.uk
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Reposted by Ben Worthy, John Foot, Kevin O’Sullivan , and 1 more

jonathanhealey.bsky.social
It was two OUP books.
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Reposted by Ben Worthy, Will Jennings, Philip Cowley

aliceolilly.bsky.social
Really interesting- and, I think, welcome- to see MPs sharing this kind of data about casework.

Casework is largely invisible (other than to the constituents it helps!) compared to what MPs do in the Commons chamber but is a huge part of MPs’ workload, and it’s really hard to get robust data on it
drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social
Dr Beccy Cooper MP @drbeccycoopermp.bsky.social · 5d
18 30 120

by Christina Pagel — Reposted by Ben Worthy, Martin McKee, Dorothy Bishop , and 20 more

chrischirp.bsky.social
🧵🚨

The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.

Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

1/11
UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.
www.ucl.ac.uk
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by Ben Worthy

benworthy.bsky.social
This is a great interview. The three motives for writing, the inequalities, and the advice to champion voice over volume, are very helpful.
casmudde.bsky.social
Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · 7d
This was a really challenging interview and I thank @catherinedevries.bsky.social for pushing me to reflect on why and how I write. I was kind of surprised by the result myself.

Hope you like it… and read the other interesting interviews by her.
catherinedevries.bsky.social
Catherine E. de Vries @catherinedevries.bsky.social · 7d
Writing isn’t just about what you say, it’s about what you refuse to lose in the process.

Read my conversation with Cas Mudde on writing, voice, and resisting conformity in academia, in the media, and on the page.

🔗 catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/etched-in-...

🧵
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by Cas Mudde — Reposted by Ben Worthy, Catherine E. De Vries, Mirya R. Holman , and 2 more

casmudde.bsky.social
This was a really challenging interview and I thank @catherinedevries.bsky.social for pushing me to reflect on why and how I write. I was kind of surprised by the result myself.

Hope you like it… and read the other interesting interviews by her.
catherinedevries.bsky.social
Catherine E. de Vries @catherinedevries.bsky.social · 7d
Writing isn’t just about what you say, it’s about what you refuse to lose in the process.

Read my conversation with Cas Mudde on writing, voice, and resisting conformity in academia, in the media, and on the page.

🔗 catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/etched-in-...

🧵
catherineeunicedevries.substack.com
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Reposted by Ben Worthy, Nandita Sharma, Richard S.J. Tol , and 4 more

stevemullis.net
"hand-to-hand combat with antifa every night"
a guy in a frog costume standing facing a line of police and ICE agents in Portland
500 3.5K 12K

Reposted by Ben Worthy, Daniela Gabor, Ben H. Ansell , and 5 more

financialtimes.com
Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters on.ft.com/4pTvJ62
Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters
Nigel Farage’s party promised to revive local authority finances by slashing wasteful spending
on.ft.com
66 99 280

Reposted by Ben Worthy

a-b-evans.bsky.social
#stormont #devolution #CashforAshTwoEconomicBoogaloo
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Reposted by Ben Worthy

opendemocracy.net
I spent years reporting on digital IDs like the Brit Card. This is what I found ⤵️
www.opendemocracy.net/en/digital-i...
5 27 43

by Ben Worthy

benworthy.bsky.social
This is fascinating by @jonnelledge.bsky.social. I had no idea Cornwall had its own Parliament
jonnelledge.bsky.social
Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 13d
"There’s been a petition. There’s been a vote. There’s been a government response that can be translated as “Bugger off and stop being silly”.

So – could Cornwall really take its place in the brotherhood of nations?
From the Outside
This week: everything I thought about Labour conference while not being there. Also: a deep dive into Cornish separatism and the nature of national identity.
jonn.substack.com
2

Reposted by Ben Worthy

jonnelledge.bsky.social
"There’s been a petition. There’s been a vote. There’s been a government response that can be translated as “Bugger off and stop being silly”.

So – could Cornwall really take its place in the brotherhood of nations?
From the Outside
This week: everything I thought about Labour conference while not being there. Also: a deep dive into Cornish separatism and the nature of national identity.
jonn.substack.com
12 5 45

by Ben Worthy

benworthy.bsky.social
Just recirculating this on Trump's Fascism.
benworthy.bsky.social
Ben Worthy @benworthy.bsky.social · 22d
My piece on Trump's Fascism for Political Insight 'Authoritarianism, mass arrests, political violence – Donald Trump’s regime fits the historical pattern of fascism' journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
The Fascism of Donald Trump - Ben Worthy, 2025
journals.sagepub.com
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Reposted by Ben Worthy, Cas Mudde, Will Jennings , and 1 more

mcslaven.bsky.social
So I just happen to have published this article on when and why it works to call anti-immigrant policies racist. And this is, uh... not how you do it www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
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Reposted by Ben Worthy, Daniel W. Drezner

thomaszimmer.bsky.social
Ezra Klein has played a fascinating role in entrenching “polarization” as the – deeply flawed – master narrative of our time: His 2020 book “Why We’re Polarized” did a lot to propagate the idea.

But if you read the book carefully, Klein inadvertently provides a good case *against* this diagnosis.
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Reposted by Ben Worthy

sjamcbride.bsky.social
Until two days ago, I believed the Secretary of State had the sole power to call a border poll. Remarkably, he doesn't. The Government says a little-known fetter on his power means the Commons or the Lords hold a veto. That could be incredibly messy.
Largely unknown parliamentary veto on border poll exists — but Government dismisses possibility of a rogue minister
Most people — even those with deep knowledge of the subject — would say confidently that the legal power to call a border poll rests with the Secretary of State alone. I believed so until two days ago...
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
2 3 8

by Ben Worthy — Reposted by Will Jennings, John Foot

benworthy.bsky.social
My piece on Trump's Fascism for Political Insight 'Authoritarianism, mass arrests, political violence – Donald Trump’s regime fits the historical pattern of fascism' journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
The Fascism of Donald Trump - Ben Worthy, 2025
journals.sagepub.com
6 11

Reposted by Ben Worthy, Will Jennings, Scott L. Greer , and 7 more

stephenkb.bsky.social
It just straightforwardly *insane* how much political chatter in the United Kingdom is about the next general election, an event that is a long way in the future, and how basically none of it is about 'uh, this policy agenda doesn't look adequate to the scale of the inherited problem'.
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Reposted by Ben Worthy, Becky Francis, Steve Peers , and 1 more

petergeoghegan.bsky.social
I wrote my first investigative piece raising concerns about Covid contracts in *April 2020*. Great to see this finally on screen
theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 24d
The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money review – a devastating picture of the biggest spending scandal ever
The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money review – a devastating picture of the biggest spending scandal ever
This rigorous look at the Tories’ ‘VIP lane’ for PPE suppliers during Covid raises questions about the motivations of those involved – ones that are almost too disgusting to contemplate
www.theguardian.com
3 89 260

by Ben H. Ansell — Reposted by Ben Worthy, Will Jennings, Steve Peers , and 3 more

benansell.bsky.social
I hate to admit it but I suspect McSweeney is right that the 2029 election will be a ‘republican front’ vs Farage. Farage veering further right makes that easier to do. Whether McSweeney’s own advice over the past year has made this situation more likely is another question…
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by Will Jennings — Reposted by Ben Worthy, Steve Peers, Ariadne Vromen , and 1 more

drjennings.bsky.social
It’s worth asking the question why British politics is trying so hard to copy American politics when the same policies aren’t even popular there, let alone here.
robfordmancs.bsky.social
Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 23d
I'll have more to say on Reform's proposals to scrap ILR at some point but for now I'll just note this - anyone telling you this is a popular idea doesn't know the polling. Overwhelming majority of public back giving people who work and pay taxes most or all rights after 5 years or less
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Reposted by Ben Worthy, Becky Francis, Steve Peers

theguardian.com
The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money review – a devastating picture of the biggest spending scandal ever
The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money review – a devastating picture of the biggest spending scandal ever
This rigorous look at the Tories’ ‘VIP lane’ for PPE suppliers during Covid raises questions about the motivations of those involved – ones that are almost too disgusting to contemplate
www.theguardian.com
14 87 210

Reposted by Ben Worthy

a-b-evans.bsky.social
Some rather bracing discussion in today’s @willhaycardiff.bsky.social substack (featuring analysis from @jaclarner.bsky.social) of *that* @walesgovernance.bsky.social/ ITV Wales @yougov.co.uk poll & where things stand ahead of next year’s Senedd election
#devolution #senedd
Everything is about to change
If this poll is anywhere near accurate, we are in uncharted territory
willhaywardwales.substack.com
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by Ben Worthy

benworthy.bsky.social
In a world awash with data, does the Trump White House really believe it can black out the web, and avoid transparency? And if not, why are they even trying?
www.liberalcurrents.com/trumps-war-o...
Trump’s War on Transparency
Information is power, and information removed is power weakened.
www.liberalcurrents.com

Reposted by Ben Worthy, John Foot

liamthorp.bsky.social
I’m only surprised this headline didn’t finish with ‘and why this is all good for Nigel Farage’
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