Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Iain Mansfield

Sam Sims @drsamsims.bsky.social · 11h

Very sensible. Indeed it would be mad if the government didn’t do it the way Daisy proposes.

Daisy Christodoulou @daisychristo.bsky.social · 2d

The government are said to be planning a new Year 8 reading test.

Do we need it?

Some thoughts here.

substack.nomoremarking.com/p/does-engla...

Does England need a new Year 8 reading test?

And if so, what can we learn from America?

substack.nomoremarking.com

3 3

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 12h

Seeing a lot of confusion about this piece.

It refers to requiring migrants to have CEFR level B2 (up from B1) in English.

This is equivalent-ish to the language proficiency of an A-Level *in a foreign language*.

Evidently this was not in the government press notice - but is in the White Paper.

The Independent @the-independent.com · 17h

Migrants will need A-level standard English to work in UK

www.independent.co.uk

1 2 2

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 12h

Apologies - I've deleted mine, also.

The press release not saying this does explain a lot.

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 13h

Perfectly reasonable to debate whether or not it's a good idea (personally, I think it is).

But not sure why so many normally smart and well-informed commentators are saying they have no idea what this means.

2

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 14h

I regularly see YIMBYs writing about the Building Safety Act.

Maybe not all are sensible on this, but it's definitely part of the movement.

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 4d

Happy Turtle News for Friday afternoon.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, with us too there was definitely a point when it became stale.

2

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 4d

When we played Mafia at university we used to execute anyone misusing statistics.

Particularly if they were mathematicians (on the grounds they should know better so it must be a ploy).

1 4

Reposted by Iain Mansfield

Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 4d

Among the many possibilities for the next few years, the scenario of swapping one pair of dominant parties (Lab and Con) for another (Reform and LD) is intriguing, under-discussed and, in English elections, not entirely implausible either (several county councils made this leap in May)

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 4d

Aggregate Result of the 122 Council By-Elections (for 125 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:

RFM: 47 (+40)
LDM: 32 (+10)
CON: 13 (-15)
LAB: 12 (-30)
GRN: 11 (+3)
Ind: 5 (-4)
Local: 3 (-3)
SNP: 1 (-1)
PLC: 1 (=)

Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...

27 60 160

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 4d

"The West is not doing Ukraine a favour by helping it resist aggression; it is Ukraine doing the West a favour."

Fundamental point in @ldfreedman.bsky.social's latest. The true 'realist' position on Ukraine is that we should support Ukraine.

samf.substack.com/p/as-long-as...

1 21 73

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 4d

Countries around the world are taking steps to limit the harms of smartphones and social media on children.

Meanwhile, this government decides to consult on a measure that would make it mandatory for every 13 year old to have a smart phone.

Great move, great move.

1

Reposted by Iain Mansfield

Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 4d

I think it was @hannahfearn.bsky.social who was asking what's up with the govt's ability to read the room ...
In what world is the response to high-profile and vocal groups of parents raising concerns about teens and smartphones to propose digital ID for teenagers?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Government to consult on digital IDs for 13-year-olds

There has been a backlash to the announcement a UK-wide digital ID scheme will be introduced by 2029.

www.bbc.co.uk

17 56 170

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 4d

One of the best pieces I've read recently on the right's new agenda.

Shrimsley takes seriously its aims and objectives, acknowledges the issues they take aim at are genuine, while also setting out legitimate challenges and counter-arguments.

Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 5d

Thatcher once said her greatest achievement was Tony Blair and New Labour, because she forced her opponents onto her agenda. Today's new right begs to differ.

www.ft.com/content/49ec...

The battle to dismantle Blair’s Britain

Conservatives’ biggest mistake was the adoption of the liberal agenda, the new right believes

www.ft.com

1

Reposted by Iain Mansfield

Felicity Hannah @felicityhannah.bsky.social · 6d

I fully accept that ‘complaining about society today’ simply suggests I am becoming cantankerous as I age.
However, 3 people near me in this train carriage are playing their phones out loud and I genuinely think this is a breakdown in the social contract

25 8 240

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 6d

This is a fine speech.

Sets out, clearly, what the Conservatives stand for that Reform don't - particularly on the economy.

Calls out previous failures.

And lays out specific policies that aren't just tinkering, but represent a genuine change.

www.conservatives.com/news/kemi-ba...

Kemi Badenoch announces Stamp Duty Abolition Policy

In her remarks closing Conference Kemi made one more major announcement

www.conservatives.com

1 2

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 6d

Or to choose a less dramatic example, the absolute numbers of children who don't speak English is what impacts schools (and other kids' learning).

It doesn't matter whether that number is a lower proportion of that ethnic group.

Hence low rates of immigration with time to integrate.

3

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 6d

I don't see a contradiction between your stat (which I agree is true) and this.

It is the absolute numbers that matter in terms of impact on society.

For example, I care much less what proportion of Muslims are radical Islamists than about the absolute number of radical Islamists in the country.

1

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 6d

That is a great point.

1 2

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 6d

Stamp Duty is one of the most harmful, economically distorting taxes we have.

Great call by Kemi Badenoch to prioritise it for scrapping.

Free up our broken housing market and give more people a chance to own their own homes, relocate for work and downsize.

9 1

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 6d

Link to full piece here:

www.spectator.co.uk/article/immi...

Immigration isn’t working

The Manchester synagogue attack requires us to ask three questions: where are we, how did we get there, and where now? Where we are is British Jews attacked on Yom Kippur, two dead, more injured, coun...

www.spectator.co.uk

5

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 6d

Outstanding piece by Stephen Daisley.

Ethnicity is no barrier to Britishness - it's culture and integration.

That means 'smaller cohorts and aggressive integration policies' - and tackling the institutions that 'have amplified grievance narratives and radical anti-Western ideologies'.

48 6

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 7d

Remember: just because the average graduate is better off, doesn't mean the marginal graduate will be.

We are now well past the point where sending more people to university is beneficial - and is instead causing serious economic self-harm.

www.edrith.co.uk/p/the-fallac...

The Fallacy of the 'Average'

It doesn't matter to most policy debates what the return is on the 'average' graduate or immigrant. What matters is the marginal return.

www.edrith.co.uk

3 1

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 8d

I assume he means the Willetts reforms (forgetting HE was in BIS at this time, not under Gove) which removed number controls and turned it into a demand led system.

1

Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 8d

At the age of 13, having heard she wrote 'racy' novels, I secretly read the only Jilly Cooper book in my parents' house.

Sadly for teenage me, this happened to be Class - a very funny social satire, but one that contained disappointingly little bonking.

This may explain a lot.

2

Reposted by Iain Mansfield

dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 8d

"the Bad Faith Threshold" is a great coinage.

The first wave of comments on a post, from those who do actually follow you, is usually interesting or fun or both.

But the later waves are of scolds, humourless reply-guys, "sorry to be pedantics", "whatabouts", and "why are you insulting".

Caroline Dodds Pennock @carolinepennock.bsky.social · 8d

Ah, I see this post has crossed the Bad Faith Threshold: that indefinable moment on social media when people stop behaving as if you’re a normal human person who, say, loves your child and is making a mildly humorous observation, and start responding with wild criticisms and imagined slights.

Caroline Dodds Pennock @carolinepennock.bsky.social · 9d

Yesterday my eleven-year-old daughter claimed that Taylor Swift had embraced a range of genres which included punk. The retribution was swift and included considerable mockery and a lesson on punk which probably took longer than she would have liked.

11 73 490