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John Hudson

@johnhudson.bsky.social

910 followers 320 following 2 posts

Professor of Social Policy and Academic Director of The York Policy Engine at the University of York, UK. Social security, the politics of social policy, attitudes to welfare, devolution

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Reposted by John Hudson

EASP SPA 2025 Conference Official Account @easp-spa-2025.bsky.social · Jun 23

Next month the University of York hosts the Social Policy Association and East Asian Social Policy Research Network – Joint Annual Conference: Go your own way? Social Policy in an era of fracturing solidarities. Follow this account for updates #York2025 @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social‬

York Minster at Night image, (C) Alex Holland/University of York

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Reposted by John Hudson, Mike Brewer

Alex Clegg @alexclegg.bsky.social · Jun 11

The Household Support Fund is now the 'Crisis and Resilience Fund' and will be funded at £1 bn/yr (incl. Barnett) until the end of 2028-29. The first multi-year funding will be very helpful for local authorities delivering the scheme as they can now plan, develop their approach, retain staff etc.

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Reposted by John Hudson, Alex Turner

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Jan 6

New analysis from @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social & @alexclegg.bsky.social examines the role employment could play in a child poverty strategy.

This is in the context of single-earner couples seeing their risk of falling into poverty rise by a third since 2000.

Learn more ⤵️ https://buff.ly/4iZATds

Mike Brewer, Interim Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, said:
“Getting more parents into work played a major role in reducing child poverty during the last Labour government.
“But Britain today is very different – most families in poverty have at least one person in work, with those that are still workless facing significant barriers to employment.
“The Government’s new child poverty strategy will need to confront these challenges, which require action across a broad front. As well as the obvious moves, like boosting childcare support – particularly for primary-school-aged children – and making it easier to commute between workplaces, schools and nurseries, strengthening workers’ rights should help reduce the risks involved in changing jobs.
“With many of the ‘easy gains’ on poverty reduction achieved, the Government will need deep pockets, and action on multiple fronts across employment, housing and benefits, to lift significantly more children out of poverty.”

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Reposted by John Hudson

Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · Dec 22

I'm dreaming of a white paper...

My take on the plans for English devolution

craigberry.substack.com/p/im-dreamin...

I’m dreaming of a white paper

Sadly, the English Devolution White Paper isn’t it

craigberry.substack.com

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Reposted by John Hudson

Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · Dec 16

Follow Safety Nets team members on here including @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social @alexclegg.bsky.social @haylesben.bsky.social @johnhudson.bsky.social @kateandersen.bsky.social & check out @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social fab exclusive on the plans in @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/3BExFeo

District councils face scrapping in major overhaul of English local government

Devolution white paper aims to create larger authorities and more elected mayors

on.ft.com

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Reposted by John Hudson

Christina Behrendt @cbehrendt.bsky.social · Dec 8

Happy Sunday! Sharing our paper on enhancing the gender-responsiveness of social protection policies, with a strong emphasis a life-cycle approach to system-building. www.ilo.org/publications...

Making social protection work for gender equality: What does it look like? How do we get there?

This paper outlines the perspective and approach of the ILO’s Universal Social Protection Department to enhancing the gender-responsiveness of social protection policies, anchored in international soc...

www.ilo.org

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Reposted by John Hudson

Louise Murphy @louisemurphy.bsky.social · Dec 6

On a related note, the recent (supposed) increases in economic inactivity due to ill health, and rising claims for health-related benefits, has been used to justify claims that we have a "spiralling" benefits bill.

But when we look at welfare spending forecasts *in the round*, this just isn't true

Chart showing: Total welfare spending as a proportion of GDP, outturn and forecast: UK

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Reposted by John Hudson

Anna Dent @annadent.bsky.social · Dec 5

Exclusive from Public Technology: DWP working with IBM to develop 5 generative AI projects.

🧵 of my thoughts below

www.publictechnology.net/2024/12/04/s...

EXCL: DWP and £11m supplier prep five gen AI projects ‘with director general sponsorship’

PublicTechnology understands that the department's directors general are working on the rollout of tech programmes that senior leaders believe have ‘a high likelihood of being scalable into the overal...

www.publictechnology.net

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Reposted by John Hudson

Child Poverty Action Group @cpaguk.bsky.social · Dec 4

The Scottish government has made the right decision on the two-child limit, but Westminster must now step up and scrap it UK-wide. There can be no justification now for Westminster to drag its feet and continue to roll out poverty to more and more children through this policy.

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Reposted by John Hudson

Prof Ruth Patrick @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social · Dec 4

A week ago, I joined 12 parents from @changingrealities.bsky.social for a meeting at No 10 with Bridgit Phillipson & @alimcgovern.bsky.social

It felt symbolically important. We need a child poverty strategy that works with the grain of everyday lives

www.bigissue.com/opinion/chan...

We went to Downing Street to demand an end to child poverty

Nearly 200 parents and carers, alongside the Child Poverty Action Group, went to parliament to demand action from the Labour government.

www.bigissue.com

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Reposted by John Hudson

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · Dec 4

"She blamed Conservative reform cuts to jobseekers’ benefits for widening gap between those seeking work and those deemed too ill to work"

Good to see @allymcgovern.bsky.social's testimony to Lords EAC, echoing me/@benbgeiger.bsky.social. Growing consensus.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Welfare system failing the sick and the taxpayer, says employment minister

A green paper on welfare reform is due next year and is expected to address issues with benefit claims

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by John Hudson

Joe Sarling @joesarling.bsky.social · Nov 27

'How to make English Devolution Work' - John Wrathmell, Senior Director, Strategy, Research & Economy at GMCA.

Great piece on the GMCA story, process, & reflections on lessons. Particularly struck by the running theme of 'institution building' & 'soft power'.

heywoodquarterly.com/how-to-make-...

How to Make English Devolution Work - Heywood Quarterly

heywoodquarterly.com

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Reposted by John Hudson

Jessica Studdert @jesstud.bsky.social · Nov 28

This move is a reversal of successive Govts’ policy since 2010 which has in effect removed deprivation-based formula.

Although change= winners & losers, there’s a clear rationale & detail to bring forward wider measures to stabilise funding is good overall... www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Council funding to be redirected from England’s rich areas to most deprived

Ministers will also consider local authority requests to raise council tax above threshold on case-by-case basis

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by John Hudson

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · Nov 28

FT can reveal that the big spending review has been pushed back from the spring to June

(but Treasury still pretending that June is in the spring lol)

www.ft.com/content/edc2...

Rachel Reeves pushes back multiyear UK spending review until June

Delay from planned spring 2025 Treasury announcement will extend period of uncertainty for government departments

www.ft.com

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Reposted by John Hudson

G20 Brasil @g20org.bsky.social · Nov 18

The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty was officially launched today during the G20 Leaders' Summit. Proposed by Brazil's presidency at the G20, the Alliance has already 148 members.

#G20Brasil #G20brazil #G20brazil2024 #G20LeadersSummit #LeadersSummit

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Reposted by John Hudson

G20 Brasil @g20org.bsky.social · Nov 18

The official launch of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty is taking place today at the G20 Leaders' Summit. The Alliance unites global efforts to fight hunger, reduce inequalities and promote sustainable development,
_

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Reposted by John Hudson

Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · Oct 30

Budget reflections a few hours on... 🧵1/7

In her statement the Chancellor said 'change must be felt' - she's right. And it's people experiencing hardship who most need to feel it.

Today's budget contained some necessary actions and some problems...

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Reposted by John Hudson

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Oct 30

The Government's decision to leave the two-child limit in place at the Budget will have a material impact, as the policy affects an increasing number of children as time goes on,

We estimate that an additional 63,000 children will become affected by the policy between now and April 2025.

Chart showing Estimated number of families and children affected by the two-child limit: GB

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Reposted by John Hudson

Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · Oct 30

Lots of negatives from the budget for welfare but let's start with a big-picture positive:

The government is successfully carving out the fiscal space for significant public investment in the economy and public services. That was their most important task

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Reposted by John Hudson

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Oct 19

Good challenge from Geoff Mulgan (who I don’t think is On Here) for this government and also the world of R&D and universities on the need to invest in social innovation www.geoffmulgan.com/post/why-the...

Why it's smart policy and smart politics for the Labour government to engage with social innovation and experiment

It’s no secret that Labour’s focus on campaigning sometimes came at the expense of attention to policy or preparation for government. Here I mention one of the gaps which I hope gets some attention ...

www.geoffmulgan.com

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Reposted by John Hudson

Helen Barnard @helenbarnard.bsky.social · Sep 2

Excellent news that the Household Support Fund has been extended. This enables English councils to provide vital crisis support & now we don't face a cliff edge of support disappearing as we head into the winter. Now let's use the time to design a long-term replacement.

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John Hudson @johnhudson.bsky.social · Aug 26

UK government to extend hardship fund for struggling households

www.ft.com/content/da1b...

UK government to extend hardship fund for struggling households

Move comes as chancellor faces mounting criticism over removing winter fuel payments from some pensioners

www.ft.com

Reposted by John Hudson

Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · Aug 23

Going to be a hard winter

Average energy bill to rise £149 (10%) in October.

❌7m low income households already going without essentials in May

❌No cost of living payments this winter.

❌No Household Support Fund if it’s not renewed next mth

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

Energy price cap: Typical household to pay £149 more a year

Energy regulator Ofgem announces price changes for 27 million households in England, Wales and Scotland.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by John Hudson

News Feed @news-feed.bsky.social · Aug 23

@SkyNews: "The rise in the price cap is a direct result of the failed energy policy we inherited."

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband reacts to Ofgem raising the price cap which will mean households will face higher energy bills.

📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/VT9JPJgx4o

Main link in OG tweet

https://trib.al/Rx0iR33

trib.al

Reposted by John Hudson

Helen Barnard @helenbarnard.bsky.social · Aug 23

It’s a real problem that most people on high incomes (top 10%/20%) don’t realise they’re on high incomes. They think they’re in the middle. So policies that only affect the top 20-1% get reported as if they affect the majority of the public. People sending kids…1/3

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Reposted by John Hudson

Michael Savage @michaelsavage.bsky.social · Aug 17

NEW: Labour will end blame culture aimed at people out of work and will not repeat the “salami slicing” of the benefits bill, the work & pensions secretary tells me - but says costs are not sustainable.

Big first newspaper interview with Liz Kendall in office. 🧵

www.theguardian.com/politics/art...

It’s time to end blame culture over benefits bill, says Labour minister

Exclusive: Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall pledges to halt Tory ‘salami slicing’ of benefits, but Labour under fire for union pay deals

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by John Hudson

Louise Murphy @louisemurphy.bsky.social · Aug 17

Teenagers aged 15-16 are now more likely to be receiving disability benefits than adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s…

How should we understand this trend? What does it tell us about the design of the benefits system?

Here’s a short thread based on my new @resfoundation.bsky.social report

Chart showing the proportion of the population aged 0-64 in receipt of disability benefits, by single year of age: England and Wales, 2013 and 2023

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John Hudson @johnhudson.bsky.social · Aug 15

New blog on the uncertain future of the Household Support Fund #HSF - and the political blame games that have surrounded it - from Kit Colliver, Neil Lunt, Jed Meers and myself www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/08/15/t...

The uncertain future of the Household Support Fund - Transforming Society

The article highlights the uncertain future of the Household Support Fund (HSF), a temporary aid for vulnerable households, with the Labour government needing to decide on its extension and reform bef...

www.transformingsociety.co.uk

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Reposted by John Hudson

Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social · Aug 15

Latest ONS estimate shows the economy grew by 0.6% in the 3 months to June

This isn't a surprise as the economy begins to uncoil from the COL crisis

But the government will find it hard to meet its growth objective without addressing the fundamentals of household economic security 🧵 (1/4)

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Reposted by John Hudson

Bluesky @bsky.app · Aug 14

Oh hello Britain 😳

That blue line is activity in the UK spiking past all of the other countries on Bluesky right now.

Welcome, and invite a friend to join us! bsky.app/download

A chart showing activity from various countries on Bluesky. The UK, in blue, is experiencing a huge spike.

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