benshimshon.bsky.social
@benshimshon.bsky.social
Co-founder & CEO, thinksinsight.com (formerly BritainThinks); Board Member, abrahaminitiatives.org. I (still) like politics. I sometimes say useful things about it.
I’m sure that over the coming months and years we will be sharing public opinion research that is much more equivocal, but I personally think scrapping the two child limit is a really good use of taxpayers money. It’s an investment in our collective future.
November 27, 2025 at 8:47 AM
I’m sure that over the coming months and years we will be sharing public opinion research that is much more equivocal, but I personally think scrapping the two child limit is a really good use of taxpayers money. It’s an investment in our collective future.
Labour's big conundrum. For the budget; for migration; for social security. Great to see @politicshome.bsky.social including our most recent @thinksinsight.bsky.social survey in their eve-of-budget analysis: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Nervous Labour MPs Brace For A Pivotal Budget
Labour MPs are braced for the government’s biggest test so far as the Chancellor is set to hike taxes and increase spending ahead of a pivotal budg...
www.politicshome.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Labour's big conundrum. For the budget; for migration; for social security. Great to see @politicshome.bsky.social including our most recent @thinksinsight.bsky.social survey in their eve-of-budget analysis: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
I discuss the findings with @thinksinsight.bsky.social's Jennings, @psurridge.bsky.social and colleague PolHome's @alaintolhurst.bsky.social in this week's episode of The Rundown
podfollow.com/politicshome...
podfollow.com/politicshome...
The Rundown by PoliticsHome: Can Farage convert Reform-curious voters?
As Reform UK continue to top the polls, this week we’re looking at why so many voters are turning away from the two main parties and looking in Nigel Farage’s direction, and what they need to d...
podfollow.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
I discuss the findings with @thinksinsight.bsky.social's Jennings, @psurridge.bsky.social and colleague PolHome's @alaintolhurst.bsky.social in this week's episode of The Rundown
podfollow.com/politicshome...
podfollow.com/politicshome...
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
Rival attacks on Reform up to now have largely focused on racism (Labour), left-wing / "socialist" on economy (Tories), and soft on Putin (everyone)
This new @thinksinsight.bsky.social research suggests little experience / high risk are the biggest concerns in the minds of voters unsure where to go
This new @thinksinsight.bsky.social research suggests little experience / high risk are the biggest concerns in the minds of voters unsure where to go
November 22, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Rival attacks on Reform up to now have largely focused on racism (Labour), left-wing / "socialist" on economy (Tories), and soft on Putin (everyone)
This new @thinksinsight.bsky.social research suggests little experience / high risk are the biggest concerns in the minds of voters unsure where to go
This new @thinksinsight.bsky.social research suggests little experience / high risk are the biggest concerns in the minds of voters unsure where to go
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
But the research showed just how remarkably "sticky" Reform's 'strong' support is atm
There is a 25% that, "when presented with any weaknesses or concerns about the party, they tend to dismiss them as untrue or unimportant, or flip them around and say they are actually a strength of the party"
There is a 25% that, "when presented with any weaknesses or concerns about the party, they tend to dismiss them as untrue or unimportant, or flip them around and say they are actually a strength of the party"
November 22, 2025 at 9:20 AM
But the research showed just how remarkably "sticky" Reform's 'strong' support is atm
There is a 25% that, "when presented with any weaknesses or concerns about the party, they tend to dismiss them as untrue or unimportant, or flip them around and say they are actually a strength of the party"
There is a 25% that, "when presented with any weaknesses or concerns about the party, they tend to dismiss them as untrue or unimportant, or flip them around and say they are actually a strength of the party"
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
"While this group of voters accept Reform’s strengths, they do have some clear reservations*," said
@thinksinsight.bsky.social director Allie Jennings
*Lack of experience; no plans, apart from on immigration; a risky choice
There was also wariness about Farage himself among this 'soft' group
@thinksinsight.bsky.social director Allie Jennings
*Lack of experience; no plans, apart from on immigration; a risky choice
There was also wariness about Farage himself among this 'soft' group
November 22, 2025 at 9:19 AM
"While this group of voters accept Reform’s strengths, they do have some clear reservations*," said
@thinksinsight.bsky.social director Allie Jennings
*Lack of experience; no plans, apart from on immigration; a risky choice
There was also wariness about Farage himself among this 'soft' group
@thinksinsight.bsky.social director Allie Jennings
*Lack of experience; no plans, apart from on immigration; a risky choice
There was also wariness about Farage himself among this 'soft' group
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
What is Reform-curious voters' biggest hesitation?
The party's lack of governing experience
That's according to new @thinksinsight.bsky.social research shared exclusively with PolHome this weekend
Reform as a "risk" to the country, and a single-issue party (immigration), are also concerns
The party's lack of governing experience
That's according to new @thinksinsight.bsky.social research shared exclusively with PolHome this weekend
Reform as a "risk" to the country, and a single-issue party (immigration), are also concerns
Reform Curious Voters Worry That The Party Lacks Experience
Voters who are thinking about backing Reform UK at the next general election are concerned that the party lacks experience of government.
www.politicshome.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:17 AM
What is Reform-curious voters' biggest hesitation?
The party's lack of governing experience
That's according to new @thinksinsight.bsky.social research shared exclusively with PolHome this weekend
Reform as a "risk" to the country, and a single-issue party (immigration), are also concerns
The party's lack of governing experience
That's according to new @thinksinsight.bsky.social research shared exclusively with PolHome this weekend
Reform as a "risk" to the country, and a single-issue party (immigration), are also concerns
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
CST: 'we utterly reject his message of hate and division. His so-called support for our community is not welcome or helpful'
That was 2021. I hope + anticipate similar sentiments in 2025
That was 2021. I hope + anticipate similar sentiments in 2025
October 3, 2025 at 5:54 PM
CST: 'we utterly reject his message of hate and division. His so-called support for our community is not welcome or helpful'
That was 2021. I hope + anticipate similar sentiments in 2025
That was 2021. I hope + anticipate similar sentiments in 2025
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
@benshimshon.bsky.social and I did a bit of polling on this earlier in the year- quite interesting on who cares most about the broken promise
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
How Much Do Voters Care About Broken Election Promises?
Manifesto promises matter and Labour will face fierce criticism if it breaks them. But our research suggests delivering a feeling of change is more...
www.politicshome.com
September 20, 2025 at 12:23 PM
@benshimshon.bsky.social and I did a bit of polling on this earlier in the year- quite interesting on who cares most about the broken promise
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
BREAKING: “It’s dark” - Dylan calls it.
September 18, 2025 at 5:07 AM
BREAKING: “It’s dark” - Dylan calls it.
I signed this today. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Petition: Invest in brain cancer and give rights – turn terminal into treatable
Brain cancer is the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, 87% with a high-grade brain tumour diagnosis die within 5 yrs, and yet it gets just 1% of the national spend on cancer.
petition.parliament.uk
September 9, 2025 at 10:08 AM
I signed this today. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
The takeaway:
👉 Accommodating the radical right on immigration doesn’t win back voters.
👉 It alienates the progressive base.
👉 And it raises the salience of the very issue the radical right owns.
In short: it’s electoral self-harm.
👉 Accommodating the radical right on immigration doesn’t win back voters.
👉 It alienates the progressive base.
👉 And it raises the salience of the very issue the radical right owns.
In short: it’s electoral self-harm.
September 5, 2025 at 6:50 AM
The takeaway:
👉 Accommodating the radical right on immigration doesn’t win back voters.
👉 It alienates the progressive base.
👉 And it raises the salience of the very issue the radical right owns.
In short: it’s electoral self-harm.
👉 Accommodating the radical right on immigration doesn’t win back voters.
👉 It alienates the progressive base.
👉 And it raises the salience of the very issue the radical right owns.
In short: it’s electoral self-harm.
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
Longer thread with detailed results here bsky.app/profile/turn...
Radical right accommodation really does not work.
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
September 5, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Longer thread with detailed results here bsky.app/profile/turn...
The Maitliss - Clegg interview is so horrible. combative, unproductive, unenlightening.
September 2, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The Maitliss - Clegg interview is so horrible. combative, unproductive, unenlightening.
🙌
Today I learned, through an unfortunate chain of events, that it’s possible to start a car with the keys on the roof, have the keys stay on the roof for five miles, ask “what’s that clunk” as they fall off, continue for a further 20 miles, then find you can’t lock your car and it won’t restart.
August 29, 2025 at 7:35 PM
🙌
I wrote this in 2013 on the gap between political vision and voter vision. Main changes: twitter is now X; the energy price freeze would be a bigger deal today. archive.progressivebritain.org/2013/12/06/t...
That ‘vision thing’ – what swing voters mean | Progress | News and debate from the progressive community
archive.progressivebritain.org
July 22, 2025 at 9:05 AM
I wrote this in 2013 on the gap between political vision and voter vision. Main changes: twitter is now X; the energy price freeze would be a bigger deal today. archive.progressivebritain.org/2013/12/06/t...
Hello politics/psephology people. Is this still thought of as a good account of turnout dynamics? Do the findings around habit forming and whether you vote in the first three elections of your adult life still hold?
July 22, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Hello politics/psephology people. Is this still thought of as a good account of turnout dynamics? Do the findings around habit forming and whether you vote in the first three elections of your adult life still hold?
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
He's done Douglas Murray and now @jamesbloodworth.bsky.social takes down Britain's favourite rightwing grifter. I hope he does Bari Weiss next. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/philos...
Matthew Goodwin, Reform and the politics of resentment
The ‘heterodox intellectual’ turned populist is a morbid symptom of the digital age
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
July 16, 2025 at 6:09 PM
He's done Douglas Murray and now @jamesbloodworth.bsky.social takes down Britain's favourite rightwing grifter. I hope he does Bari Weiss next. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/philos...
Been on hold 60 minutes now. Have moved from 12 to 5 in the queue. I am the sunk cost fallacy.
July 14, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Been on hold 60 minutes now. Have moved from 12 to 5 in the queue. I am the sunk cost fallacy.
In our @thinksinsight.bsky.social focus groups, participants found it almost impossible to populate a timeline of the last year. In the survey they could recall almost nothing positive. One big negative
July 11, 2025 at 6:38 AM
In our @thinksinsight.bsky.social focus groups, participants found it almost impossible to populate a timeline of the last year. In the survey they could recall almost nothing positive. One big negative
Our @thinksinsight.bsky.social Election Diaries: 1 Year On report (and data tables) is up here: www.thinksinsight.com/reports/the-...
July 10, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Our @thinksinsight.bsky.social Election Diaries: 1 Year On report (and data tables) is up here: www.thinksinsight.com/reports/the-...
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
My @NewStatesman.com piece on why Starmer has to take on the “roll the dice” mentality that is driving voters towards Reform UK. www.newstatesman.com/comment/2025...
Why the public will keep gambling on Nigel Farage
A “roll-the-dice” mentality has taken hold of voters, and Reform will be the biggest beneficiary.
www.newstatesman.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:08 AM
My @NewStatesman.com piece on why Starmer has to take on the “roll the dice” mentality that is driving voters towards Reform UK. www.newstatesman.com/comment/2025...