Chris Hewson
@chrishewson.bsky.social
Head of Policy Engagement, University of Huddersfield; sociology PhD; advocate of knowledge exchange; co-chair Universities Policy Engagement Network; appreciator of reasonably priced fine wine; understander of the power of football to ruin your weekend.
Pinned
The Cabinet Secretary of Dr. Caligari
No 10 claims it still has cabinet secretary - but won't say who it is, and won't comment on reports Chris Wormald being sacked - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
February 12, 2026 at 5:09 PM
The Cabinet Secretary of Dr. Caligari
Reposted by Chris Hewson
this may be the most English man ever to exist.
“I’ve reviewed over 50 sticky toffee puddings” is an incredibly powerful way to begin a video
February 11, 2026 at 7:04 PM
this may be the most English man ever to exist.
Reposted by Chris Hewson
The more jobs I hear listed as "bullshit jobs", the more I realize that people just don't understand that coordination and organization are necessary tasks
Incidentally, this has reminded me of when I got blocked on here for arguing with the David Graeber Institute that "Logistics Manager" wasn't a "bullshit job". I hope every one of them is waiting on a vital package from Southern Texas.
All this speculation about the potential horrid things the airspace closure around El Paso could signifiy, and all I can think of is the logistics managers having the *worst* day and week of their lives.
February 11, 2026 at 5:49 PM
The more jobs I hear listed as "bullshit jobs", the more I realize that people just don't understand that coordination and organization are necessary tasks
Shocked that Jim Ratcliffe - an objectively terrible person - also has terrible views.
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Britain has been "colonised" by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the country's richest and most influential men, has told Sky News.
news.sky.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Shocked that Jim Ratcliffe - an objectively terrible person - also has terrible views.
Extremely significant that a Russell Group VC finally breaks ranks on this issue. It doesn't makes sense to radically reconfigure the funding system and see the REF as untouchable. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Scrapping REF should be ‘serious’ option, says Manchester VC - Research Professional News
Duncan Ivison questions “usefulness” of “massive, bureaucratic” research assessment exercise
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Extremely significant that a Russell Group VC finally breaks ranks on this issue. It doesn't makes sense to radically reconfigure the funding system and see the REF as untouchable. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Ah yes, 'telling people to calm down', which famously always serves to make people calmer and more rational in their approach.
February 9, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Ah yes, 'telling people to calm down', which famously always serves to make people calmer and more rational in their approach.
Really interesting news. Access to 'high risk' and 'quick turnaround translational' funding is key to the type of sector funders suggest that they want to see. Key will be in how the pilot is evaluated and scaled...
... and a potential death knell to the Impact Acceleration Account model?
... and a potential death knell to the Impact Acceleration Account model?
ESRC to pilot two new applicant-led calls.
Existing schemes will remain open, says leader of Economic and Social Research Council Stian Westlake.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Existing schemes will remain open, says leader of Economic and Social Research Council Stian Westlake.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
ESRC to pilot two new applicant-led calls - Research Professional News
Existing schemes will remain open, says leader of Economic and Social Research Council
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Really interesting news. Access to 'high risk' and 'quick turnaround translational' funding is key to the type of sector funders suggest that they want to see. Key will be in how the pilot is evaluated and scaled...
... and a potential death knell to the Impact Acceleration Account model?
... and a potential death knell to the Impact Acceleration Account model?
Reposted by Chris Hewson
There is one word that stands out very clearly here
Keir Starmer does not plan to resign today, says his spokesman.
He's "concentrating on the job at hand," he says
He's "concentrating on the job at hand," he says
February 9, 2026 at 12:35 PM
There is one word that stands out very clearly here
I'm not saying that I've gone down a rabbit hole this lunchtime, but finding out that the guy behind Technotronic also wrote a book about Jan van Eyck is... quite something - bibliotheek.be/catalogus/jo...
February 9, 2026 at 12:34 PM
I'm not saying that I've gone down a rabbit hole this lunchtime, but finding out that the guy behind Technotronic also wrote a book about Jan van Eyck is... quite something - bibliotheek.be/catalogus/jo...
Reposted by Chris Hewson
There is no logic to it whatsoever. Someone said on a podcast to justify racism and now they all spout it like it means something.
I really don't get the 'Britishness is a national identity, English is an ethnicity' argument. Have these people ever lived in the borderlands? I think of my Scottish cousins with whom I share some genes but a different national identity, how does this work?
February 5, 2026 at 12:23 PM
There is no logic to it whatsoever. Someone said on a podcast to justify racism and now they all spout it like it means something.
By systematically ruining an absolute classic kit every single season, Juventus deserve every bad thing that comes their way. 😤
February 8, 2026 at 9:30 PM
By systematically ruining an absolute classic kit every single season, Juventus deserve every bad thing that comes their way. 😤
"He'll tease you, he'll unease you... He's got David Davis eyes" 🎵
RIP the hypothetical Al Carns leadership bid
To include "a much tougher stance on immigration"!
1. What is the content of how Labour could be much tougher than Home Sec Shabana Mahmood?
2. How is that viable in a leadership election? Or with Labour voters?
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
To include "a much tougher stance on immigration"!
1. What is the content of how Labour could be much tougher than Home Sec Shabana Mahmood?
2. How is that viable in a leadership election? Or with Labour voters?
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
A surprise candidate to replace Starmer could neutralise Farage’s voter appeal
With the prime minister rumoured to be ‘in a dark place’ and considering quitting over the Mandelson scandal, political editor David Maddox looks at the possible replacements, including a rapidly eme...
www.independent.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 7:50 PM
"He'll tease you, he'll unease you... He's got David Davis eyes" 🎵
Reposted by Chris Hewson
If some random MP's can meme Al Carns to leader on the basis, essentially, he was in the military we can meme Yuan Yang leadership from Bluesky on the basis of her dog.
February 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM
If some random MP's can meme Al Carns to leader on the basis, essentially, he was in the military we can meme Yuan Yang leadership from Bluesky on the basis of her dog.
Amused at this. It was seeing this chap give a talk at the Cambridge University Labour Club that convinced me never to go to any of their meetings again www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/ben...
Benjamin Wegg-Prosser: Oliver Coppard removes economic advisor after Jeffrey Epstein links revealed
An economic adviser to South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has been removed from the position after his links to Jeffrey Epstein came to light.
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Amused at this. It was seeing this chap give a talk at the Cambridge University Labour Club that convinced me never to go to any of their meetings again www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/ben...
Reposted by Chris Hewson
A lot of "pro-natalism" is just an attempt to sanitise people's existing politics.
If you are serious about it, you'd be talking a lot more about maternal health care, better jobs, and healthier relationships.
If you are serious about it, you'd be talking a lot more about maternal health care, better jobs, and healthier relationships.
Yep. I just don't think people have thought through what the politics of pro-natalism would look like. And it's this. Ugly.
You don't need to read Atwood to see it coming. But you should.
You don't need to read Atwood to see it coming. But you should.
February 7, 2026 at 10:38 AM
A lot of "pro-natalism" is just an attempt to sanitise people's existing politics.
If you are serious about it, you'd be talking a lot more about maternal health care, better jobs, and healthier relationships.
If you are serious about it, you'd be talking a lot more about maternal health care, better jobs, and healthier relationships.
I think Rugby League might have an issue with competitive balance
February 7, 2026 at 8:50 AM
I think Rugby League might have an issue with competitive balance
Reposted by Chris Hewson
Peter Mandelbrot. It’s just infinite scandals the more you zoom in.
February 4, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Peter Mandelbrot. It’s just infinite scandals the more you zoom in.
Reposted by Chris Hewson
Legislating AI and kids off social media isn’t interference or a waste of time.
It’s the beginning of the war for the concept of truth & democracy.
It’s the beginning of the war for the concept of truth & democracy.
February 4, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Legislating AI and kids off social media isn’t interference or a waste of time.
It’s the beginning of the war for the concept of truth & democracy.
It’s the beginning of the war for the concept of truth & democracy.
Reposted by Chris Hewson
Starting to think that we shouldn't allow the worst people in the world to have a hand in shaping technology
February 3, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Starting to think that we shouldn't allow the worst people in the world to have a hand in shaping technology
Reposted by Chris Hewson
let's not get too excited. this could easily be about Geoff Hoon or Stephen Byers.
Met spox: "I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a
72-year-old man, a former Government Minister, for misconduct in public office offences.”
72-year-old man, a former Government Minister, for misconduct in public office offences.”
February 3, 2026 at 7:12 PM
let's not get too excited. this could easily be about Geoff Hoon or Stephen Byers.
Lad's just desperate for people to like him isn't he?
February 3, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Lad's just desperate for people to like him isn't he?
Petition to make 'not having a functioning coffee machine at a soft play facility' a crime against humanity.
February 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Petition to make 'not having a functioning coffee machine at a soft play facility' a crime against humanity.
Reposted by Chris Hewson
The first amendment of the US constitution, as a friend once put it, lets you say whatever you like and the 2nd amendment puts a gun in your hand to defend your right to say it.
That is sub optimal.
That is sub optimal.
January 30, 2026 at 7:59 AM
The first amendment of the US constitution, as a friend once put it, lets you say whatever you like and the 2nd amendment puts a gun in your hand to defend your right to say it.
That is sub optimal.
That is sub optimal.
Cracking Radio 4 piece that argues Melania Trump has redefined the role of 'first lady' by adding absolutely sod all value. #insightful
January 29, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Cracking Radio 4 piece that argues Melania Trump has redefined the role of 'first lady' by adding absolutely sod all value. #insightful