Karl Pike
@karlpike.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at Queen Mary University of London. Book: Getting Over New Labour.
“Let a carrot be a carrot.” www.ft.com/content/cbe1...
St John’s founders are stepping back. What comes next for the trailblazing nose-to-tail restaurant?
Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver are retiring from day-to-day operations after 31 years
www.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM
“Let a carrot be a carrot.” www.ft.com/content/cbe1...
Reposted by Karl Pike
We are seeing increased illiberalism, and anti-liberalism, in our politics. The Labour party has a responsibility, as a government and as a centre-left political tradition, to counter this illiberalism, which takes different forms.
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
Hearts and minds | Fabian Society
Fabian Society
fabians.org.uk
October 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
We are seeing increased illiberalism, and anti-liberalism, in our politics. The Labour party has a responsibility, as a government and as a centre-left political tradition, to counter this illiberalism, which takes different forms.
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
The consequences of Labour’s manifesto tax pledge continue to be significant. Real shame there wasn’t enough debate about it, particularly within the party. That it was a key pledge, though, is impossible to ignore: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
November 14, 2025 at 7:53 AM
The consequences of Labour’s manifesto tax pledge continue to be significant. Real shame there wasn’t enough debate about it, particularly within the party. That it was a key pledge, though, is impossible to ignore: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Reposted by Karl Pike
But those choices were made, and there will surely be consequences to breaking such a clear commitment - including in terms of trust. Debate about tax and spend is much needed - it was in 2024, it is now - but the context is very relevant.
October 28, 2025 at 1:12 PM
But those choices were made, and there will surely be consequences to breaking such a clear commitment - including in terms of trust. Debate about tax and spend is much needed - it was in 2024, it is now - but the context is very relevant.
Reposted by Karl Pike
What an absolute hero Samir Zitouni is - doubtless he saved lives that day
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Train hero who saved passengers during attack named
The rail worker credited with saving multiple lives is named as Samir Zitouni.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 11:36 AM
What an absolute hero Samir Zitouni is - doubtless he saved lives that day
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Karl Pike
One observation re. the Dutch election is the enduring strength of the far right (I am not fully subscribing to the 'shift back to the centre' narrative). I should be on ABC Australia News channel at around 11 CET to talk about this and to show my plants (again). www.youtube.com/live/vOTiJkg...
October 30, 2025 at 9:45 AM
One observation re. the Dutch election is the enduring strength of the far right (I am not fully subscribing to the 'shift back to the centre' narrative). I should be on ABC Australia News channel at around 11 CET to talk about this and to show my plants (again). www.youtube.com/live/vOTiJkg...
Think the budget discussion, specifically about tax rates and the big three, could use a little more acknowledgment of the costs of breaking a clear manifesto pledge, as I wrote here:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
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journals.sagepub.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Think the budget discussion, specifically about tax rates and the big three, could use a little more acknowledgment of the costs of breaking a clear manifesto pledge, as I wrote here:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Have written for the Conversation on Labour’s deputy leadership contest. Of course, one big thing has not changed: Labour’s difficulty governing, stemming from Starmer’s ideologically confusing leadership.
theconversation.com/lucy-powell-...
theconversation.com/lucy-powell-...
Lucy Powell becomes Labour’s deputy leader – what that means for the party and Keir Starmer
Powell beat Keir Starmer’s preferred candidate, Bridget Phillipson, in a ballot of members.
theconversation.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Have written for the Conversation on Labour’s deputy leadership contest. Of course, one big thing has not changed: Labour’s difficulty governing, stemming from Starmer’s ideologically confusing leadership.
theconversation.com/lucy-powell-...
theconversation.com/lucy-powell-...
We are seeing increased illiberalism, and anti-liberalism, in our politics. The Labour party has a responsibility, as a government and as a centre-left political tradition, to counter this illiberalism, which takes different forms.
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
Hearts and minds | Fabian Society
Fabian Society
fabians.org.uk
October 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
We are seeing increased illiberalism, and anti-liberalism, in our politics. The Labour party has a responsibility, as a government and as a centre-left political tradition, to counter this illiberalism, which takes different forms.
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
Reposted by Karl Pike
“Having a coherent ideology is an underappreciated way of avoiding or managing a busy, unpredictable political environment.”
A renewed confidence in its liberal social democratic roots can help Labour shape the narrative, writes @karlpike.bsky.social ⬇️
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
A renewed confidence in its liberal social democratic roots can help Labour shape the narrative, writes @karlpike.bsky.social ⬇️
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
October 21, 2025 at 12:55 PM
“Having a coherent ideology is an underappreciated way of avoiding or managing a busy, unpredictable political environment.”
A renewed confidence in its liberal social democratic roots can help Labour shape the narrative, writes @karlpike.bsky.social ⬇️
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
A renewed confidence in its liberal social democratic roots can help Labour shape the narrative, writes @karlpike.bsky.social ⬇️
fabians.org.uk/hearts-and-m...
Reposted by Karl Pike
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons
Research shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains
www.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Some coverage from the FT today of our ongoing project on the politics of patience, and the Labour govt: www.ft.com/content/e984...
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons
Research shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains
www.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Some coverage from the FT today of our ongoing project on the politics of patience, and the Labour govt: www.ft.com/content/e984...
Reposted by Karl Pike
In one crisp para — & the 2 charts he highlights — @chrisgiles.ft.com bursts a huge number of “welfare” myths www.ft.com/content/ee67...
October 15, 2025 at 4:39 PM
In one crisp para — & the 2 charts he highlights — @chrisgiles.ft.com bursts a huge number of “welfare” myths www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Reposted by Karl Pike
"In more positive news for the Lib Dems,..research carried out by [the party members project] after the 2024 election showed that the @libdems.org.uk were the most active of all the memberships of the political parties."
Liberal Democrat membership has halved in 5 years, figures show
Analysis of available figures shows the number of party members has fallen by 49% since August 2020.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 10:28 AM
"In more positive news for the Lib Dems,..research carried out by [the party members project] after the 2024 election showed that the @libdems.org.uk were the most active of all the memberships of the political parties."
Reform in local govt, latest:
www.ft.com/content/277c...
www.ft.com/content/277c...
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
www.ft.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Reform in local govt, latest:
www.ft.com/content/277c...
www.ft.com/content/277c...
My contribution to this issue calls for Labour to counter the growing illiberalism in British politics.
The autumn edition of Fabian Review is on its way to members! 🍂
This issue features articles by @stellacreasy.bsky.social reasy.bsky.social, @annadixonmp.bsky.social,
@elliereeves.bsky.social s.bsky.social, @karlpike.bsky.social e.bsky.social.
This issue features articles by @stellacreasy.bsky.social reasy.bsky.social, @annadixonmp.bsky.social,
@elliereeves.bsky.social s.bsky.social, @karlpike.bsky.social e.bsky.social.
September 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
My contribution to this issue calls for Labour to counter the growing illiberalism in British politics.
Another fab read from Phil which mentions one of the best books written about Labour: Henry Drucker’s Doctrine and Ethos in the Labour Party.
Latest piece for @thehousemag.bsky.social - on the importance of ethos in political parties...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
The professor will see you now: ethos
Lessons in political science. This week: ethos
www.politicshome.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Another fab read from Phil which mentions one of the best books written about Labour: Henry Drucker’s Doctrine and Ethos in the Labour Party.
Reposted by Karl Pike
Retrospectively removing indefinite leave to remain would be immoral and economically damaging. It would tear families apart.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
September 22, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Retrospectively removing indefinite leave to remain would be immoral and economically damaging. It would tear families apart.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
Reposted by Karl Pike
We have to differentiate between defending the right of all to disagree and being indifferent to the impact of what is being said - the message from yesterday is not simply free speech is safe but that we need to work harder to counter those who claim division offers anything for our future.
September 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
We have to differentiate between defending the right of all to disagree and being indifferent to the impact of what is being said - the message from yesterday is not simply free speech is safe but that we need to work harder to counter those who claim division offers anything for our future.
Støre: “possible for the Social Democrats to win elections even when right-wing forces are on the rise in Europe”
www.politico.eu/article/labo...
www.politico.eu/article/labo...
Labor Party wins Norway election
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and his center-left allies claimed a narrow victory despite a surge in support for the populist right-wing Progress Party.
www.politico.eu
September 9, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Støre: “possible for the Social Democrats to win elections even when right-wing forces are on the rise in Europe”
www.politico.eu/article/labo...
www.politico.eu/article/labo...
Reposted by Karl Pike
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 6:50 AM
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...
Reposted by Karl Pike
This moment never ceases to excite. Out in shops on 9 Sept...
August 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
This moment never ceases to excite. Out in shops on 9 Sept...
Reposted by Karl Pike
I have a new article out at @polstudies.bsky.social. In "Electoral Hope", I make the case that supposedly irrational "wishful thinking" is actually a crucial part of how voters make rational sense of their role in democracies.
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
August 6, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I have a new article out at @polstudies.bsky.social. In "Electoral Hope", I make the case that supposedly irrational "wishful thinking" is actually a crucial part of how voters make rational sense of their role in democracies.
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...
OA link: doi.org/10.1177/0032...