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Mile End Institute
@mileendinstitute.bsky.social
The Mile End Institute at Queen Mary University of London brings together politicians, policymakers, researchers, students and the public to discuss the major challenges facing British politics, policymaking and public life.
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🚨 NEW PODCAST: Who achieved 'the most significant by-election success ever’?

In this week's podcast, Richard and I are joined by Tom Chidwick of the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to discuss Dick Taverne.

When Taverne was deselected by his local party, he forced a dramatic by-election...
November 16, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
Great to see the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social's own Tom Chidwick on this week's episode of 'Since Attlee and Churchill' with @qmulsse.bsky.social's Richard Johnson and @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social!

How did Dick Taverne overcome the full force of the Labour Party? Find out in this week's episode...
🚨 NEW PODCAST: Who achieved 'the most significant by-election success ever’?

In this week's podcast, Richard and I are joined by Tom Chidwick of the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to discuss Dick Taverne.

When Taverne was deselected by his local party, he forced a dramatic by-election...
November 16, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
"As a new generation of Labour MPs grapple with their unease...Taverne’s example reminds us of the importance of having independently minded MPs with the shrewdness and elegance of the 'Victor of Lincoln'."

Words by our Manager Tom Chidwick in the latest @thehousemag.bsky.social!

shorturl.at/BeTPd
Tribute to Lord Taverne: the resilient rebel who was 'too hot to handle'
In becoming the first post-war independent victor of an English by-election, Dick Taverne helped break the dominance of the main parties in 1973. W...
www.politicshome.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
"As a new generation of Labour MPs grapple with their unease...Taverne’s example reminds us of the importance of having independently minded MPs with the shrewdness and elegance of the 'Victor of Lincoln'."

Words by our Manager Tom Chidwick in the latest @thehousemag.bsky.social!

shorturl.at/BeTPd
Tribute to Lord Taverne: the resilient rebel who was 'too hot to handle'
In becoming the first post-war independent victor of an English by-election, Dick Taverne helped break the dominance of the main parties in 1973. W...
www.politicshome.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Great to see the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social's own Tom Chidwick on this week's episode of 'Since Attlee and Churchill' with @qmulsse.bsky.social's Richard Johnson and @leedavidevansuk.bsky.social!

How did Dick Taverne overcome the full force of the Labour Party? Find out in this week's episode...
🚨 NEW PODCAST: Who achieved 'the most significant by-election success ever’?

In this week's podcast, Richard and I are joined by Tom Chidwick of the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to discuss Dick Taverne.

When Taverne was deselected by his local party, he forced a dramatic by-election...
November 16, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
Enjoyable podcast by my colleagues Richard Johnson, Lee Evans and Tom Chidwick on Dick Taverne, who recently died at 97.

Deselected as Lincoln's Labour MP in 1972 for the unforgivable crime of pro-Europeanism, he won a by election as an independent: very rare then!

open.spotify.com/episode/662g...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:56 PM
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As Patrick Diamond and I wrote a few days ago for @renewaljournal.bsky.social.....

renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
November 14, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
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
Essential reading from our brilliant Deputy Director @colmpm.bsky.social and former Director Patrick Diamond in @renewaljournal.bsky.social.

Ahead of the Budget, they argue that Rachel Reeves must argue more forcefully that "taxes are *the* essential down payment we all pay for a fairer society".
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.

Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇

renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it
Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society.  It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...
renewal.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
What are the origins of devolution? What can we learn from the '70s? How long should we wait between referendums?

In @dodspolintel.bsky.social's latest collaboration with @qmulsse.bsky.social, @drjoshwells.bsky.social talks to Tom Chidwick about his forthcoming book, Now or Never!
shorturl.at/93ISv
“A Motorway Without an Exit”: In conversation with Tom Chidwick on devolution, division and the future of British politics | Dods Political Intelligence
In this wide-ranging conversation, Tom Chidwick, the political historian and Manager of the Mile End Institute, speaks with Josh Wells about the unfinished story of British devolution and the constitu...
www.dodspoliticalintelligence.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
Do we still live in Thatcher's Britain?

I was joined at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social by Gillian Shephard, Simone Finn and @philipjcowley.bsky.social to discuss the Thatcher legacy, 100 years after her birth.

The full video is available here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLJK...
Still "Thatcher's Britain"? The Thatcher Legacy, 1925-2025
YouTube video by Mile End Institute
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Last week, inspired by @ldfreedman.bsky.social's "Hennessy Lecture", we explored the foreign and domestic policy implications of Britain's support for Ukraine.

Feat. @drjamesstrong.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social, Patrick Porter and @evieaspinall.bsky.social⬇️

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUvQ...
"Whatever it takes": The Policy Implications of Supporting Ukraine
YouTube video by Mile End Institute
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Last month, the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social marked the centenary of Margaret Thatcher's birth by exploring why she continues to cast such a shadow across British politics and considering how her reputation has changed and what lessons - good or bad - might be drawn from her time in power.
November 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Great to see our Director, Dr Sofia Collignon, on the @hansardsociety.bsky.social's 'Parliament Matters' podcast this week!

You can listen to Sofia's contribution about tackling abuse of MPs on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
October 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
At lunchtime today, we'll be exploring the policy implications of supporting Ukraine until the end, inspired by @ldfreedman.bsky.social's "Hennessy Lecture".

You can book your place to hear @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @patporter76.bsky.social, @elkeschwarz.bsky.social and @drjamesstrong.bsky.social🔽
Tomorrow, 28th October at 12:00, tune in to the Mile End Institute's webinar to hear BFPG Director, Evie Aspinall, and fellow panellists discussing Britain's role in Ukraine, and the implications for UK foreign and domestic policy.

Sign up here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 28, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
We'll be joined by

@evieaspinall.bsky.social (Director, the British Foreign Policy Group)

@patporter76.bsky.social (Chair of International Security & Strategy, Birmingham)

@elkeschwarz.bsky.social (Professor of Political Theory, QMUL)

@drjamesstrong.bsky.social (Reader in British Politics, QMUL)
October 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
"‘Whatever It Takes?’ The Policy Implications of Supporting Ukraine".

What does supporting Ukraine mean in practice?

What are the implications for national security, tax policy, EU relations, energy security & more?

28 Oct 12:00 at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social.
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
This is really interesting by Matthew Barnfield and colleagues. Our research shows Labour is losing more support among its 2024 voters who feel financially insecure, which - together - suggests voters leaving Labour cant *afford* to wait for ‘jam tomorrow’.
October 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Tonight, we will be marking the centenary of Margaret Thatcher’s birth by asking why she continues to cast such a shadow across British politics.

A handful of tickets are still available, for members of the public and @qmulsse.bsky.social staff and students, so please do join us if you can!
Is Thatcher now more myth than history?

What endures of her legacy? What's been dismantled?

Is it time for Conservatives to move past the Thatcher era?

Discuss all this at the MEI on Monday, with Gillian Shephard, Simone Finn, @philipjcowley.bsky.social & me!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/still-that...
Still “Thatcher’s Britain”? The Thatcher Legacy, 1925-2025
Join the Mile End Institute to explore why Margaret Thatcher continues to cast such a shadow across British politics!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 10:06 AM
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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...
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
Reposted by Mile End Institute
“I want it now, I want it now
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings”

Impatient to read more from the excellent research here from @mbarnfield.bsky.social @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social - wonderful colleagues from
@qmulsse.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
Announcing our #BISA2026 conference keynote as leading scholar Professor Kimberly Hutchings @qmpoliticsir.bsky.social 🎉

The title will be 'Violence and the Meaning of Peace’ and we are very excited! 🌟

Find out more 👉 buff.ly/c46i8zp

@simonrushton.bsky.social @visitbrighton.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Next Monday, 20 October, we will be exploring Thatcher's legacy and her impact on British politics today. With former Thatcher minister Gillian Shephard, Conservative peer Simone Finn, @philipjcowley.bsky.social and @robertsaunders.bsky.social. All welcome!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/still-that...
October 13, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
As today is the centenary of Margaret Thatcher’s birth, I think it’s obligatory to treat you to a succession of anecdotes about her.
Here goes:
#Thatcher100
October 13, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Reposted by Mile End Institute
Me, on @markpackuk.bsky.social's polling podcast, taking about the book... Or: "50 gems from political science", as Mark puts it...

www.markpack.org.uk/175771/the-s...
50 gems from political science: Phil Cowley's new book
The Smallest Room in the House is Phil Cowley's latest book, collating 50 fun yet useful insights from political science.
www.markpack.org.uk
October 12, 2025 at 4:14 PM