Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

What can Keir Starmer’s Labour learn from New Labour? Part Two

1 4

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · Jul 8

Harold Wilson did say a week's a long time in politics...

But as promised we're back with our latest podcast episode, returning with part 2 of Glen O'Hara (@gsoh31.bsky.social) speaking with Steven King on what Keir Starmer can learn from New Labour.

policyfactory.org/podcast/what...

In the concluding episode of this two-part series, Steven King and Glen O’Hara discuss what lessons Keir Starmer might learn from the last time Labour was in government.

What can Keir Starmer's Labour learn from New Labour?

2

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · Jul 1

As the welfare vote tonight threatens to divide the Labour Party, Steve King and Glen O'Hara (@gsoh31.bsky.social) discuss what lessons Keir Starmer could learn from Tony Blair and New Labour in our latest Policy Factory Podcast episode. policyfactory.org/podcast/what...

Steven King and Glen O'Hara discuss what lessons Keir Starmer might learn from the last time Labour was in government.

Moral and Political pitfalls of scientific uncertainty in epidemiological crises

3 2

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · Jun 26

In our latest must-read article, Adam Wright looks at past government responses to dealing with epidemics, from Mad cow disease to Foot and Mouth to COVID, and outlines the dangers to democracy of following an exclusively techno-scientific approach.

policyfactory.org/article/from...

Modern governments have tended to rely heavily on a ‘follow the science’ response to epidemiological threats. However, epidemics are moments of both scientific uncertainty and social crisis. This pose...

History and Policy: History and Our Mental Health Crisis – Matthew Smith

2 1

Reposted by Policy Factory

Centre for Research in History, Heritage and Memory Studies NTU @crhhms.bsky.social · Jun 24

Reminder that tonight we have our next History and Policy online seminar at 5pm with Dr Matthew Smith (Strathclyde University) taking part in a Q&A session on the topic 'How History Can Help Solve Our Mental Health Crisis’.

Register via link below ⬇️

Centre for Research in History, Heritage and Memory Studies NTU @crhhms.bsky.social · Jun 20

Tuesday 24 June, 5–6.30pm. On Teams.

For our next History and Policy Online Seminar we have Professor Matthew Smith (University of Strathclyde) presenting a Q&A session: How History Can Help Solve Our Mental Health Crisis.

Register for free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-an...

Dr Matthew Smith presents 'How History Can Help Solve Our Mental Health Crisis, a Q&A'

History and Policy: History and Our Mental Health Crisis – Matthew Smith

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · Jun 20

Coming up next week!

Professor Matthew Smith will be presenting a Q & A session for the History and Policy Seminar on Tuesday 24 June, 5–6.30pm.

Register via the link below ⬇️

Centre for Research in History, Heritage and Memory Studies NTU @crhhms.bsky.social · Jun 20

Tuesday 24 June, 5–6.30pm. On Teams.

For our next History and Policy Online Seminar we have Professor Matthew Smith (University of Strathclyde) presenting a Q&A session: How History Can Help Solve Our Mental Health Crisis.

Register for free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-an...

Dr Matthew Smith presents 'How History Can Help Solve Our Mental Health Crisis, a Q&A'

Policy Factory – Why Reeves and Kendall’s Welfare Budget Cuts are doomed to fail

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · Jun 18

With the welfare reform bill due to be published today, Steven King considers why Liz Kendall's benefit cuts are doomed to fail. policyfactory.org/comment_post...

Steven King looks both ahead and to the past when considering Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall’s plans for welfare budget cuts. Why are such plans always doomed to fail?

Historical Research and Policy Making

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · Jun 10

To brighten your morning feed, a poem by Steven King entitled Space Tourism.

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Ahead of the publication of King's next volume of poetry, On the Mess, we will be releasing several poems in advance via the Policy Factory Substack.

Be sure to subscribe!

2

Reposted by Policy Factory

Sarah Wride @srwride.bsky.social · May 23

#Skystorians! Join me & the @historylabplus.bsky.social‬ team online on 19 June @12:30 to explore how historical researchers (across all periods) can make themselves more visible to UK policy makers. For details👉 www.history.ac.uk/events/historical-research-and-policy-making & 🧵

www.history.ac.uk

1 40 43

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · Jun 6

Struggling to make sense of what's going on here and on the other place?

Want something informative but light to brighten up your inbox?

Subscribe to our Substack newsletter: open.substack.com/pub/policyfa...

Finding a way out of this mess

In an age of near-permanent crisis, Policy Factory looks to the past to make sense of modern political issues.

open.substack.com

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · Jun 2

Today! 5–6.30 pm online via MS Teams

Professor Gill Allwood will be presenting on 'What’s gender got to do with it? National and local climate policy in Uganda' for the CRHHMS Centre Research Seminar.

Register for free via the Eventbrite link ⬇️

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 30

On Monday 2 June, join us for our next CRHHMS Centre Research seminar where Professor Gill Allwood will be presenting 'What’s gender got to do with it? National and local climate policy in Uganda'.

2 June, 5-6.30pm. On Teams.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1024045005...

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 30

On Monday 2 June, join us for our next CRHHMS Centre Research seminar where Professor Gill Allwood will be presenting 'What’s gender got to do with it? National and local climate policy in Uganda'.

2 June, 5-6.30pm. On Teams.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1024045005...

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 25

We've got a History and Policy seminar coming up this week on Tuesday 27 May, 5-6.30pm.

@kevinmatthewjones.bsky.social will be speaking on health and social care policy and why the UK as of yet does not have a National Social Care Service.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-an...

Policy Factory – Why Reeves and Kendall’s Welfare Budget Cuts are doomed to fail

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 21

Liz Kendall will be speaking today at @ippr.bsky.social in defence of looming welfare cuts.

But is she ignoring some important lessons from history? Policy Factory's Steven King comments on this latest attempt at welfare reform.

policyfactory.org/comment_post...

Steven King looks both ahead and to the past when considering Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall’s plans for welfare budget cuts. Why are such plans always doomed to fail?

History and Policy: Lessons from health and social care – Kevin Jones

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 20

For NTU's next History and Policy online seminar, @kevinmatthewjones.bsky.social will be speaking about the history of health and social care and why there is as of yet no effective social care service in place.

Not to be missed! Register for free via the Eventbrite link below ⬇️

Centre for Research in History, Heritage and Memory Studies NTU @crhhms.bsky.social · May 20

Tuesday 27 May, 5-6.30pm

For our next History and Policy online seminar we will have @kevinmatthewjones.bsky.social speaking on 'Why are we still waiting for a National Social Service? Lessons from the history of health and social care'.

Register for free via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/history-an...

Dr Kevin Jones presents "Why are we still waiting for a National Social Service? Lessons from the history of health and social care"

The 30th Anniversary of the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Conference9-10th July 2025

Reposted by Policy Factory

Euan Healey @euanhealey.bsky.social · May 19

Big day to be a fisheries historian (fishtorian). Big day.

When it comes to oily fish, the export market has always been the focus of British commerical fishing. Prior to the First World War, British fishing was dominated by the North Sea herring fishing; herring outweighed every other fish (1/?)

Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · May 19

The odd thing about UK fisheries is that we export a lot of mackerel and import a lot of cod and haddock. When did this start? Once upon a time did we eat a lot of mackerel?

4 42 120

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 19

Upcoming two-day conference on the histories of people with learning disabilities by the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Research Group. Featuring talks, workshops, exhibitions and more.

See details below.

Learning Disability England @learningdiseng.bsky.social · May 15

The inclusive Social History of Learning Disability conference is taking place at the Open University in Milton Keynes on 9th and 10th July.

It’s a conference about the importance of the stories, memories and histories of people with learning disabilities.

More details here: tinyurl.com/yt89tkxr

The Open University

tinyurl.com

How can it be anything but political?: Keir Starmer and an 'island of strangers'

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 17

Need something to read this cloudy Saturday?

In our Comment piece this week, Cat Gower talks Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, and the dangers of trying to stir up anti-immigrant rhetoric.

policyfactory.org/comment_post...

On Monday 12 May, Keir Starmer announced his government's plans to reform the immigration system, tightening rules on who may reside in the UK. Although quickly denying any political incentive, the ti...

How can it be anything but political?: Keir Starmer and an 'island of strangers'

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 15

Following on from Keir Starmer's 'island of strangers' speech on Monday, Cat Gower (@catherinegower.bsky.social) takes some time away from tinkering with the Policy Factory website to reflect on Keir's use of language.

policyfactory.org/comment_post...

On Monday 12 May, Keir Starmer announced his government's plans to reform the immigration system, tightening rules on who may reside in the UK. Although quickly denying any political incentive, the ti...

CRHHMS: Talking to ‘benefit cheats’ – Steven King

2 1

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 12

TONIGHT Policy Factory's Steven King discusses the research behind his latest book Fraudulent Lives: Imagining Welfare Cheats from the Poor Law to the Present as part of the NTU CRHHMS seminar.

5-6.30pm on Teams. Free to attend: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crhhms-tal...

Centre for Research in History, Heritage and Memory Studies NTU @crhhms.bsky.social · May 12

REMINDER Tonight we have our next CRHHMS Centre Research Seminar with CRHHMS's own Steven King presenting “Talking to ‘benefit cheats’: Oral histories from danger to redemption”.

Monday 12 May, 5-6.30pm on Teams. Register for free via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crhhms-tal...

Professor Steven King presents “Talking to ‘benefit cheats’: Oral histories from danger to redemption”

Policy Factory – Why Reeves and Kendall’s Welfare Budget Cuts are doomed to fail

1 1

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 11

With a rebellion brewing within the Parliamentary Labour Party over planned welfare cuts, in our latest Comment article, Steven King considers why such cuts to benefits are doomed from the start. #weekendread

policyfactory.org/comment_post...

Steven King looks both ahead and to the past when considering Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall’s plans for welfare budget cuts. Why are such plans always doomed to fail?

Labour MPs signal rebellion over benefits cuts

Reposted by Policy Factory

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · May 8

Labour MPs signal rebellion over welfare cuts

www.bbc.com/news/article...

A number of Labour MPs say they will vote against the government's proposed welfare reforms.

www.bbc.com

11 44 190

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 9

Need something to listen to this weekend?

Listen to the Policy Factory podcast where Steven King discusses his latest book, Fraudulent Lives
Imagining Welfare Cheats from the Poor Law to the Present.

Available on Substack, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:
policyfactory.substack.com/p/steven-kin...

Steven King discusses Fraudulent Lives: Imagining Welfare Cheats from the Poor Law to the Present

In this episode recorded in September 2024 Steven King and Cat Gower discuss King's latest book, Fraudulent Lives: Imagining Welfare Cheats from the Poor Law to the Present (Montreal, 2024) and how hi...

policyfactory.substack.com

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 9

Policy Factory's Steven King will be presenting at the online CRRHMS seminar on 12 May on:

“Talking to ‘benefit cheats’: Oral histories from danger to redemption”

This talk follows on from King's latest book, Fraudulent Lives
Imagining Welfare Cheats from the Poor Law to the Present (2024).

Policy Factory – Launching Policy Factory

Policy Factory @policyfactory.bsky.social · May 8

Read our first blog post where Steven King outlines the aims of the Policy Factory project: policyfactory.org/2025/04/29/t...

Today we launch Policy Factory, a collective of historians, sociologists and others who have come together for three reasons. First, a shared sense that the deep history of modern dilemmas generall…