Rob Ford
@robfordmancs.bsky.social
Politics Professor, University of Manchester.
Author of "The British General Election of 2024", "The British General Election of 2019" & "Brexitland"
My Substack, "The Swingometer", is here: https://swingometer.substack.com/
https://www.robertford.net/
Author of "The British General Election of 2024", "The British General Election of 2019" & "Brexitland"
My Substack, "The Swingometer", is here: https://swingometer.substack.com/
https://www.robertford.net/
Pinned
link.springer.com
Simply go the the Springer site for the book, and enter discount code "BGE25", and you'll get 25% off the definitive guide to last year's general election - with many lessons for the current mess we are in. Here's the website:
link.springer.com/book/9783031...
link.springer.com/book/9783031...
Reposted by Rob Ford
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Reposted by Rob Ford
That’s the right way round for a labour budget.
November 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
That’s the right way round for a labour budget.
Reposted by Rob Ford
I think this is probably good news for the sector since for most international masters courses at least this will be substantially less than the six percent that was advertised.
International student fee levy details confirmed in Budget document: flat fee charged on institutions "of £925 per student per year of study, starting in August 2028 academic year 2028-29".
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
No charge for first 220 students per year.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
November 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I think this is probably good news for the sector since for most international masters courses at least this will be substantially less than the six percent that was advertised.
Reposted by Rob Ford
And unhappy MPs finally have something positive to say in their constituency newsletter
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
And unhappy MPs finally have something positive to say in their constituency newsletter
Reposted by Rob Ford
3 year tax freeze is a year longer than had been anticipated - a year beyond the current fiscal rule. But helps Chancellor not to have to come back again. In 29-30 will mean typical pensioners pay an extra £100 and basic rate taxpayers £140.
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
3 year tax freeze is a year longer than had been anticipated - a year beyond the current fiscal rule. But helps Chancellor not to have to come back again. In 29-30 will mean typical pensioners pay an extra £100 and basic rate taxpayers £140.
Lot of “I thank the member for Blitherdale, here’s £4,500 for hedgehog crossings” in this speech.
Almost seems like Reeves wants to show she listens to beckbenchers
Almost seems like Reeves wants to show she listens to beckbenchers
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Lot of “I thank the member for Blitherdale, here’s £4,500 for hedgehog crossings” in this speech.
Almost seems like Reeves wants to show she listens to beckbenchers
Almost seems like Reeves wants to show she listens to beckbenchers
Reposted by Rob Ford
"having changed my mind about the OBR, my internship there has begun smoothly"
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
"having changed my mind about the OBR, my internship there has begun smoothly"
Reposted by Rob Ford
Cash ISA limit cut to £12,000 as expected - though only for under 65s! A new bias in the tax system towards pensioners is introduced....
November 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Cash ISA limit cut to £12,000 as expected - though only for under 65s! A new bias in the tax system towards pensioners is introduced....
Reposted by Rob Ford
Live posting about the speech feels slightly unnecessary when all the details are out. But I'm a sucker for tradition nonetheless.
November 26, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Live posting about the speech feels slightly unnecessary when all the details are out. But I'm a sucker for tradition nonetheless.
Reposted by Rob Ford
New PIP claims are starting to decline
November 26, 2025 at 12:40 PM
New PIP claims are starting to decline
Good thing this government never u-turns at the first sign of opposition to trailed tax rises. I’m sure this one will never stick, motorists being a famously quiescent lobby of no interest to the tabloids who obsess Downing Street
💥 Govt says fuel duty to *go up* from next September.
In the past the OBR has assumed that fuel duty would start to rise after a one-year freeze.
This time, the govt has said explicitly that it will only be frozen for five months, and will start increasing it after that.
In the past the OBR has assumed that fuel duty would start to rise after a one-year freeze.
This time, the govt has said explicitly that it will only be frozen for five months, and will start increasing it after that.
November 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Good thing this government never u-turns at the first sign of opposition to trailed tax rises. I’m sure this one will never stick, motorists being a famously quiescent lobby of no interest to the tabloids who obsess Downing Street
Reposted by Rob Ford
From now on, when discussing the budget, please use “is this measure bigger than the cost to the exchequer of gen Z drinking less” as your metric for assessing whether something actually raises or costs a significant sum
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
From now on, when discussing the budget, please use “is this measure bigger than the cost to the exchequer of gen Z drinking less” as your metric for assessing whether something actually raises or costs a significant sum
Reposted by Rob Ford
We're now doing budget exit polls, I guess
November 26, 2025 at 12:03 PM
We're now doing budget exit polls, I guess
Available to pre-order now from all your favourite online bookstores - or go direct to Springer and use code BGE25 to get a 25% discount!
Loved sharing insights from the Green Party's election campaigns at @britishacademy.bsky.social last night alongside @timbale.bsky.social @robfordmancs.bsky.social @psurridge.bsky.social & Sir John Curtice
The most comprehensive account of the last General Election on sale next week📖
The most comprehensive account of the last General Election on sale next week📖
November 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Available to pre-order now from all your favourite online bookstores - or go direct to Springer and use code BGE25 to get a 25% discount!
Reposted by Rob Ford
Loved sharing insights from the Green Party's election campaigns at @britishacademy.bsky.social last night alongside @timbale.bsky.social @robfordmancs.bsky.social @psurridge.bsky.social & Sir John Curtice
The most comprehensive account of the last General Election on sale next week📖
The most comprehensive account of the last General Election on sale next week📖
November 26, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Loved sharing insights from the Green Party's election campaigns at @britishacademy.bsky.social last night alongside @timbale.bsky.social @robfordmancs.bsky.social @psurridge.bsky.social & Sir John Curtice
The most comprehensive account of the last General Election on sale next week📖
The most comprehensive account of the last General Election on sale next week📖
Looking forward to a much briefed bumper hamper of politics? No, not the Budget, The British General Election of 2024! We had a wonderful all star launch event in London last night, with representatives of all five Britain-wide parties, and now I have a special launch gift for you...read on! 1/?
November 26, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Looking forward to a much briefed bumper hamper of politics? No, not the Budget, The British General Election of 2024! We had a wonderful all star launch event in London last night, with representatives of all five Britain-wide parties, and now I have a special launch gift for you...read on! 1/?
Reposted by Rob Ford
Do Americans judge acts of partisan political violence impartially? No. We show that Democrats and Republicans exhibit clear partisan bias: both see the same violent act as more justified when it targets the other party than when it targets their own side.
osf.io/preprints/so...
#polisky
osf.io/preprints/so...
#polisky
November 24, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Do Americans judge acts of partisan political violence impartially? No. We show that Democrats and Republicans exhibit clear partisan bias: both see the same violent act as more justified when it targets the other party than when it targets their own side.
osf.io/preprints/so...
#polisky
osf.io/preprints/so...
#polisky
Reposted by Rob Ford
A small but significant step: Dutch national broadcaster NOS is leaving X.
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
NOS plaatst vanaf vandaag geen nieuwsberichten meer op X - Over NOS
De NOS en Nieuwsuur (NOS/NTR) zijn gestopt met posten op X. Het platform past niet meer bij onze visie op...
over.nos.nl
November 25, 2025 at 11:13 AM
A small but significant step: Dutch national broadcaster NOS is leaving X.
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
Reposted by Rob Ford
Good to see HMT has finally relented on the tourist tax. Important that mayors are allowed to keep all of the income and choose how to spend it without central interference. And that it's the beginning of fiscal devolution not the end.
November 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Good to see HMT has finally relented on the tourist tax. Important that mayors are allowed to keep all of the income and choose how to spend it without central interference. And that it's the beginning of fiscal devolution not the end.
Reposted by Rob Ford
🚨 LSE Assistant Professor in Political Science 🚨
We’re hiring a tenure-track assistant professor - any area of empirical political science - to join our wonderful Government Dept @lsegovernment.bsky.social
Any questions, please reach out to me
📣 Please share! 📣
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
We’re hiring a tenure-track assistant professor - any area of empirical political science - to join our wonderful Government Dept @lsegovernment.bsky.social
Any questions, please reach out to me
📣 Please share! 📣
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
November 25, 2025 at 8:38 AM
🚨 LSE Assistant Professor in Political Science 🚨
We’re hiring a tenure-track assistant professor - any area of empirical political science - to join our wonderful Government Dept @lsegovernment.bsky.social
Any questions, please reach out to me
📣 Please share! 📣
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
We’re hiring a tenure-track assistant professor - any area of empirical political science - to join our wonderful Government Dept @lsegovernment.bsky.social
Any questions, please reach out to me
📣 Please share! 📣
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Reposted by Rob Ford
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
Reposted by Rob Ford
Tourist Tax is fine I think. Worth noting though how this started as an idea for local authority discretion but seems likely to end as a Treasury imposition on England. The unchanging policy that HMT must control as much as possible. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reeves Budget to Embrace Tourist Tax for Cities Including London
The UK will allow Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and other local leaders to impose a “tourist tax” on overnight stays in English cities.
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Tourist Tax is fine I think. Worth noting though how this started as an idea for local authority discretion but seems likely to end as a Treasury imposition on England. The unchanging policy that HMT must control as much as possible. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Rob Ford
Ultimately the minimum wage is a brilliant tool, but it can’t compensate for “we haven’t built any housing”, “we have cut cash transfers to the bone” and “all the third spaces have been cut to pay for social care”.
The minimum wage is not a cure all — we’re asking too much of business
Politicians spend too much time uttering cheap rhetoric about cheap labour
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Ultimately the minimum wage is a brilliant tool, but it can’t compensate for “we haven’t built any housing”, “we have cut cash transfers to the bone” and “all the third spaces have been cut to pay for social care”.
Reposted by Rob Ford
Reposted by Rob Ford
On Bregman, I was there in the audience and I can’t see what the BBC have gained by removing this line except more bad publicity. I will say that no such edits or censorship occurred when I gave the Reith Lectures and free-speech defenders might want think about whether this is the world they want.
November 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
On Bregman, I was there in the audience and I can’t see what the BBC have gained by removing this line except more bad publicity. I will say that no such edits or censorship occurred when I gave the Reith Lectures and free-speech defenders might want think about whether this is the world they want.