Dr Joshua Wells
@drjoshwells.bsky.social
45 followers 42 following 19 posts
Deputy Head of UK Political Intelligence and Environmental Policy consultant at Dods. PhD in Politics, focusing on issues of climate justice, and geoengineering.
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drjoshwells.bsky.social
[2/3] We explored questions such as:
- How does this first year compare to the previous Labour governments’ early years?
- Will the Conservative Party have the same fate as the Liberal Party?
- And what’s the value of understanding political history?
drjoshwells.bsky.social
Additionally, we explored when people decide how they are going to vote – this included what percentage of people did not know who they would vote for two days prior to the 2024 general election! Try to guess the answer to this before reading it in the interview – the answer certainly surprised me!
drjoshwells.bsky.social
We explore questions such as:
What does the frequently used term “red wall” actually mean?
Also, we considered the common political narrative that universities make students more “liberal”, Lizzie demystifies this by exploring how much truth there is to this claim.
drjoshwells.bsky.social
Finally, we explored the power of quantitative methods, and what data we would need from these methods to pursue political campaigns such as putting a chess ♟️ board in every school! (The answer may surprise you, it is much more than just being able to measure the number of #chess boards!)
drjoshwells.bsky.social
We explored questions such as:
How the Labour and Conservative parties should interpret the local election results? Political violence in the UK, has it increased, what can we do about it, and how could UK politics look without political violence?

#localelections
drjoshwells.bsky.social
Next up: Govt response.
Will the review shape the forthcoming Government policy and strategy, including the Environmental Improvement Plan?
drjoshwells.bsky.social
The review is rich in ideas, covering 5 strategic themes, supported by 29 recommendations. For those who are interested in UK environmental regulation, it is certainly worth reading.
drjoshwells.bsky.social
Shifting to a macro application of precaution could reshape environmental decision-making. But it could risk trade-offs:
e.g. localised nature decline may be permitted if offset nationally.
Although the review notes that the marco approach should be more sensitive to the needs to local people.
drjoshwells.bsky.social
The review critiques Defra’s use of the precautionary principle, suggesting it’s been misapplied — too focused on micro risks.
drjoshwells.bsky.social
But reform won’t be easy — especially if it reframes regulators' mandates to explicitly include growth.
A key question will be:
Can environmental groups support a model where regulators weigh economic growth alongside environmental protection?
drjoshwells.bsky.social
A key message: the regulatory framework serves no group well — not nature, not business, not the public. Reform is positioned as a shared imperative.
drjoshwells.bsky.social
Thoughts on the independent review of Defra’s regulatory landscape, by @danrcorry.bsky.social.
The review is clear that the current system is failing both environmental outcomes and economic growth.
#DefraReview #EnvironmentalPolicy

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67ebb1...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
drjoshwells.bsky.social
This rings a vague bell- I think I have heard this mentioned in the context of John Rawls?
P.S. I am currently reading your book "The Murder of Professor Schlick"-finding it really interesting! It is great to have a narrative around philosophical ideas.
drjoshwells.bsky.social
Better late than never—finally trying Bsky! Hoping it captures the vibe of old-school Twitter: real insights and great conversations.
I’m especially interested in UK politics, climate change, climate justice, environmental policy and political philosophy. Who should I follow? Recommendations welcome