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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 9h

And with an added twist they are also the same people who let their dogs foul the pavement and the poo ends up in their home for a change

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 4d

Yesterday was our first social policy seminar of the semester. A full house to listen to the excellent @gerrymccartney1.bsky.social talk about the effect of austerity on mortality rates, & his book (with David Walsh) “Social Murder”

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 8d

During my c-sections the anaesthetists talked to me throughout, informing me of progress, checking I was ok, asking about dizziness and nausea, providing ice cubes on sticks (I don’t know why!). They were responsible. Of all the people in that room I can only recall the anaesthetists’ voice & face.

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Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett

Karen Gregory @karengregory.bsky.social · 8d

On Thursday, @workersobservatory.org will run a workshop for on-demand couriers in Edinburgh. The workshop will explore how these workers can shape demands for inclusion in the city's Fair Work Charter and FW consultation.

Karen Gregory @karengregory.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks to @edi.bike and @edinburghminute.bsky.social for picking up news of the @workersobservatory.org workshop this week:

We Deserve Fair Work - Workshop for Delivery Riders in Edinburgh

luma.com/3r5hmptg

We Deserve Fair Work - Workshop for Delivery Riders in Edinburgh · Luma

Food delivery workers in Edinburgh, join the Workers' Observatory and ROOM for our workshop titled "We Deserve Fair Work!" For too long, delivery workers have…

luma.com

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 9d

I hope there’s a political rhetoric here that in practice is very narrowly defined otherwise it makes no policy sense.

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Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett

Ilona Pinter 🧡 @ilonapin.bsky.social · 9d

What does this even mean? So if you have NRPF conditions lifted because you were destitute, then you can never settle? Can you get a penny in contributory benefits? And if only 'being in work' was equitably accessible...

Paul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 9d

Mahmood says she will introduce new conditions for indefinite leave to remain:

Lived here 10 years not 5
Being in work
Not taking a penny in benefits
No criminal record
Giving back to community eg volunteering

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 9d

How do front line workers ethically support people in acute need if there’s a long term consequence (well out of their control or remit) about leave to remain or immigration status?

Ilona Pinter 🧡 @ilonapin.bsky.social · 9d

What does this even mean? So if you have NRPF conditions lifted because you were destitute, then you can never settle? Can you get a penny in contributory benefits? And if only 'being in work' was equitably accessible...

Paul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 9d

Mahmood says she will introduce new conditions for indefinite leave to remain:

Lived here 10 years not 5
Being in work
Not taking a penny in benefits
No criminal record
Giving back to community eg volunteering

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 9d

The not a “penny in benefits” is problematic especially for child related assistance (does a local welfare assistance voucher count?)

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 9d

This week @clemmiehilloconnor.bsky.social & are presenting at the Scottish Government's Public Participation Learning Network our paper on lived experience as evidence. Info on the paper available here in this SKAPE @uoe-sps.bsky.social blog: www.skape.ed.ac.uk/skape-lived-...

Lived experience as evidence in anti-poverty policy making: a governance-driven perspective – SKAPE

www.skape.ed.ac.uk

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 12d

I have a side interest in the challenging the obscene amount of rodents in Edinburgh. Across Edinburgh schools 800 pest control incidents in last 2 years reported to council. My friend works at this special needs school & is so stressed by the infestation. www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

Edinburgh school 'infested' as mice 'found in bags' and 'flies swarm building'

EXCLUSIVE: Staff said mice and flies have swarmed the school for months - even reportedly leaving droppings in pupil work trays.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 12d

I'm no oracle, but I am quite certain that if Reform gain this many seats in England, and Farage becomes the next PM, there'll be another Scottish independence referendum and this time it'll be a yes.

yougov.co.uk/politics/art...

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Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 12d

UK household energy debt hits £4.43bn.

1,133,683 electricity, 926,545 gas customers in debt.

Since 2020 top 20 energy companies made £514bn operating profit, causing inflation/poverty.

128,000 people a year die in fuel poverty.

Profiteering causes social problems. Regulators do nothing.

Household energy debt surges to £4.43 billion

Household debt and arrears have risen from £1.45 billion at the end of 2020 to £4.43 billion this year, Ofgem said.

www.independent.co.uk

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 12d

I make three points:
1. More critical but less party political policymaking
2. More radical labour market policies
3. Awareness of how the rise of right wing politics in Scotland and the rest of the UK make change policy consensus & ideas 👇🏻 (and a plug for the #Scotlanddemandsbetter march )

Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 13d

I've jotted some thoughts in this CPP blog based on the Festival of Politics panel last month. Please let me know what you think!

Centre for Public Policy @uofgpolicy.bsky.social · 13d

NEW insights from @haylesben.bsky.social 🔍

📝 Holyrood 2026: Addressing poverty and inequality must be at the top of the agenda

After our @parliament.scot #FoP2025 panel, Dr Hayley Bennett examines anti-poverty policymaking post-2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election.

🔗 www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 13d

I've jotted some thoughts in this CPP blog based on the Festival of Politics panel last month. Please let me know what you think!

Centre for Public Policy @uofgpolicy.bsky.social · 13d

NEW insights from @haylesben.bsky.social 🔍

📝 Holyrood 2026: Addressing poverty and inequality must be at the top of the agenda

After our @parliament.scot #FoP2025 panel, Dr Hayley Bennett examines anti-poverty policymaking post-2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election.

🔗 www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...

Holyrood 2026: Addressing poverty and inequality must be at the top of the agenda. Reflections from the festival of Politics. Dr Hayley Bennett. University of Glasgow and Centre for Public Policy logos, a photo of the parliament and a photo of Hayley.

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Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 13d

Child Poverty Task Force will recommend scrapping the two child limit according to The Times. But publication is being delayed and no clarity over whether Government will accept the recommendation even though it's coming from two cabinet ministers.

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Cabinet ministers to recommend lifting two-child benefit cap

Starmer to be urged by taskforce before the budget to make the change — but it will cost £3bn a year when Rachel Reeves is trying to plug a spending gap

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett

Policy and Society @policysociety.bsky.social · 16d

Take a look at our latest, most read and most cited articles!

Latest: academic.oup.com/policyandsoc...

Most read and most cited: academic.oup.com/policyandsoc...

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 15d

Some more artwork for my office door from @povertyalliance.org “Scotland demands better” march (on 25th October in Edinburgh) just above my favourite photo by Kirsty Mackay “Tax the rich”.

Glass pane in door with 4 postcards taped to the glass. One challenge poverty week, one a photo of a boy, and one the scotland demands better campaign. Bottom one is artwork

Photo of a photo by kirsty mackay of a boy holding a sign saying tax the rich

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 15d

“A couple with two children, aged three and seven, needs £74,000 a year” For context in the HE sector to get to that type of salary you need to be an experienced senior lecturer= have a degree, masters, & PhD, PLUS often 10-15 years in an academic job including promotions.

Big Issue @bigissue.com · 15d

A single person in the UK now needs to earn £30,500 a year to “participate in society” and "live with dignity", new research has found.

Single people must earn at least £30,500 per year to live well in the UK

www.bigissue.com

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Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett

Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 19d

Our first @uoe-sps.bsky.social social policy seminar of the semester is on Friday 3rd October. We welcome Gerry McCartney from UoGlasgow. All welcome: www.sps.ed.ac.uk/news-events/...

Social Murder? Life expectancy and austerity in the UK | School of Social and Political Science

www.sps.ed.ac.uk

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 15d

Oooh one for @uoe-sps.bsky.social graduates?
Graduate Development Programme: deadline 5th Oct

www.jobs.gov.scot/graduate-rec...

Graduate Recruitment - Scottish Government Jobs

Our Graduate Development Programme offers an exciting career pathway to leadership positions in the Civil Service.

www.jobs.gov.scot

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 16d

Perhaps Germany could look at the UK to see their future on this point:

"An increasingly punitive social security system is likely to increase the number of people seeking low-paid, insecure, temporary work to prove they are seeking employment"...

HRW Brussels @hrw-brussels.bsky.social · 16d

Germany’s welfare “‘reform”‘ debate risks worsening poverty

Planned cuts and tougher penalties would most severely affect low-income families, women, and older people

Human rights – not austerity logic – should guide the debate on social protection

Rights Should Guide Welfare ‘Reform’ Debate in Germany

The partners in Germany’s governing Christian Democrat-Social Democrat coalition have been sparring over the contents of a planned replacement of the Citizen’s Income social security benefit, with a “...

www.hrw.org

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 16d

This blog and article perhaps raises some interesting questions about how we can think about the Scottish devolution settlement 👇

Centre on Constitutional Change @ccc-research.bsky.social · 16d

New blog!

Read @javiermcanto.bsky.social on 'Making Decentralization Work: The Politics of Implementation' 👇

edin.ac/4mstXWG

Making Decentralization Work: The Politics of Implementation

A substantial body of scholarship has sought to explain the origins of federalism and why some states opt for decentralization while others remain more centralized. However, despite the broad literatu...

edin.ac

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Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 16d

The gender wealth gap sits at 21% - much higher than the wage gap - so why don't we hear anything about it?

@ignaciapinto.bsky.social of @womensbudgetgrp.bsky.social explains why taxing wealth is a feminist issue in a guest blog.
neweconomics.org/2025/09/taxi...

Taxing wealth is a feminist issue

We hear a lot about the gender pay gap - but what about the gender wealth gap?

neweconomics.org

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Dr Hayley Bennett @haylesben.bsky.social · 16d

That cake looks delicious! (I'm very jealous as I sit at home with just a custard cream)

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Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett

Political Studies Association @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social · 16d

*PSA OPPORTUNITY* 🚨 Final Reminder 🚨 House of Commons internship opportunity. For PSA #EarlyCareer Network members who are currently studying towards their #PhD.
📆 Apply by 28 September 2025
➡️ Full details buff.ly/VsvdQQD
#Politics #Opportunity #PoliticalStudies

2025 House of Commons Internship | The Political Studies Association (PSA)

Become a member Log in

buff.ly

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