Sunder Katwala (sundersays)
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sundersays.bsky.social
Sunder Katwala (sundersays)
@sundersays.bsky.social
The Austen statue by Martin Jennings in the cathedral close at Winchester was unveiled in October this year
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Jane Austen statue unveiled at Winchester cathedral - BBC News
The life-sized sculpture at Winchester Cathedral has been created by artist Martin Jennings.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 6:53 PM
It has this link, which I have not looked at. There are six levels of EAL proficiency, and fluency can take several years, so having introduced the theme of fluency in the caption, BBCQT have not explained it in the correction
www.gov.scot/publications...
Pupil census supplementary statistics
Statistics on school pupil characteristics
www.gov.scot
December 16, 2025 at 3:45 PM
It has this link, which I have not looked at. There are six levels of EAL proficiency, and fluency can take several years, so having introduced the theme of fluency in the caption, BBCQT have not explained it in the correction
www.gov.scot/publications...
Pupil census supplementary statistics
Statistics on school pupil characteristics
www.gov.scot
December 16, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The BBC and other media outlets could explain the data about how English fluency & educational attainment to non-specialists, in order for general viewers & online readers to understand it. The correction focused simply on trying to minimise the error
onlineservices.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsa...
December 16, 2025 at 3:39 PM
BBC correction. I think a less defensive correction could have been more informative: it should include the number of children who have some English, say how many levels of fluency there are, and the proportion at each level
www.bbc.co.uk/helpandfeedb...
December 16, 2025 at 3:36 PM
That the Reform favourable/unfavourable proportions might prove quite sticky over time is suggested by the Very Unfavourable score aligning closely with the "racist" reputation plurality - with approval only just below the "not racist" reputation of being a mainstream party
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Reform UK's public reputation on racism

White British: 47% generally racist, 36% generally not racist
Black British: 61% generally racist, 19% generally not racist
British Indian: 68% generally racist, 14% generally not racist
Pakistani/B: 82% generally racist, 7% generally not
(YouGov, Oct 2025)
December 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Farage's numbers are well suited to doing very well in 6 party PR contests: the balance of 30-60 has the potential to do well in six party First-Past-the-Post, but 53% VERY unfavourable could prove a major liabilty in First-Past-the-Post IF the voting blocs consolidate with Farage as a key question
December 16, 2025 at 1:36 PM
That is reflected in the two leaders on the right both having -32 last month, but Badenoch's numbers seeming ikely to be less settled and have more potential to shift both up/down means she has a -26 to -35 advantage this month over Farage
December 16, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Badenoch (-26) would appear to have more upside potential than Nigel Farage (-35), albeit she could also flop.

She is 26-52, he is 29-65
But her Don't Know score is 22% while his is 8%
December 16, 2025 at 1:30 PM
It is very unusual for an Opposition politician to have such a low "Don't Know" score as Nigel Farage (8%)

This reflects his v high profile over Brexit, and as a party leader a decade ago, and for much of the period since. Former LOTO Jeremy Corbyn 14% Don't Know is not quite as low as Farage.
December 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Blaiklock now identifies herself as a support of Restore Britain

She wants 10 million people to leave.Fewer than 5 million people born abroad are neither naturalised British citizens (2.5m) nor EU settled status (3-4m)

But there are another 5 million UK born ethnic minorities, like Shabana Mahmood
December 16, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reform consider it defensible; critics think they are defending the indefensible by not even apologising or withdrawing it.
December 16, 2025 at 9:32 AM
I agree he was not repentant, though this did seem as much an evasion than a defence. Thanks for continuing to report on whether there is a response to this.
December 16, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Why the reputational question for trust in Reform on racism is a 2025 question, not a 1981 question
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Reform UK's public reputation on racism

White British: 47% generally racist, 36% generally not racist
Black British: 61% generally racist, 19% generally not racist
British Indian: 68% generally racist, 14% generally not racist
Pakistani/B: 82% generally racist, 7% generally not
(YouGov, Oct 2025)
December 16, 2025 at 8:56 AM
We can now anticipate Reform trying to say Farage at 17 was too young to know better when he told a 10 year old child to go back to Africa in 1981. But that Chris Parry at 72 too old to know better when he told David Lammy to go home to the Caribbean in a 2025 tweet, grew up in a different time etc
December 16, 2025 at 8:54 AM
The "context"
December 16, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Q: A number of Republicans have denounced your statement on Rob Reiner. Do you stand by it?

TRUMP: Well, I wasn't a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.
December 15, 2025 at 11:24 PM