Ailsa Henderson
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ailsahenderson.bsky.social
Ailsa Henderson
@ailsahenderson.bsky.social

PoliSci Prof at Edinburgh - run Scottish Election Study, co-run Union survey/Future of England survey
Voting, polling, attitudes to the union

@scotvoting.bsky.social @theunionsurvey.bsky.social

Political science 65%
History 13%
Pinned
Interested in Scottish voting data?

Follow Scottish Election Study team at account below

Or individually:
@ailsahenderson.bsky.social
@robjohns75.bsky.social
@cjcarman.bsky.social
@jaclarner.bsky.social
@chanret.bsky.social
@martamiori.bsky.social
(Fraser's arriving soon)
New blog ‼️

Following the Scottish Conservative leadership election, we decided to crunch some numbers and take a look at the party's standing across constitutional and ideological divides 🔵📊

Keep an eye out for more on the other parties soon 👀

scottishelections.ac.uk/2024/10/01/g...
Are there really so-called “Tartan Tories” in the Scottish electorate?
Following a bruising leadership contest, at the end of September the Scottish Conservative Party opted to elevate Russell Findlay MSP to a job described by some commentators as a “poisoned chalice” wi...
scottishelections.ac.uk

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

"I am willing to accept slower economic growth in Canada if it means greater economic independence from the United States"

🟢 Agree: 70%
🔴 Disagree: 19%

Read it here: canadianpolling.substack.com/p/budget-wee...
Budget Week Opens with Rising Public Skepticism
Canadians remain split on Carney's ability to deliver results, while dissatisfaction with Ottawa ticks upward
canadianpolling.substack.com

Newly out from James Mitchell and me, explaining the 2024 UKGE in Scotland
@edinburghpir.bsky.social

academic.oup.com/pa/article-a...

Email me if you want access and can't get it via your institution
Shifting sands: Sources of voter volatility in the 2024 UK General Election in Scotland
Abstract. In one sense, the 2024 UK General Election in Scotland provided a significant departure from what we have come to expect from elections in the af
academic.oup.com

New SES methodology incoming. Flawless.
I cannot believe someone has signed off a post saying they are confident about what the Scottish are like because they drink Ardberg
This dork has an army of either bots or losers who think like him.

And I very much believe it's a bot army and very much don't care.

Pretty sure the Scottish are not just sexist all the time. Confident about this as an Ardbeg drinker.

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

I cannot believe someone has signed off a post saying they are confident about what the Scottish are like because they drink Ardberg
This dork has an army of either bots or losers who think like him.

And I very much believe it's a bot army and very much don't care.

Pretty sure the Scottish are not just sexist all the time. Confident about this as an Ardbeg drinker.

Was just drawing distinction with English single tier locals, London boroughs etc

Not a comment on speed, flavour of devolved govt formation!

Indeed. While often ignoring the devolved elections in May, which *will* lead to government formation

Both UK Lab and UK Cons making life difficult for their devolved parties by fighting the next UKGE 4 years early
It just straightforwardly *insane* how much political chatter in the United Kingdom is about the next general election, an event that is a long way in the future, and how basically none of it is about 'uh, this policy agenda doesn't look adequate to the scale of the inherited problem'.
It just straightforwardly *insane* how much political chatter in the United Kingdom is about the next general election, an event that is a long way in the future, and how basically none of it is about 'uh, this policy agenda doesn't look adequate to the scale of the inherited problem'.

You need breadcrumbs to navigate back out

Advice for the age
The conclusion was: if it's bunting, it's a fete.

If there's no bunting and an anti-refugee message, it's the far right.

Just flags: could be for the women's rugby...

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

The conclusion was: if it's bunting, it's a fete.

If there's no bunting and an anti-refugee message, it's the far right.

Just flags: could be for the women's rugby...
Latest ITV BarnCymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 poll confirms trend seen over last 6 months - neck and neck race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK for largest party, with Labour falling to even more distant third. Evidence growing of distinct realignment in Wales 🧵

Well done James!

Calls to mind this beloved Quebec classic.

Wee Habs fan's mum navigates the English catalogue badly, gets him a Leafs sweater by mistake. Drama ensues

Can't imagine it quite working like that with mystery SPL options tho
Humanities, arts and social sciences degrees are disappearing in many UK regions.

With more young people than ever studying close to home, course cuts are narrowing their choices at university.

@timeshighered.bsky.social covers our 'Cold Spots' report today. Read more at https://bit.ly/46e3wOy
Humanities and arts degrees disappearing in parts of UK
Students from rural and disadvantaged areas disproportionally affected by subject cuts, British Academy warns
bit.ly

No!!

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

Those who say the Western provinces should join the United States:

🔴 MB: 6%
🔴 AB: 6%
🔴 BC: 4%
🔴 SK: 3%

Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
Western Canadians Cooling On Separation
While many believe they'd be better off on their own, support for leaving remains low
open.substack.com

Department of Offense
Trump: "We decided to go woke and we changed the name to Department of Defense. So we're going to Department of War ... I think it's a much more appropriate name especially in light of where the world is right now."

Reposted by Stephen Cushion

Featuring @scotvoting.bsky.social data and our recent blog

You can read it, and other great SES analysis, here:
scottishelections.ac.uk/category/blog/
Trump: "We decided to go woke and we changed the name to Department of Defense. So we're going to Department of War ... I think it's a much more appropriate name especially in light of where the world is right now."

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

158. AP-GfK, 2009: "If you had to choose, would you prefer to attend a wedding that served champagne and caviar, wine and chicken breasts, or beer and pigs in a blanket?"

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

153. Gallup/CNN/USA Today, 1998: "For the next question, assume that the Seinfeld characters were real people. Aside from how funny you think they are, would you generally consider them to be likeable people or annoying people?"

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

NEWYDD - gan @ailsahenderson.bsky.social a minnau.

NEW by me and my fellow student of Englishness, Prof. Ailsa Henderson.

theconversation.com/nigel-farage...
Nigel Farage and the political power of English grievance
The Conservatives and Labour have allowed resentment to fester in the biggest part of the UK – and the only region not to have its own parliament.
theconversation.com

My own was mostly loop of Cartier to Riel, but esp 1759-1885. Could have wept when 1st yr uni history was New France to Confederation. Again.

Did get a break for causes ww1, Russian revolution at one pt in high school

Up here we get WW2 as a break from the endless cycle of Romans and wars of independence

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

Same is visible in SQA data (which admittedly is begging out for control vars like course choice)

Large gap at Nat5
Visible gap at Highers
Gone by Adv Highers - pity we don't use those for uni entrance as much

www.itv.com/news/2025-08...
www.itv.com

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

I grew up near the route of the old Aberdeen-Ellon-Fraserburgh railway - it would have made my life a lot easier.
Freight was still using the line after oil was struck, and towns mushroomed.
Maybe a pipe dream, but this would be great for the region.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/...
Fraserburgh and Peterhead now 'strongest candidates in Scotland' for new rail links
Campaigners say it’s more important than ever to reverse historic railway cuts in north Aberdeenshire - ahead of a major energy conference.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk

I think it's really nice they do this but this is my fairly regular request that someone in the PSA puts the Scottish Higher results day in the diary and creates an equivalent post.

We need Scottish students to study politics as well.

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

Good luck to #Students receiving their #ALevel results today. If you are continuing your studies at #University why not consider a #Politics degree! Here are some helpful pointers from PSA CEO Michelle Doyle Wildman. buff.ly/1LYW8F8
#ALevelResultsDay #ALevelResults2025
Considering doing a degree? Why not choose Politics? | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
Exam results season 2025 is well and truly underway. If you are considering clearing or applying for a university place in the future, I’ve set out a few pointers below on why choosing to do a…
buff.ly

Reposted by Ailsa Henderson

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