Jonathan Portes | Lightnews

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 33m

Right message; and a clear repudiation of the "squalid chapter" rhetoric in the Immigration White Paper.

But needs to be backed up with policy; making it more difficult for long-term residents (both workers and refugees) to get settlement and citizenship is bad for both economy and social cohesion.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 2h

Racism returning to UK politics – and people are very scared, says Starmer

PM attacks ‘toxic division of Reform’ and gives strongest signal yet that two-child benefit cap will be lifted * UK politics live – latest updates Decades-old racism is returning to British politics, and “it makes people feel very scared” Keir Starmer has said, warning that divisive hard-right politics was “tearing our country apart”. Speaking to GP and TV personality Amir Khan, the prime minister accused Nigel Farage’s Reform UK of overseeing a return of the racist and divisive politics “that frankly I thought we had dealt with decades ago”. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Jack Tindale @jacktindale.bsky.social · 47m

Noah Smith is paid in the high six-figures to write a blog read by Americans who believe themselves to be intelligent. Yet, he is both unable to read a sign and also for some reason chose to have a 90 minute layover for a flight that takes 90 minutes.

onemileatatime.com/news/economi...

Economist Doesn't Follow Signs At Heathrow: Proof The UK Is Failing?

A economist had a bad experience connecting at Heathrow, suggesting it's reflective of bigger issues in the UK. There's only one issue...

onemileatatime.com

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 2h

Racism returning to UK politics – and people are very scared, says Starmer

PM attacks ‘toxic division of Reform’ and gives strongest signal yet that two-child benefit cap will be lifted * UK politics live – latest updates Decades-old racism is returning to British politics, and “it makes people feel very scared” Keir Starmer has said, warning that divisive hard-right politics was “tearing our country apart”. Speaking to GP and TV personality Amir Khan, the prime minister accused Nigel Farage’s Reform UK of overseeing a return of the racist and divisive politics “that frankly I thought we had dealt with decades ago”. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 4h

Yes, inactivity is separate from unemployment -but actually that is down compared to the post pandemic peak.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 4h

Today's figures not good. But I think (hope!) this slightly overdoes it.

1. Today's "rise" in unemployment was baked in (huge, probably anomalous spike in *last* months single-month figures)

2. RF's employment *rate* numbers use "wrong" denominator (population level) meaning IMO overstate fall.

Louise Murphy @louisemurphy.bsky.social · 5h

Today’s labour market statistics show that the labour market is weakening on multiple fronts, with unemployment reaching 5 per cent for the first time in almost a decade (pandemic period aside).

Here’s our @resolutionfoundation.org thread, from @nyecominetti.bsky.social and me.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 4h

If your view is that"PAYE was right all along" then we haven't lost *any* jobs over the last two years (and less than 0.6% compared to the peak)

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 5h

??? Which data series tells you that the employment level amhas fallen by 2.5%?

Louise Murphy @louisemurphy.bsky.social · 5h

Today’s labour market statistics show that the labour market is weakening on multiple fronts, with unemployment reaching 5 per cent for the first time in almost a decade (pandemic period aside).

Here’s our @resolutionfoundation.org thread, from @nyecominetti.bsky.social and me.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 5h

Yes, all of these things can be true at once (and given how large the shifts are I think they probably are)

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 5h

the (separate) stats on employment by ethnicity, which are disaggregated by gender, do suggest a significant narrowing. Indian and black women have essentially caught up with white women (of course this includes those born here).

Yair Wallach @yairwallach.bsky.social · 5h

How Israel made away entirely with its already-weak system of accountability for torture of Palestinians.

theconversation.com/arrest-of-to...

Arrest of top whistleblower shows extent of Israeli impunity over torture of Palestinian detainees

The episode highlights serious problems with accountability in Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in custody.

theconversation.com

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 5h

Unfortunately the data quality isn't good enough to be sure. I *suspect* combination of recent migrants having high rates (not just those on work visas - dependants!) and narrowing of the gender gap among all non-UK born.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 6h

The improvement in the employment rate of non-EU migrants to the UK over the past 15 years is remarkable, especially since the pandemic.

www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 16h

The idea of a $1 billion lawsuit from Donald Trump is utter nonsense

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...

Trump threatens $1bn legal action against BBC over 6 January speech edit

The BBC chair earlier apologises for the

www.bbc.co.uk

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 18h

The Telegraph had to correct its multiple lies about "illegal immigrants" in London at least three separate times.

Sam Bright @writesbright.bsky.social · 18h

It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.

Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻

The Telegraph’s BBC hypocrisy

A paper that knows a thing or two about editorial f*ck-ups...

writesbright.substack.com

Sam Bright @writesbright.bsky.social · 18h

It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.

Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻

The Telegraph’s BBC hypocrisy

A paper that knows a thing or two about editorial f*ck-ups...

writesbright.substack.com

Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 18h

Very interesting piece, including the extract below which has the ring of truth

Migration Observatory @migobs.bsky.social · 1d

A key recent discussion about UK migration has been people's rights to settle permanemently - or "indefinite leave to remain" - but how many people have this status? Our latest piece gives you the info (NB - doesn't include EU settlement scheme) migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...

How many migrants in the UK have settlement? - Migration Observatory

This commentary estimates the number of non-EU citizens who currently have settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk

Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 1d

The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

Will read carefully but my immediate reaction is that an employment hit of 3-4% just looks way too high to be plausible?

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 1d

Palestinian woman Umm Zuhri Shweiki was forcibly expelled from her home in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli forces, who seized and emptied her house before handing it to Israeli settlers.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

It's frustrating if -either because of my own inarticulacy or because of the presenter's bias/incompetence - I fail to make the key points clearly. However I was pretty happy with this one.

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 1d

Reports suggest that the UK plans to emulate Denmark's migration system

@kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social argues that "research from the country suggests that drawing lessons from the Danish migration policy should be done with caution and involves pitfalls for British politicians."

🔗 bit.ly/3LA1UI4

Denmark’s migration policy – an example to follow? - UK in a changing Europe

Kristina Bakkær Simonsen explains why countries feel they have something to learn from Denmark's strict migration policy, but argues that there are many key pitfalls.

bit.ly

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.

Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.

inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Food vouchers, free milk and two-child cap: Reeves weighs up help for families

Ministers' long-awaited child poverty strategy is due this month - and it's closely tied to the Chancellor's Budget

inews.co.uk

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

I think that's slightly unfair on Nolan -yes, he did do a bit of that, but he absolutely skewered him on the "5 star hotel" nonsense which I felt more than made up for it.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

This is very clear, sensible and balanced.

What I would add is that they also need a much more convincing explanation of how government will use money to make people's lives better. Just saying we will spend eleventy-squillion on the NHS is not enough...

Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 1d

Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.

Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇

renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...

If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it

Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society. It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...

renewal.org.uk

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

"You, like Nigel Farage, are simply lying about what the ONS says."

I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Stephen Nolan - 08/11/2025 - BBC Sounds

The day's main news stories, topical debate and interviews.

www.bbc.co.uk

Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 1d

Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.

Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇

renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...

If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it

Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society. It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...

renewal.org.uk

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 1d

Meanwhile, back in the real world....

Food vouchers, free milk and two-child cap: Reeves weighs up help for families

Ministers' long-awaited child poverty strategy is due this month - and it's closely tied to the Chancellor's Budget

inews.co.uk

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