Alex Walker
@alwalker.bsky.social
Research https://www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/
Interests include devolution, governance, democracy, trust
Interests include devolution, governance, democracy, trust
Reposted by Alex Walker
In a new blog, @alwalker.bsky.social looks at Labour’s record on intergovernmental relations so far—where there have been improvements, where cracks are showing, and why devolved elections next year could mean a more challenging political environment for devolution.
Read: bit.ly/4jbAR2r
Read: bit.ly/4jbAR2r
December 23, 2025 at 9:24 AM
In a new blog, @alwalker.bsky.social looks at Labour’s record on intergovernmental relations so far—where there have been improvements, where cracks are showing, and why devolved elections next year could mean a more challenging political environment for devolution.
Read: bit.ly/4jbAR2r
Read: bit.ly/4jbAR2r
Reposted by Alex Walker
For #devolution anoraks/those with a passing interest in how this blessed realm is governed, this is an interesting piece by @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk @alwalker.bsky.social of the current UK Govt’s ‘reset’ of intergovernmental relations & how IGR might be shaped by next year’s devolved elections
UK intergovernmental relations under Labour: a fragile reset, with potential challenges ahead - Bennett School of Public Policy
As the prospect of nationalist First Ministers across the UK’s devolved governments grows stronger, Alex Walker examines whether Labour’s promised ‘reset’ of intergovernmental relations can withstand ...
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk
December 22, 2025 at 10:21 PM
For #devolution anoraks/those with a passing interest in how this blessed realm is governed, this is an interesting piece by @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk @alwalker.bsky.social of the current UK Govt’s ‘reset’ of intergovernmental relations & how IGR might be shaped by next year’s devolved elections
Wrapping up for Christmas with a piece looking back at how the UK government has approached devolved relations since Labour took office, and looking ahead to 2026 and the upcoming elections in Scotland and Wales.
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/uk-inte...
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/uk-inte...
UK intergovernmental relations under Labour: a fragile reset, with potential challenges ahead - Bennett School of Public Policy
As the prospect of nationalist First Ministers across the UK’s devolved governments grows stronger, Alex Walker examines whether Labour’s promised ‘reset’ of intergovernmental relations can withstand ...
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk
December 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Wrapping up for Christmas with a piece looking back at how the UK government has approached devolved relations since Labour took office, and looking ahead to 2026 and the upcoming elections in Scotland and Wales.
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/uk-inte...
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/uk-inte...
Interesting piece on the history of post-war place-based policy (which spells out some clear lessons for the government's pride in place programme)
With place and devolution back at the centre of political debate, it’s a timely reminder that those mapping a way forward should look at what has come before.
📘 Read Nick’s essay here:https://buff.ly/ElcnWP3
📚 Download the full collection:https://buff.ly/C34ukiN
📘 Read Nick’s essay here:https://buff.ly/ElcnWP3
📚 Download the full collection:https://buff.ly/C34ukiN
Looking back to move forwards: A historical perspective on community and public policy - Power to Change
This month's essay from Nick Garland explores how past regeneration efforts like the New Deal for Communities offer vital lessons for shaping sustainab ...
buff.ly
December 18, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Interesting piece on the history of post-war place-based policy (which spells out some clear lessons for the government's pride in place programme)
Reposted by Alex Walker
We're looking for a Professor of Public Policy to join our senior leadership team.
They'll play a leading role in teaching on the School's postgraduate courses, & make a significant contribution to its research & research leadership.
Apply by 9 February 2026: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/profess...
They'll play a leading role in teaching on the School's postgraduate courses, & make a significant contribution to its research & research leadership.
Apply by 9 February 2026: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/profess...
December 10, 2025 at 12:07 PM
We're looking for a Professor of Public Policy to join our senior leadership team.
They'll play a leading role in teaching on the School's postgraduate courses, & make a significant contribution to its research & research leadership.
Apply by 9 February 2026: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/profess...
They'll play a leading role in teaching on the School's postgraduate courses, & make a significant contribution to its research & research leadership.
Apply by 9 February 2026: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/profess...
Reposted by Alex Walker
Great new piece from @akashpaun.bsky.social on the decision to delay next year’s mayoral elections.
“even on the government's own terms… then the case for shifting these polls to 2027 is far stronger than delaying them until 2028”
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mayo...
“even on the government's own terms… then the case for shifting these polls to 2027 is far stronger than delaying them until 2028”
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mayo...
Mayoral elections in priority areas should be held in May 2027 at the very latest | Institute for Government
The government has not made a convincing case for postponement.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Great new piece from @akashpaun.bsky.social on the decision to delay next year’s mayoral elections.
“even on the government's own terms… then the case for shifting these polls to 2027 is far stronger than delaying them until 2028”
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mayo...
“even on the government's own terms… then the case for shifting these polls to 2027 is far stronger than delaying them until 2028”
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/mayo...
Can confirm this is an excellent role! You'll be joining a fantastic team at an exciting time and working on some really interesting stuff. Plenty of time to apply over the Christmas break!
We're recruiting for a Research Assistant
We're looking for someone interested in one or more of the following - institutions; governance; devolution; place-based policy; and public administration.
📆 Apply by 5 January 2026
🔗https://www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/research-assistant-fixed-term-jb48083
We're looking for someone interested in one or more of the following - institutions; governance; devolution; place-based policy; and public administration.
📆 Apply by 5 January 2026
🔗https://www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/research-assistant-fixed-term-jb48083
December 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Can confirm this is an excellent role! You'll be joining a fantastic team at an exciting time and working on some really interesting stuff. Plenty of time to apply over the Christmas break!
Reposted by Alex Walker
If you’re involved in research impact, public engagement (in any form) then you really need to read this from @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social and @michaelkenny.bsky.social at @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How to get science back into policymaking
Misunderstanding and hubris have broken public trust in governments’ use of science, but it can be restored.
www.nature.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:26 AM
If you’re involved in research impact, public engagement (in any form) then you really need to read this from @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social and @michaelkenny.bsky.social at @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Important piece on the challenges facing evidence-informed policy and how researchers and universities should respond (including acknowledging uncertainties and trade-offs, a wider understanding of what counts as evidence, and stronger connections between unis and local communities)
It's time to get science back into policymaking
Misunderstanding & hubris have broken public trust in governments’ use of science, but it can be restored.
@michaelkenny.bsky.social & @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social
discuss 'how' in their comment for @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Misunderstanding & hubris have broken public trust in governments’ use of science, but it can be restored.
@michaelkenny.bsky.social & @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social
discuss 'how' in their comment for @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How to get science back into policymaking
Misunderstanding and hubris have broken public trust in governments’ use of science, but it can be restored.
www.nature.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Important piece on the challenges facing evidence-informed policy and how researchers and universities should respond (including acknowledging uncertainties and trade-offs, a wider understanding of what counts as evidence, and stronger connections between unis and local communities)
Reposted by Alex Walker
Excellent to see this from The Economist. We are slow walking into a constitutional crisis driven by the electoral system, and very few people are taking it seriously enough yet.
Welcome to slot-machine Britain! Our cover this week is on First Past the Post, the voting system that turns multi-party politics into a lottery.
Featuring our new modelling of British elections: www.economist.com/interactive/...
Featuring our new modelling of British elections: www.economist.com/interactive/...
December 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Excellent to see this from The Economist. We are slow walking into a constitutional crisis driven by the electoral system, and very few people are taking it seriously enough yet.
Exciting new MPhil at the Bennett School - applications open!
Are you an early career professional looking to progress your career in digital policy? Our MPhil in Digital Policy is a multidisciplinary, practice-oriented, evidence-based course that focuses on the knowledge & skills needed to engage with policy issues relating to digital tech & AI
bit.ly/44LGTkl
bit.ly/44LGTkl
December 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Exciting new MPhil at the Bennett School - applications open!
Reposted by Alex Walker
Really pleased to see a new commitment to place-based budgets today. Further progress towards the implementation of 'Total Place' principles as urged with @jesstud.bsky.social a couple of years ago. www.newlocal.org.uk/publications....
November 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Really pleased to see a new commitment to place-based budgets today. Further progress towards the implementation of 'Total Place' principles as urged with @jesstud.bsky.social a couple of years ago. www.newlocal.org.uk/publications....
Reposted by Alex Walker
From now on, when discussing the budget, please use “is this measure bigger than the cost to the exchequer of gen Z drinking less” as your metric for assessing whether something actually raises or costs a significant sum
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
From now on, when discussing the budget, please use “is this measure bigger than the cost to the exchequer of gen Z drinking less” as your metric for assessing whether something actually raises or costs a significant sum
Reposted by Alex Walker
The Public Services Performance Tracker is regularly described as ‘sobering’ but this is definitely the first time we’ve had ‘almost lyrical’
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 26, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The Public Services Performance Tracker is regularly described as ‘sobering’ but this is definitely the first time we’ve had ‘almost lyrical’
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Alex Walker
Devolution is essential for empowering our communities, councillors & mayors - but also our MPs. Read why in my opinion piece for @labourlist.bsky.social✍️
Do you agree?
labourlist.org/2025/11/no-m...
Do you agree?
labourlist.org/2025/11/no-m...
'Time for MPs to stop being ‘Super Councillors’ and start being legislators again' - LabourList
MPs Are Overstretched as ‘Super Councillors’—Devolution will restore their primary role as legislators says IPPR North's Zoe Billingham.
labourlist.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Devolution is essential for empowering our communities, councillors & mayors - but also our MPs. Read why in my opinion piece for @labourlist.bsky.social✍️
Do you agree?
labourlist.org/2025/11/no-m...
Do you agree?
labourlist.org/2025/11/no-m...
Reposted by Alex Walker
Gov just published a new list cabinet committees. In short, looks like (1) big vote of confidence in Darren Jones from the PM, (2) existing missions + immigration are top of the government's agenda, (3) PM wants things to happen faster, and (4) Rayner's priorities perhaps no longer front of mind?🧵
List of Cabinet Committees and their membership
www.gov.uk
November 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Gov just published a new list cabinet committees. In short, looks like (1) big vote of confidence in Darren Jones from the PM, (2) existing missions + immigration are top of the government's agenda, (3) PM wants things to happen faster, and (4) Rayner's priorities perhaps no longer front of mind?🧵
Reposted by Alex Walker
For Welsh politicos, or those with a newfound interest in Senedd elections, this is an interesting read on the dynamics, and pressures building, within Welsh Labour after the Caerphilly by-election and ahead of next Spring's Senedd election #devolution #senedd
Caerphilly by-election: Why Wales fell out of love with Labour
Now Labour faces its toughest task yet in Wales - convincing voters to keep believing, ahead of the 2026 Senedd election
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 8:02 AM
For Welsh politicos, or those with a newfound interest in Senedd elections, this is an interesting read on the dynamics, and pressures building, within Welsh Labour after the Caerphilly by-election and ahead of next Spring's Senedd election #devolution #senedd
Reposted by Alex Walker
Excellent thread on Barbara Castle and the introduction of the breathalyser!
It's an episode with an important moral: that having the courage to do the right thing, even if it's unpopular at the time, can save lives and bring public opinion with it over time.
It's an episode with an important moral: that having the courage to do the right thing, even if it's unpopular at the time, can save lives and bring public opinion with it over time.
This week is Road Safety Week & a chance to talk about Barbara Castle!
Barbara was Transport Minister for three years yet she was able to introduce the Breathalyzer, a proper integrated transport strategy & more!
This was done despite fierce opposition.
📸 Photo from the Parliamentary Achieve
Barbara was Transport Minister for three years yet she was able to introduce the Breathalyzer, a proper integrated transport strategy & more!
This was done despite fierce opposition.
📸 Photo from the Parliamentary Achieve
November 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Excellent thread on Barbara Castle and the introduction of the breathalyser!
It's an episode with an important moral: that having the courage to do the right thing, even if it's unpopular at the time, can save lives and bring public opinion with it over time.
It's an episode with an important moral: that having the courage to do the right thing, even if it's unpopular at the time, can save lives and bring public opinion with it over time.
Reposted by Alex Walker
Nothing like a communiqué being issued promptly!
Surely worth the wait…
Surely worth the wait…
November 18, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Nothing like a communiqué being issued promptly!
Surely worth the wait…
Surely worth the wait…
Good to see the government moving toward giving mayors this (relatively modest) fiscal power.
As @jillongovt.bsky.social & @tompope.bsky.social argue here, more local revenues will support strategic authorities to become a mature tier of government: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
As @jillongovt.bsky.social & @tompope.bsky.social argue here, more local revenues will support strategic authorities to become a mature tier of government: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
November 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Good to see the government moving toward giving mayors this (relatively modest) fiscal power.
As @jillongovt.bsky.social & @tompope.bsky.social argue here, more local revenues will support strategic authorities to become a mature tier of government: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
As @jillongovt.bsky.social & @tompope.bsky.social argue here, more local revenues will support strategic authorities to become a mature tier of government: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/rach...
Reposted by Alex Walker
This is the point. Policy *should not* be adjusted or fine-tuned in response to minor forecasting judgements. Decisions about whether or not to break a prominent manifesto promise *should not* depend on minor forecasting judgements. This stuff matters. We've got to do better than this.
I know it’s always like this. But one striking thing from the budget kite flying and kite pulling back in, is how major policy decisions are constantly being buffeted around by iterative forecast changes.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
November 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
This is the point. Policy *should not* be adjusted or fine-tuned in response to minor forecasting judgements. Decisions about whether or not to break a prominent manifesto promise *should not* depend on minor forecasting judgements. This stuff matters. We've got to do better than this.
In my view it doesn't make sense to have Police & Crime Commissioners in the context of mayoral devolution being rolled out across the country - among other things, mayors have a higher public profile and this should help better integrate services
But an important "if" from @jimmcmahon.co.uk below
But an important "if" from @jimmcmahon.co.uk below
So, this is good news if the pace of mayors being rolled out across England is maintained, and boundaries aligned so they make sense for local people and public services. (2/2)
November 13, 2025 at 6:10 PM
In my view it doesn't make sense to have Police & Crime Commissioners in the context of mayoral devolution being rolled out across the country - among other things, mayors have a higher public profile and this should help better integrate services
But an important "if" from @jimmcmahon.co.uk below
But an important "if" from @jimmcmahon.co.uk below
Reposted by Alex Walker
Nice example of how our @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk framework for measuring social and cultural infrastructure can cast a different light on important initiatives that may sit at the edge of policymakers' thinking.
📝 New blog: Dr Dimitrios Panayotopoulos-Tsiros argues that community-led, non-clinical initiatives that support men’s mental health should be viewed as vital social infrastructure, with the Bennett School’s framework a useful tool for making them visible.
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/from-pi...
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/from-pi...
From pies to policy: Measuring the social infrastructure that supports men’s mental health - Bennett School of Public Policy
In a new blog, Dr Dimitrios Panayotopoulos-Tsiros argues that men’s mental health benefits from viewing community-led initiatives as vital social infrastructure, using the Bennett School’s framework t...
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Nice example of how our @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk framework for measuring social and cultural infrastructure can cast a different light on important initiatives that may sit at the edge of policymakers' thinking.
Reposted by Alex Walker
Which is a long way round of saying: a lot of the pieces I’m reading on the crucial role of the BBC massively overweight news and underplay the wider role of 50 odd radio stations, a dozen TV stations and the vast majority of its output.
November 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Which is a long way round of saying: a lot of the pieces I’m reading on the crucial role of the BBC massively overweight news and underplay the wider role of 50 odd radio stations, a dozen TV stations and the vast majority of its output.