Claire Kumar
@clairekumar.bsky.social
Working with ODI Europe and ODI Global on migration policies
Reposted by Claire Kumar
It's the little titbit at the end, that the impact assessment found reducing migration would have a negligible impact on community cohesion, that I especially like. That seems to be the government's current sole justification for their policies:
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
Tighter visa rules will cost UK up to £10.8bn
Home Office assessment shows impact of latest changes to immigration regime over next five years
www.ft.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:13 AM
It's the little titbit at the end, that the impact assessment found reducing migration would have a negligible impact on community cohesion, that I especially like. That seems to be the government's current sole justification for their policies:
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
Reposted by Claire Kumar
It is hard to overstate how objectively wrong this approach is. It is increasingly harder to explain why 'centre' politicians do the polar opposite of what evidence tells us. You don't fight the far right by adopting their policies. This paves the way for authoritarian takeover.
We must protect our borders to defend our democracies. Here's how
We must protect our borders to defend our democracies. Here's how
This is our strong message to our friends in Europe. Unless responsible governments reflect their citizens’ concerns, populists will win, say British PM Keir Starmer and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:51 AM
It is hard to overstate how objectively wrong this approach is. It is increasingly harder to explain why 'centre' politicians do the polar opposite of what evidence tells us. You don't fight the far right by adopting their policies. This paves the way for authoritarian takeover.
Reposted by Claire Kumar
Home Office Ministers state publicly, on the record, that they are deliberately making life worse for older people and people with disabilities who depend on care services, but it's worth it because it reduces net migration.
December 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Home Office Ministers state publicly, on the record, that they are deliberately making life worse for older people and people with disabilities who depend on care services, but it's worth it because it reduces net migration.
Reposted by Claire Kumar
The affordability crisis is an inequality crisis. When prices spike in key sectors, it's not just inflation—it's a massive redistribution shock that hits poor households hardest.
In our **new working paper**, we identify the sectors that matter most. A thread 🧵
scholarworks.umass.edu/entities/pub...
In our **new working paper**, we identify the sectors that matter most. A thread 🧵
scholarworks.umass.edu/entities/pub...
December 8, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The affordability crisis is an inequality crisis. When prices spike in key sectors, it's not just inflation—it's a massive redistribution shock that hits poor households hardest.
In our **new working paper**, we identify the sectors that matter most. A thread 🧵
scholarworks.umass.edu/entities/pub...
In our **new working paper**, we identify the sectors that matter most. A thread 🧵
scholarworks.umass.edu/entities/pub...
Reposted by Claire Kumar
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
Reposted by Claire Kumar
The Trump National Security Strategy is bonkers in many ways but this objective stood out:
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
December 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The Trump National Security Strategy is bonkers in many ways but this objective stood out:
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
"Cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations"
Making their strategy of supporting radical right and extremist parties explicit.
Reposted by Claire Kumar
Just imagining how much better it would be if ALL news stories about vaccine-preventable illnesses were illustrated with pictures of people with the disease, not pictures of needle injections. If you must show something that people will find scary & unpleasant, make it the disease, not the cure.
I'm so tired of measles.
I'm also tired of people using needle shots on stories like this.
Show what measles looks like.
I'm also tired of people using needle shots on stories like this.
Show what measles looks like.
Gallatin Co. reports 2nd measles case, warns of exposure sites nbcmontana.com/news/local/g...
December 2, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Just imagining how much better it would be if ALL news stories about vaccine-preventable illnesses were illustrated with pictures of people with the disease, not pictures of needle injections. If you must show something that people will find scary & unpleasant, make it the disease, not the cure.
Reposted by Claire Kumar
🟢 The @europeangreens.eu in 2025: 🌻🗳️ Record wins in Norway & Portugal, booming memberships in Germany & the UK, and first Green mayors in Copenhagen & Riga. Tobias Gerhard Schminke from @europeelects.bsky.social has the data and details! 👀👇
#EGPCongress #EGPCongress2025
#EGPCongress #EGPCongress2025
Historic highs, local lows: the European Green Party in 2025 | Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Brussels office - European Union
2025 brought mixed fortunes for the European Green Party: record election results in Norway and Portugal, historic membership surges in Germany and the UK, and the election of the first Green mayor in...
eu.boell.org
December 1, 2025 at 3:28 PM
🟢 The @europeangreens.eu in 2025: 🌻🗳️ Record wins in Norway & Portugal, booming memberships in Germany & the UK, and first Green mayors in Copenhagen & Riga. Tobias Gerhard Schminke from @europeelects.bsky.social has the data and details! 👀👇
#EGPCongress #EGPCongress2025
#EGPCongress #EGPCongress2025
Reposted by Claire Kumar
So the Home Office, which is responsible for the welfare of asylum seekers & for determining their claims, has decided to call them “illegal migrants” & tell everyone it’s “furious” about them being here, but I’m sure this is fine and not a symptom of a culture of disbelief & gratuitous cruelty
November 28, 2025 at 9:05 PM
So the Home Office, which is responsible for the welfare of asylum seekers & for determining their claims, has decided to call them “illegal migrants” & tell everyone it’s “furious” about them being here, but I’m sure this is fine and not a symptom of a culture of disbelief & gratuitous cruelty
Reposted by Claire Kumar
This started pretty much immediately, I have already heard several examples, as well as people looking to withdraw change of conditions applications and decideling not to apply. Families will be left destitute
UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to
UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to
Woman cancels all benefits including disability living allowance for daughter after policy change announcement
A low-paid carer from Ghana has cancelled all the benefits she is legally entitled to, including the disability allowance one of her children receives, owing to fears about her immigration status after the policy changes announced by the home secretary.
The radical changes to legal migration announced by Shabana Mahmood on 20 November will penalise those who are living and working legally in the UK, but who claim benefits. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:51 AM
This started pretty much immediately, I have already heard several examples, as well as people looking to withdraw change of conditions applications and decideling not to apply. Families will be left destitute
Reposted by Claire Kumar
Australia just recorded zero cervical cancer cases in women under 25 for the first time since records began in 1982. The amazing result of HPV vaccination.
November 28, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Australia just recorded zero cervical cancer cases in women under 25 for the first time since records began in 1982. The amazing result of HPV vaccination.
Reposted by Claire Kumar
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
November 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
Reposted by Claire Kumar
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
November 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
Reposted by Claire Kumar
Just the good, friendly, morale-boosting kind of racism.
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Just the good, friendly, morale-boosting kind of racism.
Reposted by Claire Kumar
What a spectacular way to pour petrol on the flames of the UKHE financial crisis.
If you want to change the economics of the sector then please do so, but this change alone without anything else (return of cap, direct funding for unis, increased Home student fees) will just speed up uni closures.
If you want to change the economics of the sector then please do so, but this change alone without anything else (return of cap, direct funding for unis, increased Home student fees) will just speed up uni closures.
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 8:04 AM
What a spectacular way to pour petrol on the flames of the UKHE financial crisis.
If you want to change the economics of the sector then please do so, but this change alone without anything else (return of cap, direct funding for unis, increased Home student fees) will just speed up uni closures.
If you want to change the economics of the sector then please do so, but this change alone without anything else (return of cap, direct funding for unis, increased Home student fees) will just speed up uni closures.
Worth a read also as @profdevisridhar.bsky.social always clearly explains the failure of late lockdown and never leaves out the massive procurement corruption. Unforgivable. Still waiting for prosecutions
“The heroes of the Covid story are science and the NHS (and immigration, as even Johnson attested to, given the international healthcare team who treated him for severe Covid in hospital),” writes @profdevisridhar.bsky.social. Wise words as always www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Vote for competent leaders, not entertainers – that’s what I wish the Covid report could say | Devi Sridhar
To prevent a future pandemic we’d need agile leadership, smart decision-making, humility and trustworthiness. How does one build those into a political system, asks Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global ...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Worth a read also as @profdevisridhar.bsky.social always clearly explains the failure of late lockdown and never leaves out the massive procurement corruption. Unforgivable. Still waiting for prosecutions
Reposted by Claire Kumar
“The heroes of the Covid story are science and the NHS (and immigration, as even Johnson attested to, given the international healthcare team who treated him for severe Covid in hospital),” writes @profdevisridhar.bsky.social. Wise words as always www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Vote for competent leaders, not entertainers – that’s what I wish the Covid report could say | Devi Sridhar
To prevent a future pandemic we’d need agile leadership, smart decision-making, humility and trustworthiness. How does one build those into a political system, asks Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global ...
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:45 PM
“The heroes of the Covid story are science and the NHS (and immigration, as even Johnson attested to, given the international healthcare team who treated him for severe Covid in hospital),” writes @profdevisridhar.bsky.social. Wise words as always www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Claire Kumar
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
Reposted by Claire Kumar
A horrifying graphic from Pew showing the fruits of the right wing war on public health.
Only 48% of Republicans believe that vaccines prevent serious illness, while 80% of Democrats do.
This is not a difference of opinion in science. This is the result of a ruthless disinformation campaign.
Only 48% of Republicans believe that vaccines prevent serious illness, while 80% of Democrats do.
This is not a difference of opinion in science. This is the result of a ruthless disinformation campaign.
November 20, 2025 at 8:46 PM
A horrifying graphic from Pew showing the fruits of the right wing war on public health.
Only 48% of Republicans believe that vaccines prevent serious illness, while 80% of Democrats do.
This is not a difference of opinion in science. This is the result of a ruthless disinformation campaign.
Only 48% of Republicans believe that vaccines prevent serious illness, while 80% of Democrats do.
This is not a difference of opinion in science. This is the result of a ruthless disinformation campaign.
Reposted by Claire Kumar
Medical bodies warn that hostility towards migrants is behind a 26% rise in departures that imperils NHS www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Overseas-trained doctors leaving the UK in record numbers
Medical bodies warn that hostility towards migrants is behind a 26% rise in departures last year that imperils NHS
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Medical bodies warn that hostility towards migrants is behind a 26% rise in departures that imperils NHS www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Claire Kumar
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
Reposted by Claire Kumar
Can we go back to the days when politicians said that they really wanted to help people but it’s very hard and takes time, rather than saying that they want to hurt people and can do it quickly?
November 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Can we go back to the days when politicians said that they really wanted to help people but it’s very hard and takes time, rather than saying that they want to hurt people and can do it quickly?
Reposted by Claire Kumar
For Shabana Mahmood to attack some of the most cruelly treated people in the world as having won a "golden ticket" because they manage to get to and claim asylum in Britain is unforgiveable.
A new, far right, low for which I can think of no precedent, by any UK Government.
A new, far right, low for which I can think of no precedent, by any UK Government.
November 16, 2025 at 11:11 AM
For Shabana Mahmood to attack some of the most cruelly treated people in the world as having won a "golden ticket" because they manage to get to and claim asylum in Britain is unforgiveable.
A new, far right, low for which I can think of no precedent, by any UK Government.
A new, far right, low for which I can think of no precedent, by any UK Government.
Reposted by Claire Kumar
This statement not acceptable and I suspect not sustainable. Large majority of public support principle of asylum, support letting people stay permanently. Majority for that among Labour and other progressive parties’ voters is overwhelming. The Reform voters this is aimed at will never vote Labour
"The era of permanent protection is over"
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Refugees from 7 decades gather to commemorate 70 years of refugee in protection in the UK
YouTube video by Refugee Council
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
This statement not acceptable and I suspect not sustainable. Large majority of public support principle of asylum, support letting people stay permanently. Majority for that among Labour and other progressive parties’ voters is overwhelming. The Reform voters this is aimed at will never vote Labour