Helen Barnard
@helenbarnard.bsky.social
Director of Policy, Research, Impact, TrussellTrust Trustee NatCen. Former JRF & Pro Bono Economics. Author: Want (Giants: A New Beveridge Report) http://amzn.eu/d/hk1ojO6
Reposted by Helen Barnard
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
Reposted by Helen Barnard
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Here’s the same data, but with trust broken down by political views (circles are trust among people on the left, +s the right).
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
November 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Great to hear the Chancellor make the common sense case for removing the 2 child limit.⬇️ We've seen positive first steps & clear commitment to tackling poverty in their first year. Now we need bold action in the Budget to give children a fair start & reduce the need for emergency food.
November 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Great to hear the Chancellor make the common sense case for removing the 2 child limit.⬇️ We've seen positive first steps & clear commitment to tackling poverty in their first year. Now we need bold action in the Budget to give children a fair start & reduce the need for emergency food.
Weird how 'International rules based order' just sounds kind of quaint these days.
(Yes, I have recently finished The Diplomat, which definitely feels nostalgic despite many people behaving badly in it!)
(Yes, I have recently finished The Diplomat, which definitely feels nostalgic despite many people behaving badly in it!)
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Weird how 'International rules based order' just sounds kind of quaint these days.
(Yes, I have recently finished The Diplomat, which definitely feels nostalgic despite many people behaving badly in it!)
(Yes, I have recently finished The Diplomat, which definitely feels nostalgic despite many people behaving badly in it!)
Reposted by Helen Barnard
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?
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 AM
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?
#TheArchers, an everyday story of terrible ideas.
- Esme running the farm
- Susan resigning
- Ruth 'tactfully' talking to Leonard.
A festival of truly awful decisions.
- Esme running the farm
- Susan resigning
- Ruth 'tactfully' talking to Leonard.
A festival of truly awful decisions.
November 9, 2025 at 10:05 PM
#TheArchers, an everyday story of terrible ideas.
- Esme running the farm
- Susan resigning
- Ruth 'tactfully' talking to Leonard.
A festival of truly awful decisions.
- Esme running the farm
- Susan resigning
- Ruth 'tactfully' talking to Leonard.
A festival of truly awful decisions.
Excellent analysis of Mayfield Review from @benbgeiger.bsky.social & @louisemurphy.bsky.social
@resolutionfoundation.org
- Review has the right diagnosis & analysis of problem & drivers.
- UK labour market isn't in crisis, but does have a long-running problem with disability inclusion.
1/n
@resolutionfoundation.org
- Review has the right diagnosis & analysis of problem & drivers.
- UK labour market isn't in crisis, but does have a long-running problem with disability inclusion.
1/n
From Review to reality • Resolution Foundation
There’s always a danger that official reviews end up generating a lot of talk and symbolic gestures, but don’t set out meaningful steps for change. That’s the challenge faced by the just-published rev...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
November 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Excellent analysis of Mayfield Review from @benbgeiger.bsky.social & @louisemurphy.bsky.social
@resolutionfoundation.org
- Review has the right diagnosis & analysis of problem & drivers.
- UK labour market isn't in crisis, but does have a long-running problem with disability inclusion.
1/n
@resolutionfoundation.org
- Review has the right diagnosis & analysis of problem & drivers.
- UK labour market isn't in crisis, but does have a long-running problem with disability inclusion.
1/n
Very interesting publication from think tanks & experts across the political spectrum, on tax reforms that can drive growth. centax.org.uk/tax-reforms-... Includes @jrf-uk.bsky.social @ippr.org @brightblueuk.bsky.social @cps.org.uk @neweconomics.bsky.social @danneidle.bsky.social CenTax & others
centax.org.uk
November 7, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Very interesting publication from think tanks & experts across the political spectrum, on tax reforms that can drive growth. centax.org.uk/tax-reforms-... Includes @jrf-uk.bsky.social @ippr.org @brightblueuk.bsky.social @cps.org.uk @neweconomics.bsky.social @danneidle.bsky.social CenTax & others
Why??! Why??!
Why can't 2 judges walk a few steps to the cake instead of 3 people carrying a massive cake to a different table??!!
It just makes no sense. #GBBO
Why can't 2 judges walk a few steps to the cake instead of 3 people carrying a massive cake to a different table??!!
It just makes no sense. #GBBO
November 4, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Why??! Why??!
Why can't 2 judges walk a few steps to the cake instead of 3 people carrying a massive cake to a different table??!!
It just makes no sense. #GBBO
Why can't 2 judges walk a few steps to the cake instead of 3 people carrying a massive cake to a different table??!!
It just makes no sense. #GBBO
Love Bake Off. Hate all the padding in the final.
Not interested in the bakers’ families, or their ‘journey’ or how much they really really want to win.
Just show them baking.
Bit of panic.
Paul curling his lip,
Prue being kind but harsh.
Someone winning.
That’s all.
Not interested in the bakers’ families, or their ‘journey’ or how much they really really want to win.
Just show them baking.
Bit of panic.
Paul curling his lip,
Prue being kind but harsh.
Someone winning.
That’s all.
November 4, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Love Bake Off. Hate all the padding in the final.
Not interested in the bakers’ families, or their ‘journey’ or how much they really really want to win.
Just show them baking.
Bit of panic.
Paul curling his lip,
Prue being kind but harsh.
Someone winning.
That’s all.
Not interested in the bakers’ families, or their ‘journey’ or how much they really really want to win.
Just show them baking.
Bit of panic.
Paul curling his lip,
Prue being kind but harsh.
Someone winning.
That’s all.
If they banned smartphones at schools how would the kids get there? Bus tickets are on an app, no option for paper or other ticket types.
No phone.
No bus.
No school.
(I also think schools in my experience are quite capable of enforcing loads of sometimes quite odd rules.)
No phone.
No bus.
No school.
(I also think schools in my experience are quite capable of enforcing loads of sometimes quite odd rules.)
November 4, 2025 at 7:58 PM
If they banned smartphones at schools how would the kids get there? Bus tickets are on an app, no option for paper or other ticket types.
No phone.
No bus.
No school.
(I also think schools in my experience are quite capable of enforcing loads of sometimes quite odd rules.)
No phone.
No bus.
No school.
(I also think schools in my experience are quite capable of enforcing loads of sometimes quite odd rules.)
Reposted by Helen Barnard
Notable in today's YouGov that the centre/left bloc - Lab/Green/LD/SNP are on 54%. With Reform/Tories on 43%. That's the biggest differential in a long time.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
November 4, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Notable in today's YouGov that the centre/left bloc - Lab/Green/LD/SNP are on 54%. With Reform/Tories on 43%. That's the biggest differential in a long time.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
I really feel for my bank’s customer complaints team. They’re always good - clear, responsive, honest. But they’re trapped in a system which no longer cares about customer service. So they just have to keep apologising without being able to really improve anything.
November 4, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I really feel for my bank’s customer complaints team. They’re always good - clear, responsive, honest. But they’re trapped in a system which no longer cares about customer service. So they just have to keep apologising without being able to really improve anything.
And that all parties at the last election failed to confront the electorate with that reality.
Instead claiming we can fix public services, reduce poverty etc whilst cutting taxes.
Instead claiming we can fix public services, reduce poverty etc whilst cutting taxes.
Don’t blame the bond markets: they just lend us money & set a price.
Don’t blame the OBR: they just do the maths. If they didn’t plenty of others will.
They’re just mirrors.
The problem is reality: high debt, low growth, hollowed out public services.
Don’t blame the OBR: they just do the maths. If they didn’t plenty of others will.
They’re just mirrors.
The problem is reality: high debt, low growth, hollowed out public services.
October 31, 2025 at 3:06 PM
And that all parties at the last election failed to confront the electorate with that reality.
Instead claiming we can fix public services, reduce poverty etc whilst cutting taxes.
Instead claiming we can fix public services, reduce poverty etc whilst cutting taxes.
Don’t blame the bond markets: they just lend us money & set a price.
Don’t blame the OBR: they just do the maths. If they didn’t plenty of others will.
They’re just mirrors.
The problem is reality: high debt, low growth, hollowed out public services.
Don’t blame the OBR: they just do the maths. If they didn’t plenty of others will.
They’re just mirrors.
The problem is reality: high debt, low growth, hollowed out public services.
October 31, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Don’t blame the bond markets: they just lend us money & set a price.
Don’t blame the OBR: they just do the maths. If they didn’t plenty of others will.
They’re just mirrors.
The problem is reality: high debt, low growth, hollowed out public services.
Don’t blame the OBR: they just do the maths. If they didn’t plenty of others will.
They’re just mirrors.
The problem is reality: high debt, low growth, hollowed out public services.
Just experienced peak first world problem: turns out we can’t watch Bake Off in Greece.
I’m simultaneously genuinely annoyed & disappointed, and fully aware this is in no way a reasonable situation to be annoyed about.
I’m simultaneously genuinely annoyed & disappointed, and fully aware this is in no way a reasonable situation to be annoyed about.
October 30, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Just experienced peak first world problem: turns out we can’t watch Bake Off in Greece.
I’m simultaneously genuinely annoyed & disappointed, and fully aware this is in no way a reasonable situation to be annoyed about.
I’m simultaneously genuinely annoyed & disappointed, and fully aware this is in no way a reasonable situation to be annoyed about.
Reposted by Helen Barnard
Lots of Labour despair on the timeline today.
The next election is likely more than three years away. The route to winning it starts by acknowledging that some more short term pain is probably required to get into a position where victory is possible.
This budget is going to be painful. But 1/3
The next election is likely more than three years away. The route to winning it starts by acknowledging that some more short term pain is probably required to get into a position where victory is possible.
This budget is going to be painful. But 1/3
October 28, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Lots of Labour despair on the timeline today.
The next election is likely more than three years away. The route to winning it starts by acknowledging that some more short term pain is probably required to get into a position where victory is possible.
This budget is going to be painful. But 1/3
The next election is likely more than three years away. The route to winning it starts by acknowledging that some more short term pain is probably required to get into a position where victory is possible.
This budget is going to be painful. But 1/3
This really is an extraordinary chart.
October 24, 2025 at 9:29 AM
This really is an extraordinary chart.
This research is really interesting, but an underlying driver of which taxes people support tends to be whether they think they (or people close to them) will be affected. So people are most likely to support taxes that they assume others will pay.
What tax reforms would Britons support?
What tax reforms would Britons support? | YouGov
A wealth tax tops the list of measures the public would back
buff.ly
October 23, 2025 at 11:32 AM
This research is really interesting, but an underlying driver of which taxes people support tends to be whether they think they (or people close to them) will be affected. So people are most likely to support taxes that they assume others will pay.
This isn't 'not doing small talk' it's 'doing very odd small talk'.
1. Sorry, love, you're a tiresomely self-absorbed narcissist
2. This is in fact small talk, as it performs much the same function as asking "how are you?", ie to break the ice and make a social connection. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
2. This is in fact small talk, as it performs much the same function as asking "how are you?", ie to break the ice and make a social connection. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
October 22, 2025 at 11:28 AM
This isn't 'not doing small talk' it's 'doing very odd small talk'.
Reposted by Helen Barnard
This is good news - well done to everyone involved 🙌
We have long called for children’s welfare and survivors of domestic abuse to be prioritised in child contact cases in the family courts.
The Ministry of Justice announcement to repeal the presumption of parental involvement is a positive step forward.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The Ministry of Justice announcement to repeal the presumption of parental involvement is a positive step forward.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Family law shift hailed as victory for children facing domestic abuse
‘Groundbreaking’ repeal of presumption of parental involvement in England and Wales ‘will ensure courts place safety of children above all else’
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
This is good news - well done to everyone involved 🙌
We now know what % will be used to uprate benefits & pensions next April:
- State pension: 4.8%
- Universal Credit: 3.8%
Stark contrast to shocking statistics on % facing hunger whilst on those benefits:
- State pension: 3%
- Universal Credit: 52%
- State pension: 4.8%
- Universal Credit: 3.8%
Stark contrast to shocking statistics on % facing hunger whilst on those benefits:
- State pension: 3%
- Universal Credit: 52%
October 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM
We now know what % will be used to uprate benefits & pensions next April:
- State pension: 4.8%
- Universal Credit: 3.8%
Stark contrast to shocking statistics on % facing hunger whilst on those benefits:
- State pension: 3%
- Universal Credit: 52%
- State pension: 4.8%
- Universal Credit: 3.8%
Stark contrast to shocking statistics on % facing hunger whilst on those benefits:
- State pension: 3%
- Universal Credit: 52%
My train is delayed ‘due to slippery rails’.
I’m sorry, what??!!
The rails are a bit slippy? Tell the train to hold on tight & get on with it!
I’m sorry, what??!!
The rails are a bit slippy? Tell the train to hold on tight & get on with it!
October 22, 2025 at 7:27 AM
My train is delayed ‘due to slippery rails’.
I’m sorry, what??!!
The rails are a bit slippy? Tell the train to hold on tight & get on with it!
I’m sorry, what??!!
The rails are a bit slippy? Tell the train to hold on tight & get on with it!
This time of year I really resent Del Boy.
A lot of my time is spent thinking about, discussing, listening to people talk about the Budget.
And my brain insists on playing ‘Hooky Street’ *every time* someone mentions income tax or VAT.
Every. Single. Time.
A lot of my time is spent thinking about, discussing, listening to people talk about the Budget.
And my brain insists on playing ‘Hooky Street’ *every time* someone mentions income tax or VAT.
Every. Single. Time.
October 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This time of year I really resent Del Boy.
A lot of my time is spent thinking about, discussing, listening to people talk about the Budget.
And my brain insists on playing ‘Hooky Street’ *every time* someone mentions income tax or VAT.
Every. Single. Time.
A lot of my time is spent thinking about, discussing, listening to people talk about the Budget.
And my brain insists on playing ‘Hooky Street’ *every time* someone mentions income tax or VAT.
Every. Single. Time.