Nicholas Allott
@nicholasallott.bsky.social
Linguist, Oslo Uni. Migrant. Cat bed. Pragmatics, related philosophy, politics and cat photos, not necessarily in that order. Culturally incoherent.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Cutting staff at a neighbouring Uni is bad for the whole coastal South East. Aside from London, what industries or large employers are there? Visit a seaside town in the winter?
How is this 'levelling up'?
14,000 jobs in HE lost last year. Where is the government support?
#AcademicSky
How is this 'levelling up'?
14,000 jobs in HE lost last year. Where is the government support?
#AcademicSky
Cutting 400 jobs at the University of Essex would hit students, teaching, research and the wider community.
Closing the Southend campus would be devastating for the town.
Staff strike 12–19 Feb.
Join the rallies: 5 Feb Southend an 12 Feb Colchester (12–1pm). Info ⬇️
Closing the Southend campus would be devastating for the town.
Staff strike 12–19 Feb.
Join the rallies: 5 Feb Southend an 12 Feb Colchester (12–1pm). Info ⬇️
University of Essex staff to strike in February in fight against job cuts
7 days of strikes will hit the University of Essex in February over plans to cut 400 jobs, the University and College Union (UCU) has announced today.
www.ucu.org.uk
January 29, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Cutting staff at a neighbouring Uni is bad for the whole coastal South East. Aside from London, what industries or large employers are there? Visit a seaside town in the winter?
How is this 'levelling up'?
14,000 jobs in HE lost last year. Where is the government support?
#AcademicSky
How is this 'levelling up'?
14,000 jobs in HE lost last year. Where is the government support?
#AcademicSky
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Wise words from Howard Zinn on the anniversary of his passing...
January 27, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Wise words from Howard Zinn on the anniversary of his passing...
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
No system beats First Past the Post for creating scenarios in which people inadvertently help their opponents. It's ideal if you want to strongly disincentivise talented, morally motivated people from going into politics (something Britain has successfully done for centuries).
January 26, 2026 at 5:56 PM
No system beats First Past the Post for creating scenarios in which people inadvertently help their opponents. It's ideal if you want to strongly disincentivise talented, morally motivated people from going into politics (something Britain has successfully done for centuries).
Excellent article
“The danger is not merely that bad ideas occasionally slip through. It is that the system gradually loses the capacity to recognise what a good idea even looks like.”
“The danger is not merely that bad ideas occasionally slip through. It is that the system gradually loses the capacity to recognise what a good idea even looks like.”
🚨NEW BLOGPOST🚨
Fast answers, overconfidence and the superficial appearance of rigour. Airport bookstores are the perfect place for those who chase fresh ideas without doing the legwork.
Unfortunately, much of our policy is shaped by the same impulse.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/airport-bo...
Fast answers, overconfidence and the superficial appearance of rigour. Airport bookstores are the perfect place for those who chase fresh ideas without doing the legwork.
Unfortunately, much of our policy is shaped by the same impulse.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/airport-bo...
Airport Book Brain
How faddish ideas keep seducing.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Excellent article
“The danger is not merely that bad ideas occasionally slip through. It is that the system gradually loses the capacity to recognise what a good idea even looks like.”
“The danger is not merely that bad ideas occasionally slip through. It is that the system gradually loses the capacity to recognise what a good idea even looks like.”
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
I just thought everyone should see this
January 22, 2026 at 11:02 PM
I just thought everyone should see this
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
In any other context, requiring a high-productivity sector to offshore the production of its highest value-added exports would be seen as the economic illiteracy it so obviously is...
www.ft.com/content/a23c...
www.ft.com/content/a23c...
UK drops target for international student recruitment
Government to encourage education providers to open campuses overseas as it focuses on reducing migration
www.ft.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:01 AM
In any other context, requiring a high-productivity sector to offshore the production of its highest value-added exports would be seen as the economic illiteracy it so obviously is...
www.ft.com/content/a23c...
www.ft.com/content/a23c...
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Knut Hamsun, a Norwegian writer, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920.
In 1943, he sent Joseph Goebbels (Hitler's propaganda minister) his Nobel Prize medal as a gift.
In 1943, he sent Joseph Goebbels (Hitler's propaganda minister) his Nobel Prize medal as a gift.
January 16, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Knut Hamsun, a Norwegian writer, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920.
In 1943, he sent Joseph Goebbels (Hitler's propaganda minister) his Nobel Prize medal as a gift.
In 1943, he sent Joseph Goebbels (Hitler's propaganda minister) his Nobel Prize medal as a gift.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
This ought to be a huge national news story. But the quiet dismantling of a key sector barely registers outside HE. Maybe someone will care when the local economies that Unis sustain start to go bust too. Important story from @patrickjack.bsky.social & @timeshighered.bsky.social
Ninety UK universities to have posted accounts so far cut 13,300 jobs last year, spending £303 million on severance pay - sector-wide total clearly going to be well in excess of predicted 10,000. Great reporting by @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spe...
Pay-off spend up by two-thirds as universities shed 13,000 jobs
Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:10 AM
This ought to be a huge national news story. But the quiet dismantling of a key sector barely registers outside HE. Maybe someone will care when the local economies that Unis sustain start to go bust too. Important story from @patrickjack.bsky.social & @timeshighered.bsky.social
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
@nature.com doesn't mind publishing "thoughts some dude had in the bathtub" as long as they're on language, apparently.
I'd love to know who reviewed this.
WTF?! 🫣 Is this a joke?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A religious quote, "primitive languages", and nonsense everywhere. Is Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Communications a scam journal?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A religious quote, "primitive languages", and nonsense everywhere. Is Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Communications a scam journal?
January 8, 2026 at 11:47 AM
@nature.com doesn't mind publishing "thoughts some dude had in the bathtub" as long as they're on language, apparently.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
This craven cowardice is not only morally repugnant, but also completely at odds with the Royal Society’s own code of conduct. By failing to uphold the code, Sir Paul Nurse looks like he’s himself also breaching it - both are bringing the Society into disrepute. royalsociety.org/-/media/abou...
So image manipulation in science papers is now OK, I take it.
Elon Musk should keep UK Royal Society membership, says president - www.ft.com/content/088b...
via @FT
Elon Musk should keep UK Royal Society membership, says president - www.ft.com/content/088b...
via @FT
January 9, 2026 at 7:06 PM
This craven cowardice is not only morally repugnant, but also completely at odds with the Royal Society’s own code of conduct. By failing to uphold the code, Sir Paul Nurse looks like he’s himself also breaching it - both are bringing the Society into disrepute. royalsociety.org/-/media/abou...
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Tell me we should trust AI to give us the facts. Tell me it's a future we can put our faith in. Come at me. I'm right here, waiting.
January 4, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Tell me we should trust AI to give us the facts. Tell me it's a future we can put our faith in. Come at me. I'm right here, waiting.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
“Between 1898 and 1994, Washington effectively acted to change governments in Latin America at least 41 times, a tally that includes neither many unsuccessful efforts at regime change nor the invasions, filibustering, and gunboat diplomacy that took place the previous century.“
Greg Grandin:
Greg Grandin:
The Containment-Liberation Complex
U.S. interventions have had disastrous consequences.
www.bostonreview.net
January 3, 2026 at 4:28 PM
“Between 1898 and 1994, Washington effectively acted to change governments in Latin America at least 41 times, a tally that includes neither many unsuccessful efforts at regime change nor the invasions, filibustering, and gunboat diplomacy that took place the previous century.“
Greg Grandin:
Greg Grandin:
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
rome statute of the international criminal court, article 8bis: crime of aggression
January 3, 2026 at 7:07 AM
rome statute of the international criminal court, article 8bis: crime of aggression
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
The outrageous sanctioning of EU lawmakers and citizens in order to pressure democratically-elected European governments to change their laws shows just how intent the US government is on controlling Europeans' lives.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
The US can destroy a European's life with the swipe of a pen
This week's US sanctions against European lawmakers and privacy activists is a major escalation. And it shows the dangers of Europe relying on American economic infrastructure.
open.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:09 AM
The outrageous sanctioning of EU lawmakers and citizens in order to pressure democratically-elected European governments to change their laws shows just how intent the US government is on controlling Europeans' lives.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
#philsky
Funded postdoctoral positions (FCT) at the Institute of Philosophy, University of Porto – Call for expressions of interest:
Funded postdoctoral positions (FCT) at the Institute of Philosophy, University of Porto – Call for expressions of interest:
Instituto de Filosofia - UP
ifilosofia.up.pt
December 29, 2025 at 9:31 PM
#philsky
Funded postdoctoral positions (FCT) at the Institute of Philosophy, University of Porto – Call for expressions of interest:
Funded postdoctoral positions (FCT) at the Institute of Philosophy, University of Porto – Call for expressions of interest:
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
If there was an academia wrapped it would say: ‘you read these articles, those abstracts, half of this book, a third of that one, maybe a chapter from this…’
December 24, 2025 at 11:06 AM
If there was an academia wrapped it would say: ‘you read these articles, those abstracts, half of this book, a third of that one, maybe a chapter from this…’
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
Britain could have joined Erasmus five years ago; an agreement on funding was completed between negotiators but vetoed “at the very last minute” by Boris Johnson. From Stefaan de Rynck’s book
December 17, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Britain could have joined Erasmus five years ago; an agreement on funding was completed between negotiators but vetoed “at the very last minute” by Boris Johnson. From Stefaan de Rynck’s book
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
"This decision was not taken lightly, with staff feedback taken into consideration throughout the consultation.” I’ve seen an awful lot of consultations in HE & it’s so strange that universities always claim to have taken staff feedback into consideration whilst never acting on any of it.
"Solent University faces strike action after staff forced out of pension scheme"
Solent University faces strike action after staff forced out of pension scheme
Staff at Solent University have voted to take strike action after management forced hundreds of employees out of their existing pension scheme.
www.dailyecho.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 9:57 AM
"This decision was not taken lightly, with staff feedback taken into consideration throughout the consultation.” I’ve seen an awful lot of consultations in HE & it’s so strange that universities always claim to have taken staff feedback into consideration whilst never acting on any of it.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
It has become received wisdom in Brussels and Washington that there is a new “euro-sclerosis”: that the EU economy is lagging the US
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
December 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It has become received wisdom in Brussels and Washington that there is a new “euro-sclerosis”: that the EU economy is lagging the US
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
“At the very moment when global competition for research talent is intensifying, Britain has made itself less accessible, less attractive, and less affordable.” This is a good article.
We say we want “global talent,” but what if our visa system only welcomes the wealthy?
Read more 👇
nandosigona.info/2025/12/08/w...
#globaltalent #visa #migration #Labour
Read more 👇
nandosigona.info/2025/12/08/w...
#globaltalent #visa #migration #Labour
We want global talents (but only if they are rich)
Nando Sigona, University of Birmingham Last week’s intervention by a leading UK scientist over the prohibitive cost of visas raised an uncomfortable truth: Britain’s migration system is not — or is…
nandosigona.info
December 9, 2025 at 9:41 AM
“At the very moment when global competition for research talent is intensifying, Britain has made itself less accessible, less attractive, and less affordable.” This is a good article.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
New post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
It is now generally (although not universally) accepted that those of us who campaigned vigorously against the government’s auster...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
New post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Good journalism; horrifying story.
We should abolish the Home Office.
We should abolish the Home Office.
The life and limbo of a UK asylum seeker: one man’s harrowing 17-year wait for leave to remain
The life and limbo of a UK asylum seeker: one man’s harrowing 17-year wait for leave to remain
Ussu fled imprisonment and torture, only to find himself treated like a liar and outcast in the UK. Here’s how he survived homelessness and horrific injury in almost two decades without a decision
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Good journalism; horrifying story.
We should abolish the Home Office.
We should abolish the Home Office.
Reposted by Nicholas Allott
This focuses on politics. But we should also care about *outcomes*.
In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes.
Why would we want to copy that?
In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes.
Why would we want to copy that?
After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low.
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM
This focuses on politics. But we should also care about *outcomes*.
In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes.
Why would we want to copy that?
In the UK, migrants (both from EU and elsewhere) are more likely to have a job than the UK born. In Denmark, there's a gap of 15-20%. Similarly for education outcomes.
Why would we want to copy that?