Rob Ford
@robfordmancs.bsky.social
Politics Professor, University of Manchester.
Author of "The British General Election of 2024", "The British General Election of 2019" & "Brexitland"
My Substack, "The Swingometer", is here: https://swingometer.substack.com/
https://www.robertford.net/
Author of "The British General Election of 2024", "The British General Election of 2019" & "Brexitland"
My Substack, "The Swingometer", is here: https://swingometer.substack.com/
https://www.robertford.net/
Pinned
Rob Ford
@robfordmancs.bsky.social
· Nov 26
link.springer.com
Simply go the the Springer site for the book, and enter discount code "BGE25", and you'll get 25% off the definitive guide to last year's general election - with many lessons for the current mess we are in. Here's the website:
link.springer.com/book/9783031...
link.springer.com/book/9783031...
Reposted by Rob Ford
Nobody believes what Starmer says about Trump. Some commentators think that’s fine - it is what realpolitik demands - but even then, it leaves the PM without the best defence for himself.
January 4, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Nobody believes what Starmer says about Trump. Some commentators think that’s fine - it is what realpolitik demands - but even then, it leaves the PM without the best defence for himself.
Reposted by Rob Ford
The relationship with Donald Trump has killed the Starmer brand. Starmer came to office promising to respect voters, tell hard truths and prioritise substance over slogans and soundbites. By refusing to step out of line from Trumpian fantasy, he undermines each of those commitments.
January 4, 2026 at 12:38 PM
The relationship with Donald Trump has killed the Starmer brand. Starmer came to office promising to respect voters, tell hard truths and prioritise substance over slogans and soundbites. By refusing to step out of line from Trumpian fantasy, he undermines each of those commitments.
The red line blurring commences. Given growing Brexit scepticism in the public at large, and particularly on the left bloc, expect this to continue
UK should seek ‘closer alignment’ with EU single market, Starmer says ft.trib.al/ZRwzfBP
UK should seek ‘closer alignment’ with EU single market, Starmer says
Prime minister vows he will stay in Number 10 even as Labour party sinks in opinion polls
ft.trib.al
January 4, 2026 at 12:24 PM
The red line blurring commences. Given growing Brexit scepticism in the public at large, and particularly on the left bloc, expect this to continue
Reposted by Rob Ford
V good thread. IMV what’s double damning about the Ovenden piece is that you could write a thousand pieces about how Whitehall could run better, but absolutely none of them would run through “why should the diplomatic service care about a British citizen in an authoritarian jail?”
I have a few thoughts on the Stakeholder State and the piece by Paul Ovenden.
I disagree with the extent of emphasis on stakeholders, but the more dismissive engagement on this app misses that a Strong Stakeholderism does exist, and has placed particular constraints on a govt that lacks direction 🧵
I disagree with the extent of emphasis on stakeholders, but the more dismissive engagement on this app misses that a Strong Stakeholderism does exist, and has placed particular constraints on a govt that lacks direction 🧵
The Blob, the Groups and now The Stakeholder state
Alaa Abd el-Fattah has shown supremacy of the Stakeholder State
www.thetimes.com/article/3720...
Alaa Abd el-Fattah has shown supremacy of the Stakeholder State
www.thetimes.com/article/3720...
January 3, 2026 at 10:43 AM
V good thread. IMV what’s double damning about the Ovenden piece is that you could write a thousand pieces about how Whitehall could run better, but absolutely none of them would run through “why should the diplomatic service care about a British citizen in an authoritarian jail?”
Reposted by Rob Ford
Nevertheless, it isn’t necessarily the case this means that a ‘Stakeholder State’ wins - other powerful forces can. The Stakeholder State didn’t rally for cutting winter fuel payments, unless you count HMT as a Stakeholder. This speaks to a wider paralysis amidst no Centre direction.
January 3, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Nevertheless, it isn’t necessarily the case this means that a ‘Stakeholder State’ wins - other powerful forces can. The Stakeholder State didn’t rally for cutting winter fuel payments, unless you count HMT as a Stakeholder. This speaks to a wider paralysis amidst no Centre direction.
Reposted by Rob Ford
@pollymackenzie.bsky.social's substack makes this point well. This govt has not consciously chosen which political battles to fight. Combine that with a tendency to centralise, we are in a place where throughout government, ‘everything is a priority’, so nothing is.
January 3, 2026 at 10:28 AM
@pollymackenzie.bsky.social's substack makes this point well. This govt has not consciously chosen which political battles to fight. Combine that with a tendency to centralise, we are in a place where throughout government, ‘everything is a priority’, so nothing is.
Reposted by Rob Ford
The core of the issue I take with the Ovenden piece, is that this is a particularly acute problem when the government doesn’t have a clear sense of what it wants, the clear trade-offs that it is willing to accept as a result. Which stakeholders are you willing to piss off for extended periods.
January 3, 2026 at 10:28 AM
The core of the issue I take with the Ovenden piece, is that this is a particularly acute problem when the government doesn’t have a clear sense of what it wants, the clear trade-offs that it is willing to accept as a result. Which stakeholders are you willing to piss off for extended periods.
Reposted by Rob Ford
I have a few thoughts on the Stakeholder State and the piece by Paul Ovenden.
I disagree with the extent of emphasis on stakeholders, but the more dismissive engagement on this app misses that a Strong Stakeholderism does exist, and has placed particular constraints on a govt that lacks direction 🧵
I disagree with the extent of emphasis on stakeholders, but the more dismissive engagement on this app misses that a Strong Stakeholderism does exist, and has placed particular constraints on a govt that lacks direction 🧵
The Blob, the Groups and now The Stakeholder state
Alaa Abd el-Fattah has shown supremacy of the Stakeholder State
www.thetimes.com/article/3720...
Alaa Abd el-Fattah has shown supremacy of the Stakeholder State
www.thetimes.com/article/3720...
January 3, 2026 at 10:28 AM
I have a few thoughts on the Stakeholder State and the piece by Paul Ovenden.
I disagree with the extent of emphasis on stakeholders, but the more dismissive engagement on this app misses that a Strong Stakeholderism does exist, and has placed particular constraints on a govt that lacks direction 🧵
I disagree with the extent of emphasis on stakeholders, but the more dismissive engagement on this app misses that a Strong Stakeholderism does exist, and has placed particular constraints on a govt that lacks direction 🧵
Reposted by Rob Ford
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
NEW: People are using Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok, to alter images to depict real women being sexually abused, humiliated, hurt, and even killed.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Grok Is Being Used to Depict Horrific Violence Against Real Women
People are asking Elon Musk's Grok chatbot to alter images to depict women being sexually abused, humiliated, and even killed.
futurism.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:18 PM
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
Reposted by Rob Ford
Set out six months ago to investigative some dubious evictions. Ended up writing a sprawling story spread over 450 years about London property deals, the ethics of money lending, Tommy Robinson, Barbary pirates, Jacobean earls, and wealth in the capital. www.londoncentric.media/p/henry-smit...
A Tale Of One City And Two Henry Smiths
These two London landlords are separated by four centuries — but joined by a common name and business interests.
www.londoncentric.media
January 1, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Set out six months ago to investigative some dubious evictions. Ended up writing a sprawling story spread over 450 years about London property deals, the ethics of money lending, Tommy Robinson, Barbary pirates, Jacobean earls, and wealth in the capital. www.londoncentric.media/p/henry-smit...
Reposted by Rob Ford
This is a thread of major media outlets falsely anthropomorphising the "Grok" chatbot program and in doing so, actively and directly removing responsibility and accountability from individual people working at X who created a child pornography generator (Elon Musk, Nikita Bier etc)
#1: Reuters
#1: Reuters
January 2, 2026 at 8:02 PM
This is a thread of major media outlets falsely anthropomorphising the "Grok" chatbot program and in doing so, actively and directly removing responsibility and accountability from individual people working at X who created a child pornography generator (Elon Musk, Nikita Bier etc)
#1: Reuters
#1: Reuters
Reposted by Rob Ford
This is great news (great stuff in the thread as to why, too):
Woohoo! Chickenpox vaccines are on the menu in the UK - finally!!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Ignore the sceptics: with this new vaccine, chickenpox could become a thing of the past | Wes Streeting
Thousands develop serious complications from the varicella virus. Today the NHS rolls out a new jab, alongside measles, mumps and rubella, says health secretary Wes Streeting
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:22 PM
This is great news (great stuff in the thread as to why, too):
Reposted by Rob Ford
Excellent post by @pollymackenzie.bsky.social on the trouble with stakeholder statism and all that:
Governing without Giving a F***
The advice Keir Starmer should take from a self-help guru
substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Excellent post by @pollymackenzie.bsky.social on the trouble with stakeholder statism and all that:
Reposted by Rob Ford
I've had two outstanding public service experiences this hols: a new passport within 2 days of application & a prescription ready to pick up within 2 hours of request. Time saved is a key (unmeasured) productivity metric: digital tech makes a huge difference when implemented well.
January 2, 2026 at 4:07 PM
I've had two outstanding public service experiences this hols: a new passport within 2 days of application & a prescription ready to pick up within 2 hours of request. Time saved is a key (unmeasured) productivity metric: digital tech makes a huge difference when implemented well.
Reposted by Rob Ford
Remember when the right-wing press and the private schools lobby said VAT would mean an exodus to state schools causing a crisis? Not so much.
(From this FT analysis: www.ft.com/content/c979...)
(From this FT analysis: www.ft.com/content/c979...)
January 2, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Remember when the right-wing press and the private schools lobby said VAT would mean an exodus to state schools causing a crisis? Not so much.
(From this FT analysis: www.ft.com/content/c979...)
(From this FT analysis: www.ft.com/content/c979...)
Reposted by Rob Ford
Agree with this. A consequence of the fact most people in politics only have experience of small organisations is that they think 'huh, this institution sort has its own soul and patterns of behaviour' is a novel insight unique to the state and not a 'no kidding!' one.
Not to go all third way, but I think you can believe both that public bureaucracies tend to groupthink and stasis AND that political operatives cannot just declare that, shout at them, and imagine this will answer the problems.
The sharply bimodal response to Paul Ovenden's piece represents a real political divide.
Not between right and left.
But between those who think shifting power from politicians to bureaucrats, quangos and courts was right, and those who see it as central to our problems.
Not between right and left.
But between those who think shifting power from politicians to bureaucrats, quangos and courts was right, and those who see it as central to our problems.
January 2, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Agree with this. A consequence of the fact most people in politics only have experience of small organisations is that they think 'huh, this institution sort has its own soul and patterns of behaviour' is a novel insight unique to the state and not a 'no kidding!' one.
Reposted by Rob Ford
It's also such an easy political win.
Point to Musk donating to far right groups like Rupert Lowe's and his previous support for Reform and say they're being funded by a noncebot.
Point to Musk donating to far right groups like Rupert Lowe's and his previous support for Reform and say they're being funded by a noncebot.
If the British government, and indeed other governments, can’t muster a fast and strong response to Twitter adding a facility enabling users to create and share AI child sexual abuse material then not sure what Musk could ever do that would actually provoke a response.
January 2, 2026 at 2:16 PM
It's also such an easy political win.
Point to Musk donating to far right groups like Rupert Lowe's and his previous support for Reform and say they're being funded by a noncebot.
Point to Musk donating to far right groups like Rupert Lowe's and his previous support for Reform and say they're being funded by a noncebot.
If the British government, and indeed other governments, can’t muster a fast and strong response to Twitter adding a facility enabling users to create and share AI child sexual abuse material then not sure what Musk could ever do that would actually provoke a response.
January 2, 2026 at 1:27 PM
If the British government, and indeed other governments, can’t muster a fast and strong response to Twitter adding a facility enabling users to create and share AI child sexual abuse material then not sure what Musk could ever do that would actually provoke a response.
Reposted by Rob Ford
Shouting 'stakeholder state'/'blob' is the biggest tell for a lack of imjudgement. Judgement is what's needed to know when to say yes or no to groups. Endless consultation & engagement is a function of lack of judgement. Note: judgement is different to ideology, it's effective programme management
January 2, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Shouting 'stakeholder state'/'blob' is the biggest tell for a lack of imjudgement. Judgement is what's needed to know when to say yes or no to groups. Endless consultation & engagement is a function of lack of judgement. Note: judgement is different to ideology, it's effective programme management
Reposted by Rob Ford
The whole argument ignores the extent to which both parties have actively worked to hollow out the capacity of the state as economically active, concerned with distribution and able to deliver public services. What he is describing is ‘fringe’ only because it is too often all that is left.
January 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The whole argument ignores the extent to which both parties have actively worked to hollow out the capacity of the state as economically active, concerned with distribution and able to deliver public services. What he is describing is ‘fringe’ only because it is too often all that is left.
Reposted by Rob Ford
January 2, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Reposted by Rob Ford
The idea that the government has spent significant time or energy on "colonial reparations" sounds like a caricature. Given the UK is part of the Commonweslth, the UK gvt opposed calls from other Commonwealth members for reparations while agreeing to "resoectful dialogue" in a communique of 56 govts
January 2, 2026 at 12:05 AM
The idea that the government has spent significant time or energy on "colonial reparations" sounds like a caricature. Given the UK is part of the Commonweslth, the UK gvt opposed calls from other Commonwealth members for reparations while agreeing to "resoectful dialogue" in a communique of 56 govts
Reposted by Rob Ford
The big picture flaw in the piece is that PO doesn't care enough about policy or indeed ideas. (This is v clear in the worked examples.) So the 'why is this central government's business anyway?' question never occurs, it's just 'how dare this get in my grid' ranting.
January 2, 2026 at 10:51 AM
The big picture flaw in the piece is that PO doesn't care enough about policy or indeed ideas. (This is v clear in the worked examples.) So the 'why is this central government's business anyway?' question never occurs, it's just 'how dare this get in my grid' ranting.
Reposted by Rob Ford
I don't think the "stakeholder state" is useful framing but the "regulatory state" has grown massively.
It's not a conspiracy against govt though but a function of centralisation (and privatisation). Ministers can't cope with responsibility for everything so set up agencies and regulators.
It's not a conspiracy against govt though but a function of centralisation (and privatisation). Ministers can't cope with responsibility for everything so set up agencies and regulators.
January 2, 2026 at 8:26 AM
I don't think the "stakeholder state" is useful framing but the "regulatory state" has grown massively.
It's not a conspiracy against govt though but a function of centralisation (and privatisation). Ministers can't cope with responsibility for everything so set up agencies and regulators.
It's not a conspiracy against govt though but a function of centralisation (and privatisation). Ministers can't cope with responsibility for everything so set up agencies and regulators.
This is what Brendan Nyhan has called the “Green Lantern” theory of government- the idea that leaders, like the DC comic book heroes, can in fact do anything if they try hard enough so any failure is a failure of will rather than due to complexity/institutional constraints/competing interest etc
Its also a perpetual fantasy that you are one Superman away from fixing everyone, and invariably they are that Superman - which just totally fails to understand how complex governing and government is.
Just like the Tories, Labour's centrist hacks think themselves omniscient and infallible - they cannot fail, they can only be failed. So when they do fail, they blame everyone else.
We saw it with the Tories, and it's already started from the Starmerites with this idiotic dreck: archive.ph/rHoXA
We saw it with the Tories, and it's already started from the Starmerites with this idiotic dreck: archive.ph/rHoXA
January 2, 2026 at 9:33 AM
This is what Brendan Nyhan has called the “Green Lantern” theory of government- the idea that leaders, like the DC comic book heroes, can in fact do anything if they try hard enough so any failure is a failure of will rather than due to complexity/institutional constraints/competing interest etc