Stephen Campbell
@stephencampbll.bsky.social
Advice researcher & writer at Citizens Advice Scotland • Former welfare rights adviser, poverty researcher, polsci grad • Interested in policy and information for the public good • Outer Hebridean in Glasgow • Inexplicably sporty gayboy 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
"average New Labour minister causes 3 scandals" factoid actualy just statistical error. average minister causes 0 scandals. Scandals Peter, who lives in cave & causes over 10,000 each day, is an outlier adn should not have been counted
January 31, 2026 at 7:29 PM
"average New Labour minister causes 3 scandals" factoid actualy just statistical error. average minister causes 0 scandals. Scandals Peter, who lives in cave & causes over 10,000 each day, is an outlier adn should not have been counted
On immigration, Spain's Pedro Sanchez is the only sane leader on the continent.
🔗 www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
🔗 www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
February 4, 2026 at 4:20 PM
On immigration, Spain's Pedro Sanchez is the only sane leader on the continent.
🔗 www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
🔗 www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
At last, the issue of student loans is properly hitting national politics.
Momentum is building among backbench Labour MPs to force action on student loans
Options include 0% interest rates, raising repayment thresholds and monthly payments so students aren't forced into overdrafts
MPs said to be "spooked" by possible Reform policy offer
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Options include 0% interest rates, raising repayment thresholds and monthly payments so students aren't forced into overdrafts
MPs said to be "spooked" by possible Reform policy offer
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Young Labour MPs team up to force chancellor’s hand on st...
Backbenchers hope to overturn chancellor’s change to scheme that could burden graduates with above-inflation interest rate increases
observer.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 7:51 AM
At last, the issue of student loans is properly hitting national politics.
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
And finally there is an editorial, in which we argue that Donald Trump is "creating a militia which answers only to himself" and how he could use it to "stage provocations pretty much anywhere with impunity, including during elections" if Congress does not step in www.economist.com/leaders/2026...
ICE’s impunity is a formula for more violence
Is America’s president building his own paramilitary militia?
www.economist.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:59 PM
And finally there is an editorial, in which we argue that Donald Trump is "creating a militia which answers only to himself" and how he could use it to "stage provocations pretty much anywhere with impunity, including during elections" if Congress does not step in www.economist.com/leaders/2026...
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
An online identity tool that underpins the digital lives of Dutch people and has partly fallen into American hands is prompting the country to reconsider its reliance on U.S. technology.
The Netherlands rethinks its US tech addiction
Dutch society is built on US digital services. That’s now seen as a glaring security issue.
www.politico.eu
January 29, 2026 at 8:49 AM
An online identity tool that underpins the digital lives of Dutch people and has partly fallen into American hands is prompting the country to reconsider its reliance on U.S. technology.
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
France announced today it’s phasing out Teams, Zoom, etc. to be replaced with a French/European solution called Visio. The data is hosted on Outscale. Transcripts and subtitles are also handled by French providers. The target is set on 2027 for government agencies.
January 26, 2026 at 3:31 PM
France announced today it’s phasing out Teams, Zoom, etc. to be replaced with a French/European solution called Visio. The data is hosted on Outscale. Transcripts and subtitles are also handled by French providers. The target is set on 2027 for government agencies.
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
if this guy had any real talent for posting he'd announced he was opening negotiations with Minnesota
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he expects US President Donald Trump to “respect Canadian sovereignty” following reports that Alberta separatists met with US officials numerous times.
Carney says he expects Trump to ‘respect Canadian sovereignty’ after Alberta separatists meet with US officials | CNN
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he expects US President Donald Trump to “respect Canadian sovereignty” following reports that Alberta separatists met with US officials numerous times.
www.cnn.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:39 PM
if this guy had any real talent for posting he'd announced he was opening negotiations with Minnesota
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
📊 Explore updated data on HIV/AIDS—
When HIV was first identified four decades ago, nearly 100% of those infected died, typically within a few years.
Thankfully, global public health efforts and medical advances such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) have improved this situation dramatically.
When HIV was first identified four decades ago, nearly 100% of those infected died, typically within a few years.
Thankfully, global public health efforts and medical advances such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) have improved this situation dramatically.
January 28, 2026 at 2:46 PM
📊 Explore updated data on HIV/AIDS—
When HIV was first identified four decades ago, nearly 100% of those infected died, typically within a few years.
Thankfully, global public health efforts and medical advances such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) have improved this situation dramatically.
When HIV was first identified four decades ago, nearly 100% of those infected died, typically within a few years.
Thankfully, global public health efforts and medical advances such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) have improved this situation dramatically.
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
Digital detox is like "giving up smoking", something that's within the power of some individuals, but not for society as a whole. The majority of the decades-long progress on smoking cessation/reduction is policy, not willpower.
“For a month, I tried: swapping my iPhone for a Nokia which I can only use to text, call and play Snake; also, a Walkman and a film camera. I picked up physical copies of books, newspapers…” What Emma Russell learned from her digital detox. [theguardian.com]
My analogue month: would ditching my smartphone make me healthier, happier – or more stressed?
When I swapped my iPhone for a Nokia, Walkman, film camera and physical map, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But my life soon started to change
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Digital detox is like "giving up smoking", something that's within the power of some individuals, but not for society as a whole. The majority of the decades-long progress on smoking cessation/reduction is policy, not willpower.
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
"The initial response from EU leaders to the Greenland crisis — suspending an EU-U.S. trade agreement, sending troops to Greenland, threatening to deploy sweeping trade retaliation against the U.S. — served as a taste of what might come."
🔗 @politico.eu | www.politico.eu/article/eu-l...
🔗 @politico.eu | www.politico.eu/article/eu-l...
This was the moment EU leaders agreed Europe must go it alone
A subdued gathering in Brussels became a wake for a decades-old world order that’s slipping away.
www.politico.eu
January 23, 2026 at 2:18 PM
"The initial response from EU leaders to the Greenland crisis — suspending an EU-U.S. trade agreement, sending troops to Greenland, threatening to deploy sweeping trade retaliation against the U.S. — served as a taste of what might come."
🔗 @politico.eu | www.politico.eu/article/eu-l...
🔗 @politico.eu | www.politico.eu/article/eu-l...
Trump's Davos speech: and I told Denmark don't keep Greenland anymore, you keep Greenland anymore we're going to have problems, and Denmark says "why do you send me a picture of my house?" and I say you're going to have to figure that out Denmark
January 21, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Trump's Davos speech: and I told Denmark don't keep Greenland anymore, you keep Greenland anymore we're going to have problems, and Denmark says "why do you send me a picture of my house?" and I say you're going to have to figure that out Denmark
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
Me watching Titanic in 1997
I think, based on literally nothing but the editing here, that Jack has had it.
January 21, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Me watching Titanic in 1997
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
not to lib out but if anybody in labour made a speech that demonstrated even 70% of the understanding of what’s happening and, importantly, the willingness to explain what’s happening as that mark carney one, they should obvs just coronate them leader now and save everybody the faff
January 20, 2026 at 10:11 PM
not to lib out but if anybody in labour made a speech that demonstrated even 70% of the understanding of what’s happening and, importantly, the willingness to explain what’s happening as that mark carney one, they should obvs just coronate them leader now and save everybody the faff
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
Davos, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum.
January 20, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Davos, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum.
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
“The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy.”
As a piece of prose and geopolitical analysis Carney’s Davos speech feels history-making. paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
As a piece of prose and geopolitical analysis Carney’s Davos speech feels history-making. paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
The Carney doctrine
Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech
paulwells.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:56 PM
“The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy.”
As a piece of prose and geopolitical analysis Carney’s Davos speech feels history-making. paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
As a piece of prose and geopolitical analysis Carney’s Davos speech feels history-making. paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
Chancellor Merz:
Currently,security in Europe is more of a concern in the East than in the West. We see the war in Ukraine. This poses a serious threat to our overall security…
Western Europe,that includes Greenland, isn’t currently threatened by Russia to the extent that some are suggesting
Currently,security in Europe is more of a concern in the East than in the West. We see the war in Ukraine. This poses a serious threat to our overall security…
Western Europe,that includes Greenland, isn’t currently threatened by Russia to the extent that some are suggesting
January 19, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Chancellor Merz:
Currently,security in Europe is more of a concern in the East than in the West. We see the war in Ukraine. This poses a serious threat to our overall security…
Western Europe,that includes Greenland, isn’t currently threatened by Russia to the extent that some are suggesting
Currently,security in Europe is more of a concern in the East than in the West. We see the war in Ukraine. This poses a serious threat to our overall security…
Western Europe,that includes Greenland, isn’t currently threatened by Russia to the extent that some are suggesting
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
Great interview/profile of him here. I think even if the show hadn’t been successful, the book would still be defeating him, because its great conceit - the POV narratives - just means that it all moves incredibly slowly.
Heavy Is the Crown: George R.R. Martin on His Triumphs and Torments
At the height of his reign, the 'Game of Thrones' author gets candid about his efforts to rule his expanding media empire, his buzzy new show 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,' and the long-delayed sag...
www.hollywoodreporter.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Great interview/profile of him here. I think even if the show hadn’t been successful, the book would still be defeating him, because its great conceit - the POV narratives - just means that it all moves incredibly slowly.
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
It's 2026, you shouldn't have to wait months to find out when an appointment is, even a vague November-December 2027 time frame that gets narrowed down as the dates near would be better than the current hearing nothing for months and wondering if it's fell between the cracks again...
Agree that behavioural science still has a lot of insight for governance. Uber's big innovation wasn't making the taxis arrive any faster, it was just reducing the uncertainty about when it would arrive. A simple tracker for your position on a NHS waiting list would reduce a lot of frustration
New post just out:
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
January 18, 2026 at 7:12 PM
It's 2026, you shouldn't have to wait months to find out when an appointment is, even a vague November-December 2027 time frame that gets narrowed down as the dates near would be better than the current hearing nothing for months and wondering if it's fell between the cracks again...
Two useful tools for anyone interested in actual policy delivery instead of endless Labour Kremlinology:
🔗 Legislation tracker from @dangroshev.com | labourreforms.uk
🔗 Government pledges tracker from @fullfact.org | fullfact.org/government-t...
🔗 Legislation tracker from @dangroshev.com | labourreforms.uk
🔗 Government pledges tracker from @fullfact.org | fullfact.org/government-t...
Government Tracker – Full Fact
Full Fact is monitoring the government’s delivery on its promises
fullfact.org
January 18, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Two useful tools for anyone interested in actual policy delivery instead of endless Labour Kremlinology:
🔗 Legislation tracker from @dangroshev.com | labourreforms.uk
🔗 Government pledges tracker from @fullfact.org | fullfact.org/government-t...
🔗 Legislation tracker from @dangroshev.com | labourreforms.uk
🔗 Government pledges tracker from @fullfact.org | fullfact.org/government-t...
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
It continues to be a bad failure that essentially there's a policy debate that is obvious to you if you read a business newspaper OR the gov dot uk website or the MI5 threat update OR a decent policy Substack is basically invisible on the BBC and in 90 per cent of Commons debates.
Maybe we can, oh I dunno, start to have a conversation with voters about this? The problem is not going to go away.
The way politics is being conducted by both the tories and Labour seems surreal to me. We have a lunatic in the WH who simply cannot be relied on to be an ally, indeed the opposite, we need to spend a ton of cash on defence and no-one seems to think voters might need to be, er, readied for all this
January 18, 2026 at 1:54 PM
It continues to be a bad failure that essentially there's a policy debate that is obvious to you if you read a business newspaper OR the gov dot uk website or the MI5 threat update OR a decent policy Substack is basically invisible on the BBC and in 90 per cent of Commons debates.
Agree that behavioural science still has a lot of insight for governance. Uber's big innovation wasn't making the taxis arrive any faster, it was just reducing the uncertainty about when it would arrive. A simple tracker for your position on a NHS waiting list would reduce a lot of frustration
New post just out:
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Troubleshooters
How to get people believing in the state again
open.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Agree that behavioural science still has a lot of insight for governance. Uber's big innovation wasn't making the taxis arrive any faster, it was just reducing the uncertainty about when it would arrive. A simple tracker for your position on a NHS waiting list would reduce a lot of frustration
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
Digital services and GOV.UK are one of the main ways that citizens interact with govt. Whether a service is too complicated, or works brilliantly, can make a big difference. Why passport service and repeat prescriptions work is they fixed a particular (visible) problem, and stopped there. (3/3)
January 13, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Digital services and GOV.UK are one of the main ways that citizens interact with govt. Whether a service is too complicated, or works brilliantly, can make a big difference. Why passport service and repeat prescriptions work is they fixed a particular (visible) problem, and stopped there. (3/3)
Reposted by Stephen Campbell
New post just out:
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Troubleshooters
How to get people believing in the state again
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:58 AM
New post just out:
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"Troubleshooters"
How fixing the many small frustrations - that make up most of our interactions with the state - can give people faith in goverment's ability to make things work.
And help create a different Whitehall culture.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...