Stu Mackinnon
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stumackinnon.bsky.social
Stu Mackinnon
@stumackinnon.bsky.social
Head of comms and advocacy at Carnegie UK - a foundation that works on wellbeing policy.

Scotch pie, science fiction and rugby enthusiast.
Oh wise ones. Any idea of the impact that behavioural changes associated with this move would have on the SG's budget? Fewer people using salary sacrifice maybe thus higher tax receipts? www.ft.com/content/1160...
Cap on UK salary sacrifice benefits is ‘short-term’ choice, warn experts
Employers may lower amount they pay into staff pension pots
www.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
Smashing to see @graceblakeley.substack.com look more closely at Carnegie's Life in the UK data: bsky.app/profile/grac...
72% do not feel that they can influence decisions affecting the UK.

Why? Because our political and economic institutions have been captured by the wealthy.

And our democracy is failing as a result.
graceblakeley.substack.com/p/the-uks-fa...
The UK's Failing Democracy
The Carnegie Foundation's Life in the UK report shows the weakness of UK democracy, and the suffering caused as a result .
graceblakeley.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:49 AM
I'd like to see Scottish political parties pledge to sort out our tight head problem. Better yet, clone Zander: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
Can Scotland find way to end All Blacks hoodoo?
Can Scotland end
www.bbc.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Holyrood’s delivery problem: bold ideas, weak results www.heraldscotland.com/news/2559919... < I like this by Hannah Brown. I think that weak delivery also undermines the case for government action full stop in the eyes of the public.
Unspun: Why Holyrood keeps promising change — but struggles to make it real
Concerns have been raised about Scotland having a "implementation gap". We promise a lot in Holyrood but then deliver little - so what's…
www.heraldscotland.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
Wales' collective wellbeing scores have once again stagnated & trust in our decision-makers has decreased.

As we head to a Senedd election in 2026, we continue to call for better policy making to tackle our systemic challenges and ensure better economic and democratic outcomes for people in Wales.
📢 New report | Our 2025 #LifeInTheUK Wales research shows the lives of people in Wales have not improved in the past year. Trust in the UK Govt is lower in Wales than in England, while trust in the Welsh Govt has declined over the last 2 years.

Find out more: carnegieuk.org/publication/...
Life in the UK 2025 Wales - Carnegie UK
carnegieuk.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
Thanks to Maurice Golden MSP for laying this motion in the Scottish Parliament regarding our Life in the UK Index for 2025: www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-...
November 5, 2025 at 9:22 AM
At @carnegieuk.bsky.social we have the Scotland and Wales breakdowns of our Life in the UK Index out this morning.

Scotland carnegieuk.org/news/researc...

Wales carnegieuk.org/news/trust-i...
Research: Modest and unequal gains to wellbeing in Scotland - Carnegie UK
carnegieuk.org
November 3, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Brand new Carnegie UK research about wellbeing in Scotland and Wales out next week. Interested? Drop me a line at stuart.mackinnon@carnegieuk.org and we'll make sure you get a copy
October 31, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Anas Sarwar MSP says that he's up for big bold ideas to address the problems Scotland faces. Suggests he would declare a waiting time emergency if successful at next year's elections...
October 29, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Speech from FM @johnswinney.bsky.social at @ipprscotland.bsky.social conference. In follow up Q&A says: "...standards of living (in Scotland) are not under our control."
October 29, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Great to be at the @ipprscotland.bsky.social conference this morning. @sarahdavidson.bsky.social from Carnegie UK outlined some options for Scotland to change the record about the fiscal challenges Scotland faces.
October 29, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
Thanks to everyone who joined our #LifeInTheUK webinar this morning.

If you couldn’t make it or want to revisit the discussion visit: youtu.be/uujO1l0W43g

It was a fantastic session with brilliant insights from Susan Pinkney & @graceblakeley.substack.com.
Carnegie UK webinar: How is life in the UK in 2025?
YouTube video by Carnegie UK
youtu.be
October 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I'm heading along to this event tomorrow: bsky.app/profile/ippr... Come and say hello!
🎉10th ANNIVERSARY🎉

A decade ago, IPPR Scotland was established in a big moment of change to support progressive policymaking.

📢Now, as Scotland faces fresh challenges, we’re hosting a major conference to ask: What next?

🗓️Save the date: 29 Oct 2025

www.ippr.org/events/ippr-...
IPPR Scotland: 10th Anniversary Conference | IPPR
Ten years ago, in the wake of the Scottish Independence referendum, there emerged a clear need for a think tank to support progressive policymaking and fos
www.ippr.org
October 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
We’ve launched our 2025 #LifeInTheUK Index, now it’s time to talk about it!

Join us tomorrow at 10am for a webinar with Susan Pinkney & @graceblakeley.substack.com to explore what the findings say about collective wellbeing & where action is needed.

Register here: carnegieuk.org/event/how-is...
October 27, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
Average person’s life saw ‘no meaningful improvement’ over past year www.independent.co.uk/news/busines... Last chance to tune into our webinar on this topic with @graceblakeley.substack.com at 10am this morning: carnegieuk.org/event/how-is...
Average person’s life saw ‘no meaningful improvement’ over past year – charity
Carnegie UK found stagnating wellbeing and persistent hardship for millions of people since 2023.
www.independent.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
📢 New report | Our 2025 #LifeInTheUK research shows that the wellbeing of people across the UK has not improved over the past year.

Find out more: carnegieuk.org/publication/...
Life in the UK 2025 - Carnegie UK
carnegieuk.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:04 AM
What about people? www.independent.co.uk/news/busines... Wellbeing data showing we're not making progress.
All the data here: carnegieuk.org/life-in-the-...
Average person’s life saw ‘no meaningful improvement’ over past year – charity
Carnegie UK found stagnating wellbeing and persistent hardship for millions of people since 2023.
www.independent.co.uk
October 26, 2025 at 10:36 PM
This is outrageous: www.scotsman.com/business/sco... Revenue Scotland should administer rates (and council tax) in Scotland
Scotland's small hydro schemes face ruin after being hit with huge backdated bills
Hydro businesses claim the change in bills was sudden with no warning or justification provided
www.scotsman.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Are you into measuring stuff to inform public policy? Come along to this webinar about Carnegie's Life in the UK Index on Tuesday.

bsky.app/profile/carn...
How is life in the UK in 2025?

Join us on Tue 28 Oct, 10-11am, for our Life in the UK 2025 webinar.

Hear our key findings from Susan Pinkney with reflections from @graceblakeley.substack.com.

Find out more and book your place: carnegieuk.org/event/how-is...
October 24, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Stu Mackinnon
Please do come along to hear about what life is really like for the average person in the UK in 2025:
bsky.app/profile/carn...
How is life in the UK in 2025?

Join us on Tue 28 Oct, 10-11am, for our Life in the UK 2025 webinar.

Hear our key findings from Susan Pinkney with reflections from @graceblakeley.substack.com.

Find out more and book your place: carnegieuk.org/event/how-is...
October 20, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Please do come along to hear about what life is really like for the average person in the UK in 2025:
bsky.app/profile/carn...
How is life in the UK in 2025?

Join us on Tue 28 Oct, 10-11am, for our Life in the UK 2025 webinar.

Hear our key findings from Susan Pinkney with reflections from @graceblakeley.substack.com.

Find out more and book your place: carnegieuk.org/event/how-is...
October 20, 2025 at 7:55 AM