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UCL Policy Lab
@uclpolicylab.bsky.social
Bringing extraordinary ideas and everyday experience together to tackle the challenges facing us all.
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Our new report Shared Institutions with @moreincommonuk.bsky.social explores the public's view of universities.

We find universities encapsulate the challenges facing a range of Britain's institutions. Strong support remains, but gaps are emerging among reform voters. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
In a polarised Britain, universities remain a source of local and national pride
A new report by the UCL Policy Lab and More in Common reveals that at a time of growing political divides, universities are a source of national success and local pride. However, universities and othe...
www.ucl.ac.uk
Neither rain nor fire, Sir Keir Starmer's fading search for a story.

New on HopeWorks: @mds49.bsky.social reflects on what the artists Turner and Constable can tell us about Keir Starmer's leadership.

thisishopeworks.substack.com/p/rain-nor-f...
Neither rain nor fire, Sir Keir Starmer's fading search for a story
Guest writer, Marc Stears, Director, UCL Policy Lab & former chief speechwriter to the Labour Party, reflects on what the artists, Turner and Constable, can tell us about Keir Starmer's leadership.
thisishopeworks.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:27 PM
"Britain has only ever been able to stand tall in the world, alongside partners, when it’s allowed all parts of the country to succeed."

@mds49.bsky.social on @andyburnham.bsky.social speech at @uclpolicylab.bsky.social and @theifs.bsky.social.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...
Manchesterism could revive Britain's fading grandeur
The towns and cities of the north and the Midlands were key to Britain's global success
www.newstatesman.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Tax Reform and the British Economy.

Experts from the US, Europe and Asia will gather at UCL for a two-day conference supported by
@ucleconomics.bsky.social @stoneeconucl.bsky.social helping explore ideas to support tax reform in Britain and around the world. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Tax Reform and the British Economy
Leading experts from the US, Europe and Asia will gather at UCL for a two-day conference, helping build momentum and ideas to support tax reform in Britain and around the world.
www.ucl.ac.uk
December 15, 2025 at 2:54 PM
ECHR Reform: A Danger of Contagion in Relation to Article 3

Veronika Fikfak from @uclspp.bsky.social on the propsed changes to the ECHR. ukconstitutionallaw.org/2025/12/09/v...
Veronika Fikfak: ECHR Reform: A Danger of Contagion in Relation to Article 3
On Wednesday 10 December, which is also Human Rights Day, Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe will meet in Strasbourg to discuss how the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) should …
ukconstitutionallaw.org
December 9, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by UCL Policy Lab
Earlier this week, we took the Museum of Broken Dreams to the ‘Britain Renewed’ conference - because communities must be at the heart of our country’s renewal.

Organised by @uclpolicylab.bsky.social and @futuregovforum.bsky.social.

Visit the exhibition: arcg.is/0K9SvG1 @joshsimonsmp.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 12:19 PM
We failed Gen Z on social media – we cannot fail them on AI, too.

UCL Policy Lab Hon Prof @noreenahertz.bsky.social on the need to understand the impact of AI on young people.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12...
December 9, 2025 at 12:53 PM
“Place is where trust is built or broken. So, place must be our orienting principle.”

It was a pleasure to welcome @joshsimonsmp.bsky.social to Britain Renewed 2026 with @futuregovforum.bsky.social to discuss how we can drive a new era in public service reform.
December 3, 2025 at 11:28 AM
A Hundred Origin Stories – an Unfinished History of Relational Public Services.

Simon Parker, Becca Dove and Benjamin Taylor explore the history of relational public services, ahead of Britian Renewed 2026. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
A Hundred Origin Stories – an Unfinished History of Relational Public Services
Simon Parker, Becca Dove and Benjamin Taylor explore the history of relational public services, ahead of Britian Renewed 2026, a major one-day conference exploring a more place-based approach to public service reform.
www.ucl.ac.uk
December 1, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Labour MPs cheer the Chancellor’s attack on poverty, but is there a bigger story to come?

Latest analysis from the Budget. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Labour MPs cheer the Chancellor’s attack on poverty, but is there a bigger story to come?
How can politics build a sustainable vision for Britain's political economy? Latest anylsis from the UCL Policy Lab on the Budget.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 28, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Labour MPs cheer the Chancellor’s attack on poverty, but is there a bigger story to come?

Latest anylsis from the Budget. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Labour MPs cheer the Chancellor’s attack on poverty, but is there a bigger story to come?
How can politics build a sustainable vision for Britain's political economy? Latest anylsis from the UCL Policy Lab on the Budget.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Voters want agency and respect: it’s why politics must do relationships, not just delivery.

@danhonig.bsky.social explores why agency and respect are crucial to understanding the political moment we find ourselves in, ahead of Britian Renewed 2026. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Voters want agency and respect: it’s why politics must do relationships, not just delivery
Dan Honig explores why agency and respect are crucial to understanding the political moment we find ourselves in, ahead of Britian Renewed 2026, a major one-day conference exploring a more place-based approach to public service reform.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM
New research shows that empowered local communities are most effective at responding to crises.

A new report from Lauren Andres @thebartlettucl.bsky.social and Jennifer Constantine takes lessons from COVID-19 for how we build resilience. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Local communities are shown to respond best in a crisis
From Crisis to Resilience: Radical Transformations for Food Security, Health and Social Justice shows that local responses to the COVID-19 pandemic were effective in supporting resilience and tackling food insecurity.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Reposted by UCL Policy Lab
There are no simple solutions to the small boats crisis.

My latest for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social on why the home secretary risks doing what every conservative home secretary has done: tackling the wrong problem while raising the political stakes.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
There are no simple solutions to the small boats crisis
What will Labour do when its asylum reforms don't work?
www.newstatesman.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:57 AM
"Real change will not just be measured in political projects or opinion polls, but will be measured in the lives of people and places across Britain."

Read @jimbaggaley.bsky.social and @gracewyld.bsky.social on the need for a public service reform based on respect.

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Changing public services is hard - what can we learn from those already doing it?
James Baggaley and Grace Wyld (Head of Policy and Research at The Future Governance Forum) explore the drive behind our upcoming conference, Britain Renewed 2025: Public Service for People and Place, ...
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 17, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Can AI help London plan better?

In a special UCL Policy Lab policy insight blog, Professors Lauren Andres and Mike Raco (@thebartlettucl.bsky.social) discuss the role that AI can play in the capital's planning.

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Can AI help London plan better?
In a special UCL Policy Lab policy insight blog, Profs Lauren Andres and Mike Raco discuss the role that AI can play in the capital's planning.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 13, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Fantastic to join @locality.org.uk yesterday for the launch of their new report, Community powered neighbourhoods.

Read the full report here ⤵️
At #IFS100 in Westminster, Tony Armstrong has announced our new report, “Community-powered neighbourhoods”

In a time of social division, let's get power back to local people through the organisations that know them best – community anchor organisations

Read here
locality.org.uk/reports/comm...
November 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Don't miss Cricket, Imperial Culture and the Remaking of Postwar England at @ucl-ias.bsky.social this evening.

Find out more and sign up ⤵️
Cricket, Imperial Culture and the Remaking of Postwar England
10 November 2025, 5:30pm-7pm
This session with Dr Michael Collins @uclhistory.bsky.social will re-consider the postwar history of the ‘Windrush Generation’ and how cricket 'remade' postwar England.
www.ucl.ac.uk/institute-of...
Cricket, Imperial Culture and the Remaking of Postwar England
This session with Dr Michael Collins (UCL History) will re-consider the postwar history of the ‘Windrush Generation’ and how cricket 'remade' postwar England.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by UCL Policy Lab
Universities showcase the strengths and possible weaknesses of British institutions.

I've written for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social about our latest research, Shared Institutions on universities from @uclpolicylab.bsky.social & @moreincommonuk.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Our universities can save us from America's political division
New research shows Britain is proud of its institutions' ability to foster disagreement
www.newstatesman.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Reposted by UCL Policy Lab
In a polarised Britain, universities are sources of local and national pride, finds a new @uclpolicylab.bsky.social @moreincommonuk.bsky.social report.

However, it shows a growing gap in support between grads and non grads and suggests unis must demonstrate their benefit to society as a whole.
In a polarised Britain, universities remain a source of local and national pride
A new report by the UCL Policy Lab and More in Common reveals that at a time of growing political divides, universities are a source of national success and local pride. However, universities and othe...
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by UCL Policy Lab
Our new report with @uclpolicylab.bsky.social, Shared Institutions, is a deep dive of public opinion on universities. At a top level Britons feel positively about our universities impact on the UK & their local area. But emerging divides show the sector can’t take public opinion for granted
October 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Our new report Shared Institutions with @moreincommonuk.bsky.social explores the public's view of universities.

We find universities encapsulate the challenges facing a range of Britain's institutions. Strong support remains, but gaps are emerging among reform voters. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
In a polarised Britain, universities remain a source of local and national pride
A new report by the UCL Policy Lab and More in Common reveals that at a time of growing political divides, universities are a source of national success and local pride. However, universities and othe...
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 2:38 PM
New research from our colleagues at @uclgeography.bsky.social - @profmarkmaslin.bsky.social and Colm O'Shea highlight how wind power has cut at least £104bn from energy costs in the UK.

Read more about their research here:
October 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by UCL Policy Lab
The education system consistently fails society’s poorest children and requires thorough reform, finds a new @uclpolicylab.bsky.social report.

Report author Jonathan Slater, Former Perm Sect at the Department for Education, spoke to BBC Radio 4.
October 28, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Reposted by UCL Policy Lab
Very interesting idea here to pilot more collaborative, place-based working between schools to tackle the attainment gap in specific areas, and suspend Ofsted inspections during those pilots.
England’s education system disincentivises schools from focusing on the pupils most in need of help, says a report from former DfE boss Jonathan Slater
Schools 'disincentivised' from helping poorest children
Former DfE permanent secretary calls for major reform, warning that the school system currently fails the pupils most in need of help
www.tes.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by UCL Policy Lab
We encourage you to read this new @uclpolicylab.bsky.social report by former Department for Education Permanent Secretary, Jonathan Slater, on how the school system should be reformed to support society’s poorest children

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
Failure of school system to support poorest students is leading to rising NEET figures
The school system consistently fails society’s poorest children and requires thorough reform, finds new UCL Policy Lab report authored by former Department for Education Permanent Secretary, Jonathan ...
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM