Ally Brown
@allybrown.bsky.social
Research Associate in Social Policy @ Strathclyde Uni.
Food policy for THRIVING Food Futures.
Also policy approaches to health inequalities, and to mental health.
Food policy for THRIVING Food Futures.
Also policy approaches to health inequalities, and to mental health.
Pinned
The health inequalities agenda is "tired and risks having run out of road" - not my words, the words of a senior health policymaker in the Scottish Government. But other SG policymakers told me health inequalities were a "huge priority" - so what's going on? A thread... 1/
Reposted by Ally Brown
I just asked Claude to turn one of my lectures into the script for an Adam Curtis documentary and I am not sorry
November 14, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I just asked Claude to turn one of my lectures into the script for an Adam Curtis documentary and I am not sorry
Reposted by Ally Brown
![1
Nurse:
It’s become a real problem in this area
2
Nurse:
We’ve seen the whole community lost to addiction
3
Show a building sign posted:
Westminster ‘X’ Addiction Clinic
With various Westminster people or looking at their phones outside it
Nurse:
Ministers, Spads, Researchers…
4
Nurse:
Most mornings we’ll get a call about someone acting strangely
[Nurse on phone taking a call]
Ok - we’ll be right over
5
Nurse:
We just have a gentle chat
[Nurses approach a minister –Robert Jenrick? - standing in the Palace of Westminster
Minister:
I understand your concerns…
6
Nurse:
Are you OK love?
Minister:
Yes I’m just hearing legitimate concerns from real voters
7
Nurse:
That’s a robot, a Nazi and a poorly-disguised Russian
[Show that the people he is talking to are precisely these characters]
Nurse 2:
Give us your phone, love
8
Nurse:
At the clinic we put them in a Grass-Touching Pod, with a real voter to talk to
[We see them back at the clinic, holding the minister's head and pushing him into a glass isolation booth with a grass floor. And it is a baffled looking woman, on a chair, ready to talk to him.]
9
Minister:
YOU MUST BE WORRIED ABOUT THE COMING CIVIL WAR
[woman looks baffled]
10
woman:
I just want a bus service
Minister:
LOOK AT MY FLAG
[produces a St George's flag]
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreicahofq6s4xow7vowj7dx6odw6ejdwr4kwcmzta7qwi4hg2nvywji@jpeg)
Reposted by Ally Brown
The health inequalities agenda is "tired and risks having run out of road" - not my words, the words of a senior health policymaker in the Scottish Government. But other SG policymakers told me health inequalities were a "huge priority" - so what's going on? A thread... 1/
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The health inequalities agenda is "tired and risks having run out of road" - not my words, the words of a senior health policymaker in the Scottish Government. But other SG policymakers told me health inequalities were a "huge priority" - so what's going on? A thread... 1/
Reposted by Ally Brown
Huge COPs are an equity issue.
We don't hear marginalised voices above the din of who can afford the pavilions, flights, comms teams, or hosting.
theconversation.com/the-un-clima...
We don't hear marginalised voices above the din of who can afford the pavilions, flights, comms teams, or hosting.
theconversation.com/the-un-clima...
The UN climate talks have become too big for their own good
Cop30 will have 50,000 delegates. But bigger Cops are not better Cops.
theconversation.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Huge COPs are an equity issue.
We don't hear marginalised voices above the din of who can afford the pavilions, flights, comms teams, or hosting.
theconversation.com/the-un-clima...
We don't hear marginalised voices above the din of who can afford the pavilions, flights, comms teams, or hosting.
theconversation.com/the-un-clima...
Reposted by Ally Brown
🚨 NEW in @bjpols.bsky.social : When Partygate hit Westminster, trust in Scottish politicians increased. Our experiments reveal a "contrast effect" - scandals at one level can make the other look better by comparison. Who lost most trust in Westminster? Scottish unionists. Read now #OpenAccess 👇
November 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM
🚨 NEW in @bjpols.bsky.social : When Partygate hit Westminster, trust in Scottish politicians increased. Our experiments reveal a "contrast effect" - scandals at one level can make the other look better by comparison. Who lost most trust in Westminster? Scottish unionists. Read now #OpenAccess 👇
Reposted by Ally Brown
💯 You can basically lift this word-for-word for healthcare too.
Can’t quite believe I’m saying this but: more funding *for these services* isn’t how I’d fix criminal justice! Probation & courts 100% need more money, but big increases are already planned. I’d focus on drivers: housing, substance misuse, lack of opportunities, behavioural/speech & language issues
- significant funding increase for police, the courts, probation and the prison service
- action to lower energy costs (this looks like happening)
- more tax powers for councils so they can increase their own spending power on local amenities etc (poorer areas are already destined for more funding)
- action to lower energy costs (this looks like happening)
- more tax powers for councils so they can increase their own spending power on local amenities etc (poorer areas are already destined for more funding)
November 10, 2025 at 6:23 PM
💯 You can basically lift this word-for-word for healthcare too.
Reposted by Ally Brown
Good thread, lots of competing (with different advocates and 'fashions') and shifting meanings of health inequalities (as other concepts such as population health), v evident in English policy and debate too over time.
The health inequalities agenda is "tired and risks having run out of road" - not my words, the words of a senior health policymaker in the Scottish Government. But other SG policymakers told me health inequalities were a "huge priority" - so what's going on? A thread... 1/
November 6, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Good thread, lots of competing (with different advocates and 'fashions') and shifting meanings of health inequalities (as other concepts such as population health), v evident in English policy and debate too over time.
Reposted by Ally Brown
The contrast between how expensive the cars are in this country and how shabby everything else is tells you that we absolutely can afford to electrify the railways and a million other nice things, but we have politicians that are terrified of asking for a few pennies extra in tax
November 9, 2025 at 8:26 AM
The contrast between how expensive the cars are in this country and how shabby everything else is tells you that we absolutely can afford to electrify the railways and a million other nice things, but we have politicians that are terrified of asking for a few pennies extra in tax
Reposted by Ally Brown
Food industry corporate greenwashing
www.foodpolitics.com/2025/10/food...
Comparing promises ("we will be good", "we care") with actions
"food companies have no market incentive to reduce their environmental impact if it is going to raise their costs".
www.foodpolitics.com/2025/10/food...
Comparing promises ("we will be good", "we care") with actions
"food companies have no market incentive to reduce their environmental impact if it is going to raise their costs".
November 8, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Food industry corporate greenwashing
www.foodpolitics.com/2025/10/food...
Comparing promises ("we will be good", "we care") with actions
"food companies have no market incentive to reduce their environmental impact if it is going to raise their costs".
www.foodpolitics.com/2025/10/food...
Comparing promises ("we will be good", "we care") with actions
"food companies have no market incentive to reduce their environmental impact if it is going to raise their costs".
Reposted by Ally Brown
Check out this terrific new work by @allybrown.bsky.social!
The health inequalities agenda is "tired and risks having run out of road" - not my words, the words of a senior health policymaker in the Scottish Government. But other SG policymakers told me health inequalities were a "huge priority" - so what's going on? A thread... 1/
November 5, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Check out this terrific new work by @allybrown.bsky.social!
Beautiful autumn leaves, very silly dog (Marble)
November 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Beautiful autumn leaves, very silly dog (Marble)
The health inequalities agenda is "tired and risks having run out of road" - not my words, the words of a senior health policymaker in the Scottish Government. But other SG policymakers told me health inequalities were a "huge priority" - so what's going on? A thread... 1/
November 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The health inequalities agenda is "tired and risks having run out of road" - not my words, the words of a senior health policymaker in the Scottish Government. But other SG policymakers told me health inequalities were a "huge priority" - so what's going on? A thread... 1/
Reposted by Ally Brown
Look for this factor and you see it - and its absence - everywhere: Starmer and Reeves can't do it, Burnham can. Of the older generation of Democrats, only Biden.
I think one of the underrated things about Mamdani is just that he looks like he’s enjoying himself - which is incredibly appealing.
It’s one of those qualities which helps a lot of the most successful politicians, from Barack Obama to Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage. Being at ease with yourself.
It’s one of those qualities which helps a lot of the most successful politicians, from Barack Obama to Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage. Being at ease with yourself.
November 5, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Look for this factor and you see it - and its absence - everywhere: Starmer and Reeves can't do it, Burnham can. Of the older generation of Democrats, only Biden.
Reposted by Ally Brown
🎬 🍿 Official Film Release!
We’re thrilled to announce the public release of Unmasking Influence -now available via the LSHTM Vimeo channel! vimeo.com/1123819285
There is overwhelming evidence that many industries are undermining public health.This documentary makes the issues visible and relatable.
We’re thrilled to announce the public release of Unmasking Influence -now available via the LSHTM Vimeo channel! vimeo.com/1123819285
There is overwhelming evidence that many industries are undermining public health.This documentary makes the issues visible and relatable.
Unmasking Influence - The Official Trailer
This trailer is for a film called Unmasking Influence. Unmasking influence is about how commercial actors influence policy and public health. Many of the major…
vimeo.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:35 PM
🎬 🍿 Official Film Release!
We’re thrilled to announce the public release of Unmasking Influence -now available via the LSHTM Vimeo channel! vimeo.com/1123819285
There is overwhelming evidence that many industries are undermining public health.This documentary makes the issues visible and relatable.
We’re thrilled to announce the public release of Unmasking Influence -now available via the LSHTM Vimeo channel! vimeo.com/1123819285
There is overwhelming evidence that many industries are undermining public health.This documentary makes the issues visible and relatable.
Reposted by Ally Brown
Here's a paper we wrote about how it's actually very bad that a "context of constrained funding has incentivised... providers of adult education, sports, arts and community services to demonstrate ancillary wellbeing benefits." pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40447986/
Reading as therapy: medicalising books in an era of mental health austerity - PubMed
In the UK, a range of everyday activities are being re-framed as interventions to promote public mental health. Drivers of this include the rising burden of mental ill-health and constrained funding for community-based arts and educational provision, in the context of austerity. A consequent interes …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
October 29, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Here's a paper we wrote about how it's actually very bad that a "context of constrained funding has incentivised... providers of adult education, sports, arts and community services to demonstrate ancillary wellbeing benefits." pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40447986/
Reposted by Ally Brown
Jesus Christ. We go mad about one bloke we wrongly released, yet hear next to nothing about this horror? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
More than 50 child asylum seekers still missing after disappearing from Kent care
Council data obtained by the Guardian shows 345 children have gone missing in recent years, many probably taken by traffickers
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Jesus Christ. We go mad about one bloke we wrongly released, yet hear next to nothing about this horror? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Ally Brown
New post out:
"The worst social policy ever"
Today we have a guest post from @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social on the abomination that is the two-child limit and why Labour need to scrap it ASAP.
Lots of data but also powerful testimony.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The worst social policy ever"
Today we have a guest post from @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social on the abomination that is the two-child limit and why Labour need to scrap it ASAP.
Lots of data but also powerful testimony.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The worst social policy ever"
We have a couple of bonus guest posts over the next week.
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:27 AM
New post out:
"The worst social policy ever"
Today we have a guest post from @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social on the abomination that is the two-child limit and why Labour need to scrap it ASAP.
Lots of data but also powerful testimony.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The worst social policy ever"
Today we have a guest post from @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social on the abomination that is the two-child limit and why Labour need to scrap it ASAP.
Lots of data but also powerful testimony.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Reposted by Ally Brown
X is a cesspit led by an unhinged billionaire who is desperately trying to stir up civil war in Britain.
Nobody with any sense or decency should be there.
No organisations, government departments, or politicians should be there.
Everyone who is, is enabling this monster.
Nobody with any sense or decency should be there.
No organisations, government departments, or politicians should be there.
Everyone who is, is enabling this monster.
October 29, 2025 at 8:22 AM
X is a cesspit led by an unhinged billionaire who is desperately trying to stir up civil war in Britain.
Nobody with any sense or decency should be there.
No organisations, government departments, or politicians should be there.
Everyone who is, is enabling this monster.
Nobody with any sense or decency should be there.
No organisations, government departments, or politicians should be there.
Everyone who is, is enabling this monster.
Reposted by Ally Brown
We are in the process of creating a new journal for our community, the Population Health Journal, and we are now inviting applications for editors:
journals.gla.ac.uk/phj/announce....
journals.gla.ac.uk/phj/announce....
Login
| Population Health Journal
journals.gla.ac.uk
October 24, 2025 at 11:18 AM
We are in the process of creating a new journal for our community, the Population Health Journal, and we are now inviting applications for editors:
journals.gla.ac.uk/phj/announce....
journals.gla.ac.uk/phj/announce....
Reposted by Ally Brown
Shocked that this is on X - a lawless, extreme platform where the majority of Westminster still mingles without any thought to whether they should be there.
A very worrying escalation of online harassment.
Somebody has used a video of me saying "racism in football is a game of two halves" + put a fake voiceover on it saying "what I would say to the girls of Rotherham is it is a game of two halves"
x.com/EuropaIneffa...
Somebody has used a video of me saying "racism in football is a game of two halves" + put a fake voiceover on it saying "what I would say to the girls of Rotherham is it is a game of two halves"
x.com/EuropaIneffa...
Europa Ineffable on X: "In a recent panel at what looks like Labour conference, Sunder Katwala, wearing an England shirt, appeared to compare the R🦍 GANGS to a football match: "it's a game of two halves" 🥴 https://t.co/b5YNKyaQtu" / X
In a recent panel at what looks like Labour conference, Sunder Katwala, wearing an England shirt, appeared to compare the R🦍 GANGS to a football match
x.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Shocked that this is on X - a lawless, extreme platform where the majority of Westminster still mingles without any thought to whether they should be there.
Reposted by Ally Brown
The relationship between UPFs and the environment is miles more complicated than this. UPFs are a hugely diverse category, but this article pretends they are all like M&Ms. What about plant-based meat and dairy alternatives?
The hidden cost of ultra-processed foods on the environment: ‘The whole industry should pay’
Industrially made foods involve several ingredients and processes to put together, making it difficult to examine their true cost
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The relationship between UPFs and the environment is miles more complicated than this. UPFs are a hugely diverse category, but this article pretends they are all like M&Ms. What about plant-based meat and dairy alternatives?
Reposted by Ally Brown
What timing! The "planetary health diet" has just been updated: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
October 8, 2025 at 1:28 AM
What timing! The "planetary health diet" has just been updated: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Ally Brown
NEW systematic review of the evidence shows that raising incomes is how to reduce food insecurity. The evidence does not support food-based interventions as reducing food insecurity. Food retail subsidy programs and housing assistance programs don't ⬇️ food insecurity.
www.canada.ca/content/dam/...
www.canada.ca/content/dam/...
October 3, 2025 at 4:12 PM
NEW systematic review of the evidence shows that raising incomes is how to reduce food insecurity. The evidence does not support food-based interventions as reducing food insecurity. Food retail subsidy programs and housing assistance programs don't ⬇️ food insecurity.
www.canada.ca/content/dam/...
www.canada.ca/content/dam/...
Reposted by Ally Brown
Big news today: price or multibuy promotions on unhealthy food and drink (e.g. BOGOF deals) are now banned in England! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Buy one, get one free' deals for unhealthy food banned in supermarkets
Crisps, sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks will be covered by restrictions starting in England.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Big news today: price or multibuy promotions on unhealthy food and drink (e.g. BOGOF deals) are now banned in England! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...