Chris Butler
@chrisbutlerpol.bsky.social
Postdoc at University of Antwerp researching how politicians perceive of, and respond to public opinion and how their backgrounds affect this. Previously worked in political campaigns.
A post likely to be printed off and hung up in Whips Offices 👇
As it happens, the very first article in did in my @thehousemag.bsky.social column was on how rebelling does not help MPs. You rise or fall with the party. Working your butt off in the constituency might help a bit. Rebelling makes not a jot of difference.
www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...
www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...
The Professor Will See You Now
In an occasional series, Professor Philip Cowley offers a political science lesson for The House’s readers. Here: can individual MPs do much to buc...
www.politicshome.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:50 AM
A post likely to be printed off and hung up in Whips Offices 👇
Well quite www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Won’t somebody please think of Britain’s poor £2m homeowners? Oh, wait – everyone already is | Jonathan Liew
Contrast the furious reaction to Rachel Reeves’s ‘mansion tax’ to the response offered to those living with real housing injustice: indifference, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Liew
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Well quite www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Chris Butler
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Chris Butler
I imagine the obits will talk about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Leopoldstadt and Shakespeare in Love, God help us. But for my money Arcadia was his best play: elegant, profound, intelligent, humane and deeply moving. There really was no one else operating at his level.
November 29, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I imagine the obits will talk about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Leopoldstadt and Shakespeare in Love, God help us. But for my money Arcadia was his best play: elegant, profound, intelligent, humane and deeply moving. There really was no one else operating at his level.
Super new research by the very talented @joshgoddard98.bsky.social on the link between housing tenure and voting 👇
November 26, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Super new research by the very talented @joshgoddard98.bsky.social on the link between housing tenure and voting 👇
Reposted by Chris Butler
Looking forward to a much briefed bumper hamper of politics? No, not the Budget, The British General Election of 2024! We had a wonderful all star launch event in London last night, with representatives of all five Britain-wide parties, and now I have a special launch gift for you...read on! 1/?
November 26, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Looking forward to a much briefed bumper hamper of politics? No, not the Budget, The British General Election of 2024! We had a wonderful all star launch event in London last night, with representatives of all five Britain-wide parties, and now I have a special launch gift for you...read on! 1/?
In my inbox a conference invitation: “Battle for the soul of Europe” with a session titled ‘Remigration’ and speakers like Melanie Philips, Vaclav Klaus, Matt Goodwin and Viktor Orban’s political director. I’ll think I’ll pass thanks…
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 AM
In my inbox a conference invitation: “Battle for the soul of Europe” with a session titled ‘Remigration’ and speakers like Melanie Philips, Vaclav Klaus, Matt Goodwin and Viktor Orban’s political director. I’ll think I’ll pass thanks…
Reposted by Chris Butler
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Chris Butler
Given the PM loves a flag-waving presser about something patriotic, i don't get why govt is not now in full 'launch an inquiry on foreign interference in UK politics' given this week we've had Nathan Gill jailed over Russian bribes, Chinese spies again, & this www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
MAGA X accounts exposed as being run from far-flung foreign countrie
The rollout has hit the MAGA movement particularly hard, with high-profile accounts which often post about election results and Trump's anti-immigration agenda linked to far-flung foreign nations.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Given the PM loves a flag-waving presser about something patriotic, i don't get why govt is not now in full 'launch an inquiry on foreign interference in UK politics' given this week we've had Nathan Gill jailed over Russian bribes, Chinese spies again, & this www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Chris Butler
This is one of the changes in the UK media landscape that should be more remarked on: the fact that being a very open, proud, outright racist is no longer a bar to being a pundit on some TV stations (in this case GBN and Talk TV).
Lucy White advocates a ban on "non-natives" from office, citing Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel.
So she is referring to UK-born ethnic minority citizens. (Her argument would apply equally to Shabana Mahmood, Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman and others)
Lucy White continues to be a GB News regular
So she is referring to UK-born ethnic minority citizens. (Her argument would apply equally to Shabana Mahmood, Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman and others)
Lucy White continues to be a GB News regular
November 21, 2025 at 11:12 AM
This is one of the changes in the UK media landscape that should be more remarked on: the fact that being a very open, proud, outright racist is no longer a bar to being a pundit on some TV stations (in this case GBN and Talk TV).
Reposted by Chris Butler
Typically entertaining piece with a review of the research set out here: bsky.app/profile/turn...
Latest piece for the @thehousemag.bsky.social, on the island of strangers speech and similar. Also ft Bob Hawke.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
The Professor Will See You Now: Island of strangers
Lessons in political science. This week: island of strangers
www.politicshome.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Typically entertaining piece with a review of the research set out here: bsky.app/profile/turn...
Several recent studies have found that politicians aren't very good at estimating public support for policies. But we have little idea about whether politicians are good at knowing which issues are more important to voters. Our new publication has a first go at answering this question rdcu.be/eQGm4
How Politicians (mis)Perceive Policy Salience
eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Several recent studies have found that politicians aren't very good at estimating public support for policies. But we have little idea about whether politicians are good at knowing which issues are more important to voters. Our new publication has a first go at answering this question rdcu.be/eQGm4
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/danc... Fascinating read on the rightward turn of the VVD. Why have so many liberal parties headed to the right culturally in recent years (Ciudadanos, FDP)? Especially when it doesn’t seem to have worked out well for any of them.
Dancing at the wake: The curious world of Dilan Yesilgöz - DutchNews.nl
Dilan Yesilgöz is gambling with the VVD’s future, writes Gordon Darroch, in an analysis of the party leader’s failings and self-claimed successes. “We’re going to party tonight.” That was the incongr...
www.dutchnews.nl
November 19, 2025 at 6:56 AM
www.dutchnews.nl/2025/11/danc... Fascinating read on the rightward turn of the VVD. Why have so many liberal parties headed to the right culturally in recent years (Ciudadanos, FDP)? Especially when it doesn’t seem to have worked out well for any of them.
Sharp as ever from @philipjcowley.bsky.social but delightfully with added sass this week
Something for the weekend? Latest @thehousemag.bsky.social article, on The Case of The Unknown Political Party...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
The Professor Will See You Now: Coyness in political research
Lessons in political science. This week: coyness in political research
www.politicshome.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Sharp as ever from @philipjcowley.bsky.social but delightfully with added sass this week
Reposted by Chris Butler
“The irony is that where a trans kid can’t access a hormone blocker, an intersex child is operated on.”
- Holly Greenberry-Pullen, intersex advocate.
- Holly Greenberry-Pullen, intersex advocate.
‘I don’t want anyone to suffer like I did’: the intersex campaigners fighting to limit surgery on children
What should be done about the small proportion of babies born with genitals that are neither typically male nor typically female? Many of those affected believe parents and doctors are often too quick...
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:39 AM
“The irony is that where a trans kid can’t access a hormone blocker, an intersex child is operated on.”
- Holly Greenberry-Pullen, intersex advocate.
- Holly Greenberry-Pullen, intersex advocate.
Reposted by Chris Butler
Good on Ed Davey – speaking up for and defending Britain’s institutions in the face of nefarious actors.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The first step towards saving our precious BBC: remove Robbie Gibb from the board | Ed Davey
The BBC belongs to all of us, and it is under attack as never before. The government must defend it from its enemies, within and without, says Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Good on Ed Davey – speaking up for and defending Britain’s institutions in the face of nefarious actors.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The most ridiculous #traitors thing is Stephen Fry and David Olusoga mutually going “The traitors are playing a really clever game and you’re really clever so it must be you” without thinking “I’m really bad at this game & I’m conventionally clever so maybe a different kind of clever is traitorous”
November 6, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The most ridiculous #traitors thing is Stephen Fry and David Olusoga mutually going “The traitors are playing a really clever game and you’re really clever so it must be you” without thinking “I’m really bad at this game & I’m conventionally clever so maybe a different kind of clever is traitorous”
If David Olusoga gets this wrong tonight, will it be another nail in the coffin of academia’s reputation?
November 6, 2025 at 9:14 PM
If David Olusoga gets this wrong tonight, will it be another nail in the coffin of academia’s reputation?
During the reshuffle I read a lot of column inches about how Shabana Mahmood had impressed at Justice by making quick decisions and not generating negative headlines. Given what's transpired about mistakes with releasing prisoners, I wonder if that viewpoint is still widely shared?
November 6, 2025 at 9:54 AM
During the reshuffle I read a lot of column inches about how Shabana Mahmood had impressed at Justice by making quick decisions and not generating negative headlines. Given what's transpired about mistakes with releasing prisoners, I wonder if that viewpoint is still widely shared?
Reposted by Chris Butler
BBC News bulletins leading on the story of an Algerian man being mistakenly released by the prison service.
Funnily enough I don't remember these cases ever leading the bulletins when an average of ten prisoners were mistakenly released a month in the final year of the last Government
Funnily enough I don't remember these cases ever leading the bulletins when an average of ten prisoners were mistakenly released a month in the final year of the last Government
November 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
BBC News bulletins leading on the story of an Algerian man being mistakenly released by the prison service.
Funnily enough I don't remember these cases ever leading the bulletins when an average of ten prisoners were mistakenly released a month in the final year of the last Government
Funnily enough I don't remember these cases ever leading the bulletins when an average of ten prisoners were mistakenly released a month in the final year of the last Government
Reposted by Chris Butler
Notable in today's YouGov that the centre/left bloc - Lab/Green/LD/SNP are on 54%. With Reform/Tories on 43%. That's the biggest differential in a long time.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
November 4, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Notable in today's YouGov that the centre/left bloc - Lab/Green/LD/SNP are on 54%. With Reform/Tories on 43%. That's the biggest differential in a long time.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
I think useful to track blocs given instability between parties at the moment.
Reposted by Chris Butler
Stephen Bush on the extraordinary draft legislation which Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Matt Vickers, Katie Lam and backbench colleagues have proposed in parliament
It is a proposal that would seek to deport around 5% of the resident population, including over a quarter of a million with ILR
It is a proposal that would seek to deport around 5% of the resident population, including over a quarter of a million with ILR
October 23, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Stephen Bush on the extraordinary draft legislation which Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Matt Vickers, Katie Lam and backbench colleagues have proposed in parliament
It is a proposal that would seek to deport around 5% of the resident population, including over a quarter of a million with ILR
It is a proposal that would seek to deport around 5% of the resident population, including over a quarter of a million with ILR
Perhaps a timely reminder of the work @drjennings.bsky.social & I did with Gerry Stoker showing that politicians in power are generally aware of people's low trust in the political system but unwilling to invest effort in trying to alleviate it doi.org/10.1177/0032...
October 21, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Perhaps a timely reminder of the work @drjennings.bsky.social & I did with Gerry Stoker showing that politicians in power are generally aware of people's low trust in the political system but unwilling to invest effort in trying to alleviate it doi.org/10.1177/0032...
Reposted by Chris Butler
"You can legislate all you want, but these systems won't work unless people trust them"
The information commissioner, John Edwards, today told MPs on the science, innovation & tech committee that the government's digital ID policy won't work without public trust, reports @matildamartin.bsky.social
The information commissioner, John Edwards, today told MPs on the science, innovation & tech committee that the government's digital ID policy won't work without public trust, reports @matildamartin.bsky.social
Digital ID Won't Work Without Public Trust, Warns Information Commissioner
The government's digital ID scheme will not work without public trust, the information commissioner has told MPs.
www.politicshome.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
"You can legislate all you want, but these systems won't work unless people trust them"
The information commissioner, John Edwards, today told MPs on the science, innovation & tech committee that the government's digital ID policy won't work without public trust, reports @matildamartin.bsky.social
The information commissioner, John Edwards, today told MPs on the science, innovation & tech committee that the government's digital ID policy won't work without public trust, reports @matildamartin.bsky.social