Ewan McGaughey
@ewanmg.bsky.social
🎓Law Professor @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social, CBR, Cambridge + @granthamlse.bsky.social
🌹Labour law, enterprise law, pensions, corporations, human rights
🌍Cares about stopping inequality, climate damage + war
🕸️ https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/ewan-mcgaughey
🌹Labour law, enterprise law, pensions, corporations, human rights
🌍Cares about stopping inequality, climate damage + war
🕸️ https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/ewan-mcgaughey
The problem is, the OECD database behind this chart is wrong. The OECD index is riddled with mistakes, it's from 2019, and was done by 'surveying' non-lawyers.
The chart below is accurate: based on the cutting edge Cambridge Centre for Business Research database. Do say if you want to know more.
The chart below is accurate: based on the cutting edge Cambridge Centre for Business Research database. Do say if you want to know more.
November 28, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The problem is, the OECD database behind this chart is wrong. The OECD index is riddled with mistakes, it's from 2019, and was done by 'surveying' non-lawyers.
The chart below is accurate: based on the cutting edge Cambridge Centre for Business Research database. Do say if you want to know more.
The chart below is accurate: based on the cutting edge Cambridge Centre for Business Research database. Do say if you want to know more.
If the UK government violates its Manifesto promise to have day one rights to fair dismissal (p.45), the UK will move from being the 3rd worst country in the OECD to being the 8th worst.
Not much "change", when 21% of British people live in poverty, struggle with bills + have no security at work.
Not much "change", when 21% of British people live in poverty, struggle with bills + have no security at work.
November 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
If the UK government violates its Manifesto promise to have day one rights to fair dismissal (p.45), the UK will move from being the 3rd worst country in the OECD to being the 8th worst.
Not much "change", when 21% of British people live in poverty, struggle with bills + have no security at work.
Not much "change", when 21% of British people live in poverty, struggle with bills + have no security at work.
Thanks - but the problem is that it doesn't work! When you click 'open anyway' it doesn't open, and the app doesn't open if you try to double click on it.
Any other ideas? Appreciate it if there's a solution.
Any other ideas? Appreciate it if there's a solution.
November 28, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Thanks - but the problem is that it doesn't work! When you click 'open anyway' it doesn't open, and the app doesn't open if you try to double click on it.
Any other ideas? Appreciate it if there's a solution.
Any other ideas? Appreciate it if there's a solution.
🚨Fantastic news: the EU Adequate Wage Directive is (mostly) valid!
Every member state must have an action plan to get 80% + collective bargaining coverage. Plans expected by the end of 2025.
The UK has something like 25% to 40% cover (the official staticians don't know!). Britain needs a plan too.
Every member state must have an action plan to get 80% + collective bargaining coverage. Plans expected by the end of 2025.
The UK has something like 25% to 40% cover (the official staticians don't know!). Britain needs a plan too.
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 AM
🚨Fantastic news: the EU Adequate Wage Directive is (mostly) valid!
Every member state must have an action plan to get 80% + collective bargaining coverage. Plans expected by the end of 2025.
The UK has something like 25% to 40% cover (the official staticians don't know!). Britain needs a plan too.
Every member state must have an action plan to get 80% + collective bargaining coverage. Plans expected by the end of 2025.
The UK has something like 25% to 40% cover (the official staticians don't know!). Britain needs a plan too.
🌹 "Democratic socialism and the law" is the topic of my inaugural lecture - next Wednesday 6.30pm, Great Hall, King's College, London.
➡️ Come along! There's even a reception afterwards. Check out the abstract, and register free here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inaugural-...
➡️ Come along! There's even a reception afterwards. Check out the abstract, and register free here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inaugural-...
October 10, 2025 at 8:28 AM
🌹 "Democratic socialism and the law" is the topic of my inaugural lecture - next Wednesday 6.30pm, Great Hall, King's College, London.
➡️ Come along! There's even a reception afterwards. Check out the abstract, and register free here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inaugural-...
➡️ Come along! There's even a reception afterwards. Check out the abstract, and register free here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inaugural-...
📘 Come to my inaugural lecture "Democratic socialism and the law", 6.30pm, 15 October: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inaugural-...
🌹 What role does the law play in democratic socialism? It rewires the defects of contract, property, corporate law + residual ‘capitalist’ elements of our law, and more... 👇
🌹 What role does the law play in democratic socialism? It rewires the defects of contract, property, corporate law + residual ‘capitalist’ elements of our law, and more... 👇
September 15, 2025 at 8:10 AM
📘 Come to my inaugural lecture "Democratic socialism and the law", 6.30pm, 15 October: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inaugural-...
🌹 What role does the law play in democratic socialism? It rewires the defects of contract, property, corporate law + residual ‘capitalist’ elements of our law, and more... 👇
🌹 What role does the law play in democratic socialism? It rewires the defects of contract, property, corporate law + residual ‘capitalist’ elements of our law, and more... 👇
What should be publicly owned, or privatised?
We have a century of data on what works, so we should be able to get beyond ideology + build an evidence-based theory.
New paper from me looks at theory since Adam Smith + maps OECD outcomes. Download + please repost!👇
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
We have a century of data on what works, so we should be able to get beyond ideology + build an evidence-based theory.
New paper from me looks at theory since Adam Smith + maps OECD outcomes. Download + please repost!👇
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
August 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
What should be publicly owned, or privatised?
We have a century of data on what works, so we should be able to get beyond ideology + build an evidence-based theory.
New paper from me looks at theory since Adam Smith + maps OECD outcomes. Download + please repost!👇
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
We have a century of data on what works, so we should be able to get beyond ideology + build an evidence-based theory.
New paper from me looks at theory since Adam Smith + maps OECD outcomes. Download + please repost!👇
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
🎓 Out now is my new paper on 'Social Infrastructure Law in the UK, US and EU'.
It focuses on the data in achieving the human rights to free university, universal health care, and the central bank's role in full employment (and fair wages and housing).
👉 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
It focuses on the data in achieving the human rights to free university, universal health care, and the central bank's role in full employment (and fair wages and housing).
👉 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
August 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
🎓 Out now is my new paper on 'Social Infrastructure Law in the UK, US and EU'.
It focuses on the data in achieving the human rights to free university, universal health care, and the central bank's role in full employment (and fair wages and housing).
👉 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
It focuses on the data in achieving the human rights to free university, universal health care, and the central bank's role in full employment (and fair wages and housing).
👉 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
On people's decline in being dependable or disciplined, especially 16-39 year olds, another super article by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com.
Think of people cancelling appointments last minute, not doing what they promised, being late.
Think of smart phone addiction + narcissism.
www.ft.com/content/5cd7...
Think of people cancelling appointments last minute, not doing what they promised, being late.
Think of smart phone addiction + narcissism.
www.ft.com/content/5cd7...
August 8, 2025 at 10:36 AM
On people's decline in being dependable or disciplined, especially 16-39 year olds, another super article by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com.
Think of people cancelling appointments last minute, not doing what they promised, being late.
Think of smart phone addiction + narcissism.
www.ft.com/content/5cd7...
Think of people cancelling appointments last minute, not doing what they promised, being late.
Think of smart phone addiction + narcissism.
www.ft.com/content/5cd7...
... instead 4 people at the Bank of England think rising wages raise inflation, a nonsense theory of the "natural rate of unemployment" from Milton Friedman.
Inflation + unemployment have little connection: see chart.
Keeping the rate at 4% is what is raising inflation - in mortgages + rents 👇
/2
Inflation + unemployment have little connection: see chart.
Keeping the rate at 4% is what is raising inflation - in mortgages + rents 👇
/2
August 7, 2025 at 11:20 AM
... instead 4 people at the Bank of England think rising wages raise inflation, a nonsense theory of the "natural rate of unemployment" from Milton Friedman.
Inflation + unemployment have little connection: see chart.
Keeping the rate at 4% is what is raising inflation - in mortgages + rents 👇
/2
Inflation + unemployment have little connection: see chart.
Keeping the rate at 4% is what is raising inflation - in mortgages + rents 👇
/2
This paper shows we should abolish the REF, which wastes £471 million, plus distracts vastly more from academic time.
It has nearly identical outcomes in allocating funding as if we simply gave out money by citations (or indeed a per student formula).
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirec...
It has nearly identical outcomes in allocating funding as if we simply gave out money by citations (or indeed a per student formula).
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirec...
August 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
This paper shows we should abolish the REF, which wastes £471 million, plus distracts vastly more from academic time.
It has nearly identical outcomes in allocating funding as if we simply gave out money by citations (or indeed a per student formula).
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirec...
It has nearly identical outcomes in allocating funding as if we simply gave out money by citations (or indeed a per student formula).
👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirec...
I love women’s football - England wins here!
July 27, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I love women’s football - England wins here!
Good article - though you know the latest YouGov poll actually found 82% support for public ownership of water! I made a chart on how it has risen:
July 25, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Good article - though you know the latest YouGov poll actually found 82% support for public ownership of water! I made a chart on how it has risen:
It costs £0 to make a failed water co. public. Privatised water will cost £22bn in the next 5 years.
We must fulfil Keir Starmer's 2020 pledge to make water public, not be blocked by the Treasury saying there's no money. No more bailouts for shareholders, banks + polluters. @skynewsrss.bsky.social
We must fulfil Keir Starmer's 2020 pledge to make water public, not be blocked by the Treasury saying there's no money. No more bailouts for shareholders, banks + polluters. @skynewsrss.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 1:24 PM
It costs £0 to make a failed water co. public. Privatised water will cost £22bn in the next 5 years.
We must fulfil Keir Starmer's 2020 pledge to make water public, not be blocked by the Treasury saying there's no money. No more bailouts for shareholders, banks + polluters. @skynewsrss.bsky.social
We must fulfil Keir Starmer's 2020 pledge to make water public, not be blocked by the Treasury saying there's no money. No more bailouts for shareholders, banks + polluters. @skynewsrss.bsky.social
A new water "super regulator" should have to secure profit for shareholders and banks, just like Ofwat, says the government appointed Cunliffe Review.
This isn't the change British people want: (1) clean water, (2) fair bills, (3) water in the public interest, not for private greed.
Me on SkyNews👇
This isn't the change British people want: (1) clean water, (2) fair bills, (3) water in the public interest, not for private greed.
Me on SkyNews👇
July 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM
A new water "super regulator" should have to secure profit for shareholders and banks, just like Ofwat, says the government appointed Cunliffe Review.
This isn't the change British people want: (1) clean water, (2) fair bills, (3) water in the public interest, not for private greed.
Me on SkyNews👇
This isn't the change British people want: (1) clean water, (2) fair bills, (3) water in the public interest, not for private greed.
Me on SkyNews👇
Minister Steve Reed said water “pollution levels in Scotland are worse” than England yesterday, and so it makes no difference if water is publicly owned or privatised.
No Steve, that’s what water company lobbyists or failed Defra officials have fed you. Here’s the reality:
No Steve, that’s what water company lobbyists or failed Defra officials have fed you. Here’s the reality:
July 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Minister Steve Reed said water “pollution levels in Scotland are worse” than England yesterday, and so it makes no difference if water is publicly owned or privatised.
No Steve, that’s what water company lobbyists or failed Defra officials have fed you. Here’s the reality:
No Steve, that’s what water company lobbyists or failed Defra officials have fed you. Here’s the reality:
The multiplier effect of investment in higher education is at least £4.95 for every £1 invested - this is for research.
... and for teaching itself the multiplier effect is estimated to be as high as £13 for every £1.
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/sites/defaul...
... and for teaching itself the multiplier effect is estimated to be as high as £13 for every £1.
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/sites/defaul...
July 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
The multiplier effect of investment in higher education is at least £4.95 for every £1 invested - this is for research.
... and for teaching itself the multiplier effect is estimated to be as high as £13 for every £1.
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/sites/defaul...
... and for teaching itself the multiplier effect is estimated to be as high as £13 for every £1.
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/sites/defaul...
Very generous estimates from London Economics found the cost of abolishing all tuition fees for home student undergraduate degrees was £11.23bn in 2024.
londoneconomics.co.uk/wp-content/u...
londoneconomics.co.uk/wp-content/u...
July 17, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Very generous estimates from London Economics found the cost of abolishing all tuition fees for home student undergraduate degrees was £11.23bn in 2024.
londoneconomics.co.uk/wp-content/u...
londoneconomics.co.uk/wp-content/u...
We signed the European Social Charter 1996 art 10(2) and it requires that university is tuition free - so does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
We've been in breach of the international obligations since 1998.
rm.coe.int/168007cf93
We've been in breach of the international obligations since 1998.
rm.coe.int/168007cf93
July 17, 2025 at 9:22 AM
We signed the European Social Charter 1996 art 10(2) and it requires that university is tuition free - so does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
We've been in breach of the international obligations since 1998.
rm.coe.int/168007cf93
We've been in breach of the international obligations since 1998.
rm.coe.int/168007cf93
1% growth in the UK since Labour won the general election.
The Treasury's first mission has been growth.
Why hasn't it worked? Options are (1) need more time (2) welfare hasn't been cut enough.
OR...
(1) failure to invest in public services (2) failure to enact employment rights to raise wages.
The Treasury's first mission has been growth.
Why hasn't it worked? Options are (1) need more time (2) welfare hasn't been cut enough.
OR...
(1) failure to invest in public services (2) failure to enact employment rights to raise wages.
July 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
1% growth in the UK since Labour won the general election.
The Treasury's first mission has been growth.
Why hasn't it worked? Options are (1) need more time (2) welfare hasn't been cut enough.
OR...
(1) failure to invest in public services (2) failure to enact employment rights to raise wages.
The Treasury's first mission has been growth.
Why hasn't it worked? Options are (1) need more time (2) welfare hasn't been cut enough.
OR...
(1) failure to invest in public services (2) failure to enact employment rights to raise wages.
🚨 UK universities are giving everyone a 2.1% real terms pay cut, as VCs take an average £340,000. A 1.4% "uplift" when inflation is 3.5%.
📉 Worse, UCU's incumbent has no vision, no strategy, no ability to explain the rip-off, after real term cuts over 25% since 2010👇
www.ucu.org.uk/media/15197/...
📉 Worse, UCU's incumbent has no vision, no strategy, no ability to explain the rip-off, after real term cuts over 25% since 2010👇
www.ucu.org.uk/media/15197/...
July 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
🚨 UK universities are giving everyone a 2.1% real terms pay cut, as VCs take an average £340,000. A 1.4% "uplift" when inflation is 3.5%.
📉 Worse, UCU's incumbent has no vision, no strategy, no ability to explain the rip-off, after real term cuts over 25% since 2010👇
www.ucu.org.uk/media/15197/...
📉 Worse, UCU's incumbent has no vision, no strategy, no ability to explain the rip-off, after real term cuts over 25% since 2010👇
www.ucu.org.uk/media/15197/...
💷 I spoke with Andrew Marr @lbc.co.uk about how it would cost nearly £0 to put Thames Water into public ownership, not the £billions asserted by water company lobbyists.
💧 This is how we start to clean up our water.
Report with @cmmonwealth.bsky.social 👇
www.common-wealth.org/perspectives...
💧 This is how we start to clean up our water.
Report with @cmmonwealth.bsky.social 👇
www.common-wealth.org/perspectives...
June 10, 2025 at 7:25 AM
💷 I spoke with Andrew Marr @lbc.co.uk about how it would cost nearly £0 to put Thames Water into public ownership, not the £billions asserted by water company lobbyists.
💧 This is how we start to clean up our water.
Report with @cmmonwealth.bsky.social 👇
www.common-wealth.org/perspectives...
💧 This is how we start to clean up our water.
Report with @cmmonwealth.bsky.social 👇
www.common-wealth.org/perspectives...
What would public water cost? Corporate lobbyists/government say £99bn
The law says about £0, to get a “fair balance” in the public interest
Really we need a new law so shareholders + banks pay £billions in repair costs they leave
Me in Guardian + Thames Water👇🏽 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
The law says about £0, to get a “fair balance” in the public interest
Really we need a new law so shareholders + banks pay £billions in repair costs they leave
Me in Guardian + Thames Water👇🏽 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
June 9, 2025 at 6:42 AM
What would public water cost? Corporate lobbyists/government say £99bn
The law says about £0, to get a “fair balance” in the public interest
Really we need a new law so shareholders + banks pay £billions in repair costs they leave
Me in Guardian + Thames Water👇🏽 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
The law says about £0, to get a “fair balance” in the public interest
Really we need a new law so shareholders + banks pay £billions in repair costs they leave
Me in Guardian + Thames Water👇🏽 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
😭 Buyer beware!
💰 Corporate America bought Trump - $1.45 billion donations in the 2024 election - and now they are regretting it, blaming Trump for profit losses. But they knew what they were buying, and did it anyway.
💸 Money needs to exit politics. It's the only way to restore US democracy.
💰 Corporate America bought Trump - $1.45 billion donations in the 2024 election - and now they are regretting it, blaming Trump for profit losses. But they knew what they were buying, and did it anyway.
💸 Money needs to exit politics. It's the only way to restore US democracy.
April 24, 2025 at 11:14 AM
😭 Buyer beware!
💰 Corporate America bought Trump - $1.45 billion donations in the 2024 election - and now they are regretting it, blaming Trump for profit losses. But they knew what they were buying, and did it anyway.
💸 Money needs to exit politics. It's the only way to restore US democracy.
💰 Corporate America bought Trump - $1.45 billion donations in the 2024 election - and now they are regretting it, blaming Trump for profit losses. But they knew what they were buying, and did it anyway.
💸 Money needs to exit politics. It's the only way to restore US democracy.