Dr Hayley Bennett
@haylesben.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Social Policy, University of Edinburgh. Welfare state, social security, (un)employment, poverty, policy-making. Views own, RTs not endorsements. https://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/hayley-bennett
When you ask your students how they felt doing a participant observation task on your methods course: lots felt “creepy”
November 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM
When you ask your students how they felt doing a participant observation task on your methods course: lots felt “creepy”
In today’s episode of Edinburgh Uni’s “let’s make random cuts here there and everywhere without any kind of strategy or comms process”… our printer has disappeared 🙄
November 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
In today’s episode of Edinburgh Uni’s “let’s make random cuts here there and everywhere without any kind of strategy or comms process”… our printer has disappeared 🙄
Just as I finish all my midterm marking where I point numerous students towards IAD resources, I read that the department has been axed. Ouch 😩 thetab.com/2025/10/31/e...
Excl: Edinburgh University begins compulsory layoffs with department set to be axed
Seven staff in the Instute for Academic Development are set to lose their jobs when the department closes
thetab.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Just as I finish all my midterm marking where I point numerous students towards IAD resources, I read that the department has been axed. Ouch 😩 thetab.com/2025/10/31/e...
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
The number of people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment or training in Britain is now close to one million.
RF Senior Economist Louise Murphy breaks down what we can do to help these young people back into work or study.
Read the full report here: buff.ly/s3jjW8h
RF Senior Economist Louise Murphy breaks down what we can do to help these young people back into work or study.
Read the full report here: buff.ly/s3jjW8h
October 31, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The number of people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment or training in Britain is now close to one million.
RF Senior Economist Louise Murphy breaks down what we can do to help these young people back into work or study.
Read the full report here: buff.ly/s3jjW8h
RF Senior Economist Louise Murphy breaks down what we can do to help these young people back into work or study.
Read the full report here: buff.ly/s3jjW8h
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
🌟PSA PRIZES🌟 Nominations for Academic Prizes are now open!
📢 We invite prize nominations outstanding Research, Professional Contributions and Teaching & Learning.
📆 Deadline for nominations 1 December 2025
➡️ Full details, eligibility, guidelines and forms online
📢 We invite prize nominations outstanding Research, Professional Contributions and Teaching & Learning.
📆 Deadline for nominations 1 December 2025
➡️ Full details, eligibility, guidelines and forms online
Academic Prizes Overview | The Political Studies Association (PSA)
Become a member Log in
buff.ly
October 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
🌟PSA PRIZES🌟 Nominations for Academic Prizes are now open!
📢 We invite prize nominations outstanding Research, Professional Contributions and Teaching & Learning.
📆 Deadline for nominations 1 December 2025
➡️ Full details, eligibility, guidelines and forms online
📢 We invite prize nominations outstanding Research, Professional Contributions and Teaching & Learning.
📆 Deadline for nominations 1 December 2025
➡️ Full details, eligibility, guidelines and forms online
TBH I know nothing about wikibooks but am a little tired of the inequities in the publishing world. So I read this, and am sharing as other academics might find it informative too. blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Does academia need a wakeup call on Wikibooks? - Impact of Social Sciences
Wikibooks has nearly half a billion annual page views, but has hardly featured in academic OA debates. Could it be a solution to providing open academic books?
blogs.lse.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 10:32 AM
TBH I know nothing about wikibooks but am a little tired of the inequities in the publishing world. So I read this, and am sharing as other academics might find it informative too. blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
Help write women onto Wikipedia this Halloween!
Learn how to edit and PUBLISH a new 50-100+ word article about women missing from our search results. As you'd expect for Halloween, our focus list included Scottish women accused of being witches. All welcome.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/help-write...
Learn how to edit and PUBLISH a new 50-100+ word article about women missing from our search results. As you'd expect for Halloween, our focus list included Scottish women accused of being witches. All welcome.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/help-write...
October 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Help write women onto Wikipedia this Halloween!
Learn how to edit and PUBLISH a new 50-100+ word article about women missing from our search results. As you'd expect for Halloween, our focus list included Scottish women accused of being witches. All welcome.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/help-write...
Learn how to edit and PUBLISH a new 50-100+ word article about women missing from our search results. As you'd expect for Halloween, our focus list included Scottish women accused of being witches. All welcome.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/help-write...
Anas Sarwar @ipprscotland.bsky.social event outlining the need for governance reform in Scottish health services and more use of Scottish economic levers
October 29, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Anas Sarwar @ipprscotland.bsky.social event outlining the need for governance reform in Scottish health services and more use of Scottish economic levers
Next session at the @ipprscotland.bsky.social focussing on the health of Scotland’s democracy
October 29, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Next session at the @ipprscotland.bsky.social focussing on the health of Scotland’s democracy
FM John Swinney responding to Emma Jackson (Citizens Advice Scotland) question about growing needs in Scotland & improving collaboration. Swinney saying he welcomed the #Scotlanddemandsbetter march over the weekend
October 29, 2025 at 11:18 AM
FM John Swinney responding to Emma Jackson (Citizens Advice Scotland) question about growing needs in Scotland & improving collaboration. Swinney saying he welcomed the #Scotlanddemandsbetter march over the weekend
Attending the @ipprscotland.bsky.social event today. An excellent opening from @stephenboydippr.bsky.social reminding us on democratic threats & need for more policy innovation & now @graemeroy.bsky.social outlining fiscal pressures
October 29, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Attending the @ipprscotland.bsky.social event today. An excellent opening from @stephenboydippr.bsky.social reminding us on democratic threats & need for more policy innovation & now @graemeroy.bsky.social outlining fiscal pressures
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
‘It’s been a cesspit, really, my life’: war photographer Don McCullin on 19 of his greatest pictures
‘It’s been a cesspit, really, my life’: war photographer Don McCullin on 19 of his greatest pictures
At 90, McCullin has spent seven decades recording conflict and tragedy – while escaping snipers, mortar fire and capture. He reflects on pain, pride and regret
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:39 AM
‘It’s been a cesspit, really, my life’: war photographer Don McCullin on 19 of his greatest pictures
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
Thousands march in Edinburgh calling for poverty action.
16m Britons live in poverty. Average real wage stuck at 2008 level. Regressive taxation.
Poor ignored, don't fund political parties, bribe legislators, hand freebies to ministers.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
16m Britons live in poverty. Average real wage stuck at 2008 level. Regressive taxation.
Poor ignored, don't fund political parties, bribe legislators, hand freebies to ministers.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Thousands march in Edinburgh calling for action to end poverty
The Scotland Demands Better demonstration was organised by trade unions and charities.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Thousands march in Edinburgh calling for poverty action.
16m Britons live in poverty. Average real wage stuck at 2008 level. Regressive taxation.
Poor ignored, don't fund political parties, bribe legislators, hand freebies to ministers.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
16m Britons live in poverty. Average real wage stuck at 2008 level. Regressive taxation.
Poor ignored, don't fund political parties, bribe legislators, hand freebies to ministers.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
"Workers rights bill and living wage rise will lead to a jobs bloodbath", says Daily Mail.
Apparently making workers insecure/poor is the way to economic growth
Silence on fat-cattery, food bank queues, 34% of universal credit claimants are in work
Light years away from Cadbury/Quaker capitalism.
Apparently making workers insecure/poor is the way to economic growth
Silence on fat-cattery, food bank queues, 34% of universal credit claimants are in work
Light years away from Cadbury/Quaker capitalism.
Workers rights bill & living wage rise 'will lead to a jobs bloodbath
In its Employment Rights Bill, Labour has also proposed introducing nine-month legal 'probation' periods to address concerns, but the think-tank said this was a 'messy compromise'.
www.dailymail.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 9:23 AM
"Workers rights bill and living wage rise will lead to a jobs bloodbath", says Daily Mail.
Apparently making workers insecure/poor is the way to economic growth
Silence on fat-cattery, food bank queues, 34% of universal credit claimants are in work
Light years away from Cadbury/Quaker capitalism.
Apparently making workers insecure/poor is the way to economic growth
Silence on fat-cattery, food bank queues, 34% of universal credit claimants are in work
Light years away from Cadbury/Quaker capitalism.
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
Big Brother
HMRC cuts child benefit for 35000 families based on incomplete travel data.
HMRC trawled through travel data, interpreted it incorrectly.
Since 2016 it has powers, subject to conditions, to remove money directly from people's bank accounts.
What could go wrong in surveillance society?
HMRC cuts child benefit for 35000 families based on incomplete travel data.
HMRC trawled through travel data, interpreted it incorrectly.
Since 2016 it has powers, subject to conditions, to remove money directly from people's bank accounts.
What could go wrong in surveillance society?
HMRC cuts child benefit for 35,000 families based on incomplete travel data
UK tax agency apologises after flagging people as having emigrated, often when they return via different routes
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Big Brother
HMRC cuts child benefit for 35000 families based on incomplete travel data.
HMRC trawled through travel data, interpreted it incorrectly.
Since 2016 it has powers, subject to conditions, to remove money directly from people's bank accounts.
What could go wrong in surveillance society?
HMRC cuts child benefit for 35000 families based on incomplete travel data.
HMRC trawled through travel data, interpreted it incorrectly.
Since 2016 it has powers, subject to conditions, to remove money directly from people's bank accounts.
What could go wrong in surveillance society?
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
Private rent in UK now swallows 44% of the average wage.
Monthly cost jumps to record £1,385 outside London, £2,736 in the capital.
Lack of social and affordable housing, no rent controls, as govts appease corporations and the rich.
Profiteering creating poverty/despair, stifling economic growth.
Monthly cost jumps to record £1,385 outside London, £2,736 in the capital.
Lack of social and affordable housing, no rent controls, as govts appease corporations and the rich.
Profiteering creating poverty/despair, stifling economic growth.
Private rent in Britain now swallows 44% of the average wage
Monthly cost jumps to record £1,385 outside London, and £2,736 in the capital, with hotspots showing hefty rises
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Private rent in UK now swallows 44% of the average wage.
Monthly cost jumps to record £1,385 outside London, £2,736 in the capital.
Lack of social and affordable housing, no rent controls, as govts appease corporations and the rich.
Profiteering creating poverty/despair, stifling economic growth.
Monthly cost jumps to record £1,385 outside London, £2,736 in the capital.
Lack of social and affordable housing, no rent controls, as govts appease corporations and the rich.
Profiteering creating poverty/despair, stifling economic growth.
October 25, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Listening to Darren Mcgarvey who is eloquent as ever about the problem of reactionary politics and elitism #scotlanddemandsbetter
October 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Listening to Darren Mcgarvey who is eloquent as ever about the problem of reactionary politics and elitism #scotlanddemandsbetter
An open-ended academic job in social policy being advertised in 2025? Can it be? For many ECRs looking for a role, this one might be for you:
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Assistant Professor (Study of Crime/Criminal Justice and Social or Public Policy)
Assistant Professor (Study of Crime/Criminal Justice and Social or Public Policy),
,
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span>LSE is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive univ...
jobs.lse.ac.uk
October 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
An open-ended academic job in social policy being advertised in 2025? Can it be? For many ECRs looking for a role, this one might be for you:
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
Now available: www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/res... co-edited by policy group member Elke Heins, with contributions from policy group members: @haylesben.bsky.social, @chrisgrover.bsky.social @heejungchung.bsky.social @katyjones.bsky.social
Research Handbook on Social Policy and Employment
‘This Handbook has an extraordinarily comprehensive historical and global range, placing current developments in a strong perspective of historical development and including countries in the global so...
www.e-elgar.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Now available: www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/res... co-edited by policy group member Elke Heins, with contributions from policy group members: @haylesben.bsky.social, @chrisgrover.bsky.social @heejungchung.bsky.social @katyjones.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
500 employers fined £10m for failing to pay the national minimum wage.
42,000 workers repaid more than £6m.
Roll of exploitation includes Holland & Barrett, Centrica, Adecco, Avis, Euro Garages, Genting Casinos, Go Outdoors, Mitchells & Butlers. Some have a history.
None forgot to pay execs.
42,000 workers repaid more than £6m.
Roll of exploitation includes Holland & Barrett, Centrica, Adecco, Avis, Euro Garages, Genting Casinos, Go Outdoors, Mitchells & Butlers. Some have a history.
None forgot to pay execs.
£6 million repaid to workers as Government cracks down on employers underpaying their staff
Nearly 500 employers fined over £10 million for failing to pay the National Minimum Wage
www.gov.uk
October 17, 2025 at 6:12 AM
500 employers fined £10m for failing to pay the national minimum wage.
42,000 workers repaid more than £6m.
Roll of exploitation includes Holland & Barrett, Centrica, Adecco, Avis, Euro Garages, Genting Casinos, Go Outdoors, Mitchells & Butlers. Some have a history.
None forgot to pay execs.
42,000 workers repaid more than £6m.
Roll of exploitation includes Holland & Barrett, Centrica, Adecco, Avis, Euro Garages, Genting Casinos, Go Outdoors, Mitchells & Butlers. Some have a history.
None forgot to pay execs.
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
We're hiring!💥
IPPR North are looking for a senior researcher who has big ideas for the future of our regions. Join us at this pivotal time for our economy and democracy.
Based in Manchester, apply by 31st October.
www.ippr.org/jobs/senior-...
IPPR North are looking for a senior researcher who has big ideas for the future of our regions. Join us at this pivotal time for our economy and democracy.
Based in Manchester, apply by 31st October.
www.ippr.org/jobs/senior-...
Senior Research Fellow, IPPR North | IPPR
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society.
www.ippr.org
October 15, 2025 at 11:11 AM
We're hiring!💥
IPPR North are looking for a senior researcher who has big ideas for the future of our regions. Join us at this pivotal time for our economy and democracy.
Based in Manchester, apply by 31st October.
www.ippr.org/jobs/senior-...
IPPR North are looking for a senior researcher who has big ideas for the future of our regions. Join us at this pivotal time for our economy and democracy.
Based in Manchester, apply by 31st October.
www.ippr.org/jobs/senior-...
Today was our @safety-nets.bsky.social Scottish round table where we gave an overview of stage 1 of the project to lots of important research & policy folk in Scotland. Thanks to @ccc-research.bsky.social for supporting the event & also to Mark & Ciara for travelling & presenting.
October 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Today was our @safety-nets.bsky.social Scottish round table where we gave an overview of stage 1 of the project to lots of important research & policy folk in Scotland. Thanks to @ccc-research.bsky.social for supporting the event & also to Mark & Ciara for travelling & presenting.
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
Read the latest Safety Nets Blog here: www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202... @haylesben.bsky.social @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social
The growth gamble: Do we need to loosen the tie binding devolution with economic outcomes in England? - RSA Main
Earlier in 2025, the UK government announced a commitment to reduce spending on disability benefits by restructuring entitlements and eligibility to various health-related benefits. It claims through ...
www.regionalstudies.org
October 14, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Read the latest Safety Nets Blog here: www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202... @haylesben.bsky.social @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Hayley Bennett
Well done Shafaq Aftab. When a reviewer stole her work and published it under his own name, she fought for a YEAR to get the journal to retract the paper. Just wondering why it took Wiley a YEAR to do this. 🧪 #academicsky
retractionwatch.com/2025/10/03/w...
retractionwatch.com/2025/10/03/w...
Wiley retracts study stolen by reviewer, following Retraction Watch coverage
A Wiley journal has retracted a paper more than a year after a researcher reported the work was hers and had been stolen by a reviewer for another journal. As we reported in July, Shafaq Aftab, now…
retractionwatch.com
October 12, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Well done Shafaq Aftab. When a reviewer stole her work and published it under his own name, she fought for a YEAR to get the journal to retract the paper. Just wondering why it took Wiley a YEAR to do this. 🧪 #academicsky
retractionwatch.com/2025/10/03/w...
retractionwatch.com/2025/10/03/w...