Iain Mansfield
@igmansfield.bsky.social
Current affairs, politics, education and miscellany. All views my own.
Substack at edrith.co.uk
Substack at edrith.co.uk
Still time to u-turn on the u-turn before the Budget!
November 13, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Still time to u-turn on the u-turn before the Budget!
I look forward to reading this piece!
November 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I look forward to reading this piece!
A report on this was published this week.
For example, "Social justice terms (such as equity, diversity and inclusion) have surged in UKRI grants, up 35 times since 2000."
UKRI openly talks about how it will embed EDI in research funding mechanisms.
www.heterodoxcentre.com/research/chs...
For example, "Social justice terms (such as equity, diversity and inclusion) have surged in UKRI grants, up 35 times since 2000."
UKRI openly talks about how it will embed EDI in research funding mechanisms.
www.heterodoxcentre.com/research/chs...
CHSS Report No. 7 The Politicisation of Research Funding in Britain: An Analysis of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Grants and Policies
www.heterodoxcentre.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:33 PM
A report on this was published this week.
For example, "Social justice terms (such as equity, diversity and inclusion) have surged in UKRI grants, up 35 times since 2000."
UKRI openly talks about how it will embed EDI in research funding mechanisms.
www.heterodoxcentre.com/research/chs...
For example, "Social justice terms (such as equity, diversity and inclusion) have surged in UKRI grants, up 35 times since 2000."
UKRI openly talks about how it will embed EDI in research funding mechanisms.
www.heterodoxcentre.com/research/chs...
Yes, I wrote this too quickly and conflated the two.
Have deleted, corrected and reposted.
Have deleted, corrected and reposted.
November 12, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Yes, I wrote this too quickly and conflated the two.
Have deleted, corrected and reposted.
Have deleted, corrected and reposted.
I suspect the Prescott memo was more significant than the Trump editing (though no doubt it all played a part).
November 9, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I suspect the Prescott memo was more significant than the Trump editing (though no doubt it all played a part).
And yes, you could turn over and vote for other parties, or a split ticket, but the incumbent party's slate was more prominent and quicker to vote for.
It would be obviously unacceptable.
Leaving aside any issues on the merits of Restore Trust or any other faction, the voting system is wrong.
It would be obviously unacceptable.
Leaving aside any issues on the merits of Restore Trust or any other faction, the voting system is wrong.
November 9, 2025 at 1:58 PM
And yes, you could turn over and vote for other parties, or a split ticket, but the incumbent party's slate was more prominent and quicker to vote for.
It would be obviously unacceptable.
Leaving aside any issues on the merits of Restore Trust or any other faction, the voting system is wrong.
It would be obviously unacceptable.
Leaving aside any issues on the merits of Restore Trust or any other faction, the voting system is wrong.
The 'Quick Vote' method used by NT, building societies and others can't be justified.
Imagine if last summer, your ballot paper had a box at the front which said, 'Tick here to vote for the candidates Government recommends for MP, councillor and PCC' - and that voted for the Conservative slate?
Imagine if last summer, your ballot paper had a box at the front which said, 'Tick here to vote for the candidates Government recommends for MP, councillor and PCC' - and that voted for the Conservative slate?
November 9, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The 'Quick Vote' method used by NT, building societies and others can't be justified.
Imagine if last summer, your ballot paper had a box at the front which said, 'Tick here to vote for the candidates Government recommends for MP, councillor and PCC' - and that voted for the Conservative slate?
Imagine if last summer, your ballot paper had a box at the front which said, 'Tick here to vote for the candidates Government recommends for MP, councillor and PCC' - and that voted for the Conservative slate?
Watched Independence Day today with mine - and likewise, first time for a very long while!
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Watched Independence Day today with mine - and likewise, first time for a very long while!
4. What about the unknowns?
A relatively high number of voters are still saying they don't know - which way will they go?
Plus, of course, much could change over the next three and a half years.
A relatively high number of voters are still saying they don't know - which way will they go?
Plus, of course, much could change over the next three and a half years.
November 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
4. What about the unknowns?
A relatively high number of voters are still saying they don't know - which way will they go?
Plus, of course, much could change over the next three and a half years.
A relatively high number of voters are still saying they don't know - which way will they go?
Plus, of course, much could change over the next three and a half years.
3. What's Labour's floor?
The Conservatives seem to have stabilised at the (low) level of 17 +/- 1%.
But Labour are still losing votes to the left - and are about to very visibly break a core manifesto pledge and raise taxes.
How low could they go?
The Conservatives seem to have stabilised at the (low) level of 17 +/- 1%.
But Labour are still losing votes to the left - and are about to very visibly break a core manifesto pledge and raise taxes.
How low could they go?
November 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
3. What's Labour's floor?
The Conservatives seem to have stabilised at the (low) level of 17 +/- 1%.
But Labour are still losing votes to the left - and are about to very visibly break a core manifesto pledge and raise taxes.
How low could they go?
The Conservatives seem to have stabilised at the (low) level of 17 +/- 1%.
But Labour are still losing votes to the left - and are about to very visibly break a core manifesto pledge and raise taxes.
How low could they go?
2. Is the Green rise real?
If we look at council by-elections, Lib Dem and Reform are utterly domination.
That remains true if you look only at the last two months.
Where are these putatitive Green voters? Will they really come through at the same level as the Lib Dems?
If we look at council by-elections, Lib Dem and Reform are utterly domination.
That remains true if you look only at the last two months.
Where are these putatitive Green voters? Will they really come through at the same level as the Lib Dems?
November 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
2. Is the Green rise real?
If we look at council by-elections, Lib Dem and Reform are utterly domination.
That remains true if you look only at the last two months.
Where are these putatitive Green voters? Will they really come through at the same level as the Lib Dems?
If we look at council by-elections, Lib Dem and Reform are utterly domination.
That remains true if you look only at the last two months.
Where are these putatitive Green voters? Will they really come through at the same level as the Lib Dems?
And some things I'm much less sure of:
1. How big is Reform's lead?
My central estimate is 'about 10 points', but anything from 6pts (Ref 28 vs Lab 22) to 14 points (Ref 32 to Lab 18) wouldn't shock me.
That makes a huge difference!
1. How big is Reform's lead?
My central estimate is 'about 10 points', but anything from 6pts (Ref 28 vs Lab 22) to 14 points (Ref 32 to Lab 18) wouldn't shock me.
That makes a huge difference!
November 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
And some things I'm much less sure of:
1. How big is Reform's lead?
My central estimate is 'about 10 points', but anything from 6pts (Ref 28 vs Lab 22) to 14 points (Ref 32 to Lab 18) wouldn't shock me.
That makes a huge difference!
1. How big is Reform's lead?
My central estimate is 'about 10 points', but anything from 6pts (Ref 28 vs Lab 22) to 14 points (Ref 32 to Lab 18) wouldn't shock me.
That makes a huge difference!