Jonathan Portes
@jdportes.bsky.social
Professor of Economics and Public Policy, King's College London; Senior Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe. Immigration, economics, public policy. Personal views only; usual disclaimers apply.
Books: Immigration (Sage), Capitalism (Quercus)
Books: Immigration (Sage), Capitalism (Quercus)
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Very interesting piece, including the extract below which has the ring of truth
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Very interesting piece, including the extract below which has the ring of truth
The Telegraph had to correct its multiple lies about "illegal immigrants" in London at least three separate times.
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
The Telegraph’s BBC hypocrisy
A paper that knows a thing or two about editorial f*ck-ups...
writesbright.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The Telegraph had to correct its multiple lies about "illegal immigrants" in London at least three separate times.
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
The Telegraph’s BBC hypocrisy
A paper that knows a thing or two about editorial f*ck-ups...
writesbright.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Palestinian woman Umm Zuhri Shweiki was forcibly expelled from her home in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli forces, who seized and emptied her house before handing it to Israeli settlers.
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Palestinian woman Umm Zuhri Shweiki was forcibly expelled from her home in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli forces, who seized and emptied her house before handing it to Israeli settlers.
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Reports suggest that the UK plans to emulate Denmark's migration system
@kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social argues that "research from the country suggests that drawing lessons from the Danish migration policy should be done with caution and involves pitfalls for British politicians."
🔗 bit.ly/3LA1UI4
@kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social argues that "research from the country suggests that drawing lessons from the Danish migration policy should be done with caution and involves pitfalls for British politicians."
🔗 bit.ly/3LA1UI4
Denmark’s migration policy – an example to follow? - UK in a changing Europe
Kristina Bakkær Simonsen explains why countries feel they have something to learn from Denmark's strict migration policy, but argues that there are many key pitfalls.
bit.ly
November 10, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reports suggest that the UK plans to emulate Denmark's migration system
@kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social argues that "research from the country suggests that drawing lessons from the Danish migration policy should be done with caution and involves pitfalls for British politicians."
🔗 bit.ly/3LA1UI4
@kristinabsimonsen.bsky.social argues that "research from the country suggests that drawing lessons from the Danish migration policy should be done with caution and involves pitfalls for British politicians."
🔗 bit.ly/3LA1UI4
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
"You, like Nigel Farage, are simply lying about what the ONS says."
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Stephen Nolan - 08/11/2025 - BBC Sounds
The day's main news stories, topical debate and interviews.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:41 AM
"You, like Nigel Farage, are simply lying about what the ONS says."
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
GDP also looks a bit on the higher end. On these estimates, the UK would have grown 2%-2.2% pa between 2016 and 2024, instead of 1.2%.
Will read carefully but my immediate reaction is that an employment hit of 3-4% just looks way too high to be plausible?
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
November 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM
GDP also looks a bit on the higher end. On these estimates, the UK would have grown 2%-2.2% pa between 2016 and 2024, instead of 1.2%.
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
A key recent discussion about UK migration has been people's rights to settle permanemently - or "indefinite leave to remain" - but how many people have this status? Our latest piece gives you the info (NB - doesn't include EU settlement scheme) migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
How many migrants in the UK have settlement? - Migration Observatory
This commentary estimates the number of non-EU citizens who currently have settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 1:29 PM
A key recent discussion about UK migration has been people's rights to settle permanemently - or "indefinite leave to remain" - but how many people have this status? Our latest piece gives you the info (NB - doesn't include EU settlement scheme) migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Prescott's claims that the BBC has a pro-trans bias are even flimsier than you might imagine. He thinks all positive stories about trans people represent bias unless some ghoul from Sex Matters is invited to say that they are awful actually. Crackpot green-ink stuff
So the Telegraph’s “BBC bias dossier” - supposedly written by ex-BBC adviser Michael Prescott - is being used to claim there’s a rogue LGBT+ unit “censoring” gender-critical voices inside the BBC.
Let’s look at what’s actually in it. Spoiler: it’s nothing but recycled transphobic talking points!
🧵
Let’s look at what’s actually in it. Spoiler: it’s nothing but recycled transphobic talking points!
🧵
For reference - Here’s the Telegraph article with the Prescott memo complaining about the BBC published in FULL.
Obviously, it’s an archived link which circumvents their paywall - as there’s no way I’m gonna give that transphobic rag any clicks or coin! 😣
👉 archive.ph/mJIsB
Obviously, it’s an archived link which circumvents their paywall - as there’s no way I’m gonna give that transphobic rag any clicks or coin! 😣
👉 archive.ph/mJIsB
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Prescott's claims that the BBC has a pro-trans bias are even flimsier than you might imagine. He thinks all positive stories about trans people represent bias unless some ghoul from Sex Matters is invited to say that they are awful actually. Crackpot green-ink stuff
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Food vouchers, free milk and two-child cap: Reeves weighs up help for families
Ministers' long-awaited child poverty strategy is due this month - and it's closely tied to the Chancellor's Budget
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Will read carefully but my immediate reaction is that an employment hit of 3-4% just looks way too high to be plausible?
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
November 10, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Will read carefully but my immediate reaction is that an employment hit of 3-4% just looks way too high to be plausible?
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Headline from a serious and long working paper on the economic impact of Brexit. Possible that this has been feeding into OBR and HMT discussions?
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
This is very clear, sensible and balanced.
What I would add is that they also need a much more convincing explanation of how government will use money to make people's lives better. Just saying we will spend eleventy-squillion on the NHS is not enough...
What I would add is that they also need a much more convincing explanation of how government will use money to make people's lives better. Just saying we will spend eleventy-squillion on the NHS is not enough...
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it
Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society.
It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...
renewal.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:38 AM
This is very clear, sensible and balanced.
What I would add is that they also need a much more convincing explanation of how government will use money to make people's lives better. Just saying we will spend eleventy-squillion on the NHS is not enough...
What I would add is that they also need a much more convincing explanation of how government will use money to make people's lives better. Just saying we will spend eleventy-squillion on the NHS is not enough...
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Extraordinary to hear a BBC journalist actually *pressing* a Reform politician about anything, let alone to the point (not very distant) of hanging themselves. I’d pretty much forgotten what that was even like. Like A Robin Reliant; takes about 5 mins to fall apart completely
"You, like Nigel Farage, are simply lying about what the ONS says."
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Stephen Nolan - 08/11/2025 - BBC Sounds
The day's main news stories, topical debate and interviews.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Extraordinary to hear a BBC journalist actually *pressing* a Reform politician about anything, let alone to the point (not very distant) of hanging themselves. I’d pretty much forgotten what that was even like. Like A Robin Reliant; takes about 5 mins to fall apart completely
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Food vouchers, free milk and two-child cap: Reeves weighs up help for families
Ministers' long-awaited child poverty strategy is due this month - and it's closely tied to the Chancellor's Budget
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
This is very clear, sensible and balanced.
What I would add is that they also need a much more convincing explanation of how government will use money to make people's lives better. Just saying we will spend eleventy-squillion on the NHS is not enough...
What I would add is that they also need a much more convincing explanation of how government will use money to make people's lives better. Just saying we will spend eleventy-squillion on the NHS is not enough...
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it
Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society.
It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...
renewal.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:38 AM
This is very clear, sensible and balanced.
What I would add is that they also need a much more convincing explanation of how government will use money to make people's lives better. Just saying we will spend eleventy-squillion on the NHS is not enough...
What I would add is that they also need a much more convincing explanation of how government will use money to make people's lives better. Just saying we will spend eleventy-squillion on the NHS is not enough...
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it
Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society.
It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...
renewal.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Well worth a listen both for Jonathan's skewering of Piper but also Nolan's skewering afterwards. Piper was clearly out of his depth.
"You, like Nigel Farage, are simply lying about what the ONS says."
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Stephen Nolan - 08/11/2025 - BBC Sounds
The day's main news stories, topical debate and interviews.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Well worth a listen both for Jonathan's skewering of Piper but also Nolan's skewering afterwards. Piper was clearly out of his depth.
"You, like Nigel Farage, are simply lying about what the ONS says."
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Stephen Nolan - 08/11/2025 - BBC Sounds
The day's main news stories, topical debate and interviews.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:41 AM
"You, like Nigel Farage, are simply lying about what the ONS says."
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I somewhat lost my patience with Reform Councillor Bill Piper here.. (from about 1h 27 min in)
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Meanwhile, back in the real world....
Food vouchers, free milk and two-child cap: Reeves weighs up help for families
Ministers' long-awaited child poverty strategy is due this month - and it's closely tied to the Chancellor's Budget
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Meanwhile, back in the real world....
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Martin Wolf says that while Labour promised to be revolutionary, it's been reactionary on employment, housing and education. It's an important debate...- on.ft.com/47wFwYL via @financialtimes.com
The disturbing victory of Old Labour over New Labour
In education, labour and housing we risk going back towards what we know will not work
on.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Martin Wolf says that while Labour promised to be revolutionary, it's been reactionary on employment, housing and education. It's an important debate...- on.ft.com/47wFwYL via @financialtimes.com
Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Since we’re in the mood for strict accuracy in broadcast news, worth noting that a rival channel had a pundit - unchallenged - say asylum seekers in hotels committed 44% of sexual offences in one county, seemingly because she cannot understand basic maths.
A national newspaper journalist went on a British TV channel to claim police stats showed asylum-seekers committed 44% of sex crimes in Dorset.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
November 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Since we’re in the mood for strict accuracy in broadcast news, worth noting that a rival channel had a pundit - unchallenged - say asylum seekers in hotels committed 44% of sexual offences in one county, seemingly because she cannot understand basic maths.
