Lewis Miller
@lewgmiller.bsky.social
Politics lecturer in Dundee. Public Policy oriented - Teaching Scottish, British and EU Politics.
Pinned
Lewis Miller
@lewgmiller.bsky.social
· Nov 2
Respond with how long you think Badenoch will remain leader of the Conservatives so we can all look back at how bad we are at predicting things.
Reposted by Lewis Miller
🤔 Is it possible to leave the ECHR? If so, how? And, less radically, can these conventions be reformed?
With the UK's membership in the European Convention on Human Rights and what that means under increasing scrutiny, @cbarnard.bsky.social has the answers👇
ukandeu.ac.uk/leaving-the-...
With the UK's membership in the European Convention on Human Rights and what that means under increasing scrutiny, @cbarnard.bsky.social has the answers👇
ukandeu.ac.uk/leaving-the-...
Leaving the ECHR and the Refugee Convention - UK in a changing Europe
Catherine Barnard explains the political and legal consequences of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Refugee Convention.
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
🤔 Is it possible to leave the ECHR? If so, how? And, less radically, can these conventions be reformed?
With the UK's membership in the European Convention on Human Rights and what that means under increasing scrutiny, @cbarnard.bsky.social has the answers👇
ukandeu.ac.uk/leaving-the-...
With the UK's membership in the European Convention on Human Rights and what that means under increasing scrutiny, @cbarnard.bsky.social has the answers👇
ukandeu.ac.uk/leaving-the-...
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.
November 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Labour's fear of Reform, 'the election is tomorrow' attitude means that they are completely incapable of going 'okay, but what are *actually* the consequences of refugee and asylum policy that people don't like?'
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Labour's fear of Reform, 'the election is tomorrow' attitude means that they are completely incapable of going 'okay, but what are *actually* the consequences of refugee and asylum policy that people don't like?'
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Absolute bombshell report in the FT tonight that Reeves has effectively ripped up her entire Budget and abandoning plans to raise income tax.
Means a lot of disparate, smaller measures now on the table.
Just yesterday morning I was told they were desperate to avoid that.
Means a lot of disparate, smaller measures now on the table.
Just yesterday morning I was told they were desperate to avoid that.
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Absolute bombshell report in the FT tonight that Reeves has effectively ripped up her entire Budget and abandoning plans to raise income tax.
Means a lot of disparate, smaller measures now on the table.
Just yesterday morning I was told they were desperate to avoid that.
Means a lot of disparate, smaller measures now on the table.
Just yesterday morning I was told they were desperate to avoid that.
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
Reposted by Lewis Miller
NEW -
Political Scandals and Vertical Contagion in Multilevel Systems - cup.org/47wHeJB
- @jaclarner.bsky.social, Robert Johns, @ailsahenderson.bsky.social, @frasmcm.bsky.social & @cjcarman.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
Political Scandals and Vertical Contagion in Multilevel Systems - cup.org/47wHeJB
- @jaclarner.bsky.social, Robert Johns, @ailsahenderson.bsky.social, @frasmcm.bsky.social & @cjcarman.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
November 9, 2025 at 4:30 PM
NEW -
Political Scandals and Vertical Contagion in Multilevel Systems - cup.org/47wHeJB
- @jaclarner.bsky.social, Robert Johns, @ailsahenderson.bsky.social, @frasmcm.bsky.social & @cjcarman.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
Political Scandals and Vertical Contagion in Multilevel Systems - cup.org/47wHeJB
- @jaclarner.bsky.social, Robert Johns, @ailsahenderson.bsky.social, @frasmcm.bsky.social & @cjcarman.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Also, this is a low turnout off-year election in a city where the population is overwhelming Democratic and from progressive demographics, and in a country with an unpopular right wing incumbent. I would be wary of generalising from this to contexts where some or all of these things aren't true.
Perhaps it worked for him (don't know enough about US politics to know) but it's an all too familiar hope on the part of the British left - one that, time and time again, is sadly dashed when the results are counted and the analysis is done.
Zohran Mamdani’s win shows the power of mobilizing non-voters | Ben Davis
Mamdani reshaped the electorate, bringing hundreds of thousands of non-voters out to the polls, from young people to left-behind immigrant communities
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Also, this is a low turnout off-year election in a city where the population is overwhelming Democratic and from progressive demographics, and in a country with an unpopular right wing incumbent. I would be wary of generalising from this to contexts where some or all of these things aren't true.
Reposted by Lewis Miller
News that further job cuts are coming is just another shocking revelation in a year when staff have been told one thing only to be told something different over the number of jobs to be cut and the need for compulsory redundancies.
DUCU co-president, Melissa D’Ascenzio
news.stv.tv/north/dundee...
DUCU co-president, Melissa D’Ascenzio
news.stv.tv/north/dundee...
University staff strikes set to continue amid job cut threats
Further strike action is expected from UCU members from November 10 next week amid a long running dispute with university bosses.
news.stv.tv
November 5, 2025 at 8:40 AM
News that further job cuts are coming is just another shocking revelation in a year when staff have been told one thing only to be told something different over the number of jobs to be cut and the need for compulsory redundancies.
DUCU co-president, Melissa D’Ascenzio
news.stv.tv/north/dundee...
DUCU co-president, Melissa D’Ascenzio
news.stv.tv/north/dundee...
Reposted by Lewis Miller
To adapt that Jean-Claude Junker quote “We all know what to do, but we don’t know how to get elected if we tell people.”
She is telling an accurate story of recent history - the triple punch of austerity, Brexit and covid. It's spot on. But it is terribly strange to say it now in government when you were not prepared to say it in opposition.
November 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM
To adapt that Jean-Claude Junker quote “We all know what to do, but we don’t know how to get elected if we tell people.”
Reposted by Lewis Miller
David Gow, former Guardian Germany correspondent, dies aged 80
David Gow, former Guardian Germany correspondent, dies aged 80
‘Impressively professional journalist’ with a commitment to social justice was also European business editor
*
David Gow obituary
David Gow, a former Germany correspondent and European business editor of the Guardian whose strong commitment to social justice and to the EU project continued long after he left the paper, has died of a heart attack aged 80.
Gow joined the Scotsman as a graduate trainee in 1969 before becoming the paper’s first Europe correspondent, then labour correspondent and finally its London editor. After nearly 20 years there Gow moved to the Guardian in 1989. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:43 PM
David Gow, former Guardian Germany correspondent, dies aged 80
Reposted by Lewis Miller
The US remains the most popular destination among educated young adults worldwide, but its lead over #2 has narrowed from 20pts to 9pts, while the UK has plummeted from a consistent #2 ranking to #7, again with a steep fall after 2016.
October 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
The US remains the most popular destination among educated young adults worldwide, but its lead over #2 has narrowed from 20pts to 9pts, while the UK has plummeted from a consistent #2 ranking to #7, again with a steep fall after 2016.
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Pumpkim carving is for cheats and cowards who like having the same number of fingers they started with
A reminder that the original Hallowe'en jack o' lanterns date back to 18th century Ireland if not earlier, were based on a shady boozy blacksmith called Stingy Jack who cheated the devil & was trapped between 2 worlds, were carved from turnips and looked like this:
October 31, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Pumpkim carving is for cheats and cowards who like having the same number of fingers they started with
It is that time of year where I have to remind people that Halloween is a Celtic thing and is one of our major cultural exports. Stop calling something that was celebrated in Scotland and Ireland first an American thing.
Among the major cultural changes of my lifetime... Halloween just wasn't much of a thing growing up (known as mischief night)... a vulgar Americanism when we had good old British Bonfire Night on 5th November.
October 31, 2025 at 10:29 AM
It is that time of year where I have to remind people that Halloween is a Celtic thing and is one of our major cultural exports. Stop calling something that was celebrated in Scotland and Ireland first an American thing.
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Our latest Westminster voting intention (26-27 Oct) has Labour on their lowest figure ever recorded by YouGov, with the Greens on their highest
Reform UK: 27% (+1 from 19-20 Oct)
Labour: 17% (-3)
Conservatives: 17% (=)
Greens: 16% (+1)
Lib Dems: 15% (=)
SNP: 3% (-1)
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Reform UK: 27% (+1 from 19-20 Oct)
Labour: 17% (-3)
Conservatives: 17% (=)
Greens: 16% (+1)
Lib Dems: 15% (=)
SNP: 3% (-1)
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
October 28, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Our latest Westminster voting intention (26-27 Oct) has Labour on their lowest figure ever recorded by YouGov, with the Greens on their highest
Reform UK: 27% (+1 from 19-20 Oct)
Labour: 17% (-3)
Conservatives: 17% (=)
Greens: 16% (+1)
Lib Dems: 15% (=)
SNP: 3% (-1)
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Reform UK: 27% (+1 from 19-20 Oct)
Labour: 17% (-3)
Conservatives: 17% (=)
Greens: 16% (+1)
Lib Dems: 15% (=)
SNP: 3% (-1)
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Reposted by Lewis Miller
From our @qmulsse.bsky.social colleague @karlpike.bsky.social
Lucy Powell becomes Labour’s deputy leader – what that means for the party and Keir Starmer
Powell beat Keir Starmer’s preferred candidate, Bridget Phillipson, in a ballot of members.
theconversation.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
From our @qmulsse.bsky.social colleague @karlpike.bsky.social
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
October 24, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Important read from @reporterrwright.ft.com on why changing the immigration rules — the terms of an informal contract, really — after someone arrives is unfair. on.ft.com/47fYDVt
October 22, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Important read from @reporterrwright.ft.com on why changing the immigration rules — the terms of an informal contract, really — after someone arrives is unfair. on.ft.com/47fYDVt
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Excellent @stephenkb.bsky.social column this morning skewering the Conservatives' extreme deportation plan and making clear just how many people it would threaten. One small corrective - the 3% support he cites actually refers to support for the (much less extreme) idea of abolishing ILR status
October 23, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Excellent @stephenkb.bsky.social column this morning skewering the Conservatives' extreme deportation plan and making clear just how many people it would threaten. One small corrective - the 3% support he cites actually refers to support for the (much less extreme) idea of abolishing ILR status
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Far be it from me to say it’s men who are the problem, but…
A J L Partners poll of 5,000 16-40 year olds shows a widening gender divide in the UK.
Men aged 16-25:
Reform: 31%
Labour: 24%
Green: 14%
Women aged 16-25:
Labour: 27%
Green: 25%
Reform: 18%
A J L Partners poll of 5,000 16-40 year olds shows a widening gender divide in the UK.
Men aged 16-25:
Reform: 31%
Labour: 24%
Green: 14%
Women aged 16-25:
Labour: 27%
Green: 25%
Reform: 18%
October 22, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Far be it from me to say it’s men who are the problem, but…
A J L Partners poll of 5,000 16-40 year olds shows a widening gender divide in the UK.
Men aged 16-25:
Reform: 31%
Labour: 24%
Green: 14%
Women aged 16-25:
Labour: 27%
Green: 25%
Reform: 18%
A J L Partners poll of 5,000 16-40 year olds shows a widening gender divide in the UK.
Men aged 16-25:
Reform: 31%
Labour: 24%
Green: 14%
Women aged 16-25:
Labour: 27%
Green: 25%
Reform: 18%
Reposted by Lewis Miller
For most of the past few decades, supporters of imm have bunched below their weight on the issue because imm is something they regard as normal, they are happy with the status quo, campaigning for it isn't a priority. All that changes when supposedly secure status of millions under threat.
October 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM
For most of the past few decades, supporters of imm have bunched below their weight on the issue because imm is something they regard as normal, they are happy with the status quo, campaigning for it isn't a priority. All that changes when supposedly secure status of millions under threat.
Reposted by Lewis Miller
This is where political agency becomes important. Most voters don't engage with politics regularly - they need to be informed about this. Tory sources such as Lam are already obfuscating and misleading about their policy. Voters need a clear signal from pro-imm parties to know the stakes.
October 22, 2025 at 10:03 AM
This is where political agency becomes important. Most voters don't engage with politics regularly - they need to be informed about this. Tory sources such as Lam are already obfuscating and misleading about their policy. Voters need a clear signal from pro-imm parties to know the stakes.
Reposted by Lewis Miller
From basic policy analysis terms, I don't understand the policy problem that the UK govt are trying to solve with the fees announcement? The idea of linking fees to quality has been touted all the time, but it just falls down when they realise you can't measure quality
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
University tuition fees in England to rise with inflation every year from 2026
Bridget Phillipson confirmed the plans for the next two years, with fees to increase automatically after that.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 7:46 PM
From basic policy analysis terms, I don't understand the policy problem that the UK govt are trying to solve with the fees announcement? The idea of linking fees to quality has been touted all the time, but it just falls down when they realise you can't measure quality
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Lewis Miller
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Labour sheds support from impatient Britons
Research shows party losing voters who want results now, with women more likely to prioritise short-term gains
www.ft.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Great to speak to @greenmirandahere.bsky.social for today's FT Inside Politics about the latest finding from our politics of (im)patience project, w/ @karlpike.bsky.social and @philipjcowley.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/e984...
www.ft.com/content/e984...
Reposted by Lewis Miller
This, from @catherinedevries.bsky.social, is really useful advice for young (and, tbh, old!) academics. Worth passing on if you know any, maybe? catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/fail-bette...
October 14, 2025 at 7:24 AM
This, from @catherinedevries.bsky.social, is really useful advice for young (and, tbh, old!) academics. Worth passing on if you know any, maybe? catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/fail-bette...