Philip Cowley
@philipjcowley.bsky.social
Professor of Politics.
Reposted by Philip Cowley
It means you say napkin and don't go on cruises in warm places. But it might be okay for middle class people to be on a cruise if it involves a cold place or people giving you lectures all the time.
Could someone explain to me what is meant when a British person refers to "the middle class" ? Like, in the US, as I hear it, it basically just means a person who makes a certain amount of money, not too far below and not wildly above the median. Seems like a complex concept when UK writers use it?
November 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
It means you say napkin and don't go on cruises in warm places. But it might be okay for middle class people to be on a cruise if it involves a cold place or people giving you lectures all the time.
Reposted by Philip Cowley
We've been told for decades that 16 year olds are super prepared for the vote - overflowing with knowledge, enthusiasm, and electoral vim.
Now they're about to get it, it'll all be about training, citizenship classes, outreach programmes and the rest...
Now they're about to get it, it'll all be about training, citizenship classes, outreach programmes and the rest...
'Votes at 16' is coming, but how prepared are young people?
Next Thursday, join Hattie Andrews @politicsproject.bsky.social, Emma Connolly @uclspeechlab.bsky.social and Hans Svennevig @citizenshippgceioe.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social at this in-person event with @uclspp.bsky.social.
Sign up 👇
Next Thursday, join Hattie Andrews @politicsproject.bsky.social, Emma Connolly @uclspeechlab.bsky.social and Hans Svennevig @citizenshippgceioe.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social at this in-person event with @uclspp.bsky.social.
Sign up 👇
Votes at 16: Is Citizenship Education up to Scratch?
The UK is lowering the voting age to 16, but how prepared are young people to take part in elections?
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 AM
We've been told for decades that 16 year olds are super prepared for the vote - overflowing with knowledge, enthusiasm, and electoral vim.
Now they're about to get it, it'll all be about training, citizenship classes, outreach programmes and the rest...
Now they're about to get it, it'll all be about training, citizenship classes, outreach programmes and the rest...
We've been told for decades that 16 year olds are super prepared for the vote - overflowing with knowledge, enthusiasm, and electoral vim.
Now they're about to get it, it'll all be about training, citizenship classes, outreach programmes and the rest...
Now they're about to get it, it'll all be about training, citizenship classes, outreach programmes and the rest...
'Votes at 16' is coming, but how prepared are young people?
Next Thursday, join Hattie Andrews @politicsproject.bsky.social, Emma Connolly @uclspeechlab.bsky.social and Hans Svennevig @citizenshippgceioe.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social at this in-person event with @uclspp.bsky.social.
Sign up 👇
Next Thursday, join Hattie Andrews @politicsproject.bsky.social, Emma Connolly @uclspeechlab.bsky.social and Hans Svennevig @citizenshippgceioe.bsky.social @ioe.bsky.social at this in-person event with @uclspp.bsky.social.
Sign up 👇
Votes at 16: Is Citizenship Education up to Scratch?
The UK is lowering the voting age to 16, but how prepared are young people to take part in elections?
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 AM
We've been told for decades that 16 year olds are super prepared for the vote - overflowing with knowledge, enthusiasm, and electoral vim.
Now they're about to get it, it'll all be about training, citizenship classes, outreach programmes and the rest...
Now they're about to get it, it'll all be about training, citizenship classes, outreach programmes and the rest...
Reposted by Philip Cowley
This game is getting silly now. Live Aid was closer to the end of WW2 than to the present day
November 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
This game is getting silly now. Live Aid was closer to the end of WW2 than to the present day
And to think some people are disdainful of quantitative political science...
This brilliant piece of work comes from here:
hardboardscrookedtimbers.org/yes-celebrit...
This brilliant piece of work comes from here:
hardboardscrookedtimbers.org/yes-celebrit...
November 6, 2025 at 8:07 PM
And to think some people are disdainful of quantitative political science...
This brilliant piece of work comes from here:
hardboardscrookedtimbers.org/yes-celebrit...
This brilliant piece of work comes from here:
hardboardscrookedtimbers.org/yes-celebrit...
Reposted by Philip Cowley
Inch by inch, things are getting worse not better? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Inch by inch, things are getting worse not better? www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Philip Cowley
As far as I can tell, he did actually say the original version, which makes it a rare example of a really useful political quote that is actually genuine... See here for examples of ones that are not...
www.markpack.org.uk/175674/beati...
www.markpack.org.uk/175674/beati...
Beating Reform and the political quotes that people never said (LDN#201)
Welcome to Lib Dem Newswire #201, which includes a special treat for you: a chapter from a great new book on politics by Phil Cowley.
www.markpack.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:53 AM
As far as I can tell, he did actually say the original version, which makes it a rare example of a really useful political quote that is actually genuine... See here for examples of ones that are not...
www.markpack.org.uk/175674/beati...
www.markpack.org.uk/175674/beati...
Reposted by Philip Cowley
“What problems are you actually interested in solving?” - a question that I’m not sure most of our current crop of politicians could answer.
November 6, 2025 at 11:37 AM
“What problems are you actually interested in solving?” - a question that I’m not sure most of our current crop of politicians could answer.
Reposted by Philip Cowley
Budget time saving pro-tip: anyone whose argument amounts to go “The fiscal mess is largely due to spending money on (people and things I don’t like) and can be solved by raising taxes on (people and things I don’t like)” is not a serious person and their views can be ignored.
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Budget time saving pro-tip: anyone whose argument amounts to go “The fiscal mess is largely due to spending money on (people and things I don’t like) and can be solved by raising taxes on (people and things I don’t like)” is not a serious person and their views can be ignored.
Reposted by Philip Cowley
Tax policy on the British left is pure "anti-bedtime left". Bizarre idea that you can have a big social democratic welfare state without everyone contributing properly www.economist.com/britain/2025...
November 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Tax policy on the British left is pure "anti-bedtime left". Bizarre idea that you can have a big social democratic welfare state without everyone contributing properly www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Reposted by Philip Cowley
Reposted by Philip Cowley
We campaign in TikTok, we govern in Excel.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
The bad news for Zohran Mamdani is that now he has to actually be mayor of New York, which is a truly *horrible* job.
November 6, 2025 at 7:24 AM
We campaign in TikTok, we govern in Excel.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
We campaign in TikTok, we govern in Excel.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
The bad news for Zohran Mamdani is that now he has to actually be mayor of New York, which is a truly *horrible* job.
November 6, 2025 at 7:24 AM
We campaign in TikTok, we govern in Excel.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
I was lookin for the Hansard text of this exchange, which I think was the last time I saw someone - as today, a stand in - walk so obviously into a trap at PMQs.
(I can't find it. Am sure it's not me hallucinating. But I wonder if it was Business of the House questions, rather than PMQs...)
(I can't find it. Am sure it's not me hallucinating. But I wonder if it was Business of the House questions, rather than PMQs...)
November 5, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I was lookin for the Hansard text of this exchange, which I think was the last time I saw someone - as today, a stand in - walk so obviously into a trap at PMQs.
(I can't find it. Am sure it's not me hallucinating. But I wonder if it was Business of the House questions, rather than PMQs...)
(I can't find it. Am sure it's not me hallucinating. But I wonder if it was Business of the House questions, rather than PMQs...)
Was searching for something else, and found the most on brand debate contribution from 1990...
November 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Was searching for something else, and found the most on brand debate contribution from 1990...
Reposted by Philip Cowley
Andrej Zaslove and I wrote down our thoughts on the recent Dutch election results, noting the continuing relevance of the far right and the hollowing of the (liberal) centre. 👇 @qmul-sse-cgd.bsky.social @qmulsse.bsky.social
The Dutch election results came as a relief to many centrist voters, but this was not quite the triumphant "return to the centre" it has been portrayed as.
✍ @stijntvankessel.bsky.social & Andrej Zaslove blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
✍ @stijntvankessel.bsky.social & Andrej Zaslove blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
The Dutch parliamentary election – not quite a “return to the centre”
Rob Jetten’s victory at the 2025 Dutch election was a blow for Geert Wilders, but far-right policies remain firmly in the mainstream of Dutch politics.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Andrej Zaslove and I wrote down our thoughts on the recent Dutch election results, noting the continuing relevance of the far right and the hollowing of the (liberal) centre. 👇 @qmul-sse-cgd.bsky.social @qmulsse.bsky.social
Reposted by Philip Cowley
🧵 Here’s why a left-wing Democrat winning in New York is proof that Keir Starmer needs to move further left to win in small red wall towns in Britain. (1/245)
November 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
🧵 Here’s why a left-wing Democrat winning in New York is proof that Keir Starmer needs to move further left to win in small red wall towns in Britain. (1/245)
Reposted by Philip Cowley
Reposted by Philip Cowley
How big are these coach and horses that they can be seen from space?
November 5, 2025 at 8:32 AM
How big are these coach and horses that they can be seen from space?
Reposted by Philip Cowley
I liked this story more than most people on my timeline. The reasons I liked it are mostly to do with how it shows that much of the UK state exercises a purely notional control over anything. Trading Standards? Pfft. Companies House? Don't make me laugh. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Crime network behind UK mini-marts is enabling migrants to work illegally
Undercover reporters were told how easy it was to make big profits selling illegal vapes and cigarettes.
www.bbc.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:43 AM
I liked this story more than most people on my timeline. The reasons I liked it are mostly to do with how it shows that much of the UK state exercises a purely notional control over anything. Trading Standards? Pfft. Companies House? Don't make me laugh. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Philip Cowley
I mean, I take his point, but “I don’t know the answer to who was the king [SIC] in 1856 or whatever." 🤦😱🙄 Really?
‘Life in the UK’ test not fit for purpose — Lord Wajid Khan
Speaking at inaugural Hyphen Festival, Labour peer adds that government must do more to tackle cost of living crisis
hyphenonline.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I mean, I take his point, but “I don’t know the answer to who was the king [SIC] in 1856 or whatever." 🤦😱🙄 Really?
Reposted by Philip Cowley
You wait months for an incoherent speech on the economy, and then two come along in the same morning! My SKETCH of Rachel Reeves vs Kemi Badenoch vs Reality.
Making a mess of a mess | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
To get one incoherent speech on the economy may be regarded as a misfortune. To get two in the same morning… well, it did at least move us towards an explanation of why people have to keep making them.
thecritic.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 6:45 PM
You wait months for an incoherent speech on the economy, and then two come along in the same morning! My SKETCH of Rachel Reeves vs Kemi Badenoch vs Reality.
Reposted by Philip Cowley
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the night! You can watch the event on the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social's YouTube channel⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLJK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLJK...
Still "Thatcher's Britain"? The Thatcher Legacy, 1925-2025
YouTube video by Mile End Institute
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the night! You can watch the event on the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social's YouTube channel⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLJK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLJK...
Reposted by Philip Cowley
@robertsaunders.bsky.social was joined by @qmulsse.bsky.social's own @philipjcowley.bsky.social, Baroness Finn, the Conservative peer and deputy chief-of-staff to the prime minister from 2021 to 2022, and Baroness Shephard, a minister in the Thatcher government who is a Fellow of @qmul.bsky.social.
November 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
@robertsaunders.bsky.social was joined by @qmulsse.bsky.social's own @philipjcowley.bsky.social, Baroness Finn, the Conservative peer and deputy chief-of-staff to the prime minister from 2021 to 2022, and Baroness Shephard, a minister in the Thatcher government who is a Fellow of @qmul.bsky.social.