Maria Sobolewska
@profsob.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science at Manchester University. British politics, race and ethnicity, representation.
Given child poverty levels this feels a little ‘let them eat cake’
A brilliant Labour announcement!
We know the difference money for decent playgrounds could make. It’s good for children, families and neighbourhoods.
From Stopsley to Lewsey and all the parks in between, there are playgrounds across Luton that need this funding.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
We know the difference money for decent playgrounds could make. It’s good for children, families and neighbourhoods.
From Stopsley to Lewsey and all the parks in between, there are playgrounds across Luton that need this funding.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Reeves to plough millions into playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
A Treasury source told The Mirror: 'This funding will breathe new life into play areas across England, creating safe, exciting spaces for thousands of children'
www.mirror.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Given child poverty levels this feels a little ‘let them eat cake’
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
A brilliant Labour announcement!
We know the difference money for decent playgrounds could make. It’s good for children, families and neighbourhoods.
From Stopsley to Lewsey and all the parks in between, there are playgrounds across Luton that need this funding.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
We know the difference money for decent playgrounds could make. It’s good for children, families and neighbourhoods.
From Stopsley to Lewsey and all the parks in between, there are playgrounds across Luton that need this funding.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Reeves to plough millions into playgrounds after years of Tory neglect
A Treasury source told The Mirror: 'This funding will breathe new life into play areas across England, creating safe, exciting spaces for thousands of children'
www.mirror.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:17 AM
A brilliant Labour announcement!
We know the difference money for decent playgrounds could make. It’s good for children, families and neighbourhoods.
From Stopsley to Lewsey and all the parks in between, there are playgrounds across Luton that need this funding.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
We know the difference money for decent playgrounds could make. It’s good for children, families and neighbourhoods.
From Stopsley to Lewsey and all the parks in between, there are playgrounds across Luton that need this funding.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Labour is desperately trying to appeal to Reform supporters. In October, we asked people in the UK if they perceive a party as a "party for someone like them". Only very few people say this for both Labour and Reform. The correlation is negative. Labour is chasing an electorate that does not exist.
November 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Labour is desperately trying to appeal to Reform supporters. In October, we asked people in the UK if they perceive a party as a "party for someone like them". Only very few people say this for both Labour and Reform. The correlation is negative. Labour is chasing an electorate that does not exist.
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
this week's newsletter is titled "aren't you tired of feeling insane all the time?" and I think it speaks for itself
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
November 21, 2025 at 10:18 AM
this week's newsletter is titled "aren't you tired of feeling insane all the time?" and I think it speaks for itself
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Any President who calls for the opposition party to be hanged should be immediately impeached and removed from office.
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Any President who calls for the opposition party to be hanged should be immediately impeached and removed from office.
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
I'm sure the Londinistan guys will be delighted to read this... really good news... they'll be talking about something else altogether now... sure of it... because they were genuinely concerned weren't they
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I'm sure the Londinistan guys will be delighted to read this... really good news... they'll be talking about something else altogether now... sure of it... because they were genuinely concerned weren't they
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Typically entertaining piece with a review of the research set out here: bsky.app/profile/turn...
Latest piece for the @thehousemag.bsky.social, on the island of strangers speech and similar. Also ft Bob Hawke.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
The Professor Will See You Now: Island of strangers
Lessons in political science. This week: island of strangers
www.politicshome.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Typically entertaining piece with a review of the research set out here: bsky.app/profile/turn...
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Is it a threat to free speech when the President of the United States threatens to yank the broadcast license of a channel whose reporters are asking him challenging questions?
I ask because I feel like there used to be tons of pundits worried about free speech. Where'd they go?
I ask because I feel like there used to be tons of pundits worried about free speech. Where'd they go?
Trump in response to an Epstein question: "ABC, your company, your crappy company is one of the perpetrators. I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and so wrong. And we have a great commissioner, a chairman, who should take a look at that."
November 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Is it a threat to free speech when the President of the United States threatens to yank the broadcast license of a channel whose reporters are asking him challenging questions?
I ask because I feel like there used to be tons of pundits worried about free speech. Where'd they go?
I ask because I feel like there used to be tons of pundits worried about free speech. Where'd they go?
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
I am sure there will be no economic or structual consequences to this, in a country with a rapidly aging population and unsustainable population pyramid
Net migration now estimated to have fallen from 944,000 to 345,000 in Dec ‘24.
Some projections even suggest David Cameron’s old target of “tens of thousands” could be met. ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
Some projections even suggest David Cameron’s old target of “tens of thousands” could be met. ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
The coming collapse in immigration to the United Kingdom - UK in a changing Europe
James Bowes analyses the fall in net migration to the UK as a result of government policies and explores some of the political and economic consequences.
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I am sure there will be no economic or structual consequences to this, in a country with a rapidly aging population and unsustainable population pyramid
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Excellent column from @stephenkb.bsky.social on what
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy
Politics today is about ‘open vs closed’, but the UK government’s approach risks appeasing no one
www.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Excellent column from @stephenkb.bsky.social on what
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
ONS is so bad. (This is about specifically British nationals.) www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
ONS is so bad. (This is about specifically British nationals.) www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
One hand of Labour: what can we do to keep liberal voters?
The other hand of Labour: lets out-Reform Reform
Voice of reason: you realise both sides have eyes and ears, right?
You actually have to stand for something… make a choice already otherwise none of these groups will vote for you.
The other hand of Labour: lets out-Reform Reform
Voice of reason: you realise both sides have eyes and ears, right?
You actually have to stand for something… make a choice already otherwise none of these groups will vote for you.
Today has been a massive victory for anti-migrant voices.
Not only is Labour doing 90% of what they want, but they're also making it much easier for them to get the remaining 10% later
Not only is Labour doing 90% of what they want, but they're also making it much easier for them to get the remaining 10% later
November 18, 2025 at 11:47 AM
One hand of Labour: what can we do to keep liberal voters?
The other hand of Labour: lets out-Reform Reform
Voice of reason: you realise both sides have eyes and ears, right?
You actually have to stand for something… make a choice already otherwise none of these groups will vote for you.
The other hand of Labour: lets out-Reform Reform
Voice of reason: you realise both sides have eyes and ears, right?
You actually have to stand for something… make a choice already otherwise none of these groups will vote for you.
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Going to leave you with a Home Office chart from their most recent asylum stats so you can decide whether the UK is a magnet for asylum seekers with a uniquely generous asylum system www.gov.uk/government/s...
November 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Going to leave you with a Home Office chart from their most recent asylum stats so you can decide whether the UK is a magnet for asylum seekers with a uniquely generous asylum system www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
“We're seeing a level of proliferation of bodies & body piles from space that's unlike anything I've ever seen…”
Human rights investigator Nathaniel Raymond explains how more people could be killed within a week in Sudan, compared to the past two years in Gaza.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
Human rights investigator Nathaniel Raymond explains how more people could be killed within a week in Sudan, compared to the past two years in Gaza.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
November 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
“We're seeing a level of proliferation of bodies & body piles from space that's unlike anything I've ever seen…”
Human rights investigator Nathaniel Raymond explains how more people could be killed within a week in Sudan, compared to the past two years in Gaza.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
Human rights investigator Nathaniel Raymond explains how more people could be killed within a week in Sudan, compared to the past two years in Gaza.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
Ok- hear me out. I have a teenage daughter, so no judgement about what I watch pls. I’m just genuinely concerned about the shit we feed our kids about love. How is anyone who is team Conrad not sectioned and in therapy yet?! The emotionally manipulative man child. So glad I was there for her 😱
November 8, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Ok- hear me out. I have a teenage daughter, so no judgement about what I watch pls. I’m just genuinely concerned about the shit we feed our kids about love. How is anyone who is team Conrad not sectioned and in therapy yet?! The emotionally manipulative man child. So glad I was there for her 😱
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
It seems pretty risky to tell people they won't see the change they want if they vote Green, given that they already voted Labour and didn't see the change they wanted.
Greens’ ‘undeliverable’ promises will let voters down, says Labour minister
Exclusive: Darren Jones says Labour has to convince young people it is ‘modern party of the future’
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:42 AM
It seems pretty risky to tell people they won't see the change they want if they vote Green, given that they already voted Labour and didn't see the change they wanted.
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
We have just published the call for the Nuffield Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellowships in Politics. These are 3-year fully-funded postdocs that will allow you to focus on your research in a great academic environment. (And with excellent food)
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/...
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/...
Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellowships in Politics - Nuffield College Oxford University
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
We have just published the call for the Nuffield Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellowships in Politics. These are 3-year fully-funded postdocs that will allow you to focus on your research in a great academic environment. (And with excellent food)
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/...
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/...
One of the most wondrous effects of dog ownership is that it seems like an entirely positive, constructive and socially acceptable use of my time to aimlessly wonder around and sit around- doing absolutely nothing, as long as I have my dog with me. I basically have no cortisol left. Loving it 🥰
November 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
One of the most wondrous effects of dog ownership is that it seems like an entirely positive, constructive and socially acceptable use of my time to aimlessly wonder around and sit around- doing absolutely nothing, as long as I have my dog with me. I basically have no cortisol left. Loving it 🥰
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Fernando (33), who was 12 when he came to the UK, was detained by the Home Office as part of their upgraded immigration raids. Held for 29 days. We are supporting him with an application for settled status. No way to know, but this is unlikely to be isolated. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Motorcyclist on shopping trip arrested amid Labour’s crackdown on undocumented migrants
Fernando Fontoura, who moved to the UK aged 12, detained in drive to find people ‘illegally working’ as delivery drivers
www.theguardian.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Fernando (33), who was 12 when he came to the UK, was detained by the Home Office as part of their upgraded immigration raids. Held for 29 days. We are supporting him with an application for settled status. No way to know, but this is unlikely to be isolated. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Once again, the Actual Thing the Actual Democrats Must Actually Do is to make institutional reform the platform & to explain to voters why & how Doing A Popularism is the <consequence> of that, not a prerequisite.
- DC/PR/USVI statehood
- Enlarging the House
- MMDs
- New VRA
- Totally revamping SCOTUS: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
- Automatic universal voter registration
- Rewriting the "national emergency" laws: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
- Subordinating the Senate: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Etc.
- Enlarging the House
- MMDs
- New VRA
- Totally revamping SCOTUS: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
- Automatic universal voter registration
- Rewriting
- Subordinating the Senate: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Etc.
👇🎯💯
Again, the needs to be & all the committees & commissions that want to Do A Popularism & focus on Kitchen Table Issues are engaged in a category mistake about What Democrats Must Do the next time they ever have power.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Again, the
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
November 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Once again, the Actual Thing the Actual Democrats Must Actually Do is to make institutional reform the platform & to explain to voters why & how Doing A Popularism is the <consequence> of that, not a prerequisite.
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Elon Musk’s legacy
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Elon Musk’s legacy
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
Those brown Muslim men, coming over here, settling down for decades and then bloody going and saving dozens of peoples' lives in an act of astonishing self-sacrificial bravery that nearly cost him his life.
All my heart is with Samir Zitouni and his family and loved ones right now.
All my heart is with Samir Zitouni and his family and loved ones right now.
November 4, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Those brown Muslim men, coming over here, settling down for decades and then bloody going and saving dozens of peoples' lives in an act of astonishing self-sacrificial bravery that nearly cost him his life.
All my heart is with Samir Zitouni and his family and loved ones right now.
All my heart is with Samir Zitouni and his family and loved ones right now.
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
The first thing Yaxley-Lennon did on leaving court was to thank Elon Musk for funding his legal costs.
That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK.
As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.
That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK.
As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.
November 4, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The first thing Yaxley-Lennon did on leaving court was to thank Elon Musk for funding his legal costs.
That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK.
As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.
That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK.
As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.
Reposted by Maria Sobolewska
How on earth can Rachel Reeves balance the books? Well, maybe there is a bit of room for taxes to go up, given the vast majority of OECD countries have higher - and in some cases much much higher - taxes on average incomes www.oecd.org/content/dam/...
November 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
How on earth can Rachel Reeves balance the books? Well, maybe there is a bit of room for taxes to go up, given the vast majority of OECD countries have higher - and in some cases much much higher - taxes on average incomes www.oecd.org/content/dam/...