@sumi-r.bsky.social
Reposted
🚨 JUST IN: tens of thousands of people will need to turn to a food bank for the very first time this winter.
We expect to provide an emergency food parcel EVERY 10 SECONDS.
We expect to provide an emergency food parcel EVERY 10 SECONDS.
December 3, 2025 at 8:53 AM
🚨 JUST IN: tens of thousands of people will need to turn to a food bank for the very first time this winter.
We expect to provide an emergency food parcel EVERY 10 SECONDS.
We expect to provide an emergency food parcel EVERY 10 SECONDS.
Reposted
Great to see a really positive development in the UK’s social science data infrastructure.
Announcing Generation New Era: the first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years.
It will study 30,000 children born in 2026 across the four nations of the UK.
Watch out for upcoming opportunities for researchers and other stakeholders to engage with the study team via @clscohorts.bsky.social
It will study 30,000 children born in 2026 across the four nations of the UK.
Watch out for upcoming opportunities for researchers and other stakeholders to engage with the study team via @clscohorts.bsky.social
UKRI announces first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years
A ground-breaking UK-wide scientific study will help improve the lives of future generations by studying 30,000 children born in 2026.
www.ukri.org
September 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Great to see a really positive development in the UK’s social science data infrastructure.
Reposted
Great to hear @sumi-r.bsky.social talking about @trusselluk.bsky.social new stats & risk of looming disability benefit cuts making them even worse with @lizzybuchan.bsky.social & @calgie.bsky.social on the Division Bell podcast this week - listen from 11.46 mins. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUne...
Will Labour’s U-turn on Winter Fuel be enough to defeat Reform? | The Division Bell
YouTube video by The Division Bell Podcast
www.youtube.com
May 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Great to hear @sumi-r.bsky.social talking about @trusselluk.bsky.social new stats & risk of looming disability benefit cuts making them even worse with @lizzybuchan.bsky.social & @calgie.bsky.social on the Division Bell podcast this week - listen from 11.46 mins. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUne...
Reposted
🔥📖 out today, shares firsthand accounts of how the childcare system is failing parents on a low-income and sets out co-produced recommendations for how it could be improved 🔥📖
changingrealities.org/writings/it-...
[Please read & share this short 🧵]
changingrealities.org/writings/it-...
[Please read & share this short 🧵]
Looking after children is important and vital work; and it’s imperative that parents and carers have access to high quality and affordable childcare, both in order to support their children’s development and also to support them in their other forms of work: be it education, training, caring, or participation in the formal labour market. Recent years have seen a growing focus on the importance of improving the UK’s childcare offer, and we have seen a range of policy changes to try and improve what is provided and on what basis. This briefing sets out the experiences of parents and carers on a low income, and makes clear the distance that still needs to be travelled if we are to move to a situation in which all parents can access affordable and decent childcare provision. We share evidence of parents’ experiences and challenges around finding childcare that fits with working hours; systemic issues with affordability; and the pressing need to improve support for childcare through Universal Credit. There is also a need to improve childcare for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and to rethink how childcare support is made available during school holidays.
changingrealities.org
May 13, 2025 at 4:26 PM
🔥📖 out today, shares firsthand accounts of how the childcare system is failing parents on a low-income and sets out co-produced recommendations for how it could be improved 🔥📖
changingrealities.org/writings/it-...
[Please read & share this short 🧵]
changingrealities.org/writings/it-...
[Please read & share this short 🧵]
Reposted
It's disability benefit cuts more than WFP Labour needs to worry about in seats where it faces Reform.
If the current plans go through unchanged, by 2029 *everyone* in seats like Runcorn will know someone who has lost a health benefit who they see as 'deserving'
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
If the current plans go through unchanged, by 2029 *everyone* in seats like Runcorn will know someone who has lost a health benefit who they see as 'deserving'
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
No 10 reviewing winter fuel payment cut after Labour slump in local elections
Exclusive: government fears further electoral losses from unpopular policy as well as from planned £5bn of benefits cuts
www.theguardian.com
May 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
It's disability benefit cuts more than WFP Labour needs to worry about in seats where it faces Reform.
If the current plans go through unchanged, by 2029 *everyone* in seats like Runcorn will know someone who has lost a health benefit who they see as 'deserving'
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
If the current plans go through unchanged, by 2029 *everyone* in seats like Runcorn will know someone who has lost a health benefit who they see as 'deserving'
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted
Yes this is completely wrong. Every bit of quant and qual shows people are far more worried about small boats than legal migration for work/study.
"On the doorstep people don’t make a distinction between graduate visas & small boats"
This is:
a) objectively wrong (plenty of polling evidence)
b) suggests utter contempt for electorate's thought processes
c) is a dreadful way to make policy
Otherwise fine
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
This is:
a) objectively wrong (plenty of polling evidence)
b) suggests utter contempt for electorate's thought processes
c) is a dreadful way to make policy
Otherwise fine
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
April 29, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Yes this is completely wrong. Every bit of quant and qual shows people are far more worried about small boats than legal migration for work/study.
Reposted
Must read, blistering article from @sumi-r.bsky.social. Lays out why last week's Spring Statement is set to cause such damage. Why @trusselluk.bsky.social are so worried about impacts on foodbanks & people they support. And why justifications just don't stack up. www.trussell.org.uk/news-and-res...
Why the Spring Statement is set to drive up poverty and food bank need | Trussell
This week saw the Chancellor confirm record cuts to social security for disabled people.
www.trussell.org.uk
March 31, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Must read, blistering article from @sumi-r.bsky.social. Lays out why last week's Spring Statement is set to cause such damage. Why @trusselluk.bsky.social are so worried about impacts on foodbanks & people they support. And why justifications just don't stack up. www.trussell.org.uk/news-and-res...
Reposted
Good to talk to @alb-toth.bsky.social for this piece. Cutting ill & disabled people's incomes doesn't make them more able to return to work, but OBR/HMT orthodoxy & risk aversion means only crude & blunt cuts are being 'scored' as likely savings for DWP www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
No evidence welfare cuts will get more people into work, OBR says
The spending watchdog’s says it was not provided with an analysis of how the reforms could boost employment
www.independent.co.uk
March 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Good to talk to @alb-toth.bsky.social for this piece. Cutting ill & disabled people's incomes doesn't make them more able to return to work, but OBR/HMT orthodoxy & risk aversion means only crude & blunt cuts are being 'scored' as likely savings for DWP www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted
Haldane's right here. The Government is becoming so obsessed with meeting its fiscal rules and not raising taxes, that it's losing sight of the reason it put those rules in place, which wasn't to make achieving growth harder.
March 27, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Haldane's right here. The Government is becoming so obsessed with meeting its fiscal rules and not raising taxes, that it's losing sight of the reason it put those rules in place, which wasn't to make achieving growth harder.
Reposted
Good explainer from Tom on a reversal of a previously planned change that was scored as a £1.6bn giveaway by the OBR. We didn't include any positive impact on incomes from this in our overnight analysis.
A phantom policy from the previous government is distorting the spreadsheets on the scale & impact of benefit cuts for ill & disabled people
In the real world, we're looking at £6.8bn of cuts to benefits for this group & around 350k people pushed into poverty - here's why... 🧵
In the real world, we're looking at £6.8bn of cuts to benefits for this group & around 350k people pushed into poverty - here's why... 🧵
March 27, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Good explainer from Tom on a reversal of a previously planned change that was scored as a £1.6bn giveaway by the OBR. We didn't include any positive impact on incomes from this in our overnight analysis.
Reposted
Child poverty hits a record high: join us Thursday 3rd April for a timely @prospectmagazine.co.uk event!
New child poverty strategy due this year, with 15th anniversary of Child Poverty Act. What have we learned? How do we turn the tide?
Sign up: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/event/69338/...
New child poverty strategy due this year, with 15th anniversary of Child Poverty Act. What have we learned? How do we turn the tide?
Sign up: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/event/69338/...
Tackling child poverty – Learning from the past, shaping the future
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
March 28, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Child poverty hits a record high: join us Thursday 3rd April for a timely @prospectmagazine.co.uk event!
New child poverty strategy due this year, with 15th anniversary of Child Poverty Act. What have we learned? How do we turn the tide?
Sign up: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/event/69338/...
New child poverty strategy due this year, with 15th anniversary of Child Poverty Act. What have we learned? How do we turn the tide?
Sign up: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/event/69338/...
NEW: Today's DWP data on 23/24 is shocking:
❌Food insecurity up: 7.2m to 7.5m ppl
❌Food bank use up: 2.3m to 2.8m ppl
❌3m disabled ppl facing hunger, 1.2m at food banks
Is this really the time to cut disabled ppl's lifelines? We cannot push ppl deeper into hunger and hardship
❌Food insecurity up: 7.2m to 7.5m ppl
❌Food bank use up: 2.3m to 2.8m ppl
❌3m disabled ppl facing hunger, 1.2m at food banks
Is this really the time to cut disabled ppl's lifelines? We cannot push ppl deeper into hunger and hardship
🚨 NEWS: The government’s own survey shows 4.7m people in disabled households are facing hunger, including 1.6m children.
Yet just yesterday, the UK government chose to slash disability payments.
This is appalling.
Yet just yesterday, the UK government chose to slash disability payments.
This is appalling.
March 27, 2025 at 10:48 AM
NEW: Today's DWP data on 23/24 is shocking:
❌Food insecurity up: 7.2m to 7.5m ppl
❌Food bank use up: 2.3m to 2.8m ppl
❌3m disabled ppl facing hunger, 1.2m at food banks
Is this really the time to cut disabled ppl's lifelines? We cannot push ppl deeper into hunger and hardship
❌Food insecurity up: 7.2m to 7.5m ppl
❌Food bank use up: 2.3m to 2.8m ppl
❌3m disabled ppl facing hunger, 1.2m at food banks
Is this really the time to cut disabled ppl's lifelines? We cannot push ppl deeper into hunger and hardship
Reposted
Today’s Green Paper contains a welcome acknowledgement that the basic rate of benefits is inadequate. Steps have been announced to increase it, but it’s not quite as good as it seems for 2 reasons….
March 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Today’s Green Paper contains a welcome acknowledgement that the basic rate of benefits is inadequate. Steps have been announced to increase it, but it’s not quite as good as it seems for 2 reasons….
Reposted
Three things going on here I think:
1. Cost savings. Fewer people in future will be eligible for PIP & UC health & they'll get less.
2. Employment support. Extra £1bn & regular Support Conversations. Sensible & will raise employment & save money, but take time
3. Employers. Punted to Mayfield Review
1. Cost savings. Fewer people in future will be eligible for PIP & UC health & they'll get less.
2. Employment support. Extra £1bn & regular Support Conversations. Sensible & will raise employment & save money, but take time
3. Employers. Punted to Mayfield Review
1. Some early Green Paper thoughts: the cuts to PIP entitlement are as briefed in advance. Looks to me like new UC health claimants will be c£40pw worse off (health element dropping from £97 to £50, UC basic rise of £7), though more may now claim PIP too as it'll be a single assessment.
March 18, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Three things going on here I think:
1. Cost savings. Fewer people in future will be eligible for PIP & UC health & they'll get less.
2. Employment support. Extra £1bn & regular Support Conversations. Sensible & will raise employment & save money, but take time
3. Employers. Punted to Mayfield Review
1. Cost savings. Fewer people in future will be eligible for PIP & UC health & they'll get less.
2. Employment support. Extra £1bn & regular Support Conversations. Sensible & will raise employment & save money, but take time
3. Employers. Punted to Mayfield Review
Reposted
probably my biggest criticism of the IFS, and of a certain kind of wonk generally, is having a microscope-level sensitivity to "incentives"
March 18, 2025 at 6:35 PM
probably my biggest criticism of the IFS, and of a certain kind of wonk generally, is having a microscope-level sensitivity to "incentives"
Reposted
Not sure about this from the IFS. In the real world, I'm not convinced that changing an incredibly miserly income of £4,732 per year to a still-miserly £5,096 per year is going to persuade people, who would otherwise have got a job, that they're now so financially comfortable, they're not going to.
March 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Not sure about this from the IFS. In the real world, I'm not convinced that changing an incredibly miserly income of £4,732 per year to a still-miserly £5,096 per year is going to persuade people, who would otherwise have got a job, that they're now so financially comfortable, they're not going to.
Some positive things from DWP in today's disability benefits statement + reassuring for the people we hear from at food banks that none of this immediate, BUT - the reasons this is still alarming
bsky.app/profile/trus...
bsky.app/profile/trus...
🚨 Today’s announcement is alarming.
It’s true, our social security system needs an urgent update.
But cutting disability benefits is not the way to fix it.
Disabled people are already three times more likely to face hunger. Huge cuts risk pushing more people to food banks.
It’s true, our social security system needs an urgent update.
But cutting disability benefits is not the way to fix it.
Disabled people are already three times more likely to face hunger. Huge cuts risk pushing more people to food banks.
March 18, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Some positive things from DWP in today's disability benefits statement + reassuring for the people we hear from at food banks that none of this immediate, BUT - the reasons this is still alarming
bsky.app/profile/trus...
bsky.app/profile/trus...
Reposted
📣 Almost 1 in 5 people claiming Universal Credit and disability payments have used a food bank in the last month.
Proposed cuts to disability support risk driving more people to food banks.
Please ask your MP to urge the Prime Minister to think again 👉 action.trussell.org.uk/disability-c...
Proposed cuts to disability support risk driving more people to food banks.
Please ask your MP to urge the Prime Minister to think again 👉 action.trussell.org.uk/disability-c...
Cruel cuts to disability support: the Prime Minister needs to hear from your MP
Our social security system should be there for us all, especially when we need it most. But the UK government is talking about making huge cuts to disabled people’s support when they’re already three ...
action.trussell.org.uk
March 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
📣 Almost 1 in 5 people claiming Universal Credit and disability payments have used a food bank in the last month.
Proposed cuts to disability support risk driving more people to food banks.
Please ask your MP to urge the Prime Minister to think again 👉 action.trussell.org.uk/disability-c...
Proposed cuts to disability support risk driving more people to food banks.
Please ask your MP to urge the Prime Minister to think again 👉 action.trussell.org.uk/disability-c...
Reposted
If he believes this then he should be arguing against cutting benefits and spending on services. Fairly obviously.
March 15, 2025 at 4:05 PM
If he believes this then he should be arguing against cutting benefits and spending on services. Fairly obviously.
Reposted
See jrf.org.uk/social-secur... for @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis from me looking at the c400 welfare changes (mostly cuts) scored the OBR since 2010. A £6bn cut containing a £5bn PIP cut is unprecedented - and I use that word advisedly.
March 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
See jrf.org.uk/social-secur... for @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis from me looking at the c400 welfare changes (mostly cuts) scored the OBR since 2010. A £6bn cut containing a £5bn PIP cut is unprecedented - and I use that word advisedly.
Reposted
❗ A plan to slash disability support is cruel and risks pushing more people to the doors of food banks.
But there's still time to show the UK government that this plan is short-sighted and shameful.
Email your MP now and urge them to call on Keir Starmer to think again 👉 bit.ly/4kFR5Bj
But there's still time to show the UK government that this plan is short-sighted and shameful.
Email your MP now and urge them to call on Keir Starmer to think again 👉 bit.ly/4kFR5Bj
March 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
❗ A plan to slash disability support is cruel and risks pushing more people to the doors of food banks.
But there's still time to show the UK government that this plan is short-sighted and shameful.
Email your MP now and urge them to call on Keir Starmer to think again 👉 bit.ly/4kFR5Bj
But there's still time to show the UK government that this plan is short-sighted and shameful.
Email your MP now and urge them to call on Keir Starmer to think again 👉 bit.ly/4kFR5Bj
Interesting proposal + voluntary dedicated support v much needed - but when sick and disabled ppl are already concerned that work coaches don't have specialist knowledge to understand support needs, can this deliver?
And more importantly... 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
And more importantly... 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
March 6, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Interesting proposal + voluntary dedicated support v much needed - but when sick and disabled ppl are already concerned that work coaches don't have specialist knowledge to understand support needs, can this deliver?
And more importantly... 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
And more importantly... 1/2
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...