Marc Stears

Government’s social cohesion plan marks a major step forward for communities As UCL Policy Lab research shows, the government's new Social Cohesion Action Plan is right to focus on how local communities are the bedrock of cohesion. Yet other elements of the government's curren...

The government’s social cohesion plan marks a major step forward for communities.

As UCL Policy Lab research shows, the government's new Social Cohesion Action Plan is right to focus on how local communities are the bedrock of cohesion. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

The White Paper There are some good bits, but also an approach that isn't going to work for my family

Best thing I've read on the SEND reforms: personal, really lucid, great on the policy context jimlauder.substack.com/p/the-white-...

It was fantastic to celebrate UCL’s 200th birthday today. Do come and see the brilliant exhibition if you’re in London. I was so delighted to see the Policy Lab profiled in it!

Today marks 200 years since UCL first opened its doors 🎉

This year will see an exciting and varied programme of activities, events and storytelling across our community as we celebrate this milestone, and look to the future.

UCL celebrates 200 years: A landmark year begins Today, UCL marks 200 years since its foundation. Based in the heart of London, UCL is rooted in curiosity, tolerance and academic excellence. Throughout the year we will celebrate two centuries of lea...

You may notice that the UCL Policy Lab's brand is looking a little different. That's because we're getting a fresh new look as we celebrate UCL's 200th anniversary. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/fe...

Neither rain nor fire, Sir Keir Starmer's fading search for a story Guest writer, Marc Stears, Director, UCL Policy Lab & former chief speechwriter to the Labour Party, reflects on what the artists, Turner and Constable, can tell us about Keir Starmer's leadership.

Neither rain nor fire, Sir Keir Starmer's fading search for a story.

New on HopeWorks: @mds49.bsky.social reflects on what the artists Turner and Constable can tell us about Keir Starmer's leadership.

thisishopeworks.substack.com/p/rain-nor-f...

Britain’s worst political scandal of this century The Mandelson affair threatens Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership

Had forgotten until reading @duncanrobinson.bsky.social’s peerless column that Peter Mandelson once publicly said Keir Starmer was too fat.

I helped bring Mandelson down before Peter Mandelson is brilliant, but slippery. Connected, but compromised. Why was Starmer too naive to recognise that?

Keir Starmer has told parliament today that, when vetting Peter Mandelson for US ambassador, his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein came up. But as Alan Rusbridger wrote last year, even a cursory Google should have disqualified him

Labour owes debt to giant of politics in modern era Mandelson has been on the right side of every important argument in the politics of the left since the 1990s

This is a truly excruciating column. The definition of shameless.

www.thetimes.com/article/8429...

Don't think I've ever felt as sick reading a newspaper story as I have looking at this morning's Epstein coverage. Just the open amorality of all the powerful people involved for so long.

Increasingly obv that the govt wants to remodel a big chunk of the SEND system so that provision based on specific/individual needs & provision becomes one where support is delivered to groups.That will have the benefit of saving money & it suits some ideological prefs. It also defies what SEND is

Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves Britain’s high streets, study finds Decay of town centres a top issue among voters especially Reform UK supporters and is fuelling resentment against Westminster

Congrats to @drjennings.bsky.social on this really important work. Let’s hope the government listens. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.

The BBC coverage is absolutely terrible.

It leads on "sharply contested narratives"

It has a dramatic skew to the US government

It has posted the video but has failed to report on what it shows: it shows the US govt account is untrue

Manchesterism could revive Britain's fading grandeur The towns and cities of the north and the Midlands were key to Britain's global success

"Britain has only ever been able to stand tall in the world, alongside partners, when it’s allowed all parts of the country to succeed."

@mds49.bsky.social on @andyburnham.bsky.social speech at @uclpolicylab.bsky.social and @theifs.bsky.social.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Manchesterism could revive Britain's fading grandeur The towns and cities of the north and the Midlands were key to Britain's global success

And @mds49.bsky.social has written on some of the thinking here for those interested.

www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Manchesterism could revive Britain's fading grandeur The towns and cities of the north and the Midlands were key to Britain's global success

Good piece by @mds49.bsky.social tying this to our collective security, where all of the country can play its part. www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Why I oppose banning children from social media Sir Keir Starmer must target addictive tech design and promote online wellbeing rather than a popular but ineffective solution, writes the father of Molly Russell

‘Vulnerable children use social media for connection, peer support and trusted advice. Many of us have feared that a ban may solve one set of mental health risks but unleash new ones.’

The father of Molly Russell impressively thoughtful about policy on social media
www.thetimes.com/article/fc74...

What do people in England think about their local area? In this short report I take a look at surveys we conducted with @yougov.co.uk in 2022, 2024 and 2025 to gain some insights...

Some key findings...

Shared prosperity in a fractured world - a new economics for the middle class, the global poor, and our climate - Centre for Science and Policy The 2026 Dr S T Lee Public Policy Lecture A talk by Dani Rodrik, Ford Foundation Professor of International Political Economy, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Overview Fighting...

Delighted we’re welcoming @drodrik.bsky.social to Cambridge on Thursday to give the STLee public lecture - free but book here www.csap.cam.ac.uk/events/share...

Nobody believes what Starmer says about Trump. Some commentators think that’s fine - it is what realpolitik demands - but even then, it leaves the PM without the best defence for himself.

The relationship with Donald Trump has killed the Starmer brand. Starmer came to office promising to respect voters, tell hard truths and prioritise substance over slogans and soundbites. By refusing to step out of line from Trumpian fantasy, he undermines each of those commitments.

Trump now owns Venezuela The US president has a growing appetite for military adventure

Marvellous column by @edwardluce.bsky.social on Trump’s new world order: “no obvious rules, does not respect allies, celebrates the jungle and is almost always about money”:

If rumblings about Special Needs changes are true,they'll place huge pressures on schools, in the absence of the necessary resources.Also, taking rights away & putting schools in the driving seat would be a retrogressive move: the Labourism of institutions rather than the empowerment of families 1/2

Our best family tradition! The brilliant @hackneyempire.bsky.social panto on Christmas Eve. And this year’s was one of the best!

Image featuring the text 'Perspectives on Politics' over a background of a dandelion seed head, with the hashtag 'OpenAccess' at the bottom.

#OpenAccess from @poppublicsphere.bsky.social -

The Relational Method: How Community Organizing Can Reshape University Research - https://cup.org/4pIlRLX

- Amanda Tattersall & @mds49.bsky.social

#FirstView

NOW OUT ON FIRSTVIEW!!

The #Relational #Method: How #Community #Organizing Can Reshape #University #Research

By @amandatattersall.bsky.social & @mds49.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1017/S153...

That’s an old Maurice Glasman line. He’s been using it since 2010!

The Trump project is not hegemonic though. Successful midterms for the Democrats would change the calculations considerably.