New post just out:
"The signal and the noise"
How media fragmentation is changing politics and what governments need to do to adapt.
Or how do you get a message out when no one is reading papers or watching TV?
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/the-signal...
Very interesting analysis by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com.
It is (I think) a priori surprising that the graduate premium has held up so well in other countries during growth in participation.
www.ft.com/content/649d...
😀
@rlrossi64.bsky.social @shadylady222.bsky.social
New post just out:
My 2025 audit - looking at what I got right and wrong this year. And picking out lessons to improve my commentary in 2026.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
Very useful explainer on what's going on.
A lot of my students seemed to be unaware that I knew it was hot today.
Sorry it's 'Life', Des'ree. Unbeatable.
'I'm afraid of the dark
'Specially when I'm in a park
And there's no one else around
Ooh, I get the shivers
I don't want to see a ghost
It's a sight that I fear most
I'd rather have a piece of toast'
UCL are going back to all in person exams. There is no other solution to this problem currently available.
Bit patronising.
Also means SLT out of action re supporting staff at after-school centralised detentions etc which has been an issue where I am atm.
I'm just glad one of these men has the nuclear codes and the other has all our personal data.
I love how this is so much like a big budget American version of the Boris/Cummings break-up.
Given how unpopular Starmer is this is quite a reflection on Farage and Badenoch.
Oh, what I've been saying *forever* is suddenly news.
Shipman's ST column says that Bridget Phillipson is going to be replaced as ed sec by Peter Kyle in June.
But she's working on a massive/complex overhaul of special needs which will have to be signed off before then. Mad to have her make that call and then be replaced (if that is the plan).
Stoke’s the biggest ‘city’ challenge. Five towns, no heart.
Stop the world I want to get off.
Tbh I can’t tell one from another now. They’re all badged ‘Fugly’.
"What do you mean 'good luck with the polar bear'? Where are you going?"
Deindustrialisation. Online isolation. Imho.
So a nail-biter of an evening awaits. *If* the exit poll is correct.
What is certain: turnout was 84%, the highest of any election since German reunification.
Everything hinges on whether FDP & BSW stay under 5%. If so, GroKo is in play without also needing Greens, which you have to think is least worst scenario at this point
Every teacher who leaves teaching -- and by all accounts retention is in a bad state -- is one who decided the "long holidays" aren't worth it.
Really interesting data via @keiranpedley.bsky.social.
Starmer: OK
Badenoch: extinction-level dire
Davey: an embodiment of the traditional Lib Dem brand
Farage: de facto Leader of the Opposition
Six areas have been added to the government’s Devolution Priority Programme - paving the way for more mayor-led authorities.
They are:
• Cumbria
• Cheshire & Warrington
• Norfolk & Suffolk
• Greater Essex
• Sussex & Brighton
• Hampshire & Solent
I think we should take this story from the Times today (and picked up by many other outlets) with an enormous pinch of salt for two reason (mini thread):
www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...
It's not finished. This is just the outline. But I wrote about why North England is poor. Which it really really is. tomforth.co.uk/whynorthengl...
