I’ve often found that when people hear the arguments for the House of Lords, they find them compelling and see the chamber’s value. The issue is those arguments aren’t heard enough.

Do read Lord Norton’s account of his experience debating the topic at the Cambridge Union. 👇🏻

What was it Burke said?

‘Your representative owes you… his judgement, and he betrays you instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.’

🚨Next Thursday, the Mile End Institute will be marking the 30th anniversary of John Smith's death🚨

Secure your place to hear Yvette Cooper, David Ward, Richard Johnson and Dame Pauline Green discuss Smith's political career and his legacy at Queen Mary University of London⬇️

🔗qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/mei…

‘Fight over the leadership! What fight over the leadership?’

A 1963 cartoon of Sir Alec Douglas-Home being held aloft after his victory in the dramatic tussle to succeed Harold Macmillan as Prime Minister.

A must watch.

I heard Haidt talk about the 'Anxious Generation' recently and found it deeply compelling.

The mass adoption of smartphones among kids has changed the nature of childhood. Policymakers must consider what that has meant - and what needs to happen next.

Tom is right to ask what's changed since the Conservatives rejected reforming their leadership rules in 2005.

Although it's striking that 63.5% (of req'd 66.6%) of the party's senior volunteers did vote for reform then.

My article on those proposals: qmul.ac.uk/mei/news-and-o…

Back in the UK after 2 months away. I finally have a physical copy of our new book!

'Keeping the Red Flag Flying: The Labour Party in Opposition since 1922'

The 1st book to study Labour's entire time as Official Opposition

Thanks to my co-authors & everyone else who gave input

Humza Yousaf’s entire parliamentary career (2011-) has been in the era of SNP dominance of Scottish politics.

I suspect that goes some way towards explaining the staggering hubris of his actions last week.👇🏻

Few things turn my stomach more than the treason of the Cambridge spies.

Men who had every privilege Britain had to offer them, yet betrayed their country - and, it now seems, helped the Nazis slaughter tens of thousands of allied forces so Russia could dominate Eastern Europe.

'On the brink of power, Home knew that he needed a critical mass of senior ministers in order to form a viable government. It was a make-or-break moment...'

📰 Read more about Oct '63, one of the most dramatic months in British politics, on my Substack:

open.substack.com/pub/sinceattle…

Nobody who makes this argument ever says *why* they think fewer MPs would be better.

Cutting the number of MPs isn’t a solution to any actual problem we face - it would do nothing to improve the quality of MPs, but would make Parliament much weaker.

'It's never a misfortune to become Prime Minister. It's always the greatest thing in your life. It's absolute heaven. I enjoyed every moment of it - until those last few months of the 'Winter of Discontent.”’

- Jim Callaghan, speaking in 1991.

Speculating about the date of elections is a British political past time.

In 1964, Sir Alec Douglas-Home decided to quash the rumours and announced that the election would be in the autumn. (See below, from The Times, 10th April 1964).

There is an argument for doing that now.