Stephen Miller

Britain’s deprived areas need attention for their own sak... Numerous studies warn about pockets of deep poverty, but little is done by sitting governments until they feel under threat

"It reads, too, as if politicians and commentators take issues of deprivation and decay seriously only when faced with a political challenge".

Interesting article on how "Britain’s deprived areas need attention for their own sake, not merely to beat Reform"

observer.co.uk/news/columni...

It falls into the trap of treating everything as a technical problem requiring a technical solution. Whilst new policies and legal forms are definitely needed, some of what's being recommended already exists - so why haven't things changed?

My hunch is it's also psychological, social and cultural

We can move beyond the capitalist model and save the climate – here are the first three steps | Jason Hickel and Yanis Varoufakis Capitalism cares about our species’ prospects as much as a wolf cares about a lamb’s. But democratise our economy and a better world is within our grasp, say Jason Hickel and Yanis Varoufakis

This new series by the @theguardian.com is fascinating.

The latest article from @jasonhickel.bsky.social @yanisvaroufakis.bsky.social makes a lot of interesting points, not least that the economic system is geared towards greed rather than need.

But...

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Capitalist Realist Evaluation (Or why it is so much easier to imagine the end of a programme, but not the end of the system it sits within).

I’ve just published a piece on something I’m calling '𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻'.

It’s my attempt to name a pattern I'm seeing more frequently - evaluation practices that claim to be “robust”, but quietly narrow what counts as knowledge, value and possibility.

open.substack.com/pub/milski36...

This is an incredible piece of research, commenting the dots between tech firms and the rise of authoritarian politics

What are we talking about when we talk about changing the world? People often talk about changing the world, but what is the change they want? Is it just vibes? More of the dystopian hellscape we find ourselves in? Or something else?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱?

I've started a new Substack, to explore the questions that bug me. In this first essay, I outline my own vision for what a changed world might look like + how far away from it we currently are.

milski360.substack.com/p/what-are-w...

I mean it would represent a slightly different strategy for Labour's pledge to grow the social economy....

I've received 2 emails this week explaining to me why the U.S shouldn't invade Greenland or interfere with South American politics.

They've definitely got the wrong Stephen Miller!

FTSE 100 CEOs earn more than average worker’s yearly pay by noon on 6 January High Pay Centre calculates bosses will pass milestone on third working day of 2026 with median pay of £1,353 an hour

Read more here: www.theguardian.com/business/202...

a man in a suit and tie is clapping his hands together . ALT: a man in a suit and tie is clapping his hands together .

Shout out to the FTSE 100 CEOs, who at midday today will have earned more than the average worker's annual salary.

Balaclava-clad protesters disrupt Kent refugee debate, MP says Kevin McKenna MP says "people in balaclavas violently intimidated" Swale councillors.

Nice to see local democracy thriving here in Kent, as councillors pelted with eggs and the council offices flooded at a debate about refugees

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Great working with @ajgraves.bsky.social @milski360.bsky.social and the team on this. I'll be chairing a session on 20th May where we dig into the data and answer your questions 👇

www.powertochange.org.uk/event/the-ec...

Haha, yes. He's definitely not helped my SEO

As we approach the fifth anniversary of the first #lockdown I wanted to re-share the story of the Diamond Princess, and the first Britons to contract #Covid-19.

A story that risks being forgotten

medium.com/lockdown-pap...

From dream to reality: Go-op, Britain’s first cooperative railway With approval to run trains between Swindon, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, services could start in 2026

Interesting to see the cooperative model being expanded into UK train services

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

The Scots striking the first blow to our would-be AI overlords

Hastings Commons: 'Why I spent £85k to help fix housing crisis' Dr Jess Steele put her money into a project providing affordable homes to people in her community.

BBC News - 'Why I spent £85k of my own money to help fix Britain's housing crisis'
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Ha, yes, I know that feeling! But it will be 2 hrs well spent

Watch Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy | Netflix Official Site This subversive documentary unpacks the tricks brands use to keep their customers consuming — and the real impact they have on our lives and the world.

While it is not perfect, the Buy now! documentary on Netflix is a pretty good summary of the inherently extractive nature of modern capitalism and why we can't just grow our way out of many of the challenges we face

www.netflix.com/gb/title/815...

#climatecrisis #inequality

Hard agree. I've just been doing research on drivers of social mobility, and the key thing that keeps coming out is the importance of your social networks as well as your cultural tastes, habits and knowledge. Who you know and what you talk about are as important what you do for a living

Nesta welcomes resident on research methods innovation Nesta is hosting a resident to help us develop our evaluation capabilities in theory-based evaluation.

Say hello to our newest resident @milski360.bsky.social y.social 👋

Research & evaluation expert Stephen Miller joins us to help develop our evaluation capabilities in theory-based evaluation, working in our sustainable future & healthy life missions.

Read more about the residency ⬇️ bit.ly/4eG8i9y

Nesta welcomes resident on research methods innovation Nesta is hosting a resident to help us develop our evaluation capabilities in theory-based evaluation.

I am delighted to be working with @nestauk.bsky.social as an 'evaluator-in-residence', where I'll be supporting them develop their capabilities in theory-based evaluation.

www.nesta.org.uk/project-upda...

#evaluation #socialinnovation

Welcome to all those who joined Bluesky recently, and thanks for following.

I'm going to try and post on here more now - I mostly talk about interesting and innovative ways to tackle social, economic and environmental issues.

Look forward to connecting!

Pete Doherty remains on the leaderboard as one of the few people to complete the Dalby Cafe Mega breakfast challenge in Margate. If you can eat the insane amount of food listed below in under 20 mins, you get it for free.

Local legend has it that he also drank a bottle of Frijj milkshake too.

More than 9 million Britons vulnerable to reliance on food banks, research finds One million more people are in what Trussell charity defines as ‘hunger and hardship’ than five years ago

Meanwhile, 9 million people in the UK are living with extreme Hunger and poverty

www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Amount UK's richest pay in income tax revealed There is some concern tax rises in the Budget could prompt an exit of the super-rich, hurting UK finances.

I'm not convinced all 60 of these people will leave and take all the property they own and labour they exploit with then.

BBC News - Amount UK's richest pay in income tax revealed
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Public libraries in 'crisis' as councils cut services Deprived communities lost more libraries since 2016 than richer areas did, the BBC finds

In our work to address social isolation we found that the critical social infrastructure in communities were parks, high streets & libraries. They're essential for community life

but this isn't so much a libraries crisis but stems from insufficient funding for councils

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Public libraries in 'crisis' as councils cut services Deprived communities lost more libraries since 2016 than richer areas did, the BBC finds

The slow disintegration of social infrastructure disproportionately affects deprived communities, which are 4x more likely to have had their local library close in recent years:

www.bbc.com/news/article...

The people who walk three days for a pint at remote Highland pub Getting to The Old Forge in Knoydart involves a seven mile boat trip - or a long walk.

Three days for a pint? The wilderness walk to Britain's remotest pub...which also happens to be community-owned

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#socent

‘These ideas are incredibly popular’: what is degrowth and can it save the planet? The post-growth movement says GDP is the wrong way to measure progress and we need a radical economic rewiring

“Every time a politician says they want more economic growth, we need to ask: growth of what and for whose benefit?”

Interesting primer on de-growth:

www.theguardian.com/environment/...