James Baggaley

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...

Voters want agency and respect: it’s why politics must do relationships, not just delivery.

@danhonig.bsky.social explores why agency and respect are crucial to understanding the political moment we find ourselves in, ahead of Britian Renewed 2026. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

New research shows that empowered local communities are most effective at responding to crises.

A new report from Lauren Andres @thebartlettucl.bsky.social and Jennifer Constantine takes lessons from COVID-19 for how we build resilience. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

There are no simple solutions to the small boats crisis What will Labour do when its asylum reforms don't work?

What will Labour do when its asylum reforms don’t work?

James Baggaley: There are no simple solutions to the small boats crisis

Labour shouldn't want or desire the politics that this could well unlock.

The solutions lie in the complex world of international agreements, and tackling root causes, none of which are simple, but it doesn't make it any less true.

There are no simple solutions to the small boats crisis What will Labour do when its asylum reforms don't work?

There are no simple solutions to the small boats crisis.

My latest for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social on why the home secretary risks doing what every conservative home secretary has done: tackling the wrong problem while raising the political stakes.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Changing public services is hard - what can we learn from those already doing it? James Baggaley and Grace Wyld (Head of Policy and Research at The Future Governance Forum) explore the drive behind our upcoming conference, Britain Renewed 2025: Public Service for People and Place, ...

"Real change will not just be measured in political projects or opinion polls, but will be measured in the lives of people and places across Britain."

Read @jimbaggaley.bsky.social and @gracewyld.bsky.social on the need for a public service reform based on respect.

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

We found people appreciated universities as local institutions that demonstrated global success (people were happy to have something that is leading the world).

However, there are also concerns that not all are benefiting. This is about working-class communties locked out or disrespected.

We found people appreciated universities as local institutions that demonstrated global success (people were happy to have something that is leading the world).

However, there are also concerns that not all are benefiting. This is about working-class communties locked out or disrespected.

Our universities can save us from America's political division New research shows Britain is proud of its institutions' ability to foster disagreement

Universities showcase the strengths and possible weaknesses of British institutions.

I've written for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social about our latest research, Shared Institutions on universities from @uclpolicylab.bsky.social & @moreincommonuk.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

The education system is failing too many working-class pupils, but we can turn it around.

Jonathan Slater, Former Perm Sect at the Department for Education on BBC Radio 4 Today, discussing a new report from the UCL Policy Lab on how we can improve standards for poorer pupils.

Steve Reed's Yimbyism can't win

To connect to voters, politics needs to be rooted in place and community

Thanks Miranda!

Steve Reed’s Yimbyism can’t win To connect to voters, politics needs to be rooted in place and community

Taking the tone of disliking the voters - never a great idea - thought this by UCL policy lab @jimbaggaley.bsky.social was thought-provoking on the limits of Yimbyism www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Thanks David! And much inspired by your writing

Great piece, covering a lot of the same ground as my reflection for @renewaljournal.bsky.social last Saturday about the emergence of YIMBYism and communtiarianism as two distinct approaches to Labour politics:

bsky.app/profile/dmk1...

Thanks Anoosh!

Steve Reed’s Yimbyism can’t win To connect to voters, politics needs to be rooted in place and community

Really interesting piece by James Baggaley on the dangers of policy without people - and the real divide within Labour:

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

At the same time, a politics of community and belonging is waiting to be seized.

Labour is in part there with pride in place. As I say in the piece, there are signs in the polling and broader culture that this politics of place is a powerful political foundtion.

Steve Reed's Yimbyism can't win To connect to voters, politics needs to be rooted in place and community

“While you may well govern at times as a Yimby, you campaign as a communitarian.”

In my latest piece for @newstatesman.bsky.social I set out why YIMBYism isnt a politics Labour can win with.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Standing up for the places and communities that we love We reflect on lessons from the UCL Policy Lab programme and conversations at Labour Party Conference 2025.

Standing up for the places and communities that we love.

Our reflections @uclpolicylab.bsky.social on the Labour Conference 2025. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

We were joined by leaders from across Britain for a celebration of what brings us together.

In partnership with @citizensuk.org @moreincommonuk.bsky.social and @belongnetwork.bsky.social. Thank you to all those who came along.

Speak for England, Big John In the face of racist attacks, the food influencer represents a form of patriotism that is modest and decent.

Speak for England, Big John

In the face of racist attacks, the food influencer represents a form of patriotism that is modest and decent.

By James Baggaley

Speak for England, Big John In the face of racist attacks, the food influencer represents a form of patriotism that is modest and decent.

Terrific piece on England by my greet @uclpolicylab.bsky.social colleague James Baggaley: www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Speak for England, Big John In the face of racist attacks, the food influencer represents a form of patriotism that is modest and decent.

Big John, England and why an ordinary, decent patriotism matters.

My piece for the @newstatesman.com.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/202...

Speak for England, Big John In the face of racist attacks, the food influencer represents a form of patriotism that is modest and decent.

Fantastic piece by @jimbaggaley.bsky.social on Big John in the @newstatesman.com

“For Keir Starmer…to respond to the growing division and isolation, they must speak about these people, lend them their platform, and stand up for them: their decency, love of community, and country.”

What’s wrong with the new Blue Labour? How the delusions of Brexit and Maga have alienated the ideological movement from ordinary people

“Today’s Maga-inflected version has far more in common with the “move fast and break things” worldview of Dominic Cummings than it does with the everyday, practical wisdom of Aristotle.” Top piece from @mds49.bsky.social on the new MAGA blue labour. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/703...

New project to reimagine social cohesion in light of tensions A new joint research project, This Place Matters, is designed to provide local and national governments with a blueprint for good cohesion policy and to amplify the work of civic actors on the ground ...

Today we launch This Place Matters in partnership with @citizensuk.org and @moreincommonuk.bsky.social. The project aims to reimagine social cohesion policy in light of recent tensions. www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...

Doom, gloom and not much headroom: Spring Statement Podcast Episode · Political Fix · 28/03/2025 · 38m

“It's uncomfortable for the government, it's uncomfortable for the OBR itself. And I think in a democratic process, it feels pretty uncomfortable more widely still.”

@chrisgiles.ft.com UCL Policy Lab Hon Prof on the challanges for the OBR and economic projections. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Keir Starmer must reassure pragmatic liberals There is no appetite among British voters for Trump-style disruption and populism.

Keir Starmer must reassure pragmatic liberals.

There is no appetite among British voters for Trump-style disruption and populism. @mds49.bsky.social and @luketryl.bsky.social on latest polling from UCL Policy Lab and @moreincommonuk.bsky.social. www.newstatesman.com/comment/2025...