Marc Stears
@mds49
Director of the @UCLPolicyLab; Pro-Provost (Policy Engagement) @ucl; Professor in @uclspp; co-author of England from @BloomsburyBooks
After hours of intense Zoom interviews, library visits and walking tours round the country, England, my book with @TomBaldwin66, is finally published today! Available at all good places … Thanks to Nalan Cabi for the perfect photo.
Given most agree the country is in a mess. How do we want to fix it? Our new report identifies 8 fault lines to explain new contours of public opinion that go far deeper than left/right. The first: can we fix our institutions or do we have to tear them down & start again?
3 in 4 say Britain's best days are behind us. The most common description of the country is 'Broken' & 53% think the next generation will have a worse life than our parents. What do Brits think has gone wrong? How do they want to fix it? And who are the 7 new tribes of Britain?
#Gaza ~ humanitarian goods & access are being used as instruments of war & occupation. This pattern goes back 20 yrs Children are dying PM @number10gov must act with partners to turn words into action Stop this horror - now! Interview @SkyYaldaHakim youtu.be/VN49K1Tqa28?fe…
Signals and noise: balancing economic reform and stability with @ChrisGiles_. We speak with FT Economics Commentator and UCL Honorary Prof Chris Giles about the competing demands of economic policy for the UK. And the growing pressure on central banks. ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/new…
Andy Haldane on. 'fiscal dominance', 'fiscal populism' and the future of central bank independence on.ft.com/40ZB80C
Intriguing to hear so many of the objections to votes at 16 today. Consciously or otherwise, so many are exactly the same arguments which were used about every single extension of the franchise since the 19th century.
The government’s announcement on democratic reforms, including votes at 16, marks a major moment for British democracy. They also offer the opportunity to reconnect people with politics. @mds49 and Alan Renwick on the govements electoral reforms. ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/new…
Today the government announced major new electoral reforms. They are designed to tackle crucial challenges for our democracy. @mds49 on the public appetite for change.
This could be a genuinely exciting moment for our democracy. It’s time to rebuild our politics - and bringing more people in is a way to do exactly that. click.e.bbcmail.co.uk/?qs=a0bdcd08d4…
Excited to be at today’s summit of government, civil society and the impact economy. I’ve long believed that the change we desperately need will only come if all sectors act together. Let’s hope today marks a real beginning.
Fantastic night at the launch of our new @Moreincommon_ Shattered Britain report and our new British Seven Segments. Thanks to Kemi, Ed and Richard for their speeches and reflections on the findings and everyone who came along!
"The idea of “respect” being key to the public’s sense of whether a government is on their side or not has been growing for many years now, both in academia and in politics itself." @mds49 on the role respect can play in winning back voters. theconversation.com/nearly-two-thi…
The crisis of our universities is a crisis for our cities in terms of knock-on effects. Nottingham especially relies economically to some degree on its two (up till now at least) high-ranking universities. I hope the vice-chancellors are meeting with city elders to devise a plan.
The delusions of Brexit and Maga have alienated Blue Labour’s proponents from ordinary people, writes @mds49. prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/70309…
Excellent overview here of a bumpy first year:
Labour’s one year anniversary week looks set to be one of introspection on why Starmer - in the words of John Curtice - had the worst start for any newly elected govt. From our polling and focus groups over this year I’d point to 5 key mistakes 🧵
This is such a fine piece by @mds49 about the sorry trajectory of Blue Labour. I attended some of the seminars in the early 2010s that he mentions. There was so much intellectual and political energy there, most of it now squandered. prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/70309…
Marc Stears was one of the intellectual founders of Blue Labour. In this brilliant essay, he explains why, in its current MAGA-stained form, Blue Labour offers no answers to either the government or the country. @mds49 prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/70309…
Happy summer solstice from Stonehenge! 🌞 This year we welcomed around 25,000 people to the stunning Stonehenge and live-streamed the celebrations, with over 400,000 views from across the world. The sunrise was greeted with traditional drumming and chanting, cheering and dancing.
Slow-mo Some slow mo footage of the female kingfisher this morning down on the Lea. #LondonBirds #nature #wildlife #kingfisher #kingfishers @Natures_Voice #riverlea @LeeValleyPark @CanalRiverTrust #hackney
Our colleagues at @StoneEcon_UCL are hosting a public lecture on 18 June 2025, exploring whether higher education increases or decreases economic inequality. Tickets are free - you can sign up here ⤵️
Does higher education increase or decrease economic #inequality? Join us for a Stone Centre Public Lecture by @Harvard Professor Susan Dynarski. 📍 UCL's Denys Holland Lecture Theatre, London. 📅Weds 18 June 4.30pm-6.30pm. 🎟️ bit.ly/Stone-public-l… 🤝 @UCLPolicyLab