benshimshon.bsky.social
@benshimshon.bsky.social
Co-founder & CEO, thinksinsight.com (formerly BritainThinks); Board Member, abrahaminitiatives.org. I (still) like politics. I sometimes say useful things about it.
Why are they looking for spending cuts? Laffer says just cut taxes back up the curve to boost revenue, right?
September 12, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Why are they looking for spending cuts? Laffer says just cut taxes back up the curve to boost revenue, right?
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
A full video is available by the investigative team who exposed the scandal may be worth your time watching it… www.verbatiminvestigations.com/full-investi...
Dirty Money: A Year Undercover in Reform UK
A yearlong investigation into Nigel Farage’s fundraising operation reveals a plot to break the law by bringing foreign money into British politics
www.verbatiminvestigations.com
September 3, 2026 at 8:56 PM
A full video is available by the investigative team who exposed the scandal may be worth your time watching it… www.verbatiminvestigations.com/full-investi...
He was dressed as Sleeping Beauty.
August 27, 2026 at 7:22 PM
He was dressed as Sleeping Beauty.
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
kathleen stock: being neurodivergent should be a barrier to entering academia
manchester museum: would you like to see one of our snail collections? :) our scientists have more than one :))
manchester museum: would you like to see one of our snail collections? :) our scientists have more than one :))
August 17, 2026 at 12:32 PM
kathleen stock: being neurodivergent should be a barrier to entering academia
manchester museum: would you like to see one of our snail collections? :) our scientists have more than one :))
manchester museum: would you like to see one of our snail collections? :) our scientists have more than one :))
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
I've been thinking about it all morning and have concluded the funniest bit is Laurence Fox coming 6th
August 14, 2026 at 1:02 PM
I've been thinking about it all morning and have concluded the funniest bit is Laurence Fox coming 6th
Far Side 1993 - the inspiration for Monsters Inc.?
August 6, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Far Side 1993 - the inspiration for Monsters Inc.?
Where is Wes Streeting in all this?
July 20, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Where is Wes Streeting in all this?
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
This is such a terrific documentary:
Portillo on Thatcher The Lady's Not For Spurning
YouTube video by NogginHilcote
www.youtube.com
July 19, 2026 at 11:18 PM
This is such a terrific documentary:
Change is the most important promise.
In a vacuum, voters tend to feel a new PM needs to honour their party’s last manifesto.
But if the ability to deliver change is at stake, more voters choose change over sticking with old promises.
www.thinksinsight.com/reports/mood...
In a vacuum, voters tend to feel a new PM needs to honour their party’s last manifesto.
But if the ability to deliver change is at stake, more voters choose change over sticking with old promises.
www.thinksinsight.com/reports/mood...
July 18, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Change is the most important promise.
In a vacuum, voters tend to feel a new PM needs to honour their party’s last manifesto.
But if the ability to deliver change is at stake, more voters choose change over sticking with old promises.
www.thinksinsight.com/reports/mood...
In a vacuum, voters tend to feel a new PM needs to honour their party’s last manifesto.
But if the ability to deliver change is at stake, more voters choose change over sticking with old promises.
www.thinksinsight.com/reports/mood...
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
65 per cent of Britons are owner-occupiers.
General elections are won in the Midlands.
Most people have a middle class occupation.
The United Kingdom's comparative advantage is in services.
These aren't facts that Philip Gould invented in order to make Labour feel sad.
General elections are won in the Midlands.
Most people have a middle class occupation.
The United Kingdom's comparative advantage is in services.
These aren't facts that Philip Gould invented in order to make Labour feel sad.
July 17, 2026 at 8:54 AM
65 per cent of Britons are owner-occupiers.
General elections are won in the Midlands.
Most people have a middle class occupation.
The United Kingdom's comparative advantage is in services.
These aren't facts that Philip Gould invented in order to make Labour feel sad.
General elections are won in the Midlands.
Most people have a middle class occupation.
The United Kingdom's comparative advantage is in services.
These aren't facts that Philip Gould invented in order to make Labour feel sad.
We asked the public why we've had 7 PMs in a decade. #1 selected reason: Britain has become a more divided & polarised in the last decade.
July 16, 2026 at 8:59 AM
We asked the public why we've had 7 PMs in a decade. #1 selected reason: Britain has become a more divided & polarised in the last decade.
What will historians give the PM credit for? Here’s @politicshome.bsky.social’s Maddy Richards by on @thinksinsight.bsky.social research in public views of Starmer’s likely legacy: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
www.politicshome.com
July 10, 2026 at 10:12 AM
What will historians give the PM credit for? Here’s @politicshome.bsky.social’s Maddy Richards by on @thinksinsight.bsky.social research in public views of Starmer’s likely legacy: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
Is Nigel Farage losing his appeal?
In recent focus groups with 2024 Labour voters considering Reform UK, for the first time since the general election, people were equivocal about him, writes @benshimshon.bsky.social
In recent focus groups with 2024 Labour voters considering Reform UK, for the first time since the general election, people were equivocal about him, writes @benshimshon.bsky.social
Is Nigel Farage losing his appeal?
There are signs that the party leader's shine is fading with potential Reform UK voters.
www.politicshome.com
July 8, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Is Nigel Farage losing his appeal?
In recent focus groups with 2024 Labour voters considering Reform UK, for the first time since the general election, people were equivocal about him, writes @benshimshon.bsky.social
In recent focus groups with 2024 Labour voters considering Reform UK, for the first time since the general election, people were equivocal about him, writes @benshimshon.bsky.social
“Few had believed that Farage was really ‘like them,’ but this [the £5m] made it harder than ever to believe he could truly understand their lives.”
Quick write up of our recent focus groups with 2024 Labour voters now considering Reform UK: www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Quick write up of our recent focus groups with 2024 Labour voters now considering Reform UK: www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
July 8, 2026 at 2:12 PM
“Few had believed that Farage was really ‘like them,’ but this [the £5m] made it harder than ever to believe he could truly understand their lives.”
Quick write up of our recent focus groups with 2024 Labour voters now considering Reform UK: www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Quick write up of our recent focus groups with 2024 Labour voters now considering Reform UK: www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Here's a taste of our @thinksinsight.bsky.social #MoodoftheNation update. Sign up here for the full finsings webinar on Thursday: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mood-of-th...
Coverage in @politicshome.bsky.social here: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Coverage in @politicshome.bsky.social here: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
July 6, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Here's a taste of our @thinksinsight.bsky.social #MoodoftheNation update. Sign up here for the full finsings webinar on Thursday: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mood-of-th...
Coverage in @politicshome.bsky.social here: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Coverage in @politicshome.bsky.social here: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Burnham opens a window for Labour - especially with Green considerers. But time is not on his side.
Great to talk to @politicshome.bsky.social for @adampayne26.bsky.social article covering our newest @thinksinsight.bsky.social Mood of the Nation survey.
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Great to talk to @politicshome.bsky.social for @adampayne26.bsky.social article covering our newest @thinksinsight.bsky.social Mood of the Nation survey.
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
July 4, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Burnham opens a window for Labour - especially with Green considerers. But time is not on his side.
Great to talk to @politicshome.bsky.social for @adampayne26.bsky.social article covering our newest @thinksinsight.bsky.social Mood of the Nation survey.
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Great to talk to @politicshome.bsky.social for @adampayne26.bsky.social article covering our newest @thinksinsight.bsky.social Mood of the Nation survey.
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 What's the nation's mood as Burnham takes over?
🌹 MPs @tonia-antoniazzi.bsky.social & @sarahhall-labour.bsky.social & Thinks Insight's @benshimshon.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social & @adampayne26.bsky.social to discuss how Brits feel about their country
🎧: pod.fo/e/44053d
🌹 MPs @tonia-antoniazzi.bsky.social & @sarahhall-labour.bsky.social & Thinks Insight's @benshimshon.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social & @adampayne26.bsky.social to discuss how Brits feel about their country
🎧: pod.fo/e/44053d
July 3, 2026 at 10:56 AM
🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 What's the nation's mood as Burnham takes over?
🌹 MPs @tonia-antoniazzi.bsky.social & @sarahhall-labour.bsky.social & Thinks Insight's @benshimshon.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social & @adampayne26.bsky.social to discuss how Brits feel about their country
🎧: pod.fo/e/44053d
🌹 MPs @tonia-antoniazzi.bsky.social & @sarahhall-labour.bsky.social & Thinks Insight's @benshimshon.bsky.social join @alaintolhurst.bsky.social & @adampayne26.bsky.social to discuss how Brits feel about their country
🎧: pod.fo/e/44053d
Quite fun to talk about hope, not (just) gloom!*
Great to join @adampayne26.bsky.social Sarah Hall MP and Tonia Anotoniazzi MP on the @politicshome.bsky.social podcast to discuss @thinksinsight.bsky.social Mood of the Nation.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
*lots of gloom too though, obvs
Great to join @adampayne26.bsky.social Sarah Hall MP and Tonia Anotoniazzi MP on the @politicshome.bsky.social podcast to discuss @thinksinsight.bsky.social Mood of the Nation.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
*lots of gloom too though, obvs
What's the mood of the nation as Burnham takes over?
Podcast Episode · The Rundown by PoliticsHome · 3 July · 38min
podcasts.apple.com
July 3, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Quite fun to talk about hope, not (just) gloom!*
Great to join @adampayne26.bsky.social Sarah Hall MP and Tonia Anotoniazzi MP on the @politicshome.bsky.social podcast to discuss @thinksinsight.bsky.social Mood of the Nation.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
*lots of gloom too though, obvs
Great to join @adampayne26.bsky.social Sarah Hall MP and Tonia Anotoniazzi MP on the @politicshome.bsky.social podcast to discuss @thinksinsight.bsky.social Mood of the Nation.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
*lots of gloom too though, obvs
The most insidious shrinkflation. More hole than bagel
June 22, 2026 at 6:49 AM
The most insidious shrinkflation. More hole than bagel
findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/48577... still a few tickets for tomorrow’s open garden.
June 13, 2026 at 7:09 PM
findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/48577... still a few tickets for tomorrow’s open garden.
These articles, and the previous Substack post about the two deprivations are just so valuable.
1/ I have written a series of articles this week, ‘Notes on Trust’, about where cynicism towards politicians comes from. The below chart, which I shared last year, was the thing which initially prompted me to write the piece. I just want to set out some of the key arguments here…
June 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM
These articles, and the previous Substack post about the two deprivations are just so valuable.
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
This map is absolutely fascinating
What’s the most common non-English main language in your London borough? HT @mapsporn
June 12, 2026 at 1:05 PM
This map is absolutely fascinating
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
"We hear little of these other incidents because their white perpetrators do not fit the narrative — or the political business model — of the populist right." - terrific column by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social:
The business model of white victimhood
Rage on the right and a narrative of disadvantage changing sides is rewarded by social media
www.ft.com
June 11, 2026 at 5:49 PM
"We hear little of these other incidents because their white perpetrators do not fit the narrative — or the political business model — of the populist right." - terrific column by @robertshrimsley.bsky.social:
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
DfE pupil data is out today and shows that the number of private school pupils has dropped 5.6% since VAT was introduced.
Not 25% like the independent schools council predicted. Or the 50% we saw in some right-wing papers.
5.6%.
Not 25% like the independent schools council predicted. Or the 50% we saw in some right-wing papers.
5.6%.
June 4, 2026 at 8:37 AM
DfE pupil data is out today and shows that the number of private school pupils has dropped 5.6% since VAT was introduced.
Not 25% like the independent schools council predicted. Or the 50% we saw in some right-wing papers.
5.6%.
Not 25% like the independent schools council predicted. Or the 50% we saw in some right-wing papers.
5.6%.
Reposted by benshimshon.bsky.social
This piece about Andy Burnham is really worth reading: https://manchestermill.co.uk/stop-looking-for-burnhamism-in-six-years-ive-never-found-it/
(Apologies I can’t credit who posted it - I saw it this morning and only now had time to read it)
(Apologies I can’t credit who posted it - I saw it this morning and only now had time to read it)
Stop looking for Burnhamism - in six years, I’ve never found it
Watching the mayor up close in Manchester, I’ve seen his unusual gifts and glaring weaknesses. Would he make a good prime minister?
manchestermill.co.uk
May 23, 2026 at 6:36 PM
This piece about Andy Burnham is really worth reading: https://manchestermill.co.uk/stop-looking-for-burnhamism-in-six-years-ive-never-found-it/
(Apologies I can’t credit who posted it - I saw it this morning and only now had time to read it)
(Apologies I can’t credit who posted it - I saw it this morning and only now had time to read it)