Simons resigns for Burnham candidacy

Scholar power: 115.3%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Matthew Goodwin	69%	31	115.3%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

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Reposts

Scholar power

61.0%

3600.8 h

5

115.3%

Ranking score

0.006

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Reposted by Will Jennings, Tim Bale, Steve Peers , and 1 more Will Jennings, Tim Bale, Steve Peers, Simon Usherwood

142%

Scholar power: 142.4%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Will Jennings	62%	51	44.3%
🎓 Tim Bale	71%	35	42.0%
🎓 Steve Peers	64%	27	33.3%
🎓 Simon Usherwood	61%	14	22.8%
Total			142.4%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Reposts

Scholar power

63.0%

3606.1 h

18

142.4%

Ranking score

0.003

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Adam Schwarz

@adamjschwarz.bsky.social

This was the 2024 result in Makerfield, where Josh Simons is standing down to allow Andy Burnham to return to Parliament.

It's going to be really, really tough for Burnham to win it.

May 14, 2026 at 4:21 PM

Reposted by Eric Herring, Alex Callinicos

51%

Scholar power: 51.7%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Eric Herring	68%	20	30.4%
🎓 Alex Callinicos	37%	33	21.3%
Total			51.7%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Reposts

Scholar power

46.0%

3605.7 h

5656

51.7%

Ranking score

0.002

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

by Matthew Goodwin

115%

Scholar power: 115.3%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Matthew Goodwin	69%	31	115.3%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

58.0%

3604.1 h

3

115.3%

Ranking score

0.003

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

by Tim Bale

126%

Scholar power: 126.0%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Tim Bale	71%	35	126.0%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

63.0%

3605.8 h

34

126.0%

Ranking score

0.002

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Tim Bale

@timbale.bsky.social

True. But if Burnham can't win there (presuming the NEC give him the nod and the local party select him) then he's no good to Labour as leader anyway. #UsefulTest

Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · May 14

This was the 2024 result in Makerfield, where Josh Simons is standing down to allow Andy Burnham to return to Parliament.

It's going to be really, really tough for Burnham to win it.

May 14, 2026 at 4:41 PM

by Will Jennings

132%

Scholar power: 132.8%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Will Jennings	62%	51	132.8%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

63.0%

3605.4 h

28

132.8%

Ranking score

0.002

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Will Jennings📉🗳️

@drjennings.bsky.social

Makerfield could be a smart calculated risk. Burnham is popular nationally and in Greater Manchester, voters would be sending a message for a change of leadership and also prospectively getting a PM as their MP… and it would allow Burnham to claim ‘only I can defeat Reform’.

May 14, 2026 at 5:04 PM

by Matthew Goodwin

115%

Scholar power: 115.3%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Matthew Goodwin	69%	31	115.3%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

48.0%

3627.1 h

1

115.3%

Ranking score

0.002

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

by Steve Peers

99%

Scholar power: 99.8%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Steve Peers	64%	27	99.8%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

66.0%

3605.9 h

14

99.8%

Ranking score

0.002

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Steve Peers

@stevepeers.bsky.social

The Makerfield constituency near Wigan - where last time Labour got 45% of the vote, Reform 32%, Tories 11%

Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · May 14

BREAKING: Josh Simons standing down for Andy Burnham

May 14, 2026 at 4:27 PM

Reposted by Steve Peers, Gerry Hassan, Tom Griffin , and 1 more Steve Peers, Gerry Hassan, Tom Griffin, Christina Pagel

57%

Scholar power: 57.8%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Steve Peers	64%	27	33.3%
🎓 Gerry Hassan	43%	9	12.9%
🎓 Tom Griffin	26%	20	11.6%
🎓 Christina Pagel	-	33	-
Total			57.8%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Reposts

Scholar power

58.0%

3606.2 h

93

57.8%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Nadine Batchelor-Hunt

@nadinebh.bsky.social

BREAKING: Josh Simons standing down for Andy Burnham

May 14, 2026 at 4:16 PM

Reposted by Eric Kaufmann

26%

Scholar power: 26.0%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Eric Kaufmann	52%	25	26.0%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

60.0%

3603.7 h

672

26.0%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

by Mark Elliott Reposted by Tim Bale, Kenneth A. Armstrong, Frederik Dhondt , and 2 more Tim Bale, Kenneth A. Armstrong, Frederik Dhondt, Michael Plaxton, David Pyle

151%

Scholar power: 151.5%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Mark Elliott	47%	20	63.1%
🎓 Tim Bale	71%	35	42.0%
🎓 Kenneth A. Armstrong	66%	20	29.5%
🎓 Frederik Dhondt	37%	7	9.8%
🎓 Michael Plaxton	29%	6	7.1%
🎓 David Pyle	-	74	-
Total			151.5%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index + sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

48.0%

3612.7 h

30

151.5%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Mark Elliott

@profmarkelliott.bsky.social

New post: Does the Prime Minister have to be an MP?
publiclawforeveryone.com/2026/05/14/d...

Does the Prime Minister have to be an MP?

Uncertainty about the position of the Prime Minister has raised the question whether Andy Burnham, currently the Mayor of Greater Manchester, might return to the House of Commons in order to challe…

publiclawforeveryone.com

May 14, 2026 at 9:44 AM

by Jane Green Reposted by David M. Farrell, François Heisbourg, Nicolai von Ondarza

175%

Scholar power: 175.5%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Jane Green	66%	28	104.8%
🎓 David M. Farrell	43%	52	31.0%
🎓 François Heisbourg	62%	12	21.5%
🎓 Nicolai von Ondarza	69%	7	18.3%
Total			175.5%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index + sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

49.0%

3605.2 h

3

175.5%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Jane Green

@profjanegreen.bsky.social

This whole by-election will now be about the future PM. Have we ever seen a by-election like it?! It will change the calculations, divert so many resources there, make the choice high stakes. Maybe even a slam dunk result that shows Reform's vulnerabilities. A killer move, if so, for Burnham.

Dylan Difford @dylandifford.bsky.social · May 14

Not just is Burnham particularly popular among Labour voters, but in the North West as a whole his favourability ratings are 51% to 29%. Not just net positive, but clearly so. Very rare.

YouGov @yougov.co.uk · May 14

Most 2024 Labour voters have a positive opinion of Burnham (+41 net favourability rating), while also tending to see Rayner (+13), Cooper (+12) and Miliband (+7) favourably

Less popular figures among Labour voters include Reeves (-21), Mahmood (-16) and Streeting (-9)

yougov.com/en-gb/articl...

May 14, 2026 at 5:16 PM

Reposted by Alex Callinicos

21%

Scholar power: 21.3%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Alex Callinicos	37%	33	21.3%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Reposts

Scholar power

70.0%

3605.9 h

115

21.3%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Reposted by Alex Callinicos

21%

Scholar power: 21.3%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Alex Callinicos	37%	33	21.3%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

62.0%

3609.2 h

156

21.3%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Reposted by Steve Peers, Steven H. Seggie

33%

Scholar power: 33.3%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Steve Peers	64%	27	33.3%
🎓 Steven H. Seggie	-	13	-
Total			33.3%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Reposts

Scholar power

62.0%

3605.5 h

32

33.3%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Robert Shrimsley

@robertshrimsley.bsky.social

Makerfield is a fitting seat. If Burnham really is the guy to stop Reform he will be able to stop them in Makerfield. If he can't then he probably isn't

May 14, 2026 at 4:58 PM

by Jane Green Reposted by David Burrows

112%

Scholar power: 112.4%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Jane Green	66%	28	104.8%
🎓 David Burrows	22%	12	7.6%
Total			112.4%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index + sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

55.0%

3604.4 h

7

112.4%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Jane Green

@profjanegreen.bsky.social

Before everyone gets carried away, let’s say Burnham wins (likely), and becomes PM (likely), and there’s a Lab boost (likely, if temporary), Labour still desperately needs the Tory vote to split Reform’s.

May 14, 2026 at 6:02 PM

Reposted by John Foot, Stephen Ryan, Steven H. Seggie

12%

Scholar power: 12.4%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 John Foot	33%	12	11.4%
🎓 Stephen Ryan	2%	23	1.0%
🎓 Steven H. Seggie	-	13	-
Total			12.4%

Formula for scholar power: sum of each reposter's field match × √reposter's h-index

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Reposts

Scholar power

75.0%

3606.2 h

31

12.4%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Jim Pickard

@pickardje.bsky.social

Breaking:

Josh Simons is stepping down as an MP to create a by-election for Andy Burnham to potentially return to Parliament

May 14, 2026 at 4:16 PM

by Andrew Scott

29%

Scholar power: 29.1%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Andrew Scott	18%	29	29.1%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

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Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

66.0%

3603.8 h

80

29.1%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Otto English

@ottoenglish.bsky.social

Communication is key in 2026.

You need a PM who says, "This is who we are. This is what we're about, and this is where we're going."

Burnham is a great communicator, and this feels like the first step on a sensible path for those who want a Labour government to prosper.

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · May 14

Josh Simons stepping down as MP for Makerfield for Andy Burnham. Quite a tricky parachute, that seat:

Wes Streeting resigns from government

Health secretary says he has ‘lost confidence’ in Starmer but stops short of launching leadership challenge

www.ft.com

May 14, 2026 at 6:36 PM

by Will Jennings

132%

Scholar power: 132.8%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Will Jennings	62%	51	132.8%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

53.0%

3602.7 h

6

132.8%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Will Jennings📉🗳️

@drjennings.bsky.social

Some people are calling it the New York, New York leadership test.

Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · May 14

Makerfield could be a smart calculated risk. Burnham is popular nationally and in Greater Manchester, voters would be sending a message for a change of leadership and also prospectively getting a PM as their MP… and it would allow Burnham to claim ‘only I can defeat Reform’.

May 14, 2026 at 7:45 PM

by Ian Bruff

69%

Scholar power: 69.8%

Story's scientific field profile

Political science 60%, Law 20%, Sociology 10%, Communication & Media Studies 10%

Name	Field match	H-index	Scholar power
🎓 Ian Bruff	52%	20	69.8%

Formula for scholar power: 3 × author's field match × √author's h-index

Ranking score inputs

Relevance

Recency

Reposts

Scholar power

65.0%

3605.2 h

1

69.8%

Ranking score

0.001

Formula for ranking score (post): scholar_power × max((total_reposts)^(1/3), 1) × (1 / max(hours_since_posted, 1)) × (raw_relevance)^3

Ian Bruff

@ianbruff.bsky.social

I loathe the Labour Right to the extent that my first thought at the news of Josh Simons standing down is that he's doing it on McSweeney's orders so that Burnham will lose the by-election. Not that I'm a big fan of Burnham, but this is the Labour Together guy who's standing down

May 14, 2026 at 5:15 PM

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Simons resigns for Burnham candidacy

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News, ranked by scholars

Simons resigns for Burnham candidacy

Scholar power: 115.3%

Scholar power: 142.4%

Scholar power: 51.7%

Scholar power: 115.3%

Scholar power: 126.0%

Scholar power: 132.8%

Scholar power: 115.3%

Scholar power: 99.8%

Scholar power: 57.8%

Scholar power: 26.0%

Scholar power: 151.5%

Scholar power: 175.5%

Scholar power: 21.3%

Scholar power: 21.3%

Scholar power: 33.3%

Scholar power: 112.4%

Scholar power: 12.4%

Scholar power: 29.1%

Scholar power: 132.8%

Scholar power: 69.8%

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