Stephen Tall

Here’s today’s hand-picked selection that caught my interest…

• The spending battleground
  Overseas aid, climate change and welfare benefits: top 3 areas of spending the public wd prioritise for cuts http://bit.ly/1hugwAv
• Reading Politics · Scotland’s Independence Referendum: Do We Already Know the Result?
  Want to win a referendum? Best be on side of ‘No’, then: “uncertain voters gen end up sticking with devil they know” http://bit.ly/LiRAB8
• European elections: UKIP closes in on first place
  How long before Ukip polls in 1st place for May’s Euros? Interesting too from Kellner on YouGov polling methodology http://bit.ly/LiQbui
• 'Politically useful' science is no use for democracy – Telegraph
  Good stuff from @prateekbuch at the Telegraph: ‘Politically useful’ science is no use for democracy http://bit.ly/1hueMac
• onlinelibrary.wiley.com
  Interesting academic paper: “Explaining Voters’ Defection from Labour, 2005–10” http://bit.ly/LiPjWG (h/t @ProfTimBale)
• Four reasons Ed Miliband is still a good opposition leader | Tim Bale | Comment is free | theguardian.com
  Fair from @ProfTimBale: 4 reasons Ed Miliband is still a good opposition leader http://bit.ly/1hudRqv (Tho I’d question the first 1 a bit.)
• EEF launches £1.5 million fund to improve use of research in schools | News & Events | The Education Endowment Foundation
  What’s best ways research can be used to improve teaching and learning in schools? New @EducEndowFoundn funding round http://bit.ly/1eMqqNf
• Lord Carlile: 'Why should Lord Rennard apologise?' – Channel 4 News
  Ignoring Carlile’s manner he’s qt wrong: QC’s report on Rennard allegtns used criminal not civil burden of proof test http://bit.ly/1d7VYIO
• Twitter / labourwhips: . @UKLabour debate on national …
  Stay classy @labourwhips, eh? (Their tweet: http://bit.ly/1d7C3JO. Vince’s response: http://bit.ly/1d7C3JR)