Of course no recognition in this writeup that (i) The SPG is a finite budget spread across different priorities (clue is in the name) (ii) As Iain Mansfield notes - more for medical places, apprenticeships, and high-cost subjects. theguardian.com/education/2024…

A privilege to have worked with Robert Halfon MP ➡️Working Hard for Harlow⬅️ in government and he will be sorely missed there, and in Parliament.

He does have more time to re-read LOTR now though :)

Great hire by NHSE - Adam Memon is in the top three smartest people I know, and is genuinely passionate about improving public health outcomes. hsj.co.uk/finance-and-ef…

Fancing being the next John Burn-Murdoch? Apply here for a data journalist role Focaldata. Will be an incredibly exciting political year - and huge scope for creating great stories and data visualisations. focaldata.teamtailor.com/jobs/3595250-d…

We’ve got a really exciting line-up of Bi_Focals - our in-depth newsletter on public opinion - coming out over the next few weeks.

🔦Spotlight this week: the polling dynamics around Reform UK

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Ecstatic to be working with Guy Miscampbell again (for the 4th time at the last count) who will grow our social research practice at Focaldata. We have ambitious plans for all teams next year coming off our 3x growth this year. Please drop a line if you’d like to know more

The word is out - excited to be joining Focaldata early next year to lead their Political and Social Research offer, and to be reuniting with James Kanagasooriam

Forever grateful to Gillian Keegan MP for taking me on and sad to be departing Department for Education - but onwards and upwards!

Waddup Jim Blagden.

One of the more bizarre things in my time in Canada was finding out that there is a road in Ajax, Ontario - named after my great-grandfather after this battle: theguardian.com/news/1999/sep/…

Whilst I’m very sad to see Nick Gibb step down as Schools Minister, I wish him the best of luck with his plans to join the diplomatic service.

Nick has worked with school leaders and teachers to transform millions of children’s lives for the better.

Thank you, Nick.

Cuillin Ridge Traverse in a day.

21 hours of slog - but rather proud of my climbing partners and I for pushing through in the face of extreme heat. Now to rest the legs a bit...

A really lovely obituary for Grandma from Aylesbury Grammar School in the Spring newsletter - Thank-you Mark Sturgeon et al.

Welcome focus on driving up value for graduates and creating better technical routes. These two policies - greater scrutiny of degree value and prestigious technical institutions - are from Onward research by Guy Miscampbell Francesca Fraser respectively
buff.ly/3DcLEF5

Back at it in my favourite place in London. Blocfit

Full fat coke and dad jokes. The Right Honourable ⁦Tom Tugendhat⁩.

I’m so proud of the campaign, message, and legacy.

The ethos of service and unity was infectious (and timely) and it influenced all around him.

In that sense, he won.

(Spoiler alert: he’ll be back!)

I fear the Conservative Party will come to regret not choosing Tom Tugendhat. Honourable. Compassionate.Far-sighted.

I’m really proud to have run my friend Tom Tugendhat’s campaign for Leader of the Conservatives.

In no time we stood up a stellar team of Stephen Hammond MP karenbradley Nickie Aiken MP for Cities of London & Westminster Jake Berry MP Aaron Bell MP Nick Faith, Damien Moore, Guy Miscampbell and many others 1/3

Last practice of Tom Tugendhat's 1922 hustings speech. For #ACleanStart