We've published the 2025 local elections handbook in collaboration with the University of Exeter's Elections Centre. This includes ward- and candidate-level results from last year's locals. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/2025-local-e...
Can a British citizen travel to the UK using a non-British passport? Newly updated by popular demand commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
House of Commons Library graphic promoting new research. Search engine bar containing: “What is the spring forecast?” Green text boxes: “There’s a Library briefing for that. Get the facts at commonslibrary.parliment.uk” Decorative background image showing Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP carrying a red folder walking out of a black door.
Get ready for the 2026 Spring forecast with the Commons Library.
On 3 March, the Office for Budget Responsibility will publish new forecasts for the economy and public finances.
❓Find out what the spring forecast is with the Library's advance summary: commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Just to follow up on this for those looking for recommendations of data people in the UK: the starter pack Data and AI Civil Society Network is a really good one to mass follow bsky.app/starter-pack...
People often assume there's a right and wrong way to present data in a chart or graphic. But there are many legitimate choices that can mean a telling different stories with the same data.
Data viz guru Andy Kirk @visualisingdata.com shared more wisdom with me this week on the podcast this week 📊🔊
I’ve published a short briefing on the US’s capture of Nicolás Maduro
I’m sure it will need updating soon…
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
A longer post from me to start the year: the Dutch are panicking. Their digital ID system will soon fall under the control of an American company and far-reaching US government powers.
Why is that such a problem? And what does it mean for the UK?
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
We updated our briefing on this suddenly topical subject just before Christmas
Published yesterday, our Commons Library Briefing on the UK rejoining the Erasmus+ programme commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
There has been a sustained focus on state threats & foreign interference activities in the UK over the last few weeks, including a debate on the impact of foreign interference on security, trade & democracy in the Commons yesterday.
Below are some relevant Library briefings that might be of interest
The Commons Library is recruiting a housing policy researcher!
As ever: highly recommended workplace, great people, interesting work, etc etc. Apply!
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
New episode of the TDTM podcast just dropped, featuring migration statistics oracle and all-round inspiration Madeleine Sumption from Oxford's @migobs.bsky.social 🔊
Listen to the full episode now on Spotify ⬇️ or Apple Podcasts
open.spotify.com/episode/2Buv...
Photo of Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivering the budget with search bar and text: What do I need to know before the Autumn Budget? Further text in light green box: There's a Library briefing for that. Further text in a dark green box: Get the facts at commonslibrary.parliament.uk
Get ready for the Autumn Budget with the Commons Library 🧰
Their background briefing covers the UK economy, fiscal rules, public spending and more, helping you get the facts ahead of tomorrow's announcements.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
I'm thrilled to announce that Talk Data to Me now has a podcast.
My first guest is Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics at Kings, who talked to me about recent problems with UK economic data & budget challenges for the Chancellor.
Available to listen now 🔊
open.spotify.com/episode/6Txz...
Parliamentary sovereignty is one of the most deceptively difficult things to write about accurately, concisely and accessibly.
Credit to David Torrance & @paolosandro.bsky.social for showing the deceptively difficult is not the infuriatingly impossible.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
The House of Commons Library Open Day returns in 2026!
Come and learn about what we do to inform democracy and take advantage of a rare chance to tour the Commons Library space.
Full details are on our website and applications close 24th November commonslibrary.parliament.uk/training-and...
There's a persistent impression about the migration debate in the UK that one side - that of migration sceptics - cares a lot more.
I've got a nagging feeling that's not only untrue but having a disastrous effect.
⬇️ My latest post on Substack ⬇️
georginasturge.substack.com/p/a-monopoly...
Good BBC report on life in asylum hotels www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I put together a short briefing with David Torrance on state visits to the UK. Found out a few interesting nuggets while researching it
Also includes a spreadsheet of all state visits since 1952 including addresses to Parliament
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Most of us are in a wobbly position when it comes to our understanding of immigration numbers.
How would things go if we didn’t make these half-remembered statistics so central to how we form and articulate opinions?
georginasturge.substack.com/p/how-to-mak...
Recent revisions to US employment stats were less an act of inside sabotage and more about businesses behaving unexpectedly due to Trump's chaotic tariff regime.
Attacks on 'phony' statisticians take us to a very dark place. My latest post for Substack:
georginasturge.substack.com/p/revising-s...
Have published an update for the Commons Library on the EU's entry exit system, now scheduled for launch on 12 October 2025 and being phased in over six months. Will also operate at Port of Dover, and Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals in the UK 1/2
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/the-eu-entry...
Is now the time? ⌛
The data on electoral reform shows that the stars are well and truly aligned in terms of public support. A majority of voters from all the biggest parties - even Labour and Conservatives - are in favour. Do politicians feel the same?
georginasturge.substack.com/p/electoral-...
Why are we hooked on bad vibes when they don't reflect reality?
I took a deep-dive into the data, in search of what is really going on.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
Why do we rely on economic forecasts which are always wrong?
georginasturge.substack.com/p/why-do-we-...
An intervention for UK statistics - but will it be enough?
In my latest Substack post I ask 'what now?' for the beleaguered Office for National Statistics, following last week's honest but critical Devereux Review.
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
Well, this is exciting - I've been grumbling for *years* about how figures at Budgets and Spending Reviews are only given to the nearest £100 million, which makes data analysis needlessly difficult. And the Treasury have just gone ahead and published the unrounded data! www.gov.uk/government/p...
With some trepidation, in my latest piece for Substack I try to verify a claim doing the rounds that 'White British' will have become a minority ethnicity in the UK by 2063.
Enjoy...?
open.substack.com/pub/georgina...
Now that the 2031 census recommendation is here, it feels like I've done a full "census cycle" as a professional census nerd.
It's a brilliant part of my job, being paid to pay attention to something that's ever-changing and the setting for so many interesting debates about identity and society.
