John Harris

He was great

Recruiting teaching assistants harder than hiring teachers, according to school leaders - NFER Our latest research into the education workforce has shown that three in four school leaders are struggling to recruit teaching assistants (TAs).

New Nuffield research make stark reading for the DfE as it aims to cram more SEND children into mainstream schools: The study shows 3 in 4 school leaders are struggling to recruit teaching assistants, saying it’s harder to recruit TAs than it is teachers www.nfer.ac.uk/press-release...

Conservatives on X: ".@KemiBadenoch is the only leader with the backbone needed to get Britain war ready 🇬🇧 https://t.co/CmasFWSz6j" / X .@KemiBadenoch is the only leader with the backbone needed to get Britain war ready 🇬🇧 https://t.co/CmasFWSz6j

It's real x.com/conservative...

These days I find that I can't be bothered
To argue with them, well, what's the point?
Better to take your shots and drop down dead
Then they send you home in a pine overcoat
With a letter to your mum
Saying, 'Find enclosed one son,
One medal and a note to say we won'

Combining the British people’s love and respect for Kemi Badenoch with their enthusiasm about Donald Trump and his Iran war: no party is doing it like them right now

It kind of is, but it feels clunky

I agree!

Great idea

Here's Kathleen Stock on autism. I read it so you don't have to

??? The bands & record labels led it

I had a front row seat at the Blur v Oasis frenzy – here’s what a new play gets bang on and bafflingly wrong In 1995, the bands tussled for No 1 – and the Britpop crown. Our writer was on the inside of the mad-for-it contest. Does The Battle accurately capture this divisive moment? And what was Noel’s proble...

Latest from me: went to Brum to see John Niven's Britpop play & really really liked it www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/m...

I said: No, no, no

Reform UK's populism is increasingly looking not that populist

#1 Stored up inside my head What I'd like from this newsletter

I promised myself that I’d make a bit more effort to share what I’m working on this year, so I’ve started posting on Substack. If you like my work, please do subscribe for very infrequent updates on what I’m writing / reading: open.substack.com/pub/hettieve...

Trump’s “almost physical horror of violence” latest:

Thanks Tim

One of today's must-reads.

Thank you!

Labour is stubborn in defeat because it knows this: we face the belated end of the political 20th century | John Harris In Gorton and Denton, I heard again and again that people wanted seismic political change – Labour and the Tories are no longer part of that conversation, says Guardian columnist John Harris

Latest from me: By dint of its relationship with the trade unions alone, Labour still plays a vital role in our democracy – but it also looks dangerously like an archaic legacy party. Its old majoritarian dreams are over
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Ask him to turn it off

No more safe seats: the Greens take Gorton and Denton – podcast John Harris, Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey chat through all the fallout from the Green Party’s historic byelection win in Gorton and Denton. And, look at what could happen next.

🚨No more safe seats: the Greens take Gorton and Denton

Have a listen to our #PoliticsWeekly podcast for all the latest on this consequential by-election

With me, @johnharris1969.bsky.social & @kiranstacey.bsky.social @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

This is the point.

Really not sure if telling Green voters they we're stupid enough to be hoodwinked by extremist anti-NATO crack dealers is the most productive way for Labour to behave. Makes them sound like they're joining Reform in a kind of Mary Whitehouse prig chorus

It's a really important piece of writing. Thanks for writing it

The White Paper There are some good bits, but also an approach that isn't going to work for my family

Best thing I've read on the SEND reforms: personal, really lucid, great on the policy context jimlauder.substack.com/p/the-white-...

V familiar. Would it have really eased the following day though?

Isn't the key hangover question whether it was worth it? That always makes them bearable imho. The bad ones that were frittered away are thé worst

Send provision and student loans: will Labour’s changes backfire? – podcast John Harris and Kiran Stacey look at what we know about the new plans for Send and the backlash over changes to student loan payments

I've been waiting all week to talk to @johnharris1969.bsky.social about what he thinks of the govt's Send reforms, given he is a bona fide expert.

He surprised me in a number of ways with what he said. Well worth a listen:

www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

Anyway mr rolley, I'm sure you're an agreeable fella and arguing with strangers is a bit daft. Thank you for engaging, I'll bear what you said in mind.

That's what I said, in both cases.