Tom Chidwick

@tomchidwick.bsky.social

Historian | Author of "Now or Never! A History of the First Scottish Devolution Referendum" | Manager of @mileendinstitute.bsky.social

@robertsaunders.bsky.social Oct 11, 2026, 1:54 PMReposted by @tomchidwick.bsky.social

Public executions were not abolished out of tenderness towards the criminal. They were abolished because of the effect on the people watching, and the dangers of making human death a source of commercial entertainment. Here's Charles Dickens in The Times, after witnessing an execution in 1849.

"I have seen, habitually, some of the worst sources of general contamination and corruption in this country, and I think there are not many phases of London life that could surprise me. I am solemnly convinced that nothing that ingenuity could devise to be done in this city, in the same compass of time, could work such ruin as one public execution, and I stand astounded and appalled by the wickedness it exhibits. I do not believe that any community can prosper where such a scene of horror and demoralization as was enacted this morning outside Horsemonger Lane Gaol is presented at the very doors of good citizens, and is passed by, unknown or forgotten. And when in our prayers and thanksgivings for the season we are humbly expressing before God our desire to remove the moral evils of the land, I would ask your readers to consider whether it is not a time to think of this one, and to root it out.

I am, Sir, your faithful Servant.
Charles Dickens".

@ukandeu.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 11:01 AMReposted by @tomchidwick.bsky.social

A rather sad announcement from @anandmenon.bsky.social on the future of UK in a Changing Europe.

ukandeu.ac.uk/announcement...

UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE) was founded 12 years ago. We hired our first member of staff on the day of the 2015 election, the outcome of which guaranteed that there would be a referendum on EU membership. The subsequent period has been tumultuous, yet, throughout it all, we have done our utmost to be a source of impartial, research-based analysis.
We were initially supported by the Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC), who generously funded the organisation for over a decade. Their foresight in recognising the need to bring social science to the attention of external audiences in this area was impressive.
Our ESRC funding ended in April 2025. Since that time, we have kept going courtesy of the generosity of King’s College London and donations from numerous other sources including the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Amazon Web Services and the Spanish Government. I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have contributed to the organisation’s longevity.
Sadly, it is now time to bring down the curtain on this act. UKICE will cease to operate at the end of this year. This is – for us at least – a sad occasion. However, we will soon be able to inform you of the exciting ways in which our work – blogs, reports, lunchtime seminars and more – will continue. The website, containing its rich treasure trove of blogs, reports, videos and the Brexit Witness Archive will, of course, remain accessible thanks to the generosity of the Policy Institute at King’s College London.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last decade and of the way we have assessed the Brexit process, the development of the United Kingdom since 2016 and the evolution of UK-EU relations. UKICE has attempted to bridge the gap between social scientists and what some people call the ‘real world’. We have shown a new way of doing social science – engaging, accessible and impartial. While it would be too much to claim to have shaped the debate, I g…

@mileendinstitute.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 3:53 PMReposted by @tomchidwick.bsky.social

Calling anyone interested in the politics and policy of London!

@elizabethsim0n.bsky.social and Patrick Diamond's new book - "vital reading for ... understanding the volatile political landscape in London" (H/T @robfordmancs.bsky.social) - is now available for pre-order.

Order your copy now!⬇️

@onslies.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 7:28 AMReposted by @tomchidwick.bsky.social

YAY! Tickets now available! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-2026-a...

Stefan Collini on '"Serious, but not narrowly professional”: the idea of a university-based general periodical in post-war Britain'. Should make for great conversation about the role of universities in 'serious' public discourse #UKHE

@alistairkgrant.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 5:03 PMReposted by @tomchidwick.bsky.social

🎥 In this week’s episode of The Steamie I spoke to @ewangibbs.bsky.social about his new book, An Injury to All: The Unmaking of the British Working Class

You can watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts now

m.youtube.com/watch?v=-1zN...

@tomchidwick.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 3:17 PM

Next month, I'm going to be launching my new @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social book at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social!

Speakers include the voice of Radio 4 Carolyn Quinn, @politicalquarterly.bsky.social's Ben Jackson and a MYSTERY Scottish politician. Do come!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/now-or-nev...

@philipjcowley.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 8:53 AMReposted by @tomchidwick.bsky.social

Latest piece for @thehousemag.bsky.social - on the Norway vote in 1940, drawing on a great piece just published in Parliamentary History.

www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

@philipjcowley.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 1:32 PMReposted by @tomchidwick.bsky.social

For the last four weeks, I've been doing a slot on Matt Chorley's programme on Radio 5, in which we take an interesting or historic parliamentary vote and discuss its significance. So far we've done Norway (1940), the Shops Bill (1986), seatbelts (1981) and yesterday we did Iraq (2003).

@tomchidwick.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 12:53 PM

It was a pleasure to host Lord Clement-Jones, Parliament's leading authority on AI, at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social last night.

His experience and expertise will be a real asset to @qmulsse.bsky.social's staff and students as we grapple with the impact of AI on universities!

@robertsaunders.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 6:28 PMReposted by @tomchidwick.bsky.social

As the government abandons its plans to restrict jury trial, here's a @mileendinstitute.bsky.social webinar from March.

We explored what the government was proposing, why it was contentious, what juries get right and wrong, and what other changes might be beneficial.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiep...

@tomchidwick.bsky.social Sep 24, 2026, 11:49 AM

And you can pre-order my forthcoming @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social book, "Now or Never! A History of the First Scottish Devolution Referendum", on Bloomsbury's website: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/now-or-ne...

"The best book on the 1979 referendum" according to the legendary historian Sir Tom Devine!

@tomchidwick.bsky.social Sep 24, 2026, 11:38 AM

Lovely to see the new statue of Diana the Huntress in Bedford Square this morning, marking @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social's 40th birthday! Some of the wonderful people who make Bloomsbury Britain's best independent publishing house are handing out free books so do visit the statue if you're nearby.

New statue of Diana the Huntress, poorly photographed by an excited but photographically inept author of a forthcoming Bloomsbury book.

@tomchidwick.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 10:59 AM

Thank you, Gill! You’ll get a proper invite from the MEI soon but I really hope you’ll be able to join us for the launch on 18 November. It would be lovely to see you!

@robertsaunders.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 10:48 AMReposted by @tomchidwick.bsky.social

This will be excellent, from our wonderful @mileendinstitute.bsky.social manager Tom Chidwick! And we will of course be launching it at the MEI, with a great line-up of speakers. Keep an eye out for updates...

@tomchidwick.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 10:43 AM

It will be launched at @qmulsse.bsky.social on 18 November with an event about why the referendum took place, why Scotland failed to secure its Assembly, and the lessons for supporters of devolution, independence or a stronger Union today. All are welcome and details to follow soon!

Promotional Banner for the launch of "Now or Never!" at the Mile End Institute, featuring the front cover of the book and the author looking even more smug than he usually does ...

@tomchidwick.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 10:43 AM

Held just two months before the 1979 general election, the referendum was Scotland's first opportunity to determine the "constitutional question" that had dogged its politics for a century. My book explores how the referendum campaign shaped Scotland's politics and public life for a generation.

John Smith pinning a "Vote Yes" button on the Secretary of State for Scotland, Bruce Millan, while immaculately coiffured David Owen looks on.

@tomchidwick.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 10:43 AM

I've (finally) made it to Bluesky so I thought I'd start as I mean to go on with some shameless self-promotion ...

On 12 November, my new book on the first Scottish devolution referendum will be published by @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social, thanks to @atifajiwa.bsky.social!

t.co/Rkv3VRWp29