Tom Stephens

Senior Fellow @NEF | Fellow @LSEPublicPolicy | Fmr Jobs/Ed Lead @Brent_Council | Worked on infected blood @DianaJohnsonMP | Posting more on BlueSky.

[Paul Allen-Alvarez @PabloAlAl]

@AffinityWater think this is acceptable water has been leaking since friday & its not an emergency they say the repair will be carried out on 20th May! 48 PROPERTIES HAVE REDUCED WATER PRESSURE, NOW ONLY A TRICKLE & ARE EXPECTED TO WAIT 9 DAYS FOR IT TO BE FIXED.

[Diana Johnson DBE MP 🇬🇧🇺🇦🌈 @DianaJohnsonMP]

It's also worth noting that thanks to @ToniaAntoniazzi's amendment, the passing of this Bill today modernises our Victorian abortion laws - decriminalising abortion. After years of campaigning, this is the biggest move forward in this area since David Steel's 1967 Abortion Act.

[Diana Johnson DBE MP 🇬🇧🇺🇦🌈 @DianaJohnsonMP]

I pay tribute to Sir Brian Langstaff and his @bloodinquiry team for their eight years of work to finally get justice for those infected and affected in the contaminated blood scandal. There is still more to do, but without them we wouldn't have come as far as we have.

[LSE Social Policy @LSESocialPolicy]

🎉 Congratulations to Department of Social Policy PhD alumnus @TCStephens who has been awarded funding by the EU Commission under its Horizon Europe programme, for a 2.5-year Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship.

➡️ https://t.co/5rUXLjbqca

[NEF @NEF]

NEW: The government wants to boost employment among people who receive universal credit - but our analysis suggests a lack of good-quality jobs is making this near impossible. And, in some local authorities, there’s as few as 5 vacancies for every 100 people on universal credit…

[Dan Neidle @DanNeidle]

Lots of viral tweets like this.

The detail is wrong. The overall picture is wrong.

[Tom Stephens @TCStephens]

Our analysis suggests Govt's ambition to raise employment rates risks being undermined unless it shifts more fundamentally from the welfare system it inherited - which pushes people into "any job", without the personalised support to enable decent work and career progression.

[Tom Stephens @TCStephens]

Pleased to put out this new analysis with @_maxmosley into the deeper barriers UK workers face in getting sustainable jobs, with genuine progression opportunities and proper in-work support - including first-ever data on the job quality of people on Universal Credit.👇

[NEF @NEF]

NEW: Our latest analysis suggests strict conditions faced by people in receipt of benefits are forcing them into low quality jobs.

This risks undermining the government's employment targets, as people forced into low-paid, insecure jobs are less likely to stay in work.

[NEF @NEF]

NEW: Our latest analysis suggests strict conditions faced by people in receipt of benefits are forcing them into low quality jobs.

This risks undermining the government's employment targets, as people forced into low-paid, insecure jobs are less likely to stay in work.

[Tom Stephens @TCStephens]

We're dominated by focus on compliance, processes and automation (often with bad data). For DWP, there's clear evidence this undermines delivery of better jobs:

https://t.co/gzHtPYE1Sy

Need to learn from cases like this & Carer's Allowance to design more person-centred system.

[Tom Stephens @TCStephens]

Frustrated but unsurprised by this growing build up of child benefit mishandling cases. They reflect systemic issues with the way our welfare services engage with claimants.

No prior engagement re issues. No chance to correct bad data. Just automatic suspension of payments.

[Tom Stephens @TCStephens]

@NEF @PollardTom @jrf_uk This would be better at supporting working fams to increase hrs, more progressive & simpler - combining current complex mess of funded hrs, Tax Free CC and UC into single offer. If parents increased working hrs/earnings, it'd have virtuous fiscal benefits vs. current system. 5/5

[Tom Stephens @TCStephens]

A pretty hefty piece of @NEF analysis out today by me and @PollardTom - in collaboration with @jrf_uk & Pregnant Then Screwed - on the problems with funded hours-based childcare system Labour inherited & case for a more progressive alternative.👇[1/]

https://t.co/GNlcg4NlNh

[Tom Stephens @TCStephens]

@NEF @PollardTom @jrf_uk We've looked at effects of an alternative offer which combines universal & contributory elements:
- A core free 15hrs for all kids;
- For working familes, a % cap on childcare spend above that.

To do this we've built a detailed & dynamic childcare model using survey data. [4/]

[Peter Matejic @StatsPeter]

This is new @jrf_uk analysis showing that there aren't enough jobs for all the millions of people losing out from the cuts, so many will just see their living standards plummet.

[LSE British Politics and Policy @LSEpoliticsblog]

The role of “good jobs” in tackling in-work poverty - British Politics and Policy at LSE - by Thomas Stephens of @CASE_LSE

https://t.co/vCmLcA4HJW

[Tom Stephens @TCStephens]

We've seen alarming trends in in-work poverty in the UK - despite rises in the Living Wage. I've written a piece for @LSEpoliticsblog looking at the role 'good work' plays in this, based on @NEF analysis:

https://t.co/p1L4PlMj81

See also my talk at #LSEFestival on Monday (👇)!

[LSE Events @LSEpublicevents]

Thanks to everyone who attended day one of #LSEFestival and to all our speakers including @graceblakeley @RyanShorthouse @abbyabhaya @TCStephens & @innes_abby for their fascinating contributions.

If you missed any of the event you can watch them at https://t.co/mqFL2kfnhN

[Tom Stephens @TCStephens]

Will be speaking with @CASE_LSE Mon on the job quality of the most disadvantaged! 👇

Presenting some new analysis done with @NEF on in-work poverty, job prospects, inflexible working and the state of local labour markets - and the dangers posed by welfare conditionality.

[CASE @CASE_LSE]

On Monday 16 June, don't miss our public lecture at the #LSEFestival 2025. Abigail McKnight, @abbyabhaya, and @TCStephens will be discussing policies and strategies that can free a society from poverty
https://t.co/zJeAXFJrIB