Increasingly think the UK’s problem isnt a failure to embrace abundance in the face of scarcity, but the persistent myth of its own affluence/abundance in the face of (semi) permanent scarcity. Creates a set of luxury beliefs that have adversely affected infra, energy, pensions & fiscal policy.

Today’s Spring Statement has echoes of Rishi Sunak’s on 11 March 2020. If the war in the Middle East persists, there’s a strong chance the CHX will be back with fiscal measures within 6 weeks.

"But how are we supposed to find anything?" a 15 y/o on banning social media for kids in the UK. Can't stop thinking about this as the rush to introduce a ban will feel like a ban on discovery of news, music, culture, identity, community… Kids won't replace TikTok w/ google, so where will they go?

For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies

Workers have every right to withdraw their labour. But for the life of me I can’t see the industrial theory of change behind the actions of the BMA. Union leaders must lead rather than take dictation: there comes a point where they must bank what they have achieved and stand down their members

I’m old enough to remember when people said this site was the place for a more civil, informed discourse. smh.

The announcement of additional defence spending today is good, not least because it is an important international signal of the UK's commitment to it's security and values. But additional spending alone is not enough...the way it is spent matters far more...🧵

Two things shock me about that Signal leak: 1. That this US admin is still willing to defend laregly non-US shipping lanes in the Red Sea; and 2. Nothing in the EU Defence Readiness 2030 Whitepaper suggests the EU is willing to defend its own shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

Is there any one on here that is critical of Labour's Employment Rights Bill?

In a world where online fandoms are everything (yes, even in politics), being an offline PM will prove problematic.

Idea that Labour can’t govern austerely is ahistorical - as long as that fiscal conservatism has a morel purpose beyond looking “credible” www.economist.com/britain/2025...

Labour’s credibility trap www.economist.com/britain/2025... from The Economist working link

Growth idea for the UK government: Accelerate the Planning & Infrastructure Bill and delay the Employment Rights Bill.

What are the reasons any Government wouldn't implement the Jay report recommendations in full?

One thing becoming more apparent to me today are the divides between government departments on international issues. Always been an issue, but with the upcoming need to formulate policy on US, EU, China - probably now a bigger challenge.

They should be offered the opportunity to avoid the fine by handing back the Postcode Address File to the government.

I wonder if the UK could give up its golden share in Royal Mail in exchange for liberating the postcode address file.

Two things have made me grumpy today, one of which I can call out: Ed M and his team have absolutely backtracked on their clean energy target. This should be welcomed. But for them to deny it - given the grief they gave anyone who critisised the 2030 target - takes some f*cking chutzpah.

Whenever I hear people say the policies are fine, the only problem is the communications, I feel like re-upping my tweet from peak Truss-ocalypse

Hollywood writers: Ai couldn’t possibly do what we do. Also Hollywood writers shoving out yet more sequels and remakes: aRE YoU nOt eNTErtAiNEd!?!?!

Some thoughts on Labour's renationalising of England's railways. The big argument is that renationalisation gets better services and/or more state revenue. But it ain't necessarily so.

The UK could accelerate the path to net zero and cheaper energy with better nuclear power policy and regulation. An impressive new report from @tonelangengen.bsky.social @jeegarkakkad.bsky.social at al is featured in today’s Guardian. institute.global/insights/cli...

“Steve Akehurst of Persuasion UK has tested a number of “green jobs” arguments as a way to “sell” climate action, but they all tend to fall pretty flat with the public.” on.ft.com/4fH0nKE

This is such a damning take:

Last summer I spent time w people in Whitehaven who were being offered coal jobs.They didn’t want Labour to oppose coal jobs w vague promises of green jobs. They wanted specific/tangible action for their community. Why the public doesn’t buy the idea of a ‘green jobs’ bonanza on.ft.com/4fIETgp

Juergen is speaking now. Surprise him by adding 1000 followers by the time he stops... He's the boss of Great British Energy and always has interesting stuff to say. #CBI24

One is a antediluvian leviathan that can't evolve so is lumbering towards extinction and ... oh do your own jokes. www.ft.com/content/4c30...

People keep asking, "But what's the binding constraint?" like the entire UK economy doesn't need modernisation and reform.

Five minutes in and already loving this takedown of lazy anti Economics polemics. "Why hasn't economics ever thought of inequality/poverty/climate change/how people don't behave rationally" 😃😂

Some strikingly pro City noises from Reeves who "told City regulators to dial up the risk in the UK financial services sector, claiming that rules drawn up after the 2008 banking crash had “gone too far” and were stifling growth...The UK has been regulating for risk, but not regulating for growth.”

The @HMTreasury reforms to consolidate & professionalise UK pensions will benefit pensioners, companies & the economy. As @InstituteGC has said, the UK has the world's 3rd largest pensions market but none of the top 40 funds. The UK has suffered for it. https://buff.ly/40FUF74

Given how tiny a proportion of the prison population even are women you couldn't reduce either the stock problem or the flow problem in prisons in England & Wales simply by going 'don't imprison women', but thinking about *why* we most women prisoners shouldn't be in prison is useful, I think:

This gap only tells us one thing: Immigration is not a real problem for the country. It’s a wedge issue being driven by politics who benefit from deepening divisions to a fever pitch among the right. Does any real problem divide us on political lines of concern this way?

The air feels clearer over here.

Good to have @matthewholehouse.bsky.social here. He's British politics correspondent at The Economist. Well worth following.