As @jamesdaustin.bsky.social says we found young people in towns like Burnley, the ones doing the working(!), were much less likely to want the return of manufacturing Instead people understood the success of Manchester and wanted a part of it with better transport links

One of the really interesting bits in @thinklabour.bsky.social poll of Burnley was that while many voters would like a manufacturing renaissance... ...most dont think its realistic (including advocates) and the 'connected town' services model is both more popular and see as more realistic

It looks like Labour both consolidated the progressive bloc and increased turnout to win in Makerfield Great rapid work by my research colleagues @christabelcoops.bsky.social @cwp-weir.bsky.social @dylancridland.bsky.social

Given were all praising @thinklabour.bsky.social polling - just want to highlight this one from their Burnley report. e Explains a huge amount about the disconnect between crime falling nationally and rising public concern. Its all salience

I'm very glad to see the government has raised objections to the current Thames Water deal proposed by its creditors. I've previously written to Ofwat to ask them to reject this deal. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great to see action from the government on Thames Water. The creditors deal did not offer enough for consumers or the environment. At ThinkLabour we called for the government to not accept any deal that involved watering down pollution standards. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What a fantastic evening at the ThinkLabour launch party!

This work by @christabelcoops.bsky.social and @fintan-smith.bsky.social gives us novel and rigorous insights into a group of voters that is normally very hard to reach in traditional surveys. They're both too modest to blow their own horn but I'll do it for them

To fix the social care crisis, Labour needs a “big bang” for the state, writes @danmead.bsky.social. www.arguably.uk/p/how-to-fix...

The battle of ideas has started in Labour and social care is back on the news agenda. This is another area where "incremental change won't cut it". In @arguablymag.bsky.social I argue to unlock social care reform, only a "big bang" approach will work

As David says, crime is a really important issue for voters, particularly in post industrial towns. In Burnley, shoplifting has increased way more than the average in England.

🚨Exciting policy news 🚨 The Chancellor has announced that the government will consult on devolving 'Transport and Works Act Order' decisions to mayors. This would give them the power to get on with building transport networks, speeding up delivery like other countries. 1/2

Really excellent report here from @christabelcoops.bsky.social and @danmead.bsky.social on the politics of post-industrial towns - covering both how Labour can win them, and what a politically and economically credible future for them could look like (spoiler: it's becoming like Reading)

Imagine you live in Burnley, all your family and friends are there. You get offered a new job in Manchester. Trainline tells you the train takes 45 minutes to go 25 miles. And it would take you 20 minutes to drive to the station. It also tells you there is only one train an hour to work. 🧵:

Andrew is right - austerity meant severe cuts to non social care spending by councils and at the same time council tax went up in real terms. Councils had no other choice. And so no wonder people are so fed up

New YIMBY Pod! - Why does the BBC seem to hate the Universal theme park?! - And why Thames Water SHOULDN’T be nationalised, with @danmead.bsky.social ! www.abundancepod.com/p/the-bbcs-a...

After the bruising local election losses last week. Labour needs an answer on how it holds together its broad electoral coalition. My colleague @christabelcoops.bsky.social has a paper out today giving our response

Today marks the launch of ThinkLabour! 🌹We are a unique political organisation dedicated to helping Labour govern confidently, win elections, and deliver lasting change.Here is what we are building 👇

Pleased to once again get the chance to make the case for compulsory voting, this time in a report for Labour Together. I set out why compulsory voting would rebalance British democracy towards a more long-termist progressive politics.

Reclaiming the Future – the founding essay of @arguablymag.bsky.social To defy the twin foes of populism and fatalism, progressives must put ideas back at the centre of their politics and draw on the greatest thinkers from their past: Keynes, Crosland and Rawls. www.arguably.uk/p/reclaiming...

Could street votes be the key to unlocking the UK’s housing crisis? Our new paper with @britishprogress.org explores how ministers could turn to residents to help create thousands of new homes.

I know nationalising Thames Water sounds appealing, especially if you're on the left. But in a blog post today I argue it's actually the least progressive option available. If we care about clean rivers and lower bills, we need to make privatisation work. Here's my argument: 1/6

Speedrunning Tesco – plus mixed feelings about Artemis, Mormon gambling, and a council finance nightmare. (Odds and Ends #93) takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/speedrunni...

We've got a new game that puts you in the shoes of a council leader. Try to win re-election and avoid bankruptcy - it's difficult...

It is exactly this kind of remark that causes residents to lose trust in their council and in political parties. Kemi says "Lower taxes" but in reality West Sussex increased council tax by the maximum amount possible of 4.99% This is the absurdity of local government at the moment writ large.

I wrote this paper because too many people feel like they’re paying more and getting less from local government. Council tax keeps going up, but the services people actually see: bins, potholes, parks, libraries, street cleaning. Too often feel like they’re getting worse.