Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist

Sea lions are seals that are missing an electron

Great to have been involved as a #writer at focus groups, and in research support/production for @ifow.org, for this brilliant new report on #GenAI and the #Novel by @clemicollett.bsky.social for @mctd.bsky.social at University of Cambridge: www.mctd.ac.uk/impact-of-ge...

"You know what Theodore Roosevelt said about hunting grizzly bears? The thrill is in overcoming your own fear." Lester Freamon in The Wire

“I want you to understand what it is like to live in Chicago during this time.” aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...

Be clear, the American far right are coming for British democracy.

Great to meet with ScreenSkills this morning to discuss AI adoption in the screen industries. So many issues in this context that are relevant for wider work landscape, especially with the rise of precarious / freelance / platform based work. www.screenskills.com

Jaywick may be down, but it’s never out. When the local is called the Never Say Die, you begin to appreciate the resilience and courage in the face of multiple factors. My great grandfather built the place, and pre war it was the ‘happiest place in England.’ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Spot on from Private Eye.

'Talking about the possibility of a third term, Trump said: "I haven't really thought about it. But I have the best poll numbers that I've ever had."' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... His approval ratings:

Great to be in Parliament today with people from across the creative industries to discuss @bectu.bsky.social’s excellent report on pay levels and working conditions! More important than ever that this powerhouse of the UK economy is supported and sustained through this period of rapid change.

We've been keeping track of all of the atrocities Trump has committed since he took office in January. To be clear, this is not humor or satire, but maybe sometime in the future, our relatives will see this, shake their heads, and think, "What a hilarious shitshow of a timeline."

The White House getting gutted for a one-man vanity project that benefits no one but said man, right after 7 million people said “please fuck off,” is such immaculate symbolism it’s making my head spin. Honestly, you really could not make it up at this point.

Ah! Good morning, reality. And welcome. We’ve been expecting you…

i don't have the words to emphasise how seriously bad things are gonna get

This, from @catherinedevries.bsky.social, is really useful advice for young (and, tbh, old!) academics. Worth passing on if you know any, maybe? catherineeunicedevries.substack.com/p/fail-bette...

This piece on people using ChatGPT to write their funny/romantic/empathetic responses to potential matches on dating sites is actually a brilliant summary of the deep problem of an agentic technology that promises to make us better but really makes us much worse. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

every single tech idea is like “soon our robots will be capable of playing catch with your kid, freeing you up to spend more time working on your employers’ spreadsheets”

Agree, with the added observation that these huge gigs are usually soulless. So many grassroots bands you can see in 200-cap venues or smaller. £10, and decent priced beer. Much more fun, and you get added smug when a band you saw blows up to be the next Smiths. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Privilege to be in Brussels, meeting with economists, policymakers, academics and trade unionists in the very room where Marx wrote his Communist Manifesto to discuss the #FutureOfWork and social democracy.

Great to be in Liverpool today with @eyfoundation.bsky.social for expert round table of MPs, careers support specialists and firms presenting on how young people from lower-income backgrounds can access better jobs in this era of AI turbulence. Motivation is key, as is time for reflective practice.

Waiting for Godot: The Hunt for Godot is the recently announced newest installment of the Godotverse. The long awaited sidequel follows Godot's adventures during the events of the original play.

This is so important, and speaks to bigger issues about work generally. Technologies don't stand alone in a vacuum - they tap into deep-seated feelings about value and engagement. So if we're doing 'slop', and thinking 'that's fine,' the questions shouldn't be focused on AI. hbr.org/2025/09/ai-g...

That fateful night in October of 1982:

Reading papers is a basic skill (and dare I say duty?) of scientists, and I include medical doctors in that group. Keeping abreast of the literature is a foundational part of our professions. There aren’t good shortcuts. In any case, reading papers regularly is fun. arstechnica.com/ai/2025/09/s...

Parallel tougher fines for motorcyclists, constantly breaking laws with speeding, super-aggressive riding and noise pollution? Oh yes, forgot, as one PC explained to a community meeting recently, 'it's hard to stop motorbikes, so it's easier to focus on cyclists.' 🤷‍♂️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Fantastic event. Real privilege to be a part of.

The gods of small things. Interesting to see this come to pass (and further post on how AI has basically now consumed everything so… what next?) - something I talk about in my book, God-like: a 500-Year History of AI www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=god-like...

Oi, Martin Daubney. Get your tanks off Partridge's lawn.

So much talk about Reform voters, but I'm yet to read much about their lives beyond tropes and excuses ('legitimate concerns'). I've been back in the midlands to interview people and learn more. Here's my piece on them and Reform's attempts to present itself as a community-minded, pro-worker party:

“One day everyone will have always been against this” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This is how Britain is welcoming Trump for his state visit at Windsor Castle where he will meet King Charles tomorrow morning. Quality work, @ledbydonkeys.org.

Larry Tesler, inventor of the cut, copy, and paste commands, dies at 74 Larry Tesler, inventor of the cut, copy, and paste commands, dies at 74

This whole series - Rise / War / Downfall / Manhunt - is superb. Much wisdom on how horror could have been avoidable. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Empathy is the only thing that withers fascism on its bitter vine. Almost every problem we face is a problem rooted in fear of The Other.

Killing. Fascists. Does. Not. Kill. Fascism.

‘In an age like ours, when everyone, to gain attention, walks on their hands, the individual who stands on their own two feet will be taken for an acrobat.’ So loved doing this podcast with the #BeMorePirate crew. And that #Kundera quote does good heavy lifting :) open.spotify.com/episode/0hFJ...

Talking of #piracy and #Mutiny...

Wonderful to have recorded an episode of #BeMorePirate with the excellent Alex Barker and @samconniff.bsky.social. Peter Pan, Luke Skywalker, Rosa Parks... really great to be able to revisit the material in #Mutiny in the light of Trump, Putin and Musk et al: open.spotify.com/episode/0hFJ...

Before you comment, read the full letter from Sir Laurie Magnus. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...

On the same day in the Telegraph:

This is vile. Local guy speaks to Sky News about the impact of asylum seekers protests. Watch what happens and share widely

Jimi Hendrix opens with a cover of the opening track of Sergeant Pepper just a few days after it’s released… McCartney somewhere in the crowd. youtu.be/tZoIxlRC32k?...

“The technology is producing a generation of eternal novices, unable to think or perform for themselves.”

Can't even... been the soundtrack to my life each week for so many of those years. Truly incredible legacy. Science, history, mathematics, religion, literature... Best free education on the planet. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

On one hand, reducing car use reduces urban pollution. But on the other, everyone likes it and cities become more livable

love when the BBC archive pulls up something almost incomprehensible youtu.be/3XCl9H2J0AQ?...

Creation Lake gets better the deeper you swim.