Second in series on tax, my wife and I listened to it last night. Recommended.

@financialtimes.com on how UK OBR has downgraded UK growth projections - which have been consistently over-optimistic. Labour annoyed its happened now, whilst Hunt was able to use more optimistic estimates to fund NI cuts. I would use downgrade to revisit NI cuts. But don't expect it to happen.

Our latest Westminster voting intention (19-20 Oct) has the Greens on their highest figure ever recorded by YouGov Reform UK: 26% (-1 from 12-13 Oct) Labour: 20% (=) Conservatives: 17% (=) Lib Dems: 15% (-1) Greens: 15% (+2) SNP: 4% (+1) yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...

Feel a bit guilty reposting a video in which I appear, but here goes... Also some great voices from across Europe hosted by @marinenextenerg.bsky.social and @rescoop.eu

Sarah O'Connor in today's @financialtimes.com about how iPhones are too big for many women's' (and quite a few men's) hands. A good example of gendered exclusion in product design.

In a world of slop and angry voices, we need organisations like @financialtimes.com who bring calm, evidence based journalism. And more than finance, as this important series shows. Thankyou! Do check out their podcasts too. My favourite is Political Fix with @greenmirandahere.bsky.social

Shared ownership of renewables is a current issue here is UK. Listen into practical examples from our neighbours in a snappy 1.5 hour briefing with leading experts. @energiesamen.bsky.social @commenergyengland.bsky.social @energy 4alluk.bsky.social

Time is running out to apply….

Q: What do I love about Westmill? A: 17,000 visitors, biodiversity, clean energy for 4,500 homes, 3,000 members raising £23m to build two iconic projects, 5 wind turbines named by schools, £1m in comm benefit. @rescoop.eu @westmillenergy.bsky.social And this video! www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sBm...

What's the difference between co-operatives and other renewable generators? Our members share some of our surpluses with local people to develop green projects. Find out more here and how to apply. @commenergyengland.bsky.social @energy4alluk.bsky.social @rescoop.eu

If you're a community in the vicinity of South Oxfordshire and need a bit of ££ to get a small clean energy project going (insulation, PV, heat pumps....), check out if you can get some help from this funding scheme

Congratulations to Netenyahu in managing to unite the Express and the Guardian in outrage.

We try to be genuinely innovative. Previous projects have included a poly-tunnel in a nearby community agriculture scheme, a series of energy audits and insulation in public buildings and helping a cider maker who uses dropped apples that would otherwise go to waste.

Great to host @michaelshanksmp.co.uk who really took an interest in @westmillenergy.bsky.social 40% of our 300+ members live within 25km, we raised £23m to deliver both co-ops, have welcomed > 17,000 visitors and given > £1 million in community benefit. Find out more at westmillenergy.coop

Excellent advice (as usual) from @profdevisridhar.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

What should @rescoop.eu priorities be for the coming four years? Let us know @energy4alluk.bsky.social @commenergyengland.bsky.social @westmillenergy.bsky.social

✨ Would you like to know our new president, @markluntley.bsky.social‬, and our new vice-president, Ilonka Marselis, a bit better? 👀 Check out this interview where they share their vision for REScoop.eu & reflect on their experience in the community energy movement! 🔗 www.rescoop.eu/news-and-eve...

It’s been a lot of work by many people but our single website is now out. We thought a lot about what people would want to see, and ways we share information in accessible ways. It’s about being open and transparent in how we operate.

For anyone who may have missed it on our website or LinkedIn - you have this weekend left to apply for our Renewable Energy Project Manager role based in the East Midlands/Yorkshire region. Lots of exciting projects in the pipeline in that area.

89% of people globally think climate change action needed. But media frequently doesn’t reflect this reality. @janrosenow.bsky.social

Some photos of the workspace. Cafe, recycling, office space, bike repair (this is Belgium) donations for schools. Sustainable materials throughout.

First @rescoop.eu board meeting as president, with Ilonka @saratachelet.bsky.social and Daan in person (at brilliant Mundo EP Europe building) and others joining online. Planning our work for rest of year and welcoming four new members to our growing family of co-ops.

Centralised energy systems = inherent rigidity and in an increasingly dangerous world…. risk

🎧 A new #ACCE podcast is out! 🎙️ @markluntley.bsky.social and Mike Smyth from @energy4alluk.bsky.social use several examples from the UK to demonstrate the impact of community energy financing. 👇 Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/2Tgj...

Very humbled to be elected @rescoop.eu President alongside brilliant Vice President Ilonka Marselis of @energiesamen.bsky.social With our board and wonderful team we represent > 2 million European citizens who are at heart of a democratic and green energy transition.

Strongly feel community ownership - as demonstrated across rest of Europe is a great model. And CES “CARES” model is seen as European best practice. The consultation’s focus on a complicated benefit administration system feels a dead end.

Back from @rescoop.eu event in Krakow. Joyful, informative, sobering, professional, imaginative.

1/n Heading back to the UK from a meeting colleagues in Utrecht in Netherlands. Struck by how much... 1. Healthier most people appear, cycling the default transport mode - the train station has 12,500 bike parking spaces... 2. Extensive deployment of renewables (roofs, wind farms)

An interesting post - and a substack worth following

I think 28 minutes is perhaps the perfect TV programme. Intelligent participants (Elizabeth Quinn is excellent - but so are the others). I just wish my French was a bit better. Its a pity such programming is now beyond the BBC

Homework for self - to read and properly understand this document. @rescoop.eu @energy4all.bsky.social @westmillenergy.bsky.social

Hello @rescoopeu.bsky.social lovely to see you here!

I'd add that median incomes in many EU countries now comfortably above UK. Resolution Foundation done a lot of work on this issue. But stats don't measure quality of life - here are a couple of photos from nearby vegetable and fish markets in our small town by way of example.

As ex-local gov manager I loved seeing this display in the entrance of our local (rather brilliant) local government run sports centre and swimming pool. Highlighting UN sustainable development goals. Well done Lagos council.

The Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee chose ‘Unlocking Community Energy at Scale’ as their first inquiry and call for evidence. There are 7 highly relevant questions and the deadline for submissions is 5pm on Monday 13 January.

Excellent piece (worth having Bluesky app this week just to have this one article). We see impact in our own lives. Our prev small ICE car did 60mpg, our medium sized EV does the equivalent of > 200mpg.

Wow - I sort of knew this but showing it in a graph really brings it home clearly. Watched Barnier's speech yesterday (stretching my language skills). Don't agree with his politics, but thought it serious & statesmanlike. Felt he had done his best in an impossible situation.

Good thread. Linking different parts of government to deliver core outcomes surely sensible. But as noted - key is to constantly communicate 1. what, 2. why, 3. how. And Gov messaging so far hasn't been brilliant.

Excellent piece. My first job at Audit Commission looked at government "efficiency" and (crucial) difference with "effectiveness". This article considers those same issues - its analysis of "efficient but brittle" systems hits nail on head. We need more redundancy in our systems.

Good work by @economist.com

Superb column by @duncanrobinson.bsky.social, and one every data journalist should read Dodgy data makes Britain a blind state. How many people are coming here, in work or waiting for justice? We don't really know www.economist.com/britain/2024...

Interesting thread by informed individual.

Means young people can see other cultures, learn languages, make friends and meet future partners. Economic arguments important, but it's also about the society we want to be. But we must ensure people from more disadvantaged backgrounds also get access.

One of the great things about the EU is how it encourages information sharing. Looking outwards rather than upwards. In Bucharest we were looking at how we can encourage more community energy in Eastern Europe. Loads of examples and great practice - and the lessons were definitely two way.

@resfoundation.bsky.social have done some great work here. If we really have misunderstood labour participation we risk implementing the wrong policies. Important to get to bottom of all of this.

Great work by Leo and Ollie - a solution that is: innovative, sustainable, smart, replicable and potentially transformational....

One of the best aspects of my job is working with people across Europe in REScoop.eu. Inspiring individuals taking practical steps to address climate breakdown. We are in Bucharest, looking at how we can build new collective financing funds.

Strongly agree points in this thread - but do have to add Government messaging has been woeful.

And when last in Paris saw similar - one street being converted and another done a few years back.

Great reporting (£ sorry) by The Economist, cost of UK government U turn on Chinese inv in UK mobile networks. Mobile operators must spend £2bn by 2027 ripping out Huawei 5G equipment. www.economist.com/britain/2024...