genuinely why doesn't Google Maps have a setting you can tick that says "I will not in fact die on the spot if I have to walk for over 20 minutes and would prefer a walk and a tube to somehow seventeen buses"

Network Rail lifted the final girder into place on Baker Viaduct (part of Transpennine Route Upgrade) on Friday, July 31. NR’s drone operator lined up a shot to reproduce the view from 1933. The old view is from the Britain from Above website, courtesy of Historic England.

Not sure why they would propose this as a benefit. People still use and live along the roads that connect to the A628. Sometimes people want to go to Glossop, or Holmfirth, or get to Sheffield or Manchester from places that aren't Sheffield or Manchester.

‘15:05 — Jamie messages me to say Magic Rock is finished’ That was the message a brewer at Magic Rock sent to his partner when administrators were called in, in 2025, before it was taken over. 1/3

The thing about this is that anyone who knows Kirklees local politics could tell you that this already happens.

ÆthelRob, The Unready@somewhatrob.bsky.social · 5d ago

I think Burnham should try and get the capital moved to Huddersfield so down the road people can complain about the out of touch elites in Huddersfield.

Diane Abbott calls Russia’s full scale invasion against Ukraine, which last night murdered nine civilians and earlier this week killed an 18 month old baby “The NATO campaign against Russia” youtu.be/SMBjoiMskxA?...

Diane Abbott MP

YouTube video by StoptheWarCoalition

youtu.be

Congratulations to @bevcraig.bsky.social becoming GM Mayor - now a rather bigger job (after Friday’s announcements) than the one @andyburnham.bsky.social did! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Labour's Bev Craig elected new mayor of Greater Manchester

Labour's Bev Craig secures nearly double the number of votes won by Reform UK's Sian Astley.

bbc.co.uk

To those Yorkshire folk celebrating far from home today. 🎉Happy Revealed Preference day🎉

HCMF programme is up - hcmf.co.uk/2026-program... As ever, some familiar names (inc Jurg Frey, Nik Bärtsch, Shovel Dance Collective, and a Reich/Feldman evening), and some I've never heard of but which sound intriguing...

If Teesworks had to a) tax residents and b) borrow from markets rather than get money off govt and then borrow off govt no questions asked, we’d be better off. Osborne revenue cuts and unchecked access to PWLB combined to cause some catastrophic blow ups - Thurrock, Warrington, Woking, Nottingham

Fiscal devo followed by proper financial devo would improve accountability too. Limit access to PWLB so debt finance for Mayors is big broad-based bond issuance. Markets/financial press pore over policy and local growth plans, priced according to quality and individual/ institutional competence.

This is turning out to be a really nice bit of public realm. Can't wait for it to be opened up to the people.

For those who celebrate, get yourself to The County tomorrow.

The funeral for irony will be held next week.

I think these are valid points but this problem already exists in that the local impact of centralised decisions isn't explained to local audiences. If anything the chance to engage an audience via personality led discussion of policy might mean greater scrutiny than currently exists.

Jennifer Williams@jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 6d ago

A bit on something that’s worrying me as.ft.com/r/9fe0cfe2-f...

Fiscal devolution, transport, housing, planning, 16-19 skills, employment support… and an autumn white paper. These are very big changes to English government/governance. www.gov.uk/government/n...

PM hands mayors share of income tax to make lives better in every postcode

The Prime Minister will today launch the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation, giving communities greater control over the decisions that shape jobs, transport, housing and publi...

gov.uk

Also for those that have not followed it, it’s a very good thing that there is now a Local Audit Office being built, filling the gap of the crazily abolished Audit Commission (you can see more here although this recruitment has closed apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9300)

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... I mean you could argue that Ben Houchen has already used his mayoral powers very effectively, if accidentally, to put money, in the form of assets, in some people's pockets.

Yeah, this is a good thing. Allocating resources on guesswork is a bad idea. Giving local politicians incentives to suppress growth is a bad idea. If politicians want to meet their voters and say "I won't invest because your future taxes aren't worth the bet of borrowing against them" let them.

Sahmuel@sahmuel.bsky.social · 6d ago

Stride and prejudice: As Conservative Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride points out, "there is no new money being announced here." And if faster-growing areas receive more funding, "that could mean those who lose out are precisely those areas which have seen weaker local economies over recent years

Today's press release very unusually plays down the significance - calling it the "greatest shift of power out of Westminster in a generation". I'd argue income tax changes and devolution by default represents the greatest shift in the democratic era.

Today's devolution announcements show that this govt is serious about doing it right. My post from this week on why I'm optimistic and the five big challenges to making it work. samf.substack.com/p/burnhams-d...

Burnham's defining project

The five biggest challenges to making devolution work

samf.substack.com

This is big deal. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Andy Burnham to give regional mayors share of income tax

The prime minister says the move will give power to "every postcode" but critics say the plans lack detail.

bbc.com

This is a great move:

Andy Burnham to give English mayors share of income tax from 2028

New prime minister accelerates former chancellor Rachel Reeves’ efforts to move power away from Westminster

ft.com

Phones having speakers is why people use the speakers on their phones. I think cars not having GPS linked speed limiters is why people speed. Illegal e-motorbikes are available, and killing people, because the fines for selling them are not punitive enough to deter the dealers.

Some of you are waiting for the Sea People, I'm waiting for American leftists to find out about yeast extract.

Vote for an anti-state candidate it's reasonable to expect state decline.

Andrew Carter@andrewcities.bsky.social · 7d ago

This is exactly how devolution should operate - a good thing www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Schoolboy, schoolgirl, schoolgirl, blacksmith. At 75 years Engineer, teacher, housewife, blacksmith.

Revan@revan.eurosky.social · 7d ago

Enough “what would you do on the commune questions” If you got sent back 100 years and were given your grandparent’s job, what are you doing?

The rules for governing car use should be equivalent to non-car use (eg street parking charged at the same rate as street skip licence, aggressive driving to intimidate is common assault).

Zach Weinersmith@zachweinersmith.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Do you have any extremely niche, but serious, ethical stances?

What's wrong with a death tax? Who likes death? Tax death to fuck! Social care reform is a test of UK politics - www.ft.com/content/ba9a... via @FT

Social care reform is a test of UK politics

Efforts to fix England’s broken system must answer the question: who pays?

ft.com