Broken Windows Deliverism. An experiment in getting things done with my old mucker @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com substack.com/@pollymacken...
Sweating the small stuff
The Small Ideas Intitiative
substack.com
Polly Mackenzie
@pollymackenzie.bsky.social
Co-founder and CEO, Zinc Innovation Partners - helping turn science into real-world change. Fomerly Demos, UAL, MMHPI, No10. Adviser at Future Governance Forum, Family Business UK, Door10 Recruitment. Writes at https://howtorunacountry.substack.com/
Just back from a whirlwind 24 hours in Brighton for the Lib Dems’ annual conference. Lovely weather by the sea and a series of really interesting events THREAD [1/13]
Really excited to be relaunching Progressive Review, @ippr.org's journal of politics, ideas and public policy, with a new editorial team + advisory board:
We’re delighted to announce a new editorial advisory board to help shape the future of IPPR's journal, Progressive Review, including: 👉 @iprnickp.bsky.social 👉 @pollymackenzie.bsky.social 👉 @will-davies.bsky.social Subscribe here: progressivereview.substack.com
I know I’m a bore on this but here’s why the Science Minister should absolutely care about the humanities and social sciences rather than thinking it is for DCMS ukri.substack.com/p/why-ai-wil...
Why AI will fail without the humanities and social sciences
AI can transform society. But only if society has a say in shaping it, writes Hetan Shah, Chief Executive of The British Academy.
ukri.substack.com
Very sad to share that @ukgovcamp.com legend Dr Carla Groom died at home on 9 August 2026, aged 50. Her family and friends are raising money for the Carers Centre Tower Hamlets in her memory www.justgiving.com/page/carlagr... #RIPCarla
This one's for the superfans - they've dressed the set at How to Win an Election with a picture celebrating Canada, just to troll my beloved Canada-hating husband.
I love it when somebody points out something “bleedin’ obvious” that nobody has noticed. Good piece by @pollymackenzie.bsky.social on saving the the high street. www.ft.com/content/f438...
America just goes by America. We can make Kingdom work.
Jonn Elledge@jonnelledge.bsky.social · 2mo agothing is, the "UK is actually a terrible name for a country", they aren't wrong about that bit
This is a lovely site which helps remind us of much of what we take for granted in material progress ordinaryabundance.com (HT @aveek18.bsky.social)
Ordinary Abundance
A walk through a modern apartment, through the eyes of the people for whom everything in it was new.
ordinaryabundance.com
New substack: without big changes, slow growth is normal: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/stagnation...
Stagnation: the norm
We need more than tinkering if we are to raise economic growth significantly.
chrisdillow.substack.com
Hear, hear @financialtimes.com's @pollymackenzie.bsky.social: "Only active communities, backed by an active state, can rescue our town centres at the scale and pace that’s needed...Not every high street can have an outpost of No 10 but most could host more of the state" www.ft.com/content/f438...
How to save the British high street
Communities need help to tackle the blight of delinquent landlords who let empty properties decay
ft.com
Hard agree with @pollymackenzie.bsky.social. Toying with business rates won't save our high streets. We need more people working, studying and living there... as I said to @retailweek.bsky.social in its deep dive on high street revival earlier this week (see www.retail-week.com/stores/the-d...)
Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 2mo agoHow to save the British high street ft.trib.al/Gep6DvU | opinion
‘Since then it has served two purposes: where we buy things, and where we meet. The first paid for the second without anyone noticing they were separate.’ Good insight from @pollymackenzie.bsky.social on the different functions of the high street www.ft.com/content/f438...
How to save the British high street
Communities need help to tackle the blight of delinquent landlords who let empty properties decay
ft.com
This is a real shame - Patrick Vallance has been a really excellent and committed Science Minister who knew the territory and took a strategic view. Big shoes to fill
Forget pervert glasses - what about smart plugs? Me on domestic abusers taking over home devices as.ft.com/r/8f4ab2f1-4... How smart tech is being weaponised in the home
A big, visible bet is just what the parts of an organisation that want to keep things the same will move to get rid of. The better the idea, the bigger the bet you are tempted to make, and the bigger the target you paint on it vaughntan.org/bigness
Against bigness - Vaughn Tan
tl;dr: Organisations say they want innovation but keep killing it. The problem is that the organisational decision-making machinery assumes you
vaughntan.org
Important role here - Chair of the Information Commission (which will replace the ICO). £120k, 3 days a week. Apply by 19 August apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9276
I've written a new post exploring a fascinating turn in education reform. After a period in which there was pressure for ever narrower approaches to education, today's pioneers are advocating for a holistic model, with schools at the centre of a thriving civic life. (1/n) medium.com/@jamestplunk...
How to grow tomorrows
What if schools were not just sites for delivering education, but societies in miniature? Thousands of chances to cultivate a better future
medium.com
🔥 New today 🔥 Can a new style of political leadership unlock the energy at the edges? As Andy Burnham rises to the Premiership, I've written an essay exploring the value of a more enabling style of political leadership. (1/n) medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Can a new style of political leadership unlock the energy at the edges?
As Andy Burnham rises to the Premiership, this essay explores the value of a more enabling style of political leadership. What is enabling…
medium.com
Found this interesting on Burnham’s focus on the ‘unaccountable state’. It’s fair to flag as it’s easy to feel modern society is Kafkaesque. But curious how he’ll rise to the challenge of it. Devolution can help a bit but only a bit… 🧵 www.thetimes.com/article/1167...
In particular how the role of verification has moved from institutions to the public, and how societies have generally failed to recognise that, let alone adapt to it. Failing to recognise that condition means solutions inevitably fail.
We are hiring! Brilliant senior job running our new UK Government team… …looking for someone creative and strategic with experience of government who would seize this fantastic opportunity to make government work well for the people of the UK! www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...
Director, UK Government | Institute for Government
A rare and exciting opportunity to become a core member of the Institute for Government’s newly restructured senior team.
instituteforgovernment.org.uk
What do you think @andyburnham.bsky.social should do in his first 100 days? I’ve explained why Andy could establish a Department of the Prime Minister, in @georgeeaton.bsky.social's @arguablymag.bsky.social www.arguably.uk/p/20-ideas-f...
20 ideas for Andy Burnham’s 100 days
Policy experts on how the next Prime Minister can turn the UK around
arguably.uk