The disparity between parties spraying around tax cut promises and Britain’s worsening fiscal position is remarkable. Identifying tax rises/spending cuts is the more obvious priority (until growth improves). www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Ed Davey promises £17bn income tax cut if Lib Dems are elected
Growth created by rejoining EU single market and customs union would fund change, Davey tells the party’s conference
theguardian.com
Some great charts in this Given our welfare system is not very contributory, big Qs for British policymakers here on how we get more women into paid work if we want immigration to be fiscally positive
Giles Wilkes@gilesyb.bsky.social · 2w ago"in order to be a net fiscal contributor over their lifetime, the average couple arriving in the UK at age 30 needs the primary earner to have a salary at the 55th percentile of the overall earnings distribution, compared to the 45th in France and 28th in Germany" giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
More Britons are failing to comply what used to be seen as civic obligations. Disparate, sometimes important and sometimes trivial, overlay them and it seems like something has slipped in the relationship with the state
The economic folly of free buses www.economist.com/finance-and-... From The Economist
The economic folly of free buses
There are better ways to fight climate change, immobility and inequality
economist.com
I think people to remind themselves why "tax and spend" became such a potent attack against Labour
These MPs desperately need to be given something to do
Vikki Slade MP@vikkislademp.bsky.social · 3w ago💈 Today is the first reading of my Presentation Bill seeking mandatory registration for all hairdressers and barbershops in England. The Bill has genuine cross-party support and was developed on the back of an excellent Parliamentary event, co-hosted by local barber Mike Taylor...
A basic principle of law is that it isn’t retroactive. I understand the government’s dislike of these donations, but if they’re currently legal then it gives off Trump vibes to try to change the law in retrospect.
Rachel Sylvester@rachelsylvester.bsky.social · 3w agoReform’s £72 million donations could be illegal after ministers make new legislation retrospective - my report for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...
-man standing up meme- If Labour cap donations from individuals the Tories will surely respond by capping donations from unions and then there'll be even less money in politics (and that would be bad)
actually think i'm on the side of the minister here, rather than the person patiently explaining that in a national crisis serious enough to prevent me seeing my own daughter the day after her birth the fact that civil servants aren't CRB checked is relevant
Sam Freedman@samfr.bsky.social · 4w agoOn the importance of ministers understanding delivery. Guess the politician she's talking about...
You can too, etc etc
Stephen Bush Speaks to the London New Liberals
Join the London New Liberals to hear from Stephen Bush, Associate Editor at the Financial Times!
eventbrite.co.uk
Joel@snufkinlib.bsky.social · 4w agoexcited to sign up to a live Stephen Bush event on the 18th so I can finally find out that reclusive fella’s views on current affairs
Breathtaking arrogance from Westminster Council. They'd rather see nightlife die than thrive.
Curbs on vertical drinking in Soho pubs to go ahead as Khan criticises council’s ‘breathtaking arrogance’
Exclusive: London mayor accuses council of ‘ignoring’ responses to a consultation
theguardian.com
NEXT LNL EVENT! It's only STEPHEN BUSH @stephenkb.bsky.social, Associate Editor at the Financial Times @financialtimes.com Tix: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stephen-bu... Friday 18, The Wheatsheaf, 18:30; free drinks as per.
Kinda crazy the Prime Minister thinks "state control of services is the surest way to economic growth”. Better hope he's lying!
Quite something that there's no quote in the piece debunking Foxglove's obvious nonsense. Just like yep two data centres are responsible for more carbon than an oil major sure that makes sense and needs no further investigation www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Two planned datacentres will have higher UK carbon emissions than ExxonMobil, analysis finds
Exclusive: Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire sites predicted to emit 4.5m tonnes a year when fully running
theguardian.com
i fully do not understand how people are not finding productivity improvements from using AI
Kate Jackson@katejackson.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe search for AI ROI continues. University admin gave a presentation to faculty senate on AI. They begged us to discover use cases for them. All they have is a bespoke Ai tutoring agent and hopes and dreams for improved internal operations All senate had to offer was complaints about cheating
A lot of people expressing confusion over this. It's simply that they're worried about the car industry
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2mo agoAndy Burnham moves to cut new EV sales targets
Great that the BBC is talking about adaptation. Unfortunate that the world renowned expert they interviewed is a lying grifter though. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This would be the most important local finance reform since Elizabeth I. Finally introducing local revenue sources that aren't property taxes will ensure places really benefit from local growth - more jobs and/or higher wages in a place will translate into more investment and services:
Brian Groom@groomb.bsky.social · 2mo agoBurnham plans to give England's 14 regional and metro mayors a share of income tax revenue to spend on their cities. Unclear whether this will need legislation, or whether 'equalisation measures' will be needed to prevent poorer regions from losing out.
if i see a single one of you smiling i will be demanding to know if it results from something imported