George Dibb
@georgedibb.bsky.social
Assoc Director & Head of Centre for Economic Justice IPPR. Previously IIPP at UCL. Innovation is political. All things policy, politics & running. Views own. 🌈
🎉Excited to share that today I started a secondment to DESNZ as Principal Policy Advisor for Industrial Strategy. 👩🏼🏭Net zero is the economic opportunity of the 21st century so I'm delighted to be joining the team ahead of the publication of the Industrial Strategy White Paper.
New piece by @rachaelhenry.bsky.social & I for the IPPR blog. The industrial strategy just got harder lets be honest. Tariffs, economic downturn are threatening existing industries at a time govt is trying to reshape or build new ones. They're being pulled in two directions.
Institute for Public Policy Research@ippr.org · last yr.🏗️ | NEW BLOG: Can the UK move from bystander to builder? This new blog blog argues that strategic government intervention is essential to drive industrial growth. www.ippr.org/articles/fro...
More painful contortions to maintain it's anti Net Zero stance at The Times as it claims that both Net Zero is responsible for high energy costs **and** that we're going to get so much low cost solar energy this summer it'll break the grid www.thetimes.com/article/e933...
Solar power surge threatens to throw Britain’s grid off balance
The National Energy System Operator may have to tell some power stations to switch off this summer to maintain flexibility in the system
thetimes.com
I've been a journalist for 25+ years and I'm not sure I've witnessed as much wilful (and v likely coordinated) disinformation from certain corners of the UK media than over past few days. Sun, Mail and Telegraph have been truly awful - and seemingly shameless www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Rightwing media falsely blame Ed Miliband for UK steel crisis, experts say
Net zero and clean energy can actually help save the steel industry, experts point out
theguardian.com
I'm in LabourList, writing about Project Chainsaw, Scottish DOGE, and Labour talking about making Britain great again, all of which does nothing but signal desperation and a clanging lack of ideological self confidence. labourlist.org/2025/03/labo...
‘Labour should drop the chainsaw rhetoric and stop trying to impress journalists' - LabourList
Morgan Jones argues that Labour does not need to riff on Milei and Musk.
labourlist.org
🚨Some major errors & misleading claims from experienced presenter Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4 Today, when discussing British Steel with Treasury Minister James Murray I hope these are corrected on tomorrow's programme, and Robinson sticks to the facts in future. Here's what he got wrong... 🧵
NEW: The government has said it wants to ‘shape the AI revolution’. But our new report finds that much of UK AI innovation is generic and not focussed on solving hard problems. Our detailed AI database shows only one in seven companies focus on solving a specific problem. (1/5)
Remarkable Leader from the Times, which like Badenoch's speech the other day leaves more questions than answers www.thetimes.com/comment/the-... - How will nuclear reduce electricity prices? Solar's strike price in AR6 was £50.07. Hinkley's last was £128.09. Lots of reasons for nuclear £ not one..
Keir Starmer must seize on a new direction for net zero policy
The prime minister believes the world economy is fundamentally changing. But above all, he should admit the target was a mistake
thetimes.com
Trump's tariffs are destabilising the global economy, and will impact UK manufacturers, particularly the car industry. A trade deal to avoid tariffs will be helpful, but the government can go further by supporting these industries to build the tech of the future
Fantastic new research from my colleagues @praneshippr.bsky.social & Simone Gasperin on threats to the UK manufacturing sector from Trump's tariffs... But it's not all bad news, by going for green we can save jobs, boost growth and help the climate. Story on tomorrow's Mirror front page 👇
Jamie Whitehead@jamiewhitehead.bsky.social · last yr.The Daily Mirror: Carnage #TomorrowsPapersToday
🚗 | NEW REPORT: Around 25,000 car manufacturing jobs in the UK are at risk if Trump announces new tariffs today. But as one door closes another one opens. There is huge untapped potential in building & selling green planes, trains and automobiles. Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/pla...
Green transport manufacturing, including e-bikes, buses and EVs, can play a key role in the UK's industrial strategy Governance matters: this strategy must fit with creating a better transport system - one that embraces 'multimodal mobility' and reduces car dependency New @ippr.bsky.social report👇
Planes, trains and automobiles: How green transport can drive manufacturing growth in the UK | IPPR
Along with investment in infrastructure, the production of green transport equipment – electric trains and cars, for example – here in the UK, is the solut
ippr.org
Today's US tariffs will be massively disruptive to a range of sectors, in particular the UK's car-makers, putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk in the auto sector alone The gov has the opportunity to support these firms & workers through its industrial strategy
Pranesh Narayanan@praneshippr.bsky.social · last yr.The future of transport is zero- and low-carbon. Where these technologies exist, they are seeing significant growth in trade and displacing fossil-fuel based technologies
🚨 NEW: The future is clean & the North holds the key 🔑 Our new report shows regions like the North have the competitive edge needed to rebuild the national economy in a way that is sustainable & fair: That edge is green manufacturing 🏭 www.ippr.org/articles/reg...
Regional economies: The role of industrial strategy as a pathway to greener growth | IPPR
The government’s ongoing development of an industrial strategy provides an opportune moment to lay the foundations for a stronger and more secure domestic
ippr.org
📉What are the government's options at the Spring Statement? Last week me @sarahmulley.bsky.social & @harryqp.bsky.social set out our case that the gov has three main choices: further borrowing, cuts to services, or (our prefered option) fair revenue raising tax reforms www.ippr.org/articles/cha...
Spring statement: A changed world calls for a changed course | IPPR
A challenging context When Rachel Reeves delivered her first budget in October, she knew that she faced an incredibly tough inheritance – low economic grow
ippr.org
GB Energy needs full £8.3bn of funding or it will disappoint, government told Government risks “disappointing voters” hoping for cheaper energy bills in the next decade if it cuts the £8.3bn budget for GB Energy, warns IPPR.
GB Energy needs full £8.3bn of funding or it will disappoint, government told
Thinktank’s warning follow reports that Labour is considering cuts to budget of company it set up to drive renewable power
buff.ly
Brilliant to host @jigarshahdc.bsky.social, who ran the DoE Loan Programs Office under President Biden, in conversation with @pilitaclark.bsky.social and Dan McGrail to launch our new report on GB Energy
With GBE govt is doing something it hasn't done for a long-time. It's not building another investor, we have the NWF, it's building a company. That will take time, it has to hire well, build expertise, learn by doing. But that doesn't mean GBE won't have impact in the short-term.
Institute for Public Policy Research@ippr.org · last yr.🔋 | New report: Great British Energy has the power to cut bills, strengthen security, and drive the UK’s clean energy future. This report sets out the boldest vision yet for its governance and operation—ensuring it delivers on its full potential. Read here: www.ippr.org/articles/203...
Absolutely delighted to host Secretary of State Ed Miliband to launch @ippr.bsky.social report out today on GB Energy GBE must be given the capabilities and the funding to ultimately become a systemic public player in the UK energy system
Quoted by @guardianheather.bsky.social here Its right that the gov looks at speeding up decisions & ways-of-working at the CMA. But evidence is clear that robust comp policy & merger rules get more innovation, more investment & more growth in the British economy www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK regulators to face twice-yearly reviews as Reeves vows to slash red tape
Chancellor tells watchdogs she wants to cut down on overlapping regulation
theguardian.com
🟢 Is an industrial strategy alone enough to deliver long term energy security? An industrial strategy is vital to boosting the domestic supply chain, which is a huge part of guaranteeing our energy security says @praneshippr.bsky.social at the DESNZ Committee. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_adE...
Pranesh Narayanan at the Parliamentary Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
YouTube video by Institute for Public Policy Research
youtube.com
⏰ RECRUITING AN ECONOMIST! Do you want to join the UK's leading progressive think tank in the heart of Westminster? We are hiring for an economist to join the team and help shape our upcoming work. www.ippr.org/jobs/economi...
Economist/Research Fellow | IPPR
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society.
ippr.org
📢 Come and join the IPPR Economy & Environment Team at an exciting time for the organisation 💫 We are recruiting a new Economist/Research Fellow to work on economic policies to boost and share the proceeds of growth 📩 Info on how to apply here: www.ippr.org/jobs/economi...
Institute for Public Policy Research@ippr.org · 2y ago⏰ RECRUITING AN ECONOMIST! Do you want to join the UK's leading progressive think tank in the heart of Westminster? We are hiring for an economist to join the team and help shape our upcoming work. www.ippr.org/jobs/economi...
🧱 | NEW REPORT: Instead of stripping back planning regulations to 'get Britain building,' this new report from @msingerhobbs.bsky.social argues we need a stronger, better resourced, planning system.
Strategic planning for green prosperity | IPPR
Not only do we need to house and feed more people, but also provide space for energy generation, areas for nature, places for climate mitigation, room for
ippr.org
I’m getting really fed up of these abstract attacks on ‘regulation’ - why is Andy Haldane advocating the Doge approach for UK - blanket halving the number of regulators and their budgets? on.ft.com/416pqlx 1/2
How to dismantle the UK’s regulatory Tower of Babel
Labour’s erratic, piecemeal approach will not deliver lasting change
on.ft.com
🤖 | NEW REPORT: Work and home life is being radically transformed by AI - with 2 out of 3 desk jobs exposed + a million people in the UK now having AI companions - but is our politics keeping pace? This report from @carsjung.bsky.social sets out a new approach.
The new politics of AI: Why fast technological change requires bold policy targets | IPPR
AI is fundamentally different from other technologies – it is set to unleash a vast number of highly sophisticated ‘artificial agents’ into the economy. AI
ippr.org
Dumbshit Treasury brain stuff this: India and Denmark etc just said 'we would like to electrify our rail network, we will set up an arm of government to steadily do it all'. Their teams finish one project then go straight to next. In the UK we do it piecemeal with no future work guarantee, costs ££.
Leo Murray@crisortunity.bsky.social · 2y agoIndian Railways will be fully electrified next year (it’s at ~99% currently) UK is at 38% with tentatively another 12-13% new electrification committed Indian Railways is building a 7000km high speed rail network by 2047 We can’t even get ours all the way from central London to central Birmingham 😫
When we looked at the total cost of ownership of heat pumps in the UK I was surprised by this finding: Heat pumps with only slightly above average efficiency already today reach cost parity with gas boilers after the government grant. More here👇 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Total cost of ownership of heat pumps and policy choice: The case of Great Britain
Heat pumps are essential for decarbonizing heating, as shown by numerous studies. Their adoption depends significantly on economic attractiveness. Usi…
sciencedirect.com
📢Some Friday reading - I wrote for LabourList on how Reeves' growth speech this week needs to be just the start - businesses across the country need investment, stability, and help to grab green growth opportunities if the UK is going to thrive 🇬🇧 labourlist.org/2025/01/rach...
‘How Reeves can learn from the failures of Bidenomics – and make levelling up work’ – LabourList
Progressive governments across the world are learning a hard lesson: even if businesses and economists are patting you on the back, if growth is not…
labourlist.org
