Jeremy Driver
@jdriver89.bsky.social
Head of Campaigns at Britain Remade
A very 2026 reading experience in that this was a novel that strongly benefitted from a conversation with an LLM about it. I think it's historical context makes it
Jeremy Driver@jdriver89.bsky.social · 2w ago43) Too Loud a Solitude - Bohumil Hrabal (🇨🇿 Czech Republic)
So I do think there can be a case made for some sort of initial wage subsidy to hire disabled people (particularly in a high minimum wage world) but it's VERY funny to do this after raising employer NICs
How did we spend 1/4 of a billion pounds on the Botley Road bridge? For all the issues around Victorian flood defences and the muddle of accountable bodies, we must see the bigger picture of it costing too much to build anything in Britain, @samdumitriu.bsky.social tells BBC Radio 4's PM.
It never fails to alarm me how little we know about so much of the past
Join us and Minister for Growth @dantomlinson.bsky.social on a boat at Labour Party conference from 4.30pm on Sunday 27 September. You'll find the venue, The Daffodil Bar, floating at Canning Dock. Register your interest below. luma.com/yh6ajwxv
Britain Remade Labour Conference Drinks Reception with Dan Tomlinson MP · Luma
All aboard the Daffodil Bar (it's a boat!) to join Britain Remade, the campaign to get Britain building again, as we kick off Labour Party Conference with…
luma.com
The Chancellor just announced a 'Rail Cost Review' modelled on the Fingleton Review. Here's why it's needed. @britainremade.bsky.social and @britishprogress.org analysis found British rail projects cost on average 93% more than what they cost in other major developed economies.
Building More for Less: A cost-free path to European levels of investment | Sam Dumitriu, Michael Hill, David Lawrence and Pedro Serôdio
Contrary to what has become a standard view in policy circles, the British state does not invest far less than its peer countries. Britain’s broken system of infrastructure investment has limited the ...
britainremade.co.uk
Well this is insane: “High affordable housing requirements within the Government’s ‘Golden Rules’ are likely to dash any hopes of a ‘Train Belt’ building boom…A 300-home development will typically be forced to provide between 110 and 150 homes at a discount.”
Sam Dumitriu@samdumitriu.bsky.social · 2mo agoNEW: My verdict on Labour's planning rewrite. When I read the draft, I thought the 'train belt' policy could be transformative, but viability challenges (high affordable shares) mean it disappoints. However, there's one really radical policy in there... www.samdumitriu.com/p/the-really...
NEW: My verdict on Labour's planning rewrite. When I read the draft, I thought the 'train belt' policy could be transformative, but viability challenges (high affordable shares) mean it disappoints. However, there's one really radical policy in there... www.samdumitriu.com/p/the-really...
The really radical policy in Labour's planning rewrite
What's in the new National Planning Policy Framework
samdumitriu.com
Enjoyable mystery novel, centred around the Ghanaian scam infrastructure. Maybe a tad overlong, but a good window into a version of a country
Jeremy Driver@jdriver89.bsky.social · 3mo ago34) The Missing American- Kwei Quartey (Ghana 🇬🇭)
Starmer and Reeves's planning reform agenda is working, but unfinished. My latest describes four reforms (in the works) that Andy Burnham should keep when he takes power next week. www.samdumitriu.com/p/what-burnh...
What Burnham should keep
Four pro-growth reforms that should outlive Starmer and Reeves
samdumitriu.com
A flawed novel with some beautiful arresting moments. Confused at times, but recommended as long as you don't think too hard about the mechanics of its central conceit
Jeremy Driver@jdriver89.bsky.social · 3mo ago33) Before the Coffee gets Cold- Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Japan 🇯🇵)
Remarkable that we're being asked to pretend that the Defence Investment Plan is meaningfully government policy when it's a contested issue within Labour and we'll have a new PM in a matter of weeks
Loved this. Possibly fails as a crime novel, particularly in the denouement, but as an exploration of both the ripples a crime can cause, and of the pain of the birth of modern Croatia, it is wonderful
Jeremy Driver@jdriver89.bsky.social · 4mo ago31) Red Water - Jurica Pavicic (Croatia 🇭🇷)
New study: Britain spends a third more on transport infrastructure than its peers, but because of high construction costs ends up with a fifth less. The UK spends £1.65 to get what £1 buys in France, Germany and Spain. (1/N) www.britainremade.co.uk/moreforless
Building More for Less: A cost-free path to European levels of investment | Sam Dumitriu, Michael Hill, David Lawrence and Pedro Serôdio
Contrary to what has become a standard view in policy circles, the British state does not invest far less than its peer countries. Britain’s broken system of infrastructure investment has limited the ...
britainremade.co.uk
How did things get so expensive in Britain? And what can we do to fix it? Find out by reading the new joint paper from us and the Centre for British Progress - Building More for Less: A cost-free path to European levels of investment. www.britainremade.co.uk/moreforless
Building More for Less: A cost-free path to European levels of investment | Sam Dumitriu, Michael Hill, David Lawrence and Pedro Serôdio
Contrary to what has become a standard view in policy circles, the British state does not invest far less than its peer countries. Britain’s broken system of infrastructure investment has limited the ...
britainremade.co.uk
In infrastructure, Britain spends more and gets less. Look at what we could build without raising a penny of tax just by getting our costs down to European levels.
Britain's infrastructure problem isn’t that we spend too little compared to our peers. It’s that we get much less for what we spend. Chart from the latest @britainremade.bsky.social and @britishprogress.org report: www.britainremade.co.uk/moreforless
Hinkley Point C might be delayed again. Why? Because Natural England say the £700 million spent on fish protection at Britain's next nuclear power station is not enough. We can't go on like this. youtu.be/NeuUdwD0_-g
Why Britain's New Nuclear Power Station Might Be Delayed... AGAIN
YouTube video by Britain Remade
youtu.be
Great to see @britainremade.bsky.social venturing into YouTube with this cracking short film on Natural England’s ongoing war against clean energy youtu.be/NeuUdwD0_-g?...
Why Britain's New Nuclear Power Station Might Be Delayed... AGAIN
YouTube video by Britain Remade
youtu.be
Found this incredibly thin, if readable. Characters where stuff just sort of happens to them. Can see how this was an important book to publish, but not a recommend from me.
Jeremy Driver@jdriver89.bsky.social · 4mo ago27) The Bride of Amman- Fadi Zaghmout (Jordan 🇯🇴)
Air conditioning is unapologetically a good thing because it helps people not die. And one good thing about air conditioning is that it largely needs to run during the day when solar power is at its maximum: it can and should align with clean energy goals.
I don’t use Bluesky really, but as I have some former mutuals from the other place that are now only here, I thought I would share why I am worried about Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister. marlowe1939.substack.com/p/im-worried...
I’m worried about Andy Burnham
Judge him on his record? Ok then.
marlowe1939.substack.com
🚨NEW POST BY ME🚨 Greater Manchester’s growth success is real, but didn't happened by accident. The country should be studying it closely Plus: - Why a city's reputation matters so much - How much credit can Burnham take? (not much) - What does this tell us about a future PM Burnham? (not much)
How Manchester Turned Its Economy Around
From Gunchester to growth, from bombing to Burnham
jamesbreckwoldt.substack.com
I at times felt some of the writing in this grating, but it's totally forgivable because it's such a bare, exposed account of addiction and struggle, while also, despite itself, being a sad eulogy to the beauty of boozing
Jeremy Driver@jdriver89.bsky.social · 5mo ago23) Thirst-John Robins
Last read this 15 years ago and it didn't disappoint. Martin is a master of character. So many of his, both POV and minor, breathe so well. And the world building is second only to Tolkien.
Jeremy Driver@jdriver89.bsky.social · 5mo ago22) A Game of Thrones - George RR Martin
I think the best way to enjoy this list, which contains lots of predictable choices (made as it was by committee), is to find a book you like, click to see who voted for it, and then look at the voters' other top 10 choices. You might find something else you like that you haven't read.
John Self@john-self.bsky.social · 5mo agoThe Guardian launches its '100 best novels of all time' list, with numbers 100-81. I was one of the 172 authors, critics and academics polled. Afaik, two of my ten choices made the final cut, one in this first tranche:
Whisper it quietly, but one part of this Government’s programme that is making slow, careful progress is its work to fix nuclear regulation. I sincerely hope this Bill is not lost or watered down if we see a change of Prime Minister.
Britain Remade@britainremade.bsky.social · 5mo agoThe way we build nuclear energy is broken. Great that legislation implementing the Fingleton plan to fix it is in the King’s Speech. Government must not back down on the bold reforms to habitats regulations that make nuclear easier/faster/cheaper to build, and also better protect nature.
