@northessexnotes.bsky.social
Reposted
‘Britain has private ownership while making the state responsible for planning via subsidies. The result is a zombie system, a muddled and dysfunctional hybrid of state and market, with the benefits of neither and the costs of both.’
Arthur Downing on the energy crisis
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Arthur Downing on the energy crisis
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Arthur Downing · Asset Sweating: Britain’s Energy Crisis
Britain has private ownership while making the state responsible for planning via subsidies. The result is a zombie...
www.lrb.co.uk
September 26, 2026 at 7:15 AM
‘Britain has private ownership while making the state responsible for planning via subsidies. The result is a zombie system, a muddled and dysfunctional hybrid of state and market, with the benefits of neither and the costs of both.’
Arthur Downing on the energy crisis
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Arthur Downing on the energy crisis
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted
UK public spending watchdog to investigate £11bn Lower Thames Crossing project.
Cost more per mile than HS2.
PFI funded, private sector will operate it. Levies forever to boost corporate profits.
Uneven economic development causes environmental problems, starves the rest of the UK of investment.
Cost more per mile than HS2.
PFI funded, private sector will operate it. Levies forever to boost corporate profits.
Uneven economic development causes environmental problems, starves the rest of the UK of investment.
UK’s public spending watchdog to investigate Lower Thames Crossing project
Exclusive: Campaigners voice concerns over rising costs of £11bn Essex to Kent road tunnel
www.theguardian.com
July 12, 2026 at 7:33 AM
UK public spending watchdog to investigate £11bn Lower Thames Crossing project.
Cost more per mile than HS2.
PFI funded, private sector will operate it. Levies forever to boost corporate profits.
Uneven economic development causes environmental problems, starves the rest of the UK of investment.
Cost more per mile than HS2.
PFI funded, private sector will operate it. Levies forever to boost corporate profits.
Uneven economic development causes environmental problems, starves the rest of the UK of investment.
Reposted
@transportfornewhomes.org.uk @cprecountryside.bsky.social @cprelondon.bsky.social @bettertransport.bsky.social
@rosie400.bsky.social @explorerdale.bsky.social @michaellondonsf.bsky.social @planningtransport.co.uk @mattthomson42.bsky.social @richard.hebditch.org @northessexnotes.bsky.social
@rosie400.bsky.social @explorerdale.bsky.social @michaellondonsf.bsky.social @planningtransport.co.uk @mattthomson42.bsky.social @richard.hebditch.org @northessexnotes.bsky.social
May 9, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted
Over-the-counter pet flea treatments could be banned under new UK rules
Over-the-counter pet flea treatments could be banned under new UK rules
Exclusive: ministers consider restricting pesticide-based treatments, which can get into waterways and harm wildlife
Pet owners across the UK could be banned from buying flea treatment for cats and dogs under new government rules.
Ministers have begun an eight-week consultation on letting only veterinary practitioners or pharmacists give out the potent, pesticide-based flea treatments, to ensure “correct usage”. At the moment, the flea and tick treatments can be bought from any pet shop. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
April 15, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Over-the-counter pet flea treatments could be banned under new UK rules
Reposted
The housing market looks to have made it through the crises of the 2020s unscathed — but they have weakened it significantly, says Neal Hudson: ft.trib.al/tOuHKl9
April 5, 2026 at 12:16 PM
The housing market looks to have made it through the crises of the 2020s unscathed — but they have weakened it significantly, says Neal Hudson: ft.trib.al/tOuHKl9
Reposted
Councils’ temporary housing costs to more than double by 2029-30, says LGA
Councils’ temporary housing costs to more than double by 2029-30, says LGA
Exclusive: Local Government Association says figure to house homeless people in England will reach almost £4bn
The cost to councils of providing temporary accommodation for homeless people in England is projected to more than double to almost £4bn by 2029–30, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
The national membership body for councils found that since 2017-18, local authorities across England had spent almost £1.5bn more on temporary accommodation (TA) than had been reimbursed in housing benefit from the government. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
March 3, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Councils’ temporary housing costs to more than double by 2029-30, says LGA
Reposted
Many young people are struggling to gain a foothold in the labour market.
Among young people who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) 60% have never worked.
Entering adulthood without work experience limits opportunities to build skills,
confidence & earnings potential.
Among young people who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) 60% have never worked.
Entering adulthood without work experience limits opportunities to build skills,
confidence & earnings potential.
March 3, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Many young people are struggling to gain a foothold in the labour market.
Among young people who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) 60% have never worked.
Entering adulthood without work experience limits opportunities to build skills,
confidence & earnings potential.
Among young people who are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) 60% have never worked.
Entering adulthood without work experience limits opportunities to build skills,
confidence & earnings potential.
Reposted
2 thoughts on the spending review. 1. Raising public service productivity is more important than ever. 2. 15 years of prioritising the NHS, education and "triple lock" (and now defence) by cutting all other programmes, in particular the home office and justice) is no longer sustainable. #soundmoney
June 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
2 thoughts on the spending review. 1. Raising public service productivity is more important than ever. 2. 15 years of prioritising the NHS, education and "triple lock" (and now defence) by cutting all other programmes, in particular the home office and justice) is no longer sustainable. #soundmoney
Reposted
Welcome to Britain, a country so short of dentists that an MP's 87-year-old mum pulled her teeth out with pliers. Also a country with thousands of foreign-qualified dentists who can’t work until they pass an exam so oversubscribed it’s like trying to book Glasto tickets. www.ft.com/content/f4e5...
December 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Welcome to Britain, a country so short of dentists that an MP's 87-year-old mum pulled her teeth out with pliers. Also a country with thousands of foreign-qualified dentists who can’t work until they pass an exam so oversubscribed it’s like trying to book Glasto tickets. www.ft.com/content/f4e5...
Reposted
only in the small print of this article do they make clear that the pensioners paying an extra £2,500 of tax would have to have
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
only in the small print of this article do they make clear that the pensioners paying an extra £2,500 of tax would have to have
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
“earnings over £125,140”
I know many pensioners are asset rich but how many have income at that level?
Reposted
Surely it's much cheaper to support 7,500 people who find themselves out of work than it is not to levy the tax?
(In any case, this smacks of ludicrous scaremongering.)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
(In any case, this smacks of ludicrous scaremongering.)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
October 19, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Surely it's much cheaper to support 7,500 people who find themselves out of work than it is not to levy the tax?
(In any case, this smacks of ludicrous scaremongering.)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
(In any case, this smacks of ludicrous scaremongering.)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted
"Parking is such sweet sorrow"
Shakespeare family home damaged by reversing driver
Shakespeare family home damaged by reversing driver
A 17th-century building that housed William Shakespeare's family has been left damaged after a driver reversed into it.
news.sky.com
October 19, 2025 at 10:45 AM
"Parking is such sweet sorrow"
Reposted
Guess the biggest source of NOx road air pollution in central London.
Taxis? Buses? Private cars? Nope, it's now vans.
Once the biggest polluter, taxis have rapidly gone electric. Meanwhile vans fleets are only slowly being electrified.
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Taxis? Buses? Private cars? Nope, it's now vans.
Once the biggest polluter, taxis have rapidly gone electric. Meanwhile vans fleets are only slowly being electrified.
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
September 1, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Guess the biggest source of NOx road air pollution in central London.
Taxis? Buses? Private cars? Nope, it's now vans.
Once the biggest polluter, taxis have rapidly gone electric. Meanwhile vans fleets are only slowly being electrified.
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Taxis? Buses? Private cars? Nope, it's now vans.
Once the biggest polluter, taxis have rapidly gone electric. Meanwhile vans fleets are only slowly being electrified.
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Reposted
The latest inflation data has revealed that the UK now has the highest rate of inflation in the G7.
September 1, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The latest inflation data has revealed that the UK now has the highest rate of inflation in the G7.
Reposted
It would be helpful for Reform to warn donors that, if you (for example) buy some bitcoin for £2k, and its worth £4k when you donate it, then you’re taxed on a £2k capital gain.
May 30, 2025 at 8:58 AM
It would be helpful for Reform to warn donors that, if you (for example) buy some bitcoin for £2k, and its worth £4k when you donate it, then you’re taxed on a £2k capital gain.
Reposted
Starmer is correct. We can't tax our way to growth.
But we can *tax reform* our way to growth. Some ideas:
But we can *tax reform* our way to growth. Some ideas:
June 2, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Starmer is correct. We can't tax our way to growth.
But we can *tax reform* our way to growth. Some ideas:
But we can *tax reform* our way to growth. Some ideas:
Reposted
Trump says he will double tariffs on US steel imports to 50%
https://www.ft.com/content/b85586fe-5886-4c90-bc29-c3284413e0dc
https://www.ft.com/content/b85586fe-5886-4c90-bc29-c3284413e0dc
Trump says he will double tariffs on US steel imports to 50%
US president escalates global trade war days after a court ruled some of his levies illegal
www.ft.com
May 30, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Trump says he will double tariffs on US steel imports to 50%
https://www.ft.com/content/b85586fe-5886-4c90-bc29-c3284413e0dc
https://www.ft.com/content/b85586fe-5886-4c90-bc29-c3284413e0dc
Reposted
Reposted
First response: fine, as long as London is not ignored and/or is given greater powers to raise funds at regional level, because without a strongly-growing London you will not have a strongly-growing UK. www.theguardian.com/politics/202... #london
Rachel Reeves to announce billions in regional spending after Treasury rule changes
Extra investment lined up for schemes such as energy projects, roads and rails outside London and south-east
www.theguardian.com
May 30, 2025 at 11:51 AM
First response: fine, as long as London is not ignored and/or is given greater powers to raise funds at regional level, because without a strongly-growing London you will not have a strongly-growing UK. www.theguardian.com/politics/202... #london
Reposted
The new V&A East Storehouse looks incredible, something between a public library and a museum www.vam.ac.uk/east/storeho...
May 31, 2025 at 7:06 AM
The new V&A East Storehouse looks incredible, something between a public library and a museum www.vam.ac.uk/east/storeho...
Reposted
The other 5 in England are Blackburn, Southwell, Southwark, Guildford and Rochester.
May 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The other 5 in England are Blackburn, Southwell, Southwark, Guildford and Rochester.
Reposted
Just published in collaboration with The Guardian our two-year investigation linking Turkish seabass and seabream in UK supermarkets to devastating overfishing and social harms in Senegal!
www.desmog.com/2025/05/22/r...
With✍️ @hazelhealy.bsky.social on @desmog.bsky.social
www.desmog.com/2025/05/22/r...
With✍️ @hazelhealy.bsky.social on @desmog.bsky.social
Revealed: UK Supermarket Seabass Linked to Devastating Overfishing in Senegal
Waitrose, Co-op, Lidl, Asda and Aldi among retailers selling fish fed on west African catch
www.desmog.com
May 22, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Just published in collaboration with The Guardian our two-year investigation linking Turkish seabass and seabream in UK supermarkets to devastating overfishing and social harms in Senegal!
www.desmog.com/2025/05/22/r...
With✍️ @hazelhealy.bsky.social on @desmog.bsky.social
www.desmog.com/2025/05/22/r...
With✍️ @hazelhealy.bsky.social on @desmog.bsky.social