@richardbaker.bsky.social
BakeronBusiness on Twitter. Former daily newsroom Dep Ed, business editor, current comms & engagement guy, perennial inquiring mind about past & present. Xscapee.
Well that lasted well…
Burnham’s emphasis on giving power back to the “place where you live” is interesting. Framing it around local identity is good, but that’s about to get complicated: some of the districts and boroughs whose names have defined places for decades are about to disappear under the LGR process.
September 8, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Well that lasted well…
Tedious, predictable noise. The most powerful diplomatic response would be to ignore the old fraud.
September 8, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Tedious, predictable noise. The most powerful diplomatic response would be to ignore the old fraud.
‘Watching’? I think you’ll find that the radiogram was the proper medium for civilised children, thank you very much.
Growing up, were you more of a BBC-watching household or more of an ITV-watching household?
BBC-watching household: 47%
ITV-watching household: 19%
Neither: 24%
yougov.com/en-gb/daily-...
BBC-watching household: 47%
ITV-watching household: 19%
Neither: 24%
yougov.com/en-gb/daily-...
September 8, 2026 at 4:58 PM
‘Watching’? I think you’ll find that the radiogram was the proper medium for civilised children, thank you very much.
Reposted
Amazon's own balance sheet presents the most compelling evidence that we are stuck in the Enshittocene, the era in which everything is turning into a pile of shit, because the worst ideas of the worst people now make the most money.
1/
1/
September 4, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Amazon's own balance sheet presents the most compelling evidence that we are stuck in the Enshittocene, the era in which everything is turning into a pile of shit, because the worst ideas of the worst people now make the most money.
1/
1/
Do it as a script for Only Murders in the Building?
John Healey has asked junior Treasury staff – including IT workers and apprentices – to send him ideas for his October budget, saying he will listen to all suggestions regardless of grade or profession.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Any ideas, anyone? Healey asks for budget pitches from apprentices and IT staff
Chancellor opens up brainstorming to Treasury staff of all levels, and says some will be asked to pitch to him in person
www.theguardian.com
September 1, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Do it as a script for Only Murders in the Building?
Exactly that. It’s not meant for analysis; it’s meant for today’s vibes, which are themselves part of an endless journey to a place that will never exist because it needs to keep moving. Downwards.
Ok, but what precisely would this position mean on a policy level? It’s just a posture
August 21, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Exactly that. It’s not meant for analysis; it’s meant for today’s vibes, which are themselves part of an endless journey to a place that will never exist because it needs to keep moving. Downwards.
Bert garden reaction to all phones going off: “Last orders!”. Otherwise, zero f****s were given…
August 14, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Bert garden reaction to all phones going off: “Last orders!”. Otherwise, zero f****s were given…
Typical Labour. Lights going out in the middle of summer.
August 12, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Typical Labour. Lights going out in the middle of summer.
Why Burnham’s Britain is doomed (copyright all lobby hacks)
August 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Why Burnham’s Britain is doomed (copyright all lobby hacks)
The Tesla Model Why
Just in case you were still thinking of buying a Tesla.
July 30, 2026 at 5:23 PM
The Tesla Model Why
Literally on manoeuvres. Still.
July 18, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Literally on manoeuvres. Still.
Burnham’s emphasis on giving power back to the “place where you live” is interesting. Framing it around local identity is good, but that’s about to get complicated: some of the districts and boroughs whose names have defined places for decades are about to disappear under the LGR process.
July 17, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Burnham’s emphasis on giving power back to the “place where you live” is interesting. Framing it around local identity is good, but that’s about to get complicated: some of the districts and boroughs whose names have defined places for decades are about to disappear under the LGR process.
This is what happens when pol eds visit the regions.
Astronomers find planet that is shockingly like Earth in huge milestone for search for aliens
Scientists announce huge discovery in search for alien life
First ever discovery of its kind is an ‘absolute thrill’, researchers say
trib.al
July 16, 2026 at 7:04 PM
This is what happens when pol eds visit the regions.
Not exactly making headlines, but it really should be: a fundamental change in the way communities across England are going to be governed and served and in what they’re going to be called - www.gov.uk/government/n...
14 more areas to benefit from streamlined local services
Changes will simplify local government to unlock the path towards devolution and drive economic growth
www.gov.uk
July 16, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Not exactly making headlines, but it really should be: a fundamental change in the way communities across England are going to be governed and served and in what they’re going to be called - www.gov.uk/government/n...
UK regions: So, there’s this problem with regional inequality and it’s being going on for, well, decades and it’s just a bit obvious now…
The Centre: Yes but reasons…
The Centre: Yes but reasons…
Just because Andy Burnham has referenced the digital campus in Manchester as a home for No 10 it doesn’t follow that it won’t arrive until that’s built…seems to be some head scratching going on about this but we do have some buildings already in Manchester
July 13, 2026 at 5:44 PM
UK regions: So, there’s this problem with regional inequality and it’s being going on for, well, decades and it’s just a bit obvious now…
The Centre: Yes but reasons…
The Centre: Yes but reasons…
BREAKING: Foul on half-way line was clear penalty, White House says.
July 6, 2026 at 8:17 PM
BREAKING: Foul on half-way line was clear penalty, White House says.
‘A big stain on the World Cup’.
July 6, 2026 at 4:31 PM
‘A big stain on the World Cup’.
Coming next: White House asks for recount after USA lose #stopthesteal
Folarin Balogun, the U.S. men’s national soccer team’s leading scorer at this World Cup, will be available for Monday’s much-anticipated showdown against Belgium after FIFA announced Sunday that it had suspended his automatic one-game ban.
U.S. top scorer Folarin Balogun allowed to play in World Cup showdown against Belgium
The striker's red card, which led to a 1-game ban that FIFA suspended Sunday, drew the ire of U.S. fans and sparked debate among soccer analysts.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 5, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Coming next: White House asks for recount after USA lose #stopthesteal
Temperatures now beyond GIF levels.
June 26, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Temperatures now beyond GIF levels.
As ever, the most meaningful insight on Burnham’s Manchester story comes from @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social
June 24, 2026 at 2:45 PM
As ever, the most meaningful insight on Burnham’s Manchester story comes from @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social
I see X is again proving its world-beating status as the place to go if you like your political analysis to resemble a one-way conversation with a pub bore who’s five pints down.
June 22, 2026 at 9:52 PM
I see X is again proving its world-beating status as the place to go if you like your political analysis to resemble a one-way conversation with a pub bore who’s five pints down.
Surely the point here is that GB News doesn’t make ‘different’ editorial choices; it makes the same editorial choice most of the time, and engages in commentary-led formats that lack plurality.
NEW: Freed from office, ex-Ofcom chair & Tory peer Michael Grade gives view on GB News.
Other broadcasters “embarrassed” because it covers “the agenda of the majority”.
Big intervention in debate over UK’s impartiality rules.
He spoke to Politics Home.
www.theguardian.com/media/2026/j...
Other broadcasters “embarrassed” because it covers “the agenda of the majority”.
Big intervention in debate over UK’s impartiality rules.
He spoke to Politics Home.
www.theguardian.com/media/2026/j...
Ofcom ex-chair: broadcasters embarrassed by GB News following ‘majority agenda’
Michael Grade dismisses impartiality concerns, saying rightwing channel faces same rules as BBC, Sky and ITN
www.theguardian.com
June 1, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Surely the point here is that GB News doesn’t make ‘different’ editorial choices; it makes the same editorial choice most of the time, and engages in commentary-led formats that lack plurality.
Here we are at 9:45 at night and I’ve realised I’m almost suffering content anxiety. I’ve got a book on the go, 6 podcasts I need to listen to, a history magazine I haven’t read, a trash Jack Ryan flick on Prime I’m on the verge of ditching, and an inbox full of neglected Substacks. What a failure.
May 27, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Here we are at 9:45 at night and I’ve realised I’m almost suffering content anxiety. I’ve got a book on the go, 6 podcasts I need to listen to, a history magazine I haven’t read, a trash Jack Ryan flick on Prime I’m on the verge of ditching, and an inbox full of neglected Substacks. What a failure.
Banger anger as Brits get ONE point (exclusive to all tabloids) #eurovision
May 16, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Banger anger as Brits get ONE point (exclusive to all tabloids) #eurovision
Dire, derivative beat-noise #eurovision
May 16, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Dire, derivative beat-noise #eurovision