Micawberism lives to hope something will turn up another day
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Micawberism lives to hope something will turn up another day
i hate being accused of micawberism
August 24, 2026 at 12:57 PM
i hate being accused of micawberism
Labour's Micawberism continues unabated.
October 3, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Labour's Micawberism continues unabated.
Perhaps we should call this ‘Continuity Micawberism’ as it was George Osborne’s strategy and that of every chancellor since. Per capita GDP is stubbornly refusing to grow at pre-GFC rates and they are left hoping that ‘something will turn up’.
I've written about the UK's productivity problem for @theobserveruk.bsky.social. Come for the comparison of the UK economy to a hedgehog, stay for the comparison of Rachel Reeves to a Dickens character.
observer.co.uk/news/busines...
observer.co.uk/news/busines...
In Britain’s ‘hedgehog economy’, growth is wild, spiky – ...
The spines on the OBR’s charts are a signal to the chancellor to pull all the levers to improve our growth prospects
observer.co.uk
October 12, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Perhaps we should call this ‘Continuity Micawberism’ as it was George Osborne’s strategy and that of every chancellor since. Per capita GDP is stubbornly refusing to grow at pre-GFC rates and they are left hoping that ‘something will turn up’.
Yup. Micawberism.
Absolutely desperate.
Absolutely desperate.
December 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Yup. Micawberism.
Absolutely desperate.
Absolutely desperate.
You also just have the fact that the outright hatred of Starmer (as opposed to disappointment) is largely outside the party, and a disappointing status quo plus Micawberism is perhaps preferable to a challenger you dislike/think is rubbish.
May 25, 2026 at 1:58 PM
You also just have the fact that the outright hatred of Starmer (as opposed to disappointment) is largely outside the party, and a disappointing status quo plus Micawberism is perhaps preferable to a challenger you dislike/think is rubbish.
There is a distinct element of Micawberism about Starmer's politics: the hope that there is no need to engage with a problem because if you wave vaguely at the future something conveniently fortuitous will turn up to rescue you.
February 3, 2025 at 9:33 AM
There is a distinct element of Micawberism about Starmer's politics: the hope that there is no need to engage with a problem because if you wave vaguely at the future something conveniently fortuitous will turn up to rescue you.
Impossible to argue with any of this.
The best Labour can claim is moral cowardice in pursuit of some kind of grand electoral strategy.
But what’s apparent a year in is that Labour has no strategy beyond Micawberism while plate spinning.
I had really hoped more of the last Labour government ever.
The best Labour can claim is moral cowardice in pursuit of some kind of grand electoral strategy.
But what’s apparent a year in is that Labour has no strategy beyond Micawberism while plate spinning.
I had really hoped more of the last Labour government ever.
Labour's cowardice in the face of extremism iandunt.substack.com/p/labours-co...
August 29, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Impossible to argue with any of this.
The best Labour can claim is moral cowardice in pursuit of some kind of grand electoral strategy.
But what’s apparent a year in is that Labour has no strategy beyond Micawberism while plate spinning.
I had really hoped more of the last Labour government ever.
The best Labour can claim is moral cowardice in pursuit of some kind of grand electoral strategy.
But what’s apparent a year in is that Labour has no strategy beyond Micawberism while plate spinning.
I had really hoped more of the last Labour government ever.
Who is Tom Bombadil? Why is he in 'Lord of the Rings', and what is his raison d'etre? Is it Tolkien larking around with Micawberism/MacGuffinism? #MissingChaptersInLiterature #TomBombadil #LOTR #MacGuffinism
February 20, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Who is Tom Bombadil? Why is he in 'Lord of the Rings', and what is his raison d'etre? Is it Tolkien larking around with Micawberism/MacGuffinism? #MissingChaptersInLiterature #TomBombadil #LOTR #MacGuffinism
This sort of political Micawberism is malpractice.
May 14, 2024 at 2:52 PM
This sort of political Micawberism is malpractice.
One of the reasons why Hampshire is in so much trouble is that it's had two decades of Tory councillors not ensuring that revenue kept up with costs, in the vain hope that "something would turn up". Micawberism as policy. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Ministers could allow council tax to rise by up to 25% to prevent bankruptcies
Experts say it is inevitable government will let English local authorities exceed 5% cap if they are likely to go bust
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2025 at 10:43 AM
One of the reasons why Hampshire is in so much trouble is that it's had two decades of Tory councillors not ensuring that revenue kept up with costs, in the vain hope that "something would turn up". Micawberism as policy. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
#Lootuse (Lootus)
#Tallinn #Nõmme #Hiiu #Nõmme #Männiku #Rahumäe
#Hope, #expectation. Doesn’t quite have the same ring as #Micawberism, or the same meaning as ‘lotus’ (#lootos:lootose), but still. Part of a metaphysical street-name group. See #Aate.
#A_Rambling_Dictionary_of_Tallinn_Street_Names
#Tallinn #Nõmme #Hiiu #Nõmme #Männiku #Rahumäe
#Hope, #expectation. Doesn’t quite have the same ring as #Micawberism, or the same meaning as ‘lotus’ (#lootos:lootose), but still. Part of a metaphysical street-name group. See #Aate.
#A_Rambling_Dictionary_of_Tallinn_Street_Names
November 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
#Lootuse (Lootus)
#Tallinn #Nõmme #Hiiu #Nõmme #Männiku #Rahumäe
#Hope, #expectation. Doesn’t quite have the same ring as #Micawberism, or the same meaning as ‘lotus’ (#lootos:lootose), but still. Part of a metaphysical street-name group. See #Aate.
#A_Rambling_Dictionary_of_Tallinn_Street_Names
#Tallinn #Nõmme #Hiiu #Nõmme #Männiku #Rahumäe
#Hope, #expectation. Doesn’t quite have the same ring as #Micawberism, or the same meaning as ‘lotus’ (#lootos:lootose), but still. Part of a metaphysical street-name group. See #Aate.
#A_Rambling_Dictionary_of_Tallinn_Street_Names
Modern Micawberism:
Attacker brown, victim white: result riot.
Attacker white, victim brown: result quiet.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmpejxlm7do
Attacker brown, victim white: result riot.
Attacker white, victim brown: result quiet.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmpejxlm7do
Neo-Nazi teenager jailed for attempting to murder man with an axe
A 19-year-old approached the victim from behind and swung an axe at his neck.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 11, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Modern Micawberism:
Attacker brown, victim white: result riot.
Attacker white, victim brown: result quiet.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmpejxlm7do
Attacker brown, victim white: result riot.
Attacker white, victim brown: result quiet.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmpejxlm7do
Footnote for self
"Micawberism refers to an attitude of chronic, irresponsible optimism, particularly in the face of severe financial adversity"
"Micawberism refers to an attitude of chronic, irresponsible optimism, particularly in the face of severe financial adversity"
Personally think the most important thing about Catherine West freelancing is that she is essentially saying 'well, I don't like the look of either of the known candidates and Andy is a pipe dream', a position held by a lot of Labour MPs but whose solution is Micawberist 'something will turn up'.
May 10, 2026 at 5:39 AM
Footnote for self
"Micawberism refers to an attitude of chronic, irresponsible optimism, particularly in the face of severe financial adversity"
"Micawberism refers to an attitude of chronic, irresponsible optimism, particularly in the face of severe financial adversity"
Yes, of course. I don't think he will, for the kind of reasons you sugggest here, & the temptation to Micawberism. But he might, & I think the case for going early is stronger than you think it is.
June 24, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Yes, of course. I don't think he will, for the kind of reasons you sugggest here, & the temptation to Micawberism. But he might, & I think the case for going early is stronger than you think it is.
That's exactly what I'm getting at. Micawberism combined with the fact, obvious errors aside, things were/are difficult, and the knowledge it's a pretty bad look to replace even a struggling PM this soon absent scandal or a real catastrophe.
July 2, 2025 at 10:48 AM
That's exactly what I'm getting at. Micawberism combined with the fact, obvious errors aside, things were/are difficult, and the knowledge it's a pretty bad look to replace even a struggling PM this soon absent scandal or a real catastrophe.
Micawberism: A characteristic attitude of optimistic but often delusive hopefulness that something good will eventually occur to resolve one's difficulties, typically without any active personal effort or planning.
June 20, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Micawberism: A characteristic attitude of optimistic but often delusive hopefulness that something good will eventually occur to resolve one's difficulties, typically without any active personal effort or planning.
Micawberism has been the default since they were assuming growth would revert to mean once they were in office.
December 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Micawberism has been the default since they were assuming growth would revert to mean once they were in office.
@mrjamesob.bsky.social on young people (I have 3 myself), I believe it is a mix of 1/fewer young people tend to vote 2/not knowing how to address it without creating losers amongst pensioners or breaking the bank & 3/a heavy dose of Micawberism- something will turn up in the coming decades to fix it
March 12, 2026 at 11:32 AM
@mrjamesob.bsky.social on young people (I have 3 myself), I believe it is a mix of 1/fewer young people tend to vote 2/not knowing how to address it without creating losers amongst pensioners or breaking the bank & 3/a heavy dose of Micawberism- something will turn up in the coming decades to fix it
In fairness, Micawberism has a better track record in real life than it has in literature.
July 22, 2025 at 8:06 AM
In fairness, Micawberism has a better track record in real life than it has in literature.
Right, fine. To that I would say that, given the success of Reform, I'm not sure how much better even the best-executed strategy from Blair 2.0 would do - there's a tricky triangulation job to be done & much to be said for Micawberism. But I'm not going to say that there isn't a better strategy.
February 21, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Right, fine. To that I would say that, given the success of Reform, I'm not sure how much better even the best-executed strategy from Blair 2.0 would do - there's a tricky triangulation job to be done & much to be said for Micawberism. But I'm not going to say that there isn't a better strategy.
From reading that, the OBR in their Micawberism were worse than a coin toss. I'm curious as to how accurate economic forecasting is.
My own experience was in Dec24 to believe a half dozen currency analysts that € vs £ would be 1.22-1.23 in 2025. It's never been above 1.21 and is currently 1.14.
My own experience was in Dec24 to believe a half dozen currency analysts that € vs £ would be 1.22-1.23 in 2025. It's never been above 1.21 and is currently 1.14.
December 15, 2025 at 7:20 PM
From reading that, the OBR in their Micawberism were worse than a coin toss. I'm curious as to how accurate economic forecasting is.
My own experience was in Dec24 to believe a half dozen currency analysts that € vs £ would be 1.22-1.23 in 2025. It's never been above 1.21 and is currently 1.14.
My own experience was in Dec24 to believe a half dozen currency analysts that € vs £ would be 1.22-1.23 in 2025. It's never been above 1.21 and is currently 1.14.
Rafael Behr:
"Starmer’s foreign policy and Reeves’s budgets do form a doctrine of sorts. They are as one in claiming to deal with the world as it is, while their actions plead in vain for restoration of the world as it once was."
So there is a strategy after all - Micawberism...
"Starmer’s foreign policy and Reeves’s budgets do form a doctrine of sorts. They are as one in claiming to deal with the world as it is, while their actions plead in vain for restoration of the world as it once was."
So there is a strategy after all - Micawberism...
December 3, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Rafael Behr:
"Starmer’s foreign policy and Reeves’s budgets do form a doctrine of sorts. They are as one in claiming to deal with the world as it is, while their actions plead in vain for restoration of the world as it once was."
So there is a strategy after all - Micawberism...
"Starmer’s foreign policy and Reeves’s budgets do form a doctrine of sorts. They are as one in claiming to deal with the world as it is, while their actions plead in vain for restoration of the world as it once was."
So there is a strategy after all - Micawberism...
My favourite line: Micawberism—the unsubstantiated hope that "something might turn up".
January 13, 2025 at 6:44 AM
My favourite line: Micawberism—the unsubstantiated hope that "something might turn up".