Antony Carpen
@acarpen.bsky.social
Ex-Whitehall type still with views on public policy, but now local historian in Cambridge (UK) blogging at https://lostcambridge.com/ - also writing about the future of the city on The Cambridge Town Owl.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
NHS Neighbourhood Health and Digital Investment. Statement made by Karin Smyth on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-11-25/HCWS1095
November 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
NHS Neighbourhood Health and Digital Investment. Statement made by Karin Smyth on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-11-25/HCWS1095
Reposted by Antony Carpen
With all disagreements between the Commons and the Lords now resolved, our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill is on course to receive Royal Assent before the end of the year.
Labour is getting Britain building again.
Labour is getting Britain building again.
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
With all disagreements between the Commons and the Lords now resolved, our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill is on course to receive Royal Assent before the end of the year.
Labour is getting Britain building again.
Labour is getting Britain building again.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
"He brought your pizza... he might be back for dessert." - messaging from a proposed County council campaign against unregulated delivery services. More details of council plans for licensing and regulation of delivery services here: cambridgeshire.cmis.uk.com/CCC_live/Doc...
November 25, 2025 at 1:46 PM
"He brought your pizza... he might be back for dessert." - messaging from a proposed County council campaign against unregulated delivery services. More details of council plans for licensing and regulation of delivery services here: cambridgeshire.cmis.uk.com/CCC_live/Doc...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
What might we see in the budget for housing? Here's my personal list of what seems likely, possibly and unlikely.
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
What might we see in the budget for housing? Here's my personal list of what seems likely, possibly and unlikely.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
New paper, 'Ministers reflect on the Treasury' from @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social and me for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Pre-budget, we've compiled insights from 10 years of Ministers Reflect interviews, plus rex from the IfG catalogue on HMT. Favourite quotes to follow! 1/🧵 tinyurl.com/38anhkc7
![Quote graphic with “#Ministers Reflect” and a statement about the chancellor’s power over money, attributed to Jeremy Hunt — Chancellor of the Exchequer (2022–24), whose portrait appears to the right of the quote. The quote reads: "I think most of your power does revolve around the decisions you can make over money [...as chancellor] that puts you in a very different position to every other cabinet minister, including the prime minister." The Institute for Government logo is in the corner of the image.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yafpzg4e4ibpubp33xsq5v7q/bafkreigoe7oaqk4kw45ex74usg7hdlkwwkyrhgqk7qn6iacyfcrrujfiym@jpeg)
November 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
New paper, 'Ministers reflect on the Treasury' from @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social and me for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Pre-budget, we've compiled insights from 10 years of Ministers Reflect interviews, plus rex from the IfG catalogue on HMT. Favourite quotes to follow! 1/🧵 tinyurl.com/38anhkc7
Hard to unite behind something not yet published. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Reflects the need to overhaul policy-making with budgets. Far better to set out what the options are beforehand along with commissioned analysis, then set out what minded to do, then go out to consultation. Then decide.
Rachel Reeves urges Labour MPs to unite behind the Budget
The chancellor tries to calm nerves in the Parliamentary Labour Party about her tax and spending plans.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Hard to unite behind something not yet published. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Reflects the need to overhaul policy-making with budgets. Far better to set out what the options are beforehand along with commissioned analysis, then set out what minded to do, then go out to consultation. Then decide.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Surely the City can come up with something more interesting to keep trying to attack me with?
Cut bills. Tax billionaires.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Cut bills. Tax billionaires.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Surely the City can come up with something more interesting to keep trying to attack me with?
Cut bills. Tax billionaires.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Cut bills. Tax billionaires.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Will need to see the detail. Eg whether it’s pooled & distributed like business rates in which case the negative impact of mass tourism is not alleviated & creates even more resentment from businesses that they get nothing from an ‘additional’ tax.
Good to see HMT has finally relented on the tourist tax. Important that mayors are allowed to keep all of the income and choose how to spend it without central interference. And that it's the beginning of fiscal devolution not the end.
November 25, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Will need to see the detail. Eg whether it’s pooled & distributed like business rates in which case the negative impact of mass tourism is not alleviated & creates even more resentment from businesses that they get nothing from an ‘additional’ tax.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
The government’s progress on constitutional & ethical standards has been welcome but underwhelming. It should go further to put the business appointments rules and the new standards regulator on a statutory basis, protect the electoral process and ensure the independence of the Electoral Commission
ON THE BLOG: Monitor 91: Starmer's constitutional timidity
In the lead article from the latest issue of Monitor, Meg Russell & @alanrenwick.bsky.social argue that the government could be seeking to lead, and to set the tone on constitutional standards, but changes instead feel timid and reluctant.
In the lead article from the latest issue of Monitor, Meg Russell & @alanrenwick.bsky.social argue that the government could be seeking to lead, and to set the tone on constitutional standards, but changes instead feel timid and reluctant.
Monitor 91: Starmer's constitutional timidity
In the lead article from the latest issue of Monitor, Meg Russell & @alanrenwick.bsky.social argue that the government could be seeking to lead, and to set the tone on constitutional standards, but changes instead feel timid and reluctant.
constitution-unit.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The government’s progress on constitutional & ethical standards has been welcome but underwhelming. It should go further to put the business appointments rules and the new standards regulator on a statutory basis, protect the electoral process and ensure the independence of the Electoral Commission
Reposted by Antony Carpen
We must do more for every woman.
For every Giulia, Paulina, Bernice, Ashling who were killed because they were women.
For every survivor like Gisèle in France and Ana Bella in Spain who stood tall and dared to shatter the silence.
#EndViolenceAgainstWomen
For every Giulia, Paulina, Bernice, Ashling who were killed because they were women.
For every survivor like Gisèle in France and Ana Bella in Spain who stood tall and dared to shatter the silence.
#EndViolenceAgainstWomen
November 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
We must do more for every woman.
For every Giulia, Paulina, Bernice, Ashling who were killed because they were women.
For every survivor like Gisèle in France and Ana Bella in Spain who stood tall and dared to shatter the silence.
#EndViolenceAgainstWomen
For every Giulia, Paulina, Bernice, Ashling who were killed because they were women.
For every survivor like Gisèle in France and Ana Bella in Spain who stood tall and dared to shatter the silence.
#EndViolenceAgainstWomen
Reposted by Antony Carpen
🏙️ Cambridge could see 50,000 new homes over the next 20 years – a “Second Cambridge”! Read our blog, explore the plan, and join the conversation before the public consultation opens 1 Dec 2025: https://cambridgeppf.org/doubling-the-size-of-cambridge/
#GreaterCambridge #LocalPlan
#GreaterCambridge #LocalPlan
November 25, 2025 at 12:02 PM
🏙️ Cambridge could see 50,000 new homes over the next 20 years – a “Second Cambridge”! Read our blog, explore the plan, and join the conversation before the public consultation opens 1 Dec 2025: https://cambridgeppf.org/doubling-the-size-of-cambridge/
#GreaterCambridge #LocalPlan
#GreaterCambridge #LocalPlan
On the Telegraph & DMail owners
Media mergers. Statement made by Lisa Nandy on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-11-24/HCWS1090
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
On the Telegraph & DMail owners
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Publication of the Independent Review into Carer’s Allowance Overpayments and the Government Resp... Statement made by Baroness Sherlock on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-11-25/HLWS1091
November 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Publication of the Independent Review into Carer’s Allowance Overpayments and the Government Resp... Statement made by Baroness Sherlock on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-11-25/HLWS1091
Still staying close to Cambridge
November 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Still staying close to Cambridge
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Phil Knight is almost single handedly funding the OR GOP, one of the more extreme state GOPs in the country. Keep that in mind next time you’re in the market for sportswear or sneakers. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Nike co-founder Phil Knight makes record-setting donation to help elect Republicans
It is the single largest donation Knight has made to an Oregon candidate or political action committee.
www.oregonlive.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Phil Knight is almost single handedly funding the OR GOP, one of the more extreme state GOPs in the country. Keep that in mind next time you’re in the market for sportswear or sneakers. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
I mean why stop here? Why not just ban anyone who wasn't born here from having any recognisable family or community connections whatsoever?
November 24, 2025 at 11:08 PM
I mean why stop here? Why not just ban anyone who wasn't born here from having any recognisable family or community connections whatsoever?
On what planet does he think that ‘hardening life for new arrivals’ is going to make things better for everyone else? And how will the public know who is a new arrival vs someone whose was born here & grew up here? (Eg me.)
Was trying to work out in which way Shabana Mahmood, an otherwise pretty unremarkable politician, could possibly be described as a "luminous golden star" who "dazzles like a blue-white supernova" and then I realised, its simply a willingness to be a bit more cruel to immigrants
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 PM
On what planet does he think that ‘hardening life for new arrivals’ is going to make things better for everyone else? And how will the public know who is a new arrival vs someone whose was born here & grew up here? (Eg me.)
Has the entire political class lost all sense of perspective chasing after a tabloid fetish? How times have changed from 25 years ago when people were seriously discussing the long term root causes like war, famine, debt, unequal flows of wealth, monopolies, terms of trade, & justice. 😞
Trevor Phillips proposes banning "remittances" (ie: imposing currency/exchange controls on international cash transfers by foreign nationals from Britain). He says this would disincentivise immigration, in a Times piece saying the Home Secretary needs to go [much] further
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Has the entire political class lost all sense of perspective chasing after a tabloid fetish? How times have changed from 25 years ago when people were seriously discussing the long term root causes like war, famine, debt, unequal flows of wealth, monopolies, terms of trade, & justice. 😞
@artemisapphire.bsky.social The beginning!
This here is one of the great U-boat hunters of the Second World War.
Grab a comfy seat and a glass of something pleasing. We're going on a journey...
Grab a comfy seat and a glass of something pleasing. We're going on a journey...
November 24, 2025 at 11:44 PM
@artemisapphire.bsky.social The beginning!
@artemisapphire.bsky.social One for you
WATU were just one small part of the Battle of the Atlantic, and they certainly didn't win it on their own, but as one small example of how women contributed directly to the prosecution of the war they remain remarkable.
Check - and, indeed - mate.
Check - and, indeed - mate.
November 24, 2025 at 11:43 PM
@artemisapphire.bsky.social One for you
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Prescott agrees that Robbie Gibb is a friend. Agrees that Gibb was one of four person panel who appointed him. Asked if he was would disclose any comms between them before the interview “That’s quite a precedent to set” he says
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Prescott agrees that Robbie Gibb is a friend. Agrees that Gibb was one of four person panel who appointed him. Asked if he was would disclose any comms between them before the interview “That’s quite a precedent to set” he says
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Robbie Gibb had "no editorial role" at the Jewish Chronicle in the same way as Rupert Murdoch had no editorial role at the media outlets he used to exert political influence for many years.
Gibb also had no editorial role at the BBC but still used his position to bully & browbeat BBC journalists.
Gibb also had no editorial role at the BBC but still used his position to bully & browbeat BBC journalists.
Gibb; “ I had no editorial role whatsoever at the Jewish Chronicle”. Lee Harpin, reporter at the paper; “RG made a habit of calling into the office on print days to check up on what stories were topping the news list, and offering a view’”
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Robbie Gibb had "no editorial role" at the Jewish Chronicle in the same way as Rupert Murdoch had no editorial role at the media outlets he used to exert political influence for many years.
Gibb also had no editorial role at the BBC but still used his position to bully & browbeat BBC journalists.
Gibb also had no editorial role at the BBC but still used his position to bully & browbeat BBC journalists.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Well that’s sunk what little might have been left of Chris Mason’s repution.
Robbie Gibb describes the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason as the "unsung hero of covering politics" and "absolutely first rate"
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Well that’s sunk what little might have been left of Chris Mason’s repution.
NEW BLOGPOST: "Cambridge land use map 1961" lostcambridge.wordpress.com/2025/11/24/c... By @natlibscot.bsky.social - I've zoomed in on my home town but it covers the rest of the country if you want to see where you live coloured in crayon!
Cambridge land use map 1961
The National Library of Scotland has published a digitised land use map for England which incorporates Cambridge. It’s very detailed Have a look at their blogpost here. The library has a host…
lostcambridge.wordpress.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
NEW BLOGPOST: "Cambridge land use map 1961" lostcambridge.wordpress.com/2025/11/24/c... By @natlibscot.bsky.social - I've zoomed in on my home town but it covers the rest of the country if you want to see where you live coloured in crayon!
Am trying to recall the last time when speculation about 'The Bond Markets' had such high publicity in the run up to a budget (while at the same time not seeing much in the way of explanations to the public on how such things function & why they are important in this context).
Bond market power: why Rachel Reeves is keen to keep the £2.7tn ‘beast’ onside
Bond market power: why Rachel Reeves is keen to keep the £2.7tn ‘beast’ onside
Hugely influential traders will be hanging on the chancellor’s every word when she announces her budget
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Am trying to recall the last time when speculation about 'The Bond Markets' had such high publicity in the run up to a budget (while at the same time not seeing much in the way of explanations to the public on how such things function & why they are important in this context).