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.
What is the circulation / %coverage of the newspapers?
(Mindful of the connect fate of local planning and local media…)
(Mindful of the connect fate of local planning and local media…)
This is a pretty bizarre cock-up. "Reform UK-led North Northamptonshire Council has had to halt planning projects after publishing consultation notices in the Northamptonshire Telegraph, which doesn’t circulate locally, instead of the Peterborough Telegraph."
Planning projects halted thanks to council's local paper blunder - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage
Councillors told of local paper blunder
www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:51 AM
What is the circulation / %coverage of the newspapers?
(Mindful of the connect fate of local planning and local media…)
(Mindful of the connect fate of local planning and local media…)
“Anglian Water had objected, saying there was "insufficient capacity to accept the additional flows from the development" at the Huntingdon (Godmanchester) Water Recycling Centre.” Not just in/around Cambridge.
February 17, 2026 at 11:35 AM
“Anglian Water had objected, saying there was "insufficient capacity to accept the additional flows from the development" at the Huntingdon (Godmanchester) Water Recycling Centre.” Not just in/around Cambridge.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Thinking of a career in think tanks?
On Wednesday, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience.
Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df
On Wednesday, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience.
Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df
February 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Thinking of a career in think tanks?
On Wednesday, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience.
Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df
On Wednesday, we're hosting a webinar for undergraduates or those with similar experience interested in working in the sector. We'll have speakers from numerous organisations sharing their insight and experience.
Register here 👉 buff.ly/a3cO0df
Sometimes a minister will make a statement to Parliament when making such a ministerial direction. (Urgent Qs get more time for MPs to ask difficult Qs & Mr Speaker may well grant one in this case as it goes to the heart of sound public administration…)
"Cabinet Secretary: ministerial direction" www.gov.uk/government/p... It's now up to the Commons Liaison Committee (And particularly the Chairs of the Public Accounts, & Public Administration Committees) to cross-examine the Prime Minister when he next appears before them.
Cabinet Secretary: ministerial direction
Letters requesting and confirming the ministerial direction relating to the outgoing Cabinet Secretary.
www.gov.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Sometimes a minister will make a statement to Parliament when making such a ministerial direction. (Urgent Qs get more time for MPs to ask difficult Qs & Mr Speaker may well grant one in this case as it goes to the heart of sound public administration…)
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Good thread here on what a ministerial direction and, in the context of some pretty poor reporting on Wormald’s exit, what it isn’t.
Yesterday the Cabinet Office published the ministerial direction on Chris Wormald's exit payment 👇
This has been discussed a bit in the media, mainly in terms of 'civil service tried to block the huge payout'
A few points on this..
www.gov.uk/government/p...
This has been discussed a bit in the media, mainly in terms of 'civil service tried to block the huge payout'
A few points on this..
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Cabinet Secretary: ministerial direction
Letters requesting and confirming the ministerial direction relating to the outgoing Cabinet Secretary.
www.gov.uk
February 17, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Good thread here on what a ministerial direction and, in the context of some pretty poor reporting on Wormald’s exit, what it isn’t.
🤣🤪🙃
February 17, 2026 at 11:21 AM
🤣🤪🙃
Reposted by Antony Carpen
In an era that has seen a shift from soft to hard power, how should middle-ranking powers like the UK & Canada approach international aid? In a new policy paper for us, Ezra Karmel and Georgina Sinclair draw on history for some answers. historyandpolicy.org/policy-paper...
‘After the Rupture’: The Aid Dilemma of Middle Powers - History & Policy
Aid policy poses a dilemma for middle-ranking global powers. As multilateral guarantees weaken and US leadership becomes less predictable, they appear to face a choice between doubling down on rights-...
historyandpolicy.org
February 17, 2026 at 10:58 AM
In an era that has seen a shift from soft to hard power, how should middle-ranking powers like the UK & Canada approach international aid? In a new policy paper for us, Ezra Karmel and Georgina Sinclair draw on history for some answers. historyandpolicy.org/policy-paper...
At first I thought this was about the performing arts centre / music venue until I saw that it was Wandlebury. The woods should be extended significantly if Cambridge is going to grow further.
Junction plan at 'impasse' over worries about bats
#Cambridgeshire #BBCNews
🔗: https://www.bbc.com/news/arti...
#Cambridgeshire #BBCNews
🔗: https://www.bbc.com/news/arti...
Wandlebury junction plan at 'impasse' over worries about bats
Plans to realign a road junction near Cambridge, submitted in 2022, are still on hold.
www.bbc.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:42 AM
At first I thought this was about the performing arts centre / music venue until I saw that it was Wandlebury. The woods should be extended significantly if Cambridge is going to grow further.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
The only question worth asking at these incredibly flash Reform press conferences that take place every week now, is who is paying for all of this and what do they want in return bsky.app/profile/pete...
I’m in Westminster where Nigel Farage is about to unveil his ‘shadow cabinet’ and the decor is slightly bonkers. Looks like he’s going to launch a Simon Cowell-era boyband instead.
February 17, 2026 at 10:39 AM
The only question worth asking at these incredibly flash Reform press conferences that take place every week now, is who is paying for all of this and what do they want in return bsky.app/profile/pete...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
A very sad reflection of society that something like this even needs fact checking.
Claims that 75% of England’s mayors are Muslim have gone viral online.
We could only find evidence that three of the country’s 27 directly elected mayors are Muslim, and there isn’t an official complete list of all the civic mayors.
We could only find evidence that three of the country’s 27 directly elected mayors are Muslim, and there isn’t an official complete list of all the civic mayors.
No evidence 75% of England’s mayors are Muslim – Full Fact
We could only find evidence that three of the country’s 27 directly elected mayors are Muslim.
fullfact.org
February 17, 2026 at 9:16 AM
A very sad reflection of society that something like this even needs fact checking.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
South Cumbria and Lancashire autism and ADHD referral halts ‘gobsmacking’
https://www.europesays.com/uk/769972/
Chief executive of ADHD UK, Henry Shelford, told BBC Radio Cumbria: “You can only get [ADHD] medication if…
https://www.europesays.com/uk/769972/
Chief executive of ADHD UK, Henry Shelford, told BBC Radio Cumbria: “You can only get [ADHD] medication if…
South Cumbria and Lancashire autism and ADHD referral halts 'gobsmacking' - United Kingdom
Chief executive of ADHD UK, Henry Shelford, told BBC Radio Cumbria: "You can only get medication if you see a specialist and for me, that is life-changing.
www.europesays.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:40 AM
South Cumbria and Lancashire autism and ADHD referral halts ‘gobsmacking’
https://www.europesays.com/uk/769972/
Chief executive of ADHD UK, Henry Shelford, told BBC Radio Cumbria: “You can only get [ADHD] medication if…
https://www.europesays.com/uk/769972/
Chief executive of ADHD UK, Henry Shelford, told BBC Radio Cumbria: “You can only get [ADHD] medication if…
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Henry Shelford, chief executive of charity ADHD UK: it is "hateful and cruel how badly the overall NHS treats people with ADHD”.
ADHD patients stripped of NHS prescriptions under crackdown
GP practices are increasingly withdrawing from shared-care agreements with patients diagnosed by private clinics
giftarticle.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:25 AM
Henry Shelford, chief executive of charity ADHD UK: it is "hateful and cruel how badly the overall NHS treats people with ADHD”.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Happy to use private healthcare within the NHS when it suits him, but not when it might actually help patients. Fiddling eligibility rules to strip the disabled of benefits. @wesstreeting.bsky.social is despicable.
Labour have said they wont recognise an ADHD diagnosis from private clinics when applying for PIP/Health Element of UC. It has to be a NHS diagnosis, which are few and far between.
My referral was done via my GP but the diagnosis was done by Psychiatry UK because of the lack of NHS clinicians.
My referral was done via my GP but the diagnosis was done by Psychiatry UK because of the lack of NHS clinicians.
February 17, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Happy to use private healthcare within the NHS when it suits him, but not when it might actually help patients. Fiddling eligibility rules to strip the disabled of benefits. @wesstreeting.bsky.social is despicable.
Who are those 13percent of TeamNigel voters who *want to rejoin the EU*?!? 😳
It’s not just that a large majority want Britain to rejoin the EU, it’s the fact that the majority steadily continues to grow…
February 17, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Who are those 13percent of TeamNigel voters who *want to rejoin the EU*?!? 😳
Reposted by Antony Carpen
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
agree with this (hah) but also think a particular mistake the left made for a long time online, and still makes to an extent, is failing to understand that the person whose mind you may actually change is the one reading the argument you're having, not the one you're arguing with
The secret to engaging in social media debate is knowing you will never win anyone over. The best you can hope for is to have people who already agree with tell you you're awesome. You might great a dopamine thrill from the righteousness of your anger! Fine benefits, all. But you will never win.
February 16, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
Reposted by Antony Carpen
This is an excellent - and practical - article on how historians can work with data.
“The fantasy of completely accessible and searchable digital past obviously remains a mirage, even if it’s one that is still tempting.” On the great new piece on historians as data curators in TRHS by @kmcdono.bsky.social and others
🗃️
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2026/02/16/v...
🗃️
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2026/02/16/v...
williamgpooley.wordpress.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:37 PM
This is an excellent - and practical - article on how historians can work with data.
"Cabinet Secretary: ministerial direction" www.gov.uk/government/p... It's now up to the Commons Liaison Committee (And particularly the Chairs of the Public Accounts, & Public Administration Committees) to cross-examine the Prime Minister when he next appears before them.
Cabinet Secretary: ministerial direction
Letters requesting and confirming the ministerial direction relating to the outgoing Cabinet Secretary.
www.gov.uk
February 16, 2026 at 10:06 PM
"Cabinet Secretary: ministerial direction" www.gov.uk/government/p... It's now up to the Commons Liaison Committee (And particularly the Chairs of the Public Accounts, & Public Administration Committees) to cross-examine the Prime Minister when he next appears before them.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
The Road Signs of Shelford. Whatever it was that was planted to commemorate Queenie's Coronation in 53, I don't think it was the hedge, or the estate agent's sign.
February 16, 2026 at 9:49 PM
The Road Signs of Shelford. Whatever it was that was planted to commemorate Queenie's Coronation in 53, I don't think it was the hedge, or the estate agent's sign.
Reposted by Antony Carpen
The EU is about to erect higher "made in EU" walls.
Will be interesting to see if China shifts production and supply chains to the EU area in response.
Oh, and it's quite possible that things are about to get even colder for the UK outside of the EU.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Will be interesting to see if China shifts production and supply chains to the EU area in response.
Oh, and it's quite possible that things are about to get even colder for the UK outside of the EU.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
EVs must be 70% made in the EU to qualify for state support, Brussels says
Draft legislation on local content by European Commission seeks to protect bloc’s manufacturing industries
giftarticle.ft.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:55 PM
The EU is about to erect higher "made in EU" walls.
Will be interesting to see if China shifts production and supply chains to the EU area in response.
Oh, and it's quite possible that things are about to get even colder for the UK outside of the EU.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Will be interesting to see if China shifts production and supply chains to the EU area in response.
Oh, and it's quite possible that things are about to get even colder for the UK outside of the EU.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Decision to postpone local elections reversed “in the light of recent legal advice”.
What’s going on?
The government will certainly have had legal advice all along. We may never know the details since legal advice is generally confidential /1
What’s going on?
The government will certainly have had legal advice all along. We may never know the details since legal advice is generally confidential /1
February 16, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Decision to postpone local elections reversed “in the light of recent legal advice”.
What’s going on?
The government will certainly have had legal advice all along. We may never know the details since legal advice is generally confidential /1
What’s going on?
The government will certainly have had legal advice all along. We may never know the details since legal advice is generally confidential /1
NEW BLOGPOST: "Potholes? We’ve got them too. But where does the buck stop?" cambridgetownowl.com/2026/02/16/p... And what are the solutions beyond patching them up faster?
Potholes? We’ve got them too. But where does the buck stop?
The potholes in the roads are very visible symptoms of a much greater set of problems whose roots are in Westminster. Is there a local solution given the huge rise in heavy construction traffic ass…
cambridgetownowl.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:06 PM
NEW BLOGPOST: "Potholes? We’ve got them too. But where does the buck stop?" cambridgetownowl.com/2026/02/16/p... And what are the solutions beyond patching them up faster?
Reposted by Antony Carpen
Whenever Farage stands aside as Reform leader the internal party politics is going to be fascinating.
EXC: Robert Jenrick has been mocked for using Ozempic and told “you can't take an injection for personality”…by his Reform colleague Matt Goodwin. In previous interviews, Mr Goodwin also said Jenrick had “no charisma”, and Reform risked becoming a Tory tribute act”
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Reform candidate made fat jab jibe at Jenrick and warned over 'Tory tribute act'
Matt Goodwin, who is running in Gorton and Denton, has made repeated attacks on his new colleagues, and also warned Nigel Farage that Reform risks becoming a 'Tory tribute act'
www.mirror.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Whenever Farage stands aside as Reform leader the internal party politics is going to be fascinating.
"Why [do] light rail [projects] in the UK cost close to 300% more than the current worldwide average?" www.railengineer.co.uk/light-rail-r... One for @bettertransport.bsky.social too.
Light Rail: Re-evaluating infrastructure strategies - Rail Engineer
Listen to this article In recent years, the escalating costs of light rail projects have prompted urban planners and policymakers to re-evaluate transport infrastructure strategies. One emerging appro...
www.railengineer.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 6:58 PM
"Why [do] light rail [projects] in the UK cost close to 300% more than the current worldwide average?" www.railengineer.co.uk/light-rail-r... One for @bettertransport.bsky.social too.
2023: "Longer lorries to be allowed on Britain's roads"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/busines...
2026: "What is behind spike in pothole related call-outs?"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"...It's really the very heavy axle loads of trucks." 👀
www.bbc.co.uk/news/busines...
2026: "What is behind spike in pothole related call-outs?"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"...It's really the very heavy axle loads of trucks." 👀
Longer lorries to be allowed on Britain's roads
More goods can be carried in fewer trips, says government, but campaigners have safety concerns.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM
2023: "Longer lorries to be allowed on Britain's roads"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/busines...
2026: "What is behind spike in pothole related call-outs?"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"...It's really the very heavy axle loads of trucks." 👀
www.bbc.co.uk/news/busines...
2026: "What is behind spike in pothole related call-outs?"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"...It's really the very heavy axle loads of trucks." 👀