Bob Melling
@bobmelling.bsky.social
Low Salience, Huddersfield
Reposted by Bob Melling
I think at this point if you're including Diane Abbott - a woman who has never held government office, has been a backbencher since 2020, and is scarcely a government ally - on your list of political wrongdoers, we all know exactly what your real concerns are
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I think at this point if you're including Diane Abbott - a woman who has never held government office, has been a backbencher since 2020, and is scarcely a government ally - on your list of political wrongdoers, we all know exactly what your real concerns are
Lot of cunts on here think that roads aren't public infrastructure paid for out of general taxation.
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Lot of cunts on here think that roads aren't public infrastructure paid for out of general taxation.
Honestly curious about how unmoored your identity would have to be that the experience of attending university would be enough to sever you from your family.
November 25, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Honestly curious about how unmoored your identity would have to be that the experience of attending university would be enough to sever you from your family.
Reposted by Bob Melling
Folk are rightly criticizing Polanski for ignoring the fact that there are constraints on govt borrowing now (ie inflation). But fiscal conservatism can be perfectly compatible with economic radicalism, as I've said: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/some-lefti...
November 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Folk are rightly criticizing Polanski for ignoring the fact that there are constraints on govt borrowing now (ie inflation). But fiscal conservatism can be perfectly compatible with economic radicalism, as I've said: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/some-lefti...
See also councils as utilities/ land developers with a sideline in public services.
Essentially the best way to run a railway is for it to be owned by a development corporation, and then frankly whether that corporation is state owned or privately owned is sort of a much of a muchness:
The missing piece in Labour’s rail renationalisation scheme
Whether trains are public or private is not the deal-breaker for a well-functioning service — it is about a better delivery model
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:13 AM
See also councils as utilities/ land developers with a sideline in public services.
Reposted by Bob Melling
Essentially the best way to run a railway is for it to be owned by a development corporation, and then frankly whether that corporation is state owned or privately owned is sort of a much of a muchness:
The missing piece in Labour’s rail renationalisation scheme
Whether trains are public or private is not the deal-breaker for a well-functioning service — it is about a better delivery model
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Essentially the best way to run a railway is for it to be owned by a development corporation, and then frankly whether that corporation is state owned or privately owned is sort of a much of a muchness:
"There are no proposals to introduce gas and electricity meters. This Govt [is] firmly on the side of householders.
This is a weird way of saying 'we do not understand transport planning'. But then this government (per @stephenkb.bsky.social) seems stuck in election mode and doing a terrible job of the governing bit.
#UKPolitics
#UKPolitics
A telling nugget from transport Qs on Thurs. Heidi Alexander: "There are no proposals to introduce a national pay-per-mile scheme. This Govt [is] firmly on the side of drivers.
"We are pumping £24bn of capital into motorways & local roads, with a record £1.6bn for local roads maintenance this year"
"We are pumping £24bn of capital into motorways & local roads, with a record £1.6bn for local roads maintenance this year"
November 24, 2025 at 10:53 AM
"There are no proposals to introduce gas and electricity meters. This Govt [is] firmly on the side of householders.
People saying November is the worst, but the Sheffield village carols season runs from Armistice day to Christmas.
Take the opportunity to get fugueing and sing the best carol*
*When sung to James Ellor's DIADEM
youtu.be/EDSJ5rSXFDU?...
Take the opportunity to get fugueing and sing the best carol*
*When sung to James Ellor's DIADEM
youtu.be/EDSJ5rSXFDU?...
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (Diadem)
YouTube video by Jon Boden - Topic
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 10:29 AM
People saying November is the worst, but the Sheffield village carols season runs from Armistice day to Christmas.
Take the opportunity to get fugueing and sing the best carol*
*When sung to James Ellor's DIADEM
youtu.be/EDSJ5rSXFDU?...
Take the opportunity to get fugueing and sing the best carol*
*When sung to James Ellor's DIADEM
youtu.be/EDSJ5rSXFDU?...
Reposted by Bob Melling
🚨🚨NEW BLOGPOST 🚨🚨
Breakage is an industry term for when you make an offer, but hope to minimise the cost of keeping your promise by making it a hassle.
It bankrupted an appliance company. Could it do the same to public services?
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/government...
Breakage is an industry term for when you make an offer, but hope to minimise the cost of keeping your promise by making it a hassle.
It bankrupted an appliance company. Could it do the same to public services?
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/government...
Government by Breakage
What a failed appliance promotion shows us about our state
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 7:58 AM
🚨🚨NEW BLOGPOST 🚨🚨
Breakage is an industry term for when you make an offer, but hope to minimise the cost of keeping your promise by making it a hassle.
It bankrupted an appliance company. Could it do the same to public services?
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/government...
Breakage is an industry term for when you make an offer, but hope to minimise the cost of keeping your promise by making it a hassle.
It bankrupted an appliance company. Could it do the same to public services?
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/government...
Polykatoikia go brrrr
British cities are too flat — and it’s holding back housing supply.
Our new blog shows a big density gap with France and Japan, driven by missing mid-rise homes.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/mm3GBRX
Our new blog shows a big density gap with France and Japan, driven by missing mid-rise homes.
Read more 👉 buff.ly/mm3GBRX
November 20, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Polykatoikia go brrrr
Reposted by Bob Melling
An incredible effort from @danieldylanwray.bsky.social on this. 150+ interviews, covering nearly 70 years, this is THE book on one of THE great cities for music. Very proud to be Dan's publisher 👊 #SHEFFIELD
This - finally - is the definitive musical history Sheffield so richly deserves.
GROOVY, LAIDBACK AND NASTY is @danieldylanwray.bsky.social's authoritative and hugely entertaining story of the city, told through its independent artists, scenes and spirit.
Coming May 2026 geni.us/GroovyLaidba...
GROOVY, LAIDBACK AND NASTY is @danieldylanwray.bsky.social's authoritative and hugely entertaining story of the city, told through its independent artists, scenes and spirit.
Coming May 2026 geni.us/GroovyLaidba...
November 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
An incredible effort from @danieldylanwray.bsky.social on this. 150+ interviews, covering nearly 70 years, this is THE book on one of THE great cities for music. Very proud to be Dan's publisher 👊 #SHEFFIELD
Reposted by Bob Melling
Lovely short thread (with a v good piece at the end). I think Ruth's point at the end is entirely right. Also I think shows that 'being an effective minister' is a skillset in itself. Castle was not a transport wonk or labour market wonk or a welfare wonk, yet she was v effective in all three roles.
This week is Road Safety Week & a chance to talk about Barbara Castle!
Barbara was Transport Minister for three years yet she was able to introduce the Breathalyzer, a proper integrated transport strategy & more!
This was done despite fierce opposition.
📸 Photo from the Parliamentary Achieve
Barbara was Transport Minister for three years yet she was able to introduce the Breathalyzer, a proper integrated transport strategy & more!
This was done despite fierce opposition.
📸 Photo from the Parliamentary Achieve
November 19, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Lovely short thread (with a v good piece at the end). I think Ruth's point at the end is entirely right. Also I think shows that 'being an effective minister' is a skillset in itself. Castle was not a transport wonk or labour market wonk or a welfare wonk, yet she was v effective in all three roles.
Enact this on the main transpennine route and get a bonus dedicated express line as the single hourly stopping service disappears.
And if there are successful objections to development next to commuter stations then simply reduce the number of trains that stop there by one per hour until the objections cease.
November 18, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Enact this on the main transpennine route and get a bonus dedicated express line as the single hourly stopping service disappears.
Reposted by Bob Melling
les dérives parfois de l'art moderne, comme içi en suede, '' Den där konsten suger '' 🤔😌
November 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM
les dérives parfois de l'art moderne, comme içi en suede, '' Den där konsten suger '' 🤔😌
Just read "A family home starts at 5 beds I reckon. 3 kids rooms + an office + a parents room." and thought how important it is to remember that other people's priors can be very different.
November 12, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Just read "A family home starts at 5 beds I reckon. 3 kids rooms + an office + a parents room." and thought how important it is to remember that other people's priors can be very different.
Is that a good thing?
November 5, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Is that a good thing?
WH Smiths Halifax, 1989
I'd just finished my first Saturday job shift at a butcher's in the market, smelt of dried blood.
Bought at the same time, I thought the FotN single was the better of the two.
I'd just finished my first Saturday job shift at a butcher's in the market, smelt of dried blood.
Bought at the same time, I thought the FotN single was the better of the two.
November 3, 2025 at 12:08 PM
WH Smiths Halifax, 1989
I'd just finished my first Saturday job shift at a butcher's in the market, smelt of dried blood.
Bought at the same time, I thought the FotN single was the better of the two.
I'd just finished my first Saturday job shift at a butcher's in the market, smelt of dried blood.
Bought at the same time, I thought the FotN single was the better of the two.
All prepared to trot out my pat response that national parks represent a reactionary and nostalgic anti-urbanism that's incompatible with the South Pennines ("industrial Pennines" in the 45 Dower report) but as JP very reasonably points out that won't do for an area that's just different.
The Pennines are an unbroken chain of upland areas from near Stoke to Scotland.
But looking closely at a map of protected landscapes like national parks – the chain is broken between the Peaks and the Dales.
Why is this one area not protected - and should it be?
Short 🧵
1/3
But looking closely at a map of protected landscapes like national parks – the chain is broken between the Peaks and the Dales.
Why is this one area not protected - and should it be?
Short 🧵
1/3
October 30, 2025 at 9:50 AM
All prepared to trot out my pat response that national parks represent a reactionary and nostalgic anti-urbanism that's incompatible with the South Pennines ("industrial Pennines" in the 45 Dower report) but as JP very reasonably points out that won't do for an area that's just different.
Reposted by Bob Melling
Sorry, but there's something so ineffably depressing about ministers spending their time on this kind of stuff. Not as if there aren't real problems that central government should be getting on with while letting local government make its own choices (and even its own mistakes). #GetAGrip
Cambridgeshire council's four-day week criticised by minister
Steve Reed says there has been a decline in key housing-related services.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Sorry, but there's something so ineffably depressing about ministers spending their time on this kind of stuff. Not as if there aren't real problems that central government should be getting on with while letting local government make its own choices (and even its own mistakes). #GetAGrip
This has me wondering how many more series of LOTSW it would take until Keir Starmer was cast in the third leg Foggy Dewhirst slot.
Literally no-one in this thread wants 'Compo' in charge, you dolt. Wake up and live in the real world.
October 28, 2025 at 10:24 AM
This has me wondering how many more series of LOTSW it would take until Keir Starmer was cast in the third leg Foggy Dewhirst slot.
The good solution is massive decentralisation of power so local/regional government can keep the country running *then* burn it down and keep the carcass as a lovely romantic ruin surrounded by nice gardens.
You could probably have a good parliament chamber close by, Coventry Cathedral it.
You could probably have a good parliament chamber close by, Coventry Cathedral it.
The Palace of Westminster is literally going to either burn down, kill someone, or both because spending money to save it is perceived as so politically toxic.
October 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The good solution is massive decentralisation of power so local/regional government can keep the country running *then* burn it down and keep the carcass as a lovely romantic ruin surrounded by nice gardens.
You could probably have a good parliament chamber close by, Coventry Cathedral it.
You could probably have a good parliament chamber close by, Coventry Cathedral it.
Nice try but banging on about the east wing isn't going to alter my decision to never ever watch The West Wing.
October 23, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Nice try but banging on about the east wing isn't going to alter my decision to never ever watch The West Wing.
If people want to see negative net migration then we have to do for Old Welsh what Ben-Yehuda did for Hebrew. Make it the state language, sole education medium, Aneirin the national poet etc.
In my direct experience and reporting, they think it has a more liberal labour market (true!) and is more welcoming than France (again, true!). But all these pale before “can speak English”.
October 23, 2025 at 11:01 AM
If people want to see negative net migration then we have to do for Old Welsh what Ben-Yehuda did for Hebrew. Make it the state language, sole education medium, Aneirin the national poet etc.