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David Henig

@davidheniguk.bsky.social

34K followers 530 following 8.6K posts

Trade wonk, Brexit bore, globalisation defender, music lover, cricketer, gardener, supporter of mediocre football teams, who knows where the time goes?

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · Jun 23

For my latest ECIPE long-read I analyse what the realities of globalisation should mean for nation state governments. First and foremost, publicly acknowledge today's economy in all its complexities. Then to identify government's priorities and role. ecipe.org/blog/modern-...

Modern Globalisation and the Nation State – The Evolving International Political Economy

Unresolved political economy contradictions are becoming more evident – between a national manufacturing narrative versus actual technology-led globalisation, balancing open trade versus protection,

ecipe.org

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1m

The UK is in collective denial about the damage a populist nationalist government could do given thd absence of checks and balances in our system. Not sure why, since we had a pretty close run a few years ago.

Melissa Jo Peltier @melissjpeltier.bsky.social · 4m

As an American watching our best & most crucial institutions crumble in less than a year under Trump, I suggest you make as many of these changes now, while you can.
We didn’t, obviously.

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1h

For those feeling lost trying to understand what is happening with the Israel / Gaza deal... at least the minor reassurance that you are not alone... from an interview with Ami Ayalon, a former head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s security service www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/...

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4h

Unsure. There's a lot of Europe humiliated pieces, and plenty of shrugged shoulders as if what did we expect, and not clear how much in between.

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4h

So many uplifting answers. So few folk saying, "nope, it was radicalisation and ruination from that very first discovery of trade twitter..."

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 1d

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4h

Sure, and the timing is good with the UK and Europe generally struggling for growth and desperate for announcements

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4h

Probably both. Country / company combos negotiating with other countries, a whole new set of talks to follow

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4h

I think the leverage over the UK government is more with the pharma companies because they can make the investment commitments that are considered so crucial. I think Trump only wins if he does because the pharma companies also want the UK to pay more.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 5h

Trump, or the big pharma companies with his backing?

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 5h

There are just far more distributional questions in politics now compared to the 2000s, set against much greater economic complexity, and a technocratic centre left government has no particular basis for answering these questions. Or similarly centre-right.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 5h

There's probably in the UK at least a systemic bias against the left winning at times when ideology comes to the fore in politics - the right simply have more allowances made by media. Might go wider - noting the UK is currently a European exception in having a centre-left government.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 5h

Been thinking about the 2000s a bit as I think they are important to the politics of now, my broad thinking is that the years of plenty encouraged a deliverism that isn't possible now, and the right have done better from the return of ideology to politics.

Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 6h

Thatcher once said her greatest achievement was Tony Blair and New Labour, because she forced her opponents onto her agenda. Today's new right begs to differ.

www.ft.com/content/49ec...

The battle to dismantle Blair’s Britain

Conservatives’ biggest mistake was the adoption of the liberal agenda, the new right believes

www.ft.com

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 6h

Bring in national service for pensioners?

Rachel Cunliffe @rmcunliffe.bsky.social · 8h

Hollow laughter

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Reposted by David Henig

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 7h

Badenoch's speech perfectly summed up by ‪@mortenmorland.bsky.social .

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 8h

Hollow?

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Reposted by David Henig

UK Trade & Business Commission @uktradebusiness.bsky.social · 9h

🚨 Join us at 10:30am today as the UKTBC discusses the ongoing negotiations regarding the 'Youth Experience Scheme'.

Our panel includes:

Matthew Percival - Confederation of British Industry
Charley Robinson - Universities UK
Brian Bell - Migration Advisory Committee

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbCD...

Shaping the Future: UK–EU Youth Experience Scheme

YouTube video by UK Trade & Business Commission

www.youtube.com

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 9h

Great piece this, on how Japan's ageing population and resistance to immigration is leaving services short-staffed.

Obvious read-across.

Oh how entitled wealthy countries all became, and how difficult that is to shake.

www.ft.com/content/de6a...

Japan has an ‘enshortification’ problem

An ageing workforce is affecting all sorts of professions

www.ft.com

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 9h

On which note, I also hear that UK SAFE participation in time for the first round of bids in November, and exemption from CBAM charges in January next year, are both in some doubt - notwithstanding briefs to the contrary. And now there's steel tariffs as well.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 9h

As per previous, 2027 is a reasonable target to complete talks on the UK-EU common understanding, but still sporty. Officials briefing it can be done in 6 months are merely demonstrating they haven't learnt much from what happened before (or are talking only to extreme optimists)

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 9h

Over-optimistic UK briefings on how quickly an SPS deal can be agreed meet the reality of a very cautious EU that think existing arrangements show a lot more work is needed before they can trust food and drink coming from Great Britain. www.ft.com/content/7238...

EU warns UK must improve NI border checks before veterinary deal is signed

Officials say London must comply before it can start serious talks on a sweeping agrifood agreement

www.ft.com

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 10h

Labour and the Conservatives playing fantasy numbers on successive days. Wonder if they ever link these with why voters have become disillusioned with them? Probably not when media reports this nonsense largely uncritically.

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 10h

"Downing Street is bragging that the trip, so far, has created around 10,000 new jobs across Britain and more than £1 billion in investment from Indian firms" says Politico Playbook.

Fantasy numbers devaluing actual activity.

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Reposted by David Henig

Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 10h

Coverage of Badenoch's speech was one of the worst examples ever of Westminster Brain and Lobbythink. A litany of nonsense applauded by a policy elite that can't even think three moves ahead. (1/3)

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 10h

Any reduction of violence must be a good thing. But more layers of bitterness have been added to an Israel / Palestine story already overflowing with tears. We hope for long-term peace but fear this will just be a pause before more conflict. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

‘First phase’ of ceasefire deal to end war in Gaza agreed by Israel and Hamas

Donald Trump announces that all hostages will be released ‘very soon’ and Israel will withdraw troops to an agreed upon line

www.theguardian.com

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 11h

There might be a variant of that for growth, come on, we've said all of these actions will transform the economy, now one of them better do that or else!

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 11h

There is incidentally a genuine UK trade policy *opportunity* which this government is sometimes inching towards of making a virtue of openness and stability, but at other times just as prone to protectionism and short-term thinking as elsewhere

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