Luke Hildyard
@lukehildyard.bsky.social
Director: High Pay Centre think tank, author: 'Enough - Why it's time to abolish the super rich'
Work on inequality, economic democracy, corporate power etc
Book via https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745348568/enough
Work on inequality, economic democracy, corporate power etc
Book via https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745348568/enough
Pinned
Luke Hildyard
@lukehildyard.bsky.social
· Dec 23
Enough: Why It's Time to Abolish the Super-Rich
Enough: Why It's Time to Abolish the Super-Rich : Hildyard, Luke: Amazon.co.uk: Books
www.amazon.co.uk
Belated pre-Christmas plug for my book 'Enough: Why it's time to abolish the super rich' which is only £8 in ebook form while the hard copy can be ordered for tomorrow on Prime
The Economist said it contained 'flashes of wit'
www.amazon.co.uk/Enough-Why-T...
The Economist said it contained 'flashes of wit'
www.amazon.co.uk/Enough-Why-T...
Reposted by Luke Hildyard
“When we realised these jewels were only stolen to inflate the share price of a company whose entire value relies on the wholesale theft of other people’s art, we had no choice but grant immunity,”
Genius from @waterfordwhispers.bsky.social
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/l...
Genius from @waterfordwhispers.bsky.social
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/l...
Louvre Thieves Given Immunity After Confirming Jewels Stolen For Purpose Of Training AI Software
FRENCH POLICE have immediately ended all efforts to recover priceless Napoleon-era jewellery from the Louvre taken in a daring heist after it emerged the jewels were merely stolen for the purposes of ...
waterfordwhispersnews.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:43 PM
“When we realised these jewels were only stolen to inflate the share price of a company whose entire value relies on the wholesale theft of other people’s art, we had no choice but grant immunity,”
Genius from @waterfordwhispers.bsky.social
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/l...
Genius from @waterfordwhispers.bsky.social
waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/l...
Reposted by Luke Hildyard
🚨NEW PAPER🚨
We all know the 2022 energy price shock fueled the cost of living crisis. It also caused a profit bonanza for the very rich. We show the US reaped the largest profits ($377bn) of any country. 50% went to the richest 1%, only 1% to the bottom 50%. A🧵 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We all know the 2022 energy price shock fueled the cost of living crisis. It also caused a profit bonanza for the very rich. We show the US reaped the largest profits ($377bn) of any country. 50% went to the richest 1%, only 1% to the bottom 50%. A🧵 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
October 8, 2025 at 4:50 PM
🚨NEW PAPER🚨
We all know the 2022 energy price shock fueled the cost of living crisis. It also caused a profit bonanza for the very rich. We show the US reaped the largest profits ($377bn) of any country. 50% went to the richest 1%, only 1% to the bottom 50%. A🧵 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We all know the 2022 energy price shock fueled the cost of living crisis. It also caused a profit bonanza for the very rich. We show the US reaped the largest profits ($377bn) of any country. 50% went to the richest 1%, only 1% to the bottom 50%. A🧵 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Just a quick note to say that I am leaving @highpaycentre.bsky.social this week
Many fond memories of nearly 11 years(!) at HPC but narrating the the Liz Truss premiership was certainly a particuarly interesting time
Am moving to @shareaction.bsky.social to work in the UK policy team
Many fond memories of nearly 11 years(!) at HPC but narrating the the Liz Truss premiership was certainly a particuarly interesting time
Am moving to @shareaction.bsky.social to work in the UK policy team
October 6, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Just a quick note to say that I am leaving @highpaycentre.bsky.social this week
Many fond memories of nearly 11 years(!) at HPC but narrating the the Liz Truss premiership was certainly a particuarly interesting time
Am moving to @shareaction.bsky.social to work in the UK policy team
Many fond memories of nearly 11 years(!) at HPC but narrating the the Liz Truss premiership was certainly a particuarly interesting time
Am moving to @shareaction.bsky.social to work in the UK policy team
More likely the exact opposite of this
US has big economic advantages (eg energy resource, younger population) leading to higher per capita wealth.
But still has lower living standards - worse crime, health, poverty - because of extreme free market dogma & refusal to regulate/redistribute
US has big economic advantages (eg energy resource, younger population) leading to higher per capita wealth.
But still has lower living standards - worse crime, health, poverty - because of extreme free market dogma & refusal to regulate/redistribute
The European method for firing workers may feel kinder than the American way. But it comes with hidden costs econ.st/4o0261d
Illustration: Peter Schrank
Illustration: Peter Schrank
October 6, 2025 at 8:56 AM
More likely the exact opposite of this
US has big economic advantages (eg energy resource, younger population) leading to higher per capita wealth.
But still has lower living standards - worse crime, health, poverty - because of extreme free market dogma & refusal to regulate/redistribute
US has big economic advantages (eg energy resource, younger population) leading to higher per capita wealth.
But still has lower living standards - worse crime, health, poverty - because of extreme free market dogma & refusal to regulate/redistribute
Reposted by Luke Hildyard
This deserves *way* more attention than it’s getting
Reform’s former Wales leader admits he received corrupt payments in exchange for making statements in the European Parliament to promote Russia’s interests in #Ukraine.
Reform’s former Wales leader admits he received corrupt payments in exchange for making statements in the European Parliament to promote Russia’s interests in #Ukraine.
Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges
Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges
Gill admits to eight charges while an elected member of the European parliament
Nathan Gill, a former leader of Reform UK in Wales, has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to eight bribery charges while an elected member of the European parliament.
More details soon … Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This deserves *way* more attention than it’s getting
Reform’s former Wales leader admits he received corrupt payments in exchange for making statements in the European Parliament to promote Russia’s interests in #Ukraine.
Reform’s former Wales leader admits he received corrupt payments in exchange for making statements in the European Parliament to promote Russia’s interests in #Ukraine.
The most abominable recent innovation in football, divorcing the game from its purest form, is not VAR but the increased number of substitutions
Everybody should absolutely view this as an invitation to drop your spiciest soccer takes.
lol I’m gonna need bluesky’s biggest soccer post ever to balance out all the politics engagement im burying myself under.
September 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The most abominable recent innovation in football, divorcing the game from its purest form, is not VAR but the increased number of substitutions
Watching Trump's speech to the UN for some reason prompted a second look at this Vice article from 2013...
www.vice.com/en/article/w...
www.vice.com/en/article/w...
We Asked a Military Expert if All the World's Armies Could Shut Down the US
The recent government shutdown almost threw the world into a "deep, dark recession." Maybe it's time the rest of the world said enough is enough. It's time for the rest of the world to get a great big...
www.vice.com
September 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Watching Trump's speech to the UN for some reason prompted a second look at this Vice article from 2013...
www.vice.com/en/article/w...
www.vice.com/en/article/w...
fascinating research from @theifs.bsky.social
most people greatly underestimate wage inequality in their country. Accurate information generally has little impact on policy preferences, but makes far right voters significantly more supportive of redistributive measures
ifs.org.uk/publications...
most people greatly underestimate wage inequality in their country. Accurate information generally has little impact on policy preferences, but makes far right voters significantly more supportive of redistributive measures
ifs.org.uk/publications...
Political polarization, wage inequality and preferences for redistribution | Institute for Fiscal Studies
Using nationally representative, randomized survey experiments, we investigate how beliefs about wage inequality impact preferences for redistribution
ifs.org.uk
September 23, 2025 at 1:25 PM
fascinating research from @theifs.bsky.social
most people greatly underestimate wage inequality in their country. Accurate information generally has little impact on policy preferences, but makes far right voters significantly more supportive of redistributive measures
ifs.org.uk/publications...
most people greatly underestimate wage inequality in their country. Accurate information generally has little impact on policy preferences, but makes far right voters significantly more supportive of redistributive measures
ifs.org.uk/publications...
V interesting to see Nick Clegg use the term "Vassal State" to describe US/UK economic relationship, echoing Angus Hanton's book of the same title
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
guardianbookshop.com/vassal-state...
such an under discussed issue in UK politics
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
guardianbookshop.com/vassal-state...
such an under discussed issue in UK politics
Nick Clegg: US-UK tech deal is ‘sloppy seconds from Silicon Valley’
Meta’s former president of global affairs says agreement will leave UK more reliant on US tech firms
www.theguardian.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:47 AM
V interesting to see Nick Clegg use the term "Vassal State" to describe US/UK economic relationship, echoing Angus Hanton's book of the same title
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
guardianbookshop.com/vassal-state...
such an under discussed issue in UK politics
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
guardianbookshop.com/vassal-state...
such an under discussed issue in UK politics
Reposted by Luke Hildyard
[me, a journalist who spends all day every day on a social media app where the discovery algorithm is personally controlled by its owner, captain birdseye] you know, a lot of people are talking about fish fingers, we should probably cover that
September 16, 2025 at 7:25 AM
[me, a journalist who spends all day every day on a social media app where the discovery algorithm is personally controlled by its owner, captain birdseye] you know, a lot of people are talking about fish fingers, we should probably cover that
Pope Leo XIV, possibly an avid reader of @highpaycentre.bsky.social output, decries rising CEO to worker pay gaps
edition.cnn.com/2025/09/15/b...
edition.cnn.com/2025/09/15/b...
Pope Leo criticizes huge CEO salaries in first interview as Catholic leader | CNN Business
Pope Leo XIV has criticized how the salaries of chief executives dwarf those of their employees, singling out Tesla’s trillion-dollar compensation package for Elon Musk.
edition.cnn.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Pope Leo XIV, possibly an avid reader of @highpaycentre.bsky.social output, decries rising CEO to worker pay gaps
edition.cnn.com/2025/09/15/b...
edition.cnn.com/2025/09/15/b...
I wonder how many UK pension funds are invested in Tesla while the CEO uses the prominence/respectability deriving from his position at the company to call for racial violence in our country?
It feels unlikely that this is consistent with a happy, comfortable retirement for pension savers…
It feels unlikely that this is consistent with a happy, comfortable retirement for pension savers…
There is a serious failure in UK govt, politics & media to take sufficiently seriously what Musk said & meant with "fight back or die"
= Violence (interethnic civil war) is inevitable so pre-emptive violence - vs migrants, minorities & political opponents - is necessary to avoid existential erasure
= Violence (interethnic civil war) is inevitable so pre-emptive violence - vs migrants, minorities & political opponents - is necessary to avoid existential erasure
The common sense meaning should make this Elon Musk's "rivers of blood" moment
Though I think he goes further than Enoch Powell in a couple of important ways
Though I think he goes further than Enoch Powell in a couple of important ways
September 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I wonder how many UK pension funds are invested in Tesla while the CEO uses the prominence/respectability deriving from his position at the company to call for racial violence in our country?
It feels unlikely that this is consistent with a happy, comfortable retirement for pension savers…
It feels unlikely that this is consistent with a happy, comfortable retirement for pension savers…
Reposted by Luke Hildyard
As far as the Anglo consensus is concerned, Spain's assertive centre-left government has done everything wrong: Keynesian, redistributive, socially open, net-zero-friendly, multilateralist, Trump-sceptical.
Yet the governing PSOE just hit 33% in latest CIS poll, above even its 2023 election win.
Yet the governing PSOE just hit 33% in latest CIS poll, above even its 2023 election win.
September 11, 2025 at 5:29 PM
As far as the Anglo consensus is concerned, Spain's assertive centre-left government has done everything wrong: Keynesian, redistributive, socially open, net-zero-friendly, multilateralist, Trump-sceptical.
Yet the governing PSOE just hit 33% in latest CIS poll, above even its 2023 election win.
Yet the governing PSOE just hit 33% in latest CIS poll, above even its 2023 election win.
Barclays CEO paid £10.5m last year says teachers, nurses & local government workers shouldn't get a payrise
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
September 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Barclays CEO paid £10.5m last year says teachers, nurses & local government workers shouldn't get a payrise
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
interesting poll.
would be kind of curious to understand more about the 17% still sticking with the Tories over Reform
would be kind of curious to understand more about the 17% still sticking with the Tories over Reform
📊 Ref lead of 5pts
Westminster voting intention
REF: 27% (-2)
LAB: 22% (+2)
CON: 17% (-)
LDEM: 15% (-)
GRN: 12% (+2)
via @YouGov, 07 - 08 Sep
Chgs. w/ 01 Sep
britainelects.com
Westminster voting intention
REF: 27% (-2)
LAB: 22% (+2)
CON: 17% (-)
LDEM: 15% (-)
GRN: 12% (+2)
via @YouGov, 07 - 08 Sep
Chgs. w/ 01 Sep
britainelects.com
britainelects.com
September 9, 2025 at 11:06 AM
interesting poll.
would be kind of curious to understand more about the 17% still sticking with the Tories over Reform
would be kind of curious to understand more about the 17% still sticking with the Tories over Reform
I was a guest on the 'anti social economics' podcast, supported by @jrf-uk.bsky.social & hosted by @wealtherty.bsky.social of @lseinequalities.bsky.social discussing limits to extreme wealth with Fernanda Balanta of @neweconomics.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/1bFz...
open.spotify.com/episode/1bFz...
Episode 4: When does wealth become harmful? Should there be limits?
open.spotify.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I was a guest on the 'anti social economics' podcast, supported by @jrf-uk.bsky.social & hosted by @wealtherty.bsky.social of @lseinequalities.bsky.social discussing limits to extreme wealth with Fernanda Balanta of @neweconomics.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/1bFz...
open.spotify.com/episode/1bFz...
new High Pay Centre report on FTSE 100 CEO pay
- Median CEO pay up 6.8% to £4.6 million, 122 x pay of the median UK worker
- number of firms paying their CEO over £10 million increased by 30%
- FTSE 100 firms spent £1bn on the pay of just 217 executives
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
- Median CEO pay up 6.8% to £4.6 million, 122 x pay of the median UK worker
- number of firms paying their CEO over £10 million increased by 30%
- FTSE 100 firms spent £1bn on the pay of just 217 executives
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Record salaries for UK chief executives as pay rises for third year in a row
Report finds more than £1bn handed out to just 217 FTSE 100 bosses in the last financial year
www.theguardian.com
August 18, 2025 at 8:02 AM
new High Pay Centre report on FTSE 100 CEO pay
- Median CEO pay up 6.8% to £4.6 million, 122 x pay of the median UK worker
- number of firms paying their CEO over £10 million increased by 30%
- FTSE 100 firms spent £1bn on the pay of just 217 executives
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
- Median CEO pay up 6.8% to £4.6 million, 122 x pay of the median UK worker
- number of firms paying their CEO over £10 million increased by 30%
- FTSE 100 firms spent £1bn on the pay of just 217 executives
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
This surely means they will end up recognising Palestine in September anyway, and in the meantime the conditions will raise awareness of concrete commitments Israel needs to make, in Gaza *and* the West Bank.
Isn’t that actually…better than straight up recognition?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Isn’t that actually…better than straight up recognition?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
UK to recognise Palestinian state unless Israel meets conditions
The PM announces there will be a shift in policy in September, unless Israel takes steps including agreeing a ceasefire in Gaza.
www.bbc.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:23 AM
This surely means they will end up recognising Palestine in September anyway, and in the meantime the conditions will raise awareness of concrete commitments Israel needs to make, in Gaza *and* the West Bank.
Isn’t that actually…better than straight up recognition?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Isn’t that actually…better than straight up recognition?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Enjoyed this guerilla signpost on the rame peninsular in Cornwall
July 28, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Enjoyed this guerilla signpost on the rame peninsular in Cornwall
The risk of attracting lesser people than the current crop of water industry executives seems tolerable for the benefit of sending a firm message about the public service ethos expected of public utility bosses & the limits to indulgence of executive entitlement
A missed opportunity!
A missed opportunity!
July 21, 2025 at 8:37 AM
The risk of attracting lesser people than the current crop of water industry executives seems tolerable for the benefit of sending a firm message about the public service ethos expected of public utility bosses & the limits to indulgence of executive entitlement
A missed opportunity!
A missed opportunity!
It seems inconsistent, to say the least, that the BBC and other critics of 'Bob Vylan' continue to use a tech platform with an AI tool that praised Hitler www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Musk's AI firm deletes posts after Grok chatbot praises Hitler
The announcement came after the Grok AI chatbot gave controversial answers to user queries.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 9, 2025 at 7:34 AM
It seems inconsistent, to say the least, that the BBC and other critics of 'Bob Vylan' continue to use a tech platform with an AI tool that praised Hitler www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Comments to the Guardian for a feature on the pay of infrastructure project leaders, which is very symbolic of the inequality that characterises the UK economy
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
July 7, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Comments to the Guardian for a feature on the pay of infrastructure project leaders, which is very symbolic of the inequality that characterises the UK economy
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Europe's biggest businesses are fined more for corporate misconduct in the US than the EU.
V interesting finding in light of constant agonising re: over regulation in Europe and ongoing dilution of proposed directives on corporate sustainability
goodjobsfirst.org/europes-bigg...
V interesting finding in light of constant agonising re: over regulation in Europe and ongoing dilution of proposed directives on corporate sustainability
goodjobsfirst.org/europes-bigg...
Europe’s Biggest Corporate Lawbreakers at Home and Abroad - Good Jobs First
Europe’s Biggest Corporate Lawbreakers at Home and Abroad - Good Jobs First
goodjobsfirst.org
June 25, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Europe's biggest businesses are fined more for corporate misconduct in the US than the EU.
V interesting finding in light of constant agonising re: over regulation in Europe and ongoing dilution of proposed directives on corporate sustainability
goodjobsfirst.org/europes-bigg...
V interesting finding in light of constant agonising re: over regulation in Europe and ongoing dilution of proposed directives on corporate sustainability
goodjobsfirst.org/europes-bigg...
new @highpaycentre.bsky.social report on CEO to worker pay ratios
Typical FTSE 100 ratio was 106:1 in 2023/24. Highest FTSE 350 ratio was 628:1 at Mitie
Our report discusses idea of a maximum wage, capping CEO pay at a fixed multiple of lower earning colleagues'
highpaycentre.org/ceo-to-worke...
Typical FTSE 100 ratio was 106:1 in 2023/24. Highest FTSE 350 ratio was 628:1 at Mitie
Our report discusses idea of a maximum wage, capping CEO pay at a fixed multiple of lower earning colleagues'
highpaycentre.org/ceo-to-worke...
CEO to worker pay gaps in the FTSE 350: Five years of pay ratio disclosures - High Pay Centre
Five years of pay ratio disclosures show little change in CEO to worker pay gaps
highpaycentre.org
June 16, 2025 at 8:20 AM
new @highpaycentre.bsky.social report on CEO to worker pay ratios
Typical FTSE 100 ratio was 106:1 in 2023/24. Highest FTSE 350 ratio was 628:1 at Mitie
Our report discusses idea of a maximum wage, capping CEO pay at a fixed multiple of lower earning colleagues'
highpaycentre.org/ceo-to-worke...
Typical FTSE 100 ratio was 106:1 in 2023/24. Highest FTSE 350 ratio was 628:1 at Mitie
Our report discusses idea of a maximum wage, capping CEO pay at a fixed multiple of lower earning colleagues'
highpaycentre.org/ceo-to-worke...
Reposted by Luke Hildyard
$M provides clear indication of how much better higher end US consumer is doing than others: Bloomingdales comp UP 3.8% and Macys DOWN 1.9%. Even adjusted for how troubled Macys brand is, a huge gap. $HD $WSM $RL $TPR $URBN $XLY $XLF
May 28, 2025 at 12:05 PM
$M provides clear indication of how much better higher end US consumer is doing than others: Bloomingdales comp UP 3.8% and Macys DOWN 1.9%. Even adjusted for how troubled Macys brand is, a huge gap. $HD $WSM $RL $TPR $URBN $XLY $XLF