Mark Braund
@markbraund.substack.com
Politics, Economics, Culture, Music & Wine (DipWSET, no less)
Writer of fiction:
https://bloomsbury.substack.com
and non-fiction:
https://markbraund.substack.com
https://winestories.substack.com/
https://theguardian.com/profile/markbraund
Writer of fiction:
https://bloomsbury.substack.com
and non-fiction:
https://markbraund.substack.com
https://winestories.substack.com/
https://theguardian.com/profile/markbraund
Pinned
The Possibility of Progress
Twenty years after the publication of my book, it's depressing how little has changed
markbraund.substack.com
My latest post is something I wrote 20 years ago - the synopsis of my 2005 book The Possibility of Progress.
It's depressing how little has changed in two decades, which makes the book, and the synopsis, as relevant as ever.
markbraund.substack.com/p/the-possib...
It's depressing how little has changed in two decades, which makes the book, and the synopsis, as relevant as ever.
markbraund.substack.com/p/the-possib...
Reposted by Mark Braund
the price of populism
"By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
the price of populism
Lily Fontaine. Wow!
The rest of English Teacher were pretty damn good at The Roundhouse tonight too.
The rest of English Teacher were pretty damn good at The Roundhouse tonight too.
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Lily Fontaine. Wow!
The rest of English Teacher were pretty damn good at The Roundhouse tonight too.
The rest of English Teacher were pretty damn good at The Roundhouse tonight too.
The BBC is running scared and this is exactly what Trump wants.
I wonder if anyone from 'the highest levels within the BBC' watched 'The Rise of the Nazis', the excellent series they commissioned a few years ago.
If so, they were clearly not paying attention.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
I wonder if anyone from 'the highest levels within the BBC' watched 'The Rise of the Nazis', the excellent series they commissioned a few years ago.
If so, they were clearly not paying attention.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reith lecturer accuses BBC of censoring his remarks on Trump
Dutch writer Rutger Bregman says claim that Trump was ‘most openly corrupt president in US history’ was removed
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The BBC is running scared and this is exactly what Trump wants.
I wonder if anyone from 'the highest levels within the BBC' watched 'The Rise of the Nazis', the excellent series they commissioned a few years ago.
If so, they were clearly not paying attention.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
I wonder if anyone from 'the highest levels within the BBC' watched 'The Rise of the Nazis', the excellent series they commissioned a few years ago.
If so, they were clearly not paying attention.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
My latest post is something I wrote 20 years ago - the synopsis of my 2005 book The Possibility of Progress.
It's depressing how little has changed in two decades, which makes the book, and the synopsis, as relevant as ever.
markbraund.substack.com/p/the-possib...
It's depressing how little has changed in two decades, which makes the book, and the synopsis, as relevant as ever.
markbraund.substack.com/p/the-possib...
The Possibility of Progress
Twenty years after the publication of my book, it's depressing how little has changed
markbraund.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
My latest post is something I wrote 20 years ago - the synopsis of my 2005 book The Possibility of Progress.
It's depressing how little has changed in two decades, which makes the book, and the synopsis, as relevant as ever.
markbraund.substack.com/p/the-possib...
It's depressing how little has changed in two decades, which makes the book, and the synopsis, as relevant as ever.
markbraund.substack.com/p/the-possib...
@stephenkb.bsky.social at his very best this morning on Labour's failure to condemn racism.
on.ft.com/4i2b5x0
on.ft.com/4i2b5x0
Defence of Labour asylum policy reveals backsliding on racism
Home secretary’s framing of failures is partly low politics, but also a result of ministers’ poor approach to race relations
on.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:45 AM
@stephenkb.bsky.social at his very best this morning on Labour's failure to condemn racism.
on.ft.com/4i2b5x0
on.ft.com/4i2b5x0
Great obituary of human rights and race lawyer, Sir Geoffrey Bindman.
A remarkable man and a brilliant career.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
A remarkable man and a brilliant career.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Sir Geoffrey Bindman obituary
Human rights lawyer who helped to expand Britain’s Race Relations Act and investigated apartheid in South Africa
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Great obituary of human rights and race lawyer, Sir Geoffrey Bindman.
A remarkable man and a brilliant career.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
A remarkable man and a brilliant career.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
This is a great piece by Antara Haldar @projectsyndicate.bsky.social.
Our wilful misreading of Adam Smith has left the discipline of economics unable to adapt to the challenges the world now faces.
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/a...
Our wilful misreading of Adam Smith has left the discipline of economics unable to adapt to the challenges the world now faces.
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/a...
Adam Smith and the Moral Economy We Have Lost
Antara Haldar reflects on an age-old misunderstanding about what the great Enlightenment thinker actually argued.
www.project-syndicate.org
November 9, 2025 at 12:09 PM
This is a great piece by Antara Haldar @projectsyndicate.bsky.social.
Our wilful misreading of Adam Smith has left the discipline of economics unable to adapt to the challenges the world now faces.
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/a...
Our wilful misreading of Adam Smith has left the discipline of economics unable to adapt to the challenges the world now faces.
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/a...
Reposted by Mark Braund
Another excellent communicator for the Greens. Brava, @rachelmillward.bsky.social
Here's a clip from when I spoke to the Northern Rose at Green Party Conference about how I got involved in politics and how the Greens aim to address inequality.
November 2, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Another excellent communicator for the Greens. Brava, @rachelmillward.bsky.social
Paint it Black, bloody autocorrect. And they played the whole set dressed as Fontaines DC. Not sure if I've ever heard so much noise at the end of a gig.
So, after playing essentially the same set all tour, at the last show tonight at Brixton Academy, Black Country, New Road open with Highway to Hell and also drop in a cover of Painted Black.
Both done superbly.
What a supremely talented group of musicians.
#bcnr
Both done superbly.
What a supremely talented group of musicians.
#bcnr
November 1, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Paint it Black, bloody autocorrect. And they played the whole set dressed as Fontaines DC. Not sure if I've ever heard so much noise at the end of a gig.
So, after playing essentially the same set all tour, at the last show tonight at Brixton Academy, Black Country, New Road open with Highway to Hell and also drop in a cover of Painted Black.
Both done superbly.
What a supremely talented group of musicians.
#bcnr
Both done superbly.
What a supremely talented group of musicians.
#bcnr
October 31, 2025 at 11:33 PM
So, after playing essentially the same set all tour, at the last show tonight at Brixton Academy, Black Country, New Road open with Highway to Hell and also drop in a cover of Painted Black.
Both done superbly.
What a supremely talented group of musicians.
#bcnr
Both done superbly.
What a supremely talented group of musicians.
#bcnr
Obviously I haven't watched Question Time for years, as it's about as useful to political discourse in Britain, as an episode of Strictly.
But Matthew Goodwin, for god's sake. In 1940, decent people were asking why people like him weren't interned in 1933.
But Matthew Goodwin, for god's sake. In 1940, decent people were asking why people like him weren't interned in 1933.
So why does the BBC label the academic and economist Faiza Shaheen an "activist" but refuse to do the same for the former academic, turned anti-migrant activist Matt Goodwin?
October 30, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Obviously I haven't watched Question Time for years, as it's about as useful to political discourse in Britain, as an episode of Strictly.
But Matthew Goodwin, for god's sake. In 1940, decent people were asking why people like him weren't interned in 1933.
But Matthew Goodwin, for god's sake. In 1940, decent people were asking why people like him weren't interned in 1933.
John Maynard Keynes will be spinning in his grave at what this government, and the previous one, have allowed to happen with the Arts Council.
slippedisc.com/2025/10/arts...
slippedisc.com/2025/10/arts...
Arts Council England is falling apart - Slippedisc
Today’s apology from a flailing organisation, no longer...
slippedisc.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:36 PM
John Maynard Keynes will be spinning in his grave at what this government, and the previous one, have allowed to happen with the Arts Council.
slippedisc.com/2025/10/arts...
slippedisc.com/2025/10/arts...
As of this evening I've seen Black Country, New Road play live more times than any band other than Peter Hammill/Van der Graff Generator.
Which I guess makes them my second favourite band of all time.
Their set tonight at Brighton Dome was sensational.
Brixton Academy tomorrow night!
#bcnr #vdgg
Which I guess makes them my second favourite band of all time.
Their set tonight at Brighton Dome was sensational.
Brixton Academy tomorrow night!
#bcnr #vdgg
October 30, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Reposted by Mark Braund
It was also shocking driving on the Oxford ring road and seeing the flags festooned on lampposts, which the council hasn’t dared remove
The other day my cat wee’d on the sofa a friend was sitting on (he’s got bad habits!)
The flag and my cat, both sending the same message:
My territory! F**k off!
The other day my cat wee’d on the sofa a friend was sitting on (he’s got bad habits!)
The flag and my cat, both sending the same message:
My territory! F**k off!
Been back to my childhood village in Essex for a funeral.
High Street is littered with tatty flags attached to every lamp post and telegraph pole, and by God, it looks awful.
Everyone I spoke to hates them. So intimidating. Apparently- "Epping Forest council is scared of offending the nasties."
High Street is littered with tatty flags attached to every lamp post and telegraph pole, and by God, it looks awful.
Everyone I spoke to hates them. So intimidating. Apparently- "Epping Forest council is scared of offending the nasties."
October 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
It was also shocking driving on the Oxford ring road and seeing the flags festooned on lampposts, which the council hasn’t dared remove
The other day my cat wee’d on the sofa a friend was sitting on (he’s got bad habits!)
The flag and my cat, both sending the same message:
My territory! F**k off!
The other day my cat wee’d on the sofa a friend was sitting on (he’s got bad habits!)
The flag and my cat, both sending the same message:
My territory! F**k off!
Reposted by Mark Braund
Mounting a resolute defence against the far right on immigration is necessary but not sufficient. We need aggressively pro-immigration voices - like this - in UK politics. Actively welcoming migrants is morally right and better for everyone. Make that case and put the bigots on the defensive.
The end of free movement of people with the European Union has been a “disaster” for the UK that should be urgently reversed, new Green Party leader Zack Polanski told POLITICO — in his first major intervention on EU policy.
Ending EU free movement a ‘disaster’ for Britain, says Green Party’s Zack Polanski
The party’s new leader calls for the migration pact to be reinstated as he sets out his stall on Brexit.
www.politico.eu
October 29, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Mounting a resolute defence against the far right on immigration is necessary but not sufficient. We need aggressively pro-immigration voices - like this - in UK politics. Actively welcoming migrants is morally right and better for everyone. Make that case and put the bigots on the defensive.
Reposted by Mark Braund
Your daily reminder that the government continues to commercially support an individual who wants to destroy it through fascist violence.
Elon musk: ‘Civil war in Britain is inevitable. Just a question of when.’
October 29, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Your daily reminder that the government continues to commercially support an individual who wants to destroy it through fascist violence.
The @nytimes.com still does the best obituaries.
This one, of the great Jack DeJohnette, is especially good.
#jazz
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/a...
This one, of the great Jack DeJohnette, is especially good.
#jazz
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/a...
Jack DeJohnette, Revered Jazz Drummer, Dies at 83
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The @nytimes.com still does the best obituaries.
This one, of the great Jack DeJohnette, is especially good.
#jazz
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/a...
This one, of the great Jack DeJohnette, is especially good.
#jazz
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/a...
There is so much wrong with the Church of England owning so much land, but the very least they could do is manage it properly and invest in nature.
Which is why I signed this:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pr...
Which is why I signed this:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pr...
Help save nature by rewilding the Church’s massive landholdings!
We need to rewild 30% of the planet to restore nature & protect our wildlife, but Britain is falling behind. So I've signed this new petition calling on one of our biggest landowners - the Church ...
you.38degrees.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 11:54 AM
There is so much wrong with the Church of England owning so much land, but the very least they could do is manage it properly and invest in nature.
Which is why I signed this:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pr...
Which is why I signed this:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/pr...
If it was a choice between the likes of Trump, Farage and Le Pen or putting the military in charge I'd go for the military.
People who understand how the world works and can see what's likely to happen going forward.
Just the kind of visionary politics we need.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
People who understand how the world works and can see what's likely to happen going forward.
Just the kind of visionary politics we need.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Renewable energy investment should come from defence budgets, say retired military leaders
Former European officers say spending on low-carbon power would make nations more resilient to threats from potential aggressors
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
If it was a choice between the likes of Trump, Farage and Le Pen or putting the military in charge I'd go for the military.
People who understand how the world works and can see what's likely to happen going forward.
Just the kind of visionary politics we need.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
People who understand how the world works and can see what's likely to happen going forward.
Just the kind of visionary politics we need.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Mark Braund
If Labour cannot denounce mass deportation of permanent residents, Idi Amin style, what is the point of them?
October 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
If Labour cannot denounce mass deportation of permanent residents, Idi Amin style, what is the point of them?
The US is over.
Can you imagine if Keir Starmer got private companies that he had direct power over and rich donors who wanted deregulation to pay £250 million in donations to knock down part of Big Ben to make his own little special tower? Because that's what Trump is doing to the White House literally right now.
October 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
The US is over.
Political culture and media culture.
What we need to do now is to ask what it is about our political culture that caused us to get so important a decision so wrong.
This in FT this morning 👇
October 20, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Political culture and media culture.
What a stupid question. Of course they have. It always happens when public money is used to improve infrastructure. It's why we need a land value tax.
#lvt
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#lvt
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Elizabeth line: Has it led to a rise in rental prices? - BBC News
Data suggests rents along the line's route have risen disproportionately since it opened in 2022.
www.bbc.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:37 AM
What a stupid question. Of course they have. It always happens when public money is used to improve infrastructure. It's why we need a land value tax.
#lvt
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#lvt
www.bbc.com/news/article...
