Simon Jeffrey
@simonjeffrey.bsky.social
Personal opinions about transport and devolution policy.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
Pretty minor in the grand scheme of factional things, but can’t help feeling Burnham might have managed a slightly less embarrassing margin if his letter yesterday had in any way acknowledged and justified the costs to the party and the demands on activists of a Greater Manchester-wide by-election.
NEW: Andy Burnham *blocked* from standing in the Gorton and Denton byelection. Of nine voting members on NEC group was 8-1 against him.
January 25, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Pretty minor in the grand scheme of factional things, but can’t help feeling Burnham might have managed a slightly less embarrassing margin if his letter yesterday had in any way acknowledged and justified the costs to the party and the demands on activists of a Greater Manchester-wide by-election.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
Very good to see. To me, the breakdown of the EU-UK negotiations on SAFE were a big failure for both sides, just as it is becoming even more necessary to cooperate on European defence. Will require flexibility from both sides to overcome the blockade though.
UK to make fresh push to join EU defence fund ft.trib.al/DCofR1f
UK to make fresh push to join EU defence fund
Talks that are due to take place next month take on fresh urgency after the transatlantic rupture in Davos
ft.trib.al
January 23, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Very good to see. To me, the breakdown of the EU-UK negotiations on SAFE were a big failure for both sides, just as it is becoming even more necessary to cooperate on European defence. Will require flexibility from both sides to overcome the blockade though.
The cumulative benefit of each of these schemes builds and builds. Network effects of ‘nice’ are powerful.
Cramped footpaths no longer. Camden Council plans to pedestrianize the street in front of the British Museum.
January 23, 2026 at 3:40 PM
The cumulative benefit of each of these schemes builds and builds. Network effects of ‘nice’ are powerful.
European Parliamernt delays ratification of Mercosur deal for two years. Still time - somehow - for UK to use the much heralded agility and speed that being outside the CU supposedly brings to copy that deal. Truss sold the farm to Australia and NZ, might as well let Brazil and Argentina compete.
Know it’s not how trade deals work but feels like a missed opportunity to at least try to use Brexit to offer Mercosur a carbon copy with pro-rata’d quotas. We’re much smaller than EU but Mercosur might see it as way to add pressure on EU getting the deal sorted.
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen plans to give governments early access to the bloc’s cash for farmers as the Brussels executive pulls out the stops to get national capitals to give the green light to a trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc.
January 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM
European Parliamernt delays ratification of Mercosur deal for two years. Still time - somehow - for UK to use the much heralded agility and speed that being outside the CU supposedly brings to copy that deal. Truss sold the farm to Australia and NZ, might as well let Brazil and Argentina compete.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
Very strong demand at this morning's gilt auction - bids worth 3.66 times the £4.75 billion on offer for a 4% gilt due in 2029.
It ranks as the 9th strongest out of the 1,208 auctions held since 1998.
DMO said to be ecstatic, someone has broken out a packet of Blue Ribands.
It ranks as the 9th strongest out of the 1,208 auctions held since 1998.
DMO said to be ecstatic, someone has broken out a packet of Blue Ribands.
January 21, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Very strong demand at this morning's gilt auction - bids worth 3.66 times the £4.75 billion on offer for a 4% gilt due in 2029.
It ranks as the 9th strongest out of the 1,208 auctions held since 1998.
DMO said to be ecstatic, someone has broken out a packet of Blue Ribands.
It ranks as the 9th strongest out of the 1,208 auctions held since 1998.
DMO said to be ecstatic, someone has broken out a packet of Blue Ribands.
This is actually hurting my brain.
Reform 'hypocrite' blasted as letter to Joe Biden about Chagos Islands emerges
Andrew Rosindell, who defected to Nigel Farage's Reform UK at the weekend, wrote to Joe Biden in December 2020 saying failure to 'decolonise' the Chagos Islands was causing international anger
www.mirror.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 8:37 AM
This is actually hurting my brain.
The Land of Green's most ferocious overseas defenders are unsurprisingly found in their Party of Green kinsfolk. Willing to destroy Britain for the honour of the Motherland.
If the US seized Greenland by force, Reform UK and Tory voters tend to think Europe's response should be diplomatic only, while Labour and Lib Dems tend to favour economic retaliation
Greens are split between diplomacy, economic and military reactions
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Greens are split between diplomacy, economic and military reactions
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
January 20, 2026 at 12:24 PM
The Land of Green's most ferocious overseas defenders are unsurprisingly found in their Party of Green kinsfolk. Willing to destroy Britain for the honour of the Motherland.
Scotland starting from a more severe stadium alcohol ban than England. But odd that Nandy hasn’t ever backed allowing English football fans to have a beer in the stands rather than rush them pre-match and half time. Could offer as a quid pro quo for clubs that offer cheaper tickets to under 30s.
Supporters may be allowed to buy alcohol at Scotland match prior to World Cup
Supporters could be allowed to buy alcohol at a Scotland match later this year as part of a plan aimed at lifting the booze ban in Scottish football.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Scotland starting from a more severe stadium alcohol ban than England. But odd that Nandy hasn’t ever backed allowing English football fans to have a beer in the stands rather than rush them pre-match and half time. Could offer as a quid pro quo for clubs that offer cheaper tickets to under 30s.
Great fun this one. Negative polarisation is a hell of a drug and a President Trump endorsement for Vote Leave probably reverses the result, nevemind the more propitious circumstances of summer 2017.
GE results in Oz/Can show Trump is the dream opponent in elections everywhere (except in the US!)
GE results in Oz/Can show Trump is the dream opponent in elections everywhere (except in the US!)
One of my favourite counterfactuals: would a summer 2017 referendum (post Trump) have returned a different result?
The security argument wouldn’t have been laughed at.
The security argument wouldn’t have been laughed at.
January 19, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Great fun this one. Negative polarisation is a hell of a drug and a President Trump endorsement for Vote Leave probably reverses the result, nevemind the more propitious circumstances of summer 2017.
GE results in Oz/Can show Trump is the dream opponent in elections everywhere (except in the US!)
GE results in Oz/Can show Trump is the dream opponent in elections everywhere (except in the US!)
Think the window for an emergency Budget to raise the income tax to fund the Strategic Defence Review might have just reopened
January 17, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Think the window for an emergency Budget to raise the income tax to fund the Strategic Defence Review might have just reopened
Councillors reject their own council’s proposals for a Garden Village on empty fields next to TWO train stations on a line with 2tph into Manchester Picadilly (journey time 17m).
Uncertainty clouds Godley Green aspirations - Place North West
An amended application for Tameside’s proposed 2,150-home garden village has been rejected by councillors, throwing the flagship project off track.
www.placenorthwest.co.uk
January 17, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Councillors reject their own council’s proposals for a Garden Village on empty fields next to TWO train stations on a line with 2tph into Manchester Picadilly (journey time 17m).
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
I mean. Just on another level.
January 16, 2026 at 5:37 PM
I mean. Just on another level.
Liz Truss enjoying her first week in her role as a US govt trade spokesperson.
US ACCUSES EU OF SEEKING CHEESE ‘MONOPOLY’ IN MERCOSUR DEAL- FT
January 16, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Liz Truss enjoying her first week in her role as a US govt trade spokesperson.
OR 'Govt limits powers of Mayor to increase police funding in London'.
Article highlights that GLA now covers 25% the Met's budget. About par for a big city force apparently, whereas more rural constabularies are closer to 40-50% covered by local precepts.
Article highlights that GLA now covers 25% the Met's budget. About par for a big city force apparently, whereas more rural constabularies are closer to 40-50% covered by local precepts.
January 16, 2026 at 11:05 AM
OR 'Govt limits powers of Mayor to increase police funding in London'.
Article highlights that GLA now covers 25% the Met's budget. About par for a big city force apparently, whereas more rural constabularies are closer to 40-50% covered by local precepts.
Article highlights that GLA now covers 25% the Met's budget. About par for a big city force apparently, whereas more rural constabularies are closer to 40-50% covered by local precepts.
Agree largely. A 20yr, ~£2.2bn/yr enhancement fund for railways in the North has the best chance of improvements to supply chains to deliver as well as avoid risk of cuts/delays that HS2 scale annual budget bulges (£7bn this year) create. A rolling, expanded TRU fund under local influence is good.
Britain’s HS2 rail project was appallingly managed. But the basic idea was sound. The government seems to have learned from past errors with its latest strategy
The British government’s railway plans are exceedingly sensible
Rather too sensible
econ.st
January 16, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Agree largely. A 20yr, ~£2.2bn/yr enhancement fund for railways in the North has the best chance of improvements to supply chains to deliver as well as avoid risk of cuts/delays that HS2 scale annual budget bulges (£7bn this year) create. A rolling, expanded TRU fund under local influence is good.
Ignoring the Westminster political storm the morning after the elections, Govt should actually respect the wishes of Plaid and SNP voters - and treat these national elections seriously in their own right rather than as referendum on Starmer - by agreeing to deliver on their fiscal autonomy demands.
Skipping to one of the other devolved legislatures, if you are not watching the developing political earthquake in Wales, you need to start. A lot of the potential drama of the Holyrood election has evaporated, and good gods has the Senedd stepped up. www.itv.com/news/wales/2...
January 13, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Ignoring the Westminster political storm the morning after the elections, Govt should actually respect the wishes of Plaid and SNP voters - and treat these national elections seriously in their own right rather than as referendum on Starmer - by agreeing to deliver on their fiscal autonomy demands.
A shame. If they actually create it and it becomes the most convenient way to access public services and the private sector follows then that’s still fine. Govt should provide one to every 16 year old on their birthday as an ID to use for voting/theory test, get a Saturday job, YP travel/railcard.
Government drops plans for mandatory digital ID to work in UK
Government drops plans for mandatory digital ID to work in UK
There will still be digital checks on those starting a new job, but people will not need to hold a digital ID.
www.bbc.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:02 PM
A shame. If they actually create it and it becomes the most convenient way to access public services and the private sector follows then that’s still fine. Govt should provide one to every 16 year old on their birthday as an ID to use for voting/theory test, get a Saturday job, YP travel/railcard.
Not the most exciting draw. FA Cup could engineer a lot more ‘magic’ if we copied the Copa del Rey which moved to always having the lower division side play at home a few years
FA Cup fourth-round draw: Macclesfield v Brentford, Man City v Swindon/Salford & Aston Villa v Newcastle
FA Cup fourth-round draw: Macclesfield v Brentford, Man City v Swindon/Salford & Aston Villa v Newcastle
Sixth-tier Macclesfield are rewarded with a home tie against Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round after their shock win over holders Crystal Palace.
www.bbc.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Not the most exciting draw. FA Cup could engineer a lot more ‘magic’ if we copied the Copa del Rey which moved to always having the lower division side play at home a few years
Cooper keeping the police and crime precept cap at £14 for was so pointless. Giving councils/mayors more flex on that would ease some funding issues, improve outcomes and potentially been tricky to oppose for the 'Khan's London is a crime ridden hell hole' crowd.
Our sustained focus on being tough on crime and its complex causes is working.
This includes investing in intervention and prevention work led by my Violence Reduction Unit, and supporting the Met by more than doubling our investment in policing.
This includes investing in intervention and prevention work led by my Violence Reduction Unit, and supporting the Met by more than doubling our investment in policing.
January 12, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Cooper keeping the police and crime precept cap at £14 for was so pointless. Giving councils/mayors more flex on that would ease some funding issues, improve outcomes and potentially been tricky to oppose for the 'Khan's London is a crime ridden hell hole' crowd.
This was great. FA and Premier League should rip it off as a Community Shield replacement. Avoids the Game 39 nonsense. Sell a 4-team Super Cup tournament to highest international bidder for £80m-£100m.
Barcelona win the Spanish Super Cup beating Real Madrid! 🏆✨ Who’s been your Man of the Match?
January 11, 2026 at 9:08 PM
This was great. FA and Premier League should rip it off as a Community Shield replacement. Avoids the Game 39 nonsense. Sell a 4-team Super Cup tournament to highest international bidder for £80m-£100m.
Are people thinking small boats? Or is it the immigration/inflation issue: experts say ‘inflation falling’, public says ‘no prices are still rising’. So experts say ‘immigration falling’ and public see ‘more immigrants than ever’. Talking past each other. Up to gov/media to speak public’s language.
January 10, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Are people thinking small boats? Or is it the immigration/inflation issue: experts say ‘inflation falling’, public says ‘no prices are still rising’. So experts say ‘immigration falling’ and public see ‘more immigrants than ever’. Talking past each other. Up to gov/media to speak public’s language.
Palace delivering more Cup magic of a different kind here
January 10, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Palace delivering more Cup magic of a different kind here
Can someone steel man this as not crass and weird? To use a murder as your hook to say ‘this is why mayors are good’. Would rather them to just say ‘we’re appalled’ than this. But probably prefer them to say nothing about foreign policy unless asked.
January 10, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Can someone steel man this as not crass and weird? To use a murder as your hook to say ‘this is why mayors are good’. Would rather them to just say ‘we’re appalled’ than this. But probably prefer them to say nothing about foreign policy unless asked.
A freeze is far too good for the personal allowance. Actively cut it down to £10k. Turn back the clock to the good times of 2007 before this Paul Marshall/Mark Littlewood infused Lib Dem policy was jumped on by the Tories.
With the six-year tax threshold freeze extended by another three years in the November Budget, 78% of the real personal allowance increases will be reversed.
But the personal allowance will still be £1,350 higher in real terms in 2030 than in 2010.
But the personal allowance will still be £1,350 higher in real terms in 2030 than in 2010.
January 9, 2026 at 6:27 PM
A freeze is far too good for the personal allowance. Actively cut it down to £10k. Turn back the clock to the good times of 2007 before this Paul Marshall/Mark Littlewood infused Lib Dem policy was jumped on by the Tories.
The public knows. Sheffield City Region rather than South Yorks. Cambridge City Region rather than Cambs and Peterborough would correct regional boundary errors. And they may hate it but so would Humberside over Greater Lincs. Surprised by Shropshire but Robbie Williams any is canonically Northern.
Where do the North and South of England begin?
Based on the answers of 46,000 English people about where they live, the southern border of “the North” is a line roughly from Shrewsbury to Grimsby, while the northern border of “the South” is a line roughly from the Severn to Great Yarmouth
Based on the answers of 46,000 English people about where they live, the southern border of “the North” is a line roughly from Shrewsbury to Grimsby, while the northern border of “the South” is a line roughly from the Severn to Great Yarmouth
January 9, 2026 at 1:16 PM
The public knows. Sheffield City Region rather than South Yorks. Cambridge City Region rather than Cambs and Peterborough would correct regional boundary errors. And they may hate it but so would Humberside over Greater Lincs. Surprised by Shropshire but Robbie Williams any is canonically Northern.