Simon Parker
@simonparker.bsky.social
Public servant in search of a better future. Communities and service users first. Desires to unbuild walls.
Pinned
Simon Parker
@simonparker.bsky.social
· Jul 21
Basically funding #localgov is the nearest thing we have to a silver bullet. We're last in line for funding because we don't deliver any single, big improvement. But what we can do is make everything a bit better, and it doesn't even cost very much.
My grandfather was a farm labourer. I am a senior local government officer. Social mobility is bloody marvellous and working with your hands in a mine or a cowshed is not inherently good for the soul.
Glasman has such a sepia-tinted view of class, and zero ability to recognise the way economy and society has changed - in good and bad ways. Precarity, the new working class - there is lots of good thinking about this. To call him a third-rate theorist would be an insult to third-rate theorists.
there's a lot to unpack here Lord Glasman
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
My grandfather was a farm labourer. I am a senior local government officer. Social mobility is bloody marvellous and working with your hands in a mine or a cowshed is not inherently good for the soul.
Reposted by Simon Parker
Tourist Levy (tax) incoming www.gov.uk/government/n...
Levy on overnight trips will help mayors invest in local growth
England’s mayors will be able to invest in transport, infrastructure, and the visitor economy through a new levy on overnight stays.
www.gov.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Tourist Levy (tax) incoming www.gov.uk/government/n...
Middle class people and their bloody packaged lattes. Soak them all I say.
November 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Middle class people and their bloody packaged lattes. Soak them all I say.
Reposted by Simon Parker
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Worth more than £2m when? Today? Or in 1992 when all the other council tax bands were set?
Homes worth more than £2mn set to be hit by Budget raid on.ft.com/4rocFhe
Homes worth more than £2mn set to be hit by Budget raid
‘Mansion tax’ set to affect more than 100,000 properties, mostly in London and the south-east
on.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Worth more than £2m when? Today? Or in 1992 when all the other council tax bands were set?
There is too much polling. And it all shows that people support more taxes for someone else.
With Rachel Reeves reportedly set to apply a new tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, most Britons support such a move at the previously mooted level of 6%
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
November 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
There is too much polling. And it all shows that people support more taxes for someone else.
HMT is the Wizard of Oz. Secretive, forbidding and powerful, it speaks its own language and demands you explain yourself on its terms. Treasury civil servants thrive because only they know how the system really works. But pull back the curtain and it's just a finance dept stuffed with accountants.
New paper, 'Ministers reflect on the Treasury' from @paddy-mcalary.bsky.social and me for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Pre-budget, we've compiled insights from 10 years of Ministers Reflect interviews, plus rex from the IfG catalogue on HMT. Favourite quotes to follow! 1/🧵 tinyurl.com/38anhkc7
![Quote graphic with “#Ministers Reflect” and a statement about the chancellor’s power over money, attributed to Jeremy Hunt — Chancellor of the Exchequer (2022–24), whose portrait appears to the right of the quote. The quote reads: "I think most of your power does revolve around the decisions you can make over money [...as chancellor] that puts you in a very different position to every other cabinet minister, including the prime minister." The Institute for Government logo is in the corner of the image.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yafpzg4e4ibpubp33xsq5v7q/bafkreigoe7oaqk4kw45ex74usg7hdlkwwkyrhgqk7qn6iacyfcrrujfiym@jpeg)
November 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
HMT is the Wizard of Oz. Secretive, forbidding and powerful, it speaks its own language and demands you explain yourself on its terms. Treasury civil servants thrive because only they know how the system really works. But pull back the curtain and it's just a finance dept stuffed with accountants.
Very niche council tax moan incoming... the fair funding review penalises parts of the country with below-average tax and says it wants to move to full equalisation. But you can only raise council tax by 4.99% and we all take the max. So places with low rates can never catch up.
November 24, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Very niche council tax moan incoming... the fair funding review penalises parts of the country with below-average tax and says it wants to move to full equalisation. But you can only raise council tax by 4.99% and we all take the max. So places with low rates can never catch up.
This normalisation of neo-Nazism is off the scale. Stop.
Why Republicans can’t ignore Nick Fuentes, the new bad boy of Maga
The antisemitic far-right provocateur has grown into a voice for angry young white nationalists who feel betrayed by Trump
The antisemitic far-right provocateur has grown into a voice for angry young white nationalists who feel betrayed by Trump
Why Republicans can’t ignore Nick Fuentes, the new bad boy of Maga
Why Republicans can’t ignore Nick Fuentes, the new bad boy of Maga
www.thetimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:20 PM
This normalisation of neo-Nazism is off the scale. Stop.
Reposted by Simon Parker
New @resolutionfoundation.org @safety-nets.bsky.social report on the localisation of social security since 2013: Support delivered by local authorities isn't well understood but is an increasingly important part of the social security system: real spending on it is now 122 times higher than 2010-11
The localisation era • Resolution Foundation
This report is part of the project Safety Nets: social security for families in a devolved UK, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. It examines the growth of localised social security in the UK from 201...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
November 20, 2025 at 11:56 AM
New @resolutionfoundation.org @safety-nets.bsky.social report on the localisation of social security since 2013: Support delivered by local authorities isn't well understood but is an increasingly important part of the social security system: real spending on it is now 122 times higher than 2010-11
He's very good, that Adrian Harvey.
Happy Publication Day to me!
“Harvey weaves a magnetic tale of human hope and betrayal with depth and insight. A triumph.”
A gripping story of politics and power, of loyalty and betrayal, and of the good intentions that pave the road to hell.
Available now from wherever you buy your books.
“Harvey weaves a magnetic tale of human hope and betrayal with depth and insight. A triumph.”
A gripping story of politics and power, of loyalty and betrayal, and of the good intentions that pave the road to hell.
Available now from wherever you buy your books.
November 20, 2025 at 2:17 PM
He's very good, that Adrian Harvey.
For the love of god... the more left wing party is always red. NOT BLUE.
Get with the programme yanks.
Get with the programme yanks.
November 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
For the love of god... the more left wing party is always red. NOT BLUE.
Get with the programme yanks.
Get with the programme yanks.
The Guardian continues to be the voice of the NIMBY class. And the good people of Cambridge continue to both desperately want good quality, sustainable transport and to passionately object to any scheme that might actually deliver it.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Sustainable’ Cambridge busway will cause irreversible ecological harm, inquiry told
Planned route linking Cambourne to Cambridge will go through one of county’s last traditional orchards
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The Guardian continues to be the voice of the NIMBY class. And the good people of Cambridge continue to both desperately want good quality, sustainable transport and to passionately object to any scheme that might actually deliver it.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
From what I'm hearing London's political map is going to be absolutely transformed.
One to bookmark for when Labour collapse in London next May
Oh
November 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
From what I'm hearing London's political map is going to be absolutely transformed.
Reposted by Simon Parker
I forget who said it originally, but the thing about unsustainable policies is they can't go on forever.
In other news look at councils projected cumulative deficit just on special needs costs over the next few years. Yikes.
November 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I forget who said it originally, but the thing about unsustainable policies is they can't go on forever.
This is interesting. Slight danger it's Foundations for Centrist Dads... but the idea that we should focus on the things we are actually good at seems sound. Certainly better than wishing we could start from somewhere else.
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Getting Britain out of the hole
A plan for the UK economy
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 17, 2025 at 1:18 PM
This is interesting. Slight danger it's Foundations for Centrist Dads... but the idea that we should focus on the things we are actually good at seems sound. Certainly better than wishing we could start from somewhere else.
One thing I've greatly enjoyed over the past few days is hearing government advisors diss every salary sacrifice tax break as a middle class thing. Only shiraz sipping bastards cycle to work! Yacht-dwelling latte sippers don't need pensions! Ed Miliband drives an EV!
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
One thing I've greatly enjoyed over the past few days is hearing government advisors diss every salary sacrifice tax break as a middle class thing. Only shiraz sipping bastards cycle to work! Yacht-dwelling latte sippers don't need pensions! Ed Miliband drives an EV!
This is one of those rate instances where the Laffer Curve may actually work - and cutting headline rates will pay for itself by increasing taxable income. I know for a lot of people this is world's smallest violin territory but these cliff edges are just bad policy.
NEW - we've data showing huge numbers of people reducing their income to avoid high marginal income tax rates. Not just at the £100k point (as previously reported). But at the £50k point:
November 14, 2025 at 12:57 PM
This is one of those rate instances where the Laffer Curve may actually work - and cutting headline rates will pay for itself by increasing taxable income. I know for a lot of people this is world's smallest violin territory but these cliff edges are just bad policy.
Good.
BREAKING Home Office is about to announce that police and crime commissioners are to be scrapped..
Established in 2012 by Theresa May, Labour has never been a fan of the PCC system…they’ll be replaced in 2028 by policing mayors & local policing boards ..
Established in 2012 by Theresa May, Labour has never been a fan of the PCC system…they’ll be replaced in 2028 by policing mayors & local policing boards ..
November 13, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Good.
My ancestral voices are telling me to go and sheer some sheep before developing a nasty case of rickets and dying in my 40s. But they don't tell you about that on Blue Peter.
I would comment more on this tweet but my ancestral voices are telling me to go buy 20 woodbine and head down the bookies
November 13, 2025 at 10:57 AM
My ancestral voices are telling me to go and sheer some sheep before developing a nasty case of rickets and dying in my 40s. But they don't tell you about that on Blue Peter.
Yeah but this whole thread is dodging the only question that matters...
The way our current timeline is going someone's going to clone Hitler aren't they
Exclusive: Adolf Hitler’s DNA has been sequenced by scientists
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
November 13, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Yeah but this whole thread is dodging the only question that matters...
The best take I've seen on this is to create a citizen's assembly to govern the BBC. Let ordinary people decide whether that Trump edit was important, or whether failing to take Bob Vylan off the rewind function really mattered.
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 10, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The best take I've seen on this is to create a citizen's assembly to govern the BBC. Let ordinary people decide whether that Trump edit was important, or whether failing to take Bob Vylan off the rewind function really mattered.
Reposted by Simon Parker
Just absolutely classic BBC. You've just broadcast the most successful programme of the year, uniting Gen Z kids online and Boomers on broadcast in a return to appointment television. And instead of celebrating, your DG reigns due to a made-up right-wing scandal.
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Just absolutely classic BBC. You've just broadcast the most successful programme of the year, uniting Gen Z kids online and Boomers on broadcast in a return to appointment television. And instead of celebrating, your DG reigns due to a made-up right-wing scandal.
Reposted by Simon Parker
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
China has made cheap, clean energy available in huge quantities. The world should take the win econ.st/4oqFszB
Photo: Eyevine
Photo: Eyevine
November 7, 2025 at 7:10 AM
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
We're going to dismantle the legacy state with our new ID cards and in-car trackers, enabling better and cheaper public services. It will feel like a sort of friendly and reassuring 'big brother' figure is with you at all times.
Year one: "We can work it out as an estimate"
Year two: "Oh, look, lots of people are dodging the system!"
Year three: "We need to fit mandatory trackers to every car in the country."
Year four plus: "Why shouldn't tracker data be used in evidence? What have people got to hide?"
Year two: "Oh, look, lots of people are dodging the system!"
Year three: "We need to fit mandatory trackers to every car in the country."
Year four plus: "Why shouldn't tracker data be used in evidence? What have people got to hide?"
I don’t think think “estimated road use” is right approach - at the least drivers should have the *option* of getting a black box fitted that just tracks their EVs usage, but come on, Mel, impersonate a serious politician!
November 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
We're going to dismantle the legacy state with our new ID cards and in-car trackers, enabling better and cheaper public services. It will feel like a sort of friendly and reassuring 'big brother' figure is with you at all times.