Urban and Regional Economics Research Seminar Group
@uresg76.bsky.social
Emeritus Professor, regional economist who reads a lot of history. Frustated Architect who likes visiting places. Art, culture, and cat lover. Lifelong Gooner.
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Very good and very disturbing. Another example of how, as the memory of what caused WW2 fades, opposition to the post war institutions and behaviours designed to prevent a repetition grows.
Y'days post: Understanding the rise of the populist far right mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/12/unde...
The role of social norms of humanitarism and anti-racism, and their abandonment by political elites and others, in explaining the rise in right wing populism.
The role of social norms of humanitarism and anti-racism, and their abandonment by political elites and others, in explaining the rise in right wing populism.
Understanding the rise of the populist far right
This is a follow-up to last week’s post. Occasionally I receive comments on social media that point me to academic analysis that I wasn’t ...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Very good and very disturbing. Another example of how, as the memory of what caused WW2 fades, opposition to the post war institutions and behaviours designed to prevent a repetition grows.
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If we lose an imaginary war with Russia, Gary Lineker and the woke left will be to blame - well that's a perfectly sane take Allison
December 17, 2025 at 9:12 AM
If we lose an imaginary war with Russia, Gary Lineker and the woke left will be to blame - well that's a perfectly sane take Allison
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Salem, 1908, famous painting by English artist Sydney Curnow Vosper, depicting Welsh piety. Lord Lever gave away prints with Sunlight Soap (Lady Lever Art Gallery).
December 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Salem, 1908, famous painting by English artist Sydney Curnow Vosper, depicting Welsh piety. Lord Lever gave away prints with Sunlight Soap (Lady Lever Art Gallery).
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A good piece which adds to my sense that the political cost of dramatically reducing immigration and even reaching net emigration, is likely to be far greater for the government in terms of the impact on the economy, taxation and public services than the alternative
New post just out:
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The Overshoot"
Net migration is collapsing, and will fall further over the coming years. We could even have net emigration.
What does that mean for the country and the political narrative as we head towards the next election?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The Overshoot
What happens to politics, and the country, as net migration collapses?
open.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM
A good piece which adds to my sense that the political cost of dramatically reducing immigration and even reaching net emigration, is likely to be far greater for the government in terms of the impact on the economy, taxation and public services than the alternative
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For clarity the urgent review ordered by the Prime Minister is into foreign “financial interference” in UK politics. That is of course good news but a full public inquiry into Russian interference in UK politics and democracy is still needed
🚨A Petition calling for a full, public inquiry into RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN UK POLITICS AND DEMOCRACY has hit the threshold for a debate, but a debate isn’t automatic. MPs need to show support.
Email your MP NOW & ask them to publicly support the call for a Commons debate
youtu.be/Cnl8MNhwEY0?...
Email your MP NOW & ask them to publicly support the call for a Commons debate
youtu.be/Cnl8MNhwEY0?...
Petition calling for a full, public inquiry into RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN UK DEMOCRACY hits threshold
YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 6:18 PM
For clarity the urgent review ordered by the Prime Minister is into foreign “financial interference” in UK politics. That is of course good news but a full public inquiry into Russian interference in UK politics and democracy is still needed
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It's comms led policy, when comms should be led by policy. Obviously it is not the only reason for growing far right rhetoric online, but it does play a part when the far right can point to the governments own rhetoric and policies to reinforce their standpoint.
December 16, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It's comms led policy, when comms should be led by policy. Obviously it is not the only reason for growing far right rhetoric online, but it does play a part when the far right can point to the governments own rhetoric and policies to reinforce their standpoint.
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An agreement to rejoin Erasmus – the EU’s student exchange programme – set to be announced on Wednesday as part of UK government’s drive towards closer relations with Brussels👏
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:28 PM
An agreement to rejoin Erasmus – the EU’s student exchange programme – set to be announced on Wednesday as part of UK government’s drive towards closer relations with Brussels👏
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
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2025: Labour's Steve Reed, "There have been no findings that the outcome of any election to date were affected by malign foreign interference"
2020: Stuart Hosie, "The UK government have actively avoided looking for evidence of Russian interference"
Labour as pathetic as Conservatives
2020: Stuart Hosie, "The UK government have actively avoided looking for evidence of Russian interference"
Labour as pathetic as Conservatives
December 16, 2025 at 6:33 PM
2025: Labour's Steve Reed, "There have been no findings that the outcome of any election to date were affected by malign foreign interference"
2020: Stuart Hosie, "The UK government have actively avoided looking for evidence of Russian interference"
Labour as pathetic as Conservatives
2020: Stuart Hosie, "The UK government have actively avoided looking for evidence of Russian interference"
Labour as pathetic as Conservatives
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Good news, even in its watered down state.
Having spent some months working with other organisations on getting the particular challenges faced by migrant workers recognised in it, and watched this government make those challenges worse, I won't get too excited though.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Having spent some months working with other organisations on getting the particular challenges faced by migrant workers recognised in it, and watched this government make those challenges worse, I won't get too excited though.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Employment Rights Bill clears last parliamentary hurdle
Business Secretary Peter Kyle he was "delighted" the bill had completed its passage through the House of Lords.
www.bbc.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Good news, even in its watered down state.
Having spent some months working with other organisations on getting the particular challenges faced by migrant workers recognised in it, and watched this government make those challenges worse, I won't get too excited though.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Having spent some months working with other organisations on getting the particular challenges faced by migrant workers recognised in it, and watched this government make those challenges worse, I won't get too excited though.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
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Massive pay check to fuck something else up and leave.
OpenAI hires George Osborne to spearhead global ‘Stargate’ expansion ft.trib.al/kpZiA3a
OpenAI hires George Osborne to spearhead global ‘Stargate’ expansion
Former UK chancellor to lead start-up’s effort to spread ‘democratic’ AI across the world
ft.trib.al
December 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Massive pay check to fuck something else up and leave.
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Compare and contrast.
December 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Compare and contrast.
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All these questions prove is that very few people have the slightest clue what an apprenticeship actually looks like these days.
With a report suggesting half of graduates would earn more if they had done an apprenticeship instead, our polling shows that 46% of Britons think apprenticeships better prepare young people for the future - only 6% say the same of degrees, while 43% say both equally
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
December 15, 2025 at 9:55 AM
All these questions prove is that very few people have the slightest clue what an apprenticeship actually looks like these days.
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The madness of peak fare pricing...the euh v uncrowded 8 40 ex Euston
December 15, 2025 at 8:44 AM
The madness of peak fare pricing...the euh v uncrowded 8 40 ex Euston
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I suspect you’ll find a lot pin this you agree with @daveproudlove.bsky.social , including the references to toxic landlords and market manipulation. Like the idea of a Troubled Buildings Programme (probably spend the entire budget in Stoke 😬) open.substack.com/pub/howtorun...
How do you solve a problem like the high street?
Time for a Troubled Buildings Programme
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:43 AM
I suspect you’ll find a lot pin this you agree with @daveproudlove.bsky.social , including the references to toxic landlords and market manipulation. Like the idea of a Troubled Buildings Programme (probably spend the entire budget in Stoke 😬) open.substack.com/pub/howtorun...
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Just want to share with my American friends how the Australians respond to a shooting tragedy. Action, rather than thoughts and prayers.
December 15, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Just want to share with my American friends how the Australians respond to a shooting tragedy. Action, rather than thoughts and prayers.
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I am at Lyndon School in Solihull to give a talk for Speakers for Schools a very worthwhile venture
December 15, 2025 at 10:04 AM
I am at Lyndon School in Solihull to give a talk for Speakers for Schools a very worthwhile venture
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No more downers. It's still the weekend. Let's rock with Duane Eddy! youtu.be/VdlCtPzX8sE?...
Ramrod
YouTube video by Duane Eddy - Topic
youtu.be
December 14, 2025 at 6:13 PM
No more downers. It's still the weekend. Let's rock with Duane Eddy! youtu.be/VdlCtPzX8sE?...
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Really interesting piece. Going back in time the focus on outputs and innovation was initially drove challenge funding and SRB. substack.com/@pollymacken...
Polly Mackenzie (@pollymackenzie)
substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Really interesting piece. Going back in time the focus on outputs and innovation was initially drove challenge funding and SRB. substack.com/@pollymacken...
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I don't think a lot of people get quite how bad the situation has got with targeted attacks on the migrants rights and refugee sector.
My wife would be very happy if I left the sector I know that for sure. It's also just getting worse, stoked in no small part by government rhetoric and policies.
My wife would be very happy if I left the sector I know that for sure. It's also just getting worse, stoked in no small part by government rhetoric and policies.
🔴I wrote about far-right attacks against refugee charities and why some are choosing to leave the sector to protect themselves. It's awful but understandable.
open.substack.com/pub/nicolake...
open.substack.com/pub/nicolake...
When it's time to move on
It's toxic out there
open.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I don't think a lot of people get quite how bad the situation has got with targeted attacks on the migrants rights and refugee sector.
My wife would be very happy if I left the sector I know that for sure. It's also just getting worse, stoked in no small part by government rhetoric and policies.
My wife would be very happy if I left the sector I know that for sure. It's also just getting worse, stoked in no small part by government rhetoric and policies.
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Met Police to drop further investigation into Andrew Windsor
Looks like Met Police rolled out the same police officers who refused and resisted investigating Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak's Downing street parties during covid
Looks like Met Police rolled out the same police officers who refused and resisted investigating Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak's Downing street parties during covid
December 13, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Met Police to drop further investigation into Andrew Windsor
Looks like Met Police rolled out the same police officers who refused and resisted investigating Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak's Downing street parties during covid
Looks like Met Police rolled out the same police officers who refused and resisted investigating Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak's Downing street parties during covid
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If you wonder why people seem permanently enraged, the behaviour of click bait driven media offers a clue. This particular story appears on a regular basis and elicits the predictable responses
December 14, 2025 at 7:53 AM
If you wonder why people seem permanently enraged, the behaviour of click bait driven media offers a clue. This particular story appears on a regular basis and elicits the predictable responses
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These “bad faith state actors” now appear to include the US administration if the NSS Is to be taken seriously.
December 13, 2025 at 6:38 PM
These “bad faith state actors” now appear to include the US administration if the NSS Is to be taken seriously.
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It's almost word for word the briefing that Johnson's team were putting out in spring 2022.
This sounds like defensive briefing straight from a Morgan McSweeney Whatsapp group in denial about how an ineffective leader unwilling to face the breakdown of US-Europe relations might not be the best figure to lead the UK into a post-American order
December 13, 2025 at 1:23 PM
It's almost word for word the briefing that Johnson's team were putting out in spring 2022.
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Reposted by Urban and Regional Economics Research Seminar Group
With Labour ramping up its deportation program & putting in place all the infrastructure a future Reform-led govt will need to expand the attack exponentially
We have to be learning from the powerful solidarity & resistance methods of our cousins across the pond, & fast.
We have to be learning from the powerful solidarity & resistance methods of our cousins across the pond, & fast.
This article is sympathetic towards ICE but still a good read because it's clear that Minneapolis and Saint Paul are doing AMAZING work (with a little assistance from our weather).
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
ICE operation shows the difficulty of immigration arrests amid pushback in frigid Minnesota
NBC News was granted exclusive access to accompany Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as they tried to arrest targets in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
www.nbcnews.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:54 AM
With Labour ramping up its deportation program & putting in place all the infrastructure a future Reform-led govt will need to expand the attack exponentially
We have to be learning from the powerful solidarity & resistance methods of our cousins across the pond, & fast.
We have to be learning from the powerful solidarity & resistance methods of our cousins across the pond, & fast.