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New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 15d

Check out our senior economist @alchap.bsky.social on the Energy Revolution podcast talking airports, economic growth and the climate crisis. Full episode available here: linktr.ee/energyrevolu...

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · 20d

I did my first episode on the NEF podcast 🫣

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 20d

Net zero is being sucked into the culture war because so far, green policies haven't been designed to be in the interests of most people.

NEF's @alchap.bsky.social on the latest episode of the New Economics Podcast

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Aug 10

Now, in the eyes of this gvt, he is a supporter of a terrorist group. The proscription of PA is clearly stupid and must be repealed. Even more urgently the gvt must stop gaslighting us and actually respond in a manner proportionate to the genocide Israel is perpetrating against Palestinians.

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Aug 10

My dad was arrested in London yesterday for holding a placard saying "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action". He's a retired university lecturer who is involved in his local church. Prior to yesterday's demonstration his only legal infraction was a speeding ticket for doing 36 in a 30 zone.

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Jul 16

Below is a fresh cut of my favourite graph. Air trips per £million real GDP, with linear trend lines. The world has changed, but will the government catch up in time? /ends

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Jul 16

If this question can be asked without any reference to the climate issue, then when we fold in the astronomical level of emissions (enough to wipe out the entire benefit of the Clean Power Plan in 5 years) then it should be an open and shut case. /3

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Jul 16

"growth is from the likes of flights to the Greek islands and the Caribbean — up 77 per cent since 2019."

"if Heathrow’s growth is mainly direct leisure flights, how does it make sense to spend tens of billions on a third runway" /2

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Jul 16

The right questions getting asked. This week in the Times, Alistair Osborne punctures the myth that a third runway at Heathrow is "crucial for business". Why? Because of the CEO's admission that the "decline in business travel appears to be permanent.../1 www.thetimes.com/business-mon...

Heathrow’s investment plan punctures the third runway myth

The airport has admitted the decline in business travel is permanent, and wants to spend £10bn raising passenger numbers by only ten million

www.thetimes.com

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Jul 3

Yup, Lauren would have won easily. Curtis only showed up on the scene shortly before selection process kicked off many of us had no idea who he was. Lauren had massive support from all wings of the local party, not just 'the left'.

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Jun 20

This just in. Kemi thinks the actions of Palestine Action at Brize Norton might have stopped a war crime...
Not sure she fully thought this one through 😂

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Chaitanya Kumar @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social · Jun 18

You've heard of frequent flyers, but we've got some new research for you on the idea of ultra- frequent flyers.

Exciting work from my colleague @alchap.bsky.social where he makes a compelling case as to why this new class of flyers is not paying it's fair share of tax and how we can fix it. 👇👇

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · Jun 18

This government wants to expand airports up and down the country. But who will this really benefit? Ultra-frequent flyers.

@alchap.bsky.social spoke at today's Environmental Audit Committee.

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Reposted by Alex Chapman

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · May 1

There's broad public support for net zero by 2050 & people are concerned about the impact of the climate crisis. So let's deliver net zero policies that benefit ordinary people rather than calling it into question. @alchap.bsky.social spoke to LBC News in light of Tony Blair's comments.

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Reposted by Alex Chapman

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · Apr 3

🚨The government has given Luton airport approval to expand.

This is despite the fact that it will do very little to boost economic growth and will be devastating for our climate goals. @alchap.bsky.social responds.

Quote from Alex Chapman, senior economist: Growing Luton will not deliver the economic growth the government so desperately wants. Business air travel has collapsed over the last few years and even the airlines admit it isn’t coming back. Instead, expansion at Luton will see another 8m UK residents taking their money overseas on holiday instead of spending it on UK high streets. This is even though the UK already has enough capacity for 300 million passengers to fly in and out every year.

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Eachann @gillies.bsky.social · Apr 2

somewhat tongue in cheek here but I saw this and was reminded immediately of @alchap.bsky.social talking about the negative impacts of air travel expansion

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Reposted by Alex Chapman

Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · Mar 15

Hi @davidtwilcock.bsky.social. I just wanted to flag that your Mail Online piece from Thursday is hugely misleading & seems to be based off a fundamental misunderstanding of the statistics

I'll explain why, then maybe you can retract the piece & issue an apology... 🧵1/6

Daily Mail online headline: The great benefit con? Just 14% of people claiming disability cash can actually PROVE they are too ill to work - as total getting handouts nears 2.5m

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Mar 14

Recommended reading on the smoke and mirrors government is using to build out a justification for austerity

Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · Mar 14

This, from a DWP press release yesterday (gov.uk/government/n...), is outrageous

In two short paragraphs it peddles multiple falsehoods about the current system that will be used to justify upcoming cuts & changes

Here's what MPs & journalists should be challenging... 🧵

Text from a DWP press release: In the current dysfunctional system, a person is placed in binary categories of either “fit for work” or “not fit for work” through the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) – an assessment the government has said it will either reform or replace, so it no longer drives people who want to work to a life on benefits.

Through this process, those not fit for work are told they have Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA) – meaning they won’t receive employment support or further engagement from the system at any point following their assessment – effectively abandoning and locking them out of work indefinitely.

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Mar 10

I wrote a thing about what really went down in the Gatwick airport expansion decision. Refusal recommended, but it might go ahead? Economic growth? Techie post, you were warned. www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-r...

What really happened at Gatwick?

Gatwick Airport is getting a second runway. Or wait, is it? Prior to the government's announcement I spent a morning doing a pre-recorded interview for BBC news on the Gatwick Airport expansion.

www.linkedin.com

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Reposted by Alex Chapman

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · Feb 27

All the reasons why the Gatwick airport expansion is a mistake, in under 1 minute - from @alchap.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk with @shelaghfogarty.bsky.social

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Feb 19

Had a great chat with @adamtranter.bsky.social and @lauralaker.bsky.social on the Streets Ahead podcast. All things transport, economics, growth, and yes, sorry, the 'Green Book'! Have a listen here: shows.acast.com/streets-ahea...

Growth, but at what cost? | Streets Ahead

shows.acast.com

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Reposted by Alex Chapman

Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · Feb 18

Great to hear @alchap.bsky.social (surely one of the busiest ppl in transport at the moment?) on @podstreetsahead.bsky.social talking all things economics & transport. Agree with him that the Green Book doesn’t sit behind decisions like Heathrow - it is all politics.

Highly recommend a listen.

Growth, but at what cost? | Streets Ahead

shows.acast.com

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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · Feb 12

statistic of the day:

approving the expansion of Heathrow, Luton and Gatwick airports would wipe out ALL the benefits of the government’s 2030 "clean power" target within five years of expanded operation, according to analysis by the New Economics Foundation (NEF)

neweconomics.org/2025/01/airp....

Airport expansion would wipe out carbon savings of government’s clean power plan

Claimed growth benefits of expansion don’t stack up and will create major climate damage

neweconomics.org

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Reposted by Alex Chapman

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · Feb 3

👀The research Rachel Reeves used to evidence the benefits of Heathrow expansion was commissioned by Heathrow itself.

@alchap.bsky.social spoke to the @theguardian.com about why, with our climate goals at stake, this is such a big problem
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Alex Chapman, senior economist at the NEF, said: “It is very concerning that the chancellor appears to be basing her support for Heathrow expansion on a figure from a report commissioned by Heathrow airport. Even more worrying is the fact that the methodology they have applied is one that the Department for Transport has previously decided is not fit for purpose, and that the report uses forecast data supplied by the airport itself. Heathrow expansion represents a major threat to the UK’s climate goals and flies in the face of scientific advice. To ensure that the claimed economic benefits are concrete, assessments should be carried out by independent government economists following best-practice methodology.

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Feb 2

NEF analysis identified a range of weaknesses in the economic case, since it was last fully appraised in 2015. Not least, the decline of business air travel, the surge in outbound leisure travel and the negative impacts on wider regions of the UK – all of which erode the potential growth benefit.

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Feb 2

Heathrow expansion represents a major threat to the UK’s climate goals and flies in the face of scientific advice. To ensure that the claimed economic benefits are concrete, assessments should be carried out by independent government economists following best-practice methodology.

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Alex Chapman @alchap.bsky.social · Feb 2

5. ...and that method just *happens* to result in costs about 80% lower than had they followed *the government's actual recommended approach*
6. Nor is it a good look for the *full* report to still not be in the public domain days after its numbers were shared with the nation by the Chancellor.

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