Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 1d

I’m sure they will all be announced soon (and be appropriately sequenced/joined up)!

Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 1d

Indeed - and announcements last week about new targets, FE/HE and gold standard apprenticeships increase need for this even further?

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 1d

This is a superb photo. Hats off for spotting and waiting for it to materialise!

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 1d

Jenrick defends ‘didn’t see another white face’ comment on.ft.com/3VSPahS

Robert Jenrick defends ‘didn’t see another white face’ comment

Shadow justice secretary is widely seen as the favourite to challenge Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Andy Westwood

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 5d

A memo sent to nine institutions called for 'institutional neutrality', in an unprecedented attempt by Donald Trump’s administration to impose control on the sector on.ft.com/4mQxxdw

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Reposted by Andy Westwood

Chris Havergal @chrishavergal.bsky.social · 9d

In conference speech Bridget Phillipson announces return of maintenance grants for targeted courses, funded by international student levy. Now in @smfthinktank.bsky.social fringe on widening access, so will be interesting to hear what panel makes of that…

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Reposted by Andy Westwood

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 9d

The influence of ‘geoeconomics’ is growing on.ft.com/4gLqMs3 | opinion

The influence of ‘geoeconomics’ is growing

Financial anomalies are another sign of how political factors are shaping economic policies and markets

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Andy Westwood

Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 10d

New town locations now out:
- Adlington, Cheshire East
- South Gloucestershire
- Enfield
- Heyford Park in Cherwell
- Leeds
- Manchester, Victoria North
- Marlcombe, East Devon
- A ‘Renewed Town’ in Milton Keynes;
- Plymouth
- Tempsford
- Thamesmead, Greenwich;
- Worcestershire Parkway, Wychavon

Matthew Pennycook MP @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social · 10d

We warmly welcome all 12 of the locations recommend by the Taskforce with Tempsford, Crews Hill and Leeds South Bank looking particularly promising.

We are today commencing a SEA to support final decisions on precisely which sites will be taken forward.

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Initial government response - September 2025

www.gov.uk

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 11d

I’m with him on ‘Fortunate Son’ (but slightly surprised he didn’t touch very much on education).
www.ft.com/content/3a24...

The young against the young

The real battle is within, not between, generations

www.ft.com

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Reposted by Andy Westwood

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 11d

this is an extraordinary canary in the coal mine

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 11d

Nathan Gill, Reform's leader in Wales at the last Welsh parliament election, has pled guilty to 8 bribery charges, taking Russian cash while he was one of Nigel Farage’s MEPs to speak in favour of Putin's Russia in that parliament
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges

Gill admits to eight counts of bribery relating to pro-Russia statements made in the European parliament and articles

www.theguardian.com

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 11d

Ha!

a man wearing a red hat that says donald trump

ALT: a man wearing a red hat that says donald trump

media.tenor.com

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 11d

Quite surprised he didn’t make the team.

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 15d

Karoline Leavitt says Trump saved the Ryder Cup golf match between the US and Europe. He said it would not be happening this weekend without him even though it has been played since 1927 somehow without his involvement.

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 11d

I’ll be on one soon. Changing at this station too. Luckily there are one or two decent pubs (and some currywurst) in case of delays…

The Economist @economist.com · 11d

German trains did once run on time. These days moaning about their performance is a national sport

Can’t anyone get Germany’s trains to run on time?

The latest attempt to fix the pitiful performance of Deutsche Bahn

econ.st

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Reposted by Andy Westwood

The Productivity Institute @productivity.bsky.social · 12d

🌍 New from The Productivity Institute:

UK Trade and Productivity Across Space shows exporting is easier for firms in dense cities, while smaller regions face disadvantages.

Levelling up trade access could boost productivity across the UK.

🔗 www.productivity.ac.uk/research/uk-...

UK Trade and Productivity Across Space - The Productivity Institute

Research examining the nexus between agglomeration economies and international trade premia and whether these two phenomena complement or substitute each other.

www.productivity.ac.uk

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 12d

Bosh.

Simon Gosden @simongosden.bsky.social · 12d

Oh dear.

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 12d

That’s often been the policy/regulatory line but I actually think it’s much easier to spot the dodgy stuff tbh. In many cases it just involves walking in…

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 12d

And in both Manchester and Walthamstow I can think of plenty of other things that I’d much rather spend this (scarce) resource on…

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 12d

Yes. But there’s a white paper (and probably a bill) coming down the line so if the answer is no then there is an opportunity soon enough. And starting policy question is do you want more or less of this stuff?

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 12d

Loving this @manchestermill.bsky.social and @wonkhe.bsky.social crossover on HE franchising in Manchester (featuring the intrepid @jimdickinson.bsky.social )…

manchestermill.co.uk/the-global-b...

The Global Banking School is one of the UK’s most lucrative ‘universities’. But who’s footing the bill?

Former staff allege the school accepts students who have no intention of ever repaying their loans

manchestermill.co.uk

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 14d

Shocking. And in plain sight.

Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 14d

Wolves win football match.

two sesame street characters are standing next to each other in a living room .

ALT: two sesame street characters are standing next to each other in a living room .

media.tenor.com

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 16d

Some added context for that one…

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 16d

As the late, great Tommy Docherty used to say ‘I’d rather have them in front of me (so I can see what they’re up to)’…’

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 16d

Vickers on rumours that Badenoch will be removed as leader:

"I'm behind Kemi Badenoch. Boris is behind Kemi Badenoch. Jenrick is behind Kemi Badenoch."

Was this supposed to sound *comforting*? 😬 ~AA

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Reposted by Andy Westwood

David Smith @dsmitheconomics.bsky.social · 17d

My Sunday Times piece: Weak productivity, poor resilience and self inflicted damage mean UK GDP per capita, properly measured, is falling well behind the US. We’ve closed the gap before, can we again?

America is leaving the UK economy behind. How can we catch up?

www.thetimes.com/article/54cd...

America is leaving the UK economy behind. How can we catch up?

The UK’s productivity gains are poor, while the US economy has proved more resilient to the economic shocks of the past two decades

www.thetimes.com

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Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 20d

We must.

Andy Westwood @andywestwood.bsky.social · 20d

Sadly now can’t make it. Long story….

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