David Bent
@davidbent.bsky.social
Founder: Atelier of What’s Next, a studio for initiatives at the frontier of generating a better future.
Edmund Hillary Fellow. Hon Lecturer: UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources. Views own.
https://linktr.ee/davidbent
Edmund Hillary Fellow. Hon Lecturer: UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources. Views own.
https://linktr.ee/davidbent
Reposted by David Bent
Just when I thought I couldn't admire the man more...
🎯 🎯 🎯 💯 💯 💯 👍 👍 👍
🎯 🎯 🎯 💯 💯 💯 👍 👍 👍
December 13, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Just when I thought I couldn't admire the man more...
🎯 🎯 🎯 💯 💯 💯 👍 👍 👍
🎯 🎯 🎯 💯 💯 💯 👍 👍 👍
Reposted by David Bent
I couldn't find the quote on a quick browse of Goodreads (I don't have my copy with me), but I did find this, which I think sums up what is so repellent and arid about Blue Labour and this government's view on class and aspiration more broadly.
December 24, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I couldn't find the quote on a quick browse of Goodreads (I don't have my copy with me), but I did find this, which I think sums up what is so repellent and arid about Blue Labour and this government's view on class and aspiration more broadly.
Reposted by David Bent
Not least because it seemed to spell more of the same on austerity/tough choices, rather than 'Change' people voted Labour for. Question is whether u-turns and change of emphasis in 2025 budget can turn people's impressions around.
December 23, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Not least because it seemed to spell more of the same on austerity/tough choices, rather than 'Change' people voted Labour for. Question is whether u-turns and change of emphasis in 2025 budget can turn people's impressions around.
Reposted by David Bent
Think it's fair to say the economic decisions and narrative of Lab's first year
- Winter Fuel
- Rose Garden Speech
- NICs
- Farmers IHT
- Approach to disability benefits
- Not enough help on cost of living
Did more than anything else to cause Labour's crash in popularity
- Winter Fuel
- Rose Garden Speech
- NICs
- Farmers IHT
- Approach to disability benefits
- Not enough help on cost of living
Did more than anything else to cause Labour's crash in popularity
December 23, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Think it's fair to say the economic decisions and narrative of Lab's first year
- Winter Fuel
- Rose Garden Speech
- NICs
- Farmers IHT
- Approach to disability benefits
- Not enough help on cost of living
Did more than anything else to cause Labour's crash in popularity
- Winter Fuel
- Rose Garden Speech
- NICs
- Farmers IHT
- Approach to disability benefits
- Not enough help on cost of living
Did more than anything else to cause Labour's crash in popularity
Reposted by David Bent
But a cat sometimes has to point this out to him.
Merry Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas to all.
December 23, 2025 at 10:36 AM
But a cat sometimes has to point this out to him.
Merry Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas to all.
Reposted by David Bent
Agree with all of this, other than "the right will go 'pro-natalist" - I think what will happen is that much of the right will shift from 'blaming our ills on immigration' to 'blaming our ills on ethnic diversity', which is already happening to an extent.
The UK will celebrate net emigration and depopulation come 2027.
And by 2028 it will start to realise, with an ageing society and low growth, what a really silly thing it has done.
The right will go "pro-natalist", the centre-left will be completely stuck.
And by 2028 it will start to realise, with an ageing society and low growth, what a really silly thing it has done.
The right will go "pro-natalist", the centre-left will be completely stuck.
December 22, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Agree with all of this, other than "the right will go 'pro-natalist" - I think what will happen is that much of the right will shift from 'blaming our ills on immigration' to 'blaming our ills on ethnic diversity', which is already happening to an extent.
Reposted by David Bent
I’m reminded of watching two old ladies ask a teenage goth for directions and she politely told them and when she was out of earshot one lady said “You know where you are with a goth”
Things are Terrible, but this isn't.
Be weird.
Be weird.
December 22, 2025 at 9:20 AM
I’m reminded of watching two old ladies ask a teenage goth for directions and she politely told them and when she was out of earshot one lady said “You know where you are with a goth”
Reposted by David Bent
another example of AI as tracer dye, exposing an already existing problem (and, of course, significantly worsening it)
I think this post nails the actual problem, for researchers at least—AI hallucinations would simply not be a problem in academic work if we’d not normalized citation-as-signaling rather than actual engagement—you can only cite a fake paper if you’re not in the habit of reading the papers you cite
Do not cite an academic paper unless you’ve read it
December 21, 2025 at 7:11 AM
another example of AI as tracer dye, exposing an already existing problem (and, of course, significantly worsening it)
Reposted by David Bent
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Opinion | Obama Supported It. The Left in Canada and Norway Does. Why Don’t Democrats?
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Reposted by David Bent
Noam Chomsky has spent about 60 years telling us that billionaires control the world through corporate propaganda.
December 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Noam Chomsky has spent about 60 years telling us that billionaires control the world through corporate propaganda.
Reposted by David Bent
Labour does so badly in this poll mainly because, as the tables show, they lose 29% of their 2024 vote to the Lib Dems and Greens.
Only 8% goes to Reform, just ahead of the 6% to the Cons. Those Lab–Con switchers push the Tories over 20%, despite them losing a quarter of their 2024 vote to Reform.
Only 8% goes to Reform, just ahead of the 6% to the Cons. Those Lab–Con switchers push the Tories over 20%, despite them losing a quarter of their 2024 vote to Reform.
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 27% (+12)
CON: 21% (-3)
LAB: 18% (-17)
LDM: 15% (+3)
GRN: 13% (+6)
Via @veriangroup.com, 12-15 Dec.
Changes w/ GE2024.
RFM: 27% (+12)
CON: 21% (-3)
LAB: 18% (-17)
LDM: 15% (+3)
GRN: 13% (+6)
Via @veriangroup.com, 12-15 Dec.
Changes w/ GE2024.
December 20, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Labour does so badly in this poll mainly because, as the tables show, they lose 29% of their 2024 vote to the Lib Dems and Greens.
Only 8% goes to Reform, just ahead of the 6% to the Cons. Those Lab–Con switchers push the Tories over 20%, despite them losing a quarter of their 2024 vote to Reform.
Only 8% goes to Reform, just ahead of the 6% to the Cons. Those Lab–Con switchers push the Tories over 20%, despite them losing a quarter of their 2024 vote to Reform.
Reposted by David Bent
Matthew Goodwin objects to prosecuting this: ‘I think it’s time for the British to gang together, hit the streets and start the slaughter. Violence and murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head off to MPs’ houses and Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE.’
December 18, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Matthew Goodwin objects to prosecuting this: ‘I think it’s time for the British to gang together, hit the streets and start the slaughter. Violence and murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head off to MPs’ houses and Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE.’
Reposted by David Bent
Some pretty crazy staff in the AI Security Institute AI trends report.
For Chemistry & Biology it says frontier models now outperform PhD-level experts on open-ended questions, protocol generation, and lab-based troubleshooting
For Chemistry & Biology it says frontier models now outperform PhD-level experts on open-ended questions, protocol generation, and lab-based troubleshooting
December 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Some pretty crazy staff in the AI Security Institute AI trends report.
For Chemistry & Biology it says frontier models now outperform PhD-level experts on open-ended questions, protocol generation, and lab-based troubleshooting
For Chemistry & Biology it says frontier models now outperform PhD-level experts on open-ended questions, protocol generation, and lab-based troubleshooting
Reposted by David Bent
in general you need discourse monsters, like Just Stop Oil to actually be heard
I get the feeling that @duncanrobinson.bsky.social was really weary when he wrote this para, but also really enjoyed it. From his excellent col this week: www.economist.com/britain/2025...
December 18, 2025 at 12:19 PM
in general you need discourse monsters, like Just Stop Oil to actually be heard
Reposted by David Bent
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
Reposted by David Bent
Not just on here - hasn’t really been absorbed by most in government either.
Another bad set of labour market data today. Don’t think it’s quite entered the public consciousness on here how badly the NICs rises plus soaring minimum wage is affecting employment. Uk labour market very soft now.
December 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Not just on here - hasn’t really been absorbed by most in government either.
Reposted by David Bent
"Those who ought to stand against this sort of thing engage in frankly specious reasoning about what the “root causes” are...anything other than standing up and saying that it is wrong to attack entire groups for the real or perceived crimes of specific individuals."
www.ft.com/content/4209...
www.ft.com/content/4209...
Bondi attacks show old hatreds are flourishing again
A permissive environment has been created in which Israel is conflated with all Jews, everywhere
www.ft.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
"Those who ought to stand against this sort of thing engage in frankly specious reasoning about what the “root causes” are...anything other than standing up and saying that it is wrong to attack entire groups for the real or perceived crimes of specific individuals."
www.ft.com/content/4209...
www.ft.com/content/4209...
Reposted by David Bent
I’ve been seeing this cover over and over and I just…
In the original you’re aware of the horror of falling, but the body positions of the workers are solid on the beam. Here, most of them should be falling off, yet they don’t, because they live in an unreal, consequence-free space.
In the original you’re aware of the horror of falling, but the body positions of the workers are solid on the beam. Here, most of them should be falling off, yet they don’t, because they live in an unreal, consequence-free space.
I guess it's fitting that it's a reimagined, worse version of someone else's artwork
December 14, 2025 at 9:36 AM
I’ve been seeing this cover over and over and I just…
In the original you’re aware of the horror of falling, but the body positions of the workers are solid on the beam. Here, most of them should be falling off, yet they don’t, because they live in an unreal, consequence-free space.
In the original you’re aware of the horror of falling, but the body positions of the workers are solid on the beam. Here, most of them should be falling off, yet they don’t, because they live in an unreal, consequence-free space.
Reposted by David Bent
One of my favorite social media posts of all time:
December 14, 2025 at 1:36 PM
One of my favorite social media posts of all time:
Imagine a 2x2 of political impact (good or bad for you) vs policy outcomes for country:
-Good politics & policy: hit gold!
-Good politics, bad policy: cunning, for now.
-Bad politics, good policy: sacrifice statespersonship.
-Bad politics & policy: Idiocy rules!
Labour=idiocy rules, all the time.
-Good politics & policy: hit gold!
-Good politics, bad policy: cunning, for now.
-Bad politics, good policy: sacrifice statespersonship.
-Bad politics & policy: Idiocy rules!
Labour=idiocy rules, all the time.
In attempting to oppose Reform while also sounding like Reform on Farage’s core issue - immigration - Labour risk facilitating exactly the conditions where a Reform win on a low vote share becomes possible, with Farage uniting the most anti-imm 30% while anti-Farage majority splinters
December 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Imagine a 2x2 of political impact (good or bad for you) vs policy outcomes for country:
-Good politics & policy: hit gold!
-Good politics, bad policy: cunning, for now.
-Bad politics, good policy: sacrifice statespersonship.
-Bad politics & policy: Idiocy rules!
Labour=idiocy rules, all the time.
-Good politics & policy: hit gold!
-Good politics, bad policy: cunning, for now.
-Bad politics, good policy: sacrifice statespersonship.
-Bad politics & policy: Idiocy rules!
Labour=idiocy rules, all the time.
Reposted by David Bent
In attempting to oppose Reform while also sounding like Reform on Farage’s core issue - immigration - Labour risk facilitating exactly the conditions where a Reform win on a low vote share becomes possible, with Farage uniting the most anti-imm 30% while anti-Farage majority splinters
December 12, 2025 at 12:35 PM
In attempting to oppose Reform while also sounding like Reform on Farage’s core issue - immigration - Labour risk facilitating exactly the conditions where a Reform win on a low vote share becomes possible, with Farage uniting the most anti-imm 30% while anti-Farage majority splinters
Reposted by David Bent
A result which both illustrates the magnitude of the Reform threat and the problems with Labour’s “Farage is right, don’t vote for him” response. 37 point Lab to Reform swing. Labour go from first to 4th as anti-Reform vote splits 3 ways. Combined Lab/LD/Grn vote larger than Reform vote.
Red Hall & Lingfield (Darlington) Council By-Election Result:
➡️ RFM: 37.7% (New)
🌳 CON: 17.3% (-22.5)
🔶 LDM: 17.3% (New)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-37.1)
🌍 GRN: 9.8% (+3.6)
🙋 Ind: 1.0% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
➡️ RFM: 37.7% (New)
🌳 CON: 17.3% (-22.5)
🔶 LDM: 17.3% (New)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-37.1)
🌍 GRN: 9.8% (+3.6)
🙋 Ind: 1.0% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
December 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A result which both illustrates the magnitude of the Reform threat and the problems with Labour’s “Farage is right, don’t vote for him” response. 37 point Lab to Reform swing. Labour go from first to 4th as anti-Reform vote splits 3 ways. Combined Lab/LD/Grn vote larger than Reform vote.
Reposted by David Bent
Nearly every Take relating to this has been done except one, which is - why would the European leaders take advice from Starmer on how to beat the far right? Who among them envies his popularity or admires the sagacity of his advisors?
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Starmer urges Europe’s leaders to curb ECHR to halt rise of far right
Exclusive: PM calls for members of European convention on human rights to allow tougher action to protect borders
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Nearly every Take relating to this has been done except one, which is - why would the European leaders take advice from Starmer on how to beat the far right? Who among them envies his popularity or admires the sagacity of his advisors?
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Reposted by David Bent
Echo of @adamposen.bsky.social pieces describing how the US has moved from providing global public goods insurance to attempting to extract resources, for public and private [Trump family and those who secure a connection] purposes.
"As far as Donald Trump is concerned, global security is a protection racket and everyone is going to have to pay more."
Stunning interview with Europe security expert, formerly at the State Dept and NATO, Dr Terra.
Clearest explanation of Trump's (very confused) new global manifesto.
Stunning interview with Europe security expert, formerly at the State Dept and NATO, Dr Terra.
Clearest explanation of Trump's (very confused) new global manifesto.
🚨🚨New episode 🚨🚨
Trump’s National Security Strategy: Make Europe Whiter Again? With Jonathan Terra
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
Trump’s National Security Strategy: Make Europe Whiter Again? With Jonathan Terra
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
December 10, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Echo of @adamposen.bsky.social pieces describing how the US has moved from providing global public goods insurance to attempting to extract resources, for public and private [Trump family and those who secure a connection] purposes.