Miles Platting
@milesplatting.bsky.social
Professional train wrangler oop North. Can still run up hills (just). Probably knows where the nearest decent pub/chippy is.
A Treasury source said: "The Chancellor is determined to go further and faster to deliver growth and put more money into people's pockets.
"She's listening to ideas on how to drive this work forward"
"She's listening to ideas on how to drive this work forward"
February 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A Treasury source said: "The Chancellor is determined to go further and faster to deliver growth and put more money into people's pockets.
"She's listening to ideas on how to drive this work forward"
"She's listening to ideas on how to drive this work forward"
I'd forgotten about this gem
Yes, Minister - The North.
YouTube video by Greger Tomasson
www.youtube.com
February 20, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I'd forgotten about this gem
Tremendous, assuming the implicated causal link is correct
Gwynedd house prices plunge as council acts on second homes - BBC News
House prices in a Welsh county have fallen by more than 12% year-on-year, according to new figures.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Tremendous, assuming the implicated causal link is correct
"Lucy Mitchell, Rotherham Council's regeneration manager, told a meeting the sum was an initial estimate and more realistic cost would emerge once a full business case had been created."
"Don't be too horrified by the number, it should be pulled back significantly"
Experience suggests otherwise...
"Don't be too horrified by the number, it should be pulled back significantly"
Experience suggests otherwise...
New Rotherham railway station may cost up to £100m - council - BBC News
Plans for Rotherham Gateway Station include a tram train service and a new business centre.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 14, 2025 at 8:13 AM
"Lucy Mitchell, Rotherham Council's regeneration manager, told a meeting the sum was an initial estimate and more realistic cost would emerge once a full business case had been created."
"Don't be too horrified by the number, it should be pulled back significantly"
Experience suggests otherwise...
"Don't be too horrified by the number, it should be pulled back significantly"
Experience suggests otherwise...
Reposted by Miles Platting
Kim Leadbeater reveals secret weapon as she admits High Court judges won't be able to decide on every case of assisted dying.
February 11, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Kim Leadbeater reveals secret weapon as she admits High Court judges won't be able to decide on every case of assisted dying.
Reposted by Miles Platting
The idea of Keir Starmer as some kind of Tarzan disruptor moving fast and breaking things is about as convincing as the notion of Starmer as some kind of deep-voiced trousersnaked lothario - obvious nonsense rendered even more nonsensical every time he opens his mouth.
February 8, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The idea of Keir Starmer as some kind of Tarzan disruptor moving fast and breaking things is about as convincing as the notion of Starmer as some kind of deep-voiced trousersnaked lothario - obvious nonsense rendered even more nonsensical every time he opens his mouth.
Seconded. The petty Brexit esque stupidity of Stockport (and now Oldham) wanting our beggars belief
February 8, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Seconded. The petty Brexit esque stupidity of Stockport (and now Oldham) wanting our beggars belief
Come on Lord Keith, do something actually populist and take Thames Water round the back and "Stephen Byers" it. It's going under anyway, here's a chance to look decisive and do something the electorate actually want.
But of course that would upset the City wouldn't it.
But of course that would upset the City wouldn't it.
The End Game?
Thames Water restructuring deal would provide £1.5bn now, potentially rising to £3bn. Already has £19bn debt.
Customer bills will rocket.
New money would pay adviser fees, existing interest charges, leaving £500m in usable cash.
And after that?
End the Ponzi scheme. Nationalise
Thames Water restructuring deal would provide £1.5bn now, potentially rising to £3bn. Already has £19bn debt.
Customer bills will rocket.
New money would pay adviser fees, existing interest charges, leaving £500m in usable cash.
And after that?
End the Ponzi scheme. Nationalise
Thames Water may get just £500m in usable cash by borrowing £1.5bn, court told
Struggling firm’s resources to be depleted due to expensive fees and interest costs in restructuring deal
www.theguardian.com
February 8, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Come on Lord Keith, do something actually populist and take Thames Water round the back and "Stephen Byers" it. It's going under anyway, here's a chance to look decisive and do something the electorate actually want.
But of course that would upset the City wouldn't it.
But of course that would upset the City wouldn't it.
Me and my cat will vote Reform if Farage promises to bring back this level of catering to Great British Railways
</jk>
</jk>
February 7, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Me and my cat will vote Reform if Farage promises to bring back this level of catering to Great British Railways
</jk>
</jk>
Reposted by Miles Platting
"'Unambiguously bleak'.
Not my words, Carol. The words of the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report."
Not my words, Carol. The words of the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report."
February 6, 2025 at 5:51 PM
"'Unambiguously bleak'.
Not my words, Carol. The words of the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report."
Not my words, Carol. The words of the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report."
"They present as fact things which are merely optimistic conjecture on small nuclear reactor cost, speed of delivery and safety."
Yep.
Yep.
Starmer unveils plans to make it easier to build nuclear reactors
The process of loosening rules on where reactors could be built began under the previous government.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2025 at 11:32 AM
"They present as fact things which are merely optimistic conjecture on small nuclear reactor cost, speed of delivery and safety."
Yep.
Yep.
£105m
Institutionalised failure. Heads should roll
Institutionalised failure. Heads should roll
The exact amount spent on Greater Manchester's Clean Air Zone saga
The controversial scheme was cancelled after a three-year saga
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
February 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
£105m
Institutionalised failure. Heads should roll
Institutionalised failure. Heads should roll
1) Given what we know about the price elasticity of many rail markets, how much revenue was actually foregone?
2) A sale suggests rail fares are, by default, overpriced
3) given 1 and 2, maybe the DfT could have instead used the money to sit on some of the 4.6% annual fares rise happening next month
2) A sale suggests rail fares are, by default, overpriced
3) given 1 and 2, maybe the DfT could have instead used the money to sit on some of the 4.6% annual fares rise happening next month
More than 1m discounted train tickets bought during sale
Some of the price reductions during the seven-day promotion were in excess of 50.
www.edp24.co.uk
February 5, 2025 at 12:48 PM
1) Given what we know about the price elasticity of many rail markets, how much revenue was actually foregone?
2) A sale suggests rail fares are, by default, overpriced
3) given 1 and 2, maybe the DfT could have instead used the money to sit on some of the 4.6% annual fares rise happening next month
2) A sale suggests rail fares are, by default, overpriced
3) given 1 and 2, maybe the DfT could have instead used the money to sit on some of the 4.6% annual fares rise happening next month
Pubs! Just put up your beer by 20p rather than insisting on making me feel like a tight twat and slowing the whole process down by giving me a whole range of tipping options at POS. Extra tip: if you want your extra 5%, maybe fix the lock on your knackered shitter.
February 4, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Pubs! Just put up your beer by 20p rather than insisting on making me feel like a tight twat and slowing the whole process down by giving me a whole range of tipping options at POS. Extra tip: if you want your extra 5%, maybe fix the lock on your knackered shitter.
Reposted by Miles Platting
"I'm pausing the tariffs... For thirty days."
February 3, 2025 at 10:01 PM
"I'm pausing the tariffs... For thirty days."
Reposted by Miles Platting
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves call for Heathrow Airport expansion is based on report ordered by Heathrow owners.
Data supplied by the airport itself. Independence?
Methodology previously rejected by Transport Dept as not fit for purpose.
Govt policy based on report not publicly available.
Data supplied by the airport itself. Independence?
Methodology previously rejected by Transport Dept as not fit for purpose.
Govt policy based on report not publicly available.
Reeves’s Heathrow third runway report was commissioned by London airport
The chancellor is under fire after a study cited as evidence for expanding the terminal to boost the UK’s economic growth was ordered by Heathrow itself
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2025 at 8:21 AM
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves call for Heathrow Airport expansion is based on report ordered by Heathrow owners.
Data supplied by the airport itself. Independence?
Methodology previously rejected by Transport Dept as not fit for purpose.
Govt policy based on report not publicly available.
Data supplied by the airport itself. Independence?
Methodology previously rejected by Transport Dept as not fit for purpose.
Govt policy based on report not publicly available.
January 31, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Worth noting of course that none of this is "new" money. The real test is whether GMCA et al can actually follow through on supposed cross-budget efficiencies whilst holding back the increased spending demands of transport, housing, skills, and so on. Evidence thus far on this front worries me.
Andy Burnham has been handed £630m, now he has to to decide how to spend it
The Labour government is seeing through a promise by the Tories
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
January 31, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Worth noting of course that none of this is "new" money. The real test is whether GMCA et al can actually follow through on supposed cross-budget efficiencies whilst holding back the increased spending demands of transport, housing, skills, and so on. Evidence thus far on this front worries me.
Reposted by Miles Platting
Fucking hell. 👀
January 30, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Fucking hell. 👀
Reposted by Miles Platting
Norwich could win the champions league in ten years. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Heathrow's third runway could be built in 10 years, Reeves says
The chancellor says she wants to see planes start using the new runway in the next decade.
www.bbc.com
January 30, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Norwich could win the champions league in ten years. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Miles Platting
I hate Elonois Nazis
January 26, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I hate Elonois Nazis
Fantastic. First dodgy AI and now "electric planes". Fingers crossed for that big announcement regarding the perpetual motion machine factory they have planned for Wakefield
Rachel Reeves hints at support for Heathrow third runway - BBC News
An announcement is expected next week, as part of major speech on plans to boost the economy.
www.bbc.com
January 26, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Fantastic. First dodgy AI and now "electric planes". Fingers crossed for that big announcement regarding the perpetual motion machine factory they have planned for Wakefield
If this is "Mission Driven Government", the mission is Bravo Two Zero
Rachel Reeves to soften non-dom tax changes to woo rich for growth push
Tweak to finance bill is part of Labour push to show UK is attractive place to invest
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
If this is "Mission Driven Government", the mission is Bravo Two Zero