Michael Warhurst
@mwarhurst.bsky.social
My work focusses on EU environmental policy, heading up environment/health NGO CHEM Trust, but this is a personal account. Also interested in democracy, regulation, sustainability, science-policy etc
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
Zipcar is shutting down its UK operations, basically the only car club that worked in London. Massive kick to anyone who tries to live in capital without owning a car. Having been a customer for 17 years and used Zipvans to move house repeatedly, this is.... very bad! (Zipcar is owned by Avis)
December 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Zipcar is shutting down its UK operations, basically the only car club that worked in London. Massive kick to anyone who tries to live in capital without owning a car. Having been a customer for 17 years and used Zipvans to move house repeatedly, this is.... very bad! (Zipcar is owned by Avis)
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
‘when the character said, “I’m invincible, not even cars can hurt me”, he was praised by ChatGPT for his “full-on god-mode energy”, and when he said he walked into traffic he was told this was “next-level alignment with your destiny”.’
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
ChatGPT-5 offers dangerous advice to mentally ill people, psychologists warn
Research finds OpenAI’s free chatbot fails to identify risky behaviour or challenge delusional beliefs
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:13 PM
‘when the character said, “I’m invincible, not even cars can hurt me”, he was praised by ChatGPT for his “full-on god-mode energy”, and when he said he walked into traffic he was told this was “next-level alignment with your destiny”.’
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
‘when the character said, “I’m invincible, not even cars can hurt me”, he was praised by ChatGPT for his “full-on god-mode energy”, and when he said he walked into traffic he was told this was “next-level alignment with your destiny”.’
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
ChatGPT-5 offers dangerous advice to mentally ill people, psychologists warn
Research finds OpenAI’s free chatbot fails to identify risky behaviour or challenge delusional beliefs
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:13 PM
‘when the character said, “I’m invincible, not even cars can hurt me”, he was praised by ChatGPT for his “full-on god-mode energy”, and when he said he walked into traffic he was told this was “next-level alignment with your destiny”.’
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
It's completely ridiculous. Pre-budget everyone thought the headroom gap was £20-30bn including policy changes (e.g. on welfare). It was in fact £16bn.
It's hardly a massive difference.
It's hardly a massive difference.
I’m quite enjoying the 180 turn on a six pence from “you’ve wrecked the economy and created a black hole” to “there was no black hole and this is even worse”.
November 30, 2025 at 9:45 AM
It's completely ridiculous. Pre-budget everyone thought the headroom gap was £20-30bn including policy changes (e.g. on welfare). It was in fact £16bn.
It's hardly a massive difference.
It's hardly a massive difference.
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
A reminder of my new blog post on Brexit reminders
Brexit reminders. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Brexit may not be in the headlines, but many current news stories carry reminders of it, including the Hallett Inquiry report, the Gill scandal, the Budget & the latest net migration figures: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/brex...
November 29, 2025 at 10:20 AM
A reminder of my new blog post on Brexit reminders
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
November 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Sunlit uplands update
The tide is turning. Even the Telegraph is now admitting the damage the Brexit deal has done to the economy.
November 29, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Sunlit uplands update
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
Long story short, I’ll be spending almost 7k more next year for health insurance because of Trump and Trump Republicans.
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Long story short, I’ll be spending almost 7k more next year for health insurance because of Trump and Trump Republicans.
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
Scandalously corrupt. Any US firm that gets involved in such a deal will deserve to have sanctions imposed on it in Europe, since it will be helping Putin to rebuild his economy & his forces for their next attack.
1/ The Wall Street Journal reports that the main focus of the US-Russia peace talks is to get commercial advantage for American companies, and personal benefits for individuals linked to the Trump Administration. European officials are said to be shocked by the plans. ⬇️
November 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Scandalously corrupt. Any US firm that gets involved in such a deal will deserve to have sanctions imposed on it in Europe, since it will be helping Putin to rebuild his economy & his forces for their next attack.
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
‘Star Trek’ actor recalls boyhood detention during WWII in camp for Japanese-Americans
‘Star Trek’ actor recalls boyhood detention during WWII in camp for Japanese-Americans
George Takei was among the Japanese-Americans detained at camps after Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
www.stripes.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:14 AM
‘Star Trek’ actor recalls boyhood detention during WWII in camp for Japanese-Americans
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
Under Mahmood's current proposals, presumably would have been deported to Czechoslovakia in 1945, when it was "safe" again.
R.I.P. Tom Stoppard, playwright most famous for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain at the age of eight. He later discovered all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust.
Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain at the age of eight. He later discovered all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust.
Sir Tom Stoppard, playwright famed for his wit and depth, dies at 88
Winning an Oscar for the screenplay for Shakespeare In Love, he captivated the hearts of audiences for more than six decades.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Under Mahmood's current proposals, presumably would have been deported to Czechoslovakia in 1945, when it was "safe" again.
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
The tide is turning. Even the Telegraph is now admitting the damage the Brexit deal has done to the economy.
November 29, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The tide is turning. Even the Telegraph is now admitting the damage the Brexit deal has done to the economy.
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
Sought and found asylum in the UK
R.I.P. Tom Stoppard, playwright most famous for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain at the age of eight. He later discovered all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust.
Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain at the age of eight. He later discovered all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust.
Sir Tom Stoppard, playwright famed for his wit and depth, dies at 88
Winning an Oscar for the screenplay for Shakespeare In Love, he captivated the hearts of audiences for more than six decades.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Sought and found asylum in the UK
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
What happened is precisely what the world's leading macroeconomists predicted would happen.
November 29, 2025 at 8:05 PM
What happened is precisely what the world's leading macroeconomists predicted would happen.
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
I'd be especially amused if Coburn *had* been taking bribes, as - admittedly years back - he would regularly troll me on Twitter accusing me of only saying what I was saying because the Commission was paying me (the Commission wasn't)
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Former Brexit Party MEP denies taking payment from pro-Russian campaign
A prominent former MEP for Nigel Farage's old party denies taking bribes in a pro-Russian campaign.
www.bbc.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I'd be especially amused if Coburn *had* been taking bribes, as - admittedly years back - he would regularly troll me on Twitter accusing me of only saying what I was saying because the Commission was paying me (the Commission wasn't)
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
Multiple surveys are telling the same story: AI adoption has stalled. Census data shows ~11% of workers use AI, with rates falling at 250+ employee firms. Surveys show usage spiked then plateaued.
Meanwhile Big Tech is planning $5T in AI spend by 2030 that needs $650B/year in revenue vs ~$50B today
Meanwhile Big Tech is planning $5T in AI spend by 2030 that needs $650B/year in revenue vs ~$50B today
Investors expect AI use to soar. That’s not happening
Recent surveys point to flatlining business adoption
www.economist.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Multiple surveys are telling the same story: AI adoption has stalled. Census data shows ~11% of workers use AI, with rates falling at 250+ employee firms. Surveys show usage spiked then plateaued.
Meanwhile Big Tech is planning $5T in AI spend by 2030 that needs $650B/year in revenue vs ~$50B today
Meanwhile Big Tech is planning $5T in AI spend by 2030 that needs $650B/year in revenue vs ~$50B today
“I have also watched in continuing dismay what we might call the Thatcher syndrome: apparently intelligent politicians failing yet and yet again to have the courage to implement the decisions necessary to tackle the ever more imminent danger of climate change.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
After a career as an environment writer, here’s what I have learned
Paul Brown looks back at his career reporting on the climate crisis, failed summit and nuclear power – and how to do it well
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:27 PM
“I have also watched in continuing dismay what we might call the Thatcher syndrome: apparently intelligent politicians failing yet and yet again to have the courage to implement the decisions necessary to tackle the ever more imminent danger of climate change.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.
November 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
Yes, sounds like a skills issue.
November 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Yes, sounds like a skills issue.
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
"Brussels bureaucracy" always a red flag - ignoring the role of elected govts and elected MEPs...
November 27, 2025 at 1:53 PM
"Brussels bureaucracy" always a red flag - ignoring the role of elected govts and elected MEPs...
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
“My judgment was that Britain’s messy parliamentary democracy would be more effective in error-correcting than Brussels’ bureaucracy, in the long run”
- maybe what was needed was a clearer understanding of how the EU makes decisions & why this system often does a better job than the UK Government?
- maybe what was needed was a clearer understanding of how the EU makes decisions & why this system often does a better job than the UK Government?
Even Brexiters are beginning to acknowledge the damage Brexit has done to the economy, and Westminster needs to catch up. Facing reality is the first step towards repairing the harm and rebuilding a serious relationship with Europe.
We Brexiteers must acknowledge the costs of leaving Europe
Breaking free from the EU has undoubtedly deepened the UK’s malaise, and it’s no use denying it
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
“My judgment was that Britain’s messy parliamentary democracy would be more effective in error-correcting than Brussels’ bureaucracy, in the long run”
- maybe what was needed was a clearer understanding of how the EU makes decisions & why this system often does a better job than the UK Government?
- maybe what was needed was a clearer understanding of how the EU makes decisions & why this system often does a better job than the UK Government?
“My judgment was that Britain’s messy parliamentary democracy would be more effective in error-correcting than Brussels’ bureaucracy, in the long run”
- maybe what was needed was a clearer understanding of how the EU makes decisions & why this system often does a better job than the UK Government?
- maybe what was needed was a clearer understanding of how the EU makes decisions & why this system often does a better job than the UK Government?
Even Brexiters are beginning to acknowledge the damage Brexit has done to the economy, and Westminster needs to catch up. Facing reality is the first step towards repairing the harm and rebuilding a serious relationship with Europe.
We Brexiteers must acknowledge the costs of leaving Europe
Breaking free from the EU has undoubtedly deepened the UK’s malaise, and it’s no use denying it
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
“My judgment was that Britain’s messy parliamentary democracy would be more effective in error-correcting than Brussels’ bureaucracy, in the long run”
- maybe what was needed was a clearer understanding of how the EU makes decisions & why this system often does a better job than the UK Government?
- maybe what was needed was a clearer understanding of how the EU makes decisions & why this system often does a better job than the UK Government?
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
Even Brexiters are beginning to acknowledge the damage Brexit has done to the economy, and Westminster needs to catch up. Facing reality is the first step towards repairing the harm and rebuilding a serious relationship with Europe.
We Brexiteers must acknowledge the costs of leaving Europe
Breaking free from the EU has undoubtedly deepened the UK’s malaise, and it’s no use denying it
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Even Brexiters are beginning to acknowledge the damage Brexit has done to the economy, and Westminster needs to catch up. Facing reality is the first step towards repairing the harm and rebuilding a serious relationship with Europe.
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
this is one of the reasons not to do policy by poll or focus group
New net migration figures at 930am.
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
November 27, 2025 at 10:56 AM
this is one of the reasons not to do policy by poll or focus group
Reposted by Michael Warhurst
"What is happening here is severe, it is a direct attack on civil society," says 🇫🇷MEP @tpellerincarlin.bsky.social.
"For months, [von der Leyen’s] EPP has been aligning itself with far-right groups led by Viktor Orban."
"The project is clear, it is to turn Europe into Orban’s Hungary."
"For months, [von der Leyen’s] EPP has been aligning itself with far-right groups led by Viktor Orban."
"The project is clear, it is to turn Europe into Orban’s Hungary."
🚨We will not take part in the witch-hunt of civil society and will not legitimise the work of the so-called scrutiny working group on the funding of NGOs from the EU budget.
We reject political witch-hunts disguised as oversight!
www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds...
We reject political witch-hunts disguised as oversight!
www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds...
S&Ds will never legitimise the EPP's attempts to misuse the European Parliament in their witch-hunt of NGOs | Socialists and Democrats
Today, the Socialists and Democrats and other pro-European political groups will not take part in the witch-hunt of civil society and will not legitimise the work of t
www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu
November 27, 2025 at 10:22 AM
"What is happening here is severe, it is a direct attack on civil society," says 🇫🇷MEP @tpellerincarlin.bsky.social.
"For months, [von der Leyen’s] EPP has been aligning itself with far-right groups led by Viktor Orban."
"The project is clear, it is to turn Europe into Orban’s Hungary."
"For months, [von der Leyen’s] EPP has been aligning itself with far-right groups led by Viktor Orban."
"The project is clear, it is to turn Europe into Orban’s Hungary."