David Higham
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oldtrotter.bsky.social
David Higham
@oldtrotter.bsky.social
6.8K followers 630 following 18K posts
Former economist and civil servant. Former (age related) national cycling champion. Still a music fan. Sewn up member of the Zipper Club.
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oldtrotter.bsky.social
Of course it would be better if the state was building houses, rather than relying on the private sector to build at rates to satisfy shareholders rather than deliver government objectives.
In her Budget speech Reeves trumpeted that Labour is “building homes”, but it is building fewer than when the Conservatives left office.
November 28, 2025 at 6:59 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
This is a country that we still pretend in an ally?
A senior US State Department offi-cial said British people had voted for reform" of mass migration but had been repeatedly "let down" by Labour and Conservatives governments alike. The official said: "If you look at Europe... there are concerning increases that we're seeing in sexual assaults and violent sexual aggravated attacks, particularly on women and young girls,
November 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
The Conservative meltdown seemed to prevent any serious analysis and challenge to Labour’s fantasy manifesto. Who could forget “pulling the growth lever”?
November 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
And a very good morning as Allister Heath delivers his verdict on the budget.
Allister Heath argues that the latest changes constitute the end of meritocracy and the confirmation of the UK's descent into a Left-wing nightmare.
November 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Ben Zaranko One interesting thing to note on the 3-year freeze in personal tax allowances: a 1p increase in all rates of income tax would have raised a similar amount while bringing in more from those at the very top of the distribution.
November 26, 2025 at 10:15 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Have always thought this was one of his best albums. Bought this mono first pressing back in 1968 and it's survived the years and a series of not always great turntables remarkably well.
November 26, 2025 at 10:10 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Well said @benzaranko.bsky.social No serious politician can claim that those three challenges weren't apparent way before the election. When did Putin invade Crimea? And Obama was telling Europe it needed to spend more on defence.
"We are not alone in this," Ben Zaranko, an economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, says of the UK. "Most of the challenges we face are common ageing populations, defence spending, climate. Lots of other countries are borrowing more than they probably ought to in the aftermath of Covid-19 [and] the energy price increase, and are struggling to bring it down." But it is hard to blame the electorate for chafing against higher taxes to fund rising demand for public services when they have been told by politicians that they do not need to pay more, Zaranko adds.
November 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Well there are some advantages to AI
The updated audio, revamped by Giles Martin (son of George), using Jackson's machine-learning technology, is also a thing of wonder. Over the years it has sometimes been hard to reconcile the reputation of the early Beatles as wild performers with the thin and tinny albums they made.
November 26, 2025 at 9:43 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Rather an important proviso in that announcement.
He has also set an ambition to spend 3% of GDP on defence in the next parliament, as economic and fiscal conditions allow, in order to keep the British people safe and secure for generations to come.
November 26, 2025 at 8:50 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
This is how the FT reported it. Makes it look even worse.
The UK Treasury has asked banks to make public and prominent endorsements of the Budget this week, as chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to spare the sector from a tax raid. Officials want lenders to praise new policies and show how they will boost lending to first-time buyers and small businesses, people involved in the discussions said. The understanding is that banks should refrain from criticising the government's decisions, one of the people said.
November 25, 2025 at 9:25 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Timeless tweet
November 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
1975 reissue of Free's debut album from 1969. Recorded on a budget of £800 with minimal overdubs, it shows what a great blues rock band they were.
November 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
We all know our place when we’re in the presence of one of the all time greats of British cycling
November 24, 2025 at 10:31 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Wasn’t entirely convinced by this argument. Think we tried this approach in the 1960s and 1970s.
November 24, 2025 at 9:37 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Good morning. Even Martin Wolf has lost hope
Si, what do I hope from Wednesday’s Budget? Some sight of a workable and coherent long term economic strategy. I do not expect it. It may already be too late. But, without that, it is hard to be optimistic about the UK’s future.
November 24, 2025 at 9:08 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
A film that takes place where you’re from
Trailer for Spring and Port Wine.
November 23, 2025 at 9:16 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
This is pretty weird even by his own standards.
November 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Join Bluesky for political and economic discussions. Stay for the football commentary.
November 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Why do people feel that their everyday lives aren't improving and the public realm is deteriorating? Complete mystery.
Picture of the flooding which closes the recently constructed Manchester Airport Relief road every time there is heavy rain.
November 23, 2025 at 10:13 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Well there is some evidence…
November 23, 2025 at 9:48 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
"Nice bike you've got there mate. Wouldn't want anything to happen to it". Even the birds are demanding food with menaces. Broken Britain 😬
Robin sat on the cross bar of my bike, demanding that I share my food.
November 23, 2025 at 9:42 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
And who chose the date of the Budget and who has been briefing the media?
This month Sir Keir Starmer sought to win over a dozen FTSE 100 chiefs at a drinks party in Downing Street. He stressed the government's plans for deregulation and business' role in growing the economy, even as Number 10 was battling a briefing crisis over the prime minister's leadership. Steve Hare, head of software group Sage and an attendee, said the message from the bosses was "pretty consistent... government leaking of different options and creating uncertainty and anxiety is unhelpful to business". Nevertheless, a day after the party, where Tesco's Ken Murphy and Jennie Daly of Taylor Wimpey were also present, the Financial Times revealed Reeves and Starmer had abandoned manifesto-busting plans to raise income tax rates.
November 23, 2025 at 8:20 AM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Another day of crate digging turned up this 1989 German pressing on white (😬) vinyl. Recorded straight to two track DAT it's as live as you'll get.
Vinyl copy of the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band Almond Acoustic album.
November 22, 2025 at 10:10 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Ironically, one of the first things that the Major administration did to attempt to restore its credibility after Black Wednesday was to implement the fuel price duty escalator both to raise revenue and to reduce emissions. In 1997 Brown said. All now seemingly forgotten.
November 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
oldtrotter.bsky.social
Weeks is doing a lot of heavy lifting there and how can you U-turn on something that you haven’t announced?
Reeves had spent weeks preparing Labour MPs, the markets and the country for a Budget on November 26 that would be so tough an election pledge not to raise income tax rates would have to be broken. The U-turn suggested that the chancellor had lost control.
November 22, 2025 at 4:56 PM