@richtnext.bsky.social
Innovation, econ, politics, cities, net 0, social mobility. Bikes, music, comedy, beer, running. English/Brit/European, 23% Germanic, 7% Scot, 4% Scandi, 2% Irish, 1% Northern Italy. Maybe.
Advanced economy governments need focus:
1. Housing supply, incl building dense townhouses, taxing large properties + portfolios.
2. Growth from modern service / tech sectors they're good at.
3. Investing in defence, energy independence + environmental security.
@libdems.org.uk @labouruk.bsky.social
1. Housing supply, incl building dense townhouses, taxing large properties + portfolios.
2. Growth from modern service / tech sectors they're good at.
3. Investing in defence, energy independence + environmental security.
@libdems.org.uk @labouruk.bsky.social
January 26, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Advanced economy governments need focus:
1. Housing supply, incl building dense townhouses, taxing large properties + portfolios.
2. Growth from modern service / tech sectors they're good at.
3. Investing in defence, energy independence + environmental security.
@libdems.org.uk @labouruk.bsky.social
1. Housing supply, incl building dense townhouses, taxing large properties + portfolios.
2. Growth from modern service / tech sectors they're good at.
3. Investing in defence, energy independence + environmental security.
@libdems.org.uk @labouruk.bsky.social
The failure to regulate property standards in the UK, and the companies responsible. Under whose watch? A Labour government. Swallowing nonsense from the same old greed-obsessed investors about impacts on an inflated housing market & pensions @labouruk.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
‘They’re trying to milk us’: leaseholders tell of soaring charges amid Labour reform delays
Some residents say they are facing financial ruin as government’s long-awaited law changes stall
www.theguardian.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:46 PM
The failure to regulate property standards in the UK, and the companies responsible. Under whose watch? A Labour government. Swallowing nonsense from the same old greed-obsessed investors about impacts on an inflated housing market & pensions @labouruk.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Being anti-vax, pro authoritarian leadership, or anti diversity is such a remarkably privileged position. Based on those who struggled before, to grant you the progress and freedom you benefit from. Yet, it is still often presented as some kind of rebellious position.
January 23, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Being anti-vax, pro authoritarian leadership, or anti diversity is such a remarkably privileged position. Based on those who struggled before, to grant you the progress and freedom you benefit from. Yet, it is still often presented as some kind of rebellious position.
Watching documentaries that remind me of the fall of regimes in Eastern Europe, I wonder if some across the Pond might take peaceful inspiration. Vast mass protests can be mightier than we give them credit for. But perhaps only when it is enough of the population that's committed, and often enough.
January 18, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Watching documentaries that remind me of the fall of regimes in Eastern Europe, I wonder if some across the Pond might take peaceful inspiration. Vast mass protests can be mightier than we give them credit for. But perhaps only when it is enough of the population that's committed, and often enough.
The Conservatives' Jenrick continues to display little regard for values & substance - instead simple, naked power ambition. A kind of cynical disregard for the intelligence of the public that gives politics an undeserved reputation. The best of our politicians are often the ones you hear less from.
January 15, 2026 at 1:54 PM
The Conservatives' Jenrick continues to display little regard for values & substance - instead simple, naked power ambition. A kind of cynical disregard for the intelligence of the public that gives politics an undeserved reputation. The best of our politicians are often the ones you hear less from.
Nearly 20 years ago some extreme finance crashed the global economy. Nearly 10 years ago the UK voted Brexit, the USA voted Trump. We still haven't resolved wealth inequalities that began with the deregulation of Thatcher & Reagan. It may have seemed to bring prosperity. We live with its evolution.
January 14, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Nearly 20 years ago some extreme finance crashed the global economy. Nearly 10 years ago the UK voted Brexit, the USA voted Trump. We still haven't resolved wealth inequalities that began with the deregulation of Thatcher & Reagan. It may have seemed to bring prosperity. We live with its evolution.
Reposted
Nadim Zahawi arrived in the UK from Iraq as a child refugee. His family claimed asylum once they were here. Today he has joined Reform who will stop all in country asylum applications. Under his new party, his own family fleeing persecution would be immediately deported.
January 12, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Nadim Zahawi arrived in the UK from Iraq as a child refugee. His family claimed asylum once they were here. Today he has joined Reform who will stop all in country asylum applications. Under his new party, his own family fleeing persecution would be immediately deported.
The people who brought you more of the finance-dominant economy, after the 2007-08, and every failed policy since... Keep returning under a new brand. And those attempting an alternative are not being brave enough with the alternative vision, not being clear enough about what has gone wrong.
January 12, 2026 at 1:09 PM
The people who brought you more of the finance-dominant economy, after the 2007-08, and every failed policy since... Keep returning under a new brand. And those attempting an alternative are not being brave enough with the alternative vision, not being clear enough about what has gone wrong.
@economist.com The writer of the Canary Wharf piece has (a) conveniently skimmed over the scale of *public* investment that's made Docklands really work (Jubilee, Elizabeth line, etc), & (b) clearly (unsurprisingly) not been to Manchester recently. Growth never went away. But it's as patchy as ever.
January 9, 2026 at 9:17 PM
@economist.com The writer of the Canary Wharf piece has (a) conveniently skimmed over the scale of *public* investment that's made Docklands really work (Jubilee, Elizabeth line, etc), & (b) clearly (unsurprisingly) not been to Manchester recently. Growth never went away. But it's as patchy as ever.
2. Europe must forge closer alliances with the wider 'progressiverse': Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, others respecting international rules-based systems.
3. Those nations must be bolder on competition policy. Dominant global tech, social media, finance monopolies are a risk to economies & security.
3. Those nations must be bolder on competition policy. Dominant global tech, social media, finance monopolies are a risk to economies & security.
January 6, 2026 at 9:46 AM
2. Europe must forge closer alliances with the wider 'progressiverse': Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, others respecting international rules-based systems.
3. Those nations must be bolder on competition policy. Dominant global tech, social media, finance monopolies are a risk to economies & security.
3. Those nations must be bolder on competition policy. Dominant global tech, social media, finance monopolies are a risk to economies & security.
As they say, he showed us who he was.
The response is not always obvious.
1. Europe (EU/EEA + UK and others) must integrate its markets much faster. To drive cross-border scale, efficiency and growth in tech, energy, security, finance, farming and life sciences (amongst others)...
The response is not always obvious.
1. Europe (EU/EEA + UK and others) must integrate its markets much faster. To drive cross-border scale, efficiency and growth in tech, energy, security, finance, farming and life sciences (amongst others)...
January 6, 2026 at 9:43 AM
As they say, he showed us who he was.
The response is not always obvious.
1. Europe (EU/EEA + UK and others) must integrate its markets much faster. To drive cross-border scale, efficiency and growth in tech, energy, security, finance, farming and life sciences (amongst others)...
The response is not always obvious.
1. Europe (EU/EEA + UK and others) must integrate its markets much faster. To drive cross-border scale, efficiency and growth in tech, energy, security, finance, farming and life sciences (amongst others)...
@qi.com Corrections to Lunchbox Envy on coffee? The way we drink coffee is mostly not significantly dehydrating, because the volume of liquid outweighs diuretic effect. It's mostly a myth people drank weak beer instead of water. To thrive, throughout human history safe water sources were sought out.
August 27, 2025 at 7:49 AM
@qi.com Corrections to Lunchbox Envy on coffee? The way we drink coffee is mostly not significantly dehydrating, because the volume of liquid outweighs diuretic effect. It's mostly a myth people drank weak beer instead of water. To thrive, throughout human history safe water sources were sought out.
Edinburgh Fringe is brilliant. Things to change? 1. Door staff have forgotten their job is welcoming hosts, not ticket terms police. 2. It's too expensive to stay. 3. It's too easy for the ultra-privileged to fund mediocre work. 4. Edinburgh is beautiful, but maybe not modernising, a bit shabbier?
August 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Edinburgh Fringe is brilliant. Things to change? 1. Door staff have forgotten their job is welcoming hosts, not ticket terms police. 2. It's too expensive to stay. 3. It's too easy for the ultra-privileged to fund mediocre work. 4. Edinburgh is beautiful, but maybe not modernising, a bit shabbier?
Branding, wayfinding, train & station design standards transformed London Overground lines usage. Britain's new Great British Railways routes should reinforce positive, inclusive regional identities. Eg C2C should be London Essex Coastal. A nod to the lesser known character of the county & boroughs.
August 9, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Branding, wayfinding, train & station design standards transformed London Overground lines usage. Britain's new Great British Railways routes should reinforce positive, inclusive regional identities. Eg C2C should be London Essex Coastal. A nod to the lesser known character of the county & boroughs.
Point 2 on algorithms: Why are they still so bad? Why is Spotify so poor at understanding music taste, creating playlists, generating serendipity with surprising tracks we might like? Why does Threads double-down on such niche content you once liked (guess it just copied the dead feed of Facebook).
July 30, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Point 2 on algorithms: Why are they still so bad? Why is Spotify so poor at understanding music taste, creating playlists, generating serendipity with surprising tracks we might like? Why does Threads double-down on such niche content you once liked (guess it just copied the dead feed of Facebook).
Worrying thing about online safety is that governments like the UK & Australia are just catching up with issues that began 5-10 years ago - whilst still not regulating fair and ethical algorithms, nor effective competition in global big tech. Let alone where AI is heading. Anticipating vs reacting!
July 30, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Worrying thing about online safety is that governments like the UK & Australia are just catching up with issues that began 5-10 years ago - whilst still not regulating fair and ethical algorithms, nor effective competition in global big tech. Let alone where AI is heading. Anticipating vs reacting!
There is a wave beginning in England and in Britain. It's in sport and it's in culture. Out of bad times, a tired nation, creativity and tenacity emerge. Don't write the UK off yet. The Lionesses embody a new spirit, that defies the forces trying to take us backwards.
July 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
There is a wave beginning in England and in Britain. It's in sport and it's in culture. Out of bad times, a tired nation, creativity and tenacity emerge. Don't write the UK off yet. The Lionesses embody a new spirit, that defies the forces trying to take us backwards.
The UK has been in relative economy decline for nearly 2 decades now, yet govt seems surprised people aren't saving enough for post 70s retirement. Housing market inequalities largely to blame. Smash freehold monopolies, tax unearned property wealth accumulation fairly, regulate property management.
July 22, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The UK has been in relative economy decline for nearly 2 decades now, yet govt seems surprised people aren't saving enough for post 70s retirement. Housing market inequalities largely to blame. Smash freehold monopolies, tax unearned property wealth accumulation fairly, regulate property management.
In 2016 I said that, piece by piece, Britain would return to the relationship it had with the rest of Europe before the purposeless referendum. Agreements with France & Germany are part of that. But ambition in detail is weak: direct trains UK to Germany within a *decade* (the tunnel opened in 1994)
July 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
In 2016 I said that, piece by piece, Britain would return to the relationship it had with the rest of Europe before the purposeless referendum. Agreements with France & Germany are part of that. But ambition in detail is weak: direct trains UK to Germany within a *decade* (the tunnel opened in 1994)
Do we need a British Public Service Media Fee to replace the BBC License Fee? A tax whereby 65% goes to the BBC to give it enough scale to compete globally and commercially, enabling its public service remit and news - and 35% is available to independent streaming and broadcasting production?
July 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Do we need a British Public Service Media Fee to replace the BBC License Fee? A tax whereby 65% goes to the BBC to give it enough scale to compete globally and commercially, enabling its public service remit and news - and 35% is available to independent streaming and broadcasting production?
UK Labour will hear calls to deregulate The City (finance) for a quick fix growth boost. They must remember finance, business leaders & big consultancies have grown themselves, whilst failing to grow GDP across the UK. Shout a vision of modern success sectors & services = confidence = investment.
July 12, 2025 at 7:04 AM
UK Labour will hear calls to deregulate The City (finance) for a quick fix growth boost. They must remember finance, business leaders & big consultancies have grown themselves, whilst failing to grow GDP across the UK. Shout a vision of modern success sectors & services = confidence = investment.
What actually nudges people to be overweight?
A great video on the differences between US (/Western) everyday nutrition behaviour vs Japan - and what it means for health.
(and brought back very happy memories of a month of travelling and eating in Japan in 2012).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH6W...
A great video on the differences between US (/Western) everyday nutrition behaviour vs Japan - and what it means for health.
(and brought back very happy memories of a month of travelling and eating in Japan in 2012).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH6W...
How Japan escaped Obesity while America got Fat
YouTube video by What I've Learned - Joseph Everett
www.youtube.com
July 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
What actually nudges people to be overweight?
A great video on the differences between US (/Western) everyday nutrition behaviour vs Japan - and what it means for health.
(and brought back very happy memories of a month of travelling and eating in Japan in 2012).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH6W...
A great video on the differences between US (/Western) everyday nutrition behaviour vs Japan - and what it means for health.
(and brought back very happy memories of a month of travelling and eating in Japan in 2012).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH6W...
Naive in extreme for govt to take 'free' services, hardware from Big Tech. Worse though, it's bad for business, unethical; locks out fair competition from smaller firms, unable to offer services free. Ask what Big Tech gains, what power govt loses. UK Labour again listening to wrong business voices.
July 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Naive in extreme for govt to take 'free' services, hardware from Big Tech. Worse though, it's bad for business, unethical; locks out fair competition from smaller firms, unable to offer services free. Ask what Big Tech gains, what power govt loses. UK Labour again listening to wrong business voices.
Starmer does not need to "tax our way to growth". But he needs to invest urgently to stimulate the economy & public services; to enable the UK to catch up with living standards in other advanced economies over the next decade. World leaders need greater courage taxing unearned wealth inequality.
July 9, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Starmer does not need to "tax our way to growth". But he needs to invest urgently to stimulate the economy & public services; to enable the UK to catch up with living standards in other advanced economies over the next decade. World leaders need greater courage taxing unearned wealth inequality.
Adam Curtis's latest series is another masterpiece, albeit depressing when focused solely on your home country. Criticism? Focus on deindustrialisation without more balance on rise of (eg) higher tech, professional services, creative or design jobs. Deindustrialisation is far from unique to the UK.
June 16, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Adam Curtis's latest series is another masterpiece, albeit depressing when focused solely on your home country. Criticism? Focus on deindustrialisation without more balance on rise of (eg) higher tech, professional services, creative or design jobs. Deindustrialisation is far from unique to the UK.