Tim Aldrich
@timaldrich.bsky.social
Regulator, policy person, writer, runner, school governor. Not necessarily always in that order.
Just love this. Endlessly fascinating in so many ways…
The recent release of the Index of Multiple Deprivation by UK Gov. allowed me to indulge my twin interests of psephology and demographics. The results a visualisation of the deprivation profiles of the 296 English local authorities. More info here www.opendatamanchester.org.uk/revisiting-p...
December 9, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Just love this. Endlessly fascinating in so many ways…
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
In London this Tuesday evening?
Want to kick of the festivities with a bang?
Come to Liars' League! I'll be your host for "Blessed and Cursed" - five stories read by actors, with mince pies and a book quiz (infamous).
Grab one of the last remaining tickets! It'll be a ho-ho-hoot...
#LiveLit
Want to kick of the festivities with a bang?
Come to Liars' League! I'll be your host for "Blessed and Cursed" - five stories read by actors, with mince pies and a book quiz (infamous).
Grab one of the last remaining tickets! It'll be a ho-ho-hoot...
#LiveLit
🔔CAST ANNOUNCED for #BlessedAndCursed Tue 9 Dec!
• David Mildon: Victorian opium-fiend
• Aisha Kent: @hannahdownes.bsky.social's Precious Cargo
• Clareine Cronin: @rhystimson.bsky.social's subeditor
• Silas Hawkins: @amy-c-author.bsky.social's sorcerer
& @alexcuddles.bsky.social: Prince Harry! 🎄
• David Mildon: Victorian opium-fiend
• Aisha Kent: @hannahdownes.bsky.social's Precious Cargo
• Clareine Cronin: @rhystimson.bsky.social's subeditor
• Silas Hawkins: @amy-c-author.bsky.social's sorcerer
& @alexcuddles.bsky.social: Prince Harry! 🎄
December 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
In London this Tuesday evening?
Want to kick of the festivities with a bang?
Come to Liars' League! I'll be your host for "Blessed and Cursed" - five stories read by actors, with mince pies and a book quiz (infamous).
Grab one of the last remaining tickets! It'll be a ho-ho-hoot...
#LiveLit
Want to kick of the festivities with a bang?
Come to Liars' League! I'll be your host for "Blessed and Cursed" - five stories read by actors, with mince pies and a book quiz (infamous).
Grab one of the last remaining tickets! It'll be a ho-ho-hoot...
#LiveLit
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
Breathtaking, but now expected.
1/US stepping up attacks on the EU. This has left many in Europe scratching their heads but it is part of the neo-royalist agenda. The EU stands for the rules based order and stands in the way of a new order based not on rules but clique interests.
www.politico.eu/article/top-...
www.politico.eu/article/top-...
Top US official says EU regulation ‘undermines’ NATO ties
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Europe’s policy agenda was hurting its credibility in Washington.
www.politico.eu
December 7, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Breathtaking, but now expected.
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
Most discussions about “misinformation” treat the problem as if people simply don’t have good enough critical-thinking skills. It sounds intuitive, but it’s not entirely accurate. The problem isn’t just individual ignorance, it’s the structure of the information environment people are placed into.
Finland has emerged as a global leader in countering “fake news”. Here's how they've done it
Teaching when to trust
As fake news accelerates, we need to teach our children how to think critically. Finnish schools are leading the charge
newhumanist.org.uk
December 7, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Most discussions about “misinformation” treat the problem as if people simply don’t have good enough critical-thinking skills. It sounds intuitive, but it’s not entirely accurate. The problem isn’t just individual ignorance, it’s the structure of the information environment people are placed into.
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
👻It's a fine tradition to read ghost stories in winter, but why not rest your eyes instead & listen to #HauntedAndHunted, our latest podcast feat. @carriecohen01.bsky.social @timlarkfield.bsky.social @timaldrich.bsky.social @davemcgrath.bsky.social You're welcome🎅
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/l...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/l...
December 2, 2025 at 11:33 AM
👻It's a fine tradition to read ghost stories in winter, but why not rest your eyes instead & listen to #HauntedAndHunted, our latest podcast feat. @carriecohen01.bsky.social @timlarkfield.bsky.social @timaldrich.bsky.social @davemcgrath.bsky.social You're welcome🎅
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/l...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/l...
Starmer won’t like the analogy (he’s a Gooner, after all) but he shares a lot in common with Arne Slot: won big last year, spent lots of money, seriously underperforming in the league table/polls
November 26, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Starmer won’t like the analogy (he’s a Gooner, after all) but he shares a lot in common with Arne Slot: won big last year, spent lots of money, seriously underperforming in the league table/polls
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
The murder rate in London is now the lowest in decades, perhaps centuries. (The Times)
November 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The murder rate in London is now the lowest in decades, perhaps centuries. (The Times)
There’s something about crises that prompts excellent writing. This is particularly good and heartily dismaying. Change Starmer for another MP and unless they get this, nothing changes
New Substack: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... Parts of the Labour party and BBC simply don't know what their jobs should be.
On incompetence
Much of our political culture is fundamentally incompetent.
chrisdillow.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:29 PM
There’s something about crises that prompts excellent writing. This is particularly good and heartily dismaying. Change Starmer for another MP and unless they get this, nothing changes
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
New Substack: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... Parts of the Labour party and BBC simply don't know what their jobs should be.
On incompetence
Much of our political culture is fundamentally incompetent.
chrisdillow.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:47 AM
New Substack: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... Parts of the Labour party and BBC simply don't know what their jobs should be.
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
Rachel Reeves has no good choices left.
After this week's income tax u-turn, is there any way she can salvage the Budget?
www.edrith.co.uk/p/reeves-in-...
After this week's income tax u-turn, is there any way she can salvage the Budget?
www.edrith.co.uk/p/reeves-in-...
November 15, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Rachel Reeves has no good choices left.
After this week's income tax u-turn, is there any way she can salvage the Budget?
www.edrith.co.uk/p/reeves-in-...
After this week's income tax u-turn, is there any way she can salvage the Budget?
www.edrith.co.uk/p/reeves-in-...
@ecwestcott.bsky.social in case you’ve not seen…. 👏👏👏
November 15, 2025 at 11:17 AM
@ecwestcott.bsky.social in case you’ve not seen…. 👏👏👏
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
<Phone rings>
Growth Fairy: Get that would you mate, I’m watching Homes Under the Hammer.
Efficiency Fairy: Don’t trouble your fat ass.
…
EF: That was you know who and we’re back baby, we’re so back.
Growth Fairy: Get that would you mate, I’m watching Homes Under the Hammer.
Efficiency Fairy: Don’t trouble your fat ass.
…
EF: That was you know who and we’re back baby, we’re so back.
November 14, 2025 at 8:37 AM
<Phone rings>
Growth Fairy: Get that would you mate, I’m watching Homes Under the Hammer.
Efficiency Fairy: Don’t trouble your fat ass.
…
EF: That was you know who and we’re back baby, we’re so back.
Growth Fairy: Get that would you mate, I’m watching Homes Under the Hammer.
Efficiency Fairy: Don’t trouble your fat ass.
…
EF: That was you know who and we’re back baby, we’re so back.
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
Huzzah for @markmiodownik.bsky.social! Bring your broken or damaged possessions to the UCL Repair Café event at UCL East Marshgate in Stratford on Friday, 7th November! www.ucl.ac.uk/sustainable/...
Repair Café
Bring your broken or damaged possessions to our UCL Repair Café event at UCL East Marshgate on Friday, 7th November.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 4, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Huzzah for @markmiodownik.bsky.social! Bring your broken or damaged possessions to the UCL Repair Café event at UCL East Marshgate in Stratford on Friday, 7th November! www.ucl.ac.uk/sustainable/...
I generally tolerate email marketing at best but this from BackMarket is rather good:
![Headline: Can you spot the difference? [two pictures: one of a Canadian lake taken by an iPhone 15 and the same image but with the lake dried up purportedly by an iPhone 92]
Text: What will the iPhone 92 look like? We've no idea. But we do know what the planet could look like if fast tech continues to release new “upgrades” year after year.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:g4d7dyepzxp2tghuk3graqgp/bafkreig4hvisz7fclp2sfso4ujfb6weyzvk3gzdqrxazvnhpzawokm7mnu@jpeg)
October 23, 2025 at 7:22 AM
I generally tolerate email marketing at best but this from BackMarket is rather good:
Teenager #1 wanders round the house singing snippets of lyrics to the songs in his headphones and it feels a bit like a Never Mind the Buzzcocks episode
October 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Teenager #1 wanders round the house singing snippets of lyrics to the songs in his headphones and it feels a bit like a Never Mind the Buzzcocks episode
I get on the Elizabeth Line at Paddington and put the Philip Glass soundtrack to The Hours on in my earbuds ‘just knowing’ that it would be relevant to the booking I’m reading, @willstorr.bsky.social’s The Science of Storytelling. Two pages in and there’s refs to Wolff and Cunningham…
September 23, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I get on the Elizabeth Line at Paddington and put the Philip Glass soundtrack to The Hours on in my earbuds ‘just knowing’ that it would be relevant to the booking I’m reading, @willstorr.bsky.social’s The Science of Storytelling. Two pages in and there’s refs to Wolff and Cunningham…
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
once again I am begging you all not to use third-party link-shortening services. You don't need to use them! Once the preview shows up on your post you can delete the link itself so you have all the characters! And those of us on zero-trust work laptops get blocked if we click a shorturl!
‘My father can bring democracy to Palestinian politics. You simply need to ask to release him’
The son of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has called on Keir Starmer to lobby for his freedom.
@chloehadj.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3Kxg9wI
The son of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has called on Keir Starmer to lobby for his freedom.
@chloehadj.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3Kxg9wI
‘My father bring can democracy to Palestinian politics. Y...
The son of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has called on Keir Starmer to lobby for his freedom
bit.ly
September 22, 2025 at 11:12 AM
once again I am begging you all not to use third-party link-shortening services. You don't need to use them! Once the preview shows up on your post you can delete the link itself so you have all the characters! And those of us on zero-trust work laptops get blocked if we click a shorturl!
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
Tech policy is full of imaginaries. Pick a word or phrase ("AI", "digital ID" are two), add the phrase "efficiency" or "investment", and people who are digitally adept but lacking technology development experience will be queuing round the block to write it into a speech or a policy paper.
September 22, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Tech policy is full of imaginaries. Pick a word or phrase ("AI", "digital ID" are two), add the phrase "efficiency" or "investment", and people who are digitally adept but lacking technology development experience will be queuing round the block to write it into a speech or a policy paper.
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
A reshuffle *is* happening this week then in No 10.
Darren Jones and James Murray will attend Cabinet.
Jones' Chief Sec role is new: "[He] will work collaboratively across UK Govt to drive forward progress in key policy areas, reporting directly to the PM." No mention of 'missions' anywhere though
Darren Jones and James Murray will attend Cabinet.
Jones' Chief Sec role is new: "[He] will work collaboratively across UK Govt to drive forward progress in key policy areas, reporting directly to the PM." No mention of 'missions' anywhere though
September 1, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A reshuffle *is* happening this week then in No 10.
Darren Jones and James Murray will attend Cabinet.
Jones' Chief Sec role is new: "[He] will work collaboratively across UK Govt to drive forward progress in key policy areas, reporting directly to the PM." No mention of 'missions' anywhere though
Darren Jones and James Murray will attend Cabinet.
Jones' Chief Sec role is new: "[He] will work collaboratively across UK Govt to drive forward progress in key policy areas, reporting directly to the PM." No mention of 'missions' anywhere though
To quote Oscar Wilde on Grimsby Town’s mauling of Man U, “It would take a heart of stone…”
August 28, 2025 at 6:21 AM
To quote Oscar Wilde on Grimsby Town’s mauling of Man U, “It would take a heart of stone…”
A conventional of plastic bollards in Strutton Ground SW1. They are all fixed to the ground. Any thoughts on why? @londonist.com
August 23, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A conventional of plastic bollards in Strutton Ground SW1. They are all fixed to the ground. Any thoughts on why? @londonist.com
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
Joint statement on Gaza from AFP, AP, BBC News and Reuters
July 24, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Joint statement on Gaza from AFP, AP, BBC News and Reuters
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
Today we’ve launched a major new Strategic Review – backed by a £150 million spending commitment over 5 years – to back rigorous research & social innovation that tackles the UK’s biggest social challenges.
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/about/strate...
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/about/strate...
Strategic Review | About | Nuffield Foundation
In uncertain times, the Nuffield Foundation's strategic review renews our commitment to prosperity, inclusiveness, and fairness and a strategy focused on the complex challenges shaping lives in the UK...
www.nuffieldfoundation.org
July 24, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Today we’ve launched a major new Strategic Review – backed by a £150 million spending commitment over 5 years – to back rigorous research & social innovation that tackles the UK’s biggest social challenges.
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/about/strate...
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/about/strate...
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
In an effort that will no doubt torch my follower base, I have laid out some basic numbers around our fiscal situation. Obvious, but still a little sobering for me.
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
There really is no getting out of this fiscal corner
It is something of a cliche to argue that Britain is running out of money, living beyond its means, wandering through a fiscal fool’s paradise – but no less true for that. The trend of …
freethinkecon.wordpress.com
July 15, 2025 at 3:19 PM
In an effort that will no doubt torch my follower base, I have laid out some basic numbers around our fiscal situation. Obvious, but still a little sobering for me.
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
Reposted by Tim Aldrich
Am feeling a curious absence of sport today. No test match or tennis or Euros or F1 qualifying or even TdF (rest day). (Least said about the FIFA thing the better but that’s done too…) Feeling curiously bereft for mid July
July 15, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Am feeling a curious absence of sport today. No test match or tennis or Euros or F1 qualifying or even TdF (rest day). (Least said about the FIFA thing the better but that’s done too…) Feeling curiously bereft for mid July