Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Steve Rose @steverose7.bsky.social · 1d

I spoke to British Future's Sunder Katwala, who was a refreshing antidote to all the far right rhetoric on immigration, flags, etc. Britain is not nearly as divided as extremists suggest, he says, and we're "a generation ahead" when it comes to multiculturalism.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Sunder Katwala on race, patriotism and flag-waving: ‘The far right is vocal and angry because it is shrinking’

The director of British Future has spent his career trying to find common ground when it comes to race and immigration. He describes his own experience of racism – and why he’s still hopeful for the U...

www.theguardian.com

1 30 63

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Sathnam Sanghera @sathnam.bsky.social · 1d

I've responded to Robert Jenrick's vile comments in @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/life-style/c...

I sang Jerusalem with Robert Jenrick at school — he’s wrong about race

The Conservative MP has complained that, visiting Handsworth in Birmingham, he didn’t see ‘another white face’. You can’t judge whether someone is integrated by skin colour, argues fellow Wulfrunian S...

www.thetimes.com

47 190 670

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Rob Blackie @robblackie.bsky.social · 5d

This is an incredibly sad fact.

Naomi Alderman @naomialderman.bsky.social · 5d

I didn't know until we buried my mother, so probably most people here don't know: Jewish cemeteries strongly recommend that you get insurance for the headstone.

Because the cemeteries are so often desecrated, the gravestones smashed.

3 1

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Nathan Lane @nathanlane.bsky.social · 5d

We’re hiring @ LSE

We have *multiple* economist positions—assistant and associate professor—here at LSE International Development.

Our economics group is expanding and we have exciting stuff planned.

We’re keen on big picture economists.

Feel free to DM me questions.

American Economic Association: JOE Listings - August 1, 2025 - January 31, 2026

www.aeaweb.org

13 20

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Alex Clegg @alexclegg.bsky.social · 7d

Very encouraging to read that the Government is preparing to lift the two-child limit as part of its child poverty strategy, but it is disheartening that options short of scrapping it entirely are still being considered. Thread on why this would be the wrong choice for an ambitious strategy:

Rachel Reeves to lift two-child benefit cap in November budget

Exclusive: Officials exploring options to change rule that affected 1.7 million children in Great Britain last year

www.theguardian.com

2 22 59

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Ruth Curtice @ruthcurtice.bsky.social · 7d

PM says on radio that there are 1m young people on benefits. Presume he meant 1m young people not in education employment or training. Only about half of them claim benefits.

4 11 41

Tim Leunig @timleunig.bsky.social · 7d

Three idea that schools should have to find every kid a destination at 16 is bizarre. It is not in their gift to persuade an employer to hire someone.

Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 7d

Downing Street has said schools will be 'tasked with ensuring every pupil has a clear post-16 destination', after Sir Keir Starmer announced a new target for further and higher education participation

schoolsweek.co.uk/schools-to-b...

Schools to 'ensure pupils have a post-16 destination'

But details scarce on policy after Sir Keir Starmer announces new higher-level learning target

schoolsweek.co.uk

4 1 8

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 8d

On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n

British Politics' Midlife Crisis

Why British Parties Can't Make Peace with Their Actual Voters

benansell.substack.com

21 460 1.2K

Reposted by Tim Leunig

FDA Union @fdaunion.bsky.social · 8d

The current balance of pay and pensions is economically inefficient, says @timleunig.bsky.social, as it incentivises people to retire earlier. He continues that civil service pensions “are not generous”. You have to think of the package as a whole - you cannot look at pensions in isolation. #Lab25

1 1

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 8d

I'm not in the hall listening. But reading this on the train heading back, this from Starmer calling out racism is ****ING excellent

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

8 31 140

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 12d

A quick update on work we're doing with Plymouth, testing what a local clean heat plan could look like in practice.

Key learnings so far:
- Finding the "right" heating tech for homes is hard; you need both data and human input
- We were surprised how interested the supply chain was in heat planning

Early learnings through testing a clean heat plan in Plymouth

Planning should identify suitable technology while also engaging the wider supply chain, local skills, and the economy to prepare for delivery

www.nesta.org.uk

2 12 31

Tim Leunig @timleunig.bsky.social · 12d

ourworldindata.org/wolbachia-ne... Big news from @hannahritchie.bsky.social @ourworldindata.org

How Wolbachia bacteria could help us tackle some of the world’s most neglected tropical diseases

A common bacterium can dramatically reduce the spread of dengue fever and other tropical diseases.

ourworldindata.org

1 2

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · 13d

Amid reports that MPs and an advisory taskforce will recommend scrapping the two-child limit on benefits, it's worth noting that this step would be the most targeted and cost-effective way for the Government to meet its aim of reducing child poverty ⤵️

3 48 120

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Alex Parsons @alexparsons.bsky.social · 13d

Cannot stress enough how it is already possible to report potholes www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Public backs ‘super ID card’ which could be used to report potholes

Ministers have recently said they are considering introducing a form of digital ID for adults in Britain

www.independent.co.uk

48 180 750

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Gavin Freeguard @gavinfreeguard.bsky.social · 14d

Great (if not surprising!) to see such a strong emphasis on openness, collaboration and community from @janethughes.bsky.social in the latest @civilserviceworld.bsky.social

www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...

Read the autumn 2025 issue of Civil Service World

Can government break the link between background and opportunity? Plus: exclusive interviews with civil service reform DG Janet Hughes, MoJ digital...

www.civilserviceworld.com

3 6

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 16d

Retrospectively removing indefinite leave to remain would be immoral and economically damaging. It would tear families apart.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.

59 480 1.6K

Tim Leunig @timleunig.bsky.social · 16d

My £1bn idea on Premium Bonds. Free to read, timleunig.substack.com/p/how-to-sav...

1 1 4

Reposted by Tim Leunig

The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · 17d

If sustained growth is the aim, the UK has to lift more children out of poverty

Better grades in school will lead to higher wages, more tax revenue and less welfare spending for the next generation.

@timleunig.bsky.social

https://bit.ly/3KySGew

If sustained growth is the aim, the UK has to lift more c...

Better grades in school will lead to higher wages, more tax revenue and less welfare spending for the next generation

bit.ly

6 12

Tim Leunig @timleunig.bsky.social · 21d

Isn't this a function of housing costs? Private renters in work on quite high incomes get universal credit in London

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · 21d

Health-related benefit claims are spread unevenly across Britain

Only three-in-ten of UC claimants in London are in the health group, while more than two-fifths of those in the North East, Wales and Scotland are in the health group.

Read more ➡️ buff.ly/zkNqn6n

Chart showing proportion of UC claimants who are on UC Health, by region/nation: Great Britain, June 2025. Across Britain as a whole, 37 per cent of UC claimants are in the health group. But the picture is uneven across the country: only three-in-ten (29 per cent) of claimants in London are in the health group, while more than two-fifths of those in the North East, Wales and Scotland are in the health group.

1 1 2

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Giles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 22d

My most centrist dad take is that most governing politicians deserve sympathy because almost every policy that's actually any good for the country is unpopular, and almost every popular policy is probably bad.

Johnson's Brexit approach was far worse than Chequers IMHO but 20ppts more popular 1/

32 110 490

Tim Leunig @timleunig.bsky.social · 23d

If you want (another) idea from me on how to sort out our planning system I have one on today's substack - timleunig.substack.com/p/planning-m... (£/free trial)

Planning - more ideas

(I promise to write about completely different next week!)

timleunig.substack.com

Tim Leunig @timleunig.bsky.social · 23d

My letter in today's FT - on housing supply

2 1 5

Reposted by Tim Leunig

Anthony Painter @anthonypainter.bsky.social · 23d

Sensible ideas to speed up planning from @timleunig.bsky.social.

I would go further. Councils/Gov should compulsorily buy up strategic land - a public land bank - at market price plus premium. Then auction off chunks to be built to an agreed timescale and design.

open.substack.com/pub/timleuni...

Planning - more ideas

(I promise to write about completely different next week!)

open.substack.com

2 2 3

Tim Leunig @timleunig.bsky.social · 24d

This post was requested by the photographer, and as my friends know, I always do what I am told...

Dr Victoria Bateman @vnbateman.bsky.social · 26d

The brilliant @timleunig.bsky.social at the launch of my new book #Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth & Power, showing - as always - that there is never a dull moment in economic history. Thank you Tim! #womenwealthpower

1 7

Tim Leunig @timleunig.bsky.social · 27d

A delight to attend Victoria Bateman's latest book launch yesterday, in the rather grand surroundings of the National Portrait Gallery.