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David Edgerton

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David Edgerton FBA is an English historian and educator. He was educated at St John's College, Oxford, and Imperial… more

H-index: 26
Political science 37%
Philosophy 18%
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Reposted by David Edgerton, Holger Nehring

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Keir Starmer’s Labour conference speech: our writers’ verdicts

David Edgerton, Faiza Shaheen and Maurice Glasman respond to the Prime Minister
Keir Starmer’s conference speech: our writers’ verdicts
David Edgerton, Faiza Shaheen and Maurice Glasman respond to the Prime Minister
www.newstatesman.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

shainin.bsky.social
Our new magazine, Equator, is officially out in the world — and here @equatormag.bsky.social
Sign up for preview emails, donate, and get tickets to our launch event in London: equator.org
A group of high-profile writers is launching a new magazine called Equator “to challenge the reigning assumption that global events should be narrated by and for the West,” according to a description shared with Semafor. Its founding team includes Pankaj Mishra, Mohsin Hamid, Nesrine Malik, Samanth Subramanian, and Suzy Hansen, with editing by Guardian long reads creator Jonathan Shainin. “In a post-American era, the task of a new magazine is to engage the rich variety of this historical moment on its own terms, without compulsively asking ‘What does it mean for the US?’” the nonprofit outlet, which is primarily based in London, will ask.
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Reposted by David Edgerton

ewangibbs.bsky.social
We’ve heard a lot about flags but turbines and steelworks are the true stuff of economic sovereignty. Britain has been blatantly exposed as dependent on foreign governments and multinationals, as demonstrated by the recent closure of Grentmouth oil refinery. Read more in my @lrb.co.uk article ⬇️
Ewan Gibbs · Goodbye to Grangemouth
Any form of ‘just transition’ – managing the move to a greener economy while also protecting workers and...
www.lrb.co.uk
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by David Edgerton

A rich study of the extraordinary radicalisation of the British right.
johnmerrick.bsky.social
John Merrick @johnmerrick.bsky.social · Aug 23
For the @newstatesman.com i profiled Dominic Cummings – a case study in elite radicalisation
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2025/0...
The rage of Dominic Cummings
Britain’s rogue intellectual has predicted a civil war. Is he also cheerleading one?
www.newstatesman.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton, Steve Peers

johnmerrick.bsky.social
For the @newstatesman.com i profiled Dominic Cummings – a case study in elite radicalisation
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2025/0...
The rage of Dominic Cummings
Britain’s rogue intellectual has predicted a civil war. Is he also cheerleading one?
www.newstatesman.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

mikepeeljourno.bsky.social
I think often about how the historian @davidedgerton.bsky.social predicted the disturbing extremist slide in UK politics, in this interview conducted in the summer of 2023 and recounted in my book What Everyone Knows About Britain* (*Except the British).

linktr.ee/whateveryone...
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by David Edgerton

Yup www.ft.com/content/a48c...
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by David Edgerton

Quite right - it macerated the brain. It’s time to retire the word ‘technology’
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Reposted by David Edgerton

davidheniguk.bsky.social
Further reflection, but the thought has been building for a while. To restore UK growth, the government has to bury the tribute-Thatcherism which has dominated the economic approach for too long (and isn't actually that reminiscent of the 1980s).

And this is a story of Labour Party history.
davidheniguk.bsky.social
David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · Feb 9
The TL:DR is this - as a mid-size power the UK can be a regulatory player or it can focus on growth through trade.

Time for the UK to choose whether Brexit means absolute sovereignty or trade.
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Reposted by David Edgerton, Lea Ypi

jonathanpjwhite.bsky.social
A piece I wrote for the Guardian:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
How Trump and the new right came to ‘own’ the future – while apparently exploiting the past | Jonathan White
The centre left’s failure has left a vacuum that’s been filled by those offering hope, rather than a technocratic status quo, says the LSE’s Jonathan White
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

duncanrobinson.bsky.social
Wrote column on *why* Britons are so happily hawkish on Russia www.economist.com/britain/2025...
How Britons became happy hawks on Russia
They simply love to poke the bear
www.economist.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

jdportes.bsky.social
"Utterly delusional" does not even come close.

archive.ph/OVHMg
On AI, where Europe is on course to over-regulate, Starmer is keen to get closer to the US. “The UK needs to move forward and seize the opportunity of not being Europe,” a source familiar with Mandelson’s letter explained. The prize, Downing Street believes, is a big one that could ease Rachel Reeves’s problems in balancing the books. “AI is transformational,” the Starmer aide said. “What you’re talking about is a level of productivity growth that means everybody in the world, in ten years’ time, is going to be more productive than the most productive person in the world today. We have to make sure that we are in a position to quickly take advantage of it.”
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Reposted by David Edgerton

stianwestlake.bsky.social
For a long time, people have talked about the need for a 'strategic brain' for the UK's innovation system.

Some thoughts on how to build an ambitious R&D analytic capability to make that a reality.

open.substack.com/pub/magicsmo...
A Strategic Brain for the R&D Ecosystem
How to build a shared analytic capability for public R&D investment
open.substack.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

davidheniguk.bsky.social
I'm adding civil service reform to industrial strategy, immigration and regulation as subjects where aggressive government briefing bears no resemblance to what is likely to happen.

As a driver of populism this gap between rhetoric and reality is perfect. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Plan to cut thousands of civil service jobs in radical government shake-up
Exclusive: Proposals also include cutting thousands of civil service jobs and restructuring NHS England
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

kingsartshums.bsky.social
🔊 Listen to Professor David Edgerton on BBC Radio 4 discussing the history of Science and the end of WW2.

Listen from 10.50.00 ⬇️

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
BBC Inside Science - The mysteries of the ocean floor - BBC Sounds
A new study says 99.999% of the world’s deep seafloor is still unseen by humans.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by David Edgerton

angusbylsma.bsky.social
This week’s review! — on @davidedgerton.bsky.social’s The Rise and Fall of the British Nation. Well, less of a review than a discussion of how Edgerton sheds light on the pitfalls of gentlemanly capitalism. Plus a bit about Hobsbawm the nationalist at the end!
Out of Empire
The Rise and Fall of the British Nation: A Twentieth Century History, David Edgerton, 2018.
unevenandcombinedthoughts.substack.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

davidheniguk.bsky.social
An ECIPE colleague suggested some time ago that most developed countries sought similar industries - cars, pharma, diverse advanced manufacturing, ICT etc - whereupon the main flaw of the UK industrial strategy - that it tries to make this focus the main story. www.ft.com/content/ec40...
Was Labour’s industrial strategy worth the wait?
Long-awaited plan focuses on bringing down energy costs and promoting eight sectors, but includes repurposed commitments
www.ft.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton, Sarah Brouillette

theguardian.com
The right wants us to think Britain is on the verge of ethnic conflict. The truth is worse than that | John Merrick
The right wants us to think Britain is on the verge of ethnic conflict. The truth is worse than that | John Merrick
In blaming problems on migrant ‘outsiders’, prophets of decline are paving the way for harder borders and mass deportations, says John Merrick, deputy editor of the Break-Down
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

davidheniguk.bsky.social
I'm a big fan of the colourful briefs given by government teams regarding how brilliant they were to achieve trade deals, obviously effort was involved, but a mostly tariff reducing UK-India deal was always on offer - it was lowering UK ambition that got the deal. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘People said it would never be done’: UK and India trade agreement defies expectations
For Britain, this is a much-needed post-Brexit boost, and for India it shows decades of protectionism are in the past
www.theguardian.com
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by David Edgerton

Starmer's party has an extraordinary capacity to prove its critics right. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Keir Starmer removes Labour whip from four ‘persistent rebel’ MPs
Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff pushed out and three trade envoys lose roles
www.theguardian.com
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by David Edgerton

Even declinism gets worse - nice from @johnmerrick.bsky.social
theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jul 14
The right wants us to think Britain is on the verge of ethnic conflict. The truth is worse than that | John Merrick
The right wants us to think Britain is on the verge of ethnic conflict. The truth is worse than that | John Merrick
In blaming problems on migrant ‘outsiders’, prophets of decline are paving the way for harder borders and mass deportations, says John Merrick, deputy editor of the Break-Down
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

davidheniguk.bsky.social
If only I didn't waste my time researching stuff and instead just went on about "blockchain-based trade initiatives" I could presumably earn a lot more money...
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by David Edgerton

I've written about Keir Starmer's government in its first year www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
Annus horribilis
Keir Starmer’s government does not represent the true Labour Party.
www.newstatesman.com
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by David Edgerton

I agree that not running things well is a big problem but I think what we take to be management, and management training, is part of the problem rather than the solution …
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by David Edgerton

Yup - big, big problem.
davidheniguk.bsky.social
David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · Jun 24
An ECIPE colleague suggested some time ago that most developed countries sought similar industries - cars, pharma, diverse advanced manufacturing, ICT etc - whereupon the main flaw of the UK industrial strategy - that it tries to make this focus the main story. www.ft.com/content/ec40...
Was Labour’s industrial strategy worth the wait?
Long-awaited plan focuses on bringing down energy costs and promoting eight sectors, but includes repurposed commitments
www.ft.com
3

by David Edgerton

Haven't digested yet, but there are 16 world-leadings and 8 superpowers in the text ...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685854...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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Reposted by David Edgerton

davidheniguk.bsky.social
"The only debate now is whether you are agile enough to seize future chances or be rapidly left behind. That is the driving purpose of my plan for change."

Oh dear. Whatever a strategy is, this isn't it. www.ft.com/content/a033...
The industrial strategy will provide certainty for business
Debates about big or small government belong in the past; being agile enough to seize future chances is what matters
www.ft.com
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Reposted by David Edgerton

ewangibbs.bsky.social
Ukania ✅ Original New Left critique of the peculiarities of British capitalism.

Yookay ❌ Boorish far right mantra of surface level gripes, real or imagined.

Tom Nairn had your number.
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by David Edgerton

An idea for Keir ...
crane-dragonfly-8ey5.squarespace.com/blog/2025/6/...
My Idea for Keir, from the New Statesman — David Edgerton
Begin to appreciate that many of the problems the country faces are the product of implemented New Labour and Tory policies, not the lack of competence of the Tories. They got what they wanted done. Y...
crane-dragonfly-8ey5.squarespace.com
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by David Edgerton

This is a wonderful discussion of my Rise and Fall of the British Nation, and the first to note the importance to it of my critique of Cain and Hopkins, which I took, along with that of Anderson and Nairn, to be richest existing analyses of the twentieth century British nation and empire.
angusbylsma.bsky.social
Angus Bylsma @angusbylsma.bsky.social · Jun 17
This week’s review! — on @davidedgerton.bsky.social’s The Rise and Fall of the British Nation. Well, less of a review than a discussion of how Edgerton sheds light on the pitfalls of gentlemanly capitalism. Plus a bit about Hobsbawm the nationalist at the end!
Out of Empire
The Rise and Fall of the British Nation: A Twentieth Century History, David Edgerton, 2018.
unevenandcombinedthoughts.substack.com
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References

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