Andrew Sissons
@acjsissons.bsky.social
Day job: climate change, heat pumps, energy at Nesta
Other stuff: low-fi economics on growth, cities & economic geography, general UK policy, occasional basic charts
Bristol, he/him, lots of parenting / caring.
Personal account.
Other stuff: low-fi economics on growth, cities & economic geography, general UK policy, occasional basic charts
Bristol, he/him, lots of parenting / caring.
Personal account.
Pinned
Andrew Sissons
@acjsissons.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Delighted to publish this personal essay by me and John: Getting Britain out of the hole.
We wanted to write something quite readable that covers the big picture of the UK’s economic struggles. Hopefully we’ve managed at least one of those!
@johnspringford.bsky.social
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
We wanted to write something quite readable that covers the big picture of the UK’s economic struggles. Hopefully we’ve managed at least one of those!
@johnspringford.bsky.social
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
Just found a bottle of Breton cider (doux) in the back of my fridge, left over from my summer holidays.
If I drink it, at home in the UK in January, will it make me very happy or very sad?
If I drink it, at home in the UK in January, will it make me very happy or very sad?
January 16, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Just found a bottle of Breton cider (doux) in the back of my fridge, left over from my summer holidays.
If I drink it, at home in the UK in January, will it make me very happy or very sad?
If I drink it, at home in the UK in January, will it make me very happy or very sad?
Come for the analogy between prime ministers and football managers, stay for public polling on whether Britain is ungovernable
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Is Britain ungovernable?
The public has lost faith in the political system and in the people operating it
giftarticle.ft.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Come for the analogy between prime ministers and football managers, stay for public polling on whether Britain is ungovernable
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
🚨 How close is the UK to being the global vanguard of online shopping? My quick post about a data nugget retrieved by @duncanweldon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/3128...
www.ft.com/content/3128...
The UK’s online retail habit is bigger than we thought
Second to none, or maybe two
www.ft.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:47 AM
🚨 How close is the UK to being the global vanguard of online shopping? My quick post about a data nugget retrieved by @duncanweldon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/3128...
www.ft.com/content/3128...
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Holy hell, what an obituary
Renfrew Christie Dies at 76; Sabotaged Racist Regime’s Nuclear Program
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Holy hell, what an obituary
Chart of how offshore wind CfD prices have changed over time, now updated for the AR7 results released today
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
January 14, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Chart of how offshore wind CfD prices have changed over time, now updated for the AR7 results released today
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
[Corrected]
Results of the AR7 auction for offshore wind contracts for difference are out. The main strike price is £91.20 per MWh (in 2024 prices)…
… which is higher than I expected tbh.
Quite a rise from £81.50 at the previous auction in late 2024
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Results of the AR7 auction for offshore wind contracts for difference are out. The main strike price is £91.20 per MWh (in 2024 prices)…
… which is higher than I expected tbh.
Quite a rise from £81.50 at the previous auction in late 2024
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 7: results
Outcome of Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 7 which commenced on 24 July 2025.
www.gov.uk
January 14, 2026 at 8:29 AM
[Corrected]
Results of the AR7 auction for offshore wind contracts for difference are out. The main strike price is £91.20 per MWh (in 2024 prices)…
… which is higher than I expected tbh.
Quite a rise from £81.50 at the previous auction in late 2024
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Results of the AR7 auction for offshore wind contracts for difference are out. The main strike price is £91.20 per MWh (in 2024 prices)…
… which is higher than I expected tbh.
Quite a rise from £81.50 at the previous auction in late 2024
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
1/ Some wild numbers have been used in the media this week for “the cost of net zero”.
Reports have said that net zero will “cost” £4.5 trillion, £7.6 trillion – the list goes on.
None of these are the cost of net zero – a quick explainer 🧵 on why
Reports have said that net zero will “cost” £4.5 trillion, £7.6 trillion – the list goes on.
None of these are the cost of net zero – a quick explainer 🧵 on why
January 13, 2026 at 7:32 PM
1/ Some wild numbers have been used in the media this week for “the cost of net zero”.
Reports have said that net zero will “cost” £4.5 trillion, £7.6 trillion – the list goes on.
None of these are the cost of net zero – a quick explainer 🧵 on why
Reports have said that net zero will “cost” £4.5 trillion, £7.6 trillion – the list goes on.
None of these are the cost of net zero – a quick explainer 🧵 on why
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Sexy gilts news today! 🫦
Strongest demand seen for a gilt auction since DMO records began in 1998.
Britain sold £900 million of an index-linked gilt due in 2035 and received orders worth £4.333 billion - the highest such ratio (4.81) seen in at least 27 years.
Strongest demand seen for a gilt auction since DMO records began in 1998.
Britain sold £900 million of an index-linked gilt due in 2035 and received orders worth £4.333 billion - the highest such ratio (4.81) seen in at least 27 years.
January 13, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Sexy gilts news today! 🫦
Strongest demand seen for a gilt auction since DMO records began in 1998.
Britain sold £900 million of an index-linked gilt due in 2035 and received orders worth £4.333 billion - the highest such ratio (4.81) seen in at least 27 years.
Strongest demand seen for a gilt auction since DMO records began in 1998.
Britain sold £900 million of an index-linked gilt due in 2035 and received orders worth £4.333 billion - the highest such ratio (4.81) seen in at least 27 years.
"£6 TRILLION: Staggering cost of making Britons fat"
"£11 TRILLION: Staggering cost of wrecking the countryside"
"£1 TRILLION: Staggering cost of cleaning up Britain's rubbish"
"£11 TRILLION: Staggering cost of wrecking the countryside"
"£1 TRILLION: Staggering cost of cleaning up Britain's rubbish"
The utterly shameless & widely covered "report" out today, claiming net zero will "cost" £9tn is based on:
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
🧵A political/media guide to the "truth" about net-zero
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
January 13, 2026 at 9:49 AM
"£6 TRILLION: Staggering cost of making Britons fat"
"£11 TRILLION: Staggering cost of wrecking the countryside"
"£1 TRILLION: Staggering cost of cleaning up Britain's rubbish"
"£11 TRILLION: Staggering cost of wrecking the countryside"
"£1 TRILLION: Staggering cost of cleaning up Britain's rubbish"
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
The utterly shameless & widely covered "report" out today, claiming net zero will "cost" £9tn is based on:
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
🧵A political/media guide to the "truth" about net-zero
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
January 13, 2026 at 7:37 AM
The utterly shameless & widely covered "report" out today, claiming net zero will "cost" £9tn is based on:
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Here's the other side of the story you won't read in today's headlines about the cost of meeting net zero targets. The reality is the IEA report is deeply flawed and based on some pretty blatant cherry-picking of clean tech costs. www.businessgreen.com/news/4524063...
'Cherry picking data': Government and analysts hit back at latest Tufton Street attacks on net zero
Right wing think tank accuses Climate Change Committee of overly optimistic clean tech cost estimates, but supporters of climate action counter that latest criticisms fail to recognise risks associate...
www.businessgreen.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Here's the other side of the story you won't read in today's headlines about the cost of meeting net zero targets. The reality is the IEA report is deeply flawed and based on some pretty blatant cherry-picking of clean tech costs. www.businessgreen.com/news/4524063...
Interesting to watch this video by Kanishka Narayan, Minister for AI and Online Safety in DST, about the Grok stuff.
(Sorry, posting LinkedIn links again 😬)
(Sorry, posting LinkedIn links again 😬)
Our vision for a distinctly British AI story is bigger than the disgusting use X continues to allow through Grok.
Those who share our vision of AI transformation must call this out - so we build… | K...
Our vision for a distinctly British AI story is bigger than the disgusting use X continues to allow through Grok.
Those who share our vision of AI transformation must call this out - so we build publ...
www.linkedin.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Interesting to watch this video by Kanishka Narayan, Minister for AI and Online Safety in DST, about the Grok stuff.
(Sorry, posting LinkedIn links again 😬)
(Sorry, posting LinkedIn links again 😬)
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Some great stuff in this thread and in @johnharris1969.bsky.social's article.
Wanted to add a chart thread on two points:
1. Online retail matters, but its growth seems to be slowing
2. Retail jobs are in decline, but hospitality / entertainment is growing - that's where high streets need to focus
Wanted to add a chart thread on two points:
1. Online retail matters, but its growth seems to be slowing
2. Retail jobs are in decline, but hospitality / entertainment is growing - that's where high streets need to focus
There is a lot to agree with here - and it comes up over and over again on doorsteps - but its also a huge case of revealed preference.
People want a high street. They just don't want to visit it.
Not sure what can be done aside from huge state subsidy of unviable business.
People want a high street. They just don't want to visit it.
Not sure what can be done aside from huge state subsidy of unviable business.
Latest from me, on an eternally overlooked, sniffed-at issue that is politically huge www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
January 11, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Some great stuff in this thread and in @johnharris1969.bsky.social's article.
Wanted to add a chart thread on two points:
1. Online retail matters, but its growth seems to be slowing
2. Retail jobs are in decline, but hospitality / entertainment is growing - that's where high streets need to focus
Wanted to add a chart thread on two points:
1. Online retail matters, but its growth seems to be slowing
2. Retail jobs are in decline, but hospitality / entertainment is growing - that's where high streets need to focus
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Some great stuff in this thread and in @johnharris1969.bsky.social's article.
Wanted to add a chart thread on two points:
1. Online retail matters, but its growth seems to be slowing
2. Retail jobs are in decline, but hospitality / entertainment is growing - that's where high streets need to focus
Wanted to add a chart thread on two points:
1. Online retail matters, but its growth seems to be slowing
2. Retail jobs are in decline, but hospitality / entertainment is growing - that's where high streets need to focus
There is a lot to agree with here - and it comes up over and over again on doorsteps - but its also a huge case of revealed preference.
People want a high street. They just don't want to visit it.
Not sure what can be done aside from huge state subsidy of unviable business.
People want a high street. They just don't want to visit it.
Not sure what can be done aside from huge state subsidy of unviable business.
Latest from me, on an eternally overlooked, sniffed-at issue that is politically huge www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
January 11, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Some great stuff in this thread and in @johnharris1969.bsky.social's article.
Wanted to add a chart thread on two points:
1. Online retail matters, but its growth seems to be slowing
2. Retail jobs are in decline, but hospitality / entertainment is growing - that's where high streets need to focus
Wanted to add a chart thread on two points:
1. Online retail matters, but its growth seems to be slowing
2. Retail jobs are in decline, but hospitality / entertainment is growing - that's where high streets need to focus
This is classic Bluesky timeline stuff - a casual pivot from the Ayatollah maybe fleeing Tehran to postcodes in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
January 11, 2026 at 9:29 AM
This is classic Bluesky timeline stuff - a casual pivot from the Ayatollah maybe fleeing Tehran to postcodes in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
My recollection of the break points / surprising continuities as follows…
I don’t *think* Cnut (1016-1035) had any dynastic claim to be King of England, but after his sons died, the eventual successor was Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), who was the son of Aethelred the Unready and…
I don’t *think* Cnut (1016-1035) had any dynastic claim to be King of England, but after his sons died, the eventual successor was Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), who was the son of Aethelred the Unready and…
January 10, 2026 at 3:47 PM
My recollection of the break points / surprising continuities as follows…
I don’t *think* Cnut (1016-1035) had any dynastic claim to be King of England, but after his sons died, the eventual successor was Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), who was the son of Aethelred the Unready and…
I don’t *think* Cnut (1016-1035) had any dynastic claim to be King of England, but after his sons died, the eventual successor was Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), who was the son of Aethelred the Unready and…
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
This 👇
But not only this, you can also delete the link once the thumbnail has loaded up
But not only this, you can also delete the link once the thumbnail has loaded up
Hey guys, this isn’t LinkedIn or Twitter, you don’t have to put the link to the piece in the second post anymore.
December 18, 2025 at 10:11 AM
This 👇
But not only this, you can also delete the link once the thumbnail has loaded up
But not only this, you can also delete the link once the thumbnail has loaded up
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Something I think might be important on Bluesky: it’s ok to retweet your own (good) posts.
No algorithm means posts don’t tend to hang around here. Some times of day are quiet on here.
So…don’t overdo this but… if you have a good post and think more people want to see it - retweet yourself, imo.
No algorithm means posts don’t tend to hang around here. Some times of day are quiet on here.
So…don’t overdo this but… if you have a good post and think more people want to see it - retweet yourself, imo.
August 10, 2024 at 12:58 PM
Something I think might be important on Bluesky: it’s ok to retweet your own (good) posts.
No algorithm means posts don’t tend to hang around here. Some times of day are quiet on here.
So…don’t overdo this but… if you have a good post and think more people want to see it - retweet yourself, imo.
No algorithm means posts don’t tend to hang around here. Some times of day are quiet on here.
So…don’t overdo this but… if you have a good post and think more people want to see it - retweet yourself, imo.
The Beeb publishing a “nostalgia for 2016” article on the 10-year anniversary of Bowie’s death has got to be a troll, surely?
Why 2016 nostalgia is taking over social media in 2026
Fidget spinners, filters and feeds that worked. Why are young people pining to go back a decade?
www.bbc.co.uk
January 10, 2026 at 5:20 PM
The Beeb publishing a “nostalgia for 2016” article on the 10-year anniversary of Bowie’s death has got to be a troll, surely?
Love this.
Also took me while to clock that this bit really is true. Even with all the Danish, Norman, Angevin, Scottish, Dutch and German interruptions, you can trace a complete line from Wessex to Charles III today 🤯
Also took me while to clock that this bit really is true. Even with all the Danish, Norman, Angevin, Scottish, Dutch and German interruptions, you can trace a complete line from Wessex to Charles III today 🤯
January 10, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Love this.
Also took me while to clock that this bit really is true. Even with all the Danish, Norman, Angevin, Scottish, Dutch and German interruptions, you can trace a complete line from Wessex to Charles III today 🤯
Also took me while to clock that this bit really is true. Even with all the Danish, Norman, Angevin, Scottish, Dutch and German interruptions, you can trace a complete line from Wessex to Charles III today 🤯
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
He clearly has a thing about underwater banks.
January 9, 2026 at 5:52 PM
He clearly has a thing about underwater banks.
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Following @jamesdaustin.bsky.social lead, here’s my starter pack of women journalists to follow. Apologies to any women I’ve inadvertently missed off. It’s not a slight. I’m just one woman, working in a specific area & region!
go.bsky.app/RaopwNN
go.bsky.app/RaopwNN
January 10, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Following @jamesdaustin.bsky.social lead, here’s my starter pack of women journalists to follow. Apologies to any women I’ve inadvertently missed off. It’s not a slight. I’m just one woman, working in a specific area & region!
go.bsky.app/RaopwNN
go.bsky.app/RaopwNN
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Given we are having a bit of a surge (or are likely to) and starter packs are a great innovation but hard to find...
I've created a new one I'll direct people to. Largely people who are sound, smart ajd active - who enrich my experiance here and make me think (and prove me wrong)
I've created a new one I'll direct people to. Largely people who are sound, smart ajd active - who enrich my experiance here and make me think (and prove me wrong)
January 10, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Given we are having a bit of a surge (or are likely to) and starter packs are a great innovation but hard to find...
I've created a new one I'll direct people to. Largely people who are sound, smart ajd active - who enrich my experiance here and make me think (and prove me wrong)
I've created a new one I'll direct people to. Largely people who are sound, smart ajd active - who enrich my experiance here and make me think (and prove me wrong)
Oh wow, judging by my notifications there is a Bluesky influx happening - welcome everyone!
Just recirculating my starter pack of UK-ish policy folk in case you’re looking for some wisdom on your timeline…
Just recirculating my starter pack of UK-ish policy folk in case you’re looking for some wisdom on your timeline…
January 10, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Oh wow, judging by my notifications there is a Bluesky influx happening - welcome everyone!
Just recirculating my starter pack of UK-ish policy folk in case you’re looking for some wisdom on your timeline…
Just recirculating my starter pack of UK-ish policy folk in case you’re looking for some wisdom on your timeline…