Bob Melling
@bobmelling.bsky.social
Low Salience, Huddersfield
Just read "A family home starts at 5 beds I reckon. 3 kids rooms + an office + a parents room." and thought how important it is to remember that other people's priors can be very different.
November 12, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Just read "A family home starts at 5 beds I reckon. 3 kids rooms + an office + a parents room." and thought how important it is to remember that other people's priors can be very different.
Is that a good thing?
November 5, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Is that a good thing?
WH Smiths Halifax, 1989
I'd just finished my first Saturday job shift at a butcher's in the market, smelt of dried blood.
Bought at the same time, I thought the FotN single was the better of the two.
I'd just finished my first Saturday job shift at a butcher's in the market, smelt of dried blood.
Bought at the same time, I thought the FotN single was the better of the two.
November 3, 2025 at 12:08 PM
WH Smiths Halifax, 1989
I'd just finished my first Saturday job shift at a butcher's in the market, smelt of dried blood.
Bought at the same time, I thought the FotN single was the better of the two.
I'd just finished my first Saturday job shift at a butcher's in the market, smelt of dried blood.
Bought at the same time, I thought the FotN single was the better of the two.
All prepared to trot out my pat response that national parks represent a reactionary and nostalgic anti-urbanism that's incompatible with the South Pennines ("industrial Pennines" in the 45 Dower report) but as JP very reasonably points out that won't do for an area that's just different.
The Pennines are an unbroken chain of upland areas from near Stoke to Scotland.
But looking closely at a map of protected landscapes like national parks – the chain is broken between the Peaks and the Dales.
Why is this one area not protected - and should it be?
Short 🧵
1/3
But looking closely at a map of protected landscapes like national parks – the chain is broken between the Peaks and the Dales.
Why is this one area not protected - and should it be?
Short 🧵
1/3
October 30, 2025 at 9:50 AM
All prepared to trot out my pat response that national parks represent a reactionary and nostalgic anti-urbanism that's incompatible with the South Pennines ("industrial Pennines" in the 45 Dower report) but as JP very reasonably points out that won't do for an area that's just different.
Reposted by Bob Melling
Sorry, but there's something so ineffably depressing about ministers spending their time on this kind of stuff. Not as if there aren't real problems that central government should be getting on with while letting local government make its own choices (and even its own mistakes). #GetAGrip
Cambridgeshire council's four-day week criticised by minister
Steve Reed says there has been a decline in key housing-related services.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Sorry, but there's something so ineffably depressing about ministers spending their time on this kind of stuff. Not as if there aren't real problems that central government should be getting on with while letting local government make its own choices (and even its own mistakes). #GetAGrip
This has me wondering how many more series of LOTSW it would take until Keir Starmer was cast in the third leg Foggy Dewhirst slot.
Literally no-one in this thread wants 'Compo' in charge, you dolt. Wake up and live in the real world.
October 28, 2025 at 10:24 AM
This has me wondering how many more series of LOTSW it would take until Keir Starmer was cast in the third leg Foggy Dewhirst slot.
The good solution is massive decentralisation of power so local/regional government can keep the country running *then* burn it down and keep the carcass as a lovely romantic ruin surrounded by nice gardens.
You could probably have a good parliament chamber close by, Coventry Cathedral it.
You could probably have a good parliament chamber close by, Coventry Cathedral it.
The Palace of Westminster is literally going to either burn down, kill someone, or both because spending money to save it is perceived as so politically toxic.
October 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The good solution is massive decentralisation of power so local/regional government can keep the country running *then* burn it down and keep the carcass as a lovely romantic ruin surrounded by nice gardens.
You could probably have a good parliament chamber close by, Coventry Cathedral it.
You could probably have a good parliament chamber close by, Coventry Cathedral it.
Nice try but banging on about the east wing isn't going to alter my decision to never ever watch The West Wing.
October 23, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Nice try but banging on about the east wing isn't going to alter my decision to never ever watch The West Wing.
If people want to see negative net migration then we have to do for Old Welsh what Ben-Yehuda did for Hebrew. Make it the state language, sole education medium, Aneirin the national poet etc.
In my direct experience and reporting, they think it has a more liberal labour market (true!) and is more welcoming than France (again, true!). But all these pale before “can speak English”.
October 23, 2025 at 11:01 AM
If people want to see negative net migration then we have to do for Old Welsh what Ben-Yehuda did for Hebrew. Make it the state language, sole education medium, Aneirin the national poet etc.
Reposted by Bob Melling
"The idea of deporting people with settled status is disgusting, and anyone proposing it should be immediately drummed out of polite society. Breaking promises made in good faith to our friends and neighbours is racist, extremist and immoral."
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
It’s racist, it’s extremist and it’s immoral
The right is still calling for deportations, and the government is still being cowardly about it. Also: London’s first green belt; some notes on a shark; and some news, on my next book.
jonn.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:22 PM
"The idea of deporting people with settled status is disgusting, and anyone proposing it should be immediately drummed out of polite society. Breaking promises made in good faith to our friends and neighbours is racist, extremist and immoral."
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
If some village in the northern Dales was being as fucking mental as SW1 everyone would be wondering how the old lead workings were leaching in to the water supply.
October 22, 2025 at 8:46 AM
If some village in the northern Dales was being as fucking mental as SW1 everyone would be wondering how the old lead workings were leaching in to the water supply.
Wonder if Osset are going to continue with their "hideously ugly neon sign fuckery" theme that so improved the Riverhead tap.
October 22, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Wonder if Osset are going to continue with their "hideously ugly neon sign fuckery" theme that so improved the Riverhead tap.
Reposted by Bob Melling
So what are the takeaways?
1) Use the data with caution
2) London is in real trouble and national politicians should care more about it
3) The big cities need continued support
4) Big cities will increasingly differ from each other and need devolution to manage this
1) Use the data with caution
2) London is in real trouble and national politicians should care more about it
3) The big cities need continued support
4) Big cities will increasingly differ from each other and need devolution to manage this
October 16, 2025 at 8:17 AM
So what are the takeaways?
1) Use the data with caution
2) London is in real trouble and national politicians should care more about it
3) The big cities need continued support
4) Big cities will increasingly differ from each other and need devolution to manage this
1) Use the data with caution
2) London is in real trouble and national politicians should care more about it
3) The big cities need continued support
4) Big cities will increasingly differ from each other and need devolution to manage this
Reposted by Bob Melling
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
October 16, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The official data on productivity shows Britain's big cities have decoupled from the national economy. But while the big cities outside the capital are roaring ahead, London is stagnating.
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
But can we trust this data? Are our regional divides closing? Our new paper investigates:
🎶Nutclough City Limits🎶
Abandoned mill, Hebden Bridge, west Yorkshire, 1983, photo by Michael Kenna, Widnes-born photographer. Now home to an audio equipment maker.
October 16, 2025 at 9:42 AM
🎶Nutclough City Limits🎶
Reposted by Bob Melling
Here's the thing, every pound isn't a choice because social care is statutory requirement. CEC isn't going to get sensible answers to this exercise until It's honest with its residents.
October 13, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Here's the thing, every pound isn't a choice because social care is statutory requirement. CEC isn't going to get sensible answers to this exercise until It's honest with its residents.
Reposted by Bob Melling
Always interesting to compare the Halifax Piece Hall with the Huddersfield Cloth Hall (built 1766). The latter was reportedly described as the "ugliest building in Europe" and few were sad to see the long-disused building razed to the ground at the end of the 1920s.
October 9, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Always interesting to compare the Halifax Piece Hall with the Huddersfield Cloth Hall (built 1766). The latter was reportedly described as the "ugliest building in Europe" and few were sad to see the long-disused building razed to the ground at the end of the 1920s.
Reposted by Bob Melling
By me this week - the happiest thing I've got to report of late, with a glorious trip over the summer to Montreal
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport
Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war
www.economist.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
By me this week - the happiest thing I've got to report of late, with a glorious trip over the summer to Montreal
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
This isn't just about transit.
It's also worth considering how every additional project taken on by local and regional government builds local state capacity.
It's also worth considering how every additional project taken on by local and regional government builds local state capacity.
The map below shows how far behind France and Germany we are in mass transit. In France, every place with over 150,000 people has some form of tram or metro.
But if mayoral areas can 'become builders' as @tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social puts it in the foreword, we can turn this around.
🧵
1/9
But if mayoral areas can 'become builders' as @tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social puts it in the foreword, we can turn this around.
🧵
1/9
October 9, 2025 at 8:18 AM
This isn't just about transit.
It's also worth considering how every additional project taken on by local and regional government builds local state capacity.
It's also worth considering how every additional project taken on by local and regional government builds local state capacity.
Tory conference had me daydreaming about a rule that all UK born prime ministers should have a prominent, centrally funded statue in the town of their birth.
Just because it would be funny to force Oxford to memorialise Liz Truss and Johnson would be irritated by missing out.
Just because it would be funny to force Oxford to memorialise Liz Truss and Johnson would be irritated by missing out.
October 9, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Tory conference had me daydreaming about a rule that all UK born prime ministers should have a prominent, centrally funded statue in the town of their birth.
Just because it would be funny to force Oxford to memorialise Liz Truss and Johnson would be irritated by missing out.
Just because it would be funny to force Oxford to memorialise Liz Truss and Johnson would be irritated by missing out.
Shocked to discover that Huddersfield's shopping catchment area is Huddersfield (as defined in Redcliffe-Maud).
October 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Shocked to discover that Huddersfield's shopping catchment area is Huddersfield (as defined in Redcliffe-Maud).
Reposted by Bob Melling
In the depths of the internet I just ran across a subgenre of Irish fanfic that re-writes Thomas Hardy novels and sets them in Ireland
October 8, 2025 at 12:25 PM
In the depths of the internet I just ran across a subgenre of Irish fanfic that re-writes Thomas Hardy novels and sets them in Ireland
Good, factual refutation of Jenrick from @stephenkb.bsky.social
It's also hard to believe that Jenrick is honestly pitching for the diffusion of visible ethnic minorities amongst white british populations or that this would appeal to his target audience.
on.ft.com/42sNfEq
It's also hard to believe that Jenrick is honestly pitching for the diffusion of visible ethnic minorities amongst white british populations or that this would appeal to his target audience.
on.ft.com/42sNfEq
Thank the Tories for keeping Robert Jenrick out of high office
Shadow justice secretary’s comment about not seeing a ‘white face’ shows he does not understand integration
on.ft.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Good, factual refutation of Jenrick from @stephenkb.bsky.social
It's also hard to believe that Jenrick is honestly pitching for the diffusion of visible ethnic minorities amongst white british populations or that this would appeal to his target audience.
on.ft.com/42sNfEq
It's also hard to believe that Jenrick is honestly pitching for the diffusion of visible ethnic minorities amongst white british populations or that this would appeal to his target audience.
on.ft.com/42sNfEq