Bob Melling
@bobmelling.bsky.social
Low Salience, Huddersfield
Proverbs 7:7
Proverbs 7:7
Reposted by Bob Melling
Interesting findings on perceptions of place. People don't necessarily notice long-term investment in the public realm, but boy do they notice when it is gone.
What do people in England think about their local area? In this short report I take a look at surveys we conducted with @yougov.co.uk in 2022, 2024 and 2025 to gain some insights...
Some key findings...
Some key findings...
Perspectives on Place: what the English think about their local area
www.southampton.ac.uk
January 13, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Interesting findings on perceptions of place. People don't necessarily notice long-term investment in the public realm, but boy do they notice when it is gone.
Reposted by Bob Melling
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
The ones who walk away from Creepywank dot org.
Ultimately it’s not a hard question, or shouldn’t be: if there were a website called creepywank dot org, where you could upload any picture or screengrab of anyone and get AI to produce a photorealistic picture of that person, regardless of age, in a state of undress…should it be legal in the UK?
Stephen has been bang on with this aspect of Badenoch's leadership from the start, and it has culminated in a position of being squeamish on banning a site mass-producing CSAM images because something something "Labour might ban it"
January 12, 2026 at 8:11 PM
The ones who walk away from Creepywank dot org.
Good thread, this is also one of the reasons why it's so damaging (on a smaller scale) for UK governments to announce infrastructure investments in secondary cities and then withdraw or scale back plans.
It signals that the UK thinks at least half the country is a bad bet.
It signals that the UK thinks at least half the country is a bad bet.
I think this is very poorly misunderstood. The reason why the 'the UK, a dangerous crimehole' stuff matters is that people in other countries who might invest in the UK see it online and believe it, not because the electoral constituency for it is particularly large or significant.
When we look at satisfaction with policing (I know, not the same as perceptions of crime, but hopefully helpful proxy) and crime rates in Police Force Areas, there is a clear link (interactive maps here tinyurl.com/c56jbcwc). And our Issues Index has concern with crime relatively low. ...
January 12, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Good thread, this is also one of the reasons why it's so damaging (on a smaller scale) for UK governments to announce infrastructure investments in secondary cities and then withdraw or scale back plans.
It signals that the UK thinks at least half the country is a bad bet.
It signals that the UK thinks at least half the country is a bad bet.
Map of things! Maybe good, maybe bad.
January 12, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Map of things! Maybe good, maybe bad.
January 11, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Shocked to learn that Paul Nurse thinks proximity to money and power is an overriding priority.
January 11, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Shocked to learn that Paul Nurse thinks proximity to money and power is an overriding priority.
Reposted by Bob Melling
I think it's very important that Rupert Lowe's "Million Nonce March" gets widespread media coverage. Critical to amplify diverse voices.
We go live to the Protect our girls crew, unsure what they are doing
January 10, 2026 at 2:05 PM
I think it's very important that Rupert Lowe's "Million Nonce March" gets widespread media coverage. Critical to amplify diverse voices.
Reposted by Bob Melling
Better photos of torc & discs/terminals on #Carnyx.
Colour difference suggests torc might be gilded, although by no means certain.
From colour, I don't think it's solid gold & they didn't plate then. It could also be bronze, but with better preservation.
#Archaeology 🏺 #CarnyxCrazy
📷 ITV News
Colour difference suggests torc might be gilded, although by no means certain.
From colour, I don't think it's solid gold & they didn't plate then. It could also be bronze, but with better preservation.
#Archaeology 🏺 #CarnyxCrazy
📷 ITV News
January 10, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Better photos of torc & discs/terminals on #Carnyx.
Colour difference suggests torc might be gilded, although by no means certain.
From colour, I don't think it's solid gold & they didn't plate then. It could also be bronze, but with better preservation.
#Archaeology 🏺 #CarnyxCrazy
📷 ITV News
Colour difference suggests torc might be gilded, although by no means certain.
From colour, I don't think it's solid gold & they didn't plate then. It could also be bronze, but with better preservation.
#Archaeology 🏺 #CarnyxCrazy
📷 ITV News
Reposted by Bob Melling
Preventing the sharing of sexualised images of children is “censorship” according to Elon Musk.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Musk says X outcry is 'excuse for censorship'
The government is urging Ofcom to use all its powers – up to and including an effective ban – against X.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 10, 2026 at 5:51 AM
Preventing the sharing of sexualised images of children is “censorship” according to Elon Musk.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Man who collected 1000 signatures demands the right to dictate policy in ongoing Keep Huddersfield Shitty campaign.
huddersfieldhub.co.uk/campaigners-...
huddersfieldhub.co.uk/campaigners-...
Campaigners say they have a six-week plan to save Huddersfield Open Market - Huddersfield Hub
Campaigners fighting to save Huddersfield Open Market have urged Kirklees Council to listen to those who know the market best
huddersfieldhub.co.uk
January 9, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Man who collected 1000 signatures demands the right to dictate policy in ongoing Keep Huddersfield Shitty campaign.
huddersfieldhub.co.uk/campaigners-...
huddersfieldhub.co.uk/campaigners-...
East Riding Dicks.
While some subscribe to the idea that the North begins at the Severn-Wash line, 78% of West Midlanders and 69% of East Midlanders consider themselves to be neither part of the North or South of England
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
January 9, 2026 at 1:10 PM
East Riding Dicks.
The bride in the centre of the photo is my grandad (TBF I don't really understand it either).
January 9, 2026 at 12:05 PM
The bride in the centre of the photo is my grandad (TBF I don't really understand it either).
Reposted by Bob Melling
Two issues being conflated here: if UK government continue to use the X platform, it becomes imperative it should insist on that platform being lawful: govt slow to notice/acknowledge X is obvs in systemic breach of its legal duties: eg abusive racial slur "paki" + nonconsensual sexual harassment
Government should stay on X despite the Grok scandal, Keir Starmer's former communications director has said
James Lyons, who worked at TikTok before serving in Downing St, told PolHome podcast The Rundown that quitting Elon Musk's platform would leave a "vacuum" for Labour's rivals to fill
James Lyons, who worked at TikTok before serving in Downing St, told PolHome podcast The Rundown that quitting Elon Musk's platform would leave a "vacuum" for Labour's rivals to fill
Government Shouldn’t Quit X Over Grok Scandal, Says Former No10 Comms Director
The government should not quit X as doing so would leave a 'vacuum' for its political rivals to fill, Keir Starmer's former communications director...
www.politicshome.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Two issues being conflated here: if UK government continue to use the X platform, it becomes imperative it should insist on that platform being lawful: govt slow to notice/acknowledge X is obvs in systemic breach of its legal duties: eg abusive racial slur "paki" + nonconsensual sexual harassment
Reposted by Bob Melling
Reposted by Bob Melling
Exactly. My experience as a public health specialist in the English system was that despite wanting a single 'lever' (NHS test and trace) the government fairly quickly had to get local government involved.
January 8, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Exactly. My experience as a public health specialist in the English system was that despite wanting a single 'lever' (NHS test and trace) the government fairly quickly had to get local government involved.
Reposted by Bob Melling
Contrast with the vaccine roll out which went well largely (in my opinion at least) because the NHS delegated much of the work to the most local possible unit (GPs operating in primary care network groups, who absolutely smashed it).
January 8, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Contrast with the vaccine roll out which went well largely (in my opinion at least) because the NHS delegated much of the work to the most local possible unit (GPs operating in primary care network groups, who absolutely smashed it).
Reposted by Bob Melling
Fun fact: state capacity is indeed broken and it's mainly because of well-intentioned people thinking that all decisions in this country need to be made by civil servants working in offices within 250 yards of Horseferry Road
Starmer, Farage, Badenoch et al share a strange consensus: that state capacity is broken, and the answer is a stronger prime minister in a faster, more centralised system - pulling levers like the Fat Controller and grabbing power back from agencies. Is it smart?
www.economist.com/britain/2026...
www.economist.com/britain/2026...
State capacity is the issue of the age
The Labour Party and its rivals agree on much about what is wrong with government
www.economist.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Fun fact: state capacity is indeed broken and it's mainly because of well-intentioned people thinking that all decisions in this country need to be made by civil servants working in offices within 250 yards of Horseferry Road
I keep trying to work out when the period of "lost central state capacity" existed. It always seems to coincide with powerful local government delivering almost everything important to the country.
Starmer, Farage, Badenoch et al share a strange consensus: that state capacity is broken, and the answer is a stronger prime minister in a faster, more centralised system - pulling levers like the Fat Controller and grabbing power back from agencies. Is it smart?
www.economist.com/britain/2026...
www.economist.com/britain/2026...
State capacity is the issue of the age
The Labour Party and its rivals agree on much about what is wrong with government
www.economist.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:29 PM
I keep trying to work out when the period of "lost central state capacity" existed. It always seems to coincide with powerful local government delivering almost everything important to the country.
Reposted by Bob Melling
I call on my party and my government to remove themselves entirely from X and communicate with the public where they actually participate online and can be protected from such illegality.
January 8, 2026 at 12:31 PM
I call on my party and my government to remove themselves entirely from X and communicate with the public where they actually participate online and can be protected from such illegality.
This short thread has once again sent me on another fruitless search to find the source of Betjemen's alleged description of Golcar as like a "Provence of the North".
Inspired by Barnsley’s claim to
Tuscan hill town status.
Marsden.
Tuscan hill town status.
Marsden.
January 8, 2026 at 1:33 PM
This short thread has once again sent me on another fruitless search to find the source of Betjemen's alleged description of Golcar as like a "Provence of the North".
Reposted by Bob Melling
One of these countries is scarier than the other
January 8, 2026 at 10:49 AM
One of these countries is scarier than the other