Chris Dillow
@chrisdillow.bsky.social
Bourgeois interests, proletarian instincts.
Have started re-reading this.
January 29, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Have started re-reading this.
Reposted by Chris Dillow
The actual words of the current British Home Secretary:
“My ultimate vision for that part of the criminal justice system was to achieve, by means of AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his Panopticon. That is that the eyes of the State can be on you at all times."
“My ultimate vision for that part of the criminal justice system was to achieve, by means of AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his Panopticon. That is that the eyes of the State can be on you at all times."
Crime and Policing Bill - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : 'Crime and Policing Bill' on Tuesday 20 January 2026.
hansard.parliament.uk
January 29, 2026 at 11:03 AM
The actual words of the current British Home Secretary:
“My ultimate vision for that part of the criminal justice system was to achieve, by means of AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his Panopticon. That is that the eyes of the State can be on you at all times."
“My ultimate vision for that part of the criminal justice system was to achieve, by means of AI and technology, what Jeremy Bentham tried to do with his Panopticon. That is that the eyes of the State can be on you at all times."
Might apply in the corporate world as well.
Hannah Arendt did not mince words, did she?
'Totalitarianism replaces all first-rate talents with crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty.'
From "The Origins of Totalitarianism" (1951)
'Totalitarianism replaces all first-rate talents with crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty.'
From "The Origins of Totalitarianism" (1951)
January 29, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Might apply in the corporate world as well.
One reason why I was never cut out for the world of work was that I was never fanatical enough about anything to devote my life to it. Retirement and dilettantism suit me better. I'd write something on the virtues of the dilettante, if I could be bothered.
This is the piece of the day - please enjoy the absolute insanity of Grindcore or How the Tech Bros like to work 9am to 9pm and fill the rest with workouts, Paleo diets and Chinese peptides. By @mshannahmurphy.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/6da0e29b-1...
Grindcore is the new hustle culture
[FREE TO READ] In Silicon Valley, long hours have fused with a monastic male wellness aesthetic
as.ft.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:49 AM
One reason why I was never cut out for the world of work was that I was never fanatical enough about anything to devote my life to it. Retirement and dilettantism suit me better. I'd write something on the virtues of the dilettante, if I could be bothered.
"Regulation is acquired by the industry and is designed and operated primarily for its benefit" - George Stigler. As I was saying: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-regulat...
January 29, 2026 at 8:45 AM
"Regulation is acquired by the industry and is designed and operated primarily for its benefit" - George Stigler. As I was saying: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-regulat...
There are good arguments for a UBI. But "we need it because of something that might not happen and can be addressed by other policies" is not one of them.
Increasingly think UBI is what tech bros say because they can’t face saying tax and welfare/benefits
as.ft.com/r/da40da05-4... Universal basic income needed to cushion blow from AI job losses, says UK minister
as.ft.com/r/da40da05-4... Universal basic income needed to cushion blow from AI job losses, says UK minister
Universal basic income needed to cushion blow from AI job losses, says UK minister
[FREE TO READ] Lord Jason Stockwood had previously suggested that tech companies could pay a windfall levy to fund the payments
as.ft.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:41 AM
There are good arguments for a UBI. But "we need it because of something that might not happen and can be addressed by other policies" is not one of them.
Reposted by Chris Dillow
And now a more personal blog on what I was driving at in this growth piece, through five years' of frustrated commentary.
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/g...
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/g...
Growth – some less edited thoughts
After too long a gestation today I finally put out my report for the Institute for Government about what is needed to raise growth rates. Finally. I am rather an old dog in this fight. My goodness,…
freethinkecon.wordpress.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:16 PM
And now a more personal blog on what I was driving at in this growth piece, through five years' of frustrated commentary.
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/g...
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/g...
True this. I wrote here that the Labour party can learn a lot from Richard II (the play): chrisdillow.substack.com/p/what-the-l...
January 28, 2026 at 3:09 PM
True this. I wrote here that the Labour party can learn a lot from Richard II (the play): chrisdillow.substack.com/p/what-the-l...
Reposted by Chris Dillow
in the latest Expecting Goals newsletter (free to read!) I broke down the numbers on the Premier League set piece revolution and why I think it marks a major new tactical trend in the Premier League that will be unusually difficult to dislodge www.expectinggoals.com/p/the-set-pi...
The Set Piece Revolution
The game is changing in the English Premier League.
www.expectinggoals.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:10 PM
in the latest Expecting Goals newsletter (free to read!) I broke down the numbers on the Premier League set piece revolution and why I think it marks a major new tactical trend in the Premier League that will be unusually difficult to dislodge www.expectinggoals.com/p/the-set-pi...
"There is a direct link between class, of being socialised into and working for a living in the post-industrial economy, and accepting socially liberal values as the everyday commonsense."
January 28, 2026 at 10:11 AM
"There is a direct link between class, of being socialised into and working for a living in the post-industrial economy, and accepting socially liberal values as the everyday commonsense."
New substack: the Tories can have a viable economic policy, or they can cultivate the traditional class base of conservatism, but they cannot do both. chrisdillow.substack.com/p/the-death-...
The death of the centre-right
Liberal conservatism has been killed by the economic system it supported.
chrisdillow.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:34 AM
New substack: the Tories can have a viable economic policy, or they can cultivate the traditional class base of conservatism, but they cannot do both. chrisdillow.substack.com/p/the-death-...
This seems to me a reasonably harmless way of improving optionality. As govt dalliances with new tech go, it's nowhere near as daft as Sunak's "NFT for Britain."
BREAKING: Free AI training will be offered to every adult in the UK, with short courses to teach people how to use simple AI tools effectively in the workplace.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
January 28, 2026 at 9:10 AM
This seems to me a reasonably harmless way of improving optionality. As govt dalliances with new tech go, it's nowhere near as daft as Sunak's "NFT for Britain."
Reposted by Chris Dillow
How archaeologists, geneticists and an amateur historian combined to rewrite the history of an East Midlands city | Jonathan Calder
The discovery of Richard III enriched Leicester in every way
How archaeologists, geneticists and an amateur historian combined to rewrite the history of an East Midlands city
centralbylines.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 8:11 AM
How archaeologists, geneticists and an amateur historian combined to rewrite the history of an East Midlands city | Jonathan Calder
Reposted by Chris Dillow
Addendum: because I take conservative ideas seriously, the ones I consume represent either the time tested wisdom of the ages, or the thinking of meritocratic elites. I've got a lot of Scruton, Hayek and Friedman to get through before I start on a F'KNG PODCAST.
I have left my comfortable liberal bubble in order to consume conservative content dozens of times. It has almost invariably been garbage. Telling me I still need to keep doing it is frankly now coming up against my belief in induction. Bayes' Law has worked, this is no longer a "prior".
these people seem like idiots
January 27, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Addendum: because I take conservative ideas seriously, the ones I consume represent either the time tested wisdom of the ages, or the thinking of meritocratic elites. I've got a lot of Scruton, Hayek and Friedman to get through before I start on a F'KNG PODCAST.
Reposted by Chris Dillow
I have left my comfortable liberal bubble in order to consume conservative content dozens of times. It has almost invariably been garbage. Telling me I still need to keep doing it is frankly now coming up against my belief in induction. Bayes' Law has worked, this is no longer a "prior".
January 27, 2026 at 7:08 PM
I have left my comfortable liberal bubble in order to consume conservative content dozens of times. It has almost invariably been garbage. Telling me I still need to keep doing it is frankly now coming up against my belief in induction. Bayes' Law has worked, this is no longer a "prior".
Reposted by Chris Dillow
The BBC once made the arts ‘utterly central’ to television – 100 years later they’re almost invisible
theconversation.com/the-bbc-once...
theconversation.com/the-bbc-once...
The BBC once made the arts ‘utterly central’ to television – 100 years later they’re almost invisible
After British television was established in 1926, it went on to foster a productively rich relationship with the arts, but coverage has seriously declined this century.
theconversation.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:30 PM
The BBC once made the arts ‘utterly central’ to television – 100 years later they’re almost invisible
theconversation.com/the-bbc-once...
theconversation.com/the-bbc-once...
Reposted by Chris Dillow
We’ve had years of the American right yelling about free speech, the marketplace of ideas, & complaining about silencing. The second they get the chance, they go full authoritarian.
January 26, 2026 at 8:28 AM
We’ve had years of the American right yelling about free speech, the marketplace of ideas, & complaining about silencing. The second they get the chance, they go full authoritarian.
Reminds me of Adlai Stevenson’s reply when told that every thinking person supported him: “I’m afraid that won’t do—I need a majority."
I'm not going to post screenshots for obvious reasons but I have been alerted that a bunch of the top posts in r/MassiveCock are anti-ICE now and anyone who defends ICE in comments is getting yelled down lol
January 25, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Reminds me of Adlai Stevenson’s reply when told that every thinking person supported him: “I’m afraid that won’t do—I need a majority."
The constraint on military spending isn't finance but real resources: manpower, tech, ability to get procurement right etc. This plan would only work if it releases real resources - ie if those buying the bonds cut their consumption rather than merely divert savings: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Let public by war bonds to raise £20bn for defence, say Lib Dems
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey says the bonds would
www.bbc.co.uk
January 25, 2026 at 3:19 PM
The constraint on military spending isn't finance but real resources: manpower, tech, ability to get procurement right etc. This plan would only work if it releases real resources - ie if those buying the bonds cut their consumption rather than merely divert savings: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
There's a point at which "impartiality" becomes gaslighting. The BBC has crossed this point.
January 25, 2026 at 12:39 PM
There's a point at which "impartiality" becomes gaslighting. The BBC has crossed this point.
All the speculation I've seen about Andy Burnham misses an important question: how would the life of the median citizen (or a member of the least advantaged class if you're a Rawlsian) be different if he were PM? Without this question, all we have is politics as soap opera.
January 25, 2026 at 11:07 AM
All the speculation I've seen about Andy Burnham misses an important question: how would the life of the median citizen (or a member of the least advantaged class if you're a Rawlsian) be different if he were PM? Without this question, all we have is politics as soap opera.
There's an analogue here with the Minsky hypothesis - financial stability breeds instability, in part because of complacency.
January 24, 2026 at 12:55 PM
There's an analogue here with the Minsky hypothesis - financial stability breeds instability, in part because of complacency.
I'm instinctively against bans. But isn't there more case for banning these than banning u-16s using social media? Both in principle (self- vs other-regarding acts) & evidence: some isolated u-16s need social media.
"in most cases, these videos appear to have been filmed secretly - using Meta smart glasses."
Argh for the love of god BAN. THE. PERVERT GLASSES.
Argh for the love of god BAN. THE. PERVERT GLASSES.
Women filmed in secret for TikTok content - then harassed online
January 24, 2026 at 12:44 PM
I'm instinctively against bans. But isn't there more case for banning these than banning u-16s using social media? Both in principle (self- vs other-regarding acts) & evidence: some isolated u-16s need social media.
This is a rehash of the 80s trope that the unemployed didn't want to work. It's blaming the victim. "There's nothing wrong with the system; it's just that the working class aren't good enough for it."
"1 in 5 pupils are getting a SEND diagnosis..the vast majority then trip into the benefit system because they get child disability allowance allowance.'
This is completely false from Milburn. He's supposed to be reviewing this issue and he's just making things up. Inexcusable.
This is completely false from Milburn. He's supposed to be reviewing this issue and he's just making things up. Inexcusable.
January 24, 2026 at 9:58 AM
This is a rehash of the 80s trope that the unemployed didn't want to work. It's blaming the victim. "There's nothing wrong with the system; it's just that the working class aren't good enough for it."
Several people have said this by @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk is good. They're right.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/airport-bo...
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/airport-bo...
Airport Book Brain
How faddish ideas keep seducing.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 10:38 AM
Several people have said this by @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk is good. They're right.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/airport-bo...
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/airport-bo...