Giles Wilkes
@gilesyb.bsky.social
Former politico, comment writer, spread betting dealer, editor, now think tanker, consultant, former baker of overly dense loaves.
Pinned
Giles Wilkes
@gilesyb.bsky.social
· Jul 15
There really is no getting out of this fiscal corner
It is something of a cliche to argue that Britain is running out of money, living beyond its means, wandering through a fiscal fool’s paradise – but no less true for that. The trend of …
freethinkecon.wordpress.com
In an effort that will no doubt torch my follower base, I have laid out some basic numbers around our fiscal situation. Obvious, but still a little sobering for me.
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
freethinkecon.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/t...
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
Have heard it reported that the mood in Number 10 is febrile. Really.
November 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Have heard it reported that the mood in Number 10 is febrile. Really.
Can't believe there's no guarantee that the best book wins. Wtaf.
Secrets of a Booker Prize judge
You race through novels as if your life depends on it – but there’s no guarantee that the “best” book wins, writes Erica Wagner
https://bit.ly/3XjVfEr
You race through novels as if your life depends on it – but there’s no guarantee that the “best” book wins, writes Erica Wagner
https://bit.ly/3XjVfEr
Secrets of a Booker Prize judge | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Can't believe there's no guarantee that the best book wins. Wtaf.
Glorious
Crisis at the Critic Sketchcasting Corporation!
Crisis at the CSC | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
From the desk of Lord Kronsteen, founder and proprietor of the Critic Sketchcasting Corporation. To all staff, It is with a heavy heart that I take pen in hand to inform you of the resignation of both…
thecritic.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Glorious
I assume that massive social media platforms are investing $bns in AI mainly to create safeguards against the avalanche of scam adverts and slop that inundates our feeds. Even though this material makes them tonnes of money, it chews them up that it's there, and they simply hate doing social harm
November 10, 2025 at 10:35 AM
I assume that massive social media platforms are investing $bns in AI mainly to create safeguards against the avalanche of scam adverts and slop that inundates our feeds. Even though this material makes them tonnes of money, it chews them up that it's there, and they simply hate doing social harm
Spotify is now filling my Discover Weekly with AI blues singers with fake history. Sad.
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Spotify is now filling my Discover Weekly with AI blues singers with fake history. Sad.
Martin Wolf says that while Labour promised to be revolutionary, it's been reactionary on employment, housing and education. It's an important debate...- on.ft.com/47wFwYL via @financialtimes.com
The disturbing victory of Old Labour over New Labour
In education, labour and housing we risk going back towards what we know will not work
on.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Martin Wolf says that while Labour promised to be revolutionary, it's been reactionary on employment, housing and education. It's an important debate...- on.ft.com/47wFwYL via @financialtimes.com
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
Best Mamdani take I’ve read, from @jemima.bsky.social
"it is not that Americans moved to the right — after all, Trump won 4mn fewer votes in 2024 than Joe Biden did in 2020. Rather, Americans have grown disillusioned with many of the things the left came to represent in recent years" on.ft.com/4oZRccg
What Mamdani and Martha Stewart tell us about the vibe shift
An election win and a politically incorrect cookbook show that Americans are embracing candour over caution
on.ft.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Best Mamdani take I’ve read, from @jemima.bsky.social
"it is not that Americans moved to the right — after all, Trump won 4mn fewer votes in 2024 than Joe Biden did in 2020. Rather, Americans have grown disillusioned with many of the things the left came to represent in recent years" on.ft.com/4oZRccg
What Mamdani and Martha Stewart tell us about the vibe shift
An election win and a politically incorrect cookbook show that Americans are embracing candour over caution
on.ft.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:41 AM
"it is not that Americans moved to the right — after all, Trump won 4mn fewer votes in 2024 than Joe Biden did in 2020. Rather, Americans have grown disillusioned with many of the things the left came to represent in recent years" on.ft.com/4oZRccg
The AI boom comes to America’s loneliest place - on.ft.com/47Rn3Fb Bookmark for any time anyone wants to portray environmental concerns as unthinking nimbyism. Free link
The AI boom comes to America’s loneliest place
Plans for a 230-mile transmission line threaten Nevada’s wilderness and have united hunters and wildlife groups
on.ft.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:33 AM
The AI boom comes to America’s loneliest place - on.ft.com/47Rn3Fb Bookmark for any time anyone wants to portray environmental concerns as unthinking nimbyism. Free link
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
'Where's your fucking poppy ?'
November 8, 2025 at 10:27 AM
'Where's your fucking poppy ?'
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
See also
bsky.app/profile/thed...
bsky.app/profile/thed...
New York millionaires: threatening to flee the city since 2009
November 8, 2025 at 9:58 AM
See also
bsky.app/profile/thed...
bsky.app/profile/thed...
"More young adults to leave UK because of low salaries and rising tax burden" - on.ft.com/498VbP7
I really don't understand why the FT carries stories based largely on quotes from wealth managers. It's very thin stuff
I really don't understand why the FT carries stories based largely on quotes from wealth managers. It's very thin stuff
More young adults to leave UK because of low salaries and rising tax burden
Wealth managers issue warning as worries grow among people in their 20s over the economy and job prospects
on.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:31 AM
"More young adults to leave UK because of low salaries and rising tax burden" - on.ft.com/498VbP7
I really don't understand why the FT carries stories based largely on quotes from wealth managers. It's very thin stuff
I really don't understand why the FT carries stories based largely on quotes from wealth managers. It's very thin stuff
Today I learned from The Rest is History that the combined firepower in action at Trafalgar was ten times the total deployed at Waterloo. Incredible.
November 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Today I learned from The Rest is History that the combined firepower in action at Trafalgar was ten times the total deployed at Waterloo. Incredible.
This is an incredibly positive angle on Britain, and doesn't feel unrealistic to me. Like many countries, it's maintaining a lot of strengths despite its politicians
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
From The Economist
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
From The Economist
Brand Britain has bounced back
Despite all the gloom at home, the country’s reputation is surprisingly bright
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
This is an incredibly positive angle on Britain, and doesn't feel unrealistic to me. Like many countries, it's maintaining a lot of strengths despite its politicians
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
From The Economist
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
From The Economist
"China can produce almost a terawatt of renewable-energy capacity in a year. That is enough to supply as much energy as more than 300 big nuclear-power plants."
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
I love The Economist's bullishness here
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
I love The Economist's bullishness here
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:08 AM
"China can produce almost a terawatt of renewable-energy capacity in a year. That is enough to supply as much energy as more than 300 big nuclear-power plants."
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
I love The Economist's bullishness here
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
I love The Economist's bullishness here
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
A UK study from many years ago concluded that the primary reason for newly launched innovations to fail in the market was that they solved a problem the customer did not have. In my experience it remains a very common problem.
November 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
A UK study from many years ago concluded that the primary reason for newly launched innovations to fail in the market was that they solved a problem the customer did not have. In my experience it remains a very common problem.
Sounds like the crypto treasury self-scamming Ponzi has come to an end for now, and obviously it's the retail bubble chasing suckers who have ultimately paid the insider promoter grifters, as Matt Levine explains. Thus it will ever be...
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Sounds like the crypto treasury self-scamming Ponzi has come to an end for now, and obviously it's the retail bubble chasing suckers who have ultimately paid the insider promoter grifters, as Matt Levine explains. Thus it will ever be...
Theory: really successful innovations were based much more on insights into consumer demand than technological supply/possibility. E.g.:
- punters would buy an EV if it were cool enough
- people will trust online shopping
- a computer in every house
- they'll provide social media content for free 1/
- punters would buy an EV if it were cool enough
- people will trust online shopping
- a computer in every house
- they'll provide social media content for free 1/
My own guess is that this Optimus robot is to Musk what the Metaverse is to Zuckerberg, but plenty of people much richer than me seem to think differently- on.ft.com/3LpFJV3
When will we know?
When will we know?
Elon Musk celebrates $1tn Tesla pay vote victory
Record package of shares wins 75% approval, reinforcing billionaire’s control of the electric-car maker
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Theory: really successful innovations were based much more on insights into consumer demand than technological supply/possibility. E.g.:
- punters would buy an EV if it were cool enough
- people will trust online shopping
- a computer in every house
- they'll provide social media content for free 1/
- punters would buy an EV if it were cool enough
- people will trust online shopping
- a computer in every house
- they'll provide social media content for free 1/
My own guess is that this Optimus robot is to Musk what the Metaverse is to Zuckerberg, but plenty of people much richer than me seem to think differently- on.ft.com/3LpFJV3
When will we know?
When will we know?
Elon Musk celebrates $1tn Tesla pay vote victory
Record package of shares wins 75% approval, reinforcing billionaire’s control of the electric-car maker
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 AM
My own guess is that this Optimus robot is to Musk what the Metaverse is to Zuckerberg, but plenty of people much richer than me seem to think differently- on.ft.com/3LpFJV3
When will we know?
When will we know?
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
“Don’t put up income tax, NI or VAT”…in the same interview “spend more money”. While I think the Labour leadership should have thought more intelligently (read: at all) about how to get out of their tax pledges, can see why they made them!
Labour should stick to manifesto pledges on tax, deputy leader says
The government has repeatedly refused to rule out increasing income tax in this month's Budget.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:09 PM
“Don’t put up income tax, NI or VAT”…in the same interview “spend more money”. While I think the Labour leadership should have thought more intelligently (read: at all) about how to get out of their tax pledges, can see why they made them!
Heartening to see the Conservative former secretary of state for Justice pointing out how very unfunded the prisons system is.
Rather a pity his timing wasn't a little better, because just a tenth of the money used on unnecessary pre election tax cuts could have made a huge difference
Rather a pity his timing wasn't a little better, because just a tenth of the money used on unnecessary pre election tax cuts could have made a huge difference
November 6, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Heartening to see the Conservative former secretary of state for Justice pointing out how very unfunded the prisons system is.
Rather a pity his timing wasn't a little better, because just a tenth of the money used on unnecessary pre election tax cuts could have made a huge difference
Rather a pity his timing wasn't a little better, because just a tenth of the money used on unnecessary pre election tax cuts could have made a huge difference
Reposted by Giles Wilkes
Joe’s going to murder Nick for realsies #CelebrityTraitors
November 6, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Joe’s going to murder Nick for realsies #CelebrityTraitors
November 6, 2025 at 9:42 AM