Jonathan Clarke
@jrlclarke.bsky.social
Associate Professor in Global Sustainable Development. Interested in cities, energy, water and housing. Methods around resilience, representation and co-creation.
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
This sums up how narrowminded UK Treasury penny-pinching and Home Office paranoia are sabotaging efforts by UK negotiators to make gains in areas where there is less EU unity like SPS and SAFE which also happen to involve far more money.
Another sign of Downing Street indecision.
on.ft.com/4oZhtHC
Another sign of Downing Street indecision.
on.ft.com/4oZhtHC
November 13, 2025 at 9:02 AM
This sums up how narrowminded UK Treasury penny-pinching and Home Office paranoia are sabotaging efforts by UK negotiators to make gains in areas where there is less EU unity like SPS and SAFE which also happen to involve far more money.
Another sign of Downing Street indecision.
on.ft.com/4oZhtHC
Another sign of Downing Street indecision.
on.ft.com/4oZhtHC
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Deeply weird thing about British politics is whenever I look closely at any of the political parties I go “well, you’re gonna lose”.
Trump is incredibly unpopular here! including amongst Tory voters. What are they doing?
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Deeply weird thing about British politics is whenever I look closely at any of the political parties I go “well, you’re gonna lose”.
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Net zero is one of the many areas where commentators are out-of-touch with public opinion in Britain. There is still broad support for cutting carbon emissions - except from among Reform supporters, who are the outliers.
🧵/ How far does the public support net zero?
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Support: 60%
Oppose: 25%
Net support by party
Green: +81
Lib Dem: +67
Lab: +64
Con: +11
Reform: -44
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Net zero is one of the many areas where commentators are out-of-touch with public opinion in Britain. There is still broad support for cutting carbon emissions - except from among Reform supporters, who are the outliers.
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
One strange thing about the BBC/Trump row is that the programme in question was actually made by an independent production company. Yes, the BBC producers and Panorama’s editor should have checked everything before it was broadcast. But…
1/3
1/3
November 10, 2025 at 11:02 PM
One strange thing about the BBC/Trump row is that the programme in question was actually made by an independent production company. Yes, the BBC producers and Panorama’s editor should have checked everything before it was broadcast. But…
1/3
1/3
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Enforced veganism’: Ofcom lets GB News flout accuracy rules, say climate campaigners
Exclusive: Regulator has received 1,221 complaints about UK broadcasters since 2020 but found no breaches of its code
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Robbie Gibb should quite simply not be in that role. He makes no pretence of his own bias. While he has power the BBC will continue to rot.
November 10, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Robbie Gibb should quite simply not be in that role. He makes no pretence of his own bias. While he has power the BBC will continue to rot.
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
The key is to raise taxes enough to actually be able to do something with it, beyond placating the OBR and bond markets
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it
Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society.
It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...
renewal.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The key is to raise taxes enough to actually be able to do something with it, beyond placating the OBR and bond markets
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
China has made cheap, clean energy available in huge quantities. The world should take the win econ.st/4oqFszB
Photo: Eyevine
Photo: Eyevine
November 7, 2025 at 7:10 AM
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Important thread here on the possibility of scrapping ECO. I would add that when ECO was cut in 2013, 10,000 people lost their jobs. That's more than 3 times as many than Scunthorpe steel works and a whopping 20 times more than Grangemouth oil refinery
I’m afraid I’ve heard enough to take this seriously - No.10 is thinking of abolishing ECO, the main source of funding for upgrading fuel poor homes.
There’s no way to sugar coat this: it would be a disaster.
And it would mean this government spending less on upgrading homes than the last one
There’s no way to sugar coat this: it would be a disaster.
And it would mean this government spending less on upgrading homes than the last one
To be clear, what is being proposed here is to axe the main mechanism for getting Britain’s homes insulated - which is by FAR the best way to reduce household energy bills in the long term 🤦♂️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
November 6, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Important thread here on the possibility of scrapping ECO. I would add that when ECO was cut in 2013, 10,000 people lost their jobs. That's more than 3 times as many than Scunthorpe steel works and a whopping 20 times more than Grangemouth oil refinery
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Terrific (and gutsy) Inside Politics by David today:
Why Rachel Reeves won’t raise income tax
An unpopular government cannot afford to be branded dishonest by the public
www.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Terrific (and gutsy) Inside Politics by David today:
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Judges keep BANNING climate activists from talking about the climate crisis in their evidence in court...
Because they know that juries find them NOT GUILTY when they explain the JUSTIFICATION for their protests
Because they know that juries find them NOT GUILTY when they explain the JUSTIFICATION for their protests
November 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Judges keep BANNING climate activists from talking about the climate crisis in their evidence in court...
Because they know that juries find them NOT GUILTY when they explain the JUSTIFICATION for their protests
Because they know that juries find them NOT GUILTY when they explain the JUSTIFICATION for their protests
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
What if there was a consensus on the tax reforms the UK needs?
What if it was backed by policy experts from think tanks across the political spectrum, from the Adam Smith Institute to the Resolution Foundation?
The consensus is real. The question is: will anyone act on it?
What if it was backed by policy experts from think tanks across the political spectrum, from the Adam Smith Institute to the Resolution Foundation?
The consensus is real. The question is: will anyone act on it?
November 5, 2025 at 9:51 AM
What if there was a consensus on the tax reforms the UK needs?
What if it was backed by policy experts from think tanks across the political spectrum, from the Adam Smith Institute to the Resolution Foundation?
The consensus is real. The question is: will anyone act on it?
What if it was backed by policy experts from think tanks across the political spectrum, from the Adam Smith Institute to the Resolution Foundation?
The consensus is real. The question is: will anyone act on it?
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Genuinely such an interesting long thread on why these suits look crap and yet how a particular type of crap suit has become a cultural signifier for right-wing men.
I can answer this. I interviewed Peterson's tailor a few years ago, although the interview was never published because I fell behind on work. Here is the story of this suit. 🧵
What is happening with this outfit?
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Genuinely such an interesting long thread on why these suits look crap and yet how a particular type of crap suit has become a cultural signifier for right-wing men.
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Six months on from the locals…
Reform is losing councillors at an “unusual” rate
PolHome analysis finds that Farage’s party has lost over 5% of all cllrs elected in May
In Kent, its 14%
@matildamartin.bsky.social’s deep dive www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reform is losing councillors at an “unusual” rate
PolHome analysis finds that Farage’s party has lost over 5% of all cllrs elected in May
In Kent, its 14%
@matildamartin.bsky.social’s deep dive www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reform Is Losing Councillors Elected In May At An 'Unusual' Rate
Reform UK has lost more than 5 per cent of the councillors it had elected six months ago, an analysis by PoliticsHome has found.
www.politicshome.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Six months on from the locals…
Reform is losing councillors at an “unusual” rate
PolHome analysis finds that Farage’s party has lost over 5% of all cllrs elected in May
In Kent, its 14%
@matildamartin.bsky.social’s deep dive www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reform is losing councillors at an “unusual” rate
PolHome analysis finds that Farage’s party has lost over 5% of all cllrs elected in May
In Kent, its 14%
@matildamartin.bsky.social’s deep dive www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
"...it seems unsustainable for those who care about British democracy to remain on a platform whose owner is fixated on its very destruction."
I've written a couple of things over the last days about how the government and much of Westminster remaining on X as the platform becomes increasingly toxic is having consequences for our politics...
Our politics is increasingly normalised to racism – because politicians are addicted to X
The platform has quietly dragged British politics into a dark place
inews.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
"...it seems unsustainable for those who care about British democracy to remain on a platform whose owner is fixated on its very destruction."
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Reluctant to give Question Time any time - save for this:
Man with stubble, "Small boats arrivals are 37,000. There are over 4 million kids in child poverty. And 4.5 million who can't get a dentist appointment" #BBCQT
"We spend 90% of the media discourse on the 37,000. How much more could we achieve if we put that effort into the 4.5 million?"
"We spend 90% of the media discourse on the 37,000. How much more could we achieve if we put that effort into the 4.5 million?"
October 30, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Reluctant to give Question Time any time - save for this:
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
"If you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?" Billie Eilish speaking directly to Mark Zuckerberg, as she donates $11.5m to food poverty and climate justice organisations.
'Give your money away,' Billie Eilish tells billionaires
The singer called on the mega wealthy to donate more to charity, during a speech at the WSJ Awards attended by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and George Lucas.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 8:28 AM
"If you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?" Billie Eilish speaking directly to Mark Zuckerberg, as she donates $11.5m to food poverty and climate justice organisations.
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Imagine if other Epstein associates were stripped of their titles and evicted from their homes for their activities. Or if the media even cared enough about them to investigate.
October 31, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Imagine if other Epstein associates were stripped of their titles and evicted from their homes for their activities. Or if the media even cared enough about them to investigate.
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
I asked Jimmy Wales why the reporting of the Daily Mail isn't linked to on Wikipedia. Fair play for a frank answer: www.newstatesman.com/technology/2...
October 31, 2025 at 7:45 AM
I asked Jimmy Wales why the reporting of the Daily Mail isn't linked to on Wikipedia. Fair play for a frank answer: www.newstatesman.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
Aaron Swartz was driven to suicide while under federal felony indictment for trying to make scientific publications freely available for the public good.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_S...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_S...
October 30, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Aaron Swartz was driven to suicide while under federal felony indictment for trying to make scientific publications freely available for the public good.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_S...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_S...
Reposted by Jonathan Clarke
I keep being told spending cuts are easy. Honest proposals such as those recently outlined by Policy Exchange show they are not
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
October 30, 2025 at 8:05 AM
I keep being told spending cuts are easy. Honest proposals such as those recently outlined by Policy Exchange show they are not
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...