Neal Hockley
@nealhockley.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics & Policy | land, forests, conservation, equity, Madagasikara, Cymru. Climber, runner. "Trech gwlad nag arglwydd". https://www.bangor.ac.uk/staff/natural-sciences/neal-hockley-011884/en
Actually, we should absolutely put more people in stocks and fewer people in prison, and the idea that prison is more civilised is pure brain rot. The public only prefer prison because they can forget about prisoners and prison conditions and we shouldn't pander to that.
With Maurice Glasman and Dominic Lawson calling for the return of the stocks, we find most Britons opposed - although Reform voters are divided
All Britons: 21% support / 72% oppose
Lib Dem: 12% / 85%
Labour: 12% / 83%
Green: 13% / 82%
Con: 28% / 64%
Reform: 43% / 48%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
All Britons: 21% support / 72% oppose
Lib Dem: 12% / 85%
Labour: 12% / 83%
Green: 13% / 82%
Con: 28% / 64%
Reform: 43% / 48%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
November 7, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Actually, we should absolutely put more people in stocks and fewer people in prison, and the idea that prison is more civilised is pure brain rot. The public only prefer prison because they can forget about prisoners and prison conditions and we shouldn't pander to that.
Just finished this series on the morning run. Tom & Dom's mastery of blocks and quarterdecks aside, Trafalgar is a superb story of the supremacy of meritocracy, technology and industry - the best of C18-19th Britain. The aftermath for Lady Hamilton illustrates the other side: snobbery.
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨
⛵️Nelson: Glory at Trafalgar⛵️
In the epic conclusion to our series on the life of Lord Nelson, Tom and Dominic discover:
💋Did the kiss really happen?
🇫🇷Did France ever stand a chance?
😤Why Nelson was disappointed with the scale of the victory
⛵️Nelson: Glory at Trafalgar⛵️
In the epic conclusion to our series on the life of Lord Nelson, Tom and Dominic discover:
💋Did the kiss really happen?
🇫🇷Did France ever stand a chance?
😤Why Nelson was disappointed with the scale of the victory
November 6, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Just finished this series on the morning run. Tom & Dom's mastery of blocks and quarterdecks aside, Trafalgar is a superb story of the supremacy of meritocracy, technology and industry - the best of C18-19th Britain. The aftermath for Lady Hamilton illustrates the other side: snobbery.
This is such a lacklustre proposal for road pricing, and the Tories response is even worse. If we don't use the transition to EVs to achieve a more rational system of road taxation, we might as well throw in the towel www.ft.com/content/9f90...
Reeves poised to unveil Budget plan for EV drivers to pay per mile charges
Chancellor looks to offset forecast sharp drop in government revenue from fuel duty
www.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This is such a lacklustre proposal for road pricing, and the Tories response is even worse. If we don't use the transition to EVs to achieve a more rational system of road taxation, we might as well throw in the towel www.ft.com/content/9f90...
Interesting piece - even in temperate climates I feel planners & architects seem to have forgotten about the existence of wind, which seems like your basics (our newish local Asda often can't open its main doors on windy days, because they face a desolate urbanscape) www.euronews.com/green/2025/1...
Kiruna residents face colder reality in relocated Arctic town
Kiruna’s new city is up to 10°C colder, and residents are noticing.
www.euronews.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Interesting piece - even in temperate climates I feel planners & architects seem to have forgotten about the existence of wind, which seems like your basics (our newish local Asda often can't open its main doors on windy days, because they face a desolate urbanscape) www.euronews.com/green/2025/1...
Missed this piece by @tomforth.co.uk on Land Value Tax. As always, Tom makes some very sensible points. Several are contingent on specific proposals for an LVT, which aren't strawmen but are far from intrinsic to LVT. The valuation problem is more important in my view... tomforth.co.uk/landvaluetax/
Land Value Tax in England? No thanks.
Why I think every proposal I've ever read for a land value tax in England is a bad idea.
tomforth.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Missed this piece by @tomforth.co.uk on Land Value Tax. As always, Tom makes some very sensible points. Several are contingent on specific proposals for an LVT, which aren't strawmen but are far from intrinsic to LVT. The valuation problem is more important in my view... tomforth.co.uk/landvaluetax/
Depressing that this piece makes no mention that domestic/European aviation emissions are priced through the Emissions Trading Scheme. UK/EU should extend the scope to include all flights, and stop mithering around with pointless 'Sustainable Aviation Fuel' mandates
www.politico.eu/article/uk-n...
www.politico.eu/article/uk-n...
UK must speed up net-zero aviation, says Tony Blair
The recommendation, by the ex-PM’s policy body, is Blair’s third intervention on green policy this year.
www.politico.eu
November 3, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Depressing that this piece makes no mention that domestic/European aviation emissions are priced through the Emissions Trading Scheme. UK/EU should extend the scope to include all flights, and stop mithering around with pointless 'Sustainable Aviation Fuel' mandates
www.politico.eu/article/uk-n...
www.politico.eu/article/uk-n...
Interesting that none of the execs interviewed for this piece seem to consider the possibility of paying people slightly more (about £90 extra a month would match the rise in the min wage - i.e. roughly in line with inflation) www.ft.com/content/b436...
City bosses warn on pay as minimum wage closes in on graduate salaries
Chief executives voice fears about impact on recruitment ahead of expected rise in Budget
www.ft.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Interesting that none of the execs interviewed for this piece seem to consider the possibility of paying people slightly more (about £90 extra a month would match the rise in the min wage - i.e. roughly in line with inflation) www.ft.com/content/b436...
A concerning story, but as well as (rightly) highlighting the impacts of commercialisation/internationalisation on academic freedom, it would be good to see more scrutiny of the apparent role of our libel laws, which also seem to have been a factor here? www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:58 AM
A concerning story, but as well as (rightly) highlighting the impacts of commercialisation/internationalisation on academic freedom, it would be good to see more scrutiny of the apparent role of our libel laws, which also seem to have been a factor here? www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Tanzania's incumbent president wins 98% of the vote, putting Putin's electoral successes to shame. The economy's been booming recently, I guess we'll see if it continues to justify this level of support www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Tanzania election: Samia Suluhu Hassan wins vote as hundreds feared dead in unrest
Demonstrations continued on Friday as young protesters denounced the election as unfair.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Tanzania's incumbent president wins 98% of the vote, putting Putin's electoral successes to shame. The economy's been booming recently, I guess we'll see if it continues to justify this level of support www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Who's mourning the slave-ocracy of 1776? American democracy might be healthier if more people recognised it was born in 1965.
Halloween decoration in the neighborhood (photo taken a few days ago)
October 31, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Who's mourning the slave-ocracy of 1776? American democracy might be healthier if more people recognised it was born in 1965.
Rachel Reeves' licence-gate seems like yet another episode where you'd be better than averagely informed if you simply paid no attention to any media whatsoever. Depressingly common.
October 31, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Rachel Reeves' licence-gate seems like yet another episode where you'd be better than averagely informed if you simply paid no attention to any media whatsoever. Depressingly common.
Can we all agree that kids should only dress up as bad guys for Halloween? It's not just a general fancy dress party and you can't go as a super hero. Also, and this shouldn't need stating, you can't trick or treat in daylight.
October 31, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Can we all agree that kids should only dress up as bad guys for Halloween? It's not just a general fancy dress party and you can't go as a super hero. Also, and this shouldn't need stating, you can't trick or treat in daylight.
Catching up on this piece by @ebenmyrddin.bsky.social challenging @plaidcymru.bsky.social on their environmental 'blind spot'. If Plaid want to retain their #caerphilly coalition for 2026, they will need to explain how they will restore Wales' wildlife nation.cymru/opinion/the-...
The Missing Agenda: Plaid Cymru’s Nature Blind Spot
Eben Myrddin Muse This weekend Welsh politics is comprehending a new political reality, confirmed by Caerphilly’s electorate – Plaid Cymru are the rising force in Welsh politics, the presumptive gover...
nation.cymru
October 31, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Catching up on this piece by @ebenmyrddin.bsky.social challenging @plaidcymru.bsky.social on their environmental 'blind spot'. If Plaid want to retain their #caerphilly coalition for 2026, they will need to explain how they will restore Wales' wildlife nation.cymru/opinion/the-...
I'm queasy about these appeals for the public to donate their cash to aristocratic landowners. UK land prices are completely out of kilter with reality, due to various policy drivers (tax, subsidies etc) - to the detriment of both farmers and conservationists.
Broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough is lending his support to an appeal to raise $40 million to buy and a conserve a huge land estate in the UK. https://cnn.it/47wiD6E
October 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
I'm queasy about these appeals for the public to donate their cash to aristocratic landowners. UK land prices are completely out of kilter with reality, due to various policy drivers (tax, subsidies etc) - to the detriment of both farmers and conservationists.
This policy never made any sense. I wonder if there will be any credibility consequences for those who espoused it.
Tories confirm Chris Philp's bill proposing mass deportation of people with indefinite leave to remain no longer party policy - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
October 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
This policy never made any sense. I wonder if there will be any credibility consequences for those who espoused it.
Coming from a background where any family friend your parents' age was aunty or uncle, this does seem an odd thing to get het up about.
My momma bestie is my auntie
My auntie friend that go to her church is also my auntie
My 75 year old cousin... is also my auntie
"Auntie" is what happens when you understand the expansive proposition of family
"That's not your aunt" is what happens when you live outside of restorative community
My auntie friend that go to her church is also my auntie
My 75 year old cousin... is also my auntie
"Auntie" is what happens when you understand the expansive proposition of family
"That's not your aunt" is what happens when you live outside of restorative community
October 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Coming from a background where any family friend your parents' age was aunty or uncle, this does seem an odd thing to get het up about.
Experimenting with asking Co-pilot for recommendations of papers to read, based on a draft abstract I uploaded - which seems like a fairly simple task? It suggested 5 papers, all of which seem to be completely fictitious. Another data point for the "LLMs are just pretending to do stuff" view.
a gif of a cat holding a vacuum cleaner with the caption look human i 'm helping
ALT: a gif of a cat holding a vacuum cleaner with the caption look human i 'm helping
media.tenor.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Experimenting with asking Co-pilot for recommendations of papers to read, based on a draft abstract I uploaded - which seems like a fairly simple task? It suggested 5 papers, all of which seem to be completely fictitious. Another data point for the "LLMs are just pretending to do stuff" view.
Agreed. The question is, in our politico-journalistic ecosystem, are there any consequences for saying completely wild stuff? In a sensible world, every interview with Lam for years to come would start with "So, do you still want to deport all the nurses?"
What I think this demonstrates is 3 things (1) This mass deportation policy is wildly at odds with public opinion in general, and with opinion of many sensible Tory voters, members & MPs (2) Many ppl defending the policy didn't know what was in it (3) Informing and pressuring them therefore works
Are the Tories now rowing back on ILR?
Last week Badenoch's spokesman said Katie Lam's comments were "broadly in line" with the party's stance
Now a party spokesperson says it's “subject to an ongoing internal review” following a widespread backlash
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Last week Badenoch's spokesman said Katie Lam's comments were "broadly in line" with the party's stance
Now a party spokesperson says it's “subject to an ongoing internal review” following a widespread backlash
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
October 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Agreed. The question is, in our politico-journalistic ecosystem, are there any consequences for saying completely wild stuff? In a sensible world, every interview with Lam for years to come would start with "So, do you still want to deport all the nurses?"
Reposted by Neal Hockley
What is it about using say, Microsoft Outlook, that makes people think arrant nonsense like enshittifying basic household objects is a good idea?
The AWS outage bricked people's $2,700 smartbeds, leaving them in a reclining position or with the heat up. People were unable to use them, basically. A GitHub repo exists that lets people operate their beds without reliance on the normal infrastructure
www.404media.co/the-aws-outa...
www.404media.co/the-aws-outa...
The AWS Outage Bricked People’s $2,700 Smartbeds
When Amazon Web Services went offline, people lost control of their cloud-connected smart beds, getting stuck in reclined positions or roasting with the heat turned all the way up.
www.404media.co
October 22, 2025 at 4:28 PM
What is it about using say, Microsoft Outlook, that makes people think arrant nonsense like enshittifying basic household objects is a good idea?
This week the Green Party came out against income tax and now the reds are (back to) endorsing Land Value Tax. You love to see it. morningstaronline.co.uk/article/case...
The case for a land value tax
LAND (encompassing natural resources) is one of the factors of production, along with labour and capital. Capital is produced by labour (workers) using land. In economics, it is everything except huma...
morningstaronline.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
This week the Green Party came out against income tax and now the reds are (back to) endorsing Land Value Tax. You love to see it. morningstaronline.co.uk/article/case...
Half right is a good start. Pleased to see the Greens coming out in favour of abolishing income tax and NIC at least.
October 21, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Half right is a good start. Pleased to see the Greens coming out in favour of abolishing income tax and NIC at least.
Did I miss the principled objections to colonial atrocities stage?
Robert Jenrick speedrunning his way through the career of Enoch Powell.
October 21, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Did I miss the principled objections to colonial atrocities stage?
I'm not sure I'm "culturally coherent" with these people.
Sunday Times interview Tory "rising star" Katie Lam
She is clear she wants lots of legal migrants to be told to "go home" so as "to leave a mostly but not entirely culturally coherent group of people"
(The interviewer suggests she is scrapping ILR or stripping people of it)
She is clear she wants lots of legal migrants to be told to "go home" so as "to leave a mostly but not entirely culturally coherent group of people"
(The interviewer suggests she is scrapping ILR or stripping people of it)
October 19, 2025 at 7:51 AM
I'm not sure I'm "culturally coherent" with these people.
Counterpoint: King George wasn't mad until after the rebellion, which was cynically launched by racist free-riding slave-owning tax avoiders only after the French threat had been safely defeated at British expense ;-) [not sure what that tells us about current politics]
October 17, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Counterpoint: King George wasn't mad until after the rebellion, which was cynically launched by racist free-riding slave-owning tax avoiders only after the French threat had been safely defeated at British expense ;-) [not sure what that tells us about current politics]