David Higham
@oldtrotter.bsky.social
Former economist and civil servant. Former (age related) national cycling champion. Still a music fan. Sewn up member of the Zipper Club.
Pinned
David Higham
@oldtrotter.bsky.social
· Jan 21
Beyond ‘Levelling up’: how to improve regional policy in England: 10 lessons from 20 years
‘Levelling-up’ as a political slogan in the UK may be finished, but a commitment to reducing regional inequalities remains, as highlighted in the 2024 Green Paper on Industrial Strategy. This paper...
www.tandfonline.com
A short summary of my thoughts on regional policy. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by David Higham
This is his most special skill
Starmer finding that place in a Venn Diagram where he manages to annoy allies without defeating enemies
Keir Starmer attacks the racism of Reform and Matt Goodwin but then adds that "Britain has also been let down by a mindset on the left of politics that is too slow to defend core British values"
February 5, 2026 at 11:30 AM
This is his most special skill
Tell me that the dog is called Yin.
Time to jump on the Yangwagon. Oh yes!
If some random MP's can meme Al Carns to leader on the basis, essentially, he was in the military we can meme Yuan Yang leadership from Bluesky on the basis of her dog.
February 5, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Tell me that the dog is called Yin.
Reposted by David Higham
Today's newsletter: I haven't seen this much anger from the PLP since the summer of 2016, when they tried to get rid of their leader as a result. Same positiion now, but impossible to tell if Starmer's fall will be short or long:
Every doomed prime minister has a moment — this is Starmer’s
This end phase of his leadership requires a crisis or resignation to tip things over the edge
www.ft.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Today's newsletter: I haven't seen this much anger from the PLP since the summer of 2016, when they tried to get rid of their leader as a result. Same positiion now, but impossible to tell if Starmer's fall will be short or long:
Reposted by David Higham
If some random MP's can meme Al Carns to leader on the basis, essentially, he was in the military we can meme Yuan Yang leadership from Bluesky on the basis of her dog.
February 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM
If some random MP's can meme Al Carns to leader on the basis, essentially, he was in the military we can meme Yuan Yang leadership from Bluesky on the basis of her dog.
Now that really would be a plot twist
February 5, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Now that really would be a plot twist
Reposted by David Higham
The Mandelson saga is doubly bad for Starmer & co. First because it goes against their supposed brand of probity. Second because it fits their actual brand of not listening to concerns from their colleagues and majoring on ideas that only make sense in transactional terms or getting through the week
What is the point of Keir Starmer staying as prime minister?
February 5, 2026 at 8:28 AM
The Mandelson saga is doubly bad for Starmer & co. First because it goes against their supposed brand of probity. Second because it fits their actual brand of not listening to concerns from their colleagues and majoring on ideas that only make sense in transactional terms or getting through the week
Reposted by David Higham
This is a key point. The Government is sacrificing integration to seek to curb immigration.
Which is absurd and rolling the pitch for further disintegration with a swelling migrant underclass in terms of quality of life and social and political status. Where do we think that might lead?
Which is absurd and rolling the pitch for further disintegration with a swelling migrant underclass in terms of quality of life and social and political status. Where do we think that might lead?
February 5, 2026 at 8:15 AM
This is a key point. The Government is sacrificing integration to seek to curb immigration.
Which is absurd and rolling the pitch for further disintegration with a swelling migrant underclass in terms of quality of life and social and political status. Where do we think that might lead?
Which is absurd and rolling the pitch for further disintegration with a swelling migrant underclass in terms of quality of life and social and political status. Where do we think that might lead?
Reposted by David Higham
Do they understand how mad they sound? As if anyone has ever decided to cross the Channel in a small boat because, if they make it, they might get to take a free taxi to a doctor's appointment?
"Pull factors" on steroids.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Pull factors" on steroids.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
February 5, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Do they understand how mad they sound? As if anyone has ever decided to cross the Channel in a small boat because, if they make it, they might get to take a free taxi to a doctor's appointment?
"Pull factors" on steroids.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Pull factors" on steroids.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by David Higham
Reposted by David Higham
Great report by @pronouncedalva.bsky.social revealing the influence of Mandelson on this Labour operation:
The Mandelson affair: inside the scandal of a century
Mandelson's fall from grace reveals a very Labour weakness
www.newstatesman.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Great report by @pronouncedalva.bsky.social revealing the influence of Mandelson on this Labour operation:
Reposted by David Higham
A fair point well made by David Aaronovitch.
February 4, 2026 at 5:56 PM
A fair point well made by David Aaronovitch.
Reposted by David Higham
Reminder: Mandelson was appointed to made a trade "deal" (with zero legal basis) with a country which is reneging on it and which anyway buys only 17% of UK goods exports.
Not convinced that's worth a scandal which might bring down a prime minister. America-brain strikes British politics again.
Not convinced that's worth a scandal which might bring down a prime minister. America-brain strikes British politics again.
February 4, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Reminder: Mandelson was appointed to made a trade "deal" (with zero legal basis) with a country which is reneging on it and which anyway buys only 17% of UK goods exports.
Not convinced that's worth a scandal which might bring down a prime minister. America-brain strikes British politics again.
Not convinced that's worth a scandal which might bring down a prime minister. America-brain strikes British politics again.
Gets worse and worse
February 4, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Gets worse and worse
The party of the future featuring a procession of politicians from the past, where pints are subsidised by pushing children into poverty.
God help us all .
God help us all .
February 4, 2026 at 4:33 PM
The party of the future featuring a procession of politicians from the past, where pints are subsidised by pushing children into poverty.
God help us all .
God help us all .
Reposted by David Higham
I’m not sure ‘our national security developed vetting technique can be beaten if a candidate is prepared to lie’ is an especially helpful line to push.
February 4, 2026 at 12:49 PM
I’m not sure ‘our national security developed vetting technique can be beaten if a candidate is prepared to lie’ is an especially helpful line to push.
Reposted by David Higham
"Disease, like machine-guns, kills indiscriminately the genius and the fool, as the institution of inheritance protects indiscriminately the fool and the genius." R.H. Tawney, Equality p. 194
February 4, 2026 at 8:45 AM
"Disease, like machine-guns, kills indiscriminately the genius and the fool, as the institution of inheritance protects indiscriminately the fool and the genius." R.H. Tawney, Equality p. 194
Mandelson, the gift that keeps on giving.
February 4, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Mandelson, the gift that keeps on giving.
Reposted by David Higham
"the definition of a consultant is someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time", well maybe, but if you had a watch and you were asking what the time was, that has to be at least partly on you.
February 4, 2026 at 3:26 PM
"the definition of a consultant is someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time", well maybe, but if you had a watch and you were asking what the time was, that has to be at least partly on you.
Nice appreciation of Jimmy Reed thebluemoment.com/2026/02/03/h...
Hello (and goodbye), Jimmy Reed
Half a century after his death at the age of 50, the great bluesman Jimmy Reed turned up yesterday in the New York Times obituaries section. The NYT has an excellent habit of memorialising, under t…
thebluemoment.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Nice appreciation of Jimmy Reed thebluemoment.com/2026/02/03/h...
A spectacular lack of foresight is the defining feature of this government.
Sacking McSweeney now (which I think Starmer won't do any time soon) only delays the inevitable I think, and whatever is released next from Cab Office about the appointment is only going denegrate his leadership further.
They brought this on themselves with a spectacular lack of foresight.
They brought this on themselves with a spectacular lack of foresight.
February 4, 2026 at 2:22 PM
A spectacular lack of foresight is the defining feature of this government.
Reposted by David Higham
The only problem for Farage using this as example of an elite global elite abusing their position is that he’s mentioned in the Epstein files, as is the man he so clearly wants to be associated with.
February 4, 2026 at 2:01 PM
The only problem for Farage using this as example of an elite global elite abusing their position is that he’s mentioned in the Epstein files, as is the man he so clearly wants to be associated with.
Reposted by David Higham
Reposted by David Higham
In a thousand years, people will assume "George Osborne" was some sort of mythic person, honourary role, or qualification that was considered for, or made you elligible for, every senior job in early 21st century Britain.
Dismissing Katen Pierce was also a poor decision by Starmer. They do keep piling up.
February 4, 2026 at 1:41 PM
In a thousand years, people will assume "George Osborne" was some sort of mythic person, honourary role, or qualification that was considered for, or made you elligible for, every senior job in early 21st century Britain.
Dismissing Katen Pierce was also a poor decision by Starmer. They do keep piling up.
February 4, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Dismissing Katen Pierce was also a poor decision by Starmer. They do keep piling up.