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....
For which we can only give thanks. She really has no self awareness.
February 8, 2026 at 4:16 PM
For which we can only give thanks. She really has no self awareness.
Reposted by David Higham
Peter Mandelson – the great genius at the heart of New Labour.
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at....
Morgan McSweeney – the great....
Steve Hilton...
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at....
Morgan McSweeney – the great....
Steve Hilton...
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
February 8, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Peter Mandelson – the great genius at the heart of New Labour.
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at....
Morgan McSweeney – the great....
Steve Hilton...
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
Dominic Cummings – the great genius at the heart of 'Leave'.
Nick Timothy – the great genius at....
Morgan McSweeney – the great....
Steve Hilton...
Can we ban all alleged great geniuses and cast them into outer darkness forever?
A picture taken today by a friend of the River Churnet. There is meant to be a path on the left hand side.
February 8, 2026 at 4:04 PM
A picture taken today by a friend of the River Churnet. There is meant to be a path on the left hand side.
Reposted by David Higham
Dominic Cummings currently dusting off his CV and writing a 25,000 word covering letter
February 8, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Dominic Cummings currently dusting off his CV and writing a 25,000 word covering letter
Reposted by David Higham
My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:29 AM
My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com
Reposted by David Higham
The first sentence of this statement is really interesting. McSweeney says he is resigning from the government. But he was not a member of the government: he was an adviser to it, albeit an important one. The govt comprises the cabinet and other ministers. Says it all?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
Morgan McSweeney quits as PM's chief of staff following Mandelson scandal
McSweeney says he takes
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 3:11 PM
The first sentence of this statement is really interesting. McSweeney says he is resigning from the government. But he was not a member of the government: he was an adviser to it, albeit an important one. The govt comprises the cabinet and other ministers. Says it all?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7...
Bruce channeling The Clash in this outtake from The River
open.spotify.com/track/6N9iFi...
open.spotify.com/track/6N9iFi...
Living On The Edge Of The World - Studio Outtake - 1979
open.spotify.com
February 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Bruce channeling The Clash in this outtake from The River
open.spotify.com/track/6N9iFi...
open.spotify.com/track/6N9iFi...
Bloc politics in action.
February 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Bloc politics in action.
Reposted by David Higham
The good news for Morgan McSweeney is that now that doesn't have a lanyard any more, he can hang out with Maurice Glasman.
February 8, 2026 at 2:57 PM
The good news for Morgan McSweeney is that now that doesn't have a lanyard any more, he can hang out with Maurice Glasman.
Reposted by David Higham
Referring back to my response to Stephen, it's the fact he's talking as if he was PM and isn't even able to notice how bad that looks that has riled me.
bsky.app/profile/tpgr...
bsky.app/profile/tpgr...
Yeah, I don't disagree, but the fact he's comfortable saying it despite what it implies is the self absorption.
February 8, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Referring back to my response to Stephen, it's the fact he's talking as if he was PM and isn't even able to notice how bad that looks that has riled me.
bsky.app/profile/tpgr...
bsky.app/profile/tpgr...
Reposted by David Higham
Right that the prime minister has resigned. His successor, Keir Starmer, has a very difficult inheritance.
Morgan McSweeney resigns as Downing Street chief of staff
Exit of Mandelson protégé comes as Sir Keir Starmer seeks to stave off leadership speculation
www.ft.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Right that the prime minister has resigned. His successor, Keir Starmer, has a very difficult inheritance.
This is good. Only Wilson and Brown weren’t obviously from “down south” open.substack.com/pub/samuelsh...
Andy Burnham is from the North (IOJGH9)
He thinks that is good for him. I am not so sure.
open.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:31 PM
This is good. Only Wilson and Brown weren’t obviously from “down south” open.substack.com/pub/samuelsh...
Reposted by David Higham
A key way in which a Labour government could achieve both fairness and encourage productive economic activity, rather than rent seeking, is to shift the focus of taxation from income to wealth. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/72315/...
Class, but not as we know it
The property-ownership divide is another way of making sense of the decline of the UK’s old parties
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 2:09 PM
A key way in which a Labour government could achieve both fairness and encourage productive economic activity, rather than rent seeking, is to shift the focus of taxation from income to wealth. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/72315/...
Reposted by David Higham
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
February 8, 2026 at 12:50 PM
The Home Office now describes asylum seekers as "illegal immigrants [living in hotels]" with no reference to the reason that these people are in government-funded accommodation is that this government has taken & will process the asylum claim from them in 98-99% of cases of unauthorised entry.
Reposted by David Higham
And HMT have specifically rejected the Dev Corp model as per their response to the FT. bsky.app/profile/thom...
HMT's response to the @financialtimes.com demonstrates www.ft.com/content/7db5... why the government will fail to increase housebuilding as it thinks £500m is meaningful. “The government is committed to go further and faster on growth — with over £500mn investment for new homes, infrastructure and
Ease borrowing curbs for development schemes, gilt investors urge Reeves
Aviva and Legal & General warn chancellor that push to boost growth will be inhibited without change
www.ft.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:49 PM
And HMT have specifically rejected the Dev Corp model as per their response to the FT. bsky.app/profile/thom...
Reposted by David Higham
Pat, are you aware you're on the record?
Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden has claimed there would be “no point” in removing Morgan McSweeney “if the Prime Minister stays”.
“In fact, I think if the Prime Minister stays there, I don’t think that would make any difference at all,” he said.
“In fact, I think if the Prime Minister stays there, I don’t think that would make any difference at all,” he said.
February 8, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Pat, are you aware you're on the record?
Reposted by David Higham
After a certain point the sanity of Palantir's leadership does matter to the national security of the UK and other European states buying its software
February 8, 2026 at 12:14 PM
After a certain point the sanity of Palantir's leadership does matter to the national security of the UK and other European states buying its software
Reposted by David Higham
Arsenal supporters should refer this one to Ipso!
February 8, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Arsenal supporters should refer this one to Ipso!
Reposted by David Higham
Reform UK are seeking to fob off blame for their illegal leaflet on a printer error. That won’t stand up with the police - responsibility for making sure the law is followed lies with the party commissioning and distributing the leaflets.
February 8, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Reform UK are seeking to fob off blame for their illegal leaflet on a printer error. That won’t stand up with the police - responsibility for making sure the law is followed lies with the party commissioning and distributing the leaflets.
Reposted by David Higham
A lot of current policy is based on pretty shallow foundations. A modern industrial strategy was, alongside planning reform, apparently all that was needed to revive growth regions.regionalstudies.org/ezine/articl...
February 8, 2026 at 10:54 AM
A lot of current policy is based on pretty shallow foundations. A modern industrial strategy was, alongside planning reform, apparently all that was needed to revive growth regions.regionalstudies.org/ezine/articl...
Reposted by David Higham
Even the bond vigilantes don’t like the fiscal rules.
February 8, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Even the bond vigilantes don’t like the fiscal rules.
For all the talk about boosting growth, this government prefers cheap headlines to substantial policy changes. Bizarre that they appear more willing to give the private sector the windfall from planning gain, than modify the fiscal rules. www.ft.com/content/7db5... via @FT
Ease borrowing curbs for development schemes, gilt investors urge Reeves
Aviva and Legal & General warn chancellor that push to boost growth will be inhibited without change
www.ft.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:30 AM
For all the talk about boosting growth, this government prefers cheap headlines to substantial policy changes. Bizarre that they appear more willing to give the private sector the windfall from planning gain, than modify the fiscal rules. www.ft.com/content/7db5... via @FT