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
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
Reposted by David Higham
People often jump to saying online propaganda is either the work of radicalised actors, or else Russia.
In practice, it’s amazing how often the answer is much simpler – someone is chasing either (a) clout, (b) money, or (c) both.
In practice, it’s amazing how often the answer is much simpler – someone is chasing either (a) clout, (b) money, or (c) both.
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
February 8, 2026 at 9:50 AM
People often jump to saying online propaganda is either the work of radicalised actors, or else Russia.
In practice, it’s amazing how often the answer is much simpler – someone is chasing either (a) clout, (b) money, or (c) both.
In practice, it’s amazing how often the answer is much simpler – someone is chasing either (a) clout, (b) money, or (c) both.
Reposted by David Higham
Terrifying that such powerful people have mad and dangerous religious extremist views.
Peter Thiel warns the Antichrist and apocalypse are linked to the ‘end of modernity’ currently happening—and cites Greta Thunberg as a driving example
fortune.com/2026/02/04/p...
*Not satire.
fortune.com/2026/02/04/p...
*Not satire.
Peter Thiel warns the Antichrist and apocalypse are linked to the ‘end of modernity’ currently happening—and cites Greta Thunberg as a driving example | Fortune
The Gen Z Swedish climate activist is a legionnaire of the Antichrist, Thiel claims, a “Luddite” who wants to halt technological progress in its tracks.
fortune.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Terrifying that such powerful people have mad and dangerous religious extremist views.
Reposted by David Higham
Reposted by David Higham
Double-checked - it's from the Prospect article app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/71865/...
The curious rise of Morgan McSweeney
How a behind-the-scenes fixer captured the Labour party, only to become a symbol of Keir Starmer’s failing government
app.prospectmagazine.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Double-checked - it's from the Prospect article app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/71865/...
Who are ICE protecting visiting Americans from at the Winter Olympics in *checks notes* Italy?
February 7, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Who are ICE protecting visiting Americans from at the Winter Olympics in *checks notes* Italy?
"Stability with Starmer or chaos with anyone else" might need a bit more work. This is a PM whose authority had been shredded by a series of policy U turns and now the decision to appoint Mandelson. Starmer won't be able to drive any meaningful change www.ft.com/content/c855... via @FT
Starmer camp warns leadership challenge risks economic chaos
Investors also signal concern at prospect of a more leftwing government
www.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:51 PM
"Stability with Starmer or chaos with anyone else" might need a bit more work. This is a PM whose authority had been shredded by a series of policy U turns and now the decision to appoint Mandelson. Starmer won't be able to drive any meaningful change www.ft.com/content/c855... via @FT
From the Sky News report on the video depicting the Obama's as apes.
February 7, 2026 at 5:14 PM
From the Sky News report on the video depicting the Obama's as apes.
Isn't the answer, "no he won't"?
Will Keir Starmer use his nuclear option to try to head off a leadership challenge? www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
Will Keir Starmer use his nuclear option to try to head off a leadership challenge?
The prime minister’s allies have hinted that he will call a general election, says John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Isn't the answer, "no he won't"?
Reposted by David Higham
the perils of being a commentator
February 7, 2026 at 2:51 PM
the perils of being a commentator
Reposted by David Higham
So, a genius has decided "We've achieved very little, we haven't done the left-coded things re poverty our own base & swing voters expect, there's a major scandal that has exposed the PM's poor judgement, Reform are on the march and the answer to this is a General Election'. 10/10, no notes.
February 7, 2026 at 4:38 PM
So, a genius has decided "We've achieved very little, we haven't done the left-coded things re poverty our own base & swing voters expect, there's a major scandal that has exposed the PM's poor judgement, Reform are on the march and the answer to this is a General Election'. 10/10, no notes.
Reposted by David Higham
Of all attempts to explain Trump, the neo-royalist approach is one of the most interesting. Like pre-constitutional rulers, his policymaking is not about national interests or competitive advantage. It is based on personal, family and business interests. Aka dynasty interests. @nytimes.com
‘Neoroyalism’ and What It Says About Trump
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Of all attempts to explain Trump, the neo-royalist approach is one of the most interesting. Like pre-constitutional rulers, his policymaking is not about national interests or competitive advantage. It is based on personal, family and business interests. Aka dynasty interests. @nytimes.com
Reposted by David Higham
Weird, someone's published an article from 2022 and changed the names
Will Keir Starmer use his nuclear option to try to head off a leadership challenge? www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-...
Will Keir Starmer use his nuclear option to try to head off a leadership challenge?
The prime minister’s allies have hinted that he will call a general election, says John Rentoul
www.independent.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Weird, someone's published an article from 2022 and changed the names
Large and larger: three months and three years.
February 7, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Large and larger: three months and three years.
Excellent article on how to rebuild state capacity and use it to drive change.
February 7, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Excellent article on how to rebuild state capacity and use it to drive change.
Reposted by David Higham
Bang on the money:
“Let it haunt Trump and his racist followers that future Americans will embrace the Obamas as beloved figures while studying him as a stain on our history.”
Trump is determined to be remembered as a 'great man'.
His curse is that he won't be.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
“Let it haunt Trump and his racist followers that future Americans will embrace the Obamas as beloved figures while studying him as a stain on our history.”
Trump is determined to be remembered as a 'great man'.
His curse is that he won't be.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
‘A stain on our history’: outrage after Trump shares racist video about Obamas as White House attempts to brush off the post – live
Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes slams Trump for posting racist video on Truth Social; Karoline Leavitt says criticism is ‘fake outrage’
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Bang on the money:
“Let it haunt Trump and his racist followers that future Americans will embrace the Obamas as beloved figures while studying him as a stain on our history.”
Trump is determined to be remembered as a 'great man'.
His curse is that he won't be.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
“Let it haunt Trump and his racist followers that future Americans will embrace the Obamas as beloved figures while studying him as a stain on our history.”
Trump is determined to be remembered as a 'great man'.
His curse is that he won't be.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
Why local journalism matters and why you should subscribe to @manchestermill.bsky.social
EXCLUSIVE: Reform UK just broke electoral law in Gorton and Denton.
The party confirmed they sent out campaign materials without proper party imprint, something it insists was a mistake.
The party confirmed they sent out campaign materials without proper party imprint, something it insists was a mistake.
February 6, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Why local journalism matters and why you should subscribe to @manchestermill.bsky.social