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
I'm no political strategist but has anyone in Labour considered *not* alienating any huge chunk of their base? I just feel like they tried alienating the left and the centre left and the public sector workers and the academics, and none of those things worked great, so maybe give my idea a whirl?
February 8, 2026 at 9:44 PM
I'm no political strategist but has anyone in Labour considered *not* alienating any huge chunk of their base? I just feel like they tried alienating the left and the centre left and the public sector workers and the academics, and none of those things worked great, so maybe give my idea a whirl?
Reposted by David Higham
Skipping the figure skating (when the US was *highly* favoured for gold, too) is *such* a fragile masculinity thing to do. Incredibly on brand for JD Vance.
JD Vance giving the figure skating a miss lest those tight outfits awaken some deeply repressed feelings
February 8, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Skipping the figure skating (when the US was *highly* favoured for gold, too) is *such* a fragile masculinity thing to do. Incredibly on brand for JD Vance.
Reposted by David Higham
"Full speed ahead to uber-woke, net-zeroist rejoinerism" is the funniest thing a Labour MP has said for some time I'll give it that. It's like a Jordan Peterson quote about Elmo.
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
February 8, 2026 at 5:42 PM
"Full speed ahead to uber-woke, net-zeroist rejoinerism" is the funniest thing a Labour MP has said for some time I'll give it that. It's like a Jordan Peterson quote about Elmo.
Reposted by David Higham
If I could be arsed I would write a long read on my theory that football phone ins directly contributed to the coarsening of our culture by making rage baits and the opinions of morons mainstream
February 8, 2026 at 9:02 PM
If I could be arsed I would write a long read on my theory that football phone ins directly contributed to the coarsening of our culture by making rage baits and the opinions of morons mainstream
Reposted by David Higham
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 9:10 AM
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
In case anyone was thinking that Starmer would change course.
February 8, 2026 at 6:49 PM
In case anyone was thinking that Starmer would change course.
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!