Ross Mudie
@rmudie96.bsky.social
Head of Research Analysis, @iconeighbours.bsky.social. Former Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP), United Nations University, and local government.
Pinned
When politicians talk about high streets, they usually mean town and city centres. But people are just as frustrated seeing their local parade - where they run errands and catch up with friends - boarded up.
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
Reposted by Ross Mudie
I don't think there are words in the dictionary to express how much I hate the ONS website. They must have a team of several dozen there working on making sure whatever data you want is impossible to find. Evil.
February 10, 2026 at 2:45 PM
I don't think there are words in the dictionary to express how much I hate the ONS website. They must have a team of several dozen there working on making sure whatever data you want is impossible to find. Evil.
A challenging - but very important - piece of research just published.
New economic analysis of Mayoral devolution’s early impacts on economic growth do not find Mayoral areas to be growing faster
AND it may be benefiting already-wealthy places not poorer ones, widening wealth gaps within places
New economic analysis of Mayoral devolution’s early impacts on economic growth do not find Mayoral areas to be growing faster
AND it may be benefiting already-wealthy places not poorer ones, widening wealth gaps within places
February 10, 2026 at 7:54 PM
A challenging - but very important - piece of research just published.
New economic analysis of Mayoral devolution’s early impacts on economic growth do not find Mayoral areas to be growing faster
AND it may be benefiting already-wealthy places not poorer ones, widening wealth gaps within places
New economic analysis of Mayoral devolution’s early impacts on economic growth do not find Mayoral areas to be growing faster
AND it may be benefiting already-wealthy places not poorer ones, widening wealth gaps within places
The £440mn boost to the budgets of council in some of the deprived places is welcome. But it's crazy that the Fair Funding Review has not delivered actual fair funding. Let's hope future, permanent changes are coming so councils arent facing a cliff edge in a few years.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Communities set to benefit from fairer funding
Fairer funding as part of the Final Local Government Financial Settlement will help to tackle deprivation and improve public services
www.gov.uk
February 9, 2026 at 5:38 PM
The £440mn boost to the budgets of council in some of the deprived places is welcome. But it's crazy that the Fair Funding Review has not delivered actual fair funding. Let's hope future, permanent changes are coming so councils arent facing a cliff edge in a few years.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
When politicians talk about high streets, they usually mean town and city centres. But people are just as frustrated seeing their local parade - where they run errands and catch up with friends - boarded up.
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
When politicians talk about high streets, they usually mean town and city centres. But people are just as frustrated seeing their local parade - where they run errands and catch up with friends - boarded up.
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
Our new research, Pride in Parades, unpacks England's local parades and tells their story🧵
Reposted by Ross Mudie
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
Data shows deprived communities have more off-licences and takeaways and fewer childcare facilities and gyms
England’s poorest communities have 70% more vape shops, off-licences and bookmakers than wealthier ones and far fewer cafes and gyms, a study has found.
The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (Icon), chaired by the Labour peer Hilary Armstrong, said ministers risked overlooking vitally important neighbourhood shopping precincts by focusing on town centres. In deprived areas, local shops have roughly double the number of retailers selling unhealthy food and significantly higher vacancy rates, its research has found. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:11 AM
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
Reposted by Ross Mudie
Speaking as someone whose area got £20m Pride in Place this autumn, I am over the moon for more areas to join the programme
It will be transformative
It will be transformative
Sir Keir Starmer pledges to 'reverse devastating decline' with £800m extra investment in 40 communities
In a speech on Thursday, the prime minister will attack what he calls the "scorched earth of Tory austerity", while recognising the threat from Reform UK, comparing it to a "contest between renewal an...
news.sky.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Speaking as someone whose area got £20m Pride in Place this autumn, I am over the moon for more areas to join the programme
It will be transformative
It will be transformative
Reposted by Ross Mudie
Reform councillors in Kent told the FT that they were surprised not to find lavish spending on wokeness from their predecessors
Another councillor has resigned from his role lesding "DOGE", regretting his comments to the newspaper acknowledging the challenges
www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/ne...
Another councillor has resigned from his role lesding "DOGE", regretting his comments to the newspaper acknowledging the challenges
www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/ne...
February 5, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Reform councillors in Kent told the FT that they were surprised not to find lavish spending on wokeness from their predecessors
Another councillor has resigned from his role lesding "DOGE", regretting his comments to the newspaper acknowledging the challenges
www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/ne...
Another councillor has resigned from his role lesding "DOGE", regretting his comments to the newspaper acknowledging the challenges
www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/ne...
Another £800m of investment in 40 more deprived neighbourhoods, as the Prime Minister will announce an expansion of the Pride in Place programme this morning.
You love to see it.
Comes a week after @iconeighbours.bsky.social calls for Pride in Place to be expanded!
news.sky.com/story/sir-ke...
You love to see it.
Comes a week after @iconeighbours.bsky.social calls for Pride in Place to be expanded!
news.sky.com/story/sir-ke...
Sir Keir Starmer pledges to 'reverse devastating decline' with £800m extra investment in 40 communities
In a speech on Thursday, the prime minister will attack what he calls the "scorched earth of Tory austerity", while recognising the threat from Reform UK, comparing it to a "contest between renewal an...
news.sky.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Another £800m of investment in 40 more deprived neighbourhoods, as the Prime Minister will announce an expansion of the Pride in Place programme this morning.
You love to see it.
Comes a week after @iconeighbours.bsky.social calls for Pride in Place to be expanded!
news.sky.com/story/sir-ke...
You love to see it.
Comes a week after @iconeighbours.bsky.social calls for Pride in Place to be expanded!
news.sky.com/story/sir-ke...
Lots of great organisations and people contributed their thoughts on the ideas we set out in @iconeighbours.bsky.social's Green Paper last year.
We've published our summary of all the responses - thanks to everyone who contributed! www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/neigh...
We've published our summary of all the responses - thanks to everyone who contributed! www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/neigh...
Neighbourhood Policy Green Paper: Summary of Consultation Responses and Policy Testing Exercise - Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods
www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk
February 4, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Lots of great organisations and people contributed their thoughts on the ideas we set out in @iconeighbours.bsky.social's Green Paper last year.
We've published our summary of all the responses - thanks to everyone who contributed! www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/neigh...
We've published our summary of all the responses - thanks to everyone who contributed! www.neighbourhoodscommission.org.uk/report/neigh...
Reposted by Ross Mudie
🎙️Listen to this episode of the Local Authority podcast, where we discuss why neighbourhood working is back on the political agenda.
Here, @maddiejennings.bsky.social draws on our Big Local experience to discuss the benefits & challenges that come from working at this level: https://bit.ly/4rAjM5A
Here, @maddiejennings.bsky.social draws on our Big Local experience to discuss the benefits & challenges that come from working at this level: https://bit.ly/4rAjM5A
February 4, 2026 at 2:01 PM
🎙️Listen to this episode of the Local Authority podcast, where we discuss why neighbourhood working is back on the political agenda.
Here, @maddiejennings.bsky.social draws on our Big Local experience to discuss the benefits & challenges that come from working at this level: https://bit.ly/4rAjM5A
Here, @maddiejennings.bsky.social draws on our Big Local experience to discuss the benefits & challenges that come from working at this level: https://bit.ly/4rAjM5A
Good piece on why mission government failed.
Strong agree that the usual examples of mission-led government highly selective. You could argue the Great Leap Foward is a case study in mission-driven government, except it failed and killed millions of people
restate.substack.com/p/why-missio...
Strong agree that the usual examples of mission-led government highly selective. You could argue the Great Leap Foward is a case study in mission-driven government, except it failed and killed millions of people
restate.substack.com/p/why-missio...
February 4, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Good piece on why mission government failed.
Strong agree that the usual examples of mission-led government highly selective. You could argue the Great Leap Foward is a case study in mission-driven government, except it failed and killed millions of people
restate.substack.com/p/why-missio...
Strong agree that the usual examples of mission-led government highly selective. You could argue the Great Leap Foward is a case study in mission-driven government, except it failed and killed millions of people
restate.substack.com/p/why-missio...
Several of last nights Grammy award winners attended the (free, state) Brit School, while nearly half of all other state schools no longer offer Music GCSE.
Britain excels for arts and music. But we would be world beating if every child had the opportunity.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...
Britain excels for arts and music. But we would be world beating if every child had the opportunity.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...
‘They are not manufactured’: how Brit school stars took over the Grammys
Croydon school’s principal says success of Olivia Dean and Lola Young is a ‘brilliant celebration’ of free arts education
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Several of last nights Grammy award winners attended the (free, state) Brit School, while nearly half of all other state schools no longer offer Music GCSE.
Britain excels for arts and music. But we would be world beating if every child had the opportunity.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...
Britain excels for arts and music. But we would be world beating if every child had the opportunity.
www.theguardian.com/music/2026/f...
This is a good piece bringing together what has been a lot of coverage about poverty and deprivation in Britain this week.
I agree probably too much coverage on this topic is about Reform, and not on people and what can be done to improve living standards and trust.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
I agree probably too much coverage on this topic is about Reform, and not on people and what can be done to improve living standards and trust.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Britain’s deprived areas need attention for their own sak...
Numerous studies warn about pockets of deep poverty, but little is done by sitting governments until they feel under threat
observer.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 11:17 AM
This is a good piece bringing together what has been a lot of coverage about poverty and deprivation in Britain this week.
I agree probably too much coverage on this topic is about Reform, and not on people and what can be done to improve living standards and trust.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
I agree probably too much coverage on this topic is about Reform, and not on people and what can be done to improve living standards and trust.
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Still seeing more of this. Mental.
What is the origin of Bluesky's fierce hatred of AI? And why is it so strong that AI is still unacceptable even where it can make a positive difference?
Makes you question how interested some actually are in making things better vs how much they think they are
What is the origin of Bluesky's fierce hatred of AI? And why is it so strong that AI is still unacceptable even where it can make a positive difference?
Makes you question how interested some actually are in making things better vs how much they think they are
All the hate on this here is ridiculous and I hope Bridget and her team see it and choose to ignore it all.
Richer kids and their schools are *already* doing this while schools in poorer places are not. It is one of the cheapest and best shots we have at reducing the education divide.
Push ahead!
Richer kids and their schools are *already* doing this while schools in poorer places are not. It is one of the cheapest and best shots we have at reducing the education divide.
Push ahead!
We want to make sure tutoring isn't the preserve of a lucky few, but accessible to every child who needs it.
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
January 30, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Still seeing more of this. Mental.
What is the origin of Bluesky's fierce hatred of AI? And why is it so strong that AI is still unacceptable even where it can make a positive difference?
Makes you question how interested some actually are in making things better vs how much they think they are
What is the origin of Bluesky's fierce hatred of AI? And why is it so strong that AI is still unacceptable even where it can make a positive difference?
Makes you question how interested some actually are in making things better vs how much they think they are
Reposted by Ross Mudie
Big Local began in 2010 as one of the UK’s boldest funding experiments, giving 150 communities time, trust and resources to lead local change on their own terms.
Explore the Big Local timeline, featuring the milestones and moments that shaped the programme: https://bit.ly/4keehqM
Explore the Big Local timeline, featuring the milestones and moments that shaped the programme: https://bit.ly/4keehqM
January 30, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Big Local began in 2010 as one of the UK’s boldest funding experiments, giving 150 communities time, trust and resources to lead local change on their own terms.
Explore the Big Local timeline, featuring the milestones and moments that shaped the programme: https://bit.ly/4keehqM
Explore the Big Local timeline, featuring the milestones and moments that shaped the programme: https://bit.ly/4keehqM
Reposted by Ross Mudie
Have seen this take a lot and really disagree. Gov’t could invest in anchor institutions for towns; build FE colleges in town centres; set up childcare co-ops; retrofit iconic buildings and make them into community gyms, etc. We are more than individual consumers - that’s the point of politics!
Sorry to sound so grumpy but this has the same vibe as people moaning about the state of public services at the same time as not wanting to pay more in tax. What's any government (right or left) supposed to do when people don't go shopping or to pubs as much as they used to - and never will again?
Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves Britain’s high streets, study finds
Decay of town centres a top issue among voters especially Reform UK supporters and is fuelling resentment against Westminster
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Have seen this take a lot and really disagree. Gov’t could invest in anchor institutions for towns; build FE colleges in town centres; set up childcare co-ops; retrofit iconic buildings and make them into community gyms, etc. We are more than individual consumers - that’s the point of politics!
All the hate on this here is ridiculous and I hope Bridget and her team see it and choose to ignore it all.
Richer kids and their schools are *already* doing this while schools in poorer places are not. It is one of the cheapest and best shots we have at reducing the education divide.
Push ahead!
Richer kids and their schools are *already* doing this while schools in poorer places are not. It is one of the cheapest and best shots we have at reducing the education divide.
Push ahead!
We want to make sure tutoring isn't the preserve of a lucky few, but accessible to every child who needs it.
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
Poorest pupils to be given AI tutors
Bridget Phillipson says tuition would no longer be the preserve of ‘the lucky few’
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 11:45 AM
All the hate on this here is ridiculous and I hope Bridget and her team see it and choose to ignore it all.
Richer kids and their schools are *already* doing this while schools in poorer places are not. It is one of the cheapest and best shots we have at reducing the education divide.
Push ahead!
Richer kids and their schools are *already* doing this while schools in poorer places are not. It is one of the cheapest and best shots we have at reducing the education divide.
Push ahead!
If current trends persist, crime rates in the poorest parts of the country could increase by 27%. Economic inactivity rates could climb up to nearly half of working age adults. More positively, health outcomes may improve modestly.
This is what new ICON analysis, published yesterday, has found 👇
This is what new ICON analysis, published yesterday, has found 👇
January 29, 2026 at 10:37 AM
If current trends persist, crime rates in the poorest parts of the country could increase by 27%. Economic inactivity rates could climb up to nearly half of working age adults. More positively, health outcomes may improve modestly.
This is what new ICON analysis, published yesterday, has found 👇
This is what new ICON analysis, published yesterday, has found 👇
An amazing morning launching our new report "No Short Cuts: Towards a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Recovery"
It follows a year of travels talking to hundreds of community workers, public servants, experts, and the public about the poorest places, and how to improve them.
It follows a year of travels talking to hundreds of community workers, public servants, experts, and the public about the poorest places, and how to improve them.
January 28, 2026 at 4:32 PM
An amazing morning launching our new report "No Short Cuts: Towards a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Recovery"
It follows a year of travels talking to hundreds of community workers, public servants, experts, and the public about the poorest places, and how to improve them.
It follows a year of travels talking to hundreds of community workers, public servants, experts, and the public about the poorest places, and how to improve them.
Reposted by Ross Mudie
England’s most deprived areas to get worse by next election, report for No 10 finds
England’s most deprived areas to get worse by next election, report for No 10 finds
Exclusive: the 613 most deprived areas will see higher crime rates and worse unemployment under current funding schemes, report says
The country’s most deprived neighbourhoods will have higher crime rates and worse unemployment by the end of the parliament, according to a report written at the request of N 10.
The forecasts from the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (Icon) show crime rates and unemployment will rise until the next election in England’s 613 most deprived neighbourhoods, despite the government’s promises to invest in local communities. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 5:16 AM
England’s most deprived areas to get worse by next election, report for No 10 finds
Last chance to grab a ticket for our event tomorrow morning.
It's going to be a good one.
🎟️▶️ www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-of-...
It's going to be a good one.
🎟️▶️ www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-of-...
January 27, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Last chance to grab a ticket for our event tomorrow morning.
It's going to be a good one.
🎟️▶️ www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-of-...
It's going to be a good one.
🎟️▶️ www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-of-...
Very swish visual from @centreforcities.bsky.social showing the income distributions of different neighbourhoods within our big towns and cities
January 26, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Very swish visual from @centreforcities.bsky.social showing the income distributions of different neighbourhoods within our big towns and cities
Reposted by Ross Mudie
🚀 It’s here.
Launching today: Learning from Big Local - a new website with 15 years of lessons from community-led change.
Explore research and stories from 150 hyper-local areas - this is your resource for community-led change.
Visit the website: https://bit.ly/4rbcuop
Launching today: Learning from Big Local - a new website with 15 years of lessons from community-led change.
Explore research and stories from 150 hyper-local areas - this is your resource for community-led change.
Visit the website: https://bit.ly/4rbcuop
January 26, 2026 at 9:30 AM
🚀 It’s here.
Launching today: Learning from Big Local - a new website with 15 years of lessons from community-led change.
Explore research and stories from 150 hyper-local areas - this is your resource for community-led change.
Visit the website: https://bit.ly/4rbcuop
Launching today: Learning from Big Local - a new website with 15 years of lessons from community-led change.
Explore research and stories from 150 hyper-local areas - this is your resource for community-led change.
Visit the website: https://bit.ly/4rbcuop
Perhaps the most remarkable thing here is that the AVERAGE UK adult consumes 10.2 alcoholic drinks per week, and that is the LOWEST since records began in 1990
January 24, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Perhaps the most remarkable thing here is that the AVERAGE UK adult consumes 10.2 alcoholic drinks per week, and that is the LOWEST since records began in 1990
Interesting but feels more vibes-based than responding-to-policy-based. Labour's popularity has fallen so fast that people will dislike "things Labour are associated with"
Plus, rightly or wrongly, higher taxes are falling on business and not workers - which tends to be voters' choice, when polled!
Plus, rightly or wrongly, higher taxes are falling on business and not workers - which tends to be voters' choice, when polled!
January 23, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Interesting but feels more vibes-based than responding-to-policy-based. Labour's popularity has fallen so fast that people will dislike "things Labour are associated with"
Plus, rightly or wrongly, higher taxes are falling on business and not workers - which tends to be voters' choice, when polled!
Plus, rightly or wrongly, higher taxes are falling on business and not workers - which tends to be voters' choice, when polled!