Tom Loosemore
@tomski.com
Partner at Public Digital, co-founder Government Digital Service, ex-BBC. Expect occasional small boat sailing.
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
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.
Would be great to hear more about your experiences running the MCP server.
February 7, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Would be great to hear more about your experiences running the MCP server.
I'm hoping there's lots of thinking, if not experimentation, happening in various parts of government about how you ensure provenance and trust given the agents are coming...
February 7, 2026 at 11:45 AM
I'm hoping there's lots of thinking, if not experimentation, happening in various parts of government about how you ensure provenance and trust given the agents are coming...
Lovely stuff... fancy fixing a pension scheme? ;o)
February 5, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Lovely stuff... fancy fixing a pension scheme? ;o)
Claude gives some other potential data providers, besides DVLA:
Experian Automotive (finance, insurance, trade)
HPI used extensively by motor trade and finance companies
CDL Vehicle Information Services
Percayso Inform
Experian Automotive (finance, insurance, trade)
HPI used extensively by motor trade and finance companies
CDL Vehicle Information Services
Percayso Inform
February 5, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Claude gives some other potential data providers, besides DVLA:
Experian Automotive (finance, insurance, trade)
HPI used extensively by motor trade and finance companies
CDL Vehicle Information Services
Percayso Inform
Experian Automotive (finance, insurance, trade)
HPI used extensively by motor trade and finance companies
CDL Vehicle Information Services
Percayso Inform
You'd hope DVLA would do more checking and a minimal regi / service address in CH should be a red flag. That's assuming DVLA are supplying the data, which is a reasonable assumption, no?
February 5, 2026 at 3:58 PM
You'd hope DVLA would do more checking and a minimal regi / service address in CH should be a red flag. That's assuming DVLA are supplying the data, which is a reasonable assumption, no?
I know. I know. I'm ranting. But my heart goes out to everyone inside Civil Service Pensions battling to fix what is an entirely unnecessary catastrophe.
You have been let down as much as the pensioners now reduced to getting loans to keep wolf from door.
You have been let down as much as the pensioners now reduced to getting loans to keep wolf from door.
February 5, 2026 at 12:10 PM
I know. I know. I'm ranting. But my heart goes out to everyone inside Civil Service Pensions battling to fix what is an entirely unnecessary catastrophe.
You have been let down as much as the pensioners now reduced to getting loans to keep wolf from door.
You have been let down as much as the pensioners now reduced to getting loans to keep wolf from door.
I think the Public Accounts Committee should ask accounting officers (perm secs) to come to Parliament and show that they themselves can use the public services for which they are responsible. Live, and on camera.
February 5, 2026 at 12:08 PM
I think the Public Accounts Committee should ask accounting officers (perm secs) to come to Parliament and show that they themselves can use the public services for which they are responsible. Live, and on camera.
If the civic servants responsible had spent 10 minutes trying (and doubtless failing) to log into their *own* pension using Capita's calamitous 'portal' they would have known enough to hit pause.
February 5, 2026 at 12:06 PM
If the civic servants responsible had spent 10 minutes trying (and doubtless failing) to log into their *own* pension using Capita's calamitous 'portal' they would have known enough to hit pause.
The decision to proceed with the handover of Civic Service Pensions to Capita was and is, an unforgivable failure of leadership.
February 5, 2026 at 12:04 PM
The decision to proceed with the handover of Civic Service Pensions to Capita was and is, an unforgivable failure of leadership.
When I think of those who must be desperately struggling at the frontline of the Civic Service Pensions meltdown it makes by blood boil.
They have been let down, and appallingly so. (As have the pensioners, obvs)
They have been let down, and appallingly so. (As have the pensioners, obvs)
February 5, 2026 at 12:02 PM
When I think of those who must be desperately struggling at the frontline of the Civic Service Pensions meltdown it makes by blood boil.
They have been let down, and appallingly so. (As have the pensioners, obvs)
They have been let down, and appallingly so. (As have the pensioners, obvs)
I never lose hope that things can get better. When the weather changes things can get better really quickly. A One brave leader goes a very long way.
February 5, 2026 at 12:01 PM
I never lose hope that things can get better. When the weather changes things can get better really quickly. A One brave leader goes a very long way.
I'm 30+ years into this. And I've seen many terrible things. Terrible services run by demoralised, disempowered teams.
February 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM
I'm 30+ years into this. And I've seen many terrible things. Terrible services run by demoralised, disempowered teams.
I downloaded the csv version, and some petrol stations are missing completely (the cheapest one near to me is a Jet garage of which there's no sign). But even more are not reporting their prices at all.
Early days for a new legally mandated dataset, would be my charitable interpretation...
Early days for a new legally mandated dataset, would be my charitable interpretation...
February 4, 2026 at 11:30 AM
I downloaded the csv version, and some petrol stations are missing completely (the cheapest one near to me is a Jet garage of which there's no sign). But even more are not reporting their prices at all.
Early days for a new legally mandated dataset, would be my charitable interpretation...
Early days for a new legally mandated dataset, would be my charitable interpretation...
weird... I'll have a look at the API data tomorrow
February 3, 2026 at 9:43 PM
weird... I'll have a look at the API data tomorrow
Is now at fuelfinder.shop (The DNS propogation took 3x longer than the creation of the tool...)
fuelfinder.shop
February 3, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Is now at fuelfinder.shop (The DNS propogation took 3x longer than the creation of the tool...)
I'm really only playing... this was literally the result of 3 short prompts...
February 3, 2026 at 6:25 PM
I'm really only playing... this was literally the result of 3 short prompts...
I was thinking "distance-is-time-is-money. (TBH I'm really only playing - this is literally 3 prompts worth of web app!)
February 3, 2026 at 6:23 PM
I was thinking "distance-is-time-is-money. (TBH I'm really only playing - this is literally 3 prompts worth of web app!)
Give them this link? www.developer.fuel-finder.service.gov.uk/get-started-...
www.developer.fuel-finder.service.gov.uk
February 3, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Give them this link? www.developer.fuel-finder.service.gov.uk/get-started-...
I kinda factored in the time taken in the 100p/mile cost of the additional distance travelled. I could estimate the time taken and value that separately to the fuel cost, but life's too short and I'm just playing... I don't have a car that can use this...
February 3, 2026 at 4:34 PM
I kinda factored in the time taken in the 100p/mile cost of the additional distance travelled. I could estimate the time taken and value that separately to the fuel cost, but life's too short and I'm just playing... I don't have a car that can use this...
Fuelfinder.shop should tell you if it'll be cheaper to drive further. It values your travel distance at 100p/mile and assumes 40L fill. Does it still point to your nearest rip-off merchant?
Fuelfinder.shop
February 3, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Fuelfinder.shop should tell you if it'll be cheaper to drive further. It values your travel distance at 100p/mile and assumes 40L fill. Does it still point to your nearest rip-off merchant?
That's a proper shame given I've got an EV...
February 3, 2026 at 3:35 PM
That's a proper shame given I've got an EV...
I don't think GOV.UK should offer this as a service, TBH. Unless the market really does fail, which I doubt it will personally. Plenty of other HMG services that are API only.
February 3, 2026 at 3:31 PM
I don't think GOV.UK should offer this as a service, TBH. Unless the market really does fail, which I doubt it will personally. Plenty of other HMG services that are API only.
Yeah, it's quite hard to get AI to properly follow the GOV.UK Design System
And not being able to use the lovely New Transport font makes a surprising difference to how authentic it feels.
Here's something I knocked up last week: uk-business-navigator.replit.app
And not being able to use the lovely New Transport font makes a surprising difference to how authentic it feels.
Here's something I knocked up last week: uk-business-navigator.replit.app
UK Business Licensing Advisor | Find Your Required Licenses
Discover what licenses, permits, and registrations your UK business needs. Answer simple questions to get personalized regulatory guidance for central, devolved, and local government requirements.
uk-business-navigator.replit.app
February 3, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Yeah, it's quite hard to get AI to properly follow the GOV.UK Design System
And not being able to use the lovely New Transport font makes a surprising difference to how authentic it feels.
Here's something I knocked up last week: uk-business-navigator.replit.app
And not being able to use the lovely New Transport font makes a surprising difference to how authentic it feels.
Here's something I knocked up last week: uk-business-navigator.replit.app