Ant Breach
@antbreach.bsky.social
Director of Policy and Research at Centre for Cities, working on Housing, Planning, Devolution. Stuff on Ukraine + Eastern Europe and Japan + East Asia too. YIMBY. Views own etc. 🥑🇺🇦
November 4, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Where's your evidence that centralisation of the local finance system has no impact on growth incentives?
November 3, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Where's your evidence that centralisation of the local finance system has no impact on growth incentives?
I'm describing the current system, and simply telling you what people across local government have told me about the financial incentives they face.
November 3, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I'm describing the current system, and simply telling you what people across local government have told me about the financial incentives they face.
Yes I think a Barnett Formula approach would make much more sense than this weird pseudorational mashing of local taxation
November 2, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Yes I think a Barnett Formula approach would make much more sense than this weird pseudorational mashing of local taxation
The really bonkers thing is that we expect a country of almost 60 million people made up of at least 50 district local economies to have the same national and local tax bills everywhere in the country!
November 2, 2025 at 8:51 PM
The really bonkers thing is that we expect a country of almost 60 million people made up of at least 50 district local economies to have the same national and local tax bills everywhere in the country!
There are differences for sure, and advocates of fiscal devo accept that and as such between tax rates in different parts of the country. But the logic of the argument is that eg Tees Valley is more hungry for growth and ready to build homes and industrial space than eg Oxfordshire.
November 2, 2025 at 8:50 PM
There are differences for sure, and advocates of fiscal devo accept that and as such between tax rates in different parts of the country. But the logic of the argument is that eg Tees Valley is more hungry for growth and ready to build homes and industrial space than eg Oxfordshire.
Not at all, my point is the opposite. They don't end up with large amounts of extra funds in the medium to long run as growth in the taxbase results in similar amounts of resource by design. The benefits they get from growth are all too often not worth the effort and political risks
November 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Not at all, my point is the opposite. They don't end up with large amounts of extra funds in the medium to long run as growth in the taxbase results in similar amounts of resource by design. The benefits they get from growth are all too often not worth the effort and political risks
This is largely the result of local government fragmentation, not property taxes per se
November 2, 2025 at 7:46 PM
This is largely the result of local government fragmentation, not property taxes per se
The case against is that system is a powerful financial incentive against growth. Poor places are punished if they become more prosperous with less grant.
November 2, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The case against is that system is a powerful financial incentive against growth. Poor places are punished if they become more prosperous with less grant.
See our article on council tax reform from a couple of months ago. We need fiscal devolution to allow CT to flex around local prices and provide a strong growth incentive, not a slight tweak to the 1991 system. bsky.app/profile/cent...
November 2, 2025 at 6:44 PM
See our article on council tax reform from a couple of months ago. We need fiscal devolution to allow CT to flex around local prices and provide a strong growth incentive, not a slight tweak to the 1991 system. bsky.app/profile/cent...
I'll take that as a 'no'.
November 1, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I'll take that as a 'no'.
? I haven't retreated from anything. You're the one who ended up admitting that jobs vary in terms of the skills they require.
November 1, 2025 at 10:40 AM
? I haven't retreated from anything. You're the one who ended up admitting that jobs vary in terms of the skills they require.
So you think if we abolished the Skilled Worker visa immigration would increase?
November 1, 2025 at 10:39 AM
So you think if we abolished the Skilled Worker visa immigration would increase?
It does. If there was no Skilled Worker visas or similar, then immigration would be lower.
November 1, 2025 at 10:33 AM
It does. If there was no Skilled Worker visas or similar, then immigration would be lower.
You're getting flustered and need to calm down. You've asked me nine questions in sequence in the past ten minutes. I've already told you I'm not answering any more of your questions, as you're getting upset when I explain why I disagree.
November 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM
You're getting flustered and need to calm down. You've asked me nine questions in sequence in the past ten minutes. I've already told you I'm not answering any more of your questions, as you're getting upset when I explain why I disagree.
November 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM
You're getting flustered and need to calm down. You've asked me nine questions in sequence in the past ten minutes. I've already told you I'm not answering any more of your questions, as you're getting upset when I explain why I disagree.
Not in principle.
Anyway, this is getting rather off topic. We're not going to agree. I'm going to Kew Gardens today to have a nice walk with my girlfriend.
Anyway, this is getting rather off topic. We're not going to agree. I'm going to Kew Gardens today to have a nice walk with my girlfriend.
November 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Not in principle.
Anyway, this is getting rather off topic. We're not going to agree. I'm going to Kew Gardens today to have a nice walk with my girlfriend.
Anyway, this is getting rather off topic. We're not going to agree. I'm going to Kew Gardens today to have a nice walk with my girlfriend.
I think you have an unusual set of principles that I don't often see in day-to-day life. Most people approach this question from a different point of view.
November 1, 2025 at 9:41 AM
I think you have an unusual set of principles that I don't often see in day-to-day life. Most people approach this question from a different point of view.
Because selecting by skill increases permissiveness. The legal and political default is restriction.
November 1, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Because selecting by skill increases permissiveness. The legal and political default is restriction.
No, I definitely support tougher enforcement of our labour laws against employers, especially for these sectors where we know exploitation of migrant workers is rife.
November 1, 2025 at 9:33 AM
No, I definitely support tougher enforcement of our labour laws against employers, especially for these sectors where we know exploitation of migrant workers is rife.
I've answered lots of your questions, you just don't agree with my answers. If you think selecting migrants on the basis of skill is unacceptable, you should accept the result that we will get lower migration (unless we return to the EU)
November 1, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I've answered lots of your questions, you just don't agree with my answers. If you think selecting migrants on the basis of skill is unacceptable, you should accept the result that we will get lower migration (unless we return to the EU)
The cost of enforcing the law is pretty small, including on exploitative employers. A skills-based migration regime by definition is less prejudiced on foreignness than alternative systems of control.
November 1, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The cost of enforcing the law is pretty small, including on exploitative employers. A skills-based migration regime by definition is less prejudiced on foreignness than alternative systems of control.