Charlotte Moore
@charlotsmoore.bsky.social
Freelance journalist and communications consultant. All views are my own. Apart from those beamed to me by small, furry creatures of Alpha Centauri.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.
May 8, 2025 at 10:46 AM
One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Not to tread on my own pay-off, but I think the being-stupid-about-AI problem goes quite a long way up the intelligence spectrum.
thecritic.co.uk/plausibility...
thecritic.co.uk/plausibility...
August 26, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Not to tread on my own pay-off, but I think the being-stupid-about-AI problem goes quite a long way up the intelligence spectrum.
thecritic.co.uk/plausibility...
thecritic.co.uk/plausibility...
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
If countries deliberately reduce their workforces as populations age it will cause endemic economic failure.
August 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
If countries deliberately reduce their workforces as populations age it will cause endemic economic failure.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Mind-blowing stats on nurseries in China: the number of births has fallen by half *since 2017*, leading to a collapse in early years provision.
The future impact on primary and secondary education is going to be seismic.
www.ft.com/content/8271...
The future impact on primary and secondary education is going to be seismic.
www.ft.com/content/8271...
July 25, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Mind-blowing stats on nurseries in China: the number of births has fallen by half *since 2017*, leading to a collapse in early years provision.
The future impact on primary and secondary education is going to be seismic.
www.ft.com/content/8271...
The future impact on primary and secondary education is going to be seismic.
www.ft.com/content/8271...
Someone at the BBC has a sense of humour. Back to the Future is showing on BBC One - while Trump visits Scotland.
July 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Someone at the BBC has a sense of humour. Back to the Future is showing on BBC One - while Trump visits Scotland.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Steel is a fine example of the confused and increasingly moribund political economy debate across Europe and North America, in which a tangle of protectionism, security, swing voters, run down areas, and subsidies seems incapable of being satisfactorily resolved. www.ft.com/content/ecc3...
It’s always steel — tariffs provide Trump with a familiar trade weapon
The industry has suffered from overproduction and protectionism for decades
www.ft.com
June 5, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Steel is a fine example of the confused and increasingly moribund political economy debate across Europe and North America, in which a tangle of protectionism, security, swing voters, run down areas, and subsidies seems incapable of being satisfactorily resolved. www.ft.com/content/ecc3...
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Great stuff.
June 3, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Great stuff.
Watching the first series of Yes, Minister. Now 45 years old. And it’s still as fresh as a daisy. Nothing has really changed! Which is in equal measure funny and depressing.
June 2, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Watching the first series of Yes, Minister. Now 45 years old. And it’s still as fresh as a daisy. Nothing has really changed! Which is in equal measure funny and depressing.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
New post just out:
"What spending reviews are like from the inside"
I explain how demented they are.
And why this is the hardest one there's been so far.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
"What spending reviews are like from the inside"
I explain how demented they are.
And why this is the hardest one there's been so far.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
What spending reviews are like from the inside
It's not pretty
open.substack.com
June 1, 2025 at 7:47 AM
New post just out:
"What spending reviews are like from the inside"
I explain how demented they are.
And why this is the hardest one there's been so far.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
"What spending reviews are like from the inside"
I explain how demented they are.
And why this is the hardest one there's been so far.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Perhaps notable that the Tory polling collapse in the last month has been almost entirely concentrated among older voters, while the Labour polling dip is almost wholly among younger voters.
May 25, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Perhaps notable that the Tory polling collapse in the last month has been almost entirely concentrated among older voters, while the Labour polling dip is almost wholly among younger voters.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
New post just out:
"On the Brink"
Why so many universities are in serious financial trouble.
Why it's about to get worse.
What the government could do about it.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
"On the Brink"
Why so many universities are in serious financial trouble.
Why it's about to get worse.
What the government could do about it.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
On the Brink
Universities are in serious financial trouble - what can be done about it?
open.substack.com
May 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
New post just out:
"On the Brink"
Why so many universities are in serious financial trouble.
Why it's about to get worse.
What the government could do about it.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
"On the Brink"
Why so many universities are in serious financial trouble.
Why it's about to get worse.
What the government could do about it.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Labour ministers need to acknowledge that reality. Raising GDP growth is impossible without addressing the trade-related problems. And, my own view is that this cannot be done without more ambitious improvements to the UK’s most important trading partner – the EU. /23
May 22, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Labour ministers need to acknowledge that reality. Raising GDP growth is impossible without addressing the trade-related problems. And, my own view is that this cannot be done without more ambitious improvements to the UK’s most important trading partner – the EU. /23
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
We need to talk about the UK's trade and growth. I've just published a new piece with @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social on what's happened to UK trade since the pandemic and Brexit, and what it means for growth. The picture isn't pretty.
A thread (with many charts):
www.cer.eu/insights/per...
A thread (with many charts):
www.cer.eu/insights/per...
A perfect storm: Britain's trade malaise, weak growth and a new geopolitical moment
The UK is facing its most severe trade challenge in decades – and at the worst possible time.
www.cer.eu
May 22, 2025 at 10:58 AM
We need to talk about the UK's trade and growth. I've just published a new piece with @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social on what's happened to UK trade since the pandemic and Brexit, and what it means for growth. The picture isn't pretty.
A thread (with many charts):
www.cer.eu/insights/per...
A thread (with many charts):
www.cer.eu/insights/per...
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
This week's UK-EU "reset" deal, while it might help on the margins (eg, trade in food products and energy flows), won't shift the growth dial. It simply won't address the complex underlying dynamics at play. /24
antonspisak.substack.com/p/back-to-la...
antonspisak.substack.com/p/back-to-la...
Back to Lancaster House
The UK-EU "reset" takes shape, but the post-Brexit foundations remain intact
antonspisak.substack.com
May 22, 2025 at 10:58 AM
This week's UK-EU "reset" deal, while it might help on the margins (eg, trade in food products and energy flows), won't shift the growth dial. It simply won't address the complex underlying dynamics at play. /24
antonspisak.substack.com/p/back-to-la...
antonspisak.substack.com/p/back-to-la...
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Important thread on how badly Labour's positioning is undermining its support.
The tl;dr summary: everyone thinks Labour is trying to appeal to Reform (and Con) voters more than Lab ones, never mind LD/Grn. But Ref voters don't want to know, while it's alienating those on the left.
Thread follows.
The tl;dr summary: everyone thinks Labour is trying to appeal to Reform (and Con) voters more than Lab ones, never mind LD/Grn. But Ref voters don't want to know, while it's alienating those on the left.
Thread follows.
While Labour's attempts to appeal to Reform UK voters have not gone unnoticed, just 4% say they are likely to consider voting Labour
2024 Ref: 56% feel Labour are appealing to them / 4% would consider voting Labour
2024 Lab: 48% / 70%
2024 Con: 36% / 9%
2024 LD: 32% / 38%
2024 Grn: 12% / 24%
2024 Ref: 56% feel Labour are appealing to them / 4% would consider voting Labour
2024 Lab: 48% / 70%
2024 Con: 36% / 9%
2024 LD: 32% / 38%
2024 Grn: 12% / 24%
May 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Important thread on how badly Labour's positioning is undermining its support.
The tl;dr summary: everyone thinks Labour is trying to appeal to Reform (and Con) voters more than Lab ones, never mind LD/Grn. But Ref voters don't want to know, while it's alienating those on the left.
Thread follows.
The tl;dr summary: everyone thinks Labour is trying to appeal to Reform (and Con) voters more than Lab ones, never mind LD/Grn. But Ref voters don't want to know, while it's alienating those on the left.
Thread follows.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
My initial impressions - probably more balanced than I was expecting with UK clearly prioritising Home Office issues. But less detail - talks on individual issues will be really difficult. There will need to be a strong political layer to maintain progress.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05...
Leaked: Starmer’s Brexit reset deal in full
Prime Minister has signed up to a number of agreements with the EU
www.telegraph.co.uk
May 19, 2025 at 10:30 AM
My initial impressions - probably more balanced than I was expecting with UK clearly prioritising Home Office issues. But less detail - talks on individual issues will be really difficult. There will need to be a strong political layer to maintain progress.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05...
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Formally now time to welcome the UK to a Swiss-style relationship of permanent negotiation and multiple deals with the EU.
My initial impressions - probably more balanced than I was expecting with UK clearly prioritising Home Office issues. But less detail - talks on individual issues will be really difficult. There will need to be a strong political layer to maintain progress.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05...
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05...
Leaked: Starmer’s Brexit reset deal in full
Prime Minister has signed up to a number of agreements with the EU
www.telegraph.co.uk
May 19, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Formally now time to welcome the UK to a Swiss-style relationship of permanent negotiation and multiple deals with the EU.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Why in a two week period with India/US trade deals, a new European deal and some positive (albeit possibly temporary) economic news would you make immigration the dominant story?
May 17, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Why in a two week period with India/US trade deals, a new European deal and some positive (albeit possibly temporary) economic news would you make immigration the dominant story?
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
In short, Starmer has taken a massive hit among Labour voters, for no gain elsewhere, while boosting Farage's popularity, including doubling his ceiling among Labour voters.
I.e., the political scientists were right, Morgan McSweeney was horrendously wrong.
I.e., the political scientists were right, Morgan McSweeney was horrendously wrong.
Keir Starmer's net favourability rating has dropped 12pts in a month to -46, his lowest level ever, including a 34pt drop among Labour voters
All Britons: -46 net rating (down 12 from 13-14 Apr)
By 2024 vote
Labour: -5 (down 34)
Lib Dem: -13 (down 12)
Conservative: -76 (up 1)
Reform: -94 (down 5)
All Britons: -46 net rating (down 12 from 13-14 Apr)
By 2024 vote
Labour: -5 (down 34)
Lib Dem: -13 (down 12)
Conservative: -76 (up 1)
Reform: -94 (down 5)
May 16, 2025 at 7:58 AM
In short, Starmer has taken a massive hit among Labour voters, for no gain elsewhere, while boosting Farage's popularity, including doubling his ceiling among Labour voters.
I.e., the political scientists were right, Morgan McSweeney was horrendously wrong.
I.e., the political scientists were right, Morgan McSweeney was horrendously wrong.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
I was surprised to see in today's ONS figures that UK goods exports suddenly rose 3.5% in Q1/25.
Then I found this was almost entirely driven by a surge in UK aluminium exports to the US ahead of Trump's tariffs.
This alone pushed UK GDP growth by ~0.2 ppts (out of 0.7 ppts total in Q1). Amazing.
Then I found this was almost entirely driven by a surge in UK aluminium exports to the US ahead of Trump's tariffs.
This alone pushed UK GDP growth by ~0.2 ppts (out of 0.7 ppts total in Q1). Amazing.
May 15, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I was surprised to see in today's ONS figures that UK goods exports suddenly rose 3.5% in Q1/25.
Then I found this was almost entirely driven by a surge in UK aluminium exports to the US ahead of Trump's tariffs.
This alone pushed UK GDP growth by ~0.2 ppts (out of 0.7 ppts total in Q1). Amazing.
Then I found this was almost entirely driven by a surge in UK aluminium exports to the US ahead of Trump's tariffs.
This alone pushed UK GDP growth by ~0.2 ppts (out of 0.7 ppts total in Q1). Amazing.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Carney: Canadians weren't impressed by UK govt's state visit invite to Trump www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Mark Carney says Canadians are not 'impressed' by UK's invite to Trump
The criticism from the new PM comes as Canada prepares for a visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 14, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Carney: Canadians weren't impressed by UK govt's state visit invite to Trump www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
I think the use of polling like this is it is a corrective to the simplistic idea that reducing the overall number will see the government that does it greeted like a liberator. But equally think it is a public policy failure for any one occupation is too dependent on workers from outside the UK.
What would public choose on social care workers coming to Britain?
Increase the numbers: 44% (18% a lot, 26% a little)
Maintain current levels: 27%
Reduce the numbers: 22% (11% reduce a lot, 11% a little)
Focaldata for British Future (2nd - 6th May 2025)
www.britishfuture.org/white-paper-...
Increase the numbers: 44% (18% a lot, 26% a little)
Maintain current levels: 27%
Reduce the numbers: 22% (11% reduce a lot, 11% a little)
Focaldata for British Future (2nd - 6th May 2025)
www.britishfuture.org/white-paper-...
May 12, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I think the use of polling like this is it is a corrective to the simplistic idea that reducing the overall number will see the government that does it greeted like a liberator. But equally think it is a public policy failure for any one occupation is too dependent on workers from outside the UK.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Interesting move. Nice that at least one party wants to challenge Reform rather than dance to their tune.
Nigel Farage has made it clear that Reform wants to do to our councils what Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing to America.
On behalf of local people, our new team will shine a light on what Reform councils are up to, scrutinise their actions and fight to protect local services.
On behalf of local people, our new team will shine a light on what Reform councils are up to, scrutinise their actions and fight to protect local services.
May 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Interesting move. Nice that at least one party wants to challenge Reform rather than dance to their tune.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
And politically stupid, too. Alienates core vote (& they do have places to go) in pursuit of votes he'll rarely get, & demolishes his core policy agenda of growth, making his re-election more unlikely. Even those (inc. me) willing to cut him a lot of slack feel betrayed. A truly awful day for UK.
Hard to say how disappointing this morning‘s speech really was. Morally AND intellectually.
Agree with every line here by @iandunt.bsky.social 👇
Agree with every line here by @iandunt.bsky.social 👇
Starmer is as bad as those who came before him. What a bitter disappointment
Echoing the far right on immigration, his moral and intellectual stature has fallen away
inews.co.uk
May 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
And politically stupid, too. Alienates core vote (& they do have places to go) in pursuit of votes he'll rarely get, & demolishes his core policy agenda of growth, making his re-election more unlikely. Even those (inc. me) willing to cut him a lot of slack feel betrayed. A truly awful day for UK.
Reposted by Charlotte Moore
Fun how similar these trend lines are. % citing immigration as a top 3 issue, Remain vs Leave
May 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Fun how similar these trend lines are. % citing immigration as a top 3 issue, Remain vs Leave