Chris Davies
@crd37.bsky.social
Complexity, politics, public policy and helping things be better. Welshman in south London.
Like so many of these things you can see they had a great idea for one series, and then when it was a success they scrabbled around to come up with new plot that’s never as good
Homeland, 24, Killing Eve and so it goes on
Homeland, 24, Killing Eve and so it goes on
November 26, 2025 at 9:42 PM
My favourite bit of tax trivia.
Down with Boney!
Down with Boney!
Big news, income tax is being charged this year.
(It has to be renewed each year or it ceases to apply. Because it's a temporary tax, introduced to fund the Napoleonic wars)
(It has to be renewed each year or it ceases to apply. Because it's a temporary tax, introduced to fund the Napoleonic wars)
November 26, 2025 at 2:46 PM
My favourite bit of tax trivia.
Down with Boney!
Down with Boney!
The irony of the Trump administration promoting civility on flights in the same seven days as ‘quiet, Piggy’
Is it acceptable to wear pyjamas on a flight?
61% of Brits say no, echoing US transport secretary Sean Duffy who criticised PJ-clad passengers yesterday
However, generations differ: 71% of 18-24yr olds say it is acceptable, compared to 11% of over-65s
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
61% of Brits say no, echoing US transport secretary Sean Duffy who criticised PJ-clad passengers yesterday
However, generations differ: 71% of 18-24yr olds say it is acceptable, compared to 11% of over-65s
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
November 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The irony of the Trump administration promoting civility on flights in the same seven days as ‘quiet, Piggy’
Reposted by Chris Davies
When Tony Blair came to power in 1997, the UK economy was bigger than China and India combined.
November 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
When Tony Blair came to power in 1997, the UK economy was bigger than China and India combined.
Reposted by Chris Davies
I suspect this is true - the humanities will go back to being a status marker. Rich kids and the elect get to study Homer, but the middle class must settle for adjunct-taught mega-lectures before STEM classes.
A grim destination, but right now that is the road the voters keep choosing.
A grim destination, but right now that is the road the voters keep choosing.
My hot take is that over the next 10 years, we're going to see more emphasis on and investment in the humanities at Ivy League and other fancy schools just as state schools and small privates continue to decimate and even eliminate the humanities.
"While other universities report that the humanities are shrinking, at Berkeley, the opposite is true. The music major is the fastest-growing major on campus. We are finding bigger classrooms because film is exploding. English is back to the numbers we saw 15 years ago. We are hiring" bit.ly/4ohKuOe
November 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I suspect this is true - the humanities will go back to being a status marker. Rich kids and the elect get to study Homer, but the middle class must settle for adjunct-taught mega-lectures before STEM classes.
A grim destination, but right now that is the road the voters keep choosing.
A grim destination, but right now that is the road the voters keep choosing.
Reposted by Chris Davies
People mostly understand *far* better than either the media or politicians give them credit for. Our media is, as usual, letting us down.
Why do people think England flags have been raised on lampposts?
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
November 23, 2025 at 8:43 AM
People mostly understand *far* better than either the media or politicians give them credit for. Our media is, as usual, letting us down.
Reposted by Chris Davies
I would like all of you, each and every one, to go google “Miss Universe National Costume Competition 2025 Norway” right now
November 22, 2025 at 7:15 AM
I would like all of you, each and every one, to go google “Miss Universe National Costume Competition 2025 Norway” right now
It definitely is
November 21, 2025 at 7:02 PM
It definitely is
Reposted by Chris Davies
This should be a much, much bigger story than it is playing as so far. Is it the 'Wales' bit that's distracting? Just because it's a devolved administration is hardly the point. This is a corrupt operator that Reform embraced.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s former Wales leader jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russia speeches
Police say Nathan Gill received at least £40,000 while he was an MEP from Oleg Voloshyn, an alleged Russian asset
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This should be a much, much bigger story than it is playing as so far. Is it the 'Wales' bit that's distracting? Just because it's a devolved administration is hardly the point. This is a corrupt operator that Reform embraced.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Once you understand the notion of cargo cult....you see it *everywhere*
Richard Feynman once wrote about "Cargo Cult Science" - "they follow all the apparent precepts and forms, but they're missing something essential, because the planes don't land." I wonder if we currently have a Cargo Cult model of messaging and media management in British politics
November 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Once you understand the notion of cargo cult....you see it *everywhere*
Surely the game now is to figure out who Michael Gove is in the Austen character list
Michael Gove on claims of a bad culture in No. 10 during the pandemic:
"The business of govt can't be carried on in the manner of a Jane Austen novel".
As so often, this assumes that the macho, hyper-aggressive style of Cummings & co produces better decisions. All the evidence suggests the reverse
"The business of govt can't be carried on in the manner of a Jane Austen novel".
As so often, this assumes that the macho, hyper-aggressive style of Cummings & co produces better decisions. All the evidence suggests the reverse
November 21, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Surely the game now is to figure out who Michael Gove is in the Austen character list
Reposted by Chris Davies
That's a great point about the skillset of being an effective minister, which is not the same as being a policy wonk.
(Though Castle was baffled by another effective minister, Roy Jenkins, & how he was able to take long lunches in the middle of the day. He was equally bemused at her work ethic).
(Though Castle was baffled by another effective minister, Roy Jenkins, & how he was able to take long lunches in the middle of the day. He was equally bemused at her work ethic).
November 19, 2025 at 3:39 PM
That's a great point about the skillset of being an effective minister, which is not the same as being a policy wonk.
(Though Castle was baffled by another effective minister, Roy Jenkins, & how he was able to take long lunches in the middle of the day. He was equally bemused at her work ethic).
(Though Castle was baffled by another effective minister, Roy Jenkins, & how he was able to take long lunches in the middle of the day. He was equally bemused at her work ethic).
Reposted by Chris Davies
When I arrive at the party
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 AM
When I arrive at the party
At university in 1998 we ran a model UN scenario where Russia was collapsing and China took the opportunity to project control into Siberia to get control of raw materials. Was fun, but seemed a bit far fetched....and yet....
‼️ Russia’s dependence on China continues to deepen, particularly through resource-based projects in the Far East and Siberia, which are effectively turning the region into a raw-material base for Beijing. Local communities, meanwhile, are seeing little of the promised economic benefits 👇
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
At university in 1998 we ran a model UN scenario where Russia was collapsing and China took the opportunity to project control into Siberia to get control of raw materials. Was fun, but seemed a bit far fetched....and yet....
It’s not like this is a crucially important question at the moment
ONS is so bad. (This is about specifically British nationals.) www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
November 18, 2025 at 12:11 PM
It’s not like this is a crucially important question at the moment
A great post that illustrates how effective Farage et al are at campaigning.
By demanding to talk about immigration, they make it salient. It then tops polls because it’s in front of people, regardless of whether it’s actually an issue.
The other parties then feel they have to talk about it too
By demanding to talk about immigration, they make it salient. It then tops polls because it’s in front of people, regardless of whether it’s actually an issue.
The other parties then feel they have to talk about it too
Yesterday, we put out a report on the most important issues to voters.
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).
But that doesn't tell the full story.
Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):
November 17, 2025 at 10:39 PM
A great post that illustrates how effective Farage et al are at campaigning.
By demanding to talk about immigration, they make it salient. It then tops polls because it’s in front of people, regardless of whether it’s actually an issue.
The other parties then feel they have to talk about it too
By demanding to talk about immigration, they make it salient. It then tops polls because it’s in front of people, regardless of whether it’s actually an issue.
The other parties then feel they have to talk about it too
“These people never really integrate”
Great story for all concerned - love Scottish and Sikh flags detail
Great story for all concerned - love Scottish and Sikh flags detail
A lovely story of an archivist reaching out for religious community support to fully understand a holy book in the collection, and that community getting a wonderful experience in return.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sikhs flock to see rare outing of ancient holy book in Edinburgh
The Guru Granth Sahib is so fragile it was taken to Edinburgh Gurdwara in a special convoy by curators for just a few hours.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:19 PM
“These people never really integrate”
Great story for all concerned - love Scottish and Sikh flags detail
Great story for all concerned - love Scottish and Sikh flags detail
Just two years to go
If I lived in Bexhill, I’d be starting to worry
If I lived in Bexhill, I’d be starting to worry
November 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Just two years to go
If I lived in Bexhill, I’d be starting to worry
If I lived in Bexhill, I’d be starting to worry
Certainly seems to be the view of History Reclaimed
reminded of eric williams's observation about britain's relationship to its history with slavery. "British historians wrote almost as if Britain had introduced Negro slavery solely for the satisfaction of abolishing it."
holy shit: “Among the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, 85% were unaware that Britain forcibly transported more than 3 million Africans to the Caribbean, 89% did not know that Britain enslaved people in the Caribbean for more than 300 years” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
November 16, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Certainly seems to be the view of History Reclaimed
Reposted by Chris Davies
Reposted by Chris Davies
The murder rate in London is now the lowest in decades, perhaps centuries. (The Times)
November 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The murder rate in London is now the lowest in decades, perhaps centuries. (The Times)
I suspect this’ll be a Jevons thing: there will be short term job losses and then we’ll figure out ways to do more empowered by the technology and that’ll sustain a load more jobs
I think it’s safe to assume AI now lets white-collar firms (law, marketing, software, consulting, etc) do same work with fewer people.
The key questions: will this mean layoffs to cut costs or producing more with the same staff?
This is just the start of the pendulum swing back from COVID hiring.
The key questions: will this mean layoffs to cut costs or producing more with the same staff?
This is just the start of the pendulum swing back from COVID hiring.
November 16, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I suspect this’ll be a Jevons thing: there will be short term job losses and then we’ll figure out ways to do more empowered by the technology and that’ll sustain a load more jobs
Reposted by Chris Davies
Said this a lot before, but there is no politician conveying any sense of what they think the country should look in 2040 or 2050, so no sense they are taking steps to get there.
Good test of how UK politics at least is failing, there isn't a single frontline politician with a convincing big picture view of the country. Nostalgia, simplism, and warm words will have to do instead.
November 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Said this a lot before, but there is no politician conveying any sense of what they think the country should look in 2040 or 2050, so no sense they are taking steps to get there.
Yet more evidence that we should restore the Jacobite line of succession, which would mean that the next Prince of Liechtenstein is also heir to the British throne
And then we can have personal union with Liechtenstein and rejoin EFTA
And then we can have personal union with Liechtenstein and rejoin EFTA
Delighted to discover the national anthem of Lichtenstein has the same tune as God Save the King
November 16, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Yet more evidence that we should restore the Jacobite line of succession, which would mean that the next Prince of Liechtenstein is also heir to the British throne
And then we can have personal union with Liechtenstein and rejoin EFTA
And then we can have personal union with Liechtenstein and rejoin EFTA
Reposted by Chris Davies
David Miliband's closing paragraphs in his Observer article today are quite ... striking.
November 16, 2025 at 8:39 AM
David Miliband's closing paragraphs in his Observer article today are quite ... striking.