Gail Parker
@gailp.bsky.social
💙💛
Climate, law, politics, health, dogs, cats, science, reading. Not in any order and not necessarily all at once.
A bit of whimsy is good too. And food.
Wivenhoe, Essex
Climate, law, politics, health, dogs, cats, science, reading. Not in any order and not necessarily all at once.
A bit of whimsy is good too. And food.
Wivenhoe, Essex
Reposted by Gail Parker
Really interesting post - captures a lot about the dysfunctionalities of modern government.
For people who leave their nerdy public sector reform long-reads to the weeekend… 👇👀
Are legacy mentalities from comms, political strategy and trad policy dragging government down?
Are legacy mentalities from comms, political strategy and trad policy dragging government down?
Are a small number of legacy disciplines dragging the whole of government down? A provocation:
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Government seems increasingly unable to cope with the pace and complexity of today's world. Why? 1/n
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Government seems increasingly unable to cope with the pace and complexity of today's world. Why? 1/n
November 24, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Really interesting post - captures a lot about the dysfunctionalities of modern government.
Reposted by Gail Parker
Agree, I don't see this government or indeed too many across UK politics really grasping modern economics and international relations, including crucial parts like the rise of China, essential role of multinational companies, and decline of what were in effect our rules.
November 24, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Agree, I don't see this government or indeed too many across UK politics really grasping modern economics and international relations, including crucial parts like the rise of China, essential role of multinational companies, and decline of what were in effect our rules.
Reposted by Gail Parker
Or that having high tech successful industries (as per the industrial strategy and growth mission) requires research and researchers… ?
Does the government perhaps understand that this is very bad for Britain?
'Ahead of the autumn budget on 26 November, Universities UK (UUK) has calculated that funding per student for teaching in 2025-26 is at 64 per cent of the level it was in 2015-16.' 1/3
November 24, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Or that having high tech successful industries (as per the industrial strategy and growth mission) requires research and researchers… ?
Reposted by Gail Parker
(Once again) this is a Brexit reflection. ‘Global’ Britain was meant to mitigate losses from Brexit and surpass EU membership. That ‘vision’ was based on trade deals and liberalised ‘fair’ immigration. The latter is now being dismantled and the former relies on no defunct liberal multilateralism.
Trade folk (including myself) are unconvinced there is much of a growth dividend for Rachel Reeves from agreements with India, EU, and US. Just as there's no evidence of positive impact from independent UK trade policy since 2021. www.politico.eu/article/rach...
Rachel Reeves hopes trade deals can save Britain’s budget. Economists aren’t convinced.
With a difficult budget looming, the chancellor has increasingly turned her gaze overseas.
www.politico.eu
November 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
(Once again) this is a Brexit reflection. ‘Global’ Britain was meant to mitigate losses from Brexit and surpass EU membership. That ‘vision’ was based on trade deals and liberalised ‘fair’ immigration. The latter is now being dismantled and the former relies on no defunct liberal multilateralism.
Reposted by Gail Parker
They remain the only government in my lifetime without a theory of how economic growth happens and a determination that it definitely not be through universities, immigration, high skilled services, tax simplification, trade relations etc
November 24, 2025 at 8:34 AM
They remain the only government in my lifetime without a theory of how economic growth happens and a determination that it definitely not be through universities, immigration, high skilled services, tax simplification, trade relations etc
Reposted by Gail Parker
Lots is wrong with the world but sometimes stuff like this happens.
The most wonderful, wonderful news.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The most wonderful, wonderful news.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hunter syndrome: Boy with rare condition amazes doctors after world-first gene therapy
Oliver has an inherited condition called Hunter syndrome, which causes progressive damage to the body and brain.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Lots is wrong with the world but sometimes stuff like this happens.
The most wonderful, wonderful news.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The most wonderful, wonderful news.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Gail Parker
I think the "pensioners" vs. "young people" division (current topic on @mrjamesob.bsky.social ) is an aspect of the "assets" vs. "income" schism in English society.
A problem seems to be that English pensioners can be incredibly asset rich but also income poor, and we don't have a way to rebalance.
A problem seems to be that English pensioners can be incredibly asset rich but also income poor, and we don't have a way to rebalance.
November 24, 2025 at 10:21 AM
I think the "pensioners" vs. "young people" division (current topic on @mrjamesob.bsky.social ) is an aspect of the "assets" vs. "income" schism in English society.
A problem seems to be that English pensioners can be incredibly asset rich but also income poor, and we don't have a way to rebalance.
A problem seems to be that English pensioners can be incredibly asset rich but also income poor, and we don't have a way to rebalance.
Reposted by Gail Parker
There are some truly unhinged bits in the piece about Glasman, as to be expected when dealing with Glasman, but seriously what the actual? That's...one hell of a conflation of terminology.
November 23, 2025 at 3:19 PM
There are some truly unhinged bits in the piece about Glasman, as to be expected when dealing with Glasman, but seriously what the actual? That's...one hell of a conflation of terminology.
Reposted by Gail Parker
As I said at the time this was the landmine in the immigration white paper. It will cost unis much more than they're getting from inflationary rises in domestic fees.
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 23, 2025 at 10:27 PM
As I said at the time this was the landmine in the immigration white paper. It will cost unis much more than they're getting from inflationary rises in domestic fees.
Reposted by Gail Parker
I know. I just really struggle to believe that no one in this Labour government was able to convey the simple point that undermining the university sector goes in the opposite direction of their very publicly stated objective to 'kickstart economic growth'. It's flabbergasting
November 23, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I know. I just really struggle to believe that no one in this Labour government was able to convey the simple point that undermining the university sector goes in the opposite direction of their very publicly stated objective to 'kickstart economic growth'. It's flabbergasting
Reposted by Gail Parker
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Gail Parker
A former guest who knows him, once told me that Trump sees politics as a reality show. Whatever else happens, by Friday every week, he has to "win the episode", ensure he's the principal character, make the last shot.
Once you tune into that, everything begins to make a twisted sort of sense.
Once you tune into that, everything begins to make a twisted sort of sense.
November 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
A former guest who knows him, once told me that Trump sees politics as a reality show. Whatever else happens, by Friday every week, he has to "win the episode", ensure he's the principal character, make the last shot.
Once you tune into that, everything begins to make a twisted sort of sense.
Once you tune into that, everything begins to make a twisted sort of sense.
Reposted by Gail Parker
Horizontal slabs of pressure-hardened seabed, halfway up a mountain.
We live on such a wonderful planet 🌍
We live on such a wonderful planet 🌍
November 23, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Horizontal slabs of pressure-hardened seabed, halfway up a mountain.
We live on such a wonderful planet 🌍
We live on such a wonderful planet 🌍
Reposted by Gail Parker
Oxfordshire swans have died from bird flu this week, including near us. Report it, don't touch, and keep dogs away. RSPB guidance page, including contact details, here www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wi...
November 22, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Oxfordshire swans have died from bird flu this week, including near us. Report it, don't touch, and keep dogs away. RSPB guidance page, including contact details, here www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wi...
Reposted by Gail Parker
Hope HMRC are investigating whether Gill evaded tax on the bribes he received.
(Bribes are absolutely taxable income, but people tend not to declare them to HMRC...)
(Bribes are absolutely taxable income, but people tend not to declare them to HMRC...)
November 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Hope HMRC are investigating whether Gill evaded tax on the bribes he received.
(Bribes are absolutely taxable income, but people tend not to declare them to HMRC...)
(Bribes are absolutely taxable income, but people tend not to declare them to HMRC...)
Reposted by Gail Parker
Reposted by Gail Parker
One of the persistent weird features of discourse about liberal democracy within liberal democracies is how hard people seem to find it to talk about political parties *as distinct and separate from voters* as part of the necessary functional infrastructure of a liberal democracy.
November 22, 2025 at 11:59 AM
One of the persistent weird features of discourse about liberal democracy within liberal democracies is how hard people seem to find it to talk about political parties *as distinct and separate from voters* as part of the necessary functional infrastructure of a liberal democracy.
Reposted by Gail Parker
The ‘we’ll adapt and move on post Brexit’ ship sure is taking a long time to come in (and appears to be drifting further out to sea with storms icebergs etc etc) and yet banking on this particular ship successfully docking is somehow considered a sensible / preferable strategy.
November 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
The ‘we’ll adapt and move on post Brexit’ ship sure is taking a long time to come in (and appears to be drifting further out to sea with storms icebergs etc etc) and yet banking on this particular ship successfully docking is somehow considered a sensible / preferable strategy.
Reposted by Gail Parker
Given government’s current immigration focus, Brexit costs are only going to rise (ie no FoM offset).
November 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Given government’s current immigration focus, Brexit costs are only going to rise (ie no FoM offset).
Reposted by Gail Parker
New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social
On how Ukraine should respond to the US "peace plan" and looking at some new details that emerged over the last 24 hours.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/how-should...
On how Ukraine should respond to the US "peace plan" and looking at some new details that emerged over the last 24 hours.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/how-should...
How should Ukraine respond?
And more details on the "peace plan"
samf.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM
New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social
On how Ukraine should respond to the US "peace plan" and looking at some new details that emerged over the last 24 hours.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/how-should...
On how Ukraine should respond to the US "peace plan" and looking at some new details that emerged over the last 24 hours.
(£/free trial)
samf.substack.com/p/how-should...
Reposted by Gail Parker
There’s some very bad news hidden in the Ofgem price cap for January announced yesterday: the electricity to gas price ratio has jumped to 4.67, its highest level since before the energy crisis.
This is a big barrier to households adopting heat pumps in Britain, and threatens our climate goals
This is a big barrier to households adopting heat pumps in Britain, and threatens our climate goals
November 22, 2025 at 7:51 AM
There’s some very bad news hidden in the Ofgem price cap for January announced yesterday: the electricity to gas price ratio has jumped to 4.67, its highest level since before the energy crisis.
This is a big barrier to households adopting heat pumps in Britain, and threatens our climate goals
This is a big barrier to households adopting heat pumps in Britain, and threatens our climate goals
Reposted by Gail Parker
To give an idea of how damaging this change is, a typical dual fuel household will see their bill rise by £2.50 in January.
A household using an electric storage heater - already most at risk of fuel poverty - will see a £100 increase. That is deeply unfair and needs to be addressed
A household using an electric storage heater - already most at risk of fuel poverty - will see a £100 increase. That is deeply unfair and needs to be addressed
November 22, 2025 at 8:02 AM
To give an idea of how damaging this change is, a typical dual fuel household will see their bill rise by £2.50 in January.
A household using an electric storage heater - already most at risk of fuel poverty - will see a £100 increase. That is deeply unfair and needs to be addressed
A household using an electric storage heater - already most at risk of fuel poverty - will see a £100 increase. That is deeply unfair and needs to be addressed
Reposted by Gail Parker
“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength.”—Tecumseh
To celebrate or not to celebrate…. I wrote about what I think about it for @contrarian . Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
contrarian.substack.com/p/two-simple...
To celebrate or not to celebrate…. I wrote about what I think about it for @contrarian . Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
contrarian.substack.com/p/two-simple...
Two simple traditional French cakes for the Thanksgiving season
Pear-Almond Cake and French Apple Cake
contrarian.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:01 AM
“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength.”—Tecumseh
To celebrate or not to celebrate…. I wrote about what I think about it for @contrarian . Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
contrarian.substack.com/p/two-simple...
To celebrate or not to celebrate…. I wrote about what I think about it for @contrarian . Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
contrarian.substack.com/p/two-simple...
Reposted by Gail Parker
As the Budget looms, Labour is ignoring the most obvious cause of Britain's economic woes: Brexit. Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves is studiously ignoring the cause of Britain’s woes: the Brexit-shaped hole in its roof | Jonathan Freedland
The autumn budget will mop up some damage, but the true source of the economic crisis is clear. The government should now fix it – tragically, it won’t, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:33 PM
As the Budget looms, Labour is ignoring the most obvious cause of Britain's economic woes: Brexit. Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Gail Parker
#FridayFive is the feeling a sort of maudlin pre Christmas mood.
1. Goodbye England. Laura Marling.
2. A Long December. Counting Crows
3. Winter Valley Song. Fountain of Wayne.
4. Flume. Bon Iver.
5. Pocahontas. Neil Young.
1. Goodbye England. Laura Marling.
2. A Long December. Counting Crows
3. Winter Valley Song. Fountain of Wayne.
4. Flume. Bon Iver.
5. Pocahontas. Neil Young.
November 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
#FridayFive is the feeling a sort of maudlin pre Christmas mood.
1. Goodbye England. Laura Marling.
2. A Long December. Counting Crows
3. Winter Valley Song. Fountain of Wayne.
4. Flume. Bon Iver.
5. Pocahontas. Neil Young.
1. Goodbye England. Laura Marling.
2. A Long December. Counting Crows
3. Winter Valley Song. Fountain of Wayne.
4. Flume. Bon Iver.
5. Pocahontas. Neil Young.