Jack
@jackrowlands.bsky.social
Lots of positive recommendations in this. Power to smooth budget settlements between years, opportunities in tax devolution, the favourable funding treatment of devolved policy areas, low exposure to PFI leading to better prospects for capital borrowing rates. www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/asset...
www.cardiff.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Lots of positive recommendations in this. Power to smooth budget settlements between years, opportunities in tax devolution, the favourable funding treatment of devolved policy areas, low exposure to PFI leading to better prospects for capital borrowing rates. www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/asset...
Amid the already dire proposals trailed in the media by the government for the Autumn budget… we’re talking about compensation for Waspi women??
There’s a lot wrong with the handling of it… but £10.5 bn spent on this and not on dozens of more important issues is mad www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
There’s a lot wrong with the handling of it… but £10.5 bn spent on this and not on dozens of more important issues is mad www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Government to rethink rejection of Waspi compensation
Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden says that the rethink does not mean that payouts will necessarily follow.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Amid the already dire proposals trailed in the media by the government for the Autumn budget… we’re talking about compensation for Waspi women??
There’s a lot wrong with the handling of it… but £10.5 bn spent on this and not on dozens of more important issues is mad www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
There’s a lot wrong with the handling of it… but £10.5 bn spent on this and not on dozens of more important issues is mad www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Pretty worrying re: inter gov’t relations & devolution
e.g. Labour runs edu in E&W. Yet the 🏴 edu dep’t are given no info abt the 🏴 edu dep’t re-designing technical qualifications
*should* be a big national story - it’s ignored because it doesn’t matter to 🏴
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
e.g. Labour runs edu in E&W. Yet the 🏴 edu dep’t are given no info abt the 🏴 edu dep’t re-designing technical qualifications
*should* be a big national story - it’s ignored because it doesn’t matter to 🏴
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
October 31, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Pretty worrying re: inter gov’t relations & devolution
e.g. Labour runs edu in E&W. Yet the 🏴 edu dep’t are given no info abt the 🏴 edu dep’t re-designing technical qualifications
*should* be a big national story - it’s ignored because it doesn’t matter to 🏴
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
e.g. Labour runs edu in E&W. Yet the 🏴 edu dep’t are given no info abt the 🏴 edu dep’t re-designing technical qualifications
*should* be a big national story - it’s ignored because it doesn’t matter to 🏴
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Came across GB News ‘reporting’ on Charlie Kirk.
The host immediately turns it into left versus right, ‘woke’ gets the blame, complaining "the left are perpetrating violent crime”
Channels like theirs are fuelling the same toxic political atmosphere that is causing this violence in the US. Madness
The host immediately turns it into left versus right, ‘woke’ gets the blame, complaining "the left are perpetrating violent crime”
Channels like theirs are fuelling the same toxic political atmosphere that is causing this violence in the US. Madness
September 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Came across GB News ‘reporting’ on Charlie Kirk.
The host immediately turns it into left versus right, ‘woke’ gets the blame, complaining "the left are perpetrating violent crime”
Channels like theirs are fuelling the same toxic political atmosphere that is causing this violence in the US. Madness
The host immediately turns it into left versus right, ‘woke’ gets the blame, complaining "the left are perpetrating violent crime”
Channels like theirs are fuelling the same toxic political atmosphere that is causing this violence in the US. Madness
Not really the key point of this article but allegedly Ellen DeGeneres is selling her £22.5m home after only living there for 9 months. That’s £2.6m in stamp duty, nearly £300k a month 🤔 on.ft.com/3UtdeqV
Does Maga like the UK after all?
First Trump, now Vance, are daring to visit Britain
on.ft.com
August 1, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Not really the key point of this article but allegedly Ellen DeGeneres is selling her £22.5m home after only living there for 9 months. That’s £2.6m in stamp duty, nearly £300k a month 🤔 on.ft.com/3UtdeqV
Reposted by Jack
Local govt ends up being an area that comes out better than some during the SR:
Average annual increase in spending power of 2.6% per year in real terms between 25/25 and 28/29
Will leave spending power 2.7% lower in real terms than in 2010/11 and 15.9% lower when accounting for population growth
Average annual increase in spending power of 2.6% per year in real terms between 25/25 and 28/29
Will leave spending power 2.7% lower in real terms than in 2010/11 and 15.9% lower when accounting for population growth
June 11, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Local govt ends up being an area that comes out better than some during the SR:
Average annual increase in spending power of 2.6% per year in real terms between 25/25 and 28/29
Will leave spending power 2.7% lower in real terms than in 2010/11 and 15.9% lower when accounting for population growth
Average annual increase in spending power of 2.6% per year in real terms between 25/25 and 28/29
Will leave spending power 2.7% lower in real terms than in 2010/11 and 15.9% lower when accounting for population growth
Vance doesn’t seem to understand the implications of his government’s own tariffs… unherd.com/2025/04/jd-v...
April 15, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Vance doesn’t seem to understand the implications of his government’s own tariffs… unherd.com/2025/04/jd-v...
More should be done by employers and government but how much is down to the poor quality labour market in Wales and other areas in the left-behind UK. When the local jobs are low pay manual/warehouse tasks, it’s inherently less accommodating of disabled people. www.itv.com/news/wales/2...
www.itv.com
March 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
More should be done by employers and government but how much is down to the poor quality labour market in Wales and other areas in the left-behind UK. When the local jobs are low pay manual/warehouse tasks, it’s inherently less accommodating of disabled people. www.itv.com/news/wales/2...
some interesting reading on zonal pricing for energy within the UK
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
octopus.energy/blog/zonal-p...
Image from Octopus. Seems positive but it will open a can of worms about the boundaries. Boston and Haverfordwest being grouped with London seems controversial.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
octopus.energy/blog/zonal-p...
Image from Octopus. Seems positive but it will open a can of worms about the boundaries. Boston and Haverfordwest being grouped with London seems controversial.
February 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
some interesting reading on zonal pricing for energy within the UK
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
octopus.energy/blog/zonal-p...
Image from Octopus. Seems positive but it will open a can of worms about the boundaries. Boston and Haverfordwest being grouped with London seems controversial.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
octopus.energy/blog/zonal-p...
Image from Octopus. Seems positive but it will open a can of worms about the boundaries. Boston and Haverfordwest being grouped with London seems controversial.
Fascinating breakdown of the risks of driving, cycling, flying… the most eye catching: “The health benefits of cycling are so profound that over an 18 year period, someone who cycles to work and back has a near 50% lower risk of dying of anything than someone who drives.” youtu.be/vDhGHPHCgqI?...
February 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Fascinating breakdown of the risks of driving, cycling, flying… the most eye catching: “The health benefits of cycling are so profound that over an 18 year period, someone who cycles to work and back has a near 50% lower risk of dying of anything than someone who drives.” youtu.be/vDhGHPHCgqI?...
The Spectator has its own DOGE, promising 'to stop the government splurging our cash'.
I'm sure there is excessive spending in the public sector, but most of the Spectator's claims are debunked with a 2 second Google search.
I'm sure there is excessive spending in the public sector, but most of the Spectator's claims are debunked with a 2 second Google search.
February 17, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The Spectator has its own DOGE, promising 'to stop the government splurging our cash'.
I'm sure there is excessive spending in the public sector, but most of the Spectator's claims are debunked with a 2 second Google search.
I'm sure there is excessive spending in the public sector, but most of the Spectator's claims are debunked with a 2 second Google search.
Excited to work on this project with Welsh Gov and 14 councils
Unifying admin data nationally will allow proactive help for residents, identify those in crisis, help people claim what they are eligible for & give gov’t a strategic real time view of deprivation policyinpractice.co.uk/welsh-govern...
Unifying admin data nationally will allow proactive help for residents, identify those in crisis, help people claim what they are eligible for & give gov’t a strategic real time view of deprivation policyinpractice.co.uk/welsh-govern...
Welsh government launches country wide benefit take up campaign to improve living standards - Policy in Practice
Policy in Practice partners with the Welsh government to put LIFT into local authorities to close Wales' £2 billion missing benefits gap
policyinpractice.co.uk
January 16, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Excited to work on this project with Welsh Gov and 14 councils
Unifying admin data nationally will allow proactive help for residents, identify those in crisis, help people claim what they are eligible for & give gov’t a strategic real time view of deprivation policyinpractice.co.uk/welsh-govern...
Unifying admin data nationally will allow proactive help for residents, identify those in crisis, help people claim what they are eligible for & give gov’t a strategic real time view of deprivation policyinpractice.co.uk/welsh-govern...
Ed once again with the best take on the otherwise sensationalised and politicised coverage on UK debt…
🧵
Here's a few of the key charts.
Let's start with the big picture.
Here's the 10 and 30 year gilt yields over the past few decades. As you can see, they're currently at the highest level since 2008 (10yr) and 1998 (30yr).
Higher than in Oct 2022 after the mini-Budget
Here's a few of the key charts.
Let's start with the big picture.
Here's the 10 and 30 year gilt yields over the past few decades. As you can see, they're currently at the highest level since 2008 (10yr) and 1998 (30yr).
Higher than in Oct 2022 after the mini-Budget
January 9, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Ed once again with the best take on the otherwise sensationalised and politicised coverage on UK debt…
Reposted by Jack
🥚Ep208: Curate's egg🥚
We ask @amberarnie.bsky.social, @yralltudion.bsky.social & Wise Dan about three County performances that were - well - good in parts!
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE
🟢 Spotify: tinyurl.com/1912exilessp...
🍎 Apple: tinyurl.com/1912exilesap...
💻 Online: shows.acast.com/1912exiles
#ncafc 🧡🖤
We ask @amberarnie.bsky.social, @yralltudion.bsky.social & Wise Dan about three County performances that were - well - good in parts!
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE
🟢 Spotify: tinyurl.com/1912exilessp...
🍎 Apple: tinyurl.com/1912exilesap...
💻 Online: shows.acast.com/1912exiles
#ncafc 🧡🖤
December 30, 2024 at 7:01 PM
🥚Ep208: Curate's egg🥚
We ask @amberarnie.bsky.social, @yralltudion.bsky.social & Wise Dan about three County performances that were - well - good in parts!
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE
🟢 Spotify: tinyurl.com/1912exilessp...
🍎 Apple: tinyurl.com/1912exilesap...
💻 Online: shows.acast.com/1912exiles
#ncafc 🧡🖤
We ask @amberarnie.bsky.social, @yralltudion.bsky.social & Wise Dan about three County performances that were - well - good in parts!
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE
🟢 Spotify: tinyurl.com/1912exilessp...
🍎 Apple: tinyurl.com/1912exilesap...
💻 Online: shows.acast.com/1912exiles
#ncafc 🧡🖤
This does make me shudder and compare it to the scale of cuts to youth music services where I went to school.
A sad violin (or piano) for the private schools complaining about VAT.
on.ft.com/3ZVeJAb
A sad violin (or piano) for the private schools complaining about VAT.
on.ft.com/3ZVeJAb
December 30, 2024 at 10:10 AM
This does make me shudder and compare it to the scale of cuts to youth music services where I went to school.
A sad violin (or piano) for the private schools complaining about VAT.
on.ft.com/3ZVeJAb
A sad violin (or piano) for the private schools complaining about VAT.
on.ft.com/3ZVeJAb
4k at the weekend for @newportcountyafc.bsky.social
support up 4x in just over a decade. That’s something to be proud of. The same % increase as Wrexham, a division above with Disney subsidising their marketing budget.
support up 4x in just over a decade. That’s something to be proud of. The same % increase as Wrexham, a division above with Disney subsidising their marketing budget.
17-19 December 2011 Top Blue Square Premier Crowds
3161 Wrexham
2830 York City
2818 Grimsby Town
2802 Stockport County
1784 Darlington
1487 Tamworth
1096 Kettering Town
1011 Newport County
1006 Southport
969 Forest Green Rovers
605 Braintree Town
313 Hayes & Yeading United
3161 Wrexham
2830 York City
2818 Grimsby Town
2802 Stockport County
1784 Darlington
1487 Tamworth
1096 Kettering Town
1011 Newport County
1006 Southport
969 Forest Green Rovers
605 Braintree Town
313 Hayes & Yeading United
December 23, 2024 at 11:48 AM
4k at the weekend for @newportcountyafc.bsky.social
support up 4x in just over a decade. That’s something to be proud of. The same % increase as Wrexham, a division above with Disney subsidising their marketing budget.
support up 4x in just over a decade. That’s something to be proud of. The same % increase as Wrexham, a division above with Disney subsidising their marketing budget.
I’m actually surprised that home ownership rates are higher now than 2015. And look at that 15% rise in Wales…
An artefact of the low rates era, which will over the next few years get cancelled out?
An artefact of the low rates era, which will over the next few years get cancelled out?
Youth home ownership rates have fallen most sharply in London and the South East.
More than two-in-five young families in London spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing.
Find out more 👉 https://buff.ly/4gldHV7
More than two-in-five young families in London spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing.
Find out more 👉 https://buff.ly/4gldHV7
December 20, 2024 at 1:06 PM
I’m actually surprised that home ownership rates are higher now than 2015. And look at that 15% rise in Wales…
An artefact of the low rates era, which will over the next few years get cancelled out?
An artefact of the low rates era, which will over the next few years get cancelled out?
Reposted by Jack
I'm trying to imagine how extremely difficult I'd find it to defend, for example, huge swathes of students who were demanding compensation from the government because they felt they hadn't had student loan increases properly communicated to them
December 19, 2024 at 11:31 AM
I'm trying to imagine how extremely difficult I'd find it to defend, for example, huge swathes of students who were demanding compensation from the government because they felt they hadn't had student loan increases properly communicated to them
Gov’t-owned pension fund Nest is failing to support its members, due to poor service, fund structure and returns
Despite reporting across the media that shows savers are going to be grossly underprepared for retirement, the minister doesn’t seem to think it’s an issue
www.ft.com/content/362c...
Despite reporting across the media that shows savers are going to be grossly underprepared for retirement, the minister doesn’t seem to think it’s an issue
www.ft.com/content/362c...
December 18, 2024 at 5:57 PM
Gov’t-owned pension fund Nest is failing to support its members, due to poor service, fund structure and returns
Despite reporting across the media that shows savers are going to be grossly underprepared for retirement, the minister doesn’t seem to think it’s an issue
www.ft.com/content/362c...
Despite reporting across the media that shows savers are going to be grossly underprepared for retirement, the minister doesn’t seem to think it’s an issue
www.ft.com/content/362c...
Bristol has an atrocious public transport system that deters people from moving further out of the centre
IMO go for landlord regulation, but it’s a waste of time to even bother with rent controls. Spend the time and energy on fixing the buses.
IMO go for landlord regulation, but it’s a waste of time to even bother with rent controls. Spend the time and energy on fixing the buses.
The avg rent in Bristol is now a staggering £1748. Tenants are handing over a growing slice of their pay packet every month to keep a roof over their heads - often in poor quality & insecure homes. Renters Rights Bill must include rent controls to stop tenants being ripped off.
December 18, 2024 at 1:29 PM
Bristol has an atrocious public transport system that deters people from moving further out of the centre
IMO go for landlord regulation, but it’s a waste of time to even bother with rent controls. Spend the time and energy on fixing the buses.
IMO go for landlord regulation, but it’s a waste of time to even bother with rent controls. Spend the time and energy on fixing the buses.
Reposted by Jack
Right folks, I know, it’s 16 Dec & you’re mostly panicking about the C’mas presents you haven’t bought/feeling smug ‘cos you’re so ready for the festivities, but spare a thought for @stkaye.bsky.social & @indiaww.bsky.social who have poured over the 118 page devo white paper so you don’t have to! 🧵
December 16, 2024 at 7:09 PM
Right folks, I know, it’s 16 Dec & you’re mostly panicking about the C’mas presents you haven’t bought/feeling smug ‘cos you’re so ready for the festivities, but spare a thought for @stkaye.bsky.social & @indiaww.bsky.social who have poured over the 118 page devo white paper so you don’t have to! 🧵
Some dire reading in last week’s Economist on Welsh public services
Imo demographic pressures & broken funding drives much of this (esp re NHS)
But Wales having the most people incarcerated per capita is new to me!
@lukesibieta.bsky.social is totally right re poor data. Stats devo was a disaster.
Imo demographic pressures & broken funding drives much of this (esp re NHS)
But Wales having the most people incarcerated per capita is new to me!
@lukesibieta.bsky.social is totally right re poor data. Stats devo was a disaster.
December 16, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Some dire reading in last week’s Economist on Welsh public services
Imo demographic pressures & broken funding drives much of this (esp re NHS)
But Wales having the most people incarcerated per capita is new to me!
@lukesibieta.bsky.social is totally right re poor data. Stats devo was a disaster.
Imo demographic pressures & broken funding drives much of this (esp re NHS)
But Wales having the most people incarcerated per capita is new to me!
@lukesibieta.bsky.social is totally right re poor data. Stats devo was a disaster.
Pretty incredible what an outlier the US is (and always has been) among large developed countries.
I saw this on Reddit tonight and I'm very curious to hear what is really happening to cause both France 🇫🇷 and Germany 🇩🇪 to actively lower their rates in the face of everyone else's consistent gains. Although Sweden 🇸🇪 and Italy 🇮🇹 are flattening out, it appears.
December 5, 2024 at 11:38 AM
Pretty incredible what an outlier the US is (and always has been) among large developed countries.
What a shambles Facebook’s content moderation is
A Russian group appears to be carrying out a coordinated scam across the UK impersonating public transport operators with the promise of cheap deals, taking users payment and personal details
Backed up by AI-generated users giving false reviews
A Russian group appears to be carrying out a coordinated scam across the UK impersonating public transport operators with the promise of cheap deals, taking users payment and personal details
Backed up by AI-generated users giving false reviews
November 29, 2024 at 1:53 PM
What a shambles Facebook’s content moderation is
A Russian group appears to be carrying out a coordinated scam across the UK impersonating public transport operators with the promise of cheap deals, taking users payment and personal details
Backed up by AI-generated users giving false reviews
A Russian group appears to be carrying out a coordinated scam across the UK impersonating public transport operators with the promise of cheap deals, taking users payment and personal details
Backed up by AI-generated users giving false reviews
Reposted by Jack
Now this really is an interesting development (£) on.ft.com/4i8V7kG An online dashboard to enable voters to see whether the Government was achieving its targets is innovative and what Sir Humphrey Appleby would term “courageous”. Some early thoughts.
November 26, 2024 at 2:52 PM
Now this really is an interesting development (£) on.ft.com/4i8V7kG An online dashboard to enable voters to see whether the Government was achieving its targets is innovative and what Sir Humphrey Appleby would term “courageous”. Some early thoughts.