James Grieves
@james-grieves.bsky.social
PhD Student at James Hutton Institute | Lapsed Liberal Democrat | Dundee | 🏳️🌈🇬🇧🇮🇪🧬| ❤️ @bennnit.bsky.social
Reposted by James Grieves
I increasingly think we're going to get a huge bifurcation between people who become dependent on AI and a smaller number who keep reading widely.
Like the Morlocks and Eloi but with information not physical space.
Like the Morlocks and Eloi but with information not physical space.
The long-term effects won’t come from one seismic event, but years and decades of society becoming dependent on our entire culture being reduced to a paragraph.
And once AI has summarised literature, it’ll summarise the summary. The equivalent to the blurb of a cliffnote.
And once AI has summarised literature, it’ll summarise the summary. The equivalent to the blurb of a cliffnote.
Every day I feel a tiny bit more certain that LLMs represent a moral evil and will ultimately lead to societal damage to an extent that we are currently unable to begin to imagine
July 6, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I increasingly think we're going to get a huge bifurcation between people who become dependent on AI and a smaller number who keep reading widely.
Like the Morlocks and Eloi but with information not physical space.
Like the Morlocks and Eloi but with information not physical space.
Reposted by James Grieves
We did it. 🎉 MPs voted in favour of the #AssistedDyingBill and it has now passed Third Reading.
June 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
We did it. 🎉 MPs voted in favour of the #AssistedDyingBill and it has now passed Third Reading.
Reposted by James Grieves
I'm glad assisted dying has passed. Palliative care deserves more funding and needs to be better, but nobody should be robbed of the agency over their life and forced into an often painful end.
This has been a great week for establishing bodily autonomy more clearly in British law.
This has been a great week for establishing bodily autonomy more clearly in British law.
June 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I'm glad assisted dying has passed. Palliative care deserves more funding and needs to be better, but nobody should be robbed of the agency over their life and forced into an often painful end.
This has been a great week for establishing bodily autonomy more clearly in British law.
This has been a great week for establishing bodily autonomy more clearly in British law.
Reposted by James Grieves
It’s messed up that Jo Cox was murdered by a fascist for being pro European and her family have sold this as “everyone is too mean, in a non partisan way”
June 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
It’s messed up that Jo Cox was murdered by a fascist for being pro European and her family have sold this as “everyone is too mean, in a non partisan way”
Reposted by James Grieves
I've always found the fetishization of "small business" a little odd. I get the David Vs Goliath thing but in terms of knowing and following the rules whether I. Tax or HR stuff- big business has small businesses beat hands down
Interesting story in the FT that 60% of the "tax gap" between what's owed and what's paid is now accounting for by small businesses.
Assumption that taxes aren't paid by the rich + big business. But it's mostly the small ones.
Assumption that taxes aren't paid by the rich + big business. But it's mostly the small ones.
June 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM
I've always found the fetishization of "small business" a little odd. I get the David Vs Goliath thing but in terms of knowing and following the rules whether I. Tax or HR stuff- big business has small businesses beat hands down
This is only a debunked assumption if you assume big businesses don’t take significant steps to reduce what they owe beyond what is reasonable in the first place, by way of international accountancy and an army of lawyers, or that that fact isn’t what people mean when they point to said tax gap.
Interesting story in the FT that 60% of the "tax gap" between what's owed and what's paid is now accounting for by small businesses.
Assumption that taxes aren't paid by the rich + big business. But it's mostly the small ones.
Assumption that taxes aren't paid by the rich + big business. But it's mostly the small ones.
June 20, 2025 at 9:14 AM
This is only a debunked assumption if you assume big businesses don’t take significant steps to reduce what they owe beyond what is reasonable in the first place, by way of international accountancy and an army of lawyers, or that that fact isn’t what people mean when they point to said tax gap.
Reposted by James Grieves
Paris is a stones throw from London. It is constructing FOUR new train lines and expanding a fifth and sixth, all within little over a decade. And that's just one city.
London and the UK look pitiful next to comparative nations and economies. Attitudes to basic infrastructure are shambolic.
London and the UK look pitiful next to comparative nations and economies. Attitudes to basic infrastructure are shambolic.
June 18, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Paris is a stones throw from London. It is constructing FOUR new train lines and expanding a fifth and sixth, all within little over a decade. And that's just one city.
London and the UK look pitiful next to comparative nations and economies. Attitudes to basic infrastructure are shambolic.
London and the UK look pitiful next to comparative nations and economies. Attitudes to basic infrastructure are shambolic.
Reposted by James Grieves
BBC Question Time are doing a special tomorrow about growing up in the 21st century. Naturally no representatives from the two political parties that constantly poll best amongst this group (Lib Dems and the Green Party)…
June 18, 2025 at 8:38 PM
BBC Question Time are doing a special tomorrow about growing up in the 21st century. Naturally no representatives from the two political parties that constantly poll best amongst this group (Lib Dems and the Green Party)…
Reposted by James Grieves
Anti-LTN/ pedestrianisation campaigners would rather people died than the minor (perceived) inconvenience they face.
Even is we assume climate change isn’t an issue as they assert, why shouldn’t we make the lived environment better? We deserve better than choking on their fumes.
Even is we assume climate change isn’t an issue as they assert, why shouldn’t we make the lived environment better? We deserve better than choking on their fumes.
UK air pollution killing more than 500 people a week, doctors say
UK air pollution killing more than 500 people a week, doctors say
Royal College of Physicians also says poor air quality costs country more than £500m a week
Air pollution in the UK is costing more than £500m a week in ill health, NHS care and productivity losses, with 99% of the population breathing in “toxic air”, doctors have said.
Dirty air is killing more than 500 people a week, with health harm to almost every organ of the body caused by air pollution, even at low concentrations, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
June 19, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Anti-LTN/ pedestrianisation campaigners would rather people died than the minor (perceived) inconvenience they face.
Even is we assume climate change isn’t an issue as they assert, why shouldn’t we make the lived environment better? We deserve better than choking on their fumes.
Even is we assume climate change isn’t an issue as they assert, why shouldn’t we make the lived environment better? We deserve better than choking on their fumes.
Reposted by James Grieves
The Greens are two-faced.
They’re for climate action, but no to nuclear and to local renewable developments.
They’re pro-public transport, but against HS2 and EWR.
They’re pro-affordable rents, but oppose any local housing, even if it’s social housing (hello Bristol).
Hemp-chewing zealots.
They’re for climate action, but no to nuclear and to local renewable developments.
They’re pro-public transport, but against HS2 and EWR.
They’re pro-affordable rents, but oppose any local housing, even if it’s social housing (hello Bristol).
Hemp-chewing zealots.
June 11, 2025 at 7:51 AM
The Greens are two-faced.
They’re for climate action, but no to nuclear and to local renewable developments.
They’re pro-public transport, but against HS2 and EWR.
They’re pro-affordable rents, but oppose any local housing, even if it’s social housing (hello Bristol).
Hemp-chewing zealots.
They’re for climate action, but no to nuclear and to local renewable developments.
They’re pro-public transport, but against HS2 and EWR.
They’re pro-affordable rents, but oppose any local housing, even if it’s social housing (hello Bristol).
Hemp-chewing zealots.
Reposted by James Grieves
Congratulations to Bharat on his Election and to Isabel on her appointment. Bharat’s decision to appoint a humanist celebrant is groundbreaking, writing a new chapter in a post that has existed for over 800 years. humanists.uk/2025/06/09/b...
Bath’s new mayor chooses a humanist celebrant as his ‘chaplain’
The City of Bath’s new Mayor has chosen a humanist celebrant to be his ‘Mayor’s Chaplain’ for his term. In appointing Bath resident Isabel Russo, former Head of Ceremonies at Humanists UK, Councillor ...
humanists.uk
June 9, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Congratulations to Bharat on his Election and to Isabel on her appointment. Bharat’s decision to appoint a humanist celebrant is groundbreaking, writing a new chapter in a post that has existed for over 800 years. humanists.uk/2025/06/09/b...
Reposted by James Grieves
A phenomenon that spans human experience, from the ancient world to today’s religious debates, blasphemy is a personal act and a constant cultural, political, and religious presence. Want to know more? In Oxford? Join Oxford Humanists and Professor David Nash 11 June.
humanists.uk/events/a-sho...
humanists.uk/events/a-sho...
‘A short history of blasphemy’ with Professor David Nash | Oxford Humanists
humanists.uk
June 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
A phenomenon that spans human experience, from the ancient world to today’s religious debates, blasphemy is a personal act and a constant cultural, political, and religious presence. Want to know more? In Oxford? Join Oxford Humanists and Professor David Nash 11 June.
humanists.uk/events/a-sho...
humanists.uk/events/a-sho...
Reposted by James Grieves
Yesterday no sum was too high to pay Mauritius to shaft the Chagossians one final time.
Today, the child poverty is delayed.
Gruel at home. Jam for Mauritius. To hell with the Chagossians.
Today, the child poverty is delayed.
Gruel at home. Jam for Mauritius. To hell with the Chagossians.
EXCL: Labour’s flagship child poverty strategy has been delayed until at least autumn amid concerns at top of government the financial cost of key proposals outweighs political benefit.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
No 10 delays child poverty strategy with tens of thousands more facing hardship
Exclusive: Flagship policy put back until at least autumn amid fears cost of scrapping two-child limit will outweigh political benefit
www.theguardian.com
May 23, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Yesterday no sum was too high to pay Mauritius to shaft the Chagossians one final time.
Today, the child poverty is delayed.
Gruel at home. Jam for Mauritius. To hell with the Chagossians.
Today, the child poverty is delayed.
Gruel at home. Jam for Mauritius. To hell with the Chagossians.
Reposted by James Grieves
'The age of automation could be an age when the individual is trampled on & power is dangerously concentrated.... Change must be humanised so that the new wealth within our reach is used to give the individual a richer life and protect the weak' (Liberal Party Manifesto, 1964) 🔶️
May 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
'The age of automation could be an age when the individual is trampled on & power is dangerously concentrated.... Change must be humanised so that the new wealth within our reach is used to give the individual a richer life and protect the weak' (Liberal Party Manifesto, 1964) 🔶️
I’m curious how many of those polled are all three - single issue anti-establishment voters have made some very weird swings in the past.
May 22, 2025 at 10:15 AM
I’m curious how many of those polled are all three - single issue anti-establishment voters have made some very weird swings in the past.
Reposted by James Grieves
The inevitable result of Pride committees being stuffed with Labour partisans:
- "we have to ban Labour this year cos they're so transphobic!"
- "Fine! Well nobody can possibly be BETTER than Labour so we'll ban ALL parties!"
It's fair to punish the bad but rewarding the good is important too IMHO
- "we have to ban Labour this year cos they're so transphobic!"
- "Fine! Well nobody can possibly be BETTER than Labour so we'll ban ALL parties!"
It's fair to punish the bad but rewarding the good is important too IMHO
I really genuinely hope these bans are really about getting parties to do better on trans stuff and not pride organisers being too worried about pissing off Labour to actually put the blame where it belongs.
May 12, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The inevitable result of Pride committees being stuffed with Labour partisans:
- "we have to ban Labour this year cos they're so transphobic!"
- "Fine! Well nobody can possibly be BETTER than Labour so we'll ban ALL parties!"
It's fair to punish the bad but rewarding the good is important too IMHO
- "we have to ban Labour this year cos they're so transphobic!"
- "Fine! Well nobody can possibly be BETTER than Labour so we'll ban ALL parties!"
It's fair to punish the bad but rewarding the good is important too IMHO
Reposted by James Grieves
Most voters are very very low information about how politics/policy work - you cannot base your theory of power on their understanding.
April 26, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Most voters are very very low information about how politics/policy work - you cannot base your theory of power on their understanding.
Reposted by James Grieves
furious at how perfect this column is, wish I could be happy for Duncan but unfortunately I'm simply seething at how good he is
April 10, 2025 at 10:09 AM
furious at how perfect this column is, wish I could be happy for Duncan but unfortunately I'm simply seething at how good he is
Reposted by James Grieves
Voters are often wrong, and refusal to challenge voters and present a better future is exactly why we've sank further and further into stagnation as weak yes-men try and appease an ignorant public without leadership, vision, or meaningful solutions.
April 6, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Voters are often wrong, and refusal to challenge voters and present a better future is exactly why we've sank further and further into stagnation as weak yes-men try and appease an ignorant public without leadership, vision, or meaningful solutions.
Reposted by James Grieves
HMT continue to wilfully miss the big picture in their myopic pursuits of a discredited fiscal policy.
Britain's latest kick in the face of its universities is a reduction in science spend. Ridiculous. Good luck with your growth mission! There won't be any.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Ministers confirm UK Research and Innovation budget will fall - Research Professional News
Funding agency’s allocation drops by £300m for 2025-26, despite rising R&D spending at science department
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
April 4, 2025 at 7:20 AM
HMT continue to wilfully miss the big picture in their myopic pursuits of a discredited fiscal policy.
Reposted by James Grieves
The best selling chocolate bar in America (Hershey's) doesn't contain enough cocoa to be legally classified as chocolate in the UK.
It's the US vs the UK in tonight's UNCLE SAM ep of QI with Sandi Toksvig, Kemah Bob, Alex Edelman, David Mitchell and Alan Davies! BBC Two, 10pm.
It's the US vs the UK in tonight's UNCLE SAM ep of QI with Sandi Toksvig, Kemah Bob, Alex Edelman, David Mitchell and Alan Davies! BBC Two, 10pm.
March 18, 2025 at 11:22 AM
The best selling chocolate bar in America (Hershey's) doesn't contain enough cocoa to be legally classified as chocolate in the UK.
It's the US vs the UK in tonight's UNCLE SAM ep of QI with Sandi Toksvig, Kemah Bob, Alex Edelman, David Mitchell and Alan Davies! BBC Two, 10pm.
It's the US vs the UK in tonight's UNCLE SAM ep of QI with Sandi Toksvig, Kemah Bob, Alex Edelman, David Mitchell and Alan Davies! BBC Two, 10pm.
Reposted by James Grieves
Ministers need to learn to say „no“ to HMT.
March 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Ministers need to learn to say „no“ to HMT.
Reposted by James Grieves
This is a very whisky move from Trump.
March 13, 2025 at 5:17 PM
This is a very whisky move from Trump.
Reposted by James Grieves
I'm not a remoaner, I'm too young to have voted in the referendum ffs.
One thing though, I'd feel stronger and safer as a part of a United Europe than I do outside of one.
One thing though, I'd feel stronger and safer as a part of a United Europe than I do outside of one.
March 1, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I'm not a remoaner, I'm too young to have voted in the referendum ffs.
One thing though, I'd feel stronger and safer as a part of a United Europe than I do outside of one.
One thing though, I'd feel stronger and safer as a part of a United Europe than I do outside of one.
Reposted by James Grieves
“There are tough choices to be made, but I am not going to make them” - Kemi Badenoch
February 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
“There are tough choices to be made, but I am not going to make them” - Kemi Badenoch