Oliver Peace
@justcallmeol.bsky.social
Reposted by Oliver Peace
When the Manchester Guardian calls, the people of the North heed the call. And if those people are me, we inject Manchester Liberalism, even from across the Pennines, right back in to the paper of Northern record. Get your fill. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Britain’s cities are desperate for better transport. Why is Westminster derailing our plans in Leeds? | Thomas Forth
A long-promised tram network has been pushed back to the late 2030s – unless we build local, northern growth will be snuffed out, says Thomas Forth, co-founder of tech firm The Data City
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
When the Manchester Guardian calls, the people of the North heed the call. And if those people are me, we inject Manchester Liberalism, even from across the Pennines, right back in to the paper of Northern record. Get your fill. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
leedscitylinks.commonplace.is/en-GB/propos...
Leeds city centre additional #cycle route improvements 2026: green
Existing cycle lanes: blue
Ambitions: pink
Beige box is pedestrian zone.
Some see inconvenience; others see various longer-term gains.
Map of wider area:
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/v...
Leeds city centre additional #cycle route improvements 2026: green
Existing cycle lanes: blue
Ambitions: pink
Beige box is pedestrian zone.
Some see inconvenience; others see various longer-term gains.
Map of wider area:
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/v...
December 22, 2025 at 11:38 AM
leedscitylinks.commonplace.is/en-GB/propos...
Leeds city centre additional #cycle route improvements 2026: green
Existing cycle lanes: blue
Ambitions: pink
Beige box is pedestrian zone.
Some see inconvenience; others see various longer-term gains.
Map of wider area:
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/v...
Leeds city centre additional #cycle route improvements 2026: green
Existing cycle lanes: blue
Ambitions: pink
Beige box is pedestrian zone.
Some see inconvenience; others see various longer-term gains.
Map of wider area:
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/v...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
Welcome To Decline. I constructed a historical dataset of economic growth in "The North" and "The South" of Britain and used it to show that Thatcher DID put The South on a course for convergence with the USA. 👍 And put The North on the opposite path. 👎 tomforth.co.uk/welcometodec...
Welcome to Decline.
The North has been declining since Thatcher. The South since Blair. It's good to be back together again I suppose.
tomforth.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Welcome To Decline. I constructed a historical dataset of economic growth in "The North" and "The South" of Britain and used it to show that Thatcher DID put The South on a course for convergence with the USA. 👍 And put The North on the opposite path. 👎 tomforth.co.uk/welcometodec...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
This year, next year ..
www.ft.com/content/d62f...
www.ft.com/content/d62f...
Ministers set to lay out details for ‘Northern Powerhouse’ rail scheme in new year
Timelines and funding remain unclear for proposal that has been promised for a decade
www.ft.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:09 AM
This year, next year ..
www.ft.com/content/d62f...
www.ft.com/content/d62f...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
The worst thing about hosting Xmas: having to clean the house
December 21, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The worst thing about hosting Xmas: having to clean the house
There's just been a half second power cut and every alarm in the valley is now ringing out ...
December 21, 2025 at 1:02 PM
There's just been a half second power cut and every alarm in the valley is now ringing out ...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
not so fast! Never underestimate the depth of cynicism you are required to bring to the table
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politic...
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politic...
Civil servants could turn mayor's West Yorkshire tram plan into bus network
Civil servants could overrule mayor Tracy Brabin and turn the proposed West Yorkshire mass transit system into a bus network, The Yorkshire Post understands.
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 9:07 AM
not so fast! Never underestimate the depth of cynicism you are required to bring to the table
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politic...
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
I’m a high-minded intellectual mum
Northern cities can’t thrive when London keeps throttling them
www.thetimes.com/article/7bbd...
Northern cities can’t thrive when London keeps throttling them
www.thetimes.com/article/7bbd...
December 21, 2025 at 9:02 AM
I’m a high-minded intellectual mum
Northern cities can’t thrive when London keeps throttling them
www.thetimes.com/article/7bbd...
Northern cities can’t thrive when London keeps throttling them
www.thetimes.com/article/7bbd...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
🚊The announcement that the first lines in a new West Yorkshire mass transit network may not appear until the late 2030s, several years later than originally planned, has caused great consternation.
👉Read our article about the decades long quest for mass transit in Leeds:🔗zurl.co/d725c
👉Read our article about the decades long quest for mass transit in Leeds:🔗zurl.co/d725c
December 20, 2025 at 10:13 AM
🚊The announcement that the first lines in a new West Yorkshire mass transit network may not appear until the late 2030s, several years later than originally planned, has caused great consternation.
👉Read our article about the decades long quest for mass transit in Leeds:🔗zurl.co/d725c
👉Read our article about the decades long quest for mass transit in Leeds:🔗zurl.co/d725c
Reposted by Oliver Peace
He saw the light.
Bishop Richard Moth named as new Archbishop of Westminster
Bishop Richard Moth named as new Archbishop of Westminster
The new leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has been appointed by the Pope.
news.sky.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:50 AM
He saw the light.
Just move to one a week to slow the news cycle down, the status quo is helping no one
Journalists condemn surprise shake-up of No 10 lobby briefings
Journalists condemn surprise shake-up of No 10 lobby briefings
Scrapping of afternoon press conferences could limit scrutiny and transparency, say reporters
Sweeping changes to Downing Street’s press lobby system have been criticised by journalists.
No 10 normally holds two briefings on most days that parliament sits to allow the lobby – political journalists that cover Westminster – to question the prime minister’s official spokesperson. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Just move to one a week to slow the news cycle down, the status quo is helping no one
Reposted by Oliver Peace
To sustain this, we need investment – so the tram delay is disappointing. The issue is that the planning process will take place after the business case process – pushing delivery from the mid to the late 2030s. Speeding it up again is essential.
I have 3 ideas to do so.
3/8
I have 3 ideas to do so.
3/8
December 18, 2025 at 10:23 AM
To sustain this, we need investment – so the tram delay is disappointing. The issue is that the planning process will take place after the business case process – pushing delivery from the mid to the late 2030s. Speeding it up again is essential.
I have 3 ideas to do so.
3/8
I have 3 ideas to do so.
3/8
Really good piece
December 18, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Really good piece
Reposted by Oliver Peace
If your cost-benefit model tells you it isn't worth investing in a tram or light rail system for an urban area with a population of well over 1m, like Leeds-Bradford, your model is wrong and should be thrown in the bin.
December 18, 2025 at 9:34 AM
If your cost-benefit model tells you it isn't worth investing in a tram or light rail system for an urban area with a population of well over 1m, like Leeds-Bradford, your model is wrong and should be thrown in the bin.
Reposted by Oliver Peace
Re: Leeds tram…
It’s worth remembering that there are only a handful of cities in England that already have decent sized knowledge service sectors, where mass transit is very likely to make a difference. Leeds is one of those cities.
It’s worth remembering that there are only a handful of cities in England that already have decent sized knowledge service sectors, where mass transit is very likely to make a difference. Leeds is one of those cities.
December 18, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Re: Leeds tram…
It’s worth remembering that there are only a handful of cities in England that already have decent sized knowledge service sectors, where mass transit is very likely to make a difference. Leeds is one of those cities.
It’s worth remembering that there are only a handful of cities in England that already have decent sized knowledge service sectors, where mass transit is very likely to make a difference. Leeds is one of those cities.
Who asked for an independent review?
www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/news/new-par...
www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/news/new-par...
New partnership to deliver Mass Transit once and for all
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to Mass Transit in West Yorkshire, following a review of plans to deliver the largest local transport scheme in the country.
www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk
December 18, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Who asked for an independent review?
www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/news/new-par...
www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/news/new-par...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
This week we announced the most significant reform to national planning policy in decades.
A wholly restructured NPPF that maintains and builds on the initial revisions we made last year and incorporates new clear and rules-based national policies for plan and decision-making.
A wholly restructured NPPF that maintains and builds on the initial revisions we made last year and incorporates new clear and rules-based national policies for plan and decision-making.
December 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
This week we announced the most significant reform to national planning policy in decades.
A wholly restructured NPPF that maintains and builds on the initial revisions we made last year and incorporates new clear and rules-based national policies for plan and decision-making.
A wholly restructured NPPF that maintains and builds on the initial revisions we made last year and incorporates new clear and rules-based national policies for plan and decision-making.
Reposted by Oliver Peace
An excellent response from @tomforth.co.uk to the TBI proposal for new R&D institutions outside universities. I agree that it would be better if the UK had more diversity in R&D institutions; Tom brilliantly identifies some blind-spots in the TBI analysis. To pick out a few key points...
I went to a dinner with the AI Minister and I read a paper on Lovelace Institue --- a proposal from Tony Blair's Institute on how we could fund breakthrough science better. And I wrote that all up into one incoherent mess for you to enjoy. tomforth.co.uk/nationalpurp...
National purpose on AI.
Lovelace Institutes, why I like the idea, and how I think they could work.
tomforth.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
An excellent response from @tomforth.co.uk to the TBI proposal for new R&D institutions outside universities. I agree that it would be better if the UK had more diversity in R&D institutions; Tom brilliantly identifies some blind-spots in the TBI analysis. To pick out a few key points...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
NEW: Labour just announced the biggest change in planning policy in 80 years.
My breakdown of the key measures and whether they will succeed.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labour-are...
My breakdown of the key measures and whether they will succeed.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labour-are...
Labour are finally taking the housing shortage seriously
Is the new National Planning Policy Framework Labour’s biggest pro-growth move?
www.samdumitriu.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:49 AM
NEW: Labour just announced the biggest change in planning policy in 80 years.
My breakdown of the key measures and whether they will succeed.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labour-are...
My breakdown of the key measures and whether they will succeed.
www.samdumitriu.com/p/labour-are...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
Clifford’s Tower, York, by painting L.S. Lowry, 1887-1976 (York Art Gallery).
December 17, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Clifford’s Tower, York, by painting L.S. Lowry, 1887-1976 (York Art Gallery).
How has this been published on Auntie? I can't imagine what the victims are feeling having read this
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
December 16, 2025 at 11:20 PM
How has this been published on Auntie? I can't imagine what the victims are feeling having read this
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Oliver Peace
this all seems really good
NEW: Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has just announced the BIGGEST EVER reforms to national policy to deliver more homes! Here are the five biggest: 🧵
December 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
this all seems really good
A bus driver just reopened the doors to let me on. It's a Christmas miracle kids 😍
December 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
A bus driver just reopened the doors to let me on. It's a Christmas miracle kids 😍