Luke Raikes
@lukeraikes.bsky.social
Deputy General Secretary at the Fabian Society | regional economies, devolution, productivity, industrial strategy, employment rights, employment support, transport, politics | Views are my own | 🏴
https://fabians.org.uk/about-us/meet-our-experts/
https://fabians.org.uk/about-us/meet-our-experts/
Another excuse to post this chart:
August 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Another excuse to post this chart:
August 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Next, I'd like to see more:
1. Fiscal devolution, naturally - a visitor levy is a no-brainer (see below)
2. Local accountability - checks and balances, especially for those commissioners
3. Pan-regional 'missing link' - how to enable things like the Great North to add value?
1. Fiscal devolution, naturally - a visitor levy is a no-brainer (see below)
2. Local accountability - checks and balances, especially for those commissioners
3. Pan-regional 'missing link' - how to enable things like the Great North to add value?
July 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Next, I'd like to see more:
1. Fiscal devolution, naturally - a visitor levy is a no-brainer (see below)
2. Local accountability - checks and balances, especially for those commissioners
3. Pan-regional 'missing link' - how to enable things like the Great North to add value?
1. Fiscal devolution, naturally - a visitor levy is a no-brainer (see below)
2. Local accountability - checks and balances, especially for those commissioners
3. Pan-regional 'missing link' - how to enable things like the Great North to add value?
Last week, we argued that Budgets and Spending Reviews should focus on the incomes of each of the 1st-5th deciles, to ensure low- and middle-income households are better off...looks like they managed that convincingly:
#SpendingReview
#SpendingReview
June 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Last week, we argued that Budgets and Spending Reviews should focus on the incomes of each of the 1st-5th deciles, to ensure low- and middle-income households are better off...looks like they managed that convincingly:
#SpendingReview
#SpendingReview
Some important measures to cut the cost of living in a #SpendingReview the Chancellor said would make people "Better off"
June 11, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Some important measures to cut the cost of living in a #SpendingReview the Chancellor said would make people "Better off"
For context: regional income inequality is eye-wateringly high in the UK compared to other countries
June 10, 2025 at 12:37 PM
For context: regional income inequality is eye-wateringly high in the UK compared to other countries
And they're less regionally unequal - even though France has Paris (a dominant global city) and Germany was split in two for decades.
June 9, 2025 at 1:14 PM
And they're less regionally unequal - even though France has Paris (a dominant global city) and Germany was split in two for decades.
Great to see a push from mayors for a visitor levy/tourist tax recently.
An absolute no brainer.
In the UK 5% of tax is raised locally/regionally - compared to 13% in France and 31% in Germany
Those countries have DOUBLE the rate of local economic investment
That's no coincidence
An absolute no brainer.
In the UK 5% of tax is raised locally/regionally - compared to 13% in France and 31% in Germany
Those countries have DOUBLE the rate of local economic investment
That's no coincidence
June 9, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Great to see a push from mayors for a visitor levy/tourist tax recently.
An absolute no brainer.
In the UK 5% of tax is raised locally/regionally - compared to 13% in France and 31% in Germany
Those countries have DOUBLE the rate of local economic investment
That's no coincidence
An absolute no brainer.
In the UK 5% of tax is raised locally/regionally - compared to 13% in France and 31% in Germany
Those countries have DOUBLE the rate of local economic investment
That's no coincidence
Regional income inequality has risen significantly since 2011 - see below
It is now far higher than any comparable country
The government must raise living standards this parliament
But they must also devolve to mayors and councils, so they can grow their economies and cut local costs
It is now far higher than any comparable country
The government must raise living standards this parliament
But they must also devolve to mayors and councils, so they can grow their economies and cut local costs
June 6, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Regional income inequality has risen significantly since 2011 - see below
It is now far higher than any comparable country
The government must raise living standards this parliament
But they must also devolve to mayors and councils, so they can grow their economies and cut local costs
It is now far higher than any comparable country
The government must raise living standards this parliament
But they must also devolve to mayors and councils, so they can grow their economies and cut local costs
This means low income growth, but it has combined with social security cuts and inflation
If real disposable income had continued to grow as in 1997-2007, we would be 32% better off now
Disposable household income per person would be higher by £7,700 per year or £149 per week
If real disposable income had continued to grow as in 1997-2007, we would be 32% better off now
Disposable household income per person would be higher by £7,700 per year or £149 per week
June 6, 2025 at 12:54 PM
This means low income growth, but it has combined with social security cuts and inflation
If real disposable income had continued to grow as in 1997-2007, we would be 32% better off now
Disposable household income per person would be higher by £7,700 per year or £149 per week
If real disposable income had continued to grow as in 1997-2007, we would be 32% better off now
Disposable household income per person would be higher by £7,700 per year or £149 per week
Low productivity since the financial crisis is a major factor
UK productivity growth since 2010 has been strikingly low compared to other G7 countries - from 2nd pre-crash, to 6th between 2010 and 2023
UK productivity growth since 2010 has been strikingly low compared to other G7 countries - from 2nd pre-crash, to 6th between 2010 and 2023
June 6, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Low productivity since the financial crisis is a major factor
UK productivity growth since 2010 has been strikingly low compared to other G7 countries - from 2nd pre-crash, to 6th between 2010 and 2023
UK productivity growth since 2010 has been strikingly low compared to other G7 countries - from 2nd pre-crash, to 6th between 2010 and 2023
Living standards declined under the last government, for the first time on record - according to our new analysis
Today, our report shows how this government can do better
And we argue next week’s spending review must pass the “living standards test”
Now...some charts!
Today, our report shows how this government can do better
And we argue next week’s spending review must pass the “living standards test”
Now...some charts!
June 6, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Living standards declined under the last government, for the first time on record - according to our new analysis
Today, our report shows how this government can do better
And we argue next week’s spending review must pass the “living standards test”
Now...some charts!
Today, our report shows how this government can do better
And we argue next week’s spending review must pass the “living standards test”
Now...some charts!
That said, important to say that the devolution white paper is a major step forward
There's real potential for economic growth in places already thriving, like Greater Manchester
But also in places Whitehall often writes off, see here:
There's real potential for economic growth in places already thriving, like Greater Manchester
But also in places Whitehall often writes off, see here:
March 19, 2025 at 10:33 AM
That said, important to say that the devolution white paper is a major step forward
There's real potential for economic growth in places already thriving, like Greater Manchester
But also in places Whitehall often writes off, see here:
There's real potential for economic growth in places already thriving, like Greater Manchester
But also in places Whitehall often writes off, see here:
First, local economic development spend is far lower in the UK than other countries - it's twice the rate in France and Germany
It's a major driver of our regional inequality (see charts)
MCAs were created to solve this economic problem
BUT…
It's a major driver of our regional inequality (see charts)
MCAs were created to solve this economic problem
BUT…
March 19, 2025 at 10:33 AM
First, local economic development spend is far lower in the UK than other countries - it's twice the rate in France and Germany
It's a major driver of our regional inequality (see charts)
MCAs were created to solve this economic problem
BUT…
It's a major driver of our regional inequality (see charts)
MCAs were created to solve this economic problem
BUT…
Lots to welcome in the government's Get Britain Working White Paper today.
It aligns really closely with what we recommended last year.
fabians.org.uk/publication/...
It aligns really closely with what we recommended last year.
fabians.org.uk/publication/...
November 26, 2024 at 3:56 PM
Lots to welcome in the government's Get Britain Working White Paper today.
It aligns really closely with what we recommended last year.
fabians.org.uk/publication/...
It aligns really closely with what we recommended last year.
fabians.org.uk/publication/...
Personal news: I’m stepping up as Interim General Secretary of @thefabians.bsky.social as today is @andrewharrop.bsky.social ‘s last day
October 9, 2024 at 8:16 AM
Personal news: I’m stepping up as Interim General Secretary of @thefabians.bsky.social as today is @andrewharrop.bsky.social ‘s last day
‘Going up a gear’ sets out three first steps:
1. Invest more effectively in productivity enablers, like transport, skills and innovation
2. Improve employment rights and enforcement
3. Build strong and stable governance and institutions
1. Invest more effectively in productivity enablers, like transport, skills and innovation
2. Improve employment rights and enforcement
3. Build strong and stable governance and institutions
September 27, 2024 at 1:00 PM
‘Going up a gear’ sets out three first steps:
1. Invest more effectively in productivity enablers, like transport, skills and innovation
2. Improve employment rights and enforcement
3. Build strong and stable governance and institutions
1. Invest more effectively in productivity enablers, like transport, skills and innovation
2. Improve employment rights and enforcement
3. Build strong and stable governance and institutions
Really interesting interview with @allymcgovern.bsky.social here.
Especially this section, which highlights the potential for 'invest-to-save' innovation in employment support:
www.reuters.com/world/uk/bri...
Especially this section, which highlights the potential for 'invest-to-save' innovation in employment support:
www.reuters.com/world/uk/bri...
September 12, 2024 at 8:24 AM
Really interesting interview with @allymcgovern.bsky.social here.
Especially this section, which highlights the potential for 'invest-to-save' innovation in employment support:
www.reuters.com/world/uk/bri...
Especially this section, which highlights the potential for 'invest-to-save' innovation in employment support:
www.reuters.com/world/uk/bri...
Our recommendation from last year which Labour is essentially now delivering
(Also includes a handy explainer of the madness!)
(Also includes a handy explainer of the madness!)
September 7, 2024 at 6:53 PM
Our recommendation from last year which Labour is essentially now delivering
(Also includes a handy explainer of the madness!)
(Also includes a handy explainer of the madness!)
Absolutely. It’s shocking how far behind we are. Eg
September 7, 2024 at 11:20 AM
Absolutely. It’s shocking how far behind we are. Eg
Clearly, we need to improve rights, clarity and enforcement generally.
The forthcoming Employment Rights Bill is crucial in that.
Here's how we compare (more in the report):
The forthcoming Employment Rights Bill is crucial in that.
Here's how we compare (more in the report):
August 30, 2024 at 8:50 AM
Clearly, we need to improve rights, clarity and enforcement generally.
The forthcoming Employment Rights Bill is crucial in that.
Here's how we compare (more in the report):
The forthcoming Employment Rights Bill is crucial in that.
Here's how we compare (more in the report):
3. Fiscal devolution – beyond saying ‘it’s correlated with good things!’ and ‘look, other countries!’ (guilty)… how do we really do this here?
I’m in favour, but need to be practical. A reminder of the context:
I’m in favour, but need to be practical. A reminder of the context:
August 28, 2024 at 11:50 AM
3. Fiscal devolution – beyond saying ‘it’s correlated with good things!’ and ‘look, other countries!’ (guilty)… how do we really do this here?
I’m in favour, but need to be practical. A reminder of the context:
I’m in favour, but need to be practical. A reminder of the context: