@plennon7.bsky.social
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The Perfect present for St George's Day! A new powerful survey of the pigs ear the English have made of England by @richardwynjones.bsky.social and @ailsahenderson.bsky.social www.theunionsurvey.com
The Union Survey | Public Attitudes on the State of the State
The project and this website will provide a home for data, analysis and a network of researchers and others with an interest in the relationships between the UK's component parts. Drawing on rigorous ...
www.theunionsurvey.com
April 23, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The Perfect present for St George's Day! A new powerful survey of the pigs ear the English have made of England by @richardwynjones.bsky.social and @ailsahenderson.bsky.social www.theunionsurvey.com
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It's just too good.
April 6, 2025 at 8:01 AM
It's just too good.
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I’m increasingly convinced that there are some strategists in Number 10 who are out of their depth. Figuring out your path through the global maelstrom is trickier than identifying ‘hero voters’.
April 6, 2025 at 7:13 AM
I’m increasingly convinced that there are some strategists in Number 10 who are out of their depth. Figuring out your path through the global maelstrom is trickier than identifying ‘hero voters’.
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This is an excellent read. Very bracing, @richardbarfield.bsky.social.
I get the desire to explain what the Trump administration is doing through rational political science, I really do. But such an approach misses a fundamental truth. danieldrezner.substack.com/p/there-are-...
There Are No Adults in the Room
A brief note on the inherent media problem with covering galactically stupid policies.
danieldrezner.substack.com
April 5, 2025 at 2:43 PM
This is an excellent read. Very bracing, @richardbarfield.bsky.social.
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Useful clear piece by Faisal Islam on Trump's agenda
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump has turned his back on the foundation of US economic might
What made the US step back from the system that it profited handsomely from for decades?
www.bbc.co.uk
April 6, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Useful clear piece by Faisal Islam on Trump's agenda
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Owning assets has positive effects on future earnings and employment, physical and mental health, and civic engagement. Too many people in the UK today have zero or negative assets and are deprived of these benefits. New report: 'No Money, More Problems' fairnessfoundation.com/no-money-mor...
Gen Z and young millennials battling ‘negative wealth’ as debt burden grows
Young people whose debts outweigh their assets are at risk of experiencing blighted earnings, and even poorer health
www.theguardian.com
April 6, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Owning assets has positive effects on future earnings and employment, physical and mental health, and civic engagement. Too many people in the UK today have zero or negative assets and are deprived of these benefits. New report: 'No Money, More Problems' fairnessfoundation.com/no-money-mor...
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The richest 10% own 57% of all wealth, but most of it isn't earned — it’s inherited or inflated by rising asset prices.
Yet we tax income, not wealth. Unfair, and bad economics.
But, argues @stephenmcnair.bsky.social , there are better solutions than wealth taxes.
Yet we tax income, not wealth. Unfair, and bad economics.
But, argues @stephenmcnair.bsky.social , there are better solutions than wealth taxes.
Taxing wealth is better than a wealth tax
Inequality of wealth matters more than inequality of income. We should tax the rich more. But a blanket wealth tax is not the solution.
eastangliabylines.co.uk
April 6, 2025 at 8:29 AM
The richest 10% own 57% of all wealth, but most of it isn't earned — it’s inherited or inflated by rising asset prices.
Yet we tax income, not wealth. Unfair, and bad economics.
But, argues @stephenmcnair.bsky.social , there are better solutions than wealth taxes.
Yet we tax income, not wealth. Unfair, and bad economics.
But, argues @stephenmcnair.bsky.social , there are better solutions than wealth taxes.
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Take "aliens" - to whom they can be performatively cruel.
Take universities, law firms and the media - which they are seeking to intimidate.
And take foreign states - where tariffs are being used to cut supposed "deals" (which Trump will renege on).
In essence: the three impulses of the bully.
Take universities, law firms and the media - which they are seeking to intimidate.
And take foreign states - where tariffs are being used to cut supposed "deals" (which Trump will renege on).
In essence: the three impulses of the bully.
April 6, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Take "aliens" - to whom they can be performatively cruel.
Take universities, law firms and the media - which they are seeking to intimidate.
And take foreign states - where tariffs are being used to cut supposed "deals" (which Trump will renege on).
In essence: the three impulses of the bully.
Take universities, law firms and the media - which they are seeking to intimidate.
And take foreign states - where tariffs are being used to cut supposed "deals" (which Trump will renege on).
In essence: the three impulses of the bully.
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The policy of the US under Trump can be fairly summarised in three impulses.
To be cruel to those they can be cruel.
To intimidate those whom they can intimidate.
And to gain leverage in respect of those they want to manipulate.
Almost everything comes down to one or more of these impulses.
To be cruel to those they can be cruel.
To intimidate those whom they can intimidate.
And to gain leverage in respect of those they want to manipulate.
Almost everything comes down to one or more of these impulses.
April 6, 2025 at 8:51 AM
The policy of the US under Trump can be fairly summarised in three impulses.
To be cruel to those they can be cruel.
To intimidate those whom they can intimidate.
And to gain leverage in respect of those they want to manipulate.
Almost everything comes down to one or more of these impulses.
To be cruel to those they can be cruel.
To intimidate those whom they can intimidate.
And to gain leverage in respect of those they want to manipulate.
Almost everything comes down to one or more of these impulses.
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If we want a fair economy, we need to stop taxing work more than wealth. Inherited wealth, not hard work, is the biggest driver of inequality.
If we want fairness, writes @stephenmcnair.bsky.social , start by taxing unearned income like we tax earned income.
If we want fairness, writes @stephenmcnair.bsky.social , start by taxing unearned income like we tax earned income.
Taxing wealth is better than a wealth tax
Inequality of wealth matters more than inequality of income. We should tax the rich more. But a blanket wealth tax is not the solution.
eastangliabylines.co.uk
April 6, 2025 at 8:56 AM
If we want a fair economy, we need to stop taxing work more than wealth. Inherited wealth, not hard work, is the biggest driver of inequality.
If we want fairness, writes @stephenmcnair.bsky.social , start by taxing unearned income like we tax earned income.
If we want fairness, writes @stephenmcnair.bsky.social , start by taxing unearned income like we tax earned income.
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Quite interesting to see how much better the UK government has done in response to this US administration on defence as against trade. I presume this comes from the differing levels of expertise around the centre of government.
Fascinating to watch Starmer torch UK credibility around DG Trade in Brussels without really realising it. They'll give up on trying to take any UK government seriously
April 6, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Quite interesting to see how much better the UK government has done in response to this US administration on defence as against trade. I presume this comes from the differing levels of expertise around the centre of government.
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The rest of the article is inanities and glossing over Brexit. She focused more on woke than trade when in post and perhaps that was for the better.
April 6, 2025 at 8:39 AM
The rest of the article is inanities and glossing over Brexit. She focused more on woke than trade when in post and perhaps that was for the better.
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Kemi Badenoch demonstrated no instinct for trade policy when in charge of it in the UK, and hasn't improved since. The particular jaw dropper here is that because the US retreated from being a free trade leader the UK must negotiate with it. Eh?
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch sets out her thoughts on the future of trade policy in the Sunday Times
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Kemi Badenoch: We can trade on our independence — if we get a grip
Keir Starmer should have made trade a priority. Now the US tariff crisis shows he’s been reacting to events, not influencing them
www.thetimes.com
April 6, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Kemi Badenoch demonstrated no instinct for trade policy when in charge of it in the UK, and hasn't improved since. The particular jaw dropper here is that because the US retreated from being a free trade leader the UK must negotiate with it. Eh?
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Sam created a "MAGA index" and called it "ridiculous because it penalises places like the Falklands, which sell lots of fish to the US but don’t buy very much because there are not many people living there"
It turns out the formula Trump used for his tariffs is similar but even more ridiculous.
It turns out the formula Trump used for his tariffs is similar but even more ridiculous.
This week’s edition of MFN is about why when it comes to predicting **how** Trump might do something, it pays to keep it simplistic and lazy.
open.substack.com/pub/mostfavo...
open.substack.com/pub/mostfavo...
Minimum Viable Product
Keepin' it simplistic
open.substack.com
April 6, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Sam created a "MAGA index" and called it "ridiculous because it penalises places like the Falklands, which sell lots of fish to the US but don’t buy very much because there are not many people living there"
It turns out the formula Trump used for his tariffs is similar but even more ridiculous.
It turns out the formula Trump used for his tariffs is similar but even more ridiculous.
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Pretty massive piece of legislation kicked in today banning all mandatory hidden fees so they must now be included in the headline price, ie. No extra train booking fees or admin fees on takeaway apps www.gov.uk/government/n...
Fake reviews and sneaky hidden fees banned once and for all
Outrageous fake reviews and sneaky hidden fees are now banned once and for all in a major win for consumers right across the UK.
www.gov.uk
April 6, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Pretty massive piece of legislation kicked in today banning all mandatory hidden fees so they must now be included in the headline price, ie. No extra train booking fees or admin fees on takeaway apps www.gov.uk/government/n...