Richard Dubourg
@richarddubourg.bsky.social
Economist. Academic, then consultant, then UK government, then EU regulator, now consultant again. Environment, health, crime. Mostly chemicals these days.
Woke. Remain. Proportional representation.
Woke. Remain. Proportional representation.
Haha hahahaha.
Shit. You couldn't make it up.
Shit. You couldn't make it up.
“Polls suggest the most probable result is a loss for the party’s candidate, a former government minister understood to have been handpicked by the PM.
“Among the reasons cited by analysts are frustration with Frederiksen’s hardline policies on issues such as integration and immigration.”
“Among the reasons cited by analysts are frustration with Frederiksen’s hardline policies on issues such as integration and immigration.”
Well..
November 18, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Haha hahahaha.
Shit. You couldn't make it up.
Shit. You couldn't make it up.
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Getting Britain out of the hole
A plan for the UK economy
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Did they give gold to Hitler too?
"It was tough to beat Apple, but the Swiss did it." said one administration official.
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Did they give gold to Hitler too?
Have you seen this photo? Apparently it's the pope in 1982 xxx
November 15, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Have you seen this photo? Apparently it's the pope in 1982 xxx
Not commenting on anything Corbyn related, but
'this fiasco, and the mess Starmer is making of government'
just says it all. You see it in black and white, and it's undeniable.
'this fiasco, and the mess Starmer is making of government'
just says it all. You see it in black and white, and it's undeniable.
Looking at this fiasco, and the mess Starmer is making of government, it’s looking more and more like the defeat of Corbynism was about its own limitations rather than the Machiavellian machinations of the Labour right
Three people who’d be expected to be Your Party bigwigs have largely walked away from Corbyn’s project: former NE mayor Jamie Driscoll, former Labour MP Beth Winter, and former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein.
I have some new intel on the fall-out, if you’re interested in that sort of thing… 🧵
I have some new intel on the fall-out, if you’re interested in that sort of thing… 🧵
November 15, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Not commenting on anything Corbyn related, but
'this fiasco, and the mess Starmer is making of government'
just says it all. You see it in black and white, and it's undeniable.
'this fiasco, and the mess Starmer is making of government'
just says it all. You see it in black and white, and it's undeniable.
It's true. It's become something of a faith.
Or perhaps they knew economically it never made sense for the country - it really was about "taking back control" - for themselves.
Or perhaps they knew economically it never made sense for the country - it really was about "taking back control" - for themselves.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, I can't think of a single politician who campaigned hard for Brexit who has since come out and said that they think it was a mistake. Surely, in their heart of hearts, literally one or two of them must know that. So is it that they can't admit it to themselves or just to us?
Read 'em and weep. (www.nber.org/system/files...)
November 15, 2025 at 11:09 AM
It's true. It's become something of a faith.
Or perhaps they knew economically it never made sense for the country - it really was about "taking back control" - for themselves.
Or perhaps they knew economically it never made sense for the country - it really was about "taking back control" - for themselves.
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
Brexit has cut UK GDP by 6 percent to 8 percent by 2025. These negative impacts come from higher uncertainty, reduced demand, diverted management time and trade costs, from @nickbloom.bsky.social, Philip Bunn, Paul Mizen, Pawel Smietanka, and Gregory Thwaites www.nber.org/papers/w34459
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Brexit has cut UK GDP by 6 percent to 8 percent by 2025. These negative impacts come from higher uncertainty, reduced demand, diverted management time and trade costs, from @nickbloom.bsky.social, Philip Bunn, Paul Mizen, Pawel Smietanka, and Gregory Thwaites www.nber.org/papers/w34459
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
We are expected to flatter bigots in order to prove we are non-partisan?
Great writing by @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social in her book of essays, No Straight Road Takes You There.
Great writing by @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social in her book of essays, No Straight Road Takes You There.
November 14, 2025 at 12:55 PM
We are expected to flatter bigots in order to prove we are non-partisan?
Great writing by @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social in her book of essays, No Straight Road Takes You There.
Great writing by @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social in her book of essays, No Straight Road Takes You There.
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
A familiar offence: how households shape juvenile reoffending
By Tobias Auer and Tom Kirchmaier
Read at: ow.ly/Xi5I50XreE5
By Tobias Auer and Tom Kirchmaier
Read at: ow.ly/Xi5I50XreE5
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
A familiar offence: how households shape juvenile reoffending
By Tobias Auer and Tom Kirchmaier
Read at: ow.ly/Xi5I50XreE5
By Tobias Auer and Tom Kirchmaier
Read at: ow.ly/Xi5I50XreE5
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
This isn’t even the stuff they’re trying to actually stop from getting out.
November 12, 2025 at 10:59 PM
This isn’t even the stuff they’re trying to actually stop from getting out.
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
To recap: Jeffrey Epstein offered a NY Times reporter photos taken in Epstein's kitchen of Donald Trump and girls in bikinis *and* implored the NYT reporter to put this information in the public discourse in 2015
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
“would you like photos of donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen?” -Jeffrey Epstein
November 12, 2025 at 8:05 PM
To recap: Jeffrey Epstein offered a NY Times reporter photos taken in Epstein's kitchen of Donald Trump and girls in bikinis *and* implored the NYT reporter to put this information in the public discourse in 2015
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
I just googled this man like 'ew who tf is this Tom Barrack guy' and the answer is the sitting, Donald Trump-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Turkey
November 12, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I just googled this man like 'ew who tf is this Tom Barrack guy' and the answer is the sitting, Donald Trump-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Turkey
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
i mean c’mon. the president’s best friend was the most notorious pedo in the country’s history who ran a massive child trafficking ring. every bit of circumstantial evidence we have says that trump was a participant. if this were a criminal trial we’d have enough evidence to compel a plea deal.
November 12, 2025 at 2:49 PM
i mean c’mon. the president’s best friend was the most notorious pedo in the country’s history who ran a massive child trafficking ring. every bit of circumstantial evidence we have says that trump was a participant. if this were a criminal trial we’d have enough evidence to compel a plea deal.
This is just too bizarre. Surely it can't be true.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Italy probes claims that tourists paid to shoot at civilians in Bosnian war
Italians and others are alleged to have paid large sums to fire at Bosnians risking their lives in besieged Sarajevo.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
This is just too bizarre. Surely it can't be true.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
🚨BREAKING: Oversight Dems have received new emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that raise serious questions about Donald Trump and his knowledge of Epstein’s horrific crimes.
Read them for yourself. It’s time to end this cover-up and RELEASE THE FILES.
Read them for yourself. It’s time to end this cover-up and RELEASE THE FILES.
November 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
🚨BREAKING: Oversight Dems have received new emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that raise serious questions about Donald Trump and his knowledge of Epstein’s horrific crimes.
Read them for yourself. It’s time to end this cover-up and RELEASE THE FILES.
Read them for yourself. It’s time to end this cover-up and RELEASE THE FILES.
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
As usual, @privateeyenews.bsky.social says it all
November 12, 2025 at 8:07 AM
As usual, @privateeyenews.bsky.social says it all
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
Study Finds Most Americans Can't Find Where They Are Being Deported On Map
November 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Study Finds Most Americans Can't Find Where They Are Being Deported On Map
I think there is probably something of the "the BBC is left wing because it is measured and reasonable" about this, because the right never is.
I mean, the BBC is a public broadcaster, so it has to be inclusive, but what is more "woke" than inclusivity?
I mean, the BBC is a public broadcaster, so it has to be inclusive, but what is more "woke" than inclusivity?
Like the Guardian, people view the BBC as left wing and, as a result, their combined anti trans campaigning has done more damage to trans people than the entire right wing media machine, because they legitimised the right wing's lies.
November 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I think there is probably something of the "the BBC is left wing because it is measured and reasonable" about this, because the right never is.
I mean, the BBC is a public broadcaster, so it has to be inclusive, but what is more "woke" than inclusivity?
I mean, the BBC is a public broadcaster, so it has to be inclusive, but what is more "woke" than inclusivity?
This is actually a pretty good idea.
"We are reshowing the programme in full, but without the offending edit."
No, not that sort of apology!
"We are reshowing the programme in full, but without the offending edit."
No, not that sort of apology!
If I was the BBC I'd broadcast the hour long programme again and just take out that 20 second clip and let people decide for themselves whether Trump incited the January 6th insurrection (Spoiler he did)
They may be even able to sell it to US Networks 😀
They may be even able to sell it to US Networks 😀
November 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
This is actually a pretty good idea.
"We are reshowing the programme in full, but without the offending edit."
No, not that sort of apology!
"We are reshowing the programme in full, but without the offending edit."
No, not that sort of apology!
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
Bromley Symphony Orchestra open our 2025/2026 season with some wonderful music from Mozart, Beethoven, Weber and Strauss. Come and join us on Saturday 15th November at 7.30pm.
November 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Bromley Symphony Orchestra open our 2025/2026 season with some wonderful music from Mozart, Beethoven, Weber and Strauss. Come and join us on Saturday 15th November at 7.30pm.
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
Michael Prescott so-called “independent” adviser to BBC was appointed by Boris johnson as “independent” adviser to Ofcom when then PM trying to get Paul Dacre job of chair. Prescott BBC report classic example in stringing together unrelated incidents into conspiracy narrative’
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Michael Prescott so-called “independent” adviser to BBC was appointed by Boris johnson as “independent” adviser to Ofcom when then PM trying to get Paul Dacre job of chair. Prescott BBC report classic example in stringing together unrelated incidents into conspiracy narrative’
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
1/ Michael Prescott of Hanover Communications, whose leaked memo alleging left-wing bias led to the BBC meltdown.
You could be forgiven for thinking that a corporate lobbyist & former Murdoch press hack may not have the best interests of public-service broadcasting at heart.
You could be forgiven for thinking that a corporate lobbyist & former Murdoch press hack may not have the best interests of public-service broadcasting at heart.
November 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
1/ Michael Prescott of Hanover Communications, whose leaked memo alleging left-wing bias led to the BBC meltdown.
You could be forgiven for thinking that a corporate lobbyist & former Murdoch press hack may not have the best interests of public-service broadcasting at heart.
You could be forgiven for thinking that a corporate lobbyist & former Murdoch press hack may not have the best interests of public-service broadcasting at heart.
Alexa, define incestuous.
6/ Michael Prescott is an old friend of Robbie Gibb & was on the panel to choose the head of Ofcom when Boris Johnson was PM.
Gibb tried to swing it for a Tory apparatchik but was overruled by (of all people) Nadine Dorries, who preferred another.
bylinetimes.com/2023/11/21/d...
Gibb tried to swing it for a Tory apparatchik but was overruled by (of all people) Nadine Dorries, who preferred another.
bylinetimes.com/2023/11/21/d...
November 11, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Alexa, define incestuous.
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
Also…
A million seconds = 12 days
A billion seconds = 32 years
A million seconds = 12 days
A billion seconds = 32 years
November 11, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Also…
A million seconds = 12 days
A billion seconds = 32 years
A million seconds = 12 days
A billion seconds = 32 years
Reposted by Richard Dubourg
@bjennings90.bsky.social absolutely nails it. (www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...)
November 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
@bjennings90.bsky.social absolutely nails it. (www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...)