Tim Leunig
@timleunig.bsky.social
Policy thoughts: http://timleunig.substack.com Chief Economist Nesta, Director Econ PublicFirst, Vis Prof LSE Sch Public Policy, Vis Fellow Inst for Govt
My £1bn idea on Premium Bonds. Free to read, timleunig.substack.com/p/how-to-sav...
September 22, 2025 at 8:08 AM
My £1bn idea on Premium Bonds. Free to read, timleunig.substack.com/p/how-to-sav...
My letter in today's FT - on housing supply
September 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
My letter in today's FT - on housing supply
A delight to attend Victoria Bateman's latest book launch yesterday, in the rather grand surroundings of the National Portrait Gallery.
September 11, 2025 at 8:46 AM
A delight to attend Victoria Bateman's latest book launch yesterday, in the rather grand surroundings of the National Portrait Gallery.
Today my free to read substack discusses the policy implications from Angela Rayner's house purchase - timleunig.substack.com/p/angela-ray...
September 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Today my free to read substack discusses the policy implications from Angela Rayner's house purchase - timleunig.substack.com/p/angela-ray...
Had not expected to have to verify my age to send a message about rail subsidies on Bluesky! The camera took one look at me and decided immediately I was over 18...
August 4, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Had not expected to have to verify my age to send a message about rail subsidies on Bluesky! The camera took one look at me and decided immediately I was over 18...
Yet more evidence that Brexit has made us poorer - @chrisgiles.ft.com discusses work by LSE colleagues looking at how trade barriers have reduced our service exports to Europe. I mean, who could have guessed that trade barriers would reduce trade? www.ft.com/content/3e9d...
July 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Yet more evidence that Brexit has made us poorer - @chrisgiles.ft.com discusses work by LSE colleagues looking at how trade barriers have reduced our service exports to Europe. I mean, who could have guessed that trade barriers would reduce trade? www.ft.com/content/3e9d...
Dear Judge Leonie Hurst - I feel revulsion at the idea that Zenel Beshi should be allowed to remain in the UK, given the lies and criminal record. Your decision also risks making the UK a magnet for such criminals.
June 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Dear Judge Leonie Hurst - I feel revulsion at the idea that Zenel Beshi should be allowed to remain in the UK, given the lies and criminal record. Your decision also risks making the UK a magnet for such criminals.
VAT is a nightmare tax, and the threshold is a serious issue. There are lots of options to deal with it, but I have thought of one more... Free to read: timleunig.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
June 30, 2025 at 10:13 AM
VAT is a nightmare tax, and the threshold is a serious issue. There are lots of options to deal with it, but I have thought of one more... Free to read: timleunig.substack.com/p/what-to-do...
Wow, people in Britain would rather raise taxes on the rich even if that leads them to flee the country, reducing overall tax revenues (and meaning taxes go up for the rest of us). H/T www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/ar...
June 28, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Wow, people in Britain would rather raise taxes on the rich even if that leads them to flee the country, reducing overall tax revenues (and meaning taxes go up for the rest of us). H/T www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/ar...
Learn more here especially if you are in AI...
June 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Learn more here especially if you are in AI...
So wonderful to attend the launch of the @nestauk.bsky.social Challenge Works Longitude Prize to try to find a cure for ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease. If this works it will be the best use of £7.5m ever.
June 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
So wonderful to attend the launch of the @nestauk.bsky.social Challenge Works Longitude Prize to try to find a cure for ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease. If this works it will be the best use of £7.5m ever.
Was the government right to extend free school meals to 500,000 more children? And if not, how could the money have been better spent? timleunig.substack.com/p/is-extendi...
June 9, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Was the government right to extend free school meals to 500,000 more children? And if not, how could the money have been better spent? timleunig.substack.com/p/is-extendi...
This week I have another idea to save the government money - timleunig.substack.com/p/national-i... - £/free trial
May 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This week I have another idea to save the government money - timleunig.substack.com/p/national-i... - £/free trial
Very depressing to see government increasing asthma, COPD and dementia like this. Terrible decision.
April 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Very depressing to see government increasing asthma, COPD and dementia like this. Terrible decision.
Sandwiches, available on my train. I am hungry, but they won't sell me one because they have no running water: "it's illegal". Which law, @AvantiWestCoast? Then @RachelReevesMP can abolish it!
January 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Sandwiches, available on my train. I am hungry, but they won't sell me one because they have no running water: "it's illegal". Which law, @AvantiWestCoast? Then @RachelReevesMP can abolish it!
Looks like Heathrow will be allowed to expand! One runway (not my better 2 runway proposal) but a lot better than nothing. Maybe the government is serious about growth! My substack this week tackles how to fund the plans. timleunig.substack.com/p/how-to-fun...
January 27, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Looks like Heathrow will be allowed to expand! One runway (not my better 2 runway proposal) but a lot better than nothing. Maybe the government is serious about growth! My substack this week tackles how to fund the plans. timleunig.substack.com/p/how-to-fun...
Anyone want to buy a brand new, half price electric car? This is a steal -
January 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Anyone want to buy a brand new, half price electric car? This is a steal -
Strong evidence from @resfoundation.bsky.social @mollybroome.bsky.social that we need more homes in London and the South East. Is the government listening to the evidence? Sadly not... www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
December 20, 2024 at 11:52 AM
Strong evidence from @resfoundation.bsky.social @mollybroome.bsky.social that we need more homes in London and the South East. Is the government listening to the evidence? Sadly not... www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
RIP to my distant cousin, the Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ab...
December 19, 2024 at 2:02 PM
RIP to my distant cousin, the Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ab...
More than 50% of the electorate changed who they voted for - that is highly unusual www.aldc.org/category/by-...
December 10, 2024 at 2:23 PM
More than 50% of the electorate changed who they voted for - that is highly unusual www.aldc.org/category/by-...
(1) Silly headline from the Times - any worker could sue in these circumstances, not just civil servants, and (2) civil service Christmas parties are nowhere near this much fun!
December 10, 2024 at 9:49 AM
(1) Silly headline from the Times - any worker could sue in these circumstances, not just civil servants, and (2) civil service Christmas parties are nowhere near this much fun!
Steve Brine interviewed by @instituteforgov.bsky.social summing up why I think Chris Wormald is such a strong appointment.
December 2, 2024 at 7:21 PM
Steve Brine interviewed by @instituteforgov.bsky.social summing up why I think Chris Wormald is such a strong appointment.
More policy ideas on how to raise NHS productivity - my substack for this week - timleunig.substack.com/p/the-doctor...
November 25, 2024 at 9:15 AM
More policy ideas on how to raise NHS productivity - my substack for this week - timleunig.substack.com/p/the-doctor...
The Budget changed inheritance tax laws on farms, prompting claims government is killing the family farm. In fact the changes will HELP family farms, not harm them. Free to read -
timleunig.substack.com/p/how-to-pre...
timleunig.substack.com/p/how-to-pre...
November 4, 2024 at 9:13 AM
The Budget changed inheritance tax laws on farms, prompting claims government is killing the family farm. In fact the changes will HELP family farms, not harm them. Free to read -
timleunig.substack.com/p/how-to-pre...
timleunig.substack.com/p/how-to-pre...
Since Iceland first opened in 1970 peas have become almost 30% cheaper and chips almost 40% cheaper. Easy to complain about stuff today, but the past was worse in most ways.
November 3, 2024 at 6:39 PM
Since Iceland first opened in 1970 peas have become almost 30% cheaper and chips almost 40% cheaper. Easy to complain about stuff today, but the past was worse in most ways.