Enjoyed this challenge from Richard, but I would argue (and he knows my views on this) that his analysis of devolution is upside-down. A quick thread to prompt some discussion.

What’s the best thing to read on Thatcher and local government?

Good critique: The limits of devolution for the left onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11…

actually my most cancellable take is probably that this is much better urbanism than the estates it replaced, and the problem is not redevelopment but a political system that sees tenants not as people who need compensating but a problem which should piss off. but anyway

And Leeds, and even Manchester, just keep on actually doing the growth stuff, and ask for help to do even more growth, and the money still just goes down the drain in Cambridge and Oxford and to a certain extent London. It feels pretty daft to me. No surprise we see no growth.

Have I cherry-picked? Yes.
But are these just examples of a wider pattern? I think so.
.
And I reckon it's much more of a problem for Britain than most people do.

economist.com/britain/2024/0… Bootlicking: a guide to pre-election British politics. Labour is not yet in power—but the honey moon has already begun!

This, to me, is soft power

Not a mobile phone in sight. Just people living in the moment.

Duncan Robinson I will be getting my round in (subject to fiscal rules)

Duncan Robinson Just nipping down to the shops. Anyone want anything (subject to my fiscal rules)?

Duncan Robinson Kids, we are going to DisneyLand!!! (Subject to fiscal rules)

Duncan Robinson Chaminda Jayanetti Celtic are signing Mbappe for next season

(subject to their fiscal rules)

62% for a smoking ban. 52% for legalising weed. Make it make sense.

Great opportunity findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship…

Slurp! economist.com/britain/2024/0…

Top Millennials coining it; average ones, not so much. ft.com/content/46d8bd…

economist.com/britain/2024/0… Bootlicking: a noble art