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David Henig

@davidheniguk.bsky.social
37K followers 566 following 16K posts

Trade wonk, Brexit bore, globalisation defender, music lover, cricketer, gardener, supporter of mediocre football teams, who knows where the time goes?

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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 2h
Old school Little Englander nonsense about regulations. The reason the UK didn't massively deregulate after Brexit was 1/ because regulations and standards are international norms, and 2/ the people and more importantly politicians even businesses of the UK want them.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4h
Ok folks, finally we have more details of Gordon Brown while Chancellor in the car park of Raith Rovers trying to sign a player, as first reported I think in Damian McBride's book www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife...
thecourier.co.uk
Craig Levein reveals he attended 'exorcism' in Kirkcaldy with Gordon Brown to sign Raith Rovers player
Gordon Brown and Craig Levein attended a church in Kirkcaldy in 2006 to persuade defender Marvin Andrews to rejoin Raith Rovers after he was released by Rangers.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4h
Something about the EU that has always caused weird analyses by too many UK folk, from the idea it was somehow totally different to the club of nations that would be ideal, to the ideas of reform that might or already had happened to change everything.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 6h
Warm words from China for their EU deal even though it restricts certain car exports. One has to remember that their primary goal is always political stability. While right now for the EU I think it is to be seen doing something without risking damaging trade war. www.ft.com/content/7e48...
ft.com
EU ‘safeguards’ hybrid car sector from Chinese imports under new deal
Auto sector welcomes ‘understanding’ reached with Beijing but other industries warn China’s huge trade surplus will persist without further action
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 7h
Might write this up properly, but if you compare the denial of the first 6-9 months of the Starmer government that there would be youth mobility with the EU compared to Burnham's pivot to positivity and even possible rejoin within 3...
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Reposted by David Henig
Dr Stylite @columnist.bsky.social · 7h
0n behalf of the Brexit community, all those exhausted combatants and analysts who thought their day in the spotlight was now lost in the mists of time, who had lapsed into semi retirement on their metaphorical sun loungers, I would like to announce: EVERYONE, WE’RE BACK!
static.klipy.com
The Muppets: Gonzo, Kermit, Miss Piggy & Friends
ALT: The Muppets: Gonzo, Kermit, Miss Piggy & Friends
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 7h
Having been a subject about which few dared speak, rejoining the EU is now being talked about. Whether that is realistic and could even be done in one Parliamentary / EU term really depends on the UK government being overwhelmingly positive. www.ft.com/content/3aa9...
ft.com
UK could be fast-tracked back into EU, pro-Brussels group argues
Best for Britain says alignment between London and bloc would speed up any rejoining process as Andy Burnham prepares ‘options’
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
So many wonderful / mad events across the country, which we don't celebrate nearly enough.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Football is becoming a useful medium to explain the modern world - patronage systems run by oligarchs, a few hugely wealthy clubs and a tail of millions of others, Europe losing influence - and @simonkuper.bsky.social is the ideal author to explain that. www.ft.com/content/8c0e...
ft.com
Why Fifa’s Infantino is so hard to topple
As challengers emerge, patronage continues to underpin a tenacious presidency
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Now this is a nice story. Who says the UK doesn't have anything the Chinese want? www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
bloomberg.com
China’s Young People Are Turning to an 84-Year-Old Cambridge Professor
Amid economic uncertainty and intense competition, millions of young Chinese are tuning in to Alan Macfarlane’s lo-fi answers to life’s biggest dilemmas.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
There are elements here unique to France, and then there is wisdom applicable to the UK and elsewhere in Europe. With no easy pathways to sufficient growth, an ageing population, and rising debt costs, there is a squeeze on. And an awful lot of denial about this.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Less 'plan' more the latest publicity seeking brain fart of someone who has already shown he has no understanding of the world whatsoever. Yeah, tariffs on Afghanistan, that'll show them, except there's barely any trade.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Was not the fault of Brexit but of the world to be what the proponents wanted it to be, whatever that actually was.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
For long time attendees at non league football games it remains a strange sensation to turn onto the road to the ground at 2.15 and see a few others doing the same. Long may it continue
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Not the worst morning view, notwithstanding the rain on the window, yeah I know, in Liverpool two weeks after everyone else...
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
So with the initial results in from the US, EU and China, and with apologies to @chadpbown.com and @soumayakeynes.ft.com it is interconnected world 3 trade wars 0. More analysis when it isn't a weekend but suffice to say this very much wasn't the predicted score...
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
As I predicted, the EU and China look to be finding a deal. Trade wars turn out to be too painful all round in today's economy.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
What I find particularly interesting is how quickly the returns from weaponising choke points in an inter connected world has diminished, much more so than I'd expected, and a lesson to an EU very much third in terms of being an economic power. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/09/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Diminishing Returns of Choke-Point Diplomacy
Nations are rediscovering choke points as a foreign policy strategy. They should use them sparingly.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Particularly sad news I think because of the further shrinkage of academic influence over policy that this implies, and which can be seen elsewhere. @ukandeu.bsky.social brought a wide range of people together in a way that will be hard to replicate.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I am reminded today of the glorious victory for socialism that was the 1983 General Election result
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
There wasn't much doubt that the UK and EU would reach agreement on linking carbon pricing schemes, of more interest as also with the SPS agreement is the scope of coverage, how it will be implemented, when, etc. www.politico.eu/article/uk-e...
politico.eu
UK and EU reach Brexit agreement to link carbon emissions trading systems
The two sides are now just “tying a ribbon” on the agreement, according to one EU diplomat.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Seeing news of various public spending cuts across Europe and it is all part of the story of a continent failing to come to terms with an interconnected world and ageing society in which competitiveness is declining and social demands rising.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
"reopen"? A large part of the UK's problems with the EU comes down to refusing to acknowledge over 1000 years of entangled history in favour of a far more recent (and dubious) Empire / Commonwealth story which could in some hands break down into a little Englander one
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Solar panels are always the giveaway that any accusations of "overcapacity" are basically "we resent China winning" since the price keeps coming down even though China dominates the market, and that is changing the world - for good. ourworldindata.org/grapher/sola... ustr.gov/sites/defaul...
ourworldindata.org
Solar photovoltaic panel prices
Average price of solar modules, expressed in US dollars per watt, adjusted for inflation.
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Reposted by David Henig
Kate Bevan @katebevan.com · 08/10/2026
oh god yes, just give me PRINTED WORDS.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
If the rest are don't know / wouldn't vote that would make the final score remarkably similar to the 1975 referendum result, and the sage that is @columnist.bsky.social once again demonstrating his wisdom
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Kathy Love @kathylove.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Well worth reading David’s trenchant and realistic take on current UK/EU talks. They are not a high priority for the EU, which will naturally protect its and its members’ interests, so while there is no animosity toward the UK, the UK should not expect either immediate attention or any special deal.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Grateful to my pension provider for telling me that I could have a really significant annual income from them if I don't take it until aged 99...
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Probably distracting to have a Bonzos sound track to work, but at least starting the day with a smile... "It's an odd boy who doesn't like sport..."
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
This time three years ago I was very confident there would be a workround on UK-EU electric vehicles, I'm less sure this time, the politics around China is less favourable and hence why the UK may have to put more on the table.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Years ago I was a UK rep in a meeting with other EU Member States and a senior Commission official said "Our door is always open... that's our problem..." We need to understand that approach - and not read too much into it now the UK is a third country. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
'Come all the way' back to EU, French finance minister tells Britain
Roland Lescure tells the BBC that being in the bloc enables members to better address the challenges facing the world.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
As ever with UK-EU relations, the reality is not quite as straightforward as the columnist would paint. Yes this government can move significantly closer to the EU now, but only by relaxing its red line on freedom of movement. www.ft.com/content/8832...
ft.com
Kemi Badenoch’s European nightmare
The biggest threat to this potential prime minister is that she defends an unpopular hard Brexit
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I'm still thinking there will be an EU-China deal, since both sides have reasons to reach one, from the EU point of view joint monitoring on imports would rather leave open the question of EU exports to China, and market access barriers to the larger market.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Interesting nugget of a story in which the Trade Remedies Authority suggests anti-dumping duties on China, with the EU concerned at the UK as a backdoor around their duties, but downstream users and the now Chinese owned factory object. So... www.ft.com/content/a7af...
ft.com
UK urged to impose tariffs on Chinese chemical at centre of EU trade dispute
Trade watchdog’s findings leave ministers facing tough decision on whether to follow recommendation
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Let's not talk get distracted talking about Brexit. "In 2016 the UK built thirty cars for every hundred made in Germany. Today it builds seventeen." shepotylo.com/blog/2026-10...
shepotylo.com
From pace-setter to laggard: Brexit and the British car industry – Oleksandr Shepotylo
In the years before the referendum, Britain’s car industry grew roughly eight times faster than Germany’s. Uncertainty slowed it, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement broke it away, and the next round ...
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I wasn't really interested in the book, but the review is very well written.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
The counter argument is that this is a permanent negotiation so we go around it every day in various settings whatever happens. And more specifically that leaving the ECHR will reopen the Brexit debate straight to its most painful period. Not thought through.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Reading this amplifies my concerns that the real inter-connectivity threat is less the physical trade but the potential risks to the systems at the heart of modern economies, e.g. payments, supply chains, etc - a universal problem
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Every time there's a (good) thread like this it adds to the UK's challenge in dealing with the EU, but that's just the reality we've been dealing with since 2016 and will continue to do so, the big mistake was to believe you could escape geography either by retreat to little England or going global.
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Steve Bullock @guitarmoog.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Being pro-the UK joining the EU and being pro-EU are not the same thing. The challenge for UK leaders is to turn the former shallow preference of the population into the latter deeper sentiment & belief. Then the UK can convince the rest of Europe that it would be a force for the good of the EU.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Mona, looking out from the lectern towards her recalcitrant students in a quite possibly disdainful academic way, "the paper does not systematically connect the problems raised to its solutions..."
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Should these thoughts be in any way interesting to you, please join us for an ECIPE Webinar tomorrow discussing "Where Next for Globalisation?", featuring me, and also Deborah Elms from Hinrich and Peter Foster of the FT... us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
us02web.zoom.us
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: ECIPE Webinar: Where Next for Globalisation?. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Join us for a discussion on the present and future of globalisation, from the political backlash to the trading reality. Governments are seeking to control globalisation, WTO rules are weakening, yet...
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Interesting to see an EPP amendment on "Made in Europe" suggesting wholesale rejection. The absence of strategy in the various China shock papers showing through. It is now the larger market, and too big to take on for a continent highly vulnerable to economic pain.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
"a new mental climate". "a culture of resentment". Interesting and thought-provoking beyond France, what is belonging and society in today's extensively inter-connected world, and do politicians have answers - not obviously.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Are there previous periods of history when lots of people suddenly became apocalyptic about the impending end of the world? Maybe I'm just complacent, but there seems to be an awful lot of "but what if everything just stops" talk around, for no obvious reason.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
To be clear, we're going straight back to Brexit chaos if the Conservatives or Reform are in power, and that is because of their commitment to withdraw from the ECHR, which would almost certainly mean parts of the TCA suspended and huge US diplomatic pressure. www.ft.com/content/f923...
ft.com
Tory plan to rip up UK-EU food deal risks ‘huge uncertainty’, producers warn
Food and drink industry fears it may be forced to comply with different regulatory regimes every few years
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Simon Usherwood @simonusherwood.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Fascinated to discover that the EU doesn't exist and doesn't have any impact on the UK's future development, according to Badenoch's "The Right Way" cdn.prod.website-files.com/6760307b2343...
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Alastair Somerville @acuity.design · 06/10/2026
As with previous industrial revolutions, there is a drag of sunk cost fallacy and corporate pride with countries that were strong and invested in previous revolution and are now facing competition from countries who can invest in the new with a clean slate. UK had this with mainland Europe.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Just playing with some numbers - as we trade folk are prone to do - and on any reasonable forecast China's domestic demand is likely to be greater than that of the EU going forward. This is already true in volume terms by some distance for cars.
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