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Antony Carpen

@acarpen.bsky.social
1.6K followers 689 following 16K posts

Ex-Whitehall type still with views on public policy, but now local historian in Cambridge (UK) blogging at lostcambridge.com - also writing about the future of the city on The Cambridge Town Owl.

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Reposted by Antony Carpen
Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 1h
I've been blocked from attending Conservative Party conference. Just a few weeks after Badenoch blasted Reform for doing the same thing... bylinetimes.com/2026/09/30/k...
bylinetimes.com
Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives Block Byline Times From Conference After Condemning Reform for Journalist Ban
The ban comes just weeks after the Conservative leader called Reform's barring of critical journalists from their conference an "authoritarian" attack on the free press
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 1h
The embedded document has been updated to today (30 Sept 2026)
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Second Reading @commonslibrary.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Renters’ reform in England - What’s happening and when? commonslibrary.parliament.uk/resear…
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 2h
NEW VIDEO: Health Secretary Yvette Cooper slams former South Cambridgeshire MP and ex-Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, at Labour's conference earlier over his flawed and wasteful reforms. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9rb... From 1h18m
youtube.com
WATCH LIVE: Wednesday at Labour Party Conference 2026
YouTube video by Labour Party
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 2h
Peterborough councillors are discussing their proposed local plan on Thurs 01 Oct democracy.peterborough.gov.uk/ieListDocume... ***Big ambitions*** on culture, leisure & tourism esp venues
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Jess McCabe @jessmccabe.bsky.social · 3h
In Burnham’s speech he referenced the democratic accountability of councils versus other social housing providers. Expect us to spend more time analysing this in the next while . There is a question here because many councils actually have failing grades from the regulator 🫠
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 3h
"The Committee was concerned to hear that the number of WPQs they submit is being used as a performance metric for MPs' relative level of activity and that WPQs are sometimes being used for routine research that a Member’s own staff or the Commons Library could better undertake."
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House of Commons @houseofcommons.parliament.uk · 3h
The House of Commons Procedure Committee has recently published a report examining how well the Written Parliamentary Questions system is working in the Commons.
Graphic featuring a portrait of Cat Smith MP alongside a quote from her about the recent Procedure Committee report about Written Parliamentary Questions. The text reads: "Written Parliamentary Questions are an important tool for MPs, allowing us to obtain accurate information on matters of public interest, and scrutinise the government. In our latest Report, my Committee recommends system changes to ensure Written Parliamentary Questions better serve this core purpose."
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Belle de jour @bowman120.bsky.social · 5h
This was what was missing from announcements under the Starmer govnt eg WFA, farming IHT changes - no argument for why they were a good idea, or what other positives they could fund. No narrative, just we are making savings because country is hard up. And RW press made hay….
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 5h
One of the longest-running and largest of criminal investigations in U.K. history? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Re Grenfell
bbc.co.uk
Met Police submits Grenfell Tower fire investigation files to CPS
The force is seeking charges against 54 individuals and 20 companies over the 2017 tower block fire that killed 72 people.
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suepurseglove.bsky.social @suepurseglove.bsky.social · 5h
The super-rich are profiting from the cost-of-living crisis. While our energy bills rose by 50%, the super-rich who make their money from energy have seen their wealth grow by 20%. Demand that the UK government taxes extreme wealth with @waronwant.bsky.social: secure.waronwant.org/page/201460/...
secure.waronwant.org
Stop the Super-Rich Profiting from the Cost-of-Living Crisis
Tax extreme wealth now
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Jo @jo4070.bsky.social · 5h
But as callers to James Obrien's show have highlighted, an overnight hospital bed costs around £1700. Residential care, private equity run at the shocking price of £7000 to £9000 a month comes out at only £250 to £300 a night to compare🤗. We need to free up hospital beds & provide some of the cost
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Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 7h
such a good eg of why political argument matters - polling previously showed over 60% support for keeping triple lock. Argue to unlock it *for something people also want* & numbers can change. (Obv can change back again if someone makes a good argument against, but either way, politics=argument)
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Jo Kibble (Political Animal) @politicanimal.bsky.social · 6h
I like that Magyar is just calling the de-Orbánisation process ‘Operation Purge’. No pissing about with cutesy names like ‘Renewing Hungary’ or ‘Building our Shared Future Together’. Just ‘Operation Purge’.
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Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 5h
Thorough and nuanced engagement in Lisa Nandy's conference sketch on the deep challenges facing Britain's cultural sector.
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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 11h
NEW: ‘It’s an implicit threat’. Lord Tom Watson of Palantir writes to one of its biggest critics -Labour MP @labourlewis.bsky.social - to tell him the surveillance firm is watching him. www.thenerve.news/p/clive-lewi...
thenerve.news
They’re saying: we’re watching you’: MP Clive Lewis reveals Tom Watson has warned him over criticising Palantir
In a letter to his former Labour colleague, the peer, who joined Peter Thiel’s AI company this month, writes: ‘You have made the case against the company more or less continuously’. By Carole Cadwalla...
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 11h
What percentage will survive? www.theguardian.com/environment/... Who will be doing the watering & maintenance?
theguardian.com
Half a million trees to be planted in England in three years, says government
Exclusive: Environment secretary Angela Eagle to make pledge as part of efforts to protect against extreme weather
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 17h
NEW BLOGPOST: "Looking at refreshed developer pitches published in 2026 that so far have not made it into the draft local plan" cambridgetownowl.com/2026/09/30/l... Zombified for much of the day then fell down a town planning rabbit hole. With added guide to see who wanted (but didn't get) what
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 17h
NEW BLOGPOST: "Looking at refreshed developer pitches published in 2026 that so far have not made it into the draft local plan" cambridgetownowl.com/2026/09/30/l... Zombified for much of the day then fell down a town planning rabbit hole. With added guide to see who wanted (but didn't get) what
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 17h
Thread from Labour Minister highlighting the Tories repeating the fun and games of William Hague's leadership in the late 1990s where shortly after announcing the Tory position, backbenchers went and undermined it. Or had already made the case for the opposite of what the party leadership later said
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Alan Jagolinzer @jagolinzer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Six elements of disinformation campaigns: 1) opportunist messenger(s) 2) incentives 3) intentionally misleading narrative(s) 4) targeted dissemination channel(s) 5) targeted vulnerable audience 6) exploitation to reward incentives www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhAz...
youtube.com
Disinformation Campaigns: how are they structured, what are the incentives, and when are they used?
YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit
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Phil Rodgers @philrodgers.co.uk · 29/09/2026
Interesting analysis of property ownership in Cambridge and Oxford. gaffon.com/blog/oxford-...
gaffon.com
Oxford v Cambridge
Two provincial cities trading at nine-tenths of London: what a world-leading university does to the price of a terraced house, from the sale registers of both.
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Legal C @legalclaret.bsky.social · 23h
Findings have been made, City are appealing and nothing is certain at this stage. Consequently, any comment on criminal liability is pure speculation. But if hypothetically a football club were to have been found guilty of providing inaccurate financial information and payments to players…
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Legal C @legalclaret.bsky.social · 23h
The authorities, including perhaps the Serious Fraud Office, might want to consider: Fraud by false representation, under the Fraud Act 2006. False Accounting, under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968. Various offences under the Companies Act. Various offences under the Bribery Act.
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Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
We have been working on these stories for a decade now and the Independent Commission has now ruled. Even if some technicality appears, several different bodies have now discovered rampant cheating underpinned the emergence and success of the team that redefined English football. Seismic.
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Alan Renwick @alanrenwick.bsky.social · 23h
Immediate thoughts on Andy Burnham's announcement today of a national commission on electoral reform. Doing this process well will be really important. theconversation.com/if-he-wants-...
theconversation.com
If he wants to secure legitimacy for electoral reform, Andy Burnham must stick to these rules
Involving both the public and all parties in shaping reforms on how they vote will be crucial.
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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 29/09/2026
The Wild West approach to dockless e-bikes cannot continue. I'm setting out my plan to improve safety and data sharing, tackle poor parking and create consistent standards across London. TfL licensing is the key to making these schemes safer and better managed.
standard.co.uk
Sadiq Khan announces London-wide crackdown on e-bikes 'Wild West'
Mayor of London lays out plans for a licensing scheme for e-bike operators in the capital amid anger at badly parked or abandoned bikes
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Ros Taylor @rostaylor.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A number of people who I know disagree profoundly with parts of Burnham’s speech were nonetheless enraptured by it. That, ultimately, is the only thing that gives the party a chance of being re-elected in 2029.
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Amy Gray @amygraywrites.bsky.social · 23h
We could also have family carriages like they do on several European train networks
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Helen Barnard @helenbarnard.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
We shouldn't have a Quiet Carriage on the train. We should have a NoisyCcarriage. If you want to watch or listen to the phone without headphones, or have loud and never-ending conversations, you go and sit in the Noisy Carriage. The rest of the train is de facto Quiet. Who's with me?
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Carbon footprints anyone? www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articl...
bbc.co.uk
Why Salisbury FC are 'bigger than many Premier League teams' in Kuwait
Sixth-tier Salisbury FC have a unique relationship with Kuwait, where they are regarded as "bigger than many Premier League" clubs.
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Martin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I say again, this conduct is fundamentally incompatible with CFG remaining the owners of a Premier League club. bsky.app/profile/ugly...
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Did the inquiry uncover any *criminal* activities? Only that’s a ***huge sum*** www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
bbc.co.uk
Manchester City charges: Premier League confirms club guilty of all charges related to financial rule breaches
The Premier League confirms that Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18.
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Martin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"The purpose of these schemes was found to have been to artificially inflate the club’s revenues, and reduce its costs, by more than £900 million." That is an absolutely massive sporting fraud. www.premierleague.com/en/news/4727...
premierleague.com
Premier League Statement: Manchester City FC
An independent Commission has found Manchester City FC guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
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CLondoner92 @clondoner92.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Department for Transport press release dft-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/dont-mi...
dft-newsroom.prgloo.com
Don’t mind the gap: Level boarding commitment for new trains
New Great British Railway trains will aim to have unassisted level boarding between the train and the platform as standard, the Transport Secretary confirms today    One of Government’s everyday fix...
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Co-operative Party @coopparty.party.coop · 29/09/2026
“A union of nations that gave trade unions and the co-operative movement to the world.” Our first Labour and Co-operative Prime Minister on the Britain he loves: a country of solidarity, not separation.
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Paul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Burnham says the next election will be contested on a promise to change the electoral system, essentially to something of a PR system
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Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
aaaand finally a commission on electoral reform, which will go down well with the Green waverers holborn & st pancras (NB Burnham has always been committed to this, not suggesting otherwise, but the timing is helpful)
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
" A hectare of agricultural land in England is valued at around £23,000. Once residential planning permission has been granted, it shoots up in value to about £2.67 million per hectare." demos.co.uk/research/a-n... By @demos-uk.bsky.social
demos.co.uk
A New Civic Generation: How to capture value for communities in new developments
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
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Fabian Society @thefabians.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Statement from @bencooper1995.bsky.social following the Prime Minister’s announcement on plans to crack down on slum landlords.
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Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
...& repeal of the Thatcher ban on public ownership of water companies (not quite the instant nationalisation some wanted but audience still v excited), Speeding up the breaking of the link between electricity prices & gas market sounds boring meanwhile but it's the route to cheaper electricity.
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Steve Chambers @planningtransport.co.uk · 29/09/2026
1945: The thrifty British sell the contents of the German embassy in London. Sounds like a lovely auction room. 😬
Hitler Lovers
Buy Nazi Flags
London. Nov. 28—(AP)-Two Nazi flags, bought at auction at the former German embassy in London, were apparently on their way tonight to Kingdom house, headquarters of the Legion of Christian Reformers, a new organization which London newspapers said regards Hitler as "a divine instrument."
The flags were removed by a Mr
A. Wilson who said he intended to present them to the. Christian Re-formers, which received wide publicity in British papers yesterday in connec tion with the auction of a huge granite bust of Hitler.
The bust was bought by Capt R.
Gordon-Canning, former member of the British Union of Fascists, for $2000 after spirited bidding. Gordon-Canning, who was imprisoned for two years during the war under defense regulations, told reporters the bust might "go back to Germany in about 25 years time."
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
NEW BLOGPOST: “What is the reality of new developments?” cambridgetownowl.com/2026/09/28/w... I got called out by a former city councillor - got me thinking
cambridgetownowl.com
What is the reality of new developments?
I got called out by a former Cambridge City Council executive councillor on FB and her criticisms – valid as they are, also helped make the point I was trying to make My original blogpost was…
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I don’t remember such a collapse in funding being in anyone’s manifesto… 👀
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Did said ex-Cabinet Minister not read The Bash Street Kids in The Beano in the last Millennium? For that is a policy millions of children can make lots of mischief with! 😁
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Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Was that #GBeebies headline generated by a random headline generator? Or AI? “[Politician] will risk [X] against [Quantity] of hardworking [Cohort of people] in speech today”
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Naomi Smith @pimlicat.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
WHOOOP!!!!! This is VERY welcome news - PM will announce a process to introduce PR for Westminster elections: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Andy Burnham expected to say he will push ahead with electoral reform plans
Exclusive: Labour conference speech will kick off process that could replace current system with proportional representation
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
ICYMI: The PM is announcing a new publicly-owned ‘GB Grid’ to "rewire public control into Britain’s energy system and drive down costs" Labour: Greater public control of energy will be a major theme of the Prime Minister’s Labour Party conference speech at 2pm
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Every private conversation in Westminster: "Well the triple lock obviously has to go at some point". Every commentator on Burnham: "completely mad to propose getting rid of triple lock - political suicide".
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Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 29/09/2026
It’s time to stop being polite about the triple lock. It's not fiscally sustainable for the State Pension to grow faster than earnings indefintiely. State Pension spending accounts for nearly half the projected increase in social security spending by 2029-30 ➡️ buff.ly/FY93tV6
chart showing that State Pension spending accounts for nearly half of the projected increase in social security spending by 2029-30. Of a total £30.5bn social security spending, the state pension is projected to be £13.8bn, with £2.2bn spent on pensioner other.
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