Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialSimon Kuestenmacher @simongerman600.bsky.social · 10/10/2026You teleport me back to the Europe of 500 AD and I’d probably couldn’t understand a single person. 86013
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialR Phelps @greygosling.bsky.social · 09/10/2026This is good but if we're, for entirely logical business reasons being drawn into the EU's trade policy we may as well have no barriers with them and a say on policy. 001
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialAlexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026If the UK does not opt for EU membership, it has a choice between having its legal and policy frameworks shaped by the EU with seamless access to the EU's trade system and having the UK's legal and policy frameworks shaped by the EU with limited access to the EU's trade system. 15514
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialAgathe Demarais @agathedemarais.com · 05/10/2026Most Europeans would support a UK return to the EU • French and Italian voters are least enthusiastic, but they still broadly approve of potential UK return • Potential UK referendum could complicate talks; EU officials would be wary of investing time in talks for nothing www.ft.com/content/3d43... 2510745
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialSteve Bullock @guitarmoog.bsky.social · 04/10/2026I think there’s a misunderstanding of the term “EU Accession negotiations”. Negotiation, in this sense, is primarily over how and by when an applicant will implement or align with each area of EU law (Acquis Communautaire), and then whether they‘ve done that. It’s not over *whether* they will. 58428
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialSimon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 30/09/2026NEW ANALYSIS: Record wind and solar save UK from gas imports worth £5.9bn during Hormuz crisis 🌤️ wind/solar generation up 14% in 2026 to date 🏭 gas down ~10% 🚢 >100 LNG cargoes avoided 12549219
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialAlexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Integrating into the Single Market and a Customs Union but not full membership for the UK should be the realistic target set by Brussels. If UK state elites as well as voters can't cope with either the trade-offs of full membership or lack of input on Single Market rules without it, well tough. 87217
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialGeorge Peretz KC @georgeperetzkc.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Important - and on the nail - point by the Prime Minister here. (www.ft.com/content/ef10... Burnham clears path to EU summit with post-Brexit breakthrough - £). 56620
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialAgathe Demarais @agathedemarais.com · 29/09/2026Mainstream narrative of China shock decimating EU industry may be overblown • Over past decade, China accounted for just one quarter of growth in bloc's extra-EU imports • China's share of EU’s imports has barely moved over past decade, rising from 20.5% to 22.3% www.economist.com/business/202... 23221
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialBorners @borners.bsky.social · 28/09/2026The UK isn't an especially homeownership oriented society. Its Germany and co who are weird. UK is also one less than 10 societies in the world where social housing exceeds 10% of total stock. 262
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialDuncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Superb and fascinating chart. 87521
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialPublic Sector Lawyer @publicsectorlawyer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Democratic constitutions struggle everywhere to restrain determined authoritarians where politics are polarised. bsky.app/profile/samf... 2214
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialDavid Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026It will take extensive positive engagement from UK folk in Brussels to prove seriousness sufficient for any significant closer relationship. encompass-europe.com/comment/how-...encompass-europe.comHow to achieve UK aims in Brussels(a companion piece to everything Brussels really thinks about the UK) There are 27 countries present and permanently negotiating almost every policy area in Brussels. These are the member… 1224
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialJack Bailey @jack-bailey.co.uk · 24/09/2026Another thought on this: we’re going to end up with PR-like electoral fragmentation, but without any of the predictability. Worst of both worlds. 2428
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialPrem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 23/09/2026There is a lot of misinformation about the UK social security spending. The chart below shows Total UK social security spending as a percentage of GDP, 2013/14 to 2030/31 (spending & forecast) 55% goes to pensioners, the remainder covers everything else. lordslibrary.parliament.uk/welfare-refo... 21316189
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialArchie Hall @archiehall.bsky.social · 23/09/2026My latest for @economist.com: AI writing is taking over politics. 10% of what was is said in Parliament is now AI-drafted, per Pangram. Yet more in the House of Representatives, or in Australia and Canada. Link: www.economist.com/britain/202... And a 🧵 below, w/ some main offenders 811865
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialAlastair Harper @alastairharper.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Thomas Edison in 1910. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves on this net zero business, lads 214061
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialpaulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Britain... It's a class act. 🎩 Privately Educated: Senior Armed Forces 63% Senior Judges: 62% House of Lords: 52% Foreign Office Diplomats: 53% Newspaper Columnists: 50% Political Commentators: 47% Leading Podcasters: 45% BBC Executives: 38% General Population: 7% elitistbritain.suttontrust.comelitistbritain.suttontrust.comElitist Britain 2025 912369
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialSunil @sdvr.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Great thread thoroughly dismantling this chap’s rather misleading implication that because he’s made it, anyone else can. 101
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialJim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 22/09/2026how much has Trump's war in the Middle East cost British home-owners in higher mortgage payments? "British homeowners are paying an average of £840 a year more when they refinance their mortgages, as the rising borrowing costs triggered by the Iran war start to impact" www.ft.com/content/789c...ft.comUK homeowners take £840-a-year mortgage hit from Iran warRising borrowing costs triggered by conflict in Middle East start to impact consumers’ spending power 1011363
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialSam Lowe @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Canada will struggle to deepen economic ties with the EU for the same reasons the UK failed to break them. New MFN: mostfavourednation.substack.com/p/gravity-al...mostfavourednation.substack.comGravity Always WinsAlas. 1510228
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialSteve Bullock @guitarmoog.bsky.social · 19/09/2026I see more billionaires are perpetuating the myth that the UK is high-tax, high-govt spending. It just isn’t true. At 44% the UK’s public spending as a %of GDP is lower than most of its European peers (France 57%, Germany 49.5%, Sweden 49.3%, Italy 50.5%, Spain 45.3%) www.imf.org/external/dat...imf.org© 2021 International Monetary Fund. All rights reserved. 45738
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialChaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Tories, early 2010s: "We've raised the tax-free allowance, taking low-paid workers out of having to pay income tax. Aren't we great!" 2020s: "Isn't it terrible that these low-paid immigrants aren't paying enough tax" 919052
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialRobin Wigglesworth @robinwigglesworth.ft.com · 18/09/2026Damn. @tobyn.bsky.social has produced the most detailed map of Big AI’s incestuous relationships I’ve seen so far. And it’s interactive! www.ft.com/content/8475... 818588
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialDavid Roberts @volts.wtf · 18/09/2026I love this slide. I really don't think the geopolitical implications of the clean energy transition have sunk in for most people. 9301138
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 17/09/2026This seems bad: 1317953
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialJames David Griffiths @jamesdgriffiths.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Great to see this out! @jaclarner.bsky.social @danielwincott.bsky.social and I found that national identity responds to referendums. The effect was temporary after the Scottish referendum, but post-Brexit the identity gap between Remain and Leave voters has grown considerably over time. 🧵 1146
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialJan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026European gas is above €82/MWh - the highest since late 2022. Hormuz remains largely shut and gas storage is at 68% going into winter. None of this started in Europe but we pay for it. The only exit is using less gas. Heat pumps, electrified industry, insulation. 14573207
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialJan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 13/09/2026NEW BRIGHT SPOTS: EU homes used twice as much electricity for cooling in 2024 as in 2018. And barely anyone has air conditioning yet. 6% in Germany, 90%+ in the US. If Europe catches up, cooling could be a quarter of the 2050 system peak. janrosenow.substack.com/p/what-happe...janrosenow.substack.comWhat happens when 90% of Europe has air con?How better buildings can keep Europe cool while reducing energy costs and grid pressure 79928
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialChaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 14/09/2026I think the argument that would land with young voters would be much more the idealist, free movement/opportunity-based European vision traditionally eschewed by British voters -tinged, I dare say, with an undertone of anti-Americanism - than a pragmatic GDP-based economic pitch 1112817
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialDavid Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 14/09/2026The key reason why we need to talk about Britain's relationship with Europe is usually not mentioned - which is that so many UK political objectives starting with growth and defence have an EU dimension. And thus there is a permanent negotiation. 36223
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialPaula Surridge @psurridge.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Worth remembering whenever we create/see breakdowns of anything by Brexit vote without a too young to vote category. 1183
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialMaria Drutska @mariadrutska.bsky.social · 13/09/2026So apparently Trump is blaming the high and rapidly rising price of diesel fuel on Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. Against all available facts and analysis that show it's very highly tied to the situation in the Middle East. Your bias towards Putin is showing again. 56654222
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialGiles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 13/09/2026"Where Reformers stand out is in the lack of public spirit. They are more inclined than traditional Tories to think that most people would cheat an honesty box, and twice as likely to say they themselves would keep a bag of banknotes they found in a bush". www.economist.com/britain/2026...economist.comThe misanthrope partyReform UK’s miserabilist streak is Nigel Farage’s asset, and his problem 1222378
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 13/09/2026New post: Young people are increasingly unhappy. It's a real phenomenon + nothing to do with "snowflakes". There are lots of standard culprits - social media, school, economy - but none can explain the long-term trend. So what is going on? (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/the-agency...samf.substack.comThe Agency GapWhy are young people increasingly unhappy? 5823578
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialYashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 12/09/20261. Something I think about a lot on 9/11 is that if the attacks had occurred just two hours later, it’s likely that over 15,000 people would have been killed. If the attacks had occurred at 11 AM on Wednesday instead of Tuesday, the number would likely have been even higher. 611215
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialGiles Wilkes @gilesyb.bsky.social · 12/09/2026aleximas.substack.com/p/will-ai-so... The best blog ever written on AI and growth, by a clear margin. By @aleximas.bsky.socialaleximas.substack.comWill AI soon lead to double-digit growth?Probably not. Here is why. 810335
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialExtreme Temperatures Around the World @extremetemps.bsky.social · 10/09/2026This is what's left of one of Germany's remaining 4 glaciers: That of its tallest mountain Zugspitze. The glacier is agonizing and even its Northern part is expected to lose its glacier status in a matter of few years or earlier. This summer was a killer of Alpine glaciers. 29242
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialJohn Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch.ft.com · 10/09/2026New from us: Anthropic just published scenarios for AI’s possible economic impacts, which range from minimal, to explosive GDP growth of 15% by 2030 as knowledge-worker unemployment hits 18%. I sat down with their co-founder Jack Clark to pick his brains on how they’re thinking about all of this. 7118551
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialGautam Vyas @gautamvyas.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Where in Britain do people enjoy the highest living standards? In a new Journal of Applied Econometrics paper (joint with @peterlevell.bsky.social & Lars Nesheim), we combine several datasets using Bayesian methods to find out. 🧵 1/7 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... @escoeorg.bsky.socialonlinelibrary.wiley.comSmall Area Consumption Estimates Combining Survey and Financial Footprints DataWe estimate average equivalised consumption measures across 370 local authority districts in Great Britain, using small-area estimation methods that combine information from a household budget survey... 134
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialNicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 09/09/2026Interesting: Canadian news is reporting that the EU and Canada are preparing a major 'unique' partnership - explicitly different from the models of the UK or Norway - with the EU:toronto.citynews.caEU envoy says a 'unique' new partnership with Canada forming ahead of Carney speechThe European Union’s ambassador to Canada says the bloc is crafting a new partnership with Ottawa unlike anything that currently exists. Geneviève Tuts says this is what Prime Minister Mark Carney ref... 624991
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialSwissDataGuy @swissdataguy.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Russia's exports of refined oil products hit a new low in August. Just 4.05 million tonnes left the country, worth 2.4 billion euros. That is 57 percent less than August last year and the weakest month since CREA began tracking this in 2022, when the wartime average was 9.4 million tonnes. 1/3 25120
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialLSE British Politics and Policy @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social · 09/09/2026What is the Burnham-Healey theory of economic growth? By @neillee.bsky.social of @lsegeography.bsky.social. lsebritishpolitics.substack.com/p/what-is-th...lsebritishpolitics.substack.comWhat is the Burnham-Healey theory of economic growth?by Neil Lee 034
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialPhillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 09/09/2026New midweek update out (first part free). The US might be running out of Patriot interceptors quicker than people realize--and that will matter more than Iran being deprived money. People have their heads in the sand about the real state of US power. phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/midweek-up...phillipspobrien.substack.comMidweek Update #27: When Will The US Run Out Of Patriot Interceptors?More And More This Looks Like The End Of An Era; China And Russia Must Be Loving This 15384149
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialJohn Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 08/09/2026A lot of far right politics is just becoming a generic "smash everything" button for anti-system voters. The level of success rests, I think, on how much they can convince a broader coalition to be happy with pressing it too. 16551101
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialProfAFinlayson @profafinlayson.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Stephen Bush, in the FT today writes that Labour “has now produced two governments whose response to acts of thuggery and intimidation is to reiterate that perhaps the thugs have a point”. A key question of political analysis is why Lab (and/or the British state) can’t/won’t be more decisive (x/?) 813359
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialTom Hayes @tomhayes.bsky.social · 06/09/2026A few random thoughts in this week's Scribblings on job losses and populism. hayest.substack.com/p/scribbling...hayest.substack.comScribblingsIn Search of Lost Times 0116
Reposted by @cliffordinwales.bsky.socialTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 02/09/2026"Denmark gets more out of its spending by investing in the capacity to diagnose and treat illness early and by supporting the social and economic factors that shape people’s health. The UK has invested differently, and those choices are reflected in the results."theconversation.comDenmark versus UK: which country gets more health for their money?Both countries offer universal healthcare, but Danes live nearly two years longer than Britons. Here’s why. 15431
