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Ewan McGaughey

@ewanmg.bsky.social
6.7K followers 2.3K following 381 posts

🎓Law Professor @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social, CBR, Cambridge + @granthamlse.bsky.social 🌹Labour law, enterprise law, pensions, corporations, human rights 🌍Cares about stopping inequality, climate damage + war 🕸️ www.kcl.ac.uk/people/ewan-mcgaughey

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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Central banks can't reopen the Strait of Hormuz by forcing mortgagees + renters to pay more interest/rent. When you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Reserve Bank of Australia is currently clobbering the poorest even more, worsening the cost of living. www.ft.com/content/5c1d...
ft.com
Australia raises interest rate to highest level in 15 years
RBA governor says Iran war has ‘made people poorer’ as central bank seeks to tackle persistent inflation
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
My report on fixing the water system is out with @cmmonwealth.bsky.social: 💦transfer the leakiest, polluting companies to public hands for £0 🌊audit the rest to gauge repair costs, and public ownership is likely to cost £12bn, saving up to £1.4bn in 3 years www.common-wealth.org/publications...
common-wealth.org
Crystal Clear: the Solutions for Clean, Running Water
The clearest and most cost-effective route to genuine public control of England's water is through public ownership.
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Every business vehicle should be EV, by law - petrol and diesel just cost our economy too much. For households, if your next car is not an EV, you are spending 9 times more than you need on fuel. www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-evs...
carbonbrief.org
Analysis: EVs are now nine times cheaper than petrol or diesel to drive in the UK  - Carbon Brief
The latest surge in fossil-fuel prices means it is now up to nine times cheaper in the UK to drive an electric vehicle (EV) than a petrol or diesel car, shows Carbon Brief analysis.
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
@samfr.bsky.social do a lot of immigrants to the UK also speak English, whereas to elsewhere they don’t already speak German, Dutch, Danish? It may also be the effect of the Equality Act 2010 provisions on public services.
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We Own It @weownit.org.uk · 12/09/2026
“The government has solid legal grounds to take decisive action” @ewanmg.bsky.social Professor of Law at King’s College London, says the state can intervene under the Water Industry Act 1991, citing breaches of statutory duties and neglect of infrastructure 💯 www.ft.com/content/527d...
ft.com
Thames Water hit by £2bn bill for finance costs and advisers’ fees
Embattled UK utility faces mounting costs as government debates moving ahead with temporary nationalisation
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Compass @compassoffice.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
The second batch of our '100 Ideas for 100 Days of the Burnham Government' just dropped. After week one's democratic reform, devolution, immigration, foreign policy & defence, week 2 focuses on tax, inequality, ownership, technology & sustainability. www.compassonline.org.uk/100-ideas-fo...
compassonline.org.uk
100 Ideas for 100 Days of the Burnham Government - Compass
In just over a couple of weeks, Andy Burnham will head back to Westminster– this time as Prime Minister. We […]
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Incredible after everything that was thrown at ULEZ, to stop it, including during the Uxbridge by-election. I for one am glad that our children will be healthier and have bigger lungs by ending London's toxic air. Much more to do, electrifying every vehicle soon: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-poli...
bbc.co.uk
Uxbridge by-election: Khan defends Ulez after Starmer blames it for poll setback
The Labour leader urges the London mayor to "reflect" after the Tories hold Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
With the new Premier League payroll data up, here's what the teams get - the £s spent per club, against the points they win. Six big teams really dominate. The relegation zone teams often fall back. So money buys points (unless it's my team, Spurs, it feels like!) + real a competition is lacking.
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Dr. Jeevun Sandher MP @jeevunsandher.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Our young people are our future. They are smarter, kinder, better than I was at their age. And they will help us meet this moment. My alumni address at the Kings College London graduation last week.
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I really hope the courts see sense and TfL win their £1 billion claim against auto-makers, because it’s not just about the money. European auto manufacturers have been driving lung deaths, climate damage and their own competitive demise by failure to go electric. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
TfL brings case worth up to £1bn against carmakers over Ulez compliance
Transport for London claims polluting diesel vehicles had been able to enter clean air zone without having to pay
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Enjoy! I thought it was brilliant. Makes me want to spend many more hours reading Homer.
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Compass @compassoffice.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
TONIGHT! Compass Members can join our Deputy Director, Lena, as we get into the nitty gritty on a topic incredibly close to Compass' heart: public ownership of water. With @cathobbs.bsky.social and @ewanmg.bsky.social!
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
How do you increase "The Wealth of Regions", and democratise the nation-state?
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
How can labour rights boost real economic growth - by which I mean real household wealth (not just GDP)? Find out in my new Industrial Law Journal article - open access. It's how we reverse British history's worst wage cuts since 2008. Hint: more worker voice...👇 academic.oup.com/ilj/advance-...
academic.oup.com
Economic Growth and Labour Rights: The Case of the Employment Rights Act 2025
Abstract. How do labour rights affect economic growth, and what may we predict from the Employment Rights Act 2025? The UK government says its first missio
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Oliver @oliver48.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
"From July 1, 2026, households in New South Wales, South Australia, and southeastern Queensland can access at least three hours of free electricity each day through a new initiative called the Solar Sharer Offer" via No One Cares
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
'More than half of the free school meal pupils in inner London had entered higher education by age 19, compared with just 18.4 per cent in the south-west of England.' (Research Professional News, 8 am Playbook) Great time to cut course provision in the south-west of England, then.
gov.uk
Widening participation in higher education: 2026
Annual statistics on participation in higher education by pupil and study characteristics.
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
German efficiency you say? Never with @deutschebahn.com! Here is a whole carriage blocked off because AC isn’t working, yet it’s 19 degrees outside and the carriage is hotter than the others, and 41 minutes late and counting. A basket case of privatisation ideology and bureaucracy.
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Just another morning with @deutschebahn.com - nearly every train massively late by time it’s due to leave from Berlin Central Station DB was broken up into over 2000 entities before a planned privatisation and is among the most incompetently operated in the world - always late.
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
My new article, Executive control of labour rights: the dangerous path of the Employment Rights Act 2025, is open access! We have too many Henry VIII powers to change workers' rights. It poses big risks from an extremist govt, like Reform or post-Truss Tories.👇 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Excellent to see now two Ministers, more Labour MPs, and departments boycotting X - a conspiracy, union busting and Nazi salute laced Pravda project for the world’s richest K-Hole. Next every Minister, university, trade union, journalist and civil society group. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/j...
theguardian.com
Lisa Nandy quits X over fears Musk-owned site pushes ‘abuse and misinformation’
Culture secretary says her department will stop using platform, citing concerns over far-right content fuelling violence and division
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Excellent to see now two Ministers, more Labour MPs, and departments boycotting X - a conspiracy, union busting and Nazi salute laced Pravda project for the world’s richest K-Hole. Next every Minister, university, trade union, journalist and civil society group. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/j...
theguardian.com
Lisa Nandy quits X over fears Musk-owned site pushes ‘abuse and misinformation’
Culture secretary says her department will stop using platform, citing concerns over far-right content fuelling violence and division
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Greenpeace EU @greenpeace.eu · 02/07/2026
If companies can't run data centres without polluting our air and water, pushing up energy bills, abusing workers' rights, harming local communities or wrecking the climate – then they shouldn't be allowed to run them A safe climate and healthy environment are necessities – tech bro profits aren't
ft.com
EU weighs weaker data centre climate rules in win for Big Tech
Past proposals for strict rules on renewable energy certificates have been dropped after heavy lobbying, draft shows
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I remember a pledge for public ownership of Royal Mail, instead of selling it to a Czech multi-billionaire.
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Jeffrey Vogt @jeffreysvogt.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
onlabor.org/a-win-for-pl...
onlabor.org
A Win for Platform Workers: ILO Convention No. 193 ✦ OnLabor
A convention that almost did not happen The platform economy has grown into a workforce that the World Bank estimates at between 154 and 435 million people. Yet for most, the introduction of an app in...
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Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
EXC: Britain's biggest trade union endorses Ed Miliband for chancellor. Others expected to follow. Sets up an inter-union battle, with GMB and Unite opposing Miliband. (Side note - have we ever had explicit union endorsements for chancellor before?) t.co/MtmtZJMFtv
t.co
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/25/unison-endorses-ed-milband-chancellor-andy-burnham-government
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Did you know that the UK has among the worst paid holiday rights in the OECD? And that the US has no right to paid holidays at all? We have just 28 paid holidays a year - but no right to paid leave on public holidays. Spain does best with 44 paid holidays a year (incl. 14 public holidays).
Chart showing paid holiday and public holiday rights in OECD countries - with the UK ranking 5th worst, the US the worst, and Spain the best. The EU minimum is 28 days holidays, and the worst EU member state is Ireland, with 30 days. Data from the Cambridge Centre for Business Research, Labour Regulation Index.
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Did you know that the UK has among the worst paid holiday rights in the OECD? And that the US has no right to paid holidays at all? We have just 28 paid holidays a year - but no right to paid leave on public holidays. Spain does best with 44 paid holidays a year (incl. 14 public holidays).
Chart showing paid holiday and public holiday rights in OECD countries - with the UK ranking 5th worst, the US the worst, and Spain the best. The EU minimum is 28 days holidays, and the worst EU member state is Ireland, with 30 days. Data from the Cambridge Centre for Business Research, Labour Regulation Index.
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Tory Victoria Atkins on #Newsnight spouting nonsense that taking Thames Water into public ownership costs up to £20bn. Her own ex-government was going to cut up to 40% of debt - before the scale of the £23bn repair costs were clear. Wall St vultures deserve £0. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Thames Water nationalisation plan could move bulk of £15bn debt to state
Exclusive: Under Whitehall blueprint for water company some lenders could lose up to 40% of their money
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Exc: First Government department quits Twitter over racism and violence concerns Richard Hermer sent a directive to staff last week saying the Attorney General's Office would be coming off the platform observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk
First government department quits X over racism and viole...
Concern about the spread of misinformation from right-wing figures prompts Richard Hermer to pull Attorney General’s Office off platform
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
One thing's for sure - it's not going to cost £100 billion. Closer to zero for failed companies like Thames Water, where reckless Wall Street vulture funds have run up £20bn in debt, left £23bn in repairs + profited with shareholders £23bn since 1989. www.ft.com/content/8288...
ft.com
How could Thames Water be nationalised?
[FREE TO READ] Intervention by UK environment secretary has raised prospect of utility entering government’s special administration regime
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
New rule: we call it “Fifa corruption break” instead of hydration break.
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Common Wealth @cmmonwealth.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
“DEFRA est the cost of nationalising the entire water sector at approx £100bn ... Common Wealth challenged this figure, arguing the ‘true cost in law’ is closer to 0” Our work by @ewanmg.bsky.social on bringing water into public hands in New Civil Engineer 👇 www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/repor...
newcivilengineer.com
Reports Thames Water a 'step closer to nationalisation' | New Civil Engineer
The utility provider is the country's largest water and wastewater provider. While the government has viewed nationalisation as a last resort, the
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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Meanwhile @ciaranm.bsky.social has written a brilliant column why the British government (let me take this opportunity to make the same case for the German government) to stop using X. Just leave. There is life after Twitter. I should know. www.thetimes.com/article/e895...
thetimes.com
If ministers fear X fuels disorder, they should stop using it
The government voices concern about the social media platform spreading hate but has hundreds of accounts that help make it a success
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Universities need to take these KPMG hallucinations on board on multiple levels, including the use of consultancies to plan for their future shape, size and operations and their approaches toward embedding AI into research, learning and assessment. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
KPMG report contained AI hallucinations on benefits of . . . AI
Bogus case studies on UBS and transit systems exaggerated adoption of the technology
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Hopefully the point everyone can agree on is that corporations don't always act rationally, even in their own selfish interest. People and businesses they run exhibit the same status quo bias, and are slow to act. So if a law matches the rational choice, it's a win win for everyone.
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alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social @alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
"France passed a single law and instantly unlocked 11 gigawatts of #solarenergy — without using new land. In 2023, France's government mandated solar canopies over all car parks larger than 80 spaces. The scale was enormous: There are 400,000 parking areas across France #ActOnClimate #Renewables
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Prof Deirdre McCann @profmccann.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
📢Abstracts are invited for the European Journal of Industrial Relations Special Issue on 'Quantifying the Global Business Environment.' Papers welcome on B-READY, labour indicators, the World Bank in international/domestic labour policy etc. Deadline: 29th June. Further info: shorturl.at/mE8tT
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Laos bans petrol and diesel vehicle imports till end of 2026. As EVs become cheaper upfront - and are dramatically cheaper to charge up compared to petrol/diesel - why should we keep harming business, consumers + public long-term by selling more obsolete cars? www.eco-business.com/news/laos-su...
eco-business.com
Laos suspends fuel-powered vehicle imports in drive to accelerate EV adoption
A ban through end-2026 aims to reduce fossil fuel dependence, control EV prices and expand charging infrastructure as Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle market grows.
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Patrick Dunleavy @patrickdunleavy.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
news.sky.com/story/palant...
news.sky.com
Palantir's role in UK public services branded 'unacceptable' by committee report
The US tech company has been involved with bodies including the NHS and the Financial Conduct Authority. A new parliamentary report warns the government risks becoming overreliant on the firm, potenti...
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Jack Bailey @jack-bailey.co.uk · 03/06/2026
Last year, we shared a paper showing that Labour's accommodation of the radical right did not work. We now have a new version of the paper online: osf.io/preprints/so...
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Q: How do you get "growth" without innovation, and how do you get innovation without funding public research? A: You don't. The UK has the worst public funding for uni + skills in the OECD, pay for starting lecturers down 25% since 2010, and that's why we are losing to countries abroad.
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New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
It's only fair landlords are subject to the same taxes as everyone else. Extending National Insurance to cover them could raise £3.2bn to spend on public services. Check out the coverage of our proposal in the @telegraph.co.uk www.telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/ne...
telegraph.co.uk
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Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 02/06/2026
Collective bargaining is in decline, especially in many low-paying sectors. In hospitality, only 3% of workers are union members and only 9% of jobs are covered by a collective agreement. Read our latest research: buff.ly/3xOPY6g
Chart showing Proportion of employees who are members of a trade union, and proportion of jobs where pay is set with reference to a collective agreement, by selected low-paying sectors: UK/GB
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profspur @profspur.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
I’ve talked a lot of shit about Arsenal of course, but sincerely this is one of the most important components and effects of sport: you have to learn to play to win without losing your sense of compassion.
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Patrick Boyle 💎 @pboyle.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Great video with @robinwigglesworth.ft.com youtu.be/sYA-z0Y8WRQ?...
youtu.be
Did Elon Musk Just Rig the Stock Market?
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
We can also get rid of the cab rank rule in fields where it's inappropriate - or stop pretending it exists.
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Diane Francis @dianefrancis.substack.com · 28/05/2026
If Japan’s demonstration satellite is successful, it will revolutionize clean energy. Both the United States and China are watching with great interest and have similar projects on the drawing boards: open.substack.com/pub/dianefra... #japan #LunaRing #ohisama
open.substack.com
Japan Leads Space Race
May 28, 2026
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Among many omissions of Tony Blair's think-piece (his role in the Global Financial Crisis, the £3 trillion Iraq War + climate inaction) the biggest is inequality. Inequality surged because Blair kept labour rights weak and after the GFC, we all got poorer. (Blair was a barrister for employers.)
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Yes, we do have to distinguish. It’s important for employment, consumer, environmental or similar cases. Why should wealthy corporations or employers or polluters get the advantage of someone always being there to represent them no matter their wrongdoing?
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Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
We may have different views on the reality of the cab rank rule, Jacob - usually an excuse to hide behind making money from doing things that are completely wrong. And of course people have a choice, especially as they get higher up, but also when they start.
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