iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Some food for thought. Our newsletter this month is on the topic of growth (in the broadest sense) - I've written a short blog looking at the growing 'wellbeing vervsus growth' debate we see in Wales. cynnalcymru.com/should-we-ch...

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Reposted by Harry Thompson

Living Wage Foundation @livingwageuk.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Hello!👋 We're delighted to announce that the Living Wage Foundation have officially joined Bluesky. Keep your eyes peeled for more from us in the new year!

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Reposted by Harry Thompson

Joe Rossiter @joekrossiter.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Cracking thread here from Harry on Cardiff Parkway 👇

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

To credit new CabSec, some progress has been made on this already. But more to do and a review needed to ensure we are best-in-class on this compared to other nations and regions. It'll continue to be a key driver of good, well-paid jobs in the future. www.gov.wales/welsh-govern...

gov.wales

Welsh Government takes action to accelerate infrastructure planning decisions | GOV.WALES

New proposals will allow infrastructure planning decisions of national significance to be taken more quickly.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Increased productivity and better jobs are the goal for Wales. Our public policy has not acted in a conducive manner to this, and the levers are in our hands. No matter what decision we make on projects, speed and certainty should be embedded into the process.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

You'll probably have guessed from this thread that my personal view is that we should approve Cardiff Parkway as soon as possible. But ultimately the lesson from Cardiff Parkway is that our processes need to change so this never happens again.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Wales (and devolution) should be using our status as a small, nimble country to make Wales one of the easiest places in the world to invest. We should be looking to create a structural advantage - come to Wales, and the process will be easier. Instead we've acted as blockers.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

We've sent a message that if you put the time and resource into investing here, you may find yourself in a protracted purgatory whilst construction costs escalate. Even if the answer was a 'no', it should have come a lot sooner.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Wales' biggest problem is a lack of good, well-paid jobs, with low productivity partly caused by low private investment causing this. Whether you agree or disagree with the project, what we've done here is create a big flashing red warning light to major investors.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

At time of writing, the project has still not had a decision. Welsh Government decisions have added nearly three years to the process. You can read an update on the saga at the link below. www.cardiffhendrelakes.com/an-update-on...

cardiffhendrelakes.com

An update on Cardiff Parkway – January 2024 - Cardiff Hendre Lakes

By Nigel Roberts, Cardiff Parkway Developments Since our update of July 2023 there have been several developments regarding our plans …

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

This is when the Welsh Government stepped in to call in the project. This delayed the project until a hearing in summer 2023, which was held. The Welsh Government then changed its planning policy, which necessitated another hearing in January 2023, further delaying the project.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Despite being a privately funded project with green transport and good jobs at its heart - Wales hasn't helped itself on this project. Work was intended to start in 2021 and to be finished in 2024. Cardiff Council granted planning in April 2022.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Prof Mark Barry has said the proposed development should have happened already. He notes that as well as the green transport potential and connectivity benefits, many employers can't base themselves in existing city-centre office space. swalesmetroprof.blog/2024/07/01/c...

swalesmetroprof.blog

Cardiff Parkway…

This station should have happened already! Cardiff Parkway and the proposed Hendre Lakes Business Park[i] is in the news again. However, despite the current discussions and the planning obfuscatio…

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

The business district has already attracted interest from companies with the ability to create hundreds/thousands of good quality jobs. Most eye-catchingly, Rolls Royce have already said they want to create a major new hub there: www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...

walesonline.co.uk

Rolls-Royce confirm Cardiff site for potential hub creating thousands of jobs

Rolls-Royce said it could potentially make a huge investment at the proposed Cardiff Parkway mainline train station and integrated business park at St Mellons in Cardiff

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Which brings us to Cardiff Parkway. You may have heard of it, but what exactly is it? It's a proposed privately-funded train station and tranport hub for the (poorly served) east of the city - and crucially, it's the centrepiece of a proposed new 188-acre business district.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

This part on Wales' low productivity in particular is worth reflecting on: 'One contributing factor may be that large multi-site businesses prefer not to site R&D activity in Wales. Very low rates of private sector R&D employment in Wales bear this out.'

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

The problem in Wales in this area is pretty acute, finds this paper: 'Wales has a chronic and severe problem of low productivity, and shares with the wider UK two decades of stagnant productivity'. wer.cardiffuniversitypress.org/articles/267...

wer.cardiffuniversitypress.org

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Ultimately, though, productivity as a driver of good jobs is inescapable. Prof Dani Rodrik at Harvard University, is pretty clear: 'The sine qua non (without which, not) of a good job is a high enough level of labour productivity'. www.hamiltonproject.org/wp-content/u...

hamiltonproject.org

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Hardly controversial, you might say. So how do we get there? One aspect is redistribution - something I've previously written about. Places with best outcomes have strong mechanisms for equality hard-wired into economic system, ie strong trade unions. www.iwa.wales/our-work/wor...

iwa.wales

Beyond Social Partnership? Devolved Levers to Support Trade Unions in Wales - Institute of Welsh Affairs

This report points to the tools Welsh Government can use to strengthen the trade unions movement in Wales to benefit the economy.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

The run-ons from increasing job quality would be significant. More money in people's pockets, more young people able to make a successful future in Wales, a bigger tax base for funding public services, and more.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

In my view the key outcome we need to be focusing on is job quality - that's the one that makes a real difference to people's lives. We need to get to a situation where people are paid better and treated better at work in Wales.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

We often hear about the Welsh economy being at the bottom of various league tables. Lower pay, lower productivity, lower investment, lower job quality.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Lots of talk about Cardiff Parkway recently, with a decision apparently imminent. A few (surface-level) thoughts on the issue at hand and what it says about economic policy-making in Wales...

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Reposted by Harry Thompson

Brian Moore @brianmoore666.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Nobody got rich on their own. Elizabeth Warren's observation also underpins the argument as to why it is right for the rich to say their fair share of tax.

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Joe Rossiter @joekrossiter.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Looking forward to launching my new IWA report on 5th December, Cenhadaeth Cymru: Mission Wales, which explores how, through applying mission-driven principles, Welsh Government can transform the nation and tackle our grand challenges. Register to attend at: www.iwa.wales/events/cenha...

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

You’re probs right about that one. It was my thought too. But speech was really good I think - very human and funny. Not afraid to make jokes a pol usually wouldn’t, both in speech and in interviews (about driving ban etc). Think you can really get away with that more than people think

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I agree with what I think you’re suggesting here. Cut-through is so hard to achieve at devolved level, isn’t it. Challenge to get FM’s personality across to people who aren’t attending party conference speeches. People could come away with a very different impression based on limited exposure

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

The right has seemingly been the predominant beneficiary from this new environment so far. Welsh Labour may have a real asset here - ‘a leader for our times’ indeed.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Platforms are more diffuse and varied - and some of these are more long-form (look at the success of Trump’s engagement with podcast space and the ineffectiveness of Harris’ use of some more traditional celebrity endorsements and appearances).

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Modern political communication is more than just message discipline + ‘the line’ - as important as that still is. Electorates are craving authenticity + to be won over by a case they feel respects their intelligence - even where they may disagree with aspects of the message or candidate.

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I was at Welsh Labour conference this weekend gone - and this blog from Tom Watson sums up a lot of my thoughts. I watched the FM’s conference speech and was surprised by how effective a communicator she is. tomwatsonofficial.substack.com/p/what-happe...

tomwatsonofficial.substack.com

What Happened in Llandudno: How Eluned Morgan Became Labour's Most Authentic Leader

Three Appearances in 24 Hours: Eluned Morgan united Labour in Wales

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Harry Thompson @harrythompson.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Giving BlueSky a try. So far my 'For You' page algorithm seems to be less into pushing fascists and pretty strongly into pushing library membership. A good start.

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