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Jamie Ratcliff

@jamrat.co.uk
795 followers 607 following 134 posts

Interested in politics, policy, communities, making the UK better, #UKHousing, Norwich City FC and whisky.

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Reposted by Jamie Ratcliff
Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I don’t think: ‘we are bound by our current manifesto so things are going to be tough for a few years but don’t worry, if you vote for us again things will get better but also taxes will rise’ is a good political strategy.
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Channel 4 News @channel4news.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation. 🔗 Read the exclusive story on Substack:
channel4news.substack.com
Exclusive: Nigel Farage filmed undercover celebrating secret new foreign donations
Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation.
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Sam Stafford @samuelstafford.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
🚨🚨🚨 Episode 180 of 50 Shades of Planning is available now via this link or from the usual podcast platforms. Viable Options. pod.co/50-shades-of...
pod.co
Viable Options - 50 Shades of Planning
The basis of this episode was a series of posts Sam Stafford spotted that Nick Cuff at Urban Sketch had shared on his Prop Views blog about the Parkhurst Road judgement and the implications thereof. ...
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Ant Breach @antbreach.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
It would be a terrible shame if this resource was lost for want of an archive - this stuff is still of major interest to policymakers today and is a crucial part of the social history that made the Britain of today (HT @municipaldreams.bsky.social )
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Jim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · 15/08/2026
Being able to write this is one of the coolest things I’ve got to do in a long time! There may even be some free clicks left on this link - indulge your inner dodgy shop owner.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 11/07/2026
Not answering your question but I think the Blue Dragon original sweet chilli sauce is identical but in different sizes bottles. In my sainsburys there's a big price difference between them. Looks less so in your Tesco.
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Reposted by Jamie Ratcliff
Pete Apps @peteapps.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Dining across the housing divide with Jamie Ratcliff - We debate housing supply, rent control, building safety and more: peteapps.substack.com/p/dining-acr...
peteapps.substack.com
Dining across the (housing) divide with Jamie Ratcliff
Too many people disagree on the internet these days. So Jamie and I did so in person instead.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 26/05/2026
Fair criticism James! We were originally going to go to Tayyabs but had to rearrange and then there would've been a full description. I'd already had a brunch so didn't have the biggest lunch!
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Reposted by Jamie Ratcliff
Jim Gleeson @geographyjim.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Recommend this thoughtful and informed discussion between Pete and @jamrat.co.uk, my only criticism being a regrettable lack of detailed descriptions of food.
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Dr David Jeffery @drdavidjeffery.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
The impact of the alphabet on electoral performance is real (data from 2023 locals): ⬇️Every position lower on the ballot within your party costs ~1.2 percentage points of vote share. ⬆️Being an incumbent is worth ~1.7 percentage points so being 2nd wipes out 70% of the incumbency advantage.
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Steve Webb @stevewebb1.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
If Andy Burnham fights a by-election, what is the message on his leaflets? Vote Labour to get rid of the Prime Minister??
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ironeconomist.bsky.social @ironeconomist.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
The real takeaway from this is just what a disaster statutory obligations are for democracy. An attempt to hide where the costs go that has screwed over all the most visible bits of government and has empowered popularism by forcing councils to make choices no one in their right mind would vote for.
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ironeconomist.bsky.social @ironeconomist.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
The housing statutory obligation is the same. Councils paying through the eyes to out people in temporary accommodation and the costs starved out any ability to make the changes that might slowly be able to solve the underlying problems.
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Anna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Second staircases in buildings under 30m height will save one life every 6,153 years, but this requirement is reducing housebuilding, so 90,000 fewer homes built over 5 years. Meanwhile 74 children have died from poor conditions temporary accommodation in 5 years. www.thetimes.com/business/com...
thetimes.com
The staircase safety rule costing the UK 90,000 new homes
The need for a second staircase, brought in by the Conservatives after the Grenfell Tower disaster, have frustrated housebuilders, who claim it is unnecessary
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Place Base Ltd. @placebase.co.uk · 10/02/2026
The Times have covered our first published research on the impact on supply and safety of second staircases in buildings 18-50metres in height www.thetimes.com/business/com...
thetimes.com
The staircase safety rule costing the UK 90,000 new homes
The need for a second staircase, brought in by the Conservatives after the Grenfell Tower disaster, have frustrated housebuilders, who claim it is unnecessary
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Reposted by Jamie Ratcliff
Place Base Ltd. @placebase.co.uk · 10/02/2026
You can read the full research here placebase.co.uk/research#116...
placebase.co.uk
Place Base Ltd.
We provide strategic advisory services for organizations involved in housing, with a focus on enhancing political engagement and fostering strategic partnerships that promote affordable homes and secu...
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 31/01/2026
I do enjoy it when people tell me not to call him Boris, as if working with someone for more than four years isn't a qualification to call them by their first name.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 23/01/2026
But it's not just the current polls but the last General Election where they won with a thin spread. My parents rural constituency went Labour for the first time since 1950. In the intervening time they've consistently polled over 19%. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_N...
en.wikipedia.org
South Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency) - Wikipedia
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 20/01/2026
Guess it depends how the 19% is spread? If thinly and evenly then could easily be a wipeout with Reform taking Northern heartlands and Greens inner cities.
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Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Planning approvals in England are reaching record lows. We’ve just published the latest Housing Pipeline report, which serves as a vital barometer for permissions granted and strongly indicate what we can expect for future housing supply. 🧵👇
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 02/08/2025
Yes. As it stands this chart is showing crime has risen in every year shown. Quite dramatically.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 29/07/2025
I expect there is absolutely no crossover with the 17% who think no one should ever be allowed to keep stick insects as pets...
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 04/07/2025
Not true and the accompanying cut to the threshold meant the burden fell hardest on part-time jobs. Pretty much the worst way to raise money imaginable and most people think it breached the manifesto commitment anyway.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 04/07/2025
Wow. Is National Insurance changes in there? Objectively that must be the worst decision by far but maybe doesn't have cut through?
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Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
What about biggest success? Here it’s not a particularly cheery verdict from the public. Asked in their own words, nothing dominates the word cloud, followed by the NHS.
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Institute for Government @instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 04/07/2025
And lastly, here is our timeline of all the key events in the Starmer government's first year in office.
A timeline of key events in the Starmer government's first year in office.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 04/07/2025
Good piece here by Nick Robinson but am I the only one who can't imagine Keir Starmer saying this?! ⬇️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 20/06/2025
Although if someone hates cities then maybe their view on what makes a good one isn't that useful for the rest! Bath definitely has good points but overrun by tourists quite a lot of the time.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 20/06/2025
I've never been to Lancaster so I'll take your word for it. Edinburgh is nice, not sure how anyone could think Glasgow is better than London. Bath is nice but not comparable to London in my opinion and Bristol much better as a city than Bath. I still think London is the greatest city on earth.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 19/06/2025
I think with a particular focus you could potentially get to three better cities but I don't think five is possible. Name four to try and prove me wrong.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 07/06/2025
Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. They are called Supertrees.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 06/06/2025
#NoFilter
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Andrew Carter @andrewcities.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
I’m looking forward to publication of the list of projects* which under the current Green Book the answer is no but under the new revised Green Book the answer is yes. * BTW I don’t expect this to happen. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Rachel Reeves to announce billions in regional spending after Treasury rule changes
Extra investment lined up for schemes such as energy projects, roads and rails outside London and south-east
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 26/05/2025
I won't post the link as you can know everything you need to from this.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 26/05/2025
You don't need to read the Guardian article. I'm sure you can imagine it just as well as it reads.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 26/05/2025
I knew @davehillonlondon.bsky.social was marvellous but I'm totally in awe of his skill in that he pre-empted a Guardian story today in something I read yesterday and he published three days ago www.onlondon.co.uk/hackney-wood... - top work!
onlondon.co.uk
Hackney: Woodberry Down revisited
A huge and long-running estate regeneration in the north of the borough is being seen by some as an emerging North London New Town
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 20/05/2025
Must confess that I'm not walking the whole way... Flattened out after Cheltenham but some killer hills before then.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 20/05/2025
I think the longer version of this article would have been better. Savills have done some good analysis of social v market rents which shows a big gap pretty much everywhere. If rents don't deliver a surplus over costs then it calls into question the whole HA model. What's the alternative?
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 20/05/2025
Early start on my way to Leeds... #UKREiiF #Ukhousing
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 18/05/2025
Some interesting stuff in there. Never seen a one-off wealth tax proposed before. Do you know what the 2% would raise and how many would be affected? Would you have exclusions? Would be a very brave thing to do politically.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 18/05/2025
As every fool knows he's 53rd favourite to be the next Norwich Manager (in between Derek Adams and Emile Heskey) www.oddschecker.com/football/foo...
oddschecker.com
Norwich Next Permanent Manager Betting Odds | Football
Norwich - Next Permanent Manager Betting Odds. Get the best available Football Specials odds from all online bookmakers with Oddschecker, the home of betting value.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 15/05/2025
I just opened my second bottle of the Thompson Bros mystery malt in a blind tasting and guessed it correctly! youtube.com/shorts/0rCuy...
youtube.com
Minute malt - mystery malt - correct guess!
YouTube video by Jamie Ratcliff
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 20/04/2025
Looks like £100 and £55 now. Hope you got more for yours.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 19/04/2025
I for one am looking forward to the first wave, first cohort and first malting releases and have my wallet open in anticipation.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 19/04/2025
"First phase release" is also quite confusing. Not sure what it means? The web-shop also has two "first release"s and a "first distillation" bottle for sale.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 13/04/2025
I would row it back a bit further to understanding and addressing the challenges that mean a market solution doesn't work. From here I'm not sure how British Steel does well but nor am I clear on all the reasons why it can't.
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 13/04/2025
PS - Ten gold stars for the stoke pun. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Jamie Ratcliff @jamrat.co.uk · 13/04/2025
Another angle I'm in interested in is how far should protection of critical industry run? It seems the blast furnace is now waiting on a sea delivery of fuel. Is it truly protected with this dependence? Not seen it discussed yet.
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Patrick Maguire @patrickmaguire.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
There’s one war No 10 is ready to fight: against the OBR, impact assessments, the civil service fast stream… Starmer’s strategists now claim to want a government so small they can drown it in the bathtub Column in today’s Times: www.thetimes.com/article/4665...
thetimes.com
There’s one war Labour is ready to fight
Frustrated with its inability to push through reforms, Downing Street is gearing up for an assault on Whitehall’s powers
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