Sign in

John Kell

@jmkpolicy.bsky.social
244 followers 245 following 306 posts

Transport policy in local government. Some local radio on the side. Personal views.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by John Kell
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I understand the desire to speak well of the dead, and am sure that Archer, like all of us, was a mix of good and bad. But the tendency to indulge dishonesty, so long as it's by a loveable scamp, has done real damage to British politics. We should be a bit wary of the "isn't he a card?" thing.
1112222
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
This piece sets out how the political party currently hovering around fourth or fifth place in the opinion polls has adopted a position in line with current and past positions of Hamas, the USSR and the National Front. everydayhate.substack.com/p/the-green-...
everydayhate.substack.com
The Green Party descends into disgrace
As expected, the Green Party has today passed its motion declaring Zionism to be racism, and calling for Israel to be replaced by a single state of Palestine.
000
Reposted by John Kell
Kate Bevan @katebevan.com · 25/09/2026
FFS. Really important infrastructure projects shouldn't be subject to the whims of whoever happens to be in Downing Street. HS2 is a clusterfuck because twats just keep changing their minds. We should commit to big, important projects and see them through, not faff about every time we get a new PM.
158515
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
(Applies across multiple parties. Albeit not ones so small the leadership candidates are drawn from that cohort.)
001
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
It's the pauses that make this. Absolutely captures less experienced local activists speaking in the hall at party conference, for what they hope will be the first time of many, but will truthfully be the first and last for obvious reasons. Back when I used to have to go to the things.
100
Reposted by John Kell
Stephen Gallagher @stephengallagher.co.uk · 16/09/2026
Piddington, you reap what you sow
0104
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Do you happen to know how much of the Act is still on the statue book? Political uniforms and private militias surely haven't been decriminalised in the meantime... have they?
201
Reposted by John Kell
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
90 years ago, Parliament responded to the rise of Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts by passing the Public Order Act, which banned political uniforms, private militias and the threat of force for political objects. The debates make very resonant reading today. Here's the Liberal Robert Bernays. (Short 🧵)
You cannot conduct a fair match when one side is playing with a ball and the other with bombs and, if democracy is to survive, it must be conducted according to definite and recognised rule. One of them is that no political party should resort to any weapon other than reason and argument. The introduction of private armies, as I see it, strikes at the root of democracy. I know it is contended that the Blackshirts are not armed and, therefore, are not an army, but I do not think that argument can be upheld. … Uniformed men in military formation suggest, and are meant to suggest, the idea of force. It is no argument to reply that at this or that demonstration no force is intended. It is an inescapable fact that a uniform in politics symbolises force, to be used either now or in the future.
4123711265
Reposted by John Kell
Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Shameful and saddening from Simon Schama. What is happening in Gaza is not the Holocaust. But it *is* genocidal, perpetrated by an explicitly and openly genocidal government, and he knows that. This denialism demeans him and his record as a great historian. www.jewishnews.co.uk/simon-schama...
jewishnews.co.uk
Simon Schama: Anybody accusing Israel of committing genocide should be ashamed - Jewish News
In speech at HET appeal dinner, the historian and professor says 'We, the victims of the greatest genocide the world has ever seen, are being called perpetrators of genocide'
29395125
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
On paper I think binning off token consultations is exactly right. I've responded to enough over the years. But government has no culture of earlier, participatory engagement to shape policy. Still less does it have expertise in it. So... brace for a ton of avoidable policy blunders, I guess.
Extract from a letter to all ministers, which reads:

In many instances, the best approach will be more participatory policymaking. Involving a wider range of people in shaping our thinking earlier and more directly – with ministers and officials leading engagement in ways that reflect the issue at hand, and which help to build back public trust in government. Habitual, box-ticking consultation does not serve people or business and is a distraction to government. Formal consultation should only take place where there is a statutory requirement to consult, where it would be conspicuously unfair not to consult, or where ministers believe there is a good case for seeking external input and that the right vehicle for doing so is a formal consultation. Even where departments have historically consulted or previously promised to consult, we expect each individual instance to be considered afresh, thinking about what is fair in the particular circumstances. We also want to see this approach to consultations adopted not just within central government and its agencies, but across the wider public sector – so it is important that we lead from the front.
010
Reposted by John Kell
Michael @michaeljsc.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
I can’t *believe* we had to, still have to, listen to all that talk about how competent and ruthless Shabana Mahmood is, and then we get a day like today and we don’t have a Home Secretary
832790
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
The true face of Reform: violent, hateful, thuggish, criminal.
000
Reposted by John Kell
James Ball @jamesrball.com · 05/09/2026
It's craven, it's politically stupid, and it's morally wrong. Number 10 does not struggle to get Andy Burnham in front of a camera when it wants him to be there. Every minute he's not on show over this is the result of a deliberate decision.
32809210
Reposted by John Kell
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
A paramilitary blockade of a British port requires a televised address to the nation tonight, detailing the emergency measures that have been taken @andyburnham.bsky.social
001
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
A paramilitary blockade of a British port requires a televised address to the nation tonight, detailing the emergency measures that have been taken @andyburnham.bsky.social
001
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
"Zip merging"? Seriously?? BBC News describes completely standard merge-in-turn, exactly how it's supposed to operate, as some sort of transgressive innovation. I can't decide if it's a worse reflection on BBC News or contemporary driving standards. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
What is 'zip-merging' on a motorway and when should you do it?
How should motorists in the UK merge lanes to ensure safe and smooth driving conditions?
120
Reposted by John Kell
Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
I wonder if all the people at the BBC will regret what they've done if and when Reform UK throws them all on the dole. Maybe not. 🤷‍♂️
610621
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I'm impressed the figure is that low. Would be interesting to see change over time - from working on the issue in the voluntary sector, I suspect it was higher 10-15 years ago.
010
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Azumas at Bedford is quite exciting, but bizarrely Bedford-Newcastle will be quicker and easier than normal throughout this weekend, as rail replacement buses will be running direct between Bedford and Peterborough. Using one of them will be slightly quicker (on paper) than the direct train.
010
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I actually think this is quite revealing. In areas that have become heavily car-dependent and public transport has gone down a death spiral, buses are seen as either irredeeemably low status, or (perhaps increasingly?) a big city / metropolitan liberal elite mode. It's a huge challenge.
020
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Of course, a bold and independent-minded GBR could sharpen up the passenger offer, only to find it goes the same way as NHS England: abolished by an insecure and inept centre that sees it as a rival for power, or just an irritant, rather than a valuable partner. A risk for the future CEO to weigh.
010
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
The GBR visuals are very conventional, and carry on cues from recent trends in livery design. There's nothing innovative; it's just a paint job (/vinyl) to go on the existing engineering endeavour. Speaks volumes about the lack of vision for how things will actually be transformed for passengers.
100
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
I think it's worth reading that post in conjunction with @thebeautyoftransport.com on the initial British Railways identity: thebeautyoftransport.com/2015/02/18/l... - conservative, backward-looking, trying to slap a single identity on what were still the old Big Four companies underneath.
thebeautyoftransport.com
Lions and Wheels (British Railways’ lion emblems, 1949-1964)
On 1st January 1948, British Railways was born. It would go on to be one of the most infamous of British institutions, loved by some and reviled by many. Its corporate identity and “double arrow” l…
110
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
This speaks, indirectly, to something I've wondered for a while: how independent of DfT will GBR be once it exists as a statutory body in its own right? On its first day as a statutory org, the NHS Commissioning Board re-branded itself NHS England. Will GBR also reset its external presentation?
121
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Sad to hear this. I remember Prof Hatcher's lectures being much more entertaining and engaging than I ever expected economic history to be, and also his excitement as Arsenal clinched the title in 2002.
010
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
You can send it direct - he's on here @andyburnham.bsky.social. Been a bit quiet over the last month, but at least prior to that I know he was using the account personally. If you do see this Andy, this is probably as helpful a 5-minute read as anyone's going to send you.☝️
110
Reposted by John Kell
The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
In other words - our body politic retains an admirably efficient discharge system, it is the diet which is at fault.
710826
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
What do you feel is the link between the recent high turnover in PMs and the voting system? Are there structural problems with the legislature that are causing this?
100
Reposted by John Kell
Thomas Ableman @freewheeling.info · 22/06/2026
Unpopular opinion, but today is a great illustration of the British Constitution working well. Having appointed a Prime Minister who turned out not to be able to lead a Government or a country, our flexible system found a way to replace him with someone who can. The system working as it should.
092
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Catastrophic fails from both BBC and Sky News. Sky perhaps have the fig leaf that they're not specifying what post he's resigned from, but the BBC's completely false report that Starmer has resigned as Prime Minister will fuel misinformation and yet more ill feeling towards politicians.
Screen grab of the front page of the Sky News website, with the headline "PM Resigns" Screen grab of the BBC News website with the headline "Keir Starmer Resigns as prime minister and leader of Labour Party"
001
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
This is really glib. For starters, FPTP elects the legislature, but the resignations have been as head of the executive. Bar May, all those PMs had majorities. But sure, the problem is the electoral system...
000
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Were they not covered by the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act?
100
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
I've remarked in conversation recently that I worry we could be getting an Asquith when we need a Lloyd George. Reminded of that by today's news.
000
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Hm, yes - see the point. Still slightly wonder whether it's over-extrapolating from a small dataset. If Disney had committed would Ncuti really still have walked?
131
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Don't think this is true pre-Ncuti. Matt Smith made his name in it, and in that context did a perfectly decent length in the role. Capaldi came back for a final special even though his contract had expired. Jodie was out of contract but turned down big work to do her final season.
010
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
I'd say "finally forced the serious rethink about format and storytelling that, truthfully, was probably needed by the end of the Moffat era" rather than "killed the franchise." We've been here before. It'll be back.
020
Reposted by John Kell
Isaac @isaacmarovitz.com · 10/06/2026
Ban X (Twitter) X has continuously been used by foreign state actors to incite violence throughout the UK. We cannot allow this to continue. Sign the petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/77...
petition.parliament.uk
Support Isaac Marovitz’s petition - Petitions
Find, sign or create petitions calling for the UK Parliament or UK Government to act
69232
Reposted by John Kell
Dan Davies @dsquareddigest.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
The argument for the BBC appears to be that we need a hypothetical BBC to protect against the risk of getting the kind of media which the BBC actually is
10409145
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
I think this can be stated even more strongly. Our 2-party parliamentary (and latterly democratic) system was the product of 'broadcast' media in the broadest sense: first the printing press, then over the airwaves. Atomised digital media create a profoundly different political environment.
000
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
As a treat this morning I got to go to East Midlands Railway's event to launch their refurbished class 360s; looking forward to the refurb rolling out across the whole fleet, as they will offer the most pleasant ride from Bedford to London that's been available since I moved here over a decade ago.
A group of people in orange hi-vis vests, walking along the side of a purple class 360 train in Kettering depot sidings.The project lead on the class 360 refurbishment programme cuts a purple ceremonial ribbon, surrounded by cameras and people in hi-vis.A new class 810 unit, stabled in Kettering sidings, photographed through the window from the inside of the refurbished class 360.Your humble narrator, wearing a hi vis vest, with two class 360s in the background.
020
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
The wildest part of this is that the widow successfully gave the model railway collection away to attendees at the event. I bet she did: that stuff notoriously costs cash money and would have fetched a tidy sum if sold. The really stupid bit was thinking it had no value and needed to be given away!
011
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Oh is it 2019 again?
Screen grab of a tweet from May 22nd 2019, in which I wrote: "Once again, if Cabinet ministers aren't actually willing to resign in numbers, they've no leverage."
000
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
This is well put.
032
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Ha, accidentally managed a more acute remark than I thought!
000
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
I mean it feels unfair on Roy Hodgson, but yes.
110
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Another comparison I've seen: he reminds people of a not-very-good middle manager, which a lot of folk have had experience of working for at some point in their lives...
180
Reposted by John Kell
Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
World economy right now.
16710
John Kell @jmkpolicy.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Top work from m'colleagues.
030