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Nick Plumb

@nickplumb.bsky.social
3.2K followers 827 following 684 posts

Director of Policy and Insight at @powertochange.org.uk Interests include: UK politics, trust, communities, localism, democratic reform, and inequality.

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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
CORRECTION: this event with Angela Rayner, Ros Wynne-Jones and Liam Kelly starts at 6pm, Monday 28th Sept. More detail here: www.ucl.ac.uk/engage/event...
ucl.ac.uk
Power and Place: where now for community power
Join the UCL Policy Lab and Power to Change at Labour Party Conference 2026.
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Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Positive read on what a ‘hope loop’ looks like and how to start one: “… invest in, listen to, and share power with the people and organisations already doing the work of holding local life together.”
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
For every piece of positive community ownership news - like the recent progress made by the Buy Back Brixton campaign - there is often something more dispiriting lurking round the corner. This had the potential to be one of the most exciting community-led developments in the country.
theguardian.com
‘Devastating’: council rejects Frome residents’ bid for regeneration project
Locals raised £1m for Mayday Saxonvale scheme involving homes and park but Somerset officials agreed deal with London-based real estate company
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A quick thread on our #LPC2026 events, covering high streets, community power and pride in place, with a great set of speakers and partners, including @uclpolicylab.bsky.social @right-here.org @coopparty.party.coop ...
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The PM links new announcements on community energy with broader devolution agenda, and the role of Number 10 North. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
"If the physical infrastructure, like the roads and railways, broke down, there'd be major calls for action. If the financial infrastructure, banks and ATMs, broke down, there'd be panic...
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Excellent thread, but particularly the point about the disconnect between tech policy and neighbourhoods policy.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Similar themes in this paper from @drjennings.bsky.social and colleagues, and my reflections in @politicshome.bsky.social on the latest data from Community Engagement Survey.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
I've written up my thoughts for @politicshome.bsky.social on the Community Engagement Survey and what it means for our politics. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
politicshome.com
Devolution must go even deeper
Our data shows there is political ground to be won in not stopping at mayors and regions.
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PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
With Burnham in No 10, devolution has never been so fashionable But the current agenda, while a step in the right direction, doesn't go far enough It must not stop at mayors and regions, but go deeper: all the way to the community writes Power To Change's @nickplumb.bsky.social
politicshome.com
Devolution must go even deeper
Our data shows there is political ground to be won in not stopping at mayors and regions.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Late to this FT editorial from last week. Pleased the paper is increasingly of a similar view to @powertochange.org.uk and those working with us on the idea of the Civic High Street.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
New Community Engagement Survey findings are out (replaces Community Life Survey and DCMS' Participation Survey). Regional differences between people's perceived ability to influence decisions affecting their local area. Significant gap between London and the NE.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
When I first started working on communities and cohesion policy (2015) we used to regularly cite the workplace as a key domain for cross-age/class/ethnicity connection...
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Hannah Rich @hannahmerich.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I've written for @theosthinktank.bsky.social on community spaces, high streets & why Andy Burnham is right about betting shops and in the process, educated my whole team on what a potbank is. Next up: oatcakes.
theosthinktank.co.uk
A bet on community
As the Premier League and Prime Minister question the prominence of betting companies, Hannah Rich reflects on the knotty ethics of the gambling industry and the need for regenerated community spaces....
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
We did some work a while back with @moreincommonuk.bsky.social @luketryl.bsky.social on what people want on the high street. Vape shops came bottom.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 11/08/2026
We welcome today's announcement - and the emphasis on giving communities a real say in how their neighbourhoods, #highstreets and shared assets are run. We know this is key to a high street that builds pride, connection, and serves local need: bit.ly/4wq4gv5
bit.ly
Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops
Vape shops in England and Wales to need planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in Scotland
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
The second high streets announcement from the new administration, alongside business rates cut for pubs, clubs and music venues. Suggests growing recognition that policy needs to shift us away from retail-dominated model. But this must be start of something bigger.
theguardian.com
Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops
Vape shops in England and Wales to need planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in Scotland
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
The second high streets announcement from the new administration, alongside business rates cut for pubs, clubs and music venues. Suggests growing recognition that policy needs to shift us away from retail-dominated model. But this must be start of something bigger.
theguardian.com
Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops
Vape shops in England and Wales to need planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in Scotland
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
> Focus on foundational economy rather than a sentimental re-industrialisation > Competition / anti-monopoly policy > Decentralised local experimentation Lots of good sense in this piece
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
High streets as spaces for connection and cohesion. This piece well worth a couple of.minutes of your time
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Everyone (on BlueSky at least) is talking about Rewiring the State. Three things that stand out for me: 👀 Break-up and devolution of the QUANGOs 💸 PuFins and local pension funds supporting mayoral Good Growth Funds 🤲 Overhauling performative consultation, bringing public into policymaking process
gov.uk
Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement (HTML)
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Great to have IPPR on board with policy long-advocated by @powertochange.org.uk. All this thinking at the heart of our newly-launched Civic High Street Collective. More here: www.powertochange.org.uk/civic-high-s...
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Interesting to see some of the early figures in the Blue Labour movement (Graeme Cooke, Purnell) taking up central roles in the Burnham administration www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
newstatesman.com
Exclusive: Andy Burnham appoints No 10 policy chief
The appointee, Graeme Cooke, is seen as an intellectual ally of James Purnell
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Kane's voice the cherry on top
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Fascinating stuff. Increasingly believe that Steve and Persuasion are doing some of the most interesting work in Westminster.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
One of the most striking things for me, in the course of Burnham's by-election campaign and push for number 10, is the way ownership has shot back up the agenda. This piece is a v good exploration of the implications of this.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Taken from @mathewlawrence.bsky.social @cmmonwealth.bsky.social's excellent Productive State. An important point on democratic ownership and the way this bakes in outward, rather than only upward, accountability.
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Good to see
Andy Burnham is drawing up plans for an aggressive programme of devolution, as the likely successor to Sir Keir Starmer prepares for a vital speech on the economy with one eye on Labour MPs and the other on the bond markets.
Burnham has signalled that he wants to shift more power from Westminster to local communities if he becomes prime minister,
citing the success of Manchester's economy as a sign of what can be achieved by granting greater autonomy to local areas.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 19/06/2026
🔍 Who is shaping the future of economic reform in the UK? With Andy Burnham's win today in Makerfield, our Director of Policy and Insight @nickplumb.bsky.social reflects in the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social on what this could mean for the communities agenda.
newstatesman.com
Is Miatta Fahnbulleh the brains behind Burnham?
Fahnbullehism is a philosophy rooted in the co-operative movement
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Following the by-election I'm in the New Statesman this morning, urging people to dig into the thinking of Miatta Fahnbulleh, one of the central figures around Andy Burnham. I argue that Fahnbullehism is a brand of radical co-operativism, likely to be influential to AB's agenda should he become PM.
newstatesman.com
Is Miatta Fahnbulleh the brains behind Burnham?
Fahnbullehism is a philosophy rooted in the co-operative movement
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Pleased to see this initiative coming out of MHCLG. We know that democracy is built and maintained in our communities. Last year in our Closing the Void research, we called for a Democratic Trust Fund. www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Democratic Engagement Fund: Prospectus
Information about grant funding for democratic engagement pilots and how eligible civil society organisations operating in England can apply.
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Jess Craig @jesscraig.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Andy Burnham clearly understands the role pubs, shops and social clubs have in our shared life – he’s based his campaign out of one. But while high business rates are part of the declining picture of Britain’s high streets, they're by no means the full picture. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Burnham pledges to review NICs increase and cut business rates for pubs
Labour candidate in Makerfield byelection says party has ‘got it wrong on small businesses’
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
I spoke to @edthom.bsky.social for his latest In Depth piece, How the High Street became a window on our political instability. It does a great job of setting out why high streets are such a potent issue, politically. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
How the High Street became a window on our political instability
High Streets have declined in recent years. What does this tell us about the UK?
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 21/05/2026
📣 This morning Nicola Steuer was at Coin Street, hearing Communities Secretary Steve Reed announce plans for a Neighbourhood Guarantee and new Community Power Pilots. Healthy, resilient neighbourhoods with dependable public services start when communities are involved and have the power to lead.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 20/05/2026
🧵 1/4 High streets are more than shops. They’re civic spaces for culture, learning and connection. 🚨 Today, we publish ‘The high street playbook’, sharing lessons from our Community-Led High Street Innovators programme, and why they matter now. Quick read: buff.ly/FEQKij1 #HighStreets
powertochange.org.uk
The new high street playbook: Community-led innovation in action - Power to Change
The 'new high street playbook' shares lessons from our Community-Led High Street Innovators programme, and why they matter now. Connecting real wo ...
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Taken from last year's @powertochange.org.uk @uclpolicylab.bsky.social @right-here.org essay collection. If Burnham does end up PM, and he gets his hands on Westminster power, let's hope those devolutionary tendencies remain.
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Jacob Edenhofer @jacobedenhofer.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
“When populist parties are the first to seize on the opportunity to supply (mis-)interpretations of local changes, they can realise a first-mover advantage in the market for narratives. In the British context, the radical right has succeeded in tying local decline – even when it was, in fact,
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Fin's not here, but he's one of the most thoughtful people I follow on LinkedIn. Where Can We Interrupt the Cycle? substack.com/home/post/p-...
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
This quote really struck a chord: “Nothing good can happen democratically if people have nothing to leave their homes for, and no places to meet when they do.”
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Another tale of unviability of retail on the high street. But also a tale of this being accelerated by private equity. Claire's controlled by Modella, which also controls TG Jones and Hobbycraft. The dying high street retail chain a perfect way for the PE firm to generate returns, quickly.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Looks like it's not just government that have been reading our work @powertochange.org.uk. Look forward to seeing the detail of these plans. Growing consensus that a civic high street is the only way forward.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 15/04/2026
✍️ High streets are the heart of our communities, but many are stuck in decline. We need a fast, agile way for communities to secure empty buildings. @nickplumb.bsky.social explains why a High Street Property Holding Vehicle could be the tool to fix a broken market. Read now 👉 bit.ly/4c5dJ3S
A person holds a phone while others stand nearby on a city street. A sign reads "Why the time has come for a High Street Property Holding Vehicle - New blog" with a "Power to Change" logo in the corner.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Good pamphlet this. In particular, this point from @jeevunsandher.bsky.social, as he makes the case for a community led economy. Civic assets are economic assets. That's why we need policy attention on community ownership, civic high streets.
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Jess Craig @jesscraig.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Over the weekend the government announced £301m(!) for High Streets Innovation Partnerships to help communities 'reimagine and revive struggling high streets and make them fit for the future': www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
High streets revived and children given safe places to play
New initiative will support local areas to reimagine and revive their struggling high streets
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
"the truth is that community solutions still face too many barriers to getting off the ground. “We can change that by standing up for our values to help fix the housing crisis by bringing communities together to own, manage and shape the housing they want to see."
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
A big day for us @powertochange.org.uk as we publish our 5-year strategy. It sets out the change we want to see in the world and our role - alongside community business and other partners - in bringing this into being. Do have a read.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
More MPs on the Labour benches putting forward a vision for 21st century civic high streets. @connornaismithmp.bsky.social labourlist.org/2026/03/labo...
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Jess Craig @jesscraig.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Had a great day visiting the fantastic @nudgecommunity.bsky.social with civil servants and @powertochange.org.uk to discuss all things community ownership and high street regeneration. Come for a look around… (🧵)
The exterior of Union Corner, Nudge’s first site with a bright facade bringing colour back to the high street. Hannah, co-director of Nudge (in a red coat and blue hat) is talking to an assembled group of people about the site.
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Nick Plumb @nickplumb.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Pleased that the Business and Trade Committee has picked up on two of the recommendations in the Shuttered Front work we @powertochange.org.uk did last year.
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Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 12/02/2026
📝 New blog out today from Louise Cross at Make CIC, sharing learning from testing High Street Rental Auctions in Birkenhead. Key insight: HSRAs can catalyse change but are just one tool among many. Real progress involves relationships, community insight & practical support. Read now: buff.ly/P3wxuvY
powertochange.org.uk
What we’re learning from High Street Rental Auctions – and how they can catalyse change - Power to Change
One of our five community-led high street innovators - Make CIC - creates affordable, creative and maker spaces rooted in local need. In this blog in a mini ...
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