Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 29/09/2026This triple-lock policy seems a lot of pain for not much gain. Does seem to hit poorer pensioners harder than rich ones. Remain convinced protecting the triple local but adding a ‘hypothecated 2p Health + Social Care levy’ for over-65s would be much easier. 100
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 29/09/2026This really is a great discussion. A must-listen. So much fuzzy data and thinking on the transition. So many great business ideas (and earnings of bad ones) to make use of that rejected heat too - especially for a country facing punishing energy costs. 000
Reposted by Simon JeffreyJonny Marshall @jonnymarshall.bsky.social · 29/09/2026It's fairer too. Funding investment through the tax system would lead to a much flatter burden on households across the income distribution than using energy bill standing charges or unit rates 101
Reposted by Simon JeffreyJonny Marshall @jonnymarshall.bsky.social · 29/09/2026A good move. Within a decade, the cost of financing new assets – not fuel costs – will be the main driver of electricity prices: by 2035, capital is set to make up over half of power system costs, up from 8 per cent in 2025 21012
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 28/09/2026British soft power: Channel 5 hires Michael Palin for a 3-part series on the Philippines. Takes in a tour of the presidential palace that ends up hosted by the current President, Bong Bong Marcos who does it on condition of asking one question: ‘what inspired the Python fish slapping dance??’ 031
Reposted by Simon JeffreyBorners @borners.bsky.social · 28/09/2026The UK isn't an especially homeownership oriented society. Its Germany and co who are weird. UK is also one less than 10 societies in the world where social housing exceeds 10% of total stock. 262
Reposted by Simon JeffreyGavin Jackson @gavinjackson.bsky.social · 28/09/2026British household wealth is probably more exposed to financial assets, through private pensions as well as directly, than to property nowadays. 142
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Such a huge red flag for wrong'uns. Traffic police and punishing offences should be a much higher priority. Cars with ghost plates and drivers with no-license/insurance on motorways are an important enabler of serious criminal enterprise using cars and motorways.bbc.co.ukThousands of illegal ghost plates on cars revealed by new camerasIllegal registration plates are far too easy to get hold of and are putting the public at risk, BBC is told. 174
Reposted by Simon JeffreyBanjon @beardybanjo.bsky.social · 27/09/2026"what if we continued the work of George Osborne to hollow out the broad tax base, but with lefist vibes?" 36111
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Never got why some people so wound up about this. Financial doping was Arsene Wenger cope. Rich owners buying football clubs to pump money in for prestige is football heritage, the genesis of the professionalism. 100
Reposted by Simon JeffreyJoel Budd @joelbudd.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Pricing environmental actions is really hard! If the payments regime is new, which this one is, demand will be extremely hard to forecast. And a bad growing season like the one we have just had will drive more farmers to the environmental schemes. Auctions might be better. 012
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Quite stunned to find Janos Kornai’s analysis of Soviet Union economic incentives and their failings pop up as theoretical underpinning for challenges facing effective club rugby administration. Soft budget constraints and input hoarding under uncertainty directly referenced.thetimes.comWe know what it’s like to run rugby clubs. This Soviet system doesn’t workFrom Ireland to Australia, clubs operate in a centrally planned economy where no one has the incentive to make the professional game a success 100
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Logic extends to richer pensioners, who should pay at least as much tax on their asset income as workers. Over a few years bringing NI down to 4p and a new 'Health and Social Care Levy' for anyone collecting state pension up to 4p would be good. 000
Reposted by Simon JeffreyStephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026I remain really uneasy about this. 4535945
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 21/09/2026The state of 65-year-olds these days. I really need to rejoin the gym. 010
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Great to see financial devolution attention. It's crucial. The benefits of fiscal devolution are in large part that it enables Mayors to do the borrowing they need to use the powers they've been given, while also exposing those plans and delivery to an up front and ongoing external challenge.thinklabour.co.ukGas, water and bonds - the Labour case for a municipal bond market • ThinkLabourThinkLabour is a think tank working at the heart of British politics to support the Labour movement with research, strategy, and policy development. 000
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Unis probably need something like what social housing sector got after that sectors long term price control on rents drove them into deficits. 10yr catch up to costs equalisation. But limit to courses with strong repayment rates.independent.co.ukTop universities should be able to charge more, says head of Russell GroupRaising fees would mark the biggest structural shift for British education finance in more than a decade 100
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Aware I’m doing the ‘guy who has only seen ‘Boss Baby’ meme, but reminded of Lib Dem structural challenges in Mayoral elections. Structurally a waste of time trying to win as nothing you can or should say. So ‘winning’ needs to mean something else. So far nothing tried, no prices of endorsement set. 110
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 20/09/2026I like the Premier League offer here. Wonder if it might not be close to a free lunch (for net spenders at least) if funding it via a higher levy on transfers (4>6%) sees the some of the incidence falls on foreign clubs selling to Premier League and the ‘English tax’ they put on transfer fees.dailymail.comCarabao Cup change among Premier League plans to end EFL stalemateMIKE KEEGAN: It can also be revealed that the two sides are currently around £27m apart but there is growing confidence a deal can be struck. 100
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Looks like another incredible atmosphere for Vannes, playing this home game against the giants Toulouse in front of 30k fans up the road in Rennes. And 10-0 up. Deep envy of the Top14. English rugby uion has been so poorly run over previous… centuries? 100
Reposted by Simon JeffreyAnt Breach @antbreach.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Some great charts in this Given our welfare system is not very contributory, big Qs for British policymakers here on how we get more women into paid work if we want immigration to be fiscally positive 368
Reposted by Simon JeffreyJim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · 19/09/2026As someone in that market who would love to take on a young grad the various taxes and wage pressures and cost of training mean an experienced grad with five years experience is available and a better choice and a better use of a bit more money. Which I really hate. 162
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Agree with this. But would be much better for Labour to get in front on the inheritance tax issue, claim the credit to reform the system to be more efficient and fairer. 010
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 19/09/2026‘We must block those new houses to preserve the neighbourhood family character’.static.klipy.comMonkeys Paw GrabsALT: Monkeys Paw Grabs 011
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Quite excited to see if a 10-yr SAHP, funding much bigger portfolios with Mayors playing a bigger role, and planning reforms finally get modular resi off the ground in England with enough demand to justify the factories.reds10.comReds10 Developments Launches - Reds10Reds10 Group Launches Reds10 Developments to deliver affordable homes at scale, combining development expertise with industrialised construction. 110
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Interesting paper on potential reforms within PIP to more closely align to different levels of disability. 000
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Think I’ve accidentally talked myself of into the C and UK bit of CANZUK from first principles. And only from the unique geopolitcal and economic situation UK and Canada find themselves in - middle power neighbours across the North Atlantic estranged from their continental bloc. 100
Reposted by Simon JeffreyChris Giles @chrisgiles.ft.com · 16/09/2026Strikes me as an attempt to persuade (some) people it isn't borrowing alongside a beauracracy that will get a lot of lobbying by defence companies. Clearly, we have a problem in interoperability and joint procurement. But you are never going to take the politics out of these decisions 232
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Plenty of English football fans will be familiar with player review in cricket and rugby league - only coming in long after video review. I’m pro these changes but issue here is VAR got it wrong, not on-field ref. Can’t legislate for shite officials at Stockley Park. 000
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 16/09/2026It's possible. The '75% economic today' portion partly depends on not being too precious about the renewable share of electricity generation when and where that adds costs/limits supply and the cheapest electricity gets us towards Net Zero faster via more rapid electrification. #GasTurbines4NetZero 130
Reposted by Simon JeffreyHenry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 16/09/2026BIG NEWS for any pedestrians fuming at e-bike riders Lime have permanently banned a rider caught cycling on the pavement. City of London police says: 3640772
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Coincidence but just saw a bloke walk out of my Sainsbury's Local with 10 steaks. Must be third time in a year. Apparently increased shoplifting and extra security is eating 20-30% of Sainsbury's potential operating profits. Tackling it a cost of living and disinflation policy.bbc.co.uk'Shoplifting has become totally normalised': The crime blighting communities across EnglandFrom profilic shoplifters to organised gangs, we look at the scale of shoplifting in England and how local communities are responding. 000
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 16/09/2026I know it’s very grown up for UK to say we’re not going to connect trade and security deals but seems like ahistorical. UK contribution to an EU-led security council should be material in wider negotiations with the bloc. France pricing UK out of SAFE viewed as sharp but normal practice.euractiv.comEXCLUSIVE: Von der Leyen to call for ‘European Security Council’ in SOTEU text | EuractivThe potential rival to NATO will come with a call for an ‘Alliance for the future’ with Canada, according to a draft 010
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Don’t quite get the benefit to UK of this - is the lending going to be much cheaper? If the French hadn’t set a fuck off price to join SAFE, the cheaper-than-Gilts borrowing backed by EU + joint procurement requirements would have unlocked more bucks and more bang per buck. 110
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Waiting for a byelection to open a new and nearly fully built gas field during the biggest energy shock (since the last one) is both very funny and depressing, and so quintessentially British. Just need to announce ringfencing the revenue from it so rich pensioners can heat their conservatories now. 020
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Understand the worry about domestic energy bills but the crisis for jobs and inflation is in business energy bills. £200 off domestic bills pointless if more people lose jobs and producer price inflation becomes embedded. Individuals much better able to reduce demand than business. 010
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Probably naive but is there not some artifice whereby DWP/Treasury only talks about ‘the state pension you receive’ figures/increases that hold to the triple lock and just operates internally off a second set of books with a slightly higher pension to cover the tax, netting off but never mentioned. 000
Reposted by Simon JeffreyAveek Bhattacharya @aveek18.bsky.social · 15/09/2026static.klipy.comArrested Development: There Are Dozens Of UsALT: Arrested Development: There Are Dozens Of Us 0235
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Interesting to see this. Turns out juicing new build prices is a good method to gin up supply of new homes. Logic of the policy works no matter the price or who is eligible for it, but politics mean limiting to FTB and regionally set prices made sense. 4132
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Hitting £13k. Sounds good. NMW aiming for (very high!) 66.7% of median wage= £24.8k/yr for 37.5hr week. After income tax, NI and auto-enrolment pension, that’s take home of £20.6k. A frugal £700/mth rent+commute costs takes NMW real disposable income down to … £12k!bbc.co.ukState pension likely to rise by £488 a year in AprilThe triple lock has come under scrutiny as the number of pensioners rises making the policy more expensive. 330
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 14/09/2026I totally support the policy recommendation on robotoxis - making them pay congestion charges is a classic Ed Glaeser policy whose time has finally come (was hoping someone would write this report!) but leading on them destroying livelihoods feels very unhelpful. 101
Reposted by Simon JeffreySteve Chambers @planningtransport.co.uk · 14/09/2026Nothing is more indicative of brain rot fixation than I oppose [transport improvement] because criminals might use it. 7162
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Westminster should offer the Canadian provincial model to devolved nations, a Nova Scotia option for Older Scotia ie raise ~65% of expenditure. Full fiscal autonomy effectively, with per capita health/social security funds, top up/tariffs based on fiscal capacity.bbc.co.ukWestminster coming to an end, say Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish leadersThe leaders of Plaid Cymru, SNP and Sinn Fein say the UK government should prepare for constitutional change. 110
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 14/09/2026This looks useful. The robot's accuracy and not needing to leave space for a driver to get in or out enables it to squeeze 50% more cars into the car park apparently. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg5P...youtube.comRobotic parking rolled out at Gatwick airportYouTube video by Sky News 000
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Generally pro this. Maybe start by adjusting Low Pay Commission remit to NMW at 60% of median hourly earnings (still globally high) and freeze current 67% NMW until it hits that. But allow mayors to set an LMW within a 10pp range around that. Local labour markets rather than ideology will drive it. 000
Reposted by Simon JeffreyBen Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Scandinavian countries often have zero IHT as do Canada and Australia - so bluntly, it's not the hill I would die on for the centre-left. Doesn't raise much money either. Just do a proper property tax and CGT. 391
Reposted by Simon JeffreyJames Bowes @jamesbowes01.bsky.social · 13/09/2026This is ridiculous. All visas are temporary. Lots of people on a student visa stay permanently and lots of people on a work visa leave. They’re both immigrants. Unless it’s a short course or short term work placement. 321
Simon Jeffrey @simonjeffrey.bsky.social · 13/09/2026UK being unable to be team up with CPTPP/Canzuk/Anglosphere buddy Canada probably a bigger blow to Brexiters than a deal with US. Hard for unattached/detaching middle powers to do deep FTAs for leverage that US/EU don’t just look at and call a baseline for their deal. 100