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Urban and Regional Economics Research Seminar Group

@uresg76.bsky.social
260 followers 140 following 478 posts

Emeritus Professor, regional economist who reads a lot of history. Frustated Architect who likes visiting places. Art, culture, and cat lover. Lifelong Gooner.

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Reposted by Urban and Regional Economics Research Seminar Group
David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Worst of all, Gorton and Denton didn't vote for Matt 😞
Matt Goodwin

Nobody voted for the Boriswave.

Nobody voted for asylum hotels.

Nobody voted for Afghans.

Nobody voted for Palestinians.

Nobody voted for the small boats.

Nobody voted for 210,000 illegals.

Nobody voted for endless chaos.

And only Makerfield voted for Burnham.

Do you see what is happening?

They are imposing policies that nobody voted for. They are undermining our democracy. And they are treating us all with contempt. I am sick of it.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Those who actually study the numbers are deeply sceptical of the China Shock 2.0 narrative taking over the EU. But heck, why let the facts or indeed the absence of any actual strategy get in the way of a really good panic?
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John Bull @garius.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A cash-strapped rural police force struggles to deal with Red Diesel gangs. Until its chief inspector realises can get the Met Police to deal with the problem... ...if he pretends they're Iranian. A new six part comedy starring Toby Jones.
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Mic Wright @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Still putting ‘bomb plot’ in headlines in the glaring absence of any bombs. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Rubio says foreign actor was ‘clearly’ behind suspected RAF Fairford bomb plot
The US secretary of state offered no evidence for his claims, and also said many people were ‘disturbed’ that the five suspects had been released on bail
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Christian Wolmar @christianwolmar.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Oh dear I have incurred wrath of Autocar magazine pressreader.com/article/2819...
pressreader.com
Prior Con­vic­tion | Autocar
ARE YOU ENGAGED in a cul­ture war? Per­haps you didn’t real­ise; you just thought you were leav­ing work in time to col­lect a child for sports prac­tice, before going to the shop on the way home and ...
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
One of the maddest posts I've seen
Nick Buckley MBE

Danny Tommo. To be convicted of criminal damage - the owner of the boat must be identified. If not, then Tommo might own the boat and is just damaging his own property. None of the above matters. He was arrested for being anti illegal migration. The government and establishment are terrified of the English people. We are beginning to roar. What comes next will change the country forever - good or bad.
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Christian Wolmar @christianwolmar.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
We should do this amp.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/did-you...
amp.majorcadailybulletin.com
Spain is changing its cycling rules from October 1: what cyclists and drivers need to know
The new regulations will bring major changes for cyclists and drivers, from overtaking rules to helmet requirements
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The BBC is capable of decent reporting when it tries. Personally I find people dressed like this very intimidating, which is sadly why they do it. A major challenge for overstretched police forces. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Balaclava boys on electric bikes: How to tackle the problem?
The sight of masked young men on electric bikes or motorcycles is becoming increasingly familiar - what can be done about it?
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Going back to Blackpool would certainly open a few eyes to the challenges of regeneration.
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Jo Michell @jomichell.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Good post. At some point we are going to have to confront the fact that those who live materially comfortable lives may have to cut back a bit on what are effectively luxuries (even if they are now regarded as necessities).
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Worth noting this from Mahmood at the HASC last week. A tacit admission that over a year after the proposals were published they *still* haven't modelled the impacts property - and that the Home Office's £10 billlion number was, as I have repeatedly pointed out, completely nonsensical.
Again, I do not want to overspeak for the Government grid and decide my own timeline. We have always said that we would have a consultation. We had many more responses to that than we thought. The analysis of not just the responses but the modelling that underpins it has taken a little longer. Since then, we have had a change of Government. These are policy questions to be settled on transitional arrangements and so on, but that will happen later this year and in good time before you get the first round of people qualifying who arrived in 2022.
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Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
They warned us Mamdani would impose Sharia law. Instead, he unleashed the real threat: line dancing in Bryant Park.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Might be the jetlag but I'm confused somewhere between "what if the world ends because of AI / trade wars / whatever" and long erudite articles on the Labour Party that leave me little clue as to what they think the point of politics or parties actually is...
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Mahmood's rationale remains the same. Fewer (legal, working) migrants => less racism Nothing to do with integration. No evidence. I'd add this *doesn't* show she hates immigrants (FTAOD don't think she does). It shows her contempt/distrust/fear of ordinary Brits.
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David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Liz Truss doesn't know the difference between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea. She knocked £425bn off the value of pension fund assets. She thinks Tony Blair set up the Bank of England. And major companies pay her £80,000 a speech for her insights on politics and economics.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Learn from Brexit negotiations. National politicians with warm words do not equal the consensus view of the Brussels bubble. Officials across the EU are right now far more sceptical regarding rejoin chatter, because they do not believe the UK is anything like ready.
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Philp leaning hard into this narrative.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secre-tary, said: "More people have arrived in small boats than we have soldiers defending Britain. That is completely bonkers. Labour has lost control of our borders and seems utterly incapable of getting it back. The Conservative plan is to end hotels and benefits for illegal immigrants and instead deport them."
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Christian Wolmar @christianwolmar.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I do remember in the 1970s cycling in London I would chat to fellow cyclists at traffic lights because there were so few of us
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Another excellent piece by @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social (English) Devolution, like so much else is turning into a binary issue where you either think it a waste of time and money, or a silver bullet to solve all our problems. www.ft.com/content/067a... The dangers of devolution dogma
ft.com
The dangers of devolution dogma
Viewing decentralisation as a silver bullet could lead to an unthinking rush to pass down power as fast as possible
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Calvin Jones @calvjones.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"League One? Halcyon days. For City fans of a certain age and disposition, beating Gillingham in the playoff is our top footballing memory." I remember it like it was yesterday #FeedtheGoat www.theguardian.com/football/202...
theguardian.com
We Manchester City fans fear relegation and losing trophies … but club are bang to rights
Despite the club’s shocking attempts to legally filibuster the charges out of existence for the past three years, we’ve rightfully failed
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Predictable that the EU would say only a closer relationship including action on China will avoid Made in Europe barriers, but there is a wider debate in the EU on how to treat partners which makes this slightly premature. www.ft.com/content/5453...
ft.com
EU urges UK to raise tariffs on Chinese cars to avoid ‘made in Europe’ barriers
London has lobbied intensely to secure equal treatment for British products but continues to rule out a customs union
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Jo Michell @jomichell.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
There’s a not much distance between ‘fiscal responsibility’ and ‘making it impossible for your current and future workers to actually work’. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
South Tyneside Council nursery closures decision 'devastating'
Councillors confirm that all 10 Stanley's nurseries in South Tyneside will close by July 2027.
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Further evidence that the right want to return Britain to a mythical Victorian Age.
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Christian Wolmar @christianwolmar.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I ve just received a new stock of Fast Track ..Signed copies at £10 discount available by emailing me Christian.wolmar@gmail.com...worth it for the cover alone
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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I don't particularly like Burnham, but especially coming after Kier 'abandon human rights all ye who vote here' Starmer, that's a bold claim.
Camilla Tominey
Andy Burnham is the emptiest PM of our lifetimes
Beneath the Northern swagger lies a complete and utter inability to lay out a political philosophy
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
So Healey recruiting someone who was involved in writing Labour’s 2024 Manifesto to help with communications around the forthcoming Budget is evidence that Burnham is considering calling a GE? There’s nothing in the article to suggest that’s the case. Thin gruel. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Healey appoints Labour manifesto writer, adding to election speculation
Economist Ravinder Athwal, who worked in Keir Starmer’s team, is poached from Flint Global
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Where “low tech” means not owned by rapacious techbros rather than genuinely low tech.
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Jo Michell @jomichell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I wonder if having one’s recommendations roundly rejected by a Select Committee counts as #impact from the point of view of the REF
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
My unpopular view is that we should actually extend the ban on at seat alcohol to other sectors www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/s...
theguardian.com
Unions urge UK theatres to limit at-seat alcohol sales as staff face ‘unacceptable abuse’
Rowdy audience members have disrupted performances with heckling, violence and even copulation in the stalls
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It's great to see tailoring accommodate such extreme movement today. This level of tailoring was a bit more common in the past, as you can see in old films featuring Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly, but many modern suits will lift off the wearer's neck even when they're just walking.
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Jo Michell @jomichell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This is the British way.
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Since the state pension was introduced by Lloyd George this really is the right wing desire to go back to the 19th century. Might be popular with Reform’s major donors but not, I suspect, with many Reform voters. That’s a major fault line for Reform www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Thinktank linked to Reform UK calls for abolition of state pension
‘Radical’ report likely to influence party’s platform also proposes abolishing inheritance and capital gains taxes
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Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Confused by that story about how all our economic numbers were wrong? Read this by @jdportes.bsky.social and you won't be ukandeu.ac.uk/britains-pro...
ukandeu.ac.uk
Britain’s productivity disaster was real—but not quite as disastrous as we thought - UK in a changing Europe
Jonathan Portes explains why the ONS updated its productivity estimates for the period between 2009 and 2019 from 0.7 per cent to 1.3 per cent and what this change actually means for the UK economy.
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Here's Pochin suggesting that the British government is actively working against the "the will of the British people" This is sane the government that was elected with a substantial majority?
Sarah Pochin MP

The scenes in Gosport and along the south coast last night were chilling.

French and British authorities appeared to be coordinating the planned movement of illegal migrants to the UK.

This country is being invaded, with our own government actively working against the will of the British people to facilitate it.

Credit to the people of Gosport for their peaceful show of strength and for standing up against a clandestine, underhand operation.
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Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Not a dicky bird about thugs trying to sink a dinghy with a rescue worker on board or their claims to be "forming an army". Two boats of people seeking safety land and bingo bango they're the ones portrayed as the issue. Labour is complict in the rise of the far right. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Home Secretary hits out at 'unacceptable' migrant landings in Kent
Usually brought ashore by Border Security Command or the RNLI, these are the first uncontrolled landings since 2025.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Oh, we're still on the "significantly reformed EU" nonsense are we? Like the UK has the power to dictate terms as a returning hero or some such? Same EU as per the last 40 years at least. Be part of it or not. Full stop. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
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Urban and Regional Economics Research Seminar Group @uresg76.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
50 year anniversary of Punk paper www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
The boy looked at Johnny dreaming of England: a memoir of punk 50 years on
It has been 50 years since Punk exploded into our lives. In spite of its apparent short life, it still resonates through our lives, especially that of youth cultures and music across the globe. Thi...
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Good to see that he’s understood the threat . The thing is that it’s not just Russia that’s spreading disinformation about the UK.
Burnham also accused Russia of preying on young unemployed people to propagate a "corrosive narrative about life in Britain" and announced a new national centre for information defence to tackle the cyber threat.
Burnham put the potential threats posed by new technology at the heart of his speech, claiming that malign actors, notably Russia, were targeting vulnerable people to undermine UK democracy.
He announced he had asked security chiefs to establish a national centre for information defence to detect, attribute and disrupt hostile state information attacks and identify disinformation and deepfakes.
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Nick Davies @njdavies.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Great to hear the PM say “We are going to be much prouder in standing up for our values and the rule of law” re foreign information warfare. I wonder if he or the Home Secretary might consider doing the same when it comes to masked vigilantes shutting down infrastructure and harassing the RNLI
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Adam Watson Brown @awb58.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
‘The risk is the emergence of a migration ‘doom loop', in which political pressure to reduce migration leads to policy choices that weaken economic performance and public services, thereby intensifying the very political discontent that fuels anti-immigration sentiment.’
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Jo Michell @jomichell.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Yeah, maybe I'll skip the news break and get on with my admin.
Guardian headline: OpenAI's George Osborne says datacentre nimbys holding back Britain
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Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I'm not a lawyer, but if you intentionally attempt to sink a boat with humans on board, how is that not attempted murder? www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Far-right activist Daniel Thomas slashes dinghy in Channel with blade while rescue worker onboard
Thomas called followers to protest against arrival of asylum seekers in Gosport, but Border Force instead transported them to Dover
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sianushka.bsky.social @sianushka.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Asylum seeking people don’t have the freedom to work, they don’t even have the freedom to shop using cash or choose where to shop, in temp accommodation they don’t have the freedom to cook or choose their own food - honestly this headline is batshit
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
My latest for @borderlex.net - the EU is undermining trade agreements and indeed policy stability in a panic about China - and this is exactly the opposite of the stability its' economy needs. Following Trump's lead is obvious bad policy. borderlex.net/2026/09/21/p...
borderlex.net
Perspectives: Undermining FTAs because of China is bad EU policy - Borderlex - European trade policy
The EU’s Made in Europe and whack-a-mole approach to China is undermining its free trade agreement agenda, to the detriment of long-term partnerships and of the policy stability needed to foster growt...
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
He really is determined to destroy any sense of coherent, fact based, discussion and debate.
The anchor-less channel dispenses with traditional broadcast norms. With no schedule, no on-screen description of what is being shown, and zero context for where or when a clip was recorded, the effect of having the channel on in the background is less like watching a news network and more like installing Trump wallpaper - a 24-hour fever dream of self-soothing propaganda for the Maga faithful.
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The ups and downs of UK immigration policy over the last decade: my attempt to synthesise the economics, politics and contemporary history. Free to read. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Control without credibility: immigration to the UK since the Brexit referendum
Immigration was central both to the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign and to the political narratives that followed it. Yet the trajectory of migration to the UK since the referendum bears little res...
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
There's a slightly more constructive messaging here from the PM on Made in Europe as if someone has pointed out that the lectures to the EU weren't working. Small steps. As to the next Labour manifesto - i suspect the red lines will go. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Andy Burnham does not rule out Brexit reversal being in next Labour manifesto
PM says immediate focus is on rebuilding bridges with EU as he prepares for first meeting with Ursula von der Leyen
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Are Reform seriously saying that Ratcliffe’s business model is one to admire?
Matt Goodwin 
Hmmm who should we trust on the UK economy:

Bridget Phillipson who with a brief stint working for a refuge worked most of her adult life in politics.
Or Sir Jim Ratcliffe who spent three decades building businesses including the world's largest privately owned industrial group that generates £50 billion and employs
26,000 people?
I know which one I would trust. Do you?
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Gravity still applies even in an age of global markets.
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Sunak is growing into the role of being an ex PM. Wish the same could be said about Starmer www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
thetimes.com
Rishi Sunak: Britishness must not be turned into a DNA test
I worry that the immigration debate is going far beyond arrival numbers
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