What is the Blair inner dialogue that leads him to say these things? Does he really think it advances causes he cares for or his own personal standing? Or is it an itch he just can’t help scratch?
From FT comments
If I had worked in the Number 10 that had cut childcare bills in half or more for nearly all families, I might not add “the cost of childcare” onto the list of things hitting middle earners.
This is so telling about Labour factionalism and the mindset of (some of) the ‘serious’ people in and around the party establishment
Labour needs to be a catch-all party while the electorate is fracturing and be led by someone who can confidently articulate finesse. Mission impossible?
Avoid doing things for voters who aren't in the places that will swing it and/or won't vote for you anyway - whether you're Blue Labour or Soft Left
Stay focused on big tent politics that unites Labour's coalition, avoid issues that divide it
i.e. competence. living standards. public services
This defeat is a big deal and LAB needs to think hard about strategy and positioning. But there is a risk of over-simplifying.
The next GE will be won in suburbs and small cities that are neither Red Wall nor inner city.
LAB needs to retain pre-24 Tory voters AND win back its Green-tempted core
Interesting trail from Ian Cheshire of the Pensions Commission at @standardlifeuk.bsky.social event
The commission will publish modelling based on BOTH the state pension with a triple lock AND a less generous future state pension
(even though triple lock not formally in scope)
Does this change everything or nothing?
- target voters?
- policy?
- party management?
- government coordination?
- story telling?
- why Keir wants to be PM?
Realistically the best case for Starmer (and I'm not saying this is likely) is "Theresa May after Hill and Timothy resigned": complete change in strategy that allows for better governance setting up better conditions for his successor in the next GE
A good example of how strangely unpolitical this government is at times.
The Economist is fretting that trade union laws have been tilted (sharply!) back towards strengthening unions.
But is the government making an argument around this to progressive voters? No.
economist.com/britain/2026...
What is the role of Adult Social Care in building a Neighbourhood Health Service?
I had the pleasure of working out the answer, working with the brilliant Sir David Pearson, and writing this statement published today by Skills for Care and partners
www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew...
Fascinating (and worrying) to see a false meme derived from overseas data & social media culture get so much traction… never mind the UK evidence
🧵 on new analysis w/ @resolutionfoundation.org on why if Universal Credit is to be improved it is time to ‘listen and learn’ to experts like@changingrealities.bsky.social
For more on why govts should move from a ‘test and learn’ to a ‘listen and learn’ approach 📚 academic.oup.com/ooec/article...
NEW POST
When I went freelance in 2024, I didn’t think at all about insuring my new business.
It turns out I was not alone.
cradle2grave.substack.com/p/small-busi...
Amazing that journalists need to have this explained.
The Parliament Act is not ‘archaic’. The constant possibility of using it is what maintains the supremacy of the Commons, and means the Lords almost always give way.
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Let’s not go down the UBI rabbit hole again…
Absolutely, tax AI disrupters’ profits, but spend it on Universal Credit (and the government’s proposed new unemployment insurance). This actually protects jobless people.
Don’t waste a second more talking about UBI
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Europe v America
Post war western Europe is simply the best society that this species has ever managed to create. Never forget it. Defend it for all we're worth.
On Alan Milburn's ignorant and unproductive comments about personal independence payment, SEND and their impact on young people not in employment, education or training
Anxious Alan
makingrightsmakesense.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/a...
“giving up Chagos was stupid and this proves you should therefore give up Greenland”
Excellent review of the pressure facing Europe’s state pensions
The UK is better placed than many: brely any politics about our next rise to pension age in April
But we still need to debate replacing the triple lock with a system pegged to % of average earnings
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
🚨 10 DAYS TO GO 🚨
The countdown is on for New Year Conference 2026: Renewing Britain
It is funny to think that once upon a time people believed things that were printed in The Times.
My High Tory, High Church A-Level history teacher is turning in his grave!
Samuel Pepys was a Conservative MP… in the 1660s!??
www.thetimes.com/article/4597...
Thanks Richard - and happy Christmas!
Thoughtful post that goes to the heart of how to move towards a national care service in the context of wide local variations in spending and need. This is not straightforward.
- But the average is less important than the deviation. 31 councils are 'under-spending' by more than 10%
Reforms to local government finance will address this gap a bit. But councils are not being set spending targets by DHSC that fully reflect differences in need.
