James O'Malley
@jamesomalley.co.uk
@Psythor on Twitter. Freelance writer covering politics/tech/nerd stuff.
Read my content: takes.jamesomalley.co.uk
Yes, I inevitably have a podcast too: abundancepod.com
Free the Postcode Address File!
Read my content: takes.jamesomalley.co.uk
Yes, I inevitably have a podcast too: abundancepod.com
Free the Postcode Address File!
This is why I refuse to use the printing press. Too many monks put out of work by tech bro Johannes Gutenberg.
Let's start with the obvious point. Don't use a technology whose purpose is to enable employers to get rid of workers so they can use an app to do the same job badly. Workers like . . . graphic designers for instance. Next, when using a selection of images, VARY your images. Total rookie mistake. 2/
November 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
This is why I refuse to use the printing press. Too many monks put out of work by tech bro Johannes Gutenberg.
It’ll be much cheaper to build something entirely new if all of the old, historic stuff burns down first!
they did it
they actually managed to kick the can down the road again. amazing
www.politico.eu/article/fina...
they actually managed to kick the can down the road again. amazing
www.politico.eu/article/fina...
Final decision on fate of crumbling UK parliament delayed to 2030s
It’s a fire-hazard that’s prone to tumbling masonry — but fear of a public backlash is again delaying repairs to the world famous building.
www.politico.eu
November 15, 2025 at 1:45 PM
It’ll be much cheaper to build something entirely new if all of the old, historic stuff burns down first!
Reposted by James O'Malley
*Glaring Metaphor for British Politics Klaxon*
EXCL:
Final decision on restoring the Palace of Westminster will be delayed until 2030s
MPs were expected to vote by the end of 2025 on a way forward for fixing the crumbling parliament, but that now won't happen
Story w/@danbloom1.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/fina...
Final decision on restoring the Palace of Westminster will be delayed until 2030s
MPs were expected to vote by the end of 2025 on a way forward for fixing the crumbling parliament, but that now won't happen
Story w/@danbloom1.bsky.social
www.politico.eu/article/fina...
Final decision on fate of crumbling UK parliament delayed to 2030s
It’s a fire-hazard that’s prone to tumbling masonry — but fear of a public backlash is again delaying repairs to the world famous building.
www.politico.eu
November 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
*Glaring Metaphor for British Politics Klaxon*
Not sure I'd draw conclusions as strong as the quote tweet or this bit of the piece from the data here.
Yes, Gen-Z aren't old-fashioned racist (phew!), but I think it would be more useful to measure *which racial story* (for lack of a better term) they most believe/resent.
Yes, Gen-Z aren't old-fashioned racist (phew!), but I think it would be more useful to measure *which racial story* (for lack of a better term) they most believe/resent.
November 15, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Not sure I'd draw conclusions as strong as the quote tweet or this bit of the piece from the data here.
Yes, Gen-Z aren't old-fashioned racist (phew!), but I think it would be more useful to measure *which racial story* (for lack of a better term) they most believe/resent.
Yes, Gen-Z aren't old-fashioned racist (phew!), but I think it would be more useful to measure *which racial story* (for lack of a better term) they most believe/resent.
I’ve said this before but I’d love to know what would happen if a celebrity on a gameshow named a controversial charity, like an anti-abortion charity, or Mermaids, or one that helps small boat refugees.
FYI: The BBC has revealed the charities #TheCelebrityTraitors were all competing for, with links so that you can donate.
November 14, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I’ve said this before but I’d love to know what would happen if a celebrity on a gameshow named a controversial charity, like an anti-abortion charity, or Mermaids, or one that helps small boat refugees.
Reposted by James O'Malley
Want some good news about the UK economy for once...levels of GDP (and forecasts) keep getting revised up...
November 14, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Want some good news about the UK economy for once...levels of GDP (and forecasts) keep getting revised up...
Reposted by James O'Malley
I believe that the secret to releasing the PAF lies deep inside.
November 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I believe that the secret to releasing the PAF lies deep inside.
Hello from Mexico where I’ve found a great spot to build a dense, walkable New Town.
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Hello from Mexico where I’ve found a great spot to build a dense, walkable New Town.
This feels indicative of… something.
Opened a year or two ago in a struggling town, council paid for a capital investment to renew the historic market…. Now the operator can’t afford to do business and is closing down.
www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/ne...
Opened a year or two ago in a struggling town, council paid for a capital investment to renew the historic market…. Now the operator can’t afford to do business and is closing down.
www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/ne...
Market to close after operator steps down
A market is to close after the operators pulled out due to running costs hitting “record levels”.
www.kentonline.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
This feels indicative of… something.
Opened a year or two ago in a struggling town, council paid for a capital investment to renew the historic market…. Now the operator can’t afford to do business and is closing down.
www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/ne...
Opened a year or two ago in a struggling town, council paid for a capital investment to renew the historic market…. Now the operator can’t afford to do business and is closing down.
www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/ne...
Reposted by James O'Malley
Is it even possible to split from a party that technically hasn't formed yet?
Blimey. Major new split in Your Party. Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain -who is secretary of the Your Party company - says he's quitting due to "persistent infighting, factional competition, and a struggle for power, position and influence rather than a shared commitment to the common good."
November 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Is it even possible to split from a party that technically hasn't formed yet?
Presumably they’re not flying a kite on liberating the Postcode Address File as it already locked in as the big surprise announcement to please both the markets and voters.
I know it’s always like this. But one striking thing from the budget kite flying and kite pulling back in, is how major policy decisions are constantly being buffeted around by iterative forecast changes.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
November 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Presumably they’re not flying a kite on liberating the Postcode Address File as it already locked in as the big surprise announcement to please both the markets and voters.
Southwark is a cool station but I'm not sure it should be listed.
(Coincidentally, we've got something interesting on the problem with the heritage building system on Monday's episode of The Abundance Agenda.)
londonist.com/london/trans...
(Coincidentally, we've got something interesting on the problem with the heritage building system on Monday's episode of The Abundance Agenda.)
londonist.com/london/trans...
Southwark Tube Station Given Listed Status
It's barely a quarter-century old.
londonist.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Southwark is a cool station but I'm not sure it should be listed.
(Coincidentally, we've got something interesting on the problem with the heritage building system on Monday's episode of The Abundance Agenda.)
londonist.com/london/trans...
(Coincidentally, we've got something interesting on the problem with the heritage building system on Monday's episode of The Abundance Agenda.)
londonist.com/london/trans...
Just finished “Apple in China” by @patrickmcgee.bsky.social – holy shit it was a brilliant read. A densely researched story of how Apple drove the rise of China’s tech industry and advanced manufacturing capability, creating a tonne of geopolitical risk in the process.
(Sent from my iPad.)
(Sent from my iPad.)
November 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Just finished “Apple in China” by @patrickmcgee.bsky.social – holy shit it was a brilliant read. A densely researched story of how Apple drove the rise of China’s tech industry and advanced manufacturing capability, creating a tonne of geopolitical risk in the process.
(Sent from my iPad.)
(Sent from my iPad.)
The section here on the US moderation debate is very enjoyable listening (from about 30 minutes in).
pca.st/podcast/64c9...
pca.st/podcast/64c9...
Central Air
Central Air, the show where the temperature is always just right. Join Josh Barro, Megan McArdle and Ben Dreyfuss every week for a well-centered conversation on American politics. www.centralairpodcas...
pca.st
November 13, 2025 at 11:20 PM
The section here on the US moderation debate is very enjoyable listening (from about 30 minutes in).
pca.st/podcast/64c9...
pca.st/podcast/64c9...
OK, Daniel Hannan (54) grew up with Rock Against Racism, two-tone, in the era of anti-apartheid activism, but he still ended up doing a massive racism on Twitter in 2025.
November 13, 2025 at 12:15 PM
OK, Daniel Hannan (54) grew up with Rock Against Racism, two-tone, in the era of anti-apartheid activism, but he still ended up doing a massive racism on Twitter in 2025.
Great news about the one SMR but WHY NOT TEN?!
SMRs are cheaper because they are standardised and can achieve economies of scale. We should be more ambitious!
SMRs are cheaper because they are standardised and can achieve economies of scale. We should be more ambitious!
November 13, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Great news about the one SMR but WHY NOT TEN?!
SMRs are cheaper because they are standardised and can achieve economies of scale. We should be more ambitious!
SMRs are cheaper because they are standardised and can achieve economies of scale. We should be more ambitious!
Reposted by James O'Malley
Jeffrey Epstein said Trump was worse than gross. Jeffrey Epstein.
November 12, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Jeffrey Epstein said Trump was worse than gross. Jeffrey Epstein.
Reposted by James O'Malley
I am so here for the "Hitler was neurodivergent" discourse, what a time to be alive
Exclusive: Adolf Hitler’s DNA has been sequenced by scientists
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
Hitler had hidden genetic sexual disorder, DNA analysis reveals
The Nazi dictator had Kallmann syndrome, which hinders normal puberty and the development of sexual organs, according to groundbreaking research
www.thetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I am so here for the "Hitler was neurodivergent" discourse, what a time to be alive
Reposted by James O'Malley
Honestly why does he tweet like a supervillain
November 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Honestly why does he tweet like a supervillain
Reposted by James O'Malley
This is the best take.
More evidence for the claim that Brexit turned absolutely everyone into messy bitches
Exc - Downing Street has launched an extraordinary operation to protect Keir Starmer amid fears among the prime minister’s closest allies that he is vulnerable to a leadership challenge in the wake of the budget.
From @pippacrerar.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
From @pippacrerar.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
November 11, 2025 at 10:42 PM
This is the best take.
I hope it wasn’t my answer to “What are the top three things you think Labour should do to get out of the pickle they’re in?” which triggered the leadership crisis.
What's my most NIMBY opinion? And other important questions.
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/my-most-ni...
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/my-most-ni...
What's my most NIMBY opinion? And other important questions.
A mailbag post for Autumn
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I hope it wasn’t my answer to “What are the top three things you think Labour should do to get out of the pickle they’re in?” which triggered the leadership crisis.
I’m on holiday so am not following closely but has British politics gone bananas since I last checked?
Starmer will fight attempts to replace him, allies say www.bbc.com/news/article...
Starmer will fight attempts to replace him, allies say www.bbc.com/news/article...
Prime Minister will fight any attempt to replace him, friends say
Allies of the prime minister are worried his job might be under immediate threat.
www.bbc.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I’m on holiday so am not following closely but has British politics gone bananas since I last checked?
Starmer will fight attempts to replace him, allies say www.bbc.com/news/article...
Starmer will fight attempts to replace him, allies say www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by James O'Malley
This is a great fun listen. Start of thinking a tunnel to the Isle of Wight is a crazy idea and end up amazed it’s not been done yet.
Let's build a tunnel to the Isle of Wight!
- A new episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA, where we also speak to @edjennings.bsky.social about a maddening NIMBY assault on a proposed battery storage facility in Kent.
www.abundancepod.com/p/isle-of-wi...
- A new episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA, where we also speak to @edjennings.bsky.social about a maddening NIMBY assault on a proposed battery storage facility in Kent.
www.abundancepod.com/p/isle-of-wi...
Let's build a tunnel to the Isle of Wight!
And we check in on what Reform is doing to Kent County Council
www.abundancepod.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This is a great fun listen. Start of thinking a tunnel to the Isle of Wight is a crazy idea and end up amazed it’s not been done yet.