John Erskine
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johnerskine.bsky.social
John Erskine
@johnerskine.bsky.social
Semi-retired, with some occasional research interviewing to keep the wolves from doors. Interested in travel, reading, rugby, campervans, motorhomes, regional policy and politics. Cyclist. Morris Dancer. Confirmed non-influencer.
As a Non-Subscriber and a Zwinglian, that's a Calvinist view I can support!
November 30, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Then there's the associated idiocy that says only 10% - 15% of a research article should be actual research findings.
November 29, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Thanks for sharing. I remain of the view that if it's not a SSSI, AONB or National Park only market forces, personal choice and paying up the CIL (community infrastructure levy) should determine whether it's built on.
November 29, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Meanwhile, we spaff billions on the Triple Lock.
November 23, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Meanwhile, neutral Switzerland fields 30 F18 and 50 F5 fighter jets. Ireland hasn't had a functional interceptor capacity since the 1950's.
November 9, 2025 at 5:22 PM
As an Irish citizen, I'm delighted that my taxes pay for Ireland's air and maritime defence, but I don't see why my neighbours in our Yorkshire village should have to pay. Ireland has no air defence radar, can't respond to air incursions into Irish airspace, and can't protect transatlantic cables.
November 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Except it's not genocide. It's a democratic state exercising it's legitimate right to self-defence against fascist, racist, misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic aggression. Like the Nazis in WW2, Hamas and the cancerous culture that sustains it needs to be eliminated.
November 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
It's been this bad for decades, and will be so until we remove NIMBYs from the planning process and bite the bullet on road-user pricing.
November 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Mamdani would have failed Labour's NEC vetting process, quite rightly. Poor local selections have national impacts, as Labour learnt in the 1980's. Will the New York result help flip Red State House Districts? No.
November 5, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Does he realise that his parliamentary constituency - and lots of others in ex-mining constituencies - would have no main dealerships if it wasn't for Motability? Motability is the main buyer of new cars in the UK, and definitely the major funder of dealerships in constituencies like Ashfield.
October 31, 2025 at 9:34 AM
And a fourth. Save the NHS billions, and cut our unsustainable bill for state pensions by re-using those dinghies to send Reform voters on a one way trip to Murmansk, Archangel or Kaliningrad. Putin paid for their votes. He can look after them in their declining years...
October 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Perhaps it's time for the return of the great English institution, the Bill of Attainder? Targeted at the King's enemies on Russia's payroll...
October 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A significant focus on the adult skills deficit would also be useful. Large numbers of older people in the UK are functionally illiterate and innumerate, and unable to use basic information technology such as self-scan tills or book GP appointments online.
October 30, 2025 at 7:34 AM
When land with planning permission costs £20m per hectare, as it does now? I don't think so. Until we have a genuinely free and competitive market in development land, it won't happen.
October 27, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Ever commissioned new social housing? I have. You seem to assume that the Government can wave a magic wand and NIMBYs - the key barrier - will disappear. Politicians have to get elected, and there are always many more votes stopping new housing than building it.
October 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
In the 1960's land costs were approximately 5% of a new home's value. They're now 90%+. That's the problem.
October 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The Green Party have no answers to the key questions, and never will have. When 90% of the cost of new-build is the land it's built on, it takes 20+ years to get a site to market, and residential planning permission turns a £20k agricultural hectare into a £2m goldmine? Planning's the problem.
Housing vs farmland: how to get the balance right?
One of the most bizarre responses I often get when I argue for more housebuilding is that Britain shouldn’t build … Continue reading "Housing vs farmland: how to get the balance right?"
iea.org.uk
October 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The Government has had a social housing initiative for decades. It's currently called Homes England. It can't do enough, because we have a planning system that privileges geriatric dog-walkers and other NIMBYs over people who need homes.
October 27, 2025 at 1:06 PM