Nick Gray
@path-dependent.bsky.social
Poltical economy at Teesside University. Fellow of things.
That's not Teesside in the banner photo.
https://research.tees.ac.uk/en/persons/nicholas-gray
That's not Teesside in the banner photo.
https://research.tees.ac.uk/en/persons/nicholas-gray
If it continues on this trajectory, we might end up paying as much as they do in socialist hellholes like Germany, the Netherlands, or maybe Luxembourg.
November 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
If it continues on this trajectory, we might end up paying as much as they do in socialist hellholes like Germany, the Netherlands, or maybe Luxembourg.
I remember working in local government when Osborne did this and it being couched as giving local government certainty and freedom. It might even have provoked more anger than the New Homes Bonus.
Council Tax support has been massively localised. The subsequent mess reveals the perils of hiding spending cuts under cover of localisation.
Our anaylsis reveals that in England Council Tax Reduction expenditure and caseloads
declined when it was localised.
Find out more 👉 buff.ly/oPhDMwI
Our anaylsis reveals that in England Council Tax Reduction expenditure and caseloads
declined when it was localised.
Find out more 👉 buff.ly/oPhDMwI
November 26, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I remember working in local government when Osborne did this and it being couched as giving local government certainty and freedom. It might even have provoked more anger than the New Homes Bonus.
It's easier to imagine the end of capitalism than the end of the freeze on fuel duty.
November 26, 2025 at 8:56 AM
It's easier to imagine the end of capitalism than the end of the freeze on fuel duty.
Reposted by Nick Gray
“I’m being burgled”
“Great so I’m hearing you’re being murdered, is that right?”
“Great so I’m hearing you’re being murdered, is that right?”
November 26, 2025 at 7:54 AM
“I’m being burgled”
“Great so I’m hearing you’re being murdered, is that right?”
“Great so I’m hearing you’re being murdered, is that right?”
Ahead of the budget, the Government has (sort of quietly) offered a fair bit on regional policy, but money for people-based work is the missing part of the funding mix.
Will that change tomorrow?
(Title change...shouldn't have mentioned l*******g *p)
open.substack.com/pub/pathdepe...
Will that change tomorrow?
(Title change...shouldn't have mentioned l*******g *p)
open.substack.com/pub/pathdepe...
More than spades in the ground?
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was flawed, but regional development still needs day-to-day funding
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Ahead of the budget, the Government has (sort of quietly) offered a fair bit on regional policy, but money for people-based work is the missing part of the funding mix.
Will that change tomorrow?
(Title change...shouldn't have mentioned l*******g *p)
open.substack.com/pub/pathdepe...
Will that change tomorrow?
(Title change...shouldn't have mentioned l*******g *p)
open.substack.com/pub/pathdepe...
Never mind scrapping jury trials - bring in Judge Dredd style enforcement for this sort of thing.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Man arrested over Oxfordshire waste mountain
A 39-year-old man is arrested after the huge pile of rubbish was found in Oxfordshire.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Never mind scrapping jury trials - bring in Judge Dredd style enforcement for this sort of thing.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was deeply flawed but regional development still needs day-to-day funding.
Hopefully the budget will bring clarity
pathdependent1.substack.com/p/after-leve...
Hopefully the budget will bring clarity
pathdependent1.substack.com/p/after-leve...
After Levelling Up?
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was flawed, but regional development still needs day-to-day funding
pathdependent1.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was deeply flawed but regional development still needs day-to-day funding.
Hopefully the budget will bring clarity
pathdependent1.substack.com/p/after-leve...
Hopefully the budget will bring clarity
pathdependent1.substack.com/p/after-leve...
On reflection, in a perfect story to annoy the post liberals, I did A levels poorly so went to a low tariff university all the way down in that London, where I learned about post structuralism.
I'd have made more effort to maintain the intergenerational bond but unfortunately they'd closed Huwood's mining engineering works so I had to do A levels.
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 AM
On reflection, in a perfect story to annoy the post liberals, I did A levels poorly so went to a low tariff university all the way down in that London, where I learned about post structuralism.
I’m briefly in this, being miserable, but – honest - I was mostly positive.
(I talked about how Darlington isn’t a “left behind” town, it’s strong transport connections and logistics sector, how they trying to improve rail connections within the region and so on).
(I talked about how Darlington isn’t a “left behind” town, it’s strong transport connections and logistics sector, how they trying to improve rail connections within the region and so on).
November 24, 2025 at 9:50 AM
I’m briefly in this, being miserable, but – honest - I was mostly positive.
(I talked about how Darlington isn’t a “left behind” town, it’s strong transport connections and logistics sector, how they trying to improve rail connections within the region and so on).
(I talked about how Darlington isn’t a “left behind” town, it’s strong transport connections and logistics sector, how they trying to improve rail connections within the region and so on).
Really, you have to sympathise with Arne Slot. He's having to work with players signed from NPC clubs without Liverpool's great history.
November 22, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Really, you have to sympathise with Arne Slot. He's having to work with players signed from NPC clubs without Liverpool's great history.
England bat first in Australia but are out when I wake up.
I want to say "as christmas as mince pies" but it's still November.
I want to say "as christmas as mince pies" but it's still November.
Is me paying 30 quid for TNT sports as good as handing Australia the ashes? I can’t decide.
I could see how it goes tonight but time zones mean this is one of the two value-for-money matches when it’s on telly in the morning.
(I'm far too much of a rule-obeyer to have a dodgy firestick)
I could see how it goes tonight but time zones mean this is one of the two value-for-money matches when it’s on telly in the morning.
(I'm far too much of a rule-obeyer to have a dodgy firestick)
November 21, 2025 at 7:10 AM
England bat first in Australia but are out when I wake up.
I want to say "as christmas as mince pies" but it's still November.
I want to say "as christmas as mince pies" but it's still November.
Is me paying 30 quid for TNT sports as good as handing Australia the ashes? I can’t decide.
I could see how it goes tonight but time zones mean this is one of the two value-for-money matches when it’s on telly in the morning.
(I'm far too much of a rule-obeyer to have a dodgy firestick)
I could see how it goes tonight but time zones mean this is one of the two value-for-money matches when it’s on telly in the morning.
(I'm far too much of a rule-obeyer to have a dodgy firestick)
November 20, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Is me paying 30 quid for TNT sports as good as handing Australia the ashes? I can’t decide.
I could see how it goes tonight but time zones mean this is one of the two value-for-money matches when it’s on telly in the morning.
(I'm far too much of a rule-obeyer to have a dodgy firestick)
I could see how it goes tonight but time zones mean this is one of the two value-for-money matches when it’s on telly in the morning.
(I'm far too much of a rule-obeyer to have a dodgy firestick)
I’ve been reading a lot of budget punditry.
Pulling it together, it’s clear that the government needs to grow the economy, materially improve people’s lives, and improve public services, without increasing taxes. Simple.
Pulling it together, it’s clear that the government needs to grow the economy, materially improve people’s lives, and improve public services, without increasing taxes. Simple.
November 20, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I’ve been reading a lot of budget punditry.
Pulling it together, it’s clear that the government needs to grow the economy, materially improve people’s lives, and improve public services, without increasing taxes. Simple.
Pulling it together, it’s clear that the government needs to grow the economy, materially improve people’s lives, and improve public services, without increasing taxes. Simple.
Doesn't Burnham's schtick require him to be a northern MP?
Hypothetically, of course
Hypothetically, of course
Clive Lewis said he had been “asked a hypothetical question, and I gave a hypothetical answer” - that he would give up his seat to give Andy Burnham a chance to be in parliament
In this hypothetical world, how would a Norwich South by-election go?
In this hypothetical world, how would a Norwich South by-election go?
November 20, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Doesn't Burnham's schtick require him to be a northern MP?
Hypothetically, of course
Hypothetically, of course
This is good and interesting work, although unless I'm reading it wrong, it appears to be showing a large housing gap (between demand and supply) in the Horden area of east Durham.
Which is... counterintuitive.
Which is... counterintuitive.
November 19, 2025 at 8:58 PM
This is good and interesting work, although unless I'm reading it wrong, it appears to be showing a large housing gap (between demand and supply) in the Horden area of east Durham.
Which is... counterintuitive.
Which is... counterintuitive.
Reposted by Nick Gray
That YouTube clip of Sir Nicholas Winton, but at the end of it the audience gets put on a bus?
"The era of permanent protection is over"
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Refugees from 7 decades gather to commemorate 70 years of refugee in protection in the UK
YouTube video by Refugee Council
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:24 PM
That YouTube clip of Sir Nicholas Winton, but at the end of it the audience gets put on a bus?
Back from London and once again I visited a nice pub in zone one where I paid a fiver for a nice pint of cask beer.
Along with all the rest of it, Matt Goodwin is clearly bad at making rapid assessments of pubs.
Along with all the rest of it, Matt Goodwin is clearly bad at making rapid assessments of pubs.
November 15, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Back from London and once again I visited a nice pub in zone one where I paid a fiver for a nice pint of cask beer.
Along with all the rest of it, Matt Goodwin is clearly bad at making rapid assessments of pubs.
Along with all the rest of it, Matt Goodwin is clearly bad at making rapid assessments of pubs.
I don't want to get all Linkedin on you, but it's pleasing that this talks about how important Teesside univesity is to the place it's in, and our big intake of local students.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/times-h...
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/times-h...
Times Higher Education Awards 2025: winners announced
Teesside University and Steve Smith win top prizes as ‘Oscars of higher education’ is held in Scotland for first time
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I don't want to get all Linkedin on you, but it's pleasing that this talks about how important Teesside univesity is to the place it's in, and our big intake of local students.
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/times-h...
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/times-h...
When you think something is going to finish early but then it overruns.
November 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM
When you think something is going to finish early but then it overruns.
Anyone I know here going to regional studies tomorrow?
I was going to email people and ask but... I didn't.
I was going to email people and ask but... I didn't.
November 12, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Anyone I know here going to regional studies tomorrow?
I was going to email people and ask but... I didn't.
I was going to email people and ask but... I didn't.
Nice anti-good-old days thread.
I’m not *that* old but my parents and sister lived in a crappy private rented flat with coal fire, outdoor netty and sometimes mice.
I’m not *that* old but my parents and sister lived in a crappy private rented flat with coal fire, outdoor netty and sometimes mice.
My dad was from an extremely middle class vicarage family and he still used to love going to stay at his godmothers in the 1960s because she had central heating
November 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Nice anti-good-old days thread.
I’m not *that* old but my parents and sister lived in a crappy private rented flat with coal fire, outdoor netty and sometimes mice.
I’m not *that* old but my parents and sister lived in a crappy private rented flat with coal fire, outdoor netty and sometimes mice.
In theory I was a textbook Galaxie 500 fan in the 90s but they somehow passed me by.
What is your biggest musical blindspot for someone precisely your age?
For me - an elder millennial - it is that I have never knowingly listened to INCUBUS, nor could I name even one of their songs if you put a gun to my head.
For me - an elder millennial - it is that I have never knowingly listened to INCUBUS, nor could I name even one of their songs if you put a gun to my head.
November 10, 2025 at 11:07 AM
In theory I was a textbook Galaxie 500 fan in the 90s but they somehow passed me by.
I'm not one of those Newcastle United fans who'd almost rather Sunderland lost than Newcastle won.
In fact, I've sort of wished Sunderland well during this good run, but - frankly - they've had their fun now, come on Arsenal.
In fact, I've sort of wished Sunderland well during this good run, but - frankly - they've had their fun now, come on Arsenal.
November 8, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I'm not one of those Newcastle United fans who'd almost rather Sunderland lost than Newcastle won.
In fact, I've sort of wished Sunderland well during this good run, but - frankly - they've had their fun now, come on Arsenal.
In fact, I've sort of wished Sunderland well during this good run, but - frankly - they've had their fun now, come on Arsenal.
How have they gone from being terrified to reverse an unfunded tax cut to flying a kite for road pricing?
November 6, 2025 at 10:45 AM
How have they gone from being terrified to reverse an unfunded tax cut to flying a kite for road pricing?