Simon Jeffrey
@simonjeffrey.bsky.social
Personal opinions about transport and devolution policy.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
England has 25.8 million homes and 4,632 were demolished in the last year, at which rate the average existing home will need to last for around five and a half thousand years.
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
England has 25.8 million homes and 4,632 were demolished in the last year, at which rate the average existing home will need to last for around five and a half thousand years.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
This is one of my favourite bits on here: the Uk actually taxes its top decile a lot and under taxes the middle, giving us Europes most progressive taxation system. European taxes for the top decile and then they get frozen out of the benefits system because the middle do not pay their share.
November 21, 2025 at 7:34 AM
This is one of my favourite bits on here: the Uk actually taxes its top decile a lot and under taxes the middle, giving us Europes most progressive taxation system. European taxes for the top decile and then they get frozen out of the benefits system because the middle do not pay their share.
Incredible work by Birmingham City making Man Utd's big top proposal look sober and refined in comparison. (It has actually grown on me tbf). A nod to heritage is nice but this is an unprovoked headbutt.
November 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Incredible work by Birmingham City making Man Utd's big top proposal look sober and refined in comparison. (It has actually grown on me tbf). A nod to heritage is nice but this is an unprovoked headbutt.
Ah, but what price can we put on Birmingham successfully protecting its character while Japanese and French cities lose theirs through overdevelopment in pursuit of high quality modern and affordable housing in more prosperous and liveable cities?
The reason is because the built form of the urban core *outside the city centre* of British big cities is essentially frozen.
This is totally different to French and Japanese big cities which see construction across their urban core.
This is totally different to French and Japanese big cities which see construction across their urban core.
November 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Ah, but what price can we put on Birmingham successfully protecting its character while Japanese and French cities lose theirs through overdevelopment in pursuit of high quality modern and affordable housing in more prosperous and liveable cities?
This is great. I trust the bond markets to kick the tyres of Local Growth Plans effectively and provide a stronger stimulus for effective investment policy than various govt departments.
How municipal bond markets can save Britain <-- a fantastic, must-read (and FREE TO READ!) guest post from @morganwild.bsky.social !
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/municipal-...
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/municipal-...
How municipal bond markets can save Britain
The case for more fiscal devolution to build the infrastructure we need
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This is great. I trust the bond markets to kick the tyres of Local Growth Plans effectively and provide a stronger stimulus for effective investment policy than various govt departments.
Remarkable how unremarked upon the announcement was. It’s a big deal. Would have been much better - messaging impact and delivering 1.5m homes wise - if it had been announced in the first week after the election.
"It would mean more people could benefit from those frequent Central Line services. It is exactly what I hoped this Labour government might do.
"And I almost missed it, because they instead won’t shut up about being horrible to foreigners."
"And I almost missed it, because they instead won’t shut up about being horrible to foreigners."
The Weekly Howl
The British government just did something I agree with, and it feels almost gross to mention it. Also: who invented the week? And some Beeching-themed maps.
jonn.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Remarkable how unremarked upon the announcement was. It’s a big deal. Would have been much better - messaging impact and delivering 1.5m homes wise - if it had been announced in the first week after the election.
Remarkable new data and analysis of UK cities’ density problem. Tiny islands of lukewarm city centre development trapped tightly in a frozen sea of suburbia. TCPA was like an ice age descending on cities.
Latest @centreforcities.bsky.social report out today Flat Britain: the urban density gap and how to close it
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Flat Britain: The urban density gap and how to close it - Centre for Cities
This report addresses the unanswered questions that remain – exactly where should British cities increase density, and how can they do it?
www.centreforcities.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Remarkable new data and analysis of UK cities’ density problem. Tiny islands of lukewarm city centre development trapped tightly in a frozen sea of suburbia. TCPA was like an ice age descending on cities.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
"The mark of 22,711 megawatts (MW) was set at 7.30pm on 11 November, beating the previous high for wind power generation of 22,253 MW set on 18 December last year."
news.sky.com/story/new-re...
news.sky.com/story/new-re...
New record for wind-powered electricity in Britain
The National Energy System Operator (Neso) has predicted Britain could hit another milestone in the months ahead by running the grid for a period entirely with zero carbon power, renewables and nuclea...
news.sky.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:49 PM
"The mark of 22,711 megawatts (MW) was set at 7.30pm on 11 November, beating the previous high for wind power generation of 22,253 MW set on 18 December last year."
news.sky.com/story/new-re...
news.sky.com/story/new-re...
December’s police reform white paper sounds extremely interesting - and overdue.
November 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
December’s police reform white paper sounds extremely interesting - and overdue.
Exactly, let's not make VAT worse when there's much better options on the table to do something similar.
How can the Government help families with high energy bills?
Jonny Marshall explains why cutting VAT from bills would *not* be the best approach.
Catch up on the full discussion to find out how the Government can cut costs for three-in-four households ⤵️ buff.ly/aA5q2H3
Jonny Marshall explains why cutting VAT from bills would *not* be the best approach.
Catch up on the full discussion to find out how the Government can cut costs for three-in-four households ⤵️ buff.ly/aA5q2H3
November 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Exactly, let's not make VAT worse when there's much better options on the table to do something similar.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
The relative tax treatment of the employed and the self employed is simply not fair. Action should be taken.
Taxes on the typical salary are now 55% higher than on self-employment income.
The effective tax rate for a self-employed worker equivalent to the median employee in 2025-26 was the second lowest in 50 years, behind only 2024-25 ⤵️ buff.ly/4ppe7Q8
The effective tax rate for a self-employed worker equivalent to the median employee in 2025-26 was the second lowest in 50 years, behind only 2024-25 ⤵️ buff.ly/4ppe7Q8
November 19, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The relative tax treatment of the employed and the self employed is simply not fair. Action should be taken.
Don't know why this article annoyed me so much, but it's the second most read on BBC News, quite long and yet at the end I didn't have anything but the most vague answer with almost no details on the question it asks: why is the number of childminders falling, especially for 3 and 4yos?
Our son's about to turn three - it's become a childcare nightmare
The number of childminders in England is falling - with one charity warning they could all be gone by 2033.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Don't know why this article annoyed me so much, but it's the second most read on BBC News, quite long and yet at the end I didn't have anything but the most vague answer with almost no details on the question it asks: why is the number of childminders falling, especially for 3 and 4yos?
Tourist tax; default ‘yes’ to housing within 800m of train stations; and devolution of local rail to mayors: all quite good stuff individually that can combine into something very good. But all things that should have been announced on Day 1 of the Labour Govt.
November 18, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Tourist tax; default ‘yes’ to housing within 800m of train stations; and devolution of local rail to mayors: all quite good stuff individually that can combine into something very good. But all things that should have been announced on Day 1 of the Labour Govt.
Default ‘yes’ to new housing around train/tram stations. Feels like quite a big deal. We have a lot of train stations surrounded by fields that are well connected into city centres. 1000 commuter villages will provide a lot more homes than 10 new towns.
Housebuilding around train stations will be given default “yes”
Housebuilding near well-connected train stations will receive a default “yes” in future if they meet certain rules, ensuring more homes are built
www.gov.uk
November 18, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Default ‘yes’ to new housing around train/tram stations. Feels like quite a big deal. We have a lot of train stations surrounded by fields that are well connected into city centres. 1000 commuter villages will provide a lot more homes than 10 new towns.
Surprised by how little attention the Bezos reusable rocket launch success has got on here, if only for Musk no longer having the monopoly on that.
November 14, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Surprised by how little attention the Bezos reusable rocket launch success has got on here, if only for Musk no longer having the monopoly on that.
Turns out you can just do things.
Westminster council issuing £100 fines for badly parked hire bikes and pedicabs
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/wes...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/wes...
Westminster council issuing £100 fines for badly parked hire bikes and pedicabs
Westminster Council has stepped up its campaign against badly parked dockless hire bikes - by issuing £100 penalty notices for each one it finds.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Turns out you can just do things.
Turnout and awareness a problem not just for PCCs. Devo to Mayors from central govt - fiscal, health, education the biggest missing pieces - shouldn’t ignore decentralising the BBC to match. Should be a priority ask in the charter renewal process for MHCLG to support the C and hold the LG to account
Article mentions ‘no figures for cost savings yet’. Costs are small anyway and the deputy mayors for policing and their teams will still be needed. Issue is genuine democratic accountability and better outcomes and value for money by integrating with wider local social and economic policy.
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
November 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Turnout and awareness a problem not just for PCCs. Devo to Mayors from central govt - fiscal, health, education the biggest missing pieces - shouldn’t ignore decentralising the BBC to match. Should be a priority ask in the charter renewal process for MHCLG to support the C and hold the LG to account
Article mentions ‘no figures for cost savings yet’. Costs are small anyway and the deputy mayors for policing and their teams will still be needed. Issue is genuine democratic accountability and better outcomes and value for money by integrating with wider local social and economic policy.
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
*
UK politics live – latest updates
The controversial system of police and crime commissioners is to be abolished by the government, the Guardian has learned.
Under the system, introduced under the Conservatives, all 43 police forces covering local areas across England and Wales had to answer to an elected official. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Article mentions ‘no figures for cost savings yet’. Costs are small anyway and the deputy mayors for policing and their teams will still be needed. Issue is genuine democratic accountability and better outcomes and value for money by integrating with wider local social and economic policy.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
Mayoral Decision MD3442 raises London’s Congestion Charge to £18 from January 2026 and introduces new partial EV discounts, aiming to reduce congestion while continuing to support the switch to cleaner, greener vehicles.
www.london.gov.uk/md3442-chang...
www.london.gov.uk/md3442-chang...
November 13, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Mayoral Decision MD3442 raises London’s Congestion Charge to £18 from January 2026 and introduces new partial EV discounts, aiming to reduce congestion while continuing to support the switch to cleaner, greener vehicles.
www.london.gov.uk/md3442-chang...
www.london.gov.uk/md3442-chang...
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
They were being integrated with the mayor role anyway so this makes total sense. No need for a separate function. Helps build up mayors as the single tier of regional government.
BREAKING Home Office is about to announce that police and crime commissioners are to be scrapped..
Established in 2012 by Theresa May, Labour has never been a fan of the PCC system…they’ll be replaced in 2028 by policing mayors & local policing boards ..
Established in 2012 by Theresa May, Labour has never been a fan of the PCC system…they’ll be replaced in 2028 by policing mayors & local policing boards ..
November 13, 2025 at 11:35 AM
They were being integrated with the mayor role anyway so this makes total sense. No need for a separate function. Helps build up mayors as the single tier of regional government.
Euro 2028 final and both SFs at Wembley is so drearily profit-maxing. More fans can go but it'll be the same problem as the FA Cup. Cardiff is 73k and could have handled an SF.
Euro 2028: Cardiff to host opening match, Wembley to stage semi-finals and final
Cardiff will host the opening game of Euro 2028, with the semi-finals and final set to take place at London's Wembley Stadium.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Euro 2028 final and both SFs at Wembley is so drearily profit-maxing. More fans can go but it'll be the same problem as the FA Cup. Cardiff is 73k and could have handled an SF.
Leaning heavily on the modular rather than small. The RR SMRs are 470MW. The old reactors at Wylfa ended up 490MW x2 for less that 1GW. 3x RR units beats that - and matches Wylfa’s 1400MW grid connection perfectly.
8x RR SMR units would leave Wylfa bigger than Hinkley Point/Sizewell C’s 3.2GW.
8x RR SMR units would leave Wylfa bigger than Hinkley Point/Sizewell C’s 3.2GW.
Wylfa nuclear power plant plans go ahead, creating Anglesey jobs
Three small modular reactors are confirmed for the site, with the potential for up to eight.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Leaning heavily on the modular rather than small. The RR SMRs are 470MW. The old reactors at Wylfa ended up 490MW x2 for less that 1GW. 3x RR units beats that - and matches Wylfa’s 1400MW grid connection perfectly.
8x RR SMR units would leave Wylfa bigger than Hinkley Point/Sizewell C’s 3.2GW.
8x RR SMR units would leave Wylfa bigger than Hinkley Point/Sizewell C’s 3.2GW.
One thing I’d love to see from Reeves and Alexander in addition to pay-per-mile charging is figuring out a a way make it pay-per-lb too. Probably via VED for simplicity. Small, light EVs take up less space & allow tiny batteries to power decent ranges. Encourage them more.
youtu.be/owlQpKL14E4?...
youtu.be/owlQpKL14E4?...
New Renault Twingo: The Return Of Small Cheap Cars!
YouTube video by Everything Electric CARS
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 8:34 AM
One thing I’d love to see from Reeves and Alexander in addition to pay-per-mile charging is figuring out a a way make it pay-per-lb too. Probably via VED for simplicity. Small, light EVs take up less space & allow tiny batteries to power decent ranges. Encourage them more.
youtu.be/owlQpKL14E4?...
youtu.be/owlQpKL14E4?...
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
It’s all just so pathetic. We need to add 2p to the higher rate and 4p to the basic rate and then unpick a bunch of the tiny demented tax incentives that crap like this has created and instead they are gonna do more of the crap and still get hung for breaking their promises. Incredible scenes.
Reeves should be aiming to get off two cycles: “every budget is an ordeal, every minor fluctuation in the forecast is a nightmare“ and “we did some small tax tweaks to raise £2bn and whoopsydaisy, something has fallen over unexpectedly/inflation is higher”.
I’m with Vince.
And 2p on income tax plus 2p off NICS to raise £6bn feels like being hung for half a lamb.
www.ft.com/content/9e56...
And 2p on income tax plus 2p off NICS to raise £6bn feels like being hung for half a lamb.
www.ft.com/content/9e56...
November 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
It’s all just so pathetic. We need to add 2p to the higher rate and 4p to the basic rate and then unpick a bunch of the tiny demented tax incentives that crap like this has created and instead they are gonna do more of the crap and still get hung for breaking their promises. Incredible scenes.
Reposted by Simon Jeffrey
🎉 Camden's new plans for Holborn are mind-blowingly good: bit.ly/4qOtVMg
Major changes for Theobalds Rd, Southampton Row, Kingsway, High Holborn & further afield. New Oxford Street & Great Ormond Street plans look like big changes for better!
Kudos Cllr @adamdkharrison.bsky.social 👏
Major changes for Theobalds Rd, Southampton Row, Kingsway, High Holborn & further afield. New Oxford Street & Great Ormond Street plans look like big changes for better!
Kudos Cllr @adamdkharrison.bsky.social 👏
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
🎉 Camden's new plans for Holborn are mind-blowingly good: bit.ly/4qOtVMg
Major changes for Theobalds Rd, Southampton Row, Kingsway, High Holborn & further afield. New Oxford Street & Great Ormond Street plans look like big changes for better!
Kudos Cllr @adamdkharrison.bsky.social 👏
Major changes for Theobalds Rd, Southampton Row, Kingsway, High Holborn & further afield. New Oxford Street & Great Ormond Street plans look like big changes for better!
Kudos Cllr @adamdkharrison.bsky.social 👏