Tom Calver
@tomcalver.bsky.social
Data Editor, @thetimes.com
I write a weekly data column called Go Figure
🔗 https://www.thetimes.com/profile/tom-calver
📧 [email protected]
I write a weekly data column called Go Figure
🔗 https://www.thetimes.com/profile/tom-calver
📧 [email protected]
After Liz Truss's mini-budget, just 15 per cent of people felt the Tories were the best party at handling the economy
Today, the equivalent figure for Labour is 12 per cent
www.thetimes.com/article/470f...
Today, the equivalent figure for Labour is 12 per cent
www.thetimes.com/article/470f...
November 9, 2025 at 3:34 PM
After Liz Truss's mini-budget, just 15 per cent of people felt the Tories were the best party at handling the economy
Today, the equivalent figure for Labour is 12 per cent
www.thetimes.com/article/470f...
Today, the equivalent figure for Labour is 12 per cent
www.thetimes.com/article/470f...
There are plenty of reasons why. EU funding plus currency independence; thriving tech and defence sectors; lower taxes for young Poles so less brain drain, etc.
But Poland also has a very different attitude to building things.
More in my column
www.thetimes.com/article/52a8...
But Poland also has a very different attitude to building things.
More in my column
www.thetimes.com/article/52a8...
October 12, 2025 at 11:59 AM
There are plenty of reasons why. EU funding plus currency independence; thriving tech and defence sectors; lower taxes for young Poles so less brain drain, etc.
But Poland also has a very different attitude to building things.
More in my column
www.thetimes.com/article/52a8...
But Poland also has a very different attitude to building things.
More in my column
www.thetimes.com/article/52a8...
Since 2019, the UK economy has barely grown if we adjust for immigration. Poland’s, however, has grown by more than 18% - and is set to overtake Japan in the early 2030s
2/3
2/3
October 12, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Since 2019, the UK economy has barely grown if we adjust for immigration. Poland’s, however, has grown by more than 18% - and is set to overtake Japan in the early 2030s
2/3
2/3
🇵🇱 My @thetimes column: Poland’s economic miracle
12 out of 17 Polish regions are now richer than West Wales. It has faster internet, cheaper electricity and more high speed rail than Britain
When it comes to regional development it’s the UK, not Poland, that needs to catch up
1/3
12 out of 17 Polish regions are now richer than West Wales. It has faster internet, cheaper electricity and more high speed rail than Britain
When it comes to regional development it’s the UK, not Poland, that needs to catch up
1/3
October 12, 2025 at 11:59 AM
🇵🇱 My @thetimes column: Poland’s economic miracle
12 out of 17 Polish regions are now richer than West Wales. It has faster internet, cheaper electricity and more high speed rail than Britain
When it comes to regional development it’s the UK, not Poland, that needs to catch up
1/3
12 out of 17 Polish regions are now richer than West Wales. It has faster internet, cheaper electricity and more high speed rail than Britain
When it comes to regional development it’s the UK, not Poland, that needs to catch up
1/3
NEW: Since the start of the Ukraine invasion, 17 out of 27 EU nations have spent more on Russian oil and gas than they’ve sent to Ukraine in aid!
Despite an oil embargo, Europe is still sending £1bn a month on Russian energy.
This week’s column:
www.thetimes.com/article/dd9d...
Despite an oil embargo, Europe is still sending £1bn a month on Russian energy.
This week’s column:
www.thetimes.com/article/dd9d...
September 28, 2025 at 10:47 AM
NEW: Since the start of the Ukraine invasion, 17 out of 27 EU nations have spent more on Russian oil and gas than they’ve sent to Ukraine in aid!
Despite an oil embargo, Europe is still sending £1bn a month on Russian energy.
This week’s column:
www.thetimes.com/article/dd9d...
Despite an oil embargo, Europe is still sending £1bn a month on Russian energy.
This week’s column:
www.thetimes.com/article/dd9d...
Which country works the hardest?
🇺🇸 = long hours, minimal holidays
🇬🇧 = long hours, modest holidays
🇩🇪 = modest hours, lots of holidays
This week’s @thetimes.com column 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/5463...
🇺🇸 = long hours, minimal holidays
🇬🇧 = long hours, modest holidays
🇩🇪 = modest hours, lots of holidays
This week’s @thetimes.com column 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/5463...
August 24, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Which country works the hardest?
🇺🇸 = long hours, minimal holidays
🇬🇧 = long hours, modest holidays
🇩🇪 = modest hours, lots of holidays
This week’s @thetimes.com column 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/5463...
🇺🇸 = long hours, minimal holidays
🇬🇧 = long hours, modest holidays
🇩🇪 = modest hours, lots of holidays
This week’s @thetimes.com column 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/5463...
Denominators matter. This is even more of an issue when looking at hard-to-measure populations. Take Afghans: depending on which denominator you use, they either have a wildly high crime rate or a more normal one.
This is the issue with “migrant crime league tables”
7/8
This is the issue with “migrant crime league tables”
7/8
August 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Denominators matter. This is even more of an issue when looking at hard-to-measure populations. Take Afghans: depending on which denominator you use, they either have a wildly high crime rate or a more normal one.
This is the issue with “migrant crime league tables”
7/8
This is the issue with “migrant crime league tables”
7/8
But there’s another adjustment we should make if we want to answer the question properly
Migrants are younger, and most crime is committed by young people. If migrants had the same crime as everyone else, we’d expect them to be responsible for between 15 and 22% of crimes!
6/8
Migrants are younger, and most crime is committed by young people. If migrants had the same crime as everyone else, we’d expect them to be responsible for between 15 and 22% of crimes!
6/8
August 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
But there’s another adjustment we should make if we want to answer the question properly
Migrants are younger, and most crime is committed by young people. If migrants had the same crime as everyone else, we’d expect them to be responsible for between 15 and 22% of crimes!
6/8
Migrants are younger, and most crime is committed by young people. If migrants had the same crime as everyone else, we’d expect them to be responsible for between 15 and 22% of crimes!
6/8
In other words, it looks like this data actually shows convictions by a combination of either nationality OR country of birth.
This sounds like splitting hairs but it really matters. While foreign nationals are 11.2% of adults, about 17.3% of adults were born overseas…
5/8
This sounds like splitting hairs but it really matters. While foreign nationals are 11.2% of adults, about 17.3% of adults were born overseas…
5/8
August 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
In other words, it looks like this data actually shows convictions by a combination of either nationality OR country of birth.
This sounds like splitting hairs but it really matters. While foreign nationals are 11.2% of adults, about 17.3% of adults were born overseas…
5/8
This sounds like splitting hairs but it really matters. While foreign nationals are 11.2% of adults, about 17.3% of adults were born overseas…
5/8
I don’t think that’s quite the right denominator. A closer look at the data released by the Home Office to the Centre for Migration Control, based on recorded nationality at time of arrest, has some oddities.
Namely, it lists several countries that no longer exist!
4/8
Namely, it lists several countries that no longer exist!
4/8
August 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I don’t think that’s quite the right denominator. A closer look at the data released by the Home Office to the Centre for Migration Control, based on recorded nationality at time of arrest, has some oddities.
Namely, it lists several countries that no longer exist!
4/8
Namely, it lists several countries that no longer exist!
4/8
Is 12.9% a lot? The ONS does provide a figure for the number of foreign nationals (people living in Britain but citizens of another country), and in 2023, it was 11.2% of adults.
But…
3/8
But…
3/8
August 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Is 12.9% a lot? The ONS does provide a figure for the number of foreign nationals (people living in Britain but citizens of another country), and in 2023, it was 11.2% of adults.
But…
3/8
But…
3/8
The Home Office hasn’t released crimes by immigration status, so we have to make do with “nationality” recorded on arrest
Home Office data suggests foreign nationals were behind 12.9% of criminal convictions in 2023. Now….
2/8
Home Office data suggests foreign nationals were behind 12.9% of criminal convictions in 2023. Now….
2/8
August 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The Home Office hasn’t released crimes by immigration status, so we have to make do with “nationality” recorded on arrest
Home Office data suggests foreign nationals were behind 12.9% of criminal convictions in 2023. Now….
2/8
Home Office data suggests foreign nationals were behind 12.9% of criminal convictions in 2023. Now….
2/8
NEW: Are migrants more likely to commit crimes than non-migrants?
Here’s what the data does and doesn’t show.
1/8 @thetimes.com
www.thetimes.com/article/72b6...
Here’s what the data does and doesn’t show.
1/8 @thetimes.com
www.thetimes.com/article/72b6...
August 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
NEW: Are migrants more likely to commit crimes than non-migrants?
Here’s what the data does and doesn’t show.
1/8 @thetimes.com
www.thetimes.com/article/72b6...
Here’s what the data does and doesn’t show.
1/8 @thetimes.com
www.thetimes.com/article/72b6...
Data finally proves it: online dating leads to worse relationships
This week’s column is about choice overload, the importance of shared context, and how too much data - when it comes to dating - is a bad thing
@thetimes.com
www.thetimes.com/article/82b7...
This week’s column is about choice overload, the importance of shared context, and how too much data - when it comes to dating - is a bad thing
@thetimes.com
www.thetimes.com/article/82b7...
August 10, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Data finally proves it: online dating leads to worse relationships
This week’s column is about choice overload, the importance of shared context, and how too much data - when it comes to dating - is a bad thing
@thetimes.com
www.thetimes.com/article/82b7...
This week’s column is about choice overload, the importance of shared context, and how too much data - when it comes to dating - is a bad thing
@thetimes.com
www.thetimes.com/article/82b7...
This is what $10,000 invested in Palantir on election day would be worth now.
But can you do any better?
Introducing @thetimes.com trading game. How much money can you make in 9 months?
Free link 👇
www.thetimes.com/article/086b...
But can you do any better?
Introducing @thetimes.com trading game. How much money can you make in 9 months?
Free link 👇
www.thetimes.com/article/086b...
August 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
This is what $10,000 invested in Palantir on election day would be worth now.
But can you do any better?
Introducing @thetimes.com trading game. How much money can you make in 9 months?
Free link 👇
www.thetimes.com/article/086b...
But can you do any better?
Introducing @thetimes.com trading game. How much money can you make in 9 months?
Free link 👇
www.thetimes.com/article/086b...
Somewhere along the way, Britain lost its appetite for risk.
The challenge for Reeves is encouraging people to invest for profit when times are good, rather than simply building up cash to get through tough times. Doing so might help get Britain growing again.
4/5
The challenge for Reeves is encouraging people to invest for profit when times are good, rather than simply building up cash to get through tough times. Doing so might help get Britain growing again.
4/5
August 3, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Somewhere along the way, Britain lost its appetite for risk.
The challenge for Reeves is encouraging people to invest for profit when times are good, rather than simply building up cash to get through tough times. Doing so might help get Britain growing again.
4/5
The challenge for Reeves is encouraging people to invest for profit when times are good, rather than simply building up cash to get through tough times. Doing so might help get Britain growing again.
4/5
This is bad for our economy. It’s even worse for our own returns because most of that saved money goes into cash
The average Moneyfacts savings rate is 3.5%, less than inflation. Just a quarter find UK stocks appealing while 10% say US equities are becoming more attractive
3/5
The average Moneyfacts savings rate is 3.5%, less than inflation. Just a quarter find UK stocks appealing while 10% say US equities are becoming more attractive
3/5
August 3, 2025 at 12:06 PM
This is bad for our economy. It’s even worse for our own returns because most of that saved money goes into cash
The average Moneyfacts savings rate is 3.5%, less than inflation. Just a quarter find UK stocks appealing while 10% say US equities are becoming more attractive
3/5
The average Moneyfacts savings rate is 3.5%, less than inflation. Just a quarter find UK stocks appealing while 10% say US equities are becoming more attractive
3/5
It’s not that British households aren’t putting enough away — in fact, we’re saving more than we were before the pandemic. Too much.
US households were like coiled springs: they spent what they’d saved, and the economy boomed. UK households, however, have been holding back
2/5
US households were like coiled springs: they spent what they’d saved, and the economy boomed. UK households, however, have been holding back
2/5
August 3, 2025 at 12:06 PM
It’s not that British households aren’t putting enough away — in fact, we’re saving more than we were before the pandemic. Too much.
US households were like coiled springs: they spent what they’d saved, and the economy boomed. UK households, however, have been holding back
2/5
US households were like coiled springs: they spent what they’d saved, and the economy boomed. UK households, however, have been holding back
2/5
This week’s @thetimes.com column is about how we’re bad at investing
Decades of data shows that rather than investing for profit, UK savers are motivated by pessimism
This “when shit hits the fan, save all you can” approach is bad for our finances, and bad for the economy
1/5
Decades of data shows that rather than investing for profit, UK savers are motivated by pessimism
This “when shit hits the fan, save all you can” approach is bad for our finances, and bad for the economy
1/5
August 3, 2025 at 12:06 PM
This week’s @thetimes.com column is about how we’re bad at investing
Decades of data shows that rather than investing for profit, UK savers are motivated by pessimism
This “when shit hits the fan, save all you can” approach is bad for our finances, and bad for the economy
1/5
Decades of data shows that rather than investing for profit, UK savers are motivated by pessimism
This “when shit hits the fan, save all you can” approach is bad for our finances, and bad for the economy
1/5
This week’s @thetimes.com column: what is a comfortable salary in Britain?
Money does buy you happiness - but there’s a definite hump between £50k and £80k 👇
www.thetimes.com/article/f4dd...
Money does buy you happiness - but there’s a definite hump between £50k and £80k 👇
www.thetimes.com/article/f4dd...
July 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
This week’s @thetimes.com column: what is a comfortable salary in Britain?
Money does buy you happiness - but there’s a definite hump between £50k and £80k 👇
www.thetimes.com/article/f4dd...
Money does buy you happiness - but there’s a definite hump between £50k and £80k 👇
www.thetimes.com/article/f4dd...
Britain’s grocery prices used to be the envy of Europe; not anymore.
This week’s column on food inflation 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/5c2c...
This week’s column on food inflation 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/5c2c...
July 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Britain’s grocery prices used to be the envy of Europe; not anymore.
This week’s column on food inflation 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/5c2c...
This week’s column on food inflation 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/5c2c...
A third of people in Britain now think the Covid pandemic was exaggerated to control people 🤯🤯
And 22% think the moon landings were staged!
One of many striking findings from new @moreincommonuk.bsky.social report on shattered Britain. My write up here:
🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/bb0f...
And 22% think the moon landings were staged!
One of many striking findings from new @moreincommonuk.bsky.social report on shattered Britain. My write up here:
🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/bb0f...
July 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
A third of people in Britain now think the Covid pandemic was exaggerated to control people 🤯🤯
And 22% think the moon landings were staged!
One of many striking findings from new @moreincommonuk.bsky.social report on shattered Britain. My write up here:
🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/bb0f...
And 22% think the moon landings were staged!
One of many striking findings from new @moreincommonuk.bsky.social report on shattered Britain. My write up here:
🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/bb0f...
There are two main views
1) We pay for the same services - big house and small - so we should all pay the same
2) It's a tax on wealth: bigger houses should get bigger bills
We're stuck with a system halfway between the two, where massive houses pay 3x as much as small flats
2/3
1) We pay for the same services - big house and small - so we should all pay the same
2) It's a tax on wealth: bigger houses should get bigger bills
We're stuck with a system halfway between the two, where massive houses pay 3x as much as small flats
2/3
July 6, 2025 at 12:51 PM
There are two main views
1) We pay for the same services - big house and small - so we should all pay the same
2) It's a tax on wealth: bigger houses should get bigger bills
We're stuck with a system halfway between the two, where massive houses pay 3x as much as small flats
2/3
1) We pay for the same services - big house and small - so we should all pay the same
2) It's a tax on wealth: bigger houses should get bigger bills
We're stuck with a system halfway between the two, where massive houses pay 3x as much as small flats
2/3
🧵 This week's column is all about council tax!
It's England's most hated tax, and hasn't been touched since 1993. The withdrawal of subsidies has made it even more regressive over time
Yet don't expect it to be reformed anytime soon: nobody can agree what to change it to
1/3
It's England's most hated tax, and hasn't been touched since 1993. The withdrawal of subsidies has made it even more regressive over time
Yet don't expect it to be reformed anytime soon: nobody can agree what to change it to
1/3
July 6, 2025 at 12:51 PM
🧵 This week's column is all about council tax!
It's England's most hated tax, and hasn't been touched since 1993. The withdrawal of subsidies has made it even more regressive over time
Yet don't expect it to be reformed anytime soon: nobody can agree what to change it to
1/3
It's England's most hated tax, and hasn't been touched since 1993. The withdrawal of subsidies has made it even more regressive over time
Yet don't expect it to be reformed anytime soon: nobody can agree what to change it to
1/3
Scientists spent much of the 20th century worrying about overpopulation. Their fears went unfounded: humans became richer as our numbers grew.
Now, demographers are starting to worry about the opposite problem
Review in @thetimes.com
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/afte...
Now, demographers are starting to worry about the opposite problem
Review in @thetimes.com
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/afte...
July 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Scientists spent much of the 20th century worrying about overpopulation. Their fears went unfounded: humans became richer as our numbers grew.
Now, demographers are starting to worry about the opposite problem
Review in @thetimes.com
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/afte...
Now, demographers are starting to worry about the opposite problem
Review in @thetimes.com
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/afte...