Josh 🌹

Ben isn’t exaggerating about the order of magnitude difference. In constant $: 🇬🇧 HS2: $626 mn/km 🇫🇷 LGV to Bordeaux: $43 mn/km 🇮🇹 Brescia–Verona: $63 mn/km 🇰🇷 Suseo line: $89 mn/km. Pricey. But that’s because it’s 87% in tunnel.

NEW Chancellor announces new restriction on use of judicial review for “critical infrastructure” clean energy projects - ie wind and nuclear - and time limitation for other projects, roads, rail and reservoirs - this is in addition to the streamlining of the process in the planning law. Will curb environmental challenges to big infrastructure plans.

How it’s started. How it’s going.

Oh well, it begins. Here comes decades of hellish liveries

He’ll stand anywhere. He’ll say anything. Andy’s in it for himself, not Makerfield.

EXCL: Reform will launch its attack ad blitz on Andy Burnham today. I can exclusively reveal the first set of ads the party will plaster across social media. The graphics attempt to paint Burnham as a career opportunist putting personal ambitions above the people of Makerfield. Here they are 👇

Given the ridiculous volume of Prime Ministers that Britain’s endured in recent years, I think it should now be law that if a PM quits or is forced out during his/her term, it automatically triggers a new general election. That might concentrate their minds to do a better job.

I did not vote for Lucy Powell. I wanted Bridget Philipson to be Deputy PM. Over last few months I’ve revised my views positively to Lucy. But that’s all down the drain now. This Northern, left faction of Labour deserve all they get.

Daily reminder that YIMBYism is about the self-interest of well paid graduates, not solving the housing crisis for those stuck on waiting lists. Your value isn't based on your wage. Labour must reject this grotesque social cleansing nonsense and build 000s of council homes.

🚨 BREAKING: Wes Streeting calls for the Government to rejoin the EU "Leaving the EU was a catastrophic mistake"

A figure in Starmer’s government told me the moment he lost the party was when in his speech on Monday, he re-announced the nationalisation of British Steel. It wasn’t that everyone had thought it had happened already. Though that did play a part - how long it takes to do anything in this country. What was the absolute kicker to this insider was that the Prime Minister couldn’t help himself saying six words after his big announcement: “subject to a public interest test”. It summed up everything about Starmer’s cold managerialism. He can’t have a vision unless it’s subject to procedure. He can’t have a rhetorical flare unless it’s tested against a focus group and watered down if it’s too bold. Personally I don’t agree with nationalisation, and I think it’s good that we have roadblocks to it. Steel is dead in this country due to energy costs, not its ownership structure. But I instantly got the point being made to me. This Prime Minister can’t be a man of action. He’s a man of process. Of stakeholder consultation. Of stasis.