Dr Darcy Luke

After news that OpenAI has signed a deal to use AI to increase productivity in the UK's public services, what do we know about Labour’s AI policy plan?

And importantly, will it work?

By @nathancritch.bsky.social & @drdarcyluke.bsky.social

politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/what-do...

Treating the Symptoms, Not the Causes: What's Wrong with Demos's Report The Human Handbrake: How Whitehall Culture Holds Back Public Service Reform A litany of think tank reports has critiqued Whitehall's ability to deliver policy. The latest—by Demos—locates the roots of Britain's governance woes in Whitehall's political culture. Drawing on pub...

Another new piece out on UK governance reform with @drdarcyluke.bsky.social. This time, we assess recent commentary on Whitehall culture and ask whether this is really the root of the British state's deep problems.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

What do we Know About Labour’s AI Policy, and will it Work? There is reason to be sceptical of Labour’s techno-solutionist approach.

AI policy is central to Labour’s agenda at all levels. But there is reason to be sceptical of their techno-solutionist approach.

By @nathancritch.bsky.social & @drdarcyluke.bsky.social

Short piece on the Budget for @productivity.bsky.social

In summary, a water-treading, short-termist and incremental Budget.

A missed opportunity for more substantial measures that might drive productivity & growth.

After news that OpenAI has signed a deal to use AI to increase productivity in the UK's public services, what do we know about Labour’s AI policy plan?

And importantly, will it work?

By @nathancritch.bsky.social & @drdarcyluke.bsky.social

politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/what-do...

We outline several key challenges and trade-offs faced by Labour in pursuing its AI agenda and argue that, rather than a 'quick fix', AI not only presents novel challenges but may also compound existing ones.

A Critical Appraisal of Labour's AI Agenda This article critically evaluates Labour's ambitious AI agenda, situating it within the historical trajectory of UK AI policy and the techno-solutionist assumptions underpinning current strategies. W....

Pleased to have this piece out in @politicalquarterly.bsky.social. @nathancritch.bsky.social & I place Labour's ambitions for AI in the context of nearly a decade of AI policies to critically engage with the increasingly 'techno-solutionist' hype around AI.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

The UK Productivity-Governance Puzzle: Are the UK’s Governing Institutions Fit for Purpose in the 21st Century? Archives - The Productivity Institute This research strand examines the ways in which UK governance institutions have changed over the last forty years.

You can read more about our research project for the @productivity.bsky.social here: www.productivity.ac.uk/research/pro...

Our submission was based on interviews conducted with subnational actors from several devolved English regions & emphasised that a successful industrial strategy must have a strong regional focus.

The report references a point made by our respondents about the need for a localised skills agenda.

Pleased to see evidence submitted with @nathancritch.bsky.social, Patrick Diamond, @profdaverichards.bsky.social, @samwarner.bsky.social & @andywestwood.bsky.social was referenced in the 7th Report on Industrial Strategy by the Business & Trade Committee.

publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...

In the blog, we draw on themes from our research for the TPI regarding the role of UK governance in perpetuating the productivity puzzle.

We draw some parallels with the early years of New Labour to examine whether this SR will help deliver the economic growth 'mission'.

From a fragile to an agile state: is the Spending Review enough to enable the Starmer government to deliver on its growth mission? - The Productivity Institute The 2025 Spending Review set out major capital spending, but will it be enough to boost productivity growth?

A short piece on the Spending Review written for the @productivity.bsky.social with my colleagues @nathancritch.bsky.social, @profdaverichards.bsky.social, @samwarner.bsky.social, @andywestwood.bsky.social & Patrick Diamond.

www.productivity.ac.uk/news/from-a-...

Industrial Strategy - Written evidence - Committees - UK Parliament Written evidence submission publications for Industrial Strategy.

Written evidence from @nathancritch.bsky.social, @profdaverichards.bsky.social, @samwarner.bsky.social, @andywestwood.bsky.social, Patrick Diamond and myself to Business & Trade Committee inquiry on Industrial Strategy has been published

You can read here: committees.parliament.uk/work/8882/in...

The UK Productivity-Governance Puzzle: Are the UK’s Governing Institutions Fit for Purpose in the 21st Century? Archives - The Productivity Institute This research strand examines the ways in which UK governance institutions have changed over the last forty years.

This contribution stems from our ongoing research project at the @productivity.bsky.social into UK governance pathologies and how they relate to the 'productivity puzzle'.

You can read more about this project and other work at the Institute here: www.productivity.ac.uk/research/pro...

Will Labour's Governance Approach Lead to Mission Success or Mission Failure? Abstract Since coming to power in July 2024, the Starmer government’s approach to reform has rhetorically focussed on the centralised, short-term, and fragmented nature of British policymaking and th...

Is Labour doing enough to address the deep-seated problems with the British state?

@nathancritch.bsky.social, Patrick Diamond, Darcy Luke, @profdaverichards.bsky.social, @samwarner.bsky.social, and @andywestwood.bsky.social discuss the government's approach to institutional reform

We critically examine Labour's 'mission-led' government in relation to industrial strategy and devolution, in the context of longstanding UK governance pathologies. We suggest that whilst this government shows increased awareness of governance problems, not enough is being done to address them.

Will Labour's Governance Approach Lead to Mission Success or Mission Failure? Abstract Since coming to power in July 2024, the Starmer government’s approach to reform has rhetorically focussed on the centralised, short-term, and fragmented nature of British policymaking and th...

Very pleased to have this piece, co-authored with @nathancritch.bsky.social, Patrick Diamond, @profdaverichards.bsky.social, Sam Warner & @andywestwood.bsky.social, in @renewaljournal.bsky.social.

renewal.org.uk/blog/will-la...

Pleased @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social have published this piece on the Spring Statement co-written with @nathancritch.bsky.social, @samwarner.bsky.social & David Richards.

We argue the Spring Statement signals a return of Treasury orthodoxy which may undermine Labour's bolder plans for change.

New blog piece contextualising Labour's approach to AI in light of the Paris AI summit.

@nathancritch.bsky.social and I argue that the UK is plotting it's own course on AI regulation as part of an ambitious domestic agenda for AI.

Thanks to @mileendinstitute.bsky.social for publishing!

A short piece I was asked to put together on the devolution deal for Cheshire & Warrington.

Very happy to be given the opportunity to write for a local paper that is doing great work reporting on important local issues.

www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/2493409...

Slow burn: Re-examining the legacy of Conservative Party modernization Abstract. This article reconsiders the longer-term legacy of David Cameron’s attempts to ‘modernize’ the Conservative Party. In doing so, we aim to make th

New paper out yesterday in Parliamentary Affairs, examining 14 years of Conservative party statecraft and its interplay between an idea of modernization and a more hardline Thatcherite English Toryism therein academic.oup.com/pa/advance-a...

Excellent work on devolution from the folks at Labour Together.

The legitimacy (or lack thereof) of governing institutions is a key issue facing contemporary democracies. That's why perceptions matter.

As such, it's great to see bespoke polling being done to address vital research questions.

An end to the policy ‘merry-go-round’? Labour’s new industrial strategy and the pathologies of British policymaking - The Productivity Institute What does Labour's industrial strategy tell us about long-term policymaking?

Industrial strategies have come & gone so often that it's easy to be cynical.

That said, in a recent piece with Nathan Critch for the @productivity.bsky.social we look at Labour's 'Invest 2035' Green Paper and find reasons to be (cautiously) cheerful!

www.productivity.ac.uk/news/an-end-...

John Prescott, British former deputy prime minister, dies aged 86 Former trade union activist who had Alzheimer's died peacefully at care home, says family

Pouring out a pint of ale today for John.

I think that politics sorely needs more Prescotts.

RIP to a real one.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

That are to the benefit of everyone. I'm sorry, but if you've got broad shoulders it's high time you bear more of the weight.

Today's protest looks more like a tantrum than a principled stance in defence of British farming. (4/4)

That's because today's protest by farmers is not driven by a concern for the future of farming, but a desire not to pay inheritance tax

Our public services are crumbling after more than a decade of austerity. Fiscal measures like inheritance tax on farm land are necessary to rebuild services (3/4)

£208m investment in defences against disease threats.

Labour also launching a New Deal for Farmers, which will seek to secure the long-term future of British farming.

A lot of this detail conspicuously absent from the communiqués issued by the NFU re. today's protests. (2/4)

Jonathan Ashworth, in his Inside Labour newsletter, points out that @labouruk.bsky.social has allocated the largest sum of money ever to protect sustainable food production. That's £5bn to the #farming budget.

£60m for farmers who suffered from severe flooding (1/4)

Rachel Reeves Tells Farmers There Will Be No U-Turn On Inheritance Tax Changes Thousands are expected to protest against the chancellor's Budget.

And nor should there be.

I'm not really a fan of folks using the issue of food inflation/security to attempt to blackmail their way out of rightfully paying inheritance tax.

The government is right to stand firm in response to these hysterics.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rachel...

A bit late, but seeing as I'm new on the platform I thought I'd post my latest blog on Port Talbot for the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social

We explore policy implications of the closure, touching on some of the issues still facing devolved administrations.

www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/news-and...