Tim Leunig

It’s Easy to Hate Traffic Cameras. But They Do Save Lives. They raise issues of fairness, and critics claim they’re only about revenue. More speed and red-light cameras, however, would prevent a lot of deaths and injuries.

Yes, traffic cameras work, but it's a myth that people hate them!

Survey after survey shows that most people support automatic enforcement (and often want more of it).

This is a false controversy, fed by a minority of disgruntled drivers & journalists seeking narratives with conflict.

NZ has scrapped its mainly teacher-assessed, highly individualised qualification system in favour of exams and a narrower, knowledge-rich curriculum.

Few are mourning the old system, widely seen as unworkable. Teachers' unions are cautiously optimistic.

England once again the template for reform.

An image of the cover of Hannah Ritchie's forthcoming book titled "Clearing the Air", about tackling climate change.

Our own @hannahritchie.bsky.social has a new book about tackling climate change coming out next month!

Called “Clearing the Air”, it covers everything from renewable energy and nuclear power to electric vehicles, heat pumps, minerals, carbon capture, and geoengineering.

Had not expected to have to verify my age to send a message about rail subsidies on Bluesky! The camera took one look at me and decided immediately I was over 18...

Darlington Station Improvement Works How not to spend over £100m

This week I have written about rail fares, rail improvement, and value for money on the trains - timleunig.substack.com/p/darlington... (£/free trial)

Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future eBook : Conway, Ed: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

If you have not already bought @edconway.bsky.social Material world then do so today - one day kindle offer, £1.99 - a steal www.amazon.co.uk/Material-Wor...

HMRC vs action figures: the face off Zombies, gods, aliens & tax officials — but which are human?

Bored? Read this in the @alphaville.ft.com . Funniest thing in ages. HMRC vs action figures: the face off - on.ft.com/3Ob2AlS via @FT

Sometimes social media makes me feel old. I had to google "self-owning". Still, I know I am not a polprof, nor a member of the Labour Right!

Which is more important in Britain, housing or pigeons? The answer to this question will shock you…

In Britain a nesting pigeon is all it takes to hold up development - my free to read substack today - timleunig.substack.com/p/which-is-m.... No wonder our country is struggling.

Productivity, transport and the USA We can learn from a more productive country...

The US has higher productivity than the UK. Here is one transport lesson I think we can learn from them. timleunig.substack.com/p/productivi... (£/free trial)

I have done some bits and bobs for various companies, and they all say they have to ring me to verify my bank details. Anyone know if this is a stupid bit of new red tape, or a stupid bit of new gold plating?

Reform are against the 5,000 jobs in South Wales and energy security that floating offshore wind could support. And apparently now against… electricity, with this nuts letter opposing any cables, batteries, or in fact anything getting built

I have written a chapter in an @niesrorg.bsky.social & TPI book. I show what we need to do on transport and housing to make Britain more productive, and richer. Free to read -https://www.productivity.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Joining-Up-Pro-Productivity-Policies.pdf

Yet more evidence that Brexit has made us poorer - @chrisgiles.ft.com discusses work by LSE colleagues looking at how trade barriers have reduced our service exports to Europe. I mean, who could have guessed that trade barriers would reduce trade? www.ft.com/content/3e9d...

Not at all plausible

Joining Up Pro-Productivity Policies in the UK - The Productivity Institute The UK government needs a fundamental overhaul if it is to achieve its ambitions to revive productivity and strengthen growth.

📉 UK productivity has stalled for 15+ years. A new report from @niesrorg.bsky.social & @productivity.bsky.social says it’s time to act:
✅ Align skills & industry
✅ Invest in housing, transport, digital
✅ Empower local leaders
🔗 www.productivity.ac.uk/research/joi...

I believe there's an important corollary. It is aimed at all the people deluded into thinking they can devise policy that is both good for the country and also immediately popular with voters. And it is this: please, please give up. Stop, for all of our sakes. Don't try. You make it worse.

There's a single correct response to this kind of finding, which is utter despair

Housing estate approved on grounds of 300-year-old listed rectory The decision has raised fears heritage in England is at risk after Angela Rayner’s overhaul of the National Policy Planning Framework

This is how the presumption in favour of sustainable development should work - if a local authority fails to come up with a plan, we will get developer-led development: www.thetimes.com/uk/history/a.... If locals don't like it, blame your council for not writing a plan

Preach, @timleunig.bsky.social www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

Fantastic longer read from @draliceevans.bsky.social

The way the markets moved when Rachel Reeves was upset, and they thought she might be fired demonstrates just how important she, and fiscal discipline, are to the left...

This piece by @timleunig.bsky.social may have been written last week - but it feels particularly prescient today.

If you don't believe me, just look at these graphs from
@politlcsuk.bsky.social. When the markets think that
Rachel Reeves' position as Chancellor is under threat, we as a country have to pay more to borrow money. It really is that simple - just basic maths.

My article today - why every leftwinger should see
Rachel Reeves as their hero. Her fiscal rectitude lowers interest rates, and allows the government to spend more on healthcare etc. Read (free) in the excellent
@thehousemag.bsky.social
politicshome.com/opinion/arti... (1/2)

The costs of Brexit continue to mount up, making us all poorer than we would otherwise have been.

Well, since you all, I got far more abuse on bluesky than ever before...

Given the level of the debt, wouldn't you want to reduce it?

Dear Judge Leonie Hurst - I feel revulsion at the idea that Zenel Beshi should be allowed to remain in the UK, given the lies and criminal record. Your decision also risks making the UK a magnet for such criminals.