Joe Dromey

At a time of significant political challenge, and geopolitical risk, that was a very strong performance from Rachel Reeves.

Some welcome signs of progress.

#SpringStatement

Levying up | Fabian Society Fabian Society

Read the report here

fabians.org.uk/publication/...

Chancellor highlights big falls in apprenticeship starts for young people, and signals further measures to reverse this.

Our recent @thefabians.bsky.social report set out how bold reforms to the levy can drive investment in apprenticeships for young people.

#SpringStatement

Labour must confront the twin populisms we face; standing up strongly against the division peddled by Farage, and exposing Polanski’s simplistic solutions.

But we must also seek to reunite our coalition, by articulating a bold, hopeful and unifying vision of the future.

This is a bruising result. Despite an excellent candidate, and a strong campaign, we’ve lost one of our safest seats.

Our coalition has fragmented. There has been much focus on voters tempted by Reform. But we’ve lost more to the left, both in this byelection, the last one, and nationally.

The SEND system is in desperate need of reform. But delivering the reform we need is politically very challenging.

Impressed by @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social’s approach:

Sensible changes and up-front investment. Based on clear principals and Labour values. And communicated effectively.

Massive thanks to all @thefabians.bsky.social and @youngfabians.bsky.social members who joined the phonebank for Angeliki Stogia this eve!

It’s going to go to the wire in Gorton and Denton, but we’ve got a fighting chance 🌹

The Gorton and Denton by-election is this Thursday 🗳️

We’ve got a @thefabians.bsky.social phonebank in central London this eve with @anneliesedoddsmp.bsky.social from 17:00-19:30 to help get the vote out for the fantastic Angeliki Stogia.

Do join if you can. DM me for the address.

This is something we need to keep a very close eye on.

We can’t know for sure how this will play out.

But do need to start thinking about what this could mean for our economy and for our society, and how government might need to respond

UK ad agencies undergo their biggest exodus of staff as AI threatens industry Number of employees declined by more than 14% to 24,963 last year, with fall greatest among younger workers

The graduate job market seems very tough. And the number of employees at advertising agencies fell 14% last year alone, driven by a big decline in young workers.

www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...

You might dismiss this as tech bros getting high on their own supply.

But something does seem to be happening in the labour market.

The CEO of Microsoft AI has also argued this week that AI will be able to carry out all of the tasks that a professional lawyer or accountant does on a daily basis within *12 to 18 months*

x.com/ft/status/20...

Matt Shumer on X: "Something Big Is Happening" / X Something Big Is Happening

But I’m much less sure of this now.

This article was pretty terrifying on just how fast AI is advancing, and on the extent of the potential implications right across the labour market.

x.com/mattshumer_/...

Managing automation: Employment, inequality and ethics in the digital age | IPPR The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society.

My views on automation were shaped by this excellent @ippr.org report.

It argued AI was more likely to change than to eliminate jobs, that the impact would be greater on low skilled jobs, and that there would be no big net loss in employment.

www.ippr.org/articles/man...

This week feels like one where a few stories have come together to really challenge and change my views on a big issue.

I’m starting to wonder, are the robots coming…? 🤖

🧵

“We do need to see Labour improve their position in the polling and connect better with the country”

Speaking on @lbc.co.uk, General Secretary @joedromey.bsky.social urged the government not only focus on delivery, but also to provide a vision to reconnect with the country.

📢 Fabian Thinking: Book Club - with @tombaldwin66.bsky.social!

Join us at 19.00, on Wednesday 11 February as we sit down with the author of 'Kier Starmer: The Biography'.

You will also have your chance to put your questions to Tom - email questions to info@fabians.org.uk

'The Labour ecosystem is thriving - and has the ideas that can ensure the government does too' - LabourList Labour’s affiliated think tanks and socialist societies are bursting with ideas. If the government wants to deliver real change, it must start drawing properly on the policy infrastructure already at ...

Great stuff from @emmaburnell.bsky.social for @labourlist.bsky.social on the importance of the progressive policy ecosystem, and how it can help the government to deliver national renewal labourlist.org/2026/01/labo...

Why should you join the Fabians?

📚 Quarterly editions of the Fabian Review.
📢 Access to exclusive events.
🤝 A place to network in the Young Fabians, Fabian Women’s Network and Fabian Councillors’ Network
🌹 Help shape the future of the left

But why take our word for it? 👇

London’s high land prices need ‘market adjustment’, says housing minister Matthew Pennycook says far-reaching reform is needed to ‘get more volume out of the system’ and deliver more homes

Planning reform alone won’t solve the housing crisis.

To ramp up housing supply, we also need to diversify the housing market, transform the housebuilding industry and use the full power of the state to drive development outcomes 👇🏻

www.ft.com/content/9dae...

We promised in our manifesto to “tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rent charges”.

We’re honouring that commitment today by legislating to cap ground rents at £250 per year, changing to peppercorn after 40 years.

Join | Fabian Society Fabian Society

At @thefabians.bsky.social, we believe that ideas matter, and that change is possible.

If you share our values, and if you want to help shape the future of the left, join today!

fabians.org.uk/membership/j...

Massive thanks to our fantastic team - particularly Rory O’Brien and Bradley Young for organising.

Thanks to Sara Hyde for MC-ing, and to City of London for hosting.

Most of all, thanks to the hundreds of members who joined.

What a day!

Yesterday, our @thefabians.bsky.social New Year Conference brought together hundreds of members to discuss big ideas, and explore the year ahead.

Thanks to our speakers, including @lucympowell.bsky.social, @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social, Wes Streeting and @ed-miliband.bsky.social

“Every day in government is an opportunity to change the country”.

@ed-miliband.bsky.social sets out how we need to show voters the difference the government is making, and the benefits of the clean energy revolution ⚡️

The affordability crisis has deep roots says our closing speaker @ed-miliband.bsky.social.

For too long, our economic system has been run not in the interest of the people, but of the wealthy and powerful.

That is what we must challenge and change.

We can’t just make technocratic arguments. We’re not ‘Britain’s maintenance department’ says Wes Streeting.

We need to make arguments based one values, and we need to win the battle of ideas.

We must do in this century what Attlee and Bevan did in the last - says Wes Streeting - by creating a National Care Service that socialises the risk, and provides good quality social care whenever it is needed, from the cradle to the grave.

“If a Labour government can’t turn around the NHS, there is a real danger the right will seize on it, and dismantle the entire model.”

Wes Streeting sets out the political importance of fixing the NHS.

"As a country we've allowed the far-right to frame this debate with hatred"

A huge thank you to @london.gov.uk for joining us today at New Year Conference.