Jeegar Kakkad

I’m old enough to remember when people said this site was the place for a more civil, informed discourse. smh.

that's not what my okr's say.

Tesla cannot make an airplane. SpaceX, absolutely. Tesla, not a chance.

So, yes, more funding for defence is good. The focus needs to shift now to reform & modernisation, not endless debates about the amount of funding and how to finance it.

To do this at pace requires Whitehall to operate differently on
-budgeting (annual budgeting drives costs up, not down)
-procurement (it was broken 20 yrs ago)
-intl collab (UK must learn from Ukrainian def capabilities)
-military recruitment & logistics
-deployment (from Ukraine to Red Sea)

The UK needs a defence industrial strategy that prioritises 3 areas:
🫡 rapidly scale capabilies that can be deployed to defend UK interests, inc in the Red Sea
⚙️ modernisation of the traditional defence sector, inc automating production
🤖 deeper engagemnet w defencetech cos

The announcement of additional defence spending today is good, not least because it is an important international signal of the UK's commitment to it's security and values. But additional spending alone is not enough...the way it is spent matters far more...🧵

Two things shock me about that Signal leak:
1. That this US admin is still willing to defend laregly non-US shipping lanes in the Red Sea; and
2. Nothing in the EU Defence Readiness 2030 Whitepaper suggests the EU is willing to defend its own shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

Is there any one on here that is critical of Labour's Employment Rights Bill?

No. Bc just like Kamala Harris, his online fandoms were just too niche.

In a world where online fandoms are everything (yes, even in politics), being an offline PM will prove problematic.

Idea that Labour can’t govern austerely is ahistorical - as long as that fiscal conservatism has a morel purpose beyond looking “credible” www.economist.com/britain/2025...

Labour’s credibility trap Who can believe Rachel Reeves?

Labour’s credibility trap
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
from The Economist working link

Growth idea for the UK government: Accelerate the Planning & Infrastructure Bill and delay the Employment Rights Bill.

What are the reasons any Government wouldn't implement the Jay report recommendations in full?

One thing becoming more apparent to me today are the divides between government departments on international issues. Always been an issue, but with the upcoming need to formulate policy on US, EU, China - probably now a bigger challenge.

They should be offered the opportunity to avoid the fine by handing back the Postcode Address File to the government.

I wonder if the UK could give up its golden share in Royal Mail in exchange for liberating the postcode address file.

Also, the NESO assessment that says 2030 is achievable will be out of date as soon as the government publishes the AI Opportunities Review

Two things have made me grumpy today, one of which I can call out: Ed M and his team have absolutely backtracked on their clean energy target. This should be welcomed. But for them to deny it - given the grief they gave anyone who critisised the 2030 target - takes some f*cking chutzpah.

Whenever I hear people say the policies are fine, the only problem is the communications, I feel like re-upping my tweet from peak Truss-ocalypse

Hollywood writers: Ai couldn’t possibly do what we do.

Also Hollywood writers shoving out yet more sequels and remakes: aRE YoU nOt eNTErtAiNEd!?!?!

Renationalising England’s rail may not overcome hard realities Bringing franchises into public ownership is risky given some routes are just harder to run well and face legacy issues

Some thoughts on Labour's renationalising of England's railways. The big argument is that renationalisation gets better services and/or more state revenue. But it ain't necessarily so.

Report entitled “Revitalising nuclear: the UK can power AI and lead the clean energy transition”

screenshot of The Guardian website. Article title “Blair thinktank criticises unfounded nuclear fears after Chernobyl“.

The UK could accelerate the path to net zero and cheaper energy with better nuclear power policy and regulation. An impressive new report from @tonelangengen.bsky.social @jeegarkakkad.bsky.social at al is featured in today’s Guardian. institute.global/insights/cli...

Why the public doesn’t buy the idea of a ‘green jobs’ bonanza People understand that transitions are hard — politicians need to as well

“Steve Akehurst of Persuasion UK has tested a number of “green jobs” arguments as a way to “sell” climate action, but they all tend to fall pretty flat with the public.” on.ft.com/4fH0nKE

This is such a damning take:

Last summer I spent time w people in Whitehaven who were being offered coal jobs.They didn’t want Labour to oppose coal jobs w vague promises of green jobs. They wanted specific/tangible action for their community.

Why the public doesn’t buy the idea of a ‘green jobs’ bonanza on.ft.com/4fIETgp

Juergen is speaking now. Surprise him by adding 1000 followers by the time he stops... He's the boss of Great British Energy and always has interesting stuff to say.

#CBI24

Barosaurus fined after dropping challenge over tar-pit payments FCA says the dinosaur’s conduct 145mn years ago was ‘reckless and lacked integrity’

One is a antediluvian leviathan that can't evolve so is lumbering towards extinction and ... oh do your own jokes.

www.ft.com/content/4c30...

a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a microphone and says gurl please . Alt: a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a microphone and says gurl please .

People keep asking, "But what's the binding constraint?" like the entire UK economy doesn't need modernisation and reform.