The UKโs public leadership pipeline has fallen into disrepair
Institutions are failing to deliver basic commitments because of failures of leadership
One of the oddest features of the Coalition is that they delighted in criticising the civil serviceโs lack of skills whilst cutting back on civil service training. www.ft.com/content/3599... The UKโs public leadership pipeline has fallen into disrepair
09.03.2026 19:17 โ
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Revealed: UKโs multibillion AI drive is built on โphantom investmentsโ
Exclusive: Rented datacentres and unrealised supercomputer site raise questions for Starmerโs push to โmainline AI into veins of economyโ
But a Guardian investigation has shown the money isnโt necessarily real, the datacentres may not be new, the jobs are unaccounted for โ and the supercomputer site 12 miles north of London is still a scaffolding yard
09.03.2026 19:14 โ
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Coin used as Leeds bus fare was 2,000โyearโold currency
The coin was handed down to Peter Edwards from his grandfather in the 1950s.
This is the sort of thing a cashless society robs us of, the opportunity to try to get away with paying the bus fare in Carthaginian currency www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
09.03.2026 12:52 โ
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The impact of Brexit on immigration to the UK
A new analysis finds that Brexit raised the number of foreign-born workers in the UK by about 200,000, but resulted in a more dramatic shift in the countries of origin.
The impact of Brexit on UK immigration - new research by @johnspringford.bsky.social & me for @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social & @ukandeu.bsky.social
Brexit
a) reduced EU-origin employees by 785K (2.3% of workforce)
b) increased non-EU origin employees by 992K (2.95%)
www.cer.eu/insights/imp...
09.03.2026 07:29 โ
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Two war/smartphone related stories broke this weekend.
Ronen Bergman tells us that Iran's leaders were tracked by their security guards' cell phones.
Christopher Miller tells us a British minister gave away the geolocation of a Ukrainian repair base from their phone footage.
08.03.2026 19:35 โ
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Russian tech found in drone that hit RAF base in Cyprus
As Moscow declares it is โsupportiveโ of Iran, the first evidence of Kremlin equipment in the war can be revealed
Russian tech found in drone that hit RAF base in Cyprus
As Moscow declares it is โsupportiveโ of Iran, the first evidence of Kremlin equipment in the war can be revealed
www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...
07.03.2026 23:03 โ
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In 2022 I presented a Concept and Doctrine for urban security premised upon the protection of infrastructure, services, processes necessary for life, thus keeping the population safe, as the theory of victory. Fighting the enemy force was secondary. I linked this, in the presentation, to the --
08.03.2026 02:15 โ
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Quaker house raided over โmass shoplifting plotโ
Fifteen people were arrested over what the Met claimed was a plan to steal from supermarkets to give food to people in need
Those arrested said they were attending a โnon-violent direct action trainingโ session at the Westminster Quaker Meeting House in central London hosted by Take Back Power, a campaign calling for more taxes on the super-rich.
07.03.2026 18:33 โ
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Tory peer to leave Lords after investigation finds he breached standards over Covid PPE deals
Lord Chadlington introduced government to company in which he had financial interest in 2020
He introduced a company in which he had a financial interest to the government VIP scheme. The small, loss-making recruitment agency was awarded ยฃ50m in PPE contracts within weeks, but went into liquidation owing ยฃ1.1m in taxes while half the PPE supplied for ยฃ24m was โunusableโ
07.03.2026 17:21 โ
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UK recruiter emerges from insolvency for third time, avoiding millions owed in tax
Hampshire business seems to have benefited from โphoenixismโ, which costs the taxpayer about ยฃ800m a year
A UK recruitment business has been acquired out of administration for a third time in four years as part of a succession of deals that left some of the former management team in place and millions of pounds owed to the public purse.
07.03.2026 17:14 โ
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Salford drug dealer who aimed loaded gun at PC jailed
The officer told how he feared for his life when the weapon was pointed at him by Jay Conway.
A drug dealer who pointed a loaded gun at a police officer after a pursuit has been jailed for 14 years.
Jay Conway, 33, aimed a 9mm slide-action pistol in the direction of PC Dan Clayton as he rolled on to the floor when felled by a Taser stun gun
07.03.2026 17:11 โ
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Man burgled neighbour's house after seeing he'd been arrested on Facebook
Jay Larkman 'gave in to temptation' knowing the property would be empty
A Port Talbot man took the opportunity to burgle a neighbour's house after seeing a Facebook live video showing him being arrested during a paedophile hunter โstingโ, a court has heard.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
06.03.2026 13:47 โ
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Royal London boss takes home pay packet increase of 53%
Barry OโDwyer received a pay rise to almost ยฃ4 million after the life and pensions mutual posted strong results
The chief executive of Royal London has cemented his position as one of the highest-paid bosses in the mutual sector after receiving a 53% pay rise to ยฃ3.92 million last year.
Barry OโDwyerโs salary rise compares with an average for Royal Londonโs 5,000 employees of 5%.
06.03.2026 19:50 โ
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I canโt be the only one who thinks this.
Iโm not convinced it would make sense to get involved even if the UK did have the capabilities available.
But thatโs besides the point. We donโt.
Put simply a Tactical Exercise Without Troops is not a strategy, itโs a wargame.
06.03.2026 19:18 โ
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How the Iran war shows End Times religious fervour gripping Washington and Tehran
An overlapping belief in End Times, or the second coming, underpins much of the motivation in the corridors of power in Washington and in the bunkers where the ayatollahs hide today, writes world affa...
An overlapping belief in End Times, or the second coming, underpins much of the motivation in the corridors of power in Washington and in the bunkers where the ayatollahs hide today. 39% of Americans believe we are living through the End of Times, 43% of Americans believe demons exist.
06.03.2026 19:29 โ
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Iceland locks in on date for EU referendum | Euractiv
As a member of the European Economic Area, Iceland is already aligned with much of the bloc's legislation
Just announced: Iceland has urgently moved up its referendum to join the European Union - to 29 August.
A reminder: ๐ฎ๐ธ is in many ways already a non-voting ๐ช๐บ member because of the EEA. This would give them voting power to shape the laws they have to follow.
06.03.2026 12:26 โ
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โฆ the military context did prompt two comparisons to come to mind:
1. Monte Cassino
2. MacNamara
And weโre seeing a bit of those things now
06.03.2026 07:44 โ
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Iโm very familiar with the use of targets to manage a public service, and the problems they cause. A whole different topic. Butโฆ
06.03.2026 07:40 โ
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The tyranny of targets by @timharford.ft.com
'a source of endless unpleasant surprises for policymakers and corporate executives'
and military officers too?
05.03.2026 18:01 โ
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UK supermarket chain Iceland drops trademark dispute with Iceland
Company promises โrapprochement discountโ for shoppers from country after decade-long action in EU court
The UK supermarket chain Iceland has abandoned its decade-long trademark battle with Iceland and instead promised a โrapprochement discountโ for shoppers in the country.
The discount is expected to take the form of shopping vouchers that Icelandic people can use at the frozen food retailer.
04.03.2026 23:23 โ
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