Ian Wiggett

The UK’s 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 service’s lack of skills whilst cutting back on civil service training. www.ft.com/content/3599... The UK’s public leadership pipeline has fallen into disrepair

Revealed: UK’s multibillion AI drive is built on ‘phantom investments’ Exclusive: Rented datacentres and unrealised supercomputer site raise questions for Starmer’s push to ‘mainline AI into veins of economy’

But a Guardian investigation has shown the money isn’t necessarily real, the datacentres may not be new, the jobs are unaccounted for – and the supercomputer site 12 miles north of London is still a scaffolding yard

Coin used as Leeds bus fare was 2,000‑year‑old 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...

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...

Majority of Americans see fellow citizens as morally bad — but Canadians are the opposite Most Americans see other American as morally bad, while less then 1 in 10 Canadians feel the same about their fellow Canucks, a new survey from the Pew Research Center found.

Most Americans see their fellow Yankees as morally bad, while less then one in 10 Canadians feel the same about their fellow Canucks, a new survey from the Pew Research Center found. #Canada

Canada

/1

www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/ar...

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.

Russian tech found in drone that hit RAF base in Cyprus As Moscow declares it is ‘supportive’ 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 ‘supportive’ of Iran, the first evidence of Kremlin equipment in the war can be revealed

www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...

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 --

Quaker house raided over ‘mass shoplifting plot’ 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 “non-violent direct action training” 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.

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 £50m in PPE contracts within weeks, but went into liquidation owing £1.1m in taxes while half the PPE supplied for £24m was “unusable”

HS2 to rewrite £2bn contract for trains that are the wrong length The government are in talks with Hitachi and Alstom as the cancellation of the line beyond Birmingham means trains are now too long and too many are on order

The government are in talks with Hitachi and Alstom as the cancellation of the HS2 line beyond Birmingham means trains are now too long and too many are on order

UK recruiter emerges from insolvency for third time, avoiding millions owed in tax Hampshire business seems to have benefited from ‘phoenixism’, which costs the taxpayer about £800m 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.

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

NEW: Russia is reportedly sharing intelligence with Iran to support Iranian attacks against US forces in the Middle East in contrast to the Kremlin’s recent attempts to frame Russia as a potential US ally and US-Russia relations as increasingly friendly. (1/8)

Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar030626

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 “sting”, a court has heard.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...

Russian intelligence suspected after Birmingham targeted in 'self-igniting parcel' attacks Russian intelligence is suspected of being behind several "self igniting" air freight fires around Europe, including one in Birmingham.

Russian intelligence is suspected of being behind several "self igniting" air freight fires around Europe, including one in Birmingham

news.sky.com/story/russia...

Judges name chicken Kiev pie as best in UK The chicken Kiev pie, from Wigan, is crowned Supreme Champion at the British Pie Awards.

Judges name chicken Kiev pie as best in UK - and it's from Wigan, land of the 'pie-eaters'. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Royal London boss takes home pay packet increase of 53% Barry O’Dwyer received a pay rise to almost £4 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 £3.92 million last year.
Barry O’Dwyer’s salary rise compares with an average for Royal London’s 5,000 employees of 5%.

I can’t be the only one who thinks this.

I’m not convinced it would make sense to get involved even if the UK did have the capabilities available.

But that’s besides the point. We don’t.

Put simply a Tactical Exercise Without Troops is not a strategy, it’s a wargame.

Zelensky offers technology to shoot down Iran Shahed drones saving US millions Kyiv has offered its expertise from Ukraine war but seeks Patriot missiles in return

Zelensky offers Trump technology to shoot down Iran Shahed drones that could save US millions

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.

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: 🇮🇸 is in many ways already a non-voting 🇪🇺 member because of the EEA. This would give them voting power to shape the laws they have to follow.

‘No evidence ADHD is overdiagnosed in the UK’ There is “no evidence that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is overdiagnosed in the UK” and the condition could even be “underdiagnosed”, a team of experts has said. But they conceded t...

There is “no evidence that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is overdiagnosed in the UK” and the condition could even be “underdiagnosed”, a team of experts has said

Sci-fi surgery as doctor in UK directs robot to remove a prostate in Gibraltar Briton with cancer operated on by doctor located 1,500 miles away using four-armed robot fitted with 3D camera

Briton with cancer operated on by doctor located 1,500 miles away using four-armed robot fitted with 3D camera

… the military context did prompt two comparisons to come to mind:
1. Monte Cassino
2. MacNamara

And we’re seeing a bit of those things now

I’m very familiar with the use of targets to manage a public service, and the problems they cause. A whole different topic. But…

The tyranny of targets by @timharford.ft.com
'a source of endless unpleasant surprises for policymakers and corporate executives'

and military officers too?

UK supermarket chain Iceland drops trademark dispute with Iceland Company promises ‘rapprochement discount’ 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 “rapprochement discount” 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.

'End of an era' as last tin ore from Cornwall mill smelted A furnace at a Cornwall mill is fired up for the final time as tin ore runs out.

BBC News - 'End of an era' as last tin ore from mill smelted
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...