Head of Policy and Research @futuregovforum
Joined December 2013
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Tom Collinge retweeted
Strong words by Ed Miliband, but he could have gone even further and mentioned the rape, gang rape and genital mutilation by Russian soldiers, and the kidnapping of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children by the Russians.
NEW: UK Foreign Secretary @Ed_Miliband has told Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov that he and his government are responsible for killing innocent civilians, condemning Thursday’s attack on Dnipro railway station
Speaking directly to Lavrov at a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in the US today, Miliband said:
"Let me say this directly to the Russian Foreign Minister: we all know who the aggressor in this war is. Let's talk about what happened at Dnipro railway yesterday. Only yesterday your drones attacked and killed 15 people. And there are countless examples like this of you killing innocent civilians throughout this war. We all know you are the aggressor. We all know you started this war four and a half years ago with the full scale invasion of Ukraine. "
"And Putin thought then he would win this war easily. But you are are not winning this war. Thanks to the courage of the Ukrainian people and the solidarity of countries round this table, you are not winning. If you had the courage to tell the truth and to do what is right you would tell Putin that he is not winning this war and will not win."
It's quite funny that Cummings would rail against the structuralist and post structuralist but write as ramblingly and uselessly as them.
Does this happen in countries that are winning?
The Russian government's cash crunch now finally extends to the military, as Russia's Ministry of Defense has announced that all officers not currently serving at the front will be skipping their December salary.
No reason has been given. This waa uncovered this morning by Russian media outlet Verstka.
Tom Collinge retweeted
Devolution was never intended to stop at Cardiff Bay - and we risk Wales soon becoming the most centralised nation in the UK. Whilst we recognise it’s for Welsh Government to determine how local govt works in Wales, we’re offering to work in partnership to unlock Wales' potential
We don't have to let people into the country who react to the murder of civilians and children with joy.
Its just not a requirment of a liberal society.
This all feels very much Starmers Labour Government 2.0.
An extraordinary attack on free speech from Andy Burnham.
theguardian.com/uk-news/2026…
'I am prepared to break my diet but do not want to break my diet' I grunt as I shovel another fistful of cake into my mouth.
BREAKING: Vladimir Putin, speaking about his call with leaders from Finland and Norway, says Russia is "prepared for war, but do not want war".
The Russian President adds that they also support any steps to restore relations with European countries.
trib.al/UxOk14g
You can't expect people to pay a tonne of attention to foreign policy but very proud that the British public understands how vital it is to support Ukraine. More than many of our allies.
Tom Collinge retweeted
Yes! This Budget is the biggest Budget for devolution in modern British history.
Proud to have worked on it with @JohnHealey_MP
& on fiscal devo in HMT with @jamesmurray_ldn!
londoncentric.media/p/london…
Tom Collinge retweeted
This is an underexplored part of the Budget in the UK debate so far.
We've made big calls to back UK strategic position in AI. Good for our country, and our place in the AI revolution.
NEW from me: Britain’s AI testing agency outguns US
Britain wants to pour another £120 million — roughly $160 million — into a government lab that tests the world’s most powerful AI models, an infusion of cash that alone is more than 10 times the annual budget of its US counterpart.
It contrasts sharply with the approach in the US, where federal efforts to evaluate AI are receiving far less cash and are shared by different parts of government.
semafor.com/article/10/27/20…
Tom Collinge retweeted
1/3 A significant boost for British entrepreneurs in Chancellor @JohnHealey_MP’s Budget today.
Huge credit to @dantomlinsonmp, @LucyRigby and the wider @hmtreasury team for their work on a Budget that backs British entrepreneurs and tackles the barriers holding back growth.
A serious programme of supply side reform to make Britain the best place to start, build and scale a business.
Tom Collinge retweeted
Today’s is the most decentralising Budget in decades, certainly since the Westminster power-grabs of the 1980s. For decades, we have got something as fundamental as where decisions are made wrong. This has made us poorer and more unequal. This Budget plots a new course.
In the context of fiscal devo this is quite interesting. Sort of delinks the growth incentive from the high streets agenda.
The Chancellor has just taken 70,000 more retail, hospitality & leisure businesses out of Business Rates altogether.
A welcome boost to Britain’s High Streets.
#Budget2026
Tom Collinge retweeted
3/4 Borrowing powers alone won't get projects built. Local leaders need access to affordable finance and the expertise to deliver complex infrastructure.
Sharing knowledge between each level of government, from tunnel boring to project financing, can bring down costs.
Tom Collinge retweeted
Struck by the softly populist tone this Budget is taking, smaller measures than some previous budgets so far - but more overtly political. Targeting areas public have little sympathy for (landlords, gambling, banks) in exchange for broader (if not deeper) cost of living relief
Something very like recommendation 5. included in the budget today... 👀
Tom Collinge retweeted
Market snapshot as Chancellor sits down:
FTSE 100 10,710 (up 10)
FTSE 250 24, 830 (up 90)
10-year gilt yield: 5.31% (a bit lower)
£ vs $: 1.329 (flat)
£ vs euro: 1.194 (tiny bit higher)
Basically no big change, he'd probably take that as a win
Tom Collinge retweeted
***JOHN HEALEY’S UK BUDGET***
ECONOMY
— says the world faces “economic storms” from Trump’s war in Iran
— 2027 growth forecast lowered to 1% from 1.6%
— fiscal headroom will be £15b
— borrowing will be higher in every year of the forecast compared to what was seen in March
HOUSEHOLD ENERGY SUPPORT
— £100 energy payment for households for 20 million households in council tax bands A-D, costing £2.6b
— VAT cut on household electricity bills extended to next July, taking £50 off price cap
— gas standing charges removed from household bills, similar reforms to follow for
TAX CHANGES
— bank surcharge raised to 6% from 3%, temporarily, for 15 months starting in January
— small business rate relief threshold for retail, hospitality, leisure raised, taking 70,000 businesses out of paying business rates
— that’s paid for by raising taxes on gambling, with gaming machines duty raised to 25% from 20%, and carving out gaming centres and vape shops from business rates relief
— on capital gains, increasing rates on income from property and savings by 2 percentage points
— cut to Business Asset Disposal Relief
— new pensioners’ tax allowance so state pension isn’t taxed
— limit on cash ISAs to stay at £20,000
— extending tax cuts for motorists to July
— suspending tariffs on 100+ supermarket products
DEFENCE
— says UK will spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, with funding set out in the spending review
— £10b of additional economic and military support for Ukraine based on loans, export finance guarantees and urgent funding for the winter
— Defence Investment Plan will be fully funded
INVESTMENT
— £20.4b for National Wealth Fund
— new British Data Centre Covenant to require data centres to invest in local communities
— new young entrepreneurs allowance
— reforming skilled worker visas, non-compete clauses
— founders relief on capital gains tax for entrepreneurs
— extra £1.5b for social/affordable housing
— first time buyer ISA to replace lifetime ISA
DEVOLUTION
— 100% of business rates to be retained locally by end of decade
— 20% of business rates will go to mayors from next year
— from 2028 mayors will have powers for a visitors levy
WELFARE CUTS
— pledges to bring down welfare bill
— says govt will respond to the Milburn report this year and publish a white paper and legislation next year
Tom Collinge retweeted
Welcome announcements from @JohnHealey_MP to back British AI:
- More funding for @AISecurityInst to test AI & keep us safe
- More support for @UKSovereignAI to back brilliant British AI start ups
- A new deal on data centres: to get grid connections & so local people benefit