Thomas Hobbes on climate change. ABBA on historical determinism. Scones and wokeness.
Free Thinking - now on BBC Radio 4 - really is public service broadcasting - thank you to Matthew Sweet for letting me join the conversation.

bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

Child poverty has risen more in the UK - international comparisons

People in their 50s are spending their pension pots on new kitchens, holidays and paying off their debts. That means they can't use the money to support themselves in later life. Ten years on, is it time to revisit pension freedoms? spectator.co.uk/article/a-pens…

People in their 50s are spending their pension pots on new kitchens, holidays and paying off their debts. That means they can't use the money to support themselves in later life. Ten years on, is it time to revisit pension freedoms?

'Defined pension decumulation' is hardly a phrase to get politicians or voters excited. But sooner or later, MPs will need to revisit pension freedoms and a system that leaves voters making near-impossible financial decisions alone.

spectator.co.uk/article/a-pens…

Not a football fan but I’ll listen to this anyway, because Mehreen is mesmerically brilliant on football. (Still remember a 2014 DT piece on Pirlo, “greatest human man”)

Britain is too sick to work
- #Budget2024 analysis by the OBR shows that poor physical and mental health are now a serious drag on the U.K. economy.
Improving the nation’s health should be an economic priority, for policymakers and businesses alike.

spectator.co.uk/article/britai…

Britain is too sick to work
- #Budget2024 analysis by the OBR shows that poor physical and mental health are now a serious drag on the U.K. economy.
Improving the nation’s health should be an economic priority, for policymakers and businesses alike.

spectator.co.uk/article/britai…

This picture should hang in the National Gallery, entitled ‘British Politics 2010 - 2024’.

It’s my 48th birthday, so I’ve celebrated by writing long and gloomy assessment of how people my age are screwed by a huge shift in pension provision.
-

The pension bomb facing Generation X spectator.co.uk/article/the-pe…

It’s my 48th birthday, so I’ve celebrated by writing long and gloomy assessment of how people my age are screwed by a huge shift in pension provision.
-

The pension bomb facing Generation X spectator.co.uk/article/the-pe…

When people say Labour hasn't made any big, firm promises, ignore them. The pledge of 1.5m new houses in 5 years is huge - in importance, ambition and difficulty. This chart, from my Apella colleague Dr Mike Granleese, shows the scale of the challenge.
linkedin.com/posts/dr-mike-…

A note of praise for Backstory | London bookshop's nonfiction book club. A top idea. One book a month. Everyone in the club gets the book, then meets the author over Zoom, ask qs etc. I did an event last night for The Moth and the Mountain. Searching questions. Convivial atmosphere. Huge fun.

Strong sales of a Harry Potter video game - despite 'controversy' over JK Rowling's views - hold lessons for politicians and business.

My Times column on the need to ignore online noise:

thetimes.co.uk/article/harry-…