davelevy.info
type: channel
description: my site; opinion, notes and record
date: 2026-04-07T22:04:54Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
generator agent: https://wordpress.org/
items: How important is profit for software projects?
items: EU-UK reset and the electricity market
items: A fracturing internet
items: Labour’s Brexit tanker is turning
items: “Another Europe” & Citizens takeover …
items: Political Tech Summit 26, Berlin
items: Energy supply policy
items: One down, more to fall
items: More on the “Reset”, progress over Xmas?
items: The “Reset”, progress over Xmas?
items: The Road not Taken
items: Single market, customs union and a poison pill.
items: Starmer, Labour and the Redlines
items: On public debt, yields and its affordability
items: The single market
items: A breeze in Downing Street
items: A manifesto for the Labour Movement for Europe
items: UK–EU Defence: Stronger Together
items: Untimely Atlanticism, a note on the UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal
items: On the autumn statement 2026

How important is profit for software projects?
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-04-07T21:54:30Z
subject: technology
subject: AI
subject: artificial intelligence
subject: economics
subject: investment appraisal
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ai-itsm-deepai_org-ccpd-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a robot using a laptop" decoding="async" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ai-itsm-deepai_org-ccpd-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ai-itsm-deepai_org-ccpd-w750-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ai-itsm-deepai_org-ccpd-w750-230x230.png 230w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I have just posted on LinkedIn, “Does AI actually impact the bottom line in a good way?”. I look at an article from the Register based on a Gartner report which reports that in their survey AI projects “sucess rates
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ai-itsm-deepai_org-ccpd-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a robot using a laptop" decoding="async" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ai-itsm-deepai_org-ccpd-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ai-itsm-deepai_org-ccpd-w750-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ai-itsm-deepai_org-ccpd-w750-230x230.png 230w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I have just posted on LinkedIn, “Does AI actually impact the bottom line in a good way?”. I look at an article from the Register based on a Gartner report which reports that in their survey AI projects “sucess rates were “only 28 percent of use cases fully succeed and offer return on investment (ROI).” I look at at arguments from Perez’s Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital and remember a late 20th century paradox that while many IS projects had poor and even negative ROIs, firms that didn’t invest failed.

EU-UK reset and the electricity market
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-04-01T08:00:50Z
subject: Politics
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
subject: singlemarket
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/berlaymont-christianlue-unsplash-w750cfropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/berlaymont-christianlue-unsplash-w750cfropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/berlaymont-christianlue-unsplash-w750cfropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I was informed by the European Movement on threads, that the EU Council has approved talks between the EU & UK on electricity market integration and cohesion. While electricity was on the cards and was signposted in last years May
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/berlaymont-christianlue-unsplash-w750cfropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/berlaymont-christianlue-unsplash-w750cfropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/berlaymont-christianlue-unsplash-w750cfropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I was informed by the European Movement on threads, that the EU Council has approved talks between the EU & UK on electricity market integration and cohesion. While electricity was on the cards and was signposted in last years May Summit, the cohesion talks are a major departure. Whether this is the EU ensuring that the UK pays its way into the single market, or a genuine attempt to broaden the conversation about what the UK adopts/rejoins is to me unclear. It may be some surprising good news, perhaps more evidence that Labour’s tanker is turning. I was surprised at the cohesion fund announcement and so asked Gemini if the UK would be a net contributor to the fund. They suggest that it is unlikely that the UK would be able to claim from the fund as the UK’s GDP per capita is too high and its purpose is now targeted at poorer member states and not smaller localities. Gemini’s full reply is at https://share.google/aimode/R99jBkDkHT8Qd5Y2E It seems they think the UK paying into the cohesion fund is to contribute to single market costs of joining the electricity single market. Under current rules the UK is unlikely to claim against the cohesion fund, despite having numerous European poverty areas.

A fracturing internet
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-03-30T14:42:11Z
subject: technology
subject: internet
subject: law
subject: linkedin
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/impatience-deepau_org-ccpd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="some people in a queue" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/impatience-deepau_org-ccpd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/impatience-deepau_org-ccpd-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I wrote a medium length blog on linkedin and medium about three US court cases on internet system service provider liability to consumers and non-consenting suppliers. The big tech companies lost two, on harm caused which they’ll appeal, and won
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/impatience-deepau_org-ccpd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="some people in a queue" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/impatience-deepau_org-ccpd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/impatience-deepau_org-ccpd-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I wrote a medium length blog on linkedin and medium about three US court cases on internet system service provider liability to consumers and non-consenting suppliers. The big tech companies lost two, on harm caused which they’ll appeal, and won one on carrier immunity. I also look at Russia’s recent measures to cut Russian users from the world, and mention the UK’s expressed concern about internet harms.

Labour’s Brexit tanker is turning
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-03-23T17:29:43Z
subject: Politics
subject: thoughts
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="A UK flag at an EP meeting" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />On the Great Reset with the EU, things continue to move, if not between the EU & UK, at least inside the Labour Government. At the end of February, the EU & UK signed a “cooperation deal on competition”. I
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="A UK flag at an EP meeting" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> On the Great Reset with the EU, things continue to move, if not between the EU & UK, at least inside the Labour Government. At the end of February, the EU & UK signed a “cooperation deal on competition”. I find it hard to discover what this actually means but it gave Peter Kyle the opportunity to say that people want better, but the Government is not going very far. He is also quoted as saying that the British public are “not nostalgic” for the pre-Brexit past. This was followed by a devastating and frank report from the House of Commons Foreign Affairs committee, published on a web page entitled, ‘UK-EU reset lacks “direction, definition and drive”’. It’s chairperson, Dame Emily Thornbury, is quoted as saying “Sadly, we found that despite progress in some areas, the Government’s reset is languishing, suffering from a lack of direction, definition and drive. It feels as though we are on a journey with no clear destination. In many areas, the Government has failed to provide timelines, milestones, or priorities and it does not appear to have an ambitious, strategic vision for the UK’s new relationship with the EU.” I was surprised to find, this report, of Maroš Šefčovič[1]’s speech, presumably to the March meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly[2] where he warns that closing the Erasmus deal is in danger, because the UK won’t agree sufficiently favourable financial terms for EU students to study at UK universities. This is symptomatic of the mean spirit…

“Another Europe” & Citizens takeover …
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-03-11T11:57:22Z
subject: Politics
subject: anothereurope
subject: CTOE
subject: democracy
subject: europeanunion
subject: politics
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/charlamagnebldg-wikimediacommons-CC4_0Int-BY-FrDR-SA-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="one of the conference rooms in the charlamagne bldg in Brussels" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/charlamagnebldg-wikimediacommons-CC4_0Int-BY-FrDR-SA-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/charlamagnebldg-wikimediacommons-CC4_0Int-BY-FrDR-SA-w750-cropped-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I have represented Another Europe within Citizens takeover Europe for five years and recently wrote a report on our joint work. This has been posted on the Another Europe's web site. I talked about tracking the Conference on the Future of Europe, the political denouement of CoFoE, the 2024 EP elections, the growing strength of the nationalist and far-right in the EP, citizens assemblies, the EU democracy plan and opportunities for improvement. For a lot more, read the post at Another Europe's site, for not so much, use the "Read More" button ...
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/charlamagnebldg-wikimediacommons-CC4_0Int-BY-FrDR-SA-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="one of the conference rooms in the charlamagne bldg in Brussels" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/charlamagnebldg-wikimediacommons-CC4_0Int-BY-FrDR-SA-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/charlamagnebldg-wikimediacommons-CC4_0Int-BY-FrDR-SA-w750-cropped-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I have represented Another Europe within Citizens takeover Europe for five years and recently wrote a report back on our joint work. This has been posted on the Another Europe’s web site. I talked about tracking the Conference on the Future of Europe, the political denouement of CoFoE, the 2024 EP elections, the growing strength of the nationalist and far-right in the EP, citizens assemblies, the EU democracy plan and opportunities for & threats to improvement. I review the continued use of citizens’ assemblies and CTOE’s attempts to institutionalise them and its continued work on democratising the EU. I look at the recent batch of ECI petitions that have reached the threshold mandating a Commission response. I look at the EU’s democracy action plan, for free and fair elections, zero foreign interference and disinformation and a free and independent press and media. I mention Eastern european’s distaste for state backed fact checking sites and note that, Combatting disinformation requires comprehensive cyber-security capabilities and laws. The Digital Services Act gives the enforcement authorities the power and places obligations on the, mainly US, companies to report and react. Much of the political focus remains on the Russian state. It must be recognised that European and British democracy is vulnerable to attacks from both East …

Political Tech Summit 26, Berlin
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-03-06T12:34:14Z
subject: Politics
subject: technology
subject: thoughts
subject: politics
subject: PTS
subject: PTS26
subject: social media
subject: sovereignty
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SouthoftheSpree-cc0-dfl-2026-w1080-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="on Koepenicker Str, Berlin" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SouthoftheSpree-cc0-dfl-2026-w1080-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SouthoftheSpree-cc0-dfl-2026-w1080-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SouthoftheSpree-cc0-dfl-2026-w1080-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> These are my notes from Political Tech Summit 26. I have focused on those sessions I attended. The technology support presents what looks like AI written summaries of the sessions which were mainly panel sessions. I have quoted from these summaries and in one case sought to re-summarise using another LLM. I have tried to humanise the text so that the article remains in my voice but also informs you of what happened. For more, see overleaf ...
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SouthoftheSpree-cc0-dfl-2026-w1080-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="on Koepenicker Str, Berlin" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SouthoftheSpree-cc0-dfl-2026-w1080-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SouthoftheSpree-cc0-dfl-2026-w1080-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SouthoftheSpree-cc0-dfl-2026-w1080-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> These are my notes from Political Tech Summit 26. I have focused on those sessions I attended. The technology support presents what looks like AI written summaries of the sessions which were mainly panel sessions. I have quoted from these summaries and in one case sought to re-summarise using another LLM. I have tried to humanise the text so that the article remains in my voice but also informs you of what happened. The first session I attended was entitled, “Protecting our Future: Cybersecurity for Society, State and Public Administration”. The panellists were Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann MEP, Chair of the European Parliament’s defence committee and Wieland Holfelder, Vice President and Regional CTO for Google. The conference preview promised the argument that society has transitioned from a state of peace into a perpetual “cyber war” where digital attacks precede physical conflict and would conclude by agreeing that Europe must shift from mere regulation to “operational resilience” by leveraging AI to counter scale-based threats from global adversaries like China and Russia. MSZ was clear that Europe need to own its solutions while not explicitly stating that US was a source of threat. She cited the recent Davos conference as a source of European concern and unity. Hofelder was explicitly asked, how, in a world of the US Cloud Act, Google could be expected …

Energy supply policy
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-02-17T09:08:19Z
subject: Politics
subject: energy
subject: politics
subject: regulation
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/electricity-unsplash-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/electricity-unsplash-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/electricity-unsplash-w750-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />I came across this cartoon, on linkedin, which reminded me of a comment made at a recent ORG meeting that the UK cannot be an AI powerhouse because our electricity is too expensive. It’s also possible that this is one
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/electricity-unsplash-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/electricity-unsplash-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/electricity-unsplash-w750-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I came across this cartoon, on linkedin, which reminded me of a comment made at a recent ORG meeting that the UK cannot be an AI powerhouse because our electricity is too expensive. It’s also possible that this is one reason why the bitcoin miners are now all located in China. It set me thinking, and I made this chart. International Energy Prices 2026: Source google The UK is expensive, and it would seem that this is true of the EU too. The linkedin article argues that China’s energy investment has been about energy sovereignty. Perhaps its time the EU and UK governments thought about these issues.

One down, more to fall
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-02-09T08:49:41Z
subject: thoughts
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DowningSt-jordhanmadec-unsplash-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DowningSt-jordhanmadec-unsplash-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DowningSt-jordhanmadec-unsplash-w750-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DowningSt-jordhanmadec-unsplash-w750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />So McSweeney is permitted to resign ‘from government’ and in his apology seeks to constrain his downfall to his support for Mandelson as US ambassador. His departure gives Labour the opportunity to find its heart again as McSweeney did so
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DowningSt-jordhanmadec-unsplash-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DowningSt-jordhanmadec-unsplash-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DowningSt-jordhanmadec-unsplash-w750-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DowningSt-jordhanmadec-unsplash-w750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> So McSweeney is permitted to resign ‘from government’ and in his apology seeks to constrain his downfall to his support for Mandelson as US ambassador. His departure gives Labour the opportunity to find its heart again as McSweeney did so much to remove it, building a party that as Martin Forde predicted, in his inquiry report, where factional loyalty counted for more than public service. Clive Lewis writes on Facebook, saying, among other things, … That mindset hollowed Labour out. It replaced a party rooted in working-class life with a professional political caste fluent in donor networks, private dinners and elite reassurance, while communities were told to accept decline as the price of ‘responsible’ government. Politics became about managing optics and markets, not challenging vested interests or redistributing power. McSweeney’s departure changes none of that on its own. Unless Labour confronts the culture that rewarded closeness to wealth, blurred ethical lines and treated democratic accountability as an inconvenience, this will amount to little more than damage limitation. Remove one operator and the system that produced him remains. And unless that system is dismantled, Labour will continue to lose its moral authority, its social base, and ultimately its right to govern, leaving the ground clear for forces far worse to exploit the wreckage. The whole piece is worth readin…

More on the “Reset”, progress over Xmas?
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-02-07T17:02:41Z
subject: Politics
subject: europeanunion
subject: FTC
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="A UK flag at an EP meeting" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> My Union branch has passed a motion for GMB Congress calling for the Labour Government to rejoin the single market and customs union now, and for the Party to ask for a mandate to rejoin at the next election. Is this needed? I am of the view that the speed of the “Reset” is glacial and that without a change in attitude they will not achieve anything of significance or notice before the end of the parliament. For the whole article, use the "Read More" button ...
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="A UK flag at an EP meeting" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EP-flags-cc-2019-BY-cropped-rszd-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> My Union branch has passed a motion for GMB Congress calling for the Labour Government to rejoin the single market and customs union now, and for the Party to ask for a mandate to rejoin at the next election. Is this needed? I am of the view that the speed of the “Reset” is glacial and that without a change in attitude they will not achieve anything of significance or notice before the end of the parliament. Of the five point plan, two are stuck, and the refusal to consider ‘freedom of movement’ while seeking a “swiss style” deal are massive inhibitors to concluding agreement in areas that should be simple. Despite my pessimism, both sides claim some progress has been quietly made over the last month. This is reported optimistically by google gemini. However, the Commission statement does not itemise any progress outside the agenda set at the May 25 Summit. There was also a meeting of the joint specialised committees, between the Government and the Commission, producing a statement. https://bit.ly/4rxLX4T which reviewed the recent past, noting the UK’s agreement to re-enter Erasmus+ and its [possible] resolution of the UK breach of the Withdrawal Agreement terms on citizens’ rights, together with the 9 month old agreement to regularise the fishing arrangements. They have already claimed credit for all this. Its all old news. On trade, they again note progress and anticipate more, yet much of the focus is GB/NI trade and the EU’s right of inspection. This is another poi…

The “Reset”, progress over Xmas?
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-02-06T16:37:16Z
subject: Politics
subject: brexit
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
subject: TCA
description: I did some searching to see if anything had developed from the EU/UK meetings in December. It seems that there have been a couple of inter-governmental meetings. Is progress being made, in the famous words, of Captain Rum, opinion be divided. I made a note on my wiki, called, Brexit reset winter 2025-26 which you might like to check out. For more, check out the wiki article, or use the "Read More" button ...
encoded: I did some searching to see if anything had developed from the EU/UK meetings in December. It seems that there have been a couple of inter-governmental meetings. Is progress being made, in the famous words, of Captain Rum, opinion be divided. I made a note on my wiki, called, Brexit reset winter 2025-26. I look and summarise the documents, and the agenda of the meetings, one of which is on cyber security. I note a report entitled UK-EU Cybersecurity cooperation in the context of the TCA 2024 from the Independent Commission on UKEU relations. This is the landing page for a report but undated . I also note that UKicE identify digital regulation as a point of divergence between the two parties. I conclude, This is thin gruel, making the most of what has already been agreed and congratulating themselves on the slow progress of the reset agenda. The immigration reforms are to be welcomed. Meanwhile, we note UK EU divergence tracker Q4 2025 from UK iCE who note the divergence in the UK, on financial services regulation and by the EU on climate impact reporting and regulation of AI and social media.

The Road not Taken
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-01-25T15:27:00Z
subject: diary
subject: Politics
subject: thoughts
subject: berlin
subject: dhm
subject: germany
subject: history
subject: politics
description: I went to an exhibition at the Deutscher Historisches Museum, called the Road not Taken. It examines seven turning points in German history and asks what might have happened if they'd turned out differently. They say, "It brings actual turning points face to face with what might have happened if it if it were not for various factors - prevented by accidents, averted by misfires or other kinds of shortcomings -are explored:" They start in 1989 with the peaceful revolution in the German Democratic Republic and end in the year 1848, when Germany first tried to attempt a democratic awakening. For more, including an image of the poster and a video of an agamograph, use the "Read More" button ...
encoded: I went to an exhibition at the Deutscher Historisches Museum, called the Road not Taken. It examines seven turning points in German history and asks what might have happened if they’d turned out differently. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Road-not-taken-1-1024x683.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13729" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Road-not-taken-1-1024x683.png 1024w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Road-not-taken-1-300x200.png 300w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Road-not-taken-1-768x512.png 768w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Road-not-taken-1.png 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> They say, “It brings actual turning points face to face with what might have happened if it if it were not for various factors – prevented by accidents, averted by misfires or other kinds of shortcomings -are explored: it is what is known in the philosophy of history as contingency. The course of these events begins in 1989 with the peaceful revolution in the German Democratic Republic and ends in the year 1848, when Germany first tried to attempt to democratic awakening. The exhibition takes up such topics as “Ost Politik”, the building of the wall, the Cold War, the “Stalin note”, the assumption of power by the National Socialists as well as revolution and democratisation at decisive points – and illustrates that history, by no means had to end as it actually happened.” See below for a video of an agamograph, contrasting the Chinese government’s violent repression of their student led protests, with the outcome of the mainly peaceful demonstrations against the government of the GDR leading to the fall of the wall. The GDR had sent an embassy of solidarity to the Chinese government after Tiananmen Square. This is supplemented by exhibits detailing the GDR military code and law prohibiting acting against …

Single market, customs union and a poison pill.
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-01-15T13:01:42Z
subject: Politics
subject: brexit
subject: customsunion
subject: europeanunion
subject: labour
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
subject: singlemarket
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BRD-border-heikebaerbel-pixabay_750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BRD-border-heikebaerbel-pixabay_750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BRD-border-heikebaerbel-pixabay_750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />In an article, Starmer prepares for parliamentary battles over imminent EU ‘reset’ bill, jessicaelgot suggested that there is movement on the “red lines”. It is clearer on reading that this is an attempt to accelerate UK agreement to the currently
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BRD-border-heikebaerbel-pixabay_750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BRD-border-heikebaerbel-pixabay_750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BRD-border-heikebaerbel-pixabay_750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> In an article, Starmer prepares for parliamentary battles over imminent EU ‘reset’ bill, jessicaelgot suggested that there is movement on the “red lines”. It is clearer on reading that this is an attempt to accelerate UK agreement to the currently on-going trade negotiations by increasing the powers of the relevant ministers. The article uses the phrase swiss-style agreement which is highly unlikely to succeed and at the best is tone deaf as to the EU’s needs and wants. UK in a changing Europe, document what they see as the timetable and goals of the current reset negotiations.I see them as optimistic, and everyone seems to forget that the EU’s starting point is full implementation of the withdrawal agreement and Windsor framework; there remain, even 18 months after the general election, eight infringement proceedings unresolved. It’s sort of interesting that they think they need new language, but to me, they have not yet changed their mind. I also see this as a means by which the Government deflects the internal Labour Party pressure towards joining the Customs Union by posing, parts of, the single market as an alternative. It is disappointing to see so many seeing the Customs Union as sufficient advance, but the UK economy and people need and want membership of both, including, reciprocal, free movement of people. Labour should join the customs union and single market now and promise to rejoin the EU in its next election manifesto. Various news sources, including the Brussels Times, …

Starmer, Labour and the Redlines
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-01-05T12:00:36Z
subject: Politics
subject: brexit
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
subject: single market
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/keir-rivoli-cc-dfl-2020-BY-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Sir Keir Starmer at the Rivoli" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/keir-rivoli-cc-dfl-2020-BY-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/keir-rivoli-cc-dfl-2020-BY-w750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />Starmer on an interview on the BBC, reported in the Guardian, said he wanted closer alignment with the EU and its single market but no return to freedom of movement nor the customs union. In fact the reports suggest that
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/keir-rivoli-cc-dfl-2020-BY-w750-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Sir Keir Starmer at the Rivoli" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/keir-rivoli-cc-dfl-2020-BY-w750-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/keir-rivoli-cc-dfl-2020-BY-w750-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> Starmer on an interview on the BBC, reported in the Guardian, said he wanted closer alignment with the EU and its single market but no return to freedom of movement nor the customs union. In fact the reports suggest that he is presenting a new language for the current policy to try and stop the momentum towards the customs union. I don’t think this is an advance although he may change his mind; he often does, usually after some poor front bencher has just defended the policy. It’s all very, “The thick of it”. This story was also reported in the FT, BBC & Independent. The BBC report is much clearer that there has been no change to the “Red Lines”.

On public debt, yields and its affordability
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2026-01-02T08:37:00Z
subject: economics
subject: Politics
subject: debtmanagement
subject: macroeconomics
subject: nationaldebt
subject: politics
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/bankofengland-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/bankofengland-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/bankofengland-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />The government and Labour MPs seem fascinated by bond yields. They present the fact that UK yields are high is seen as a short cut to arguing that the Government can’t afford the interest rates on bonds and arguing that
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/bankofengland-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/bankofengland-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/bankofengland-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> The government and Labour MPs seem fascinated by bond yields. They present the fact that UK yields are high is seen as a short cut to arguing that the Government can’t afford the interest rates on bonds and arguing that the last word on the deficit has to be held by the markets. This article looks at what the ‘yield’ actually is, argues it is the outcome of policy decisions, that rising yields have no effect or at least very little effect on public finances. It also argues that quantitative tightening makes the affordability of the deficit worse and that alternative debt management operations would ease the situation. It also suggests that the credit default swap price is a better indicator of the market assessment of the viability of public finances. What is a bond? Firstly, let’s examine what is a government bond also known as Gilts. A government bond is a certificate proving a loan to the government. It is issued with a face value (or principal), a payment schedule (consisting of a payment value, and frequency, usually described as an annual interest rate), and a duration. The payments are often referred to as coupons due to the original paper format of UK government bonds. The government will redeem the bond at the end of its life at its face value. While they have a face value, on issue, the government may receive more or less than the face value of the bond depending on the coupon value, the current market interest rate, itself based on the Bank of England’s interest rate, and the markets expectations of future interest rates. What is a yield T…

The single market
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2025-12-29T12:48:42Z
subject: Politics
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
subject: singlemarket
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/greekmarket-henryjulius-nXyMvW4I9Y-unsplash-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a greek market, on a back street in the sun" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/greekmarket-henryjulius-nXyMvW4I9Y-unsplash-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/greekmarket-henryjulius-nXyMvW4I9Y-unsplash-270x270.jpg 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/greekmarket-henryjulius-nXyMvW4I9Y-unsplash-230x230.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />The number of senior labour movement figures have argued over the Christmas break that the UK should seek to rejoin the European Union’s customs union. They leave out a call to rejoin the single market. The customs union relates to
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/greekmarket-henryjulius-nXyMvW4I9Y-unsplash-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="a greek market, on a back street in the sun" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/greekmarket-henryjulius-nXyMvW4I9Y-unsplash-150x150.jpg 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/greekmarket-henryjulius-nXyMvW4I9Y-unsplash-270x270.jpg 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/greekmarket-henryjulius-nXyMvW4I9Y-unsplash-230x230.jpg 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> The number of senior labour movement figures have argued over the Christmas break that the UK should seek to rejoin the European Union’s customs union. They leave out a call to rejoin the single market. The customs union relates to tariffs, the single market governs common non tariff import barriers on goods & services. The single market also deals with freedom of movement of capital and labour. I question whether joining the customs union is sufficient to deliver the increased growth that is proponents and the country seems to want. Obviously, the single market opens the issues of free movement of people and trade sovereignty (as does the customs union). Now that it’s understood, British people seemed to want to return to the free movement and there is no national sovereignty in international trade. I believe that the UK should join the customs union and single market now, and that Labour should put a rejoin promise in the next manifesto. The near-fetishist concentration on in trade and economics suggests that most of our parliamentarians are not yet ready to be good citizens within the European Union. It is necessary that they change their minds, and Labour must play its part bringing this about. The UK was and will be a better place to live within the European Union.

A breeze in Downing Street
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2025-12-23T09:40:05Z
subject: Politics
subject: thoughts
subject: europeanunion
subject: labour
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10DowningSt-ruichamberlain-unsplash-w750x250-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10DowningSt-ruichamberlain-unsplash-w750x250-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10DowningSt-ruichamberlain-unsplash-w750x250-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10DowningSt-ruichamberlain-unsplash-w750x250-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> Are we moving closer to joining the EU? It's been quite an eventful month, culminating in Wes Streeting’s call for the UK to join the EU’s Customs Union. This article looks at the current state of thinking of HMG on negotiations with the EU, comments on the velocity and direction of travel, contrasting the red lines vs the numerous programme adoptions, recent polling evidence that a majority of people in the UK now want to rejoin, the House of Commons vote on rejoining the customs union, and the announcement of the UK’s rejoining Erasmus+, the EU’s student exchange scheme. It concludes looking at a Guardian EB piece questioning if British Politics is fit to survive the current challenges and the Labour Party’s abysmal response. The full article, is overleaf, use the "Read More" to see it ...
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10DowningSt-ruichamberlain-unsplash-w750x250-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10DowningSt-ruichamberlain-unsplash-w750x250-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10DowningSt-ruichamberlain-unsplash-w750x250-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10DowningSt-ruichamberlain-unsplash-w750x250-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> Are we moving closer to joining the EU? It’s been quite an eventful month, culminating in Wes Streeting’s call for the UK to join the EU’s Customs Union. This article looks at the current state of thinking of HMG on negotiations with the EU, comments on the velocity and direction of travel, contrasting the red lines vs the numerous programme adoptions, recent polling evidence that a majority of people in the UK now want to rejoin, the House of Commons vote on rejoining the customs union, and the announcement of the UK’s rejoining Erasmus+, the EU’s student exchange scheme. It concludes looking at a Guardian EB piece questioning if British Politics is fit to survive the current challenges and the Labour Party’s abysmal response. What HMG thinks is happening. I reported and commented on the UK hosted EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Association meeting with a seemingly imaginative title of “The EU hokey cokey” but it seems many people are now using it to describe the UK approach. The day I watched was on trade & defence, and in reviewing the speeches of NST, the HMG Minister for Europe, and Maros Sefcovic, the EU Commissioner for Trade there is still a way to go to make further agreements, or even get back on the same page. In my commentary, I said, One problem is that the UK Government is behaving as if it doesn’t really care. There is no strategy and…

A manifesto for the Labour Movement for Europe
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2025-12-16T10:43:25Z
subject: diary
subject: Politics
subject: labour
subject: LME
subject: politics
subject: rejoineu
description: I am standing for election to the LME national committee in the London region. This is done, I was not elected. To see my statement, see below or overleaf. … I’ve been a member of the LME for many years.
encoded: I am standing for election to the LME national committee in the London region. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="626" height="626" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/demo-dave.png" alt="" class="wp-image-7271" style="width:760px;height:auto" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/demo-dave.png 626w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/demo-dave-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/demo-dave-300x300.png 300w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/demo-dave-270x270.png 270w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/demo-dave-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/demo-dave-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px" /> This is done, I was not elected. To see my statement, see below or overleaf. … I’ve been a member of the LME for many years. It’s interesting that over the last couple of weeks it seems that even the government recognises that we need a better trade agreement with the European Union and that the “reset” is not going well. Mood is not enough. The simplest and most complete relationship is of course full membership which I support. We need to rejoin. Brexit is a mistake and more and more people realise this. But the UK cannot rejoin the European Union until it is ready to be good citizens, this will not happen without Labour commitment and leadership. If elected I will seek to bring the LME to a position where it campaigns to rejoin the single market in preparation for rejoining the European Union and calls on the Party to commit to full membership of the EU and to argue for rejoining as good citizens. This Labour government has the impossible policy of seeking to Fix Brexit; this is not possible. The Labour Government’s cherry-picking approach is making little headway and the claim that they will not sign deals not in the interests of the British people while pursuing a topic by topic approach makes ach…

UK–EU Defence: Stronger Together
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2025-12-11T18:29:47Z
subject: Politics
subject: brexit
subject: defence
subject: europeanunion
subject: politics
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/snmg1-w750-cropped-viaNATO-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="nato warships" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/snmg1-w750-cropped-viaNATO-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/snmg1-w750-cropped-viaNATO-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> How damaging is the European union's rejection of the UK's attempts to join its SAFE programme; SAFE Is the European Union's new defence funding programme. I quote, Euroweekly News who describe it as a significant blow to the UK's "Reset" ambitions. For more, use the "Read More" button. ...
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/snmg1-w750-cropped-viaNATO-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="nato warships" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/snmg1-w750-cropped-viaNATO-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/snmg1-w750-cropped-viaNATO-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> How damaging is the European union’s rejection of the UK’s attempts to join its SAFE programme; SAFE Is the European Union’s new defence funding programme. The most succinct report that I can find is on Euroweekly News in an article, entitled, “UK excluded from €150bn EU defence deal” which states that, On November 28, the UK government announced that negotiations to join the EU’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence fund had failed, marking a significant blow to what had been billed as a “reset” of UK‑EU post‑Brexit relations. However, Euroweekly News, also states that SAFE has a 35% access to 3rd party countries, which some might consider generous given that the programme is to be funded by ECB bond issue of €150bn. The cap is however per contract which would, almost certainly, for instance, make selling warships ineligible for SAFE funding, not to mention the fact that numerous EU countries can build both warships and warplanes. The EU were asking for a UK contribution, some might say, a large contribution, to the fund, before lifting the cap to 50%. It also interests me that the whole argument is about selling to the EU, and not the UK buying European weapons, although the Euro benefit to this is massively undermined by the UK decision to buy US warplanes and more US nukes. The UK proving once again that it is “a nation of shopkeepers” walked away from this deal. Defence co-operation was meant to be the most advanced topic of the EU-UK May reset agreement. Even with defence …

Untimely Atlanticism, a note on the UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2025-12-02T17:13:33Z
subject: Politics
subject: artificial intelligence
subject: data centre
subject: international trade
subject: politics
subject: technology
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/datacentre-ismailenesayhan-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="an aisle in a computer hall" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/datacentre-ismailenesayhan-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/datacentre-ismailenesayhan-unsplash-w750-cropped-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I wrote a response to the US/UK Technology deal which was eventually published in the Chartist Magazine. They entitled it, “Untimely Atlanticism” with a sub title, “US AI data centres drain power and offer little for UK jobs while in Europe opportunities call “. The rest of the article, is overleaf, behind the "Read More" button. I talk about the new data centres, their immense scale, the digital colonialism, the import implications of the deal, and question the short term and long term economic benefits of AI. I finish by oitin g out the European co-operation might be more beneficial. ...
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/datacentre-ismailenesayhan-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="an aisle in a computer hall" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/datacentre-ismailenesayhan-unsplash-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/datacentre-ismailenesayhan-unsplash-w750-cropped-230x230.png 230w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> I wrote a response to the US/UK Technology deal which was eventually published in the Chartist Magazine. They entitled it, “Untimely Atlanticism” with a sub title, “US AI data centres drain power and offer little for UK jobs while in Europe opportunities call “. In the Chartist article I say, One of the few substantial outcomes from Donald Trump’s second visit to the UK is the announcement of a UK-US Tech deal, also named the UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal. TechUK states that the key areas for co-operation are Artificial Intelligence, civil nuclear technology, quantum technologies and network technology & cyber-security. The most eye-catching proposals are to enable the US Big Tech companies to build some very large data centres to host nodes in their AI configurations. The Government press release argues that this will help research significant bioscience advances. The scale of some of these data centre builds is enormous. The proposed Microsoft/Nscale data centre is planned to be 50 megawatts with a burst capability of 90 megawatts; these metrics do not include the power draw necessary to run the cooling systems. Google Gemini reports that 50 megawatts could be expected to power 30,000 homes. AI systems and their Data Centres aren’t a public good; the rules-bases, i.e. the knowledge is owned by the software company, and the data centres compete with people for power, water, land, and capital. The US corporate domination…

On the autumn statement 2026
type: item
creator: Dave
date: 2025-11-28T10:14:00Z
subject: economics
subject: Politics
subject: brexit
subject: budget
subject: politics
subject: rachel reeves
description: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/reeves-freemalaysiatoday-cc-by-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Rachel Reeves in front of No 10/1 with a red box" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/reeves-freemalaysiatoday-cc-by-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/reeves-freemalaysiatoday-cc-by-w750-cropped-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/reeves-freemalaysiatoday-cc-by-w750-cropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />A quick note on the budget, remembering I wasn’t as critical of last year’s as some, at least not on macro-economic grounds. I was obviously against the failure to abolish the two child cap, but also against the failure to
encoded: <img width="150" height="150" src="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/reeves-freemalaysiatoday-cc-by-w750-cropped-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Rachel Reeves in front of No 10/1 with a red box" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/reeves-freemalaysiatoday-cc-by-w750-cropped-150x150.png 150w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/reeves-freemalaysiatoday-cc-by-w750-cropped-230x230.png 230w, https://davelevy.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/reeves-freemalaysiatoday-cc-by-w750-cropped-50x50.png 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> A quick note on the budget, remembering I wasn’t as critical of last year’s as some, at least not on macro-economic grounds. I was obviously against the failure to abolish the two child cap, but also against the failure to properly fund universities, students, and local government. So this budget is, to me, a bit meh and I agree with Fisher, why wait for a year? Still nothing on HE or Local Government finance, and the wealth taxation is very weak and poorly focused. No capital gains tax equalisation, no financial transaction tax. The freezing of tax free allowance amounts is probably more damaging to those on the margin of the upper rate tax band but as I read it, it’s a piece of accounting magic. There were no plans to change it for the next two tax years anyway, and they can change their minds, although some of the impact will occur after the next election. Also the FT reports that leading business people consider it insufficiently stimulating of growth, which in their case is probably not code for, “We need to rejoin the single market and customs union.”, although there are many, including me and Liz Webster, that are saying so; our macro-economic arguments recently augmented by a report from the US non-partisan National Bureau of Economic Research and by Ryan Bourne’s recanting of his pro-Brexit positi…