[Tubby Isaacs]

Fucking Paul there. Does he think the Republic of Ireland invaded Northern Ireland or something?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Ha ha.

[The Weeping Angel]

Fascinating thread on Maurice Glasman, founder of Blue Labour.

[Youngian]

Wouldn't try that one on in Grimsby.

Blue Labour, the pro working-class, socially conservative campaign group he founded 16 years ago.

Glasman, incidentally, is appalled that Labour wants to banish the few remaining hereditary peers.

Although resorting to militarist Keynesianism is something of an intellectual failure for the left, Glasman is probably right about this. The possibilities of civilain spin offs from high military spending can be demonstrated especially from the US. I think Glasman is a Euro bloc protectionist rather than a nationalist one. It was an idea floating around London Met uni in IR and politics faculties when I was studying for an MA where Glasman was on the staff. Found the ideas a bit cookie back in 2014 but not so much now.

He wouldn’t have chosen Trump to be president. He certainly wouldn’t have chosen to leave the EU. But this whole Ukraine thing has given us the possibility of an industrial strategy thanks to an increase in defence spending. Britain is unquestionably the leading military, diplomatic and political power in Europe. This is going to be the foundation of a complete reorientation!”

[Tubby Isaacs]

The UK ought to do reasonably well out of Defence in the near future, but that won't be because of industrial strategy, it'll be because Europe is massively increasing Defence spending. An industrial strategy is better than no strategy, but its advocates (in Labour, and outside) need to stop talking like it's going to deliver massive growth in the places most convenient for us. I recall Philip Hammond talking excitedly about possibilities in life science and the like. And fair enough, it all sounded more "expand Cambridge to a megacity" rather than "great, this'll get West Bromwich back on track".

[Youngian]

Silicon Valley clusters stretch over five counties the size of Wales whereas places in Britain like Cambridge's hi tech industry hardly burst out of it's city boundaries.
Why I don't know, California isn't known for easy planning permission or advanced transport links.

[Youngian]

OK Mo, the economics stuff makes for an interesting contribution but now you're just getting Jordan Peterson level weird. Where's the exit?

[Abernathy]

“Once again “ ? The bastards.