13 Comments
User's avatar
Charlie Ullman's avatar

Oh: another question: is Substack inevitably going to get enshittified?

Expand full comment
Richard's avatar

We had British-made Rolls Royce PWR1 nuclear reactors in Polaris submarines from the mid-Sixties, which operated for decades without major incident. Their size is secret but they are probably the size of a double-decker bus. Why has it taken 60-plus more years to get close to Small Modular Reactors the size of football pitches, and micro-reactors, which I assume are more like submarine-reactor size? My dad worked designing subs in Barrow - but for some reason he won't tell me anything...

Expand full comment
Wesley Shmesley's avatar

Lots of amazing tourist sites (economy boosters) are slightly pointless, overblown vanity projects - Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Vatican, most of Vienna...

Does commitment to the abundance agenda mean you'll be loudly rallying behind Trump (and others) to build his Victory Arch, and suchlike?

Expand full comment
Lee's avatar

My question

Given a government elected in the UK has the incredible blessing of minimal veto points and 5 year terms shouldn’t Starmer kick all the political voices out of number 10, fill it with policy people and just get on with changing the country, LBJ ended segregation and passed the great society in 5 years, Attlee built the welfare state, so why not just forget reelection, ignore public opinion and just get on with changing the country regardless of what people think and who knows, in 2029 the public might just reward you for it anyway

Expand full comment
Rob Paton's avatar

Thank you James – here’s my question:

Are you aware of the climate policy that has supporters in all the main parties, right across the spectrum; has been endorsed by business federations, climate scientists and top economists; is already adopted in two advanced economies with the European Commission now considering it; has supporters in the Treasury because it won’t cost them a penny... yet is ignored by climate activists in this country?

Great if you know what I am talking about (otherwise happy to explain) in which case my question is: why the silence? I have yet to read any serious statement of why it wouldn’t work in this country – I can see some difficulties, but they are trivial compared to the difficulties and unpopularity of current policies. I am baffled.

Love your pieces, both in style and content, so hope this makes you curious...

Expand full comment
Nick Taylor's avatar

I'm not sure whether the injected blood scandal is within your remit but if it is ...

Most of the contaminated blood was purchased by the NHS in good faith from the the USA so why aren't we seeking compensation from them? I'm pretty sure they would if it was the other way round.

Expand full comment
Nick Taylor's avatar

Infected.

Expand full comment
Lana Harper's avatar

What are the top three things you think Labour should do to get out of the pickle they're in? 🥒

Expand full comment
Paul Bivand's avatar

Can you get the archaeologists on-side with the YIMBY agenda - after all, HS2 has supported a lot of archaeologist's jobs. As previously HS1, A14 etc etc. Starting with the Dartford Energy Hub across the A2 from the HS1-found complex of roman temples.

Expand full comment
Hayley Gullen's avatar

Richard Osman recently claimed that writers don’t need social media to build their profile and instead should just go around the country and visit book clubs. I disagree rather strongly. (Also he has a whole marketing team). As someone who has an online following and also does in person stuff… what do you reckon?

Expand full comment
Charlie Ullman's avatar

For those of us you've successfully radicalised to your YIMBY agenda, what would be your top recommendation for ways to help? Buying double subscriptions to the podcast? Donating time or money to a specific YIMBY group? Writing loads of letters to your MP?

Expand full comment
Alexander Iosad's avatar

What is the most NIMBY opinion you have?

Expand full comment
Liz Lutgendorff's avatar

If you could run an experiment anywhere on the Tube or rail Network what would you do and why.

Expand full comment