Concerns about low level crimes, such as shoplifting, directly feed public perceptions of state failure. As @tomcalver.bsky.social found in a great piece of work, charge rates are down across the board. How can people think the state works for them if crimes they report go unsolved and unpunished?

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Voters like the idea of cutting welfare in principle, but singling out an undeserving group — eg stripping winter fuel payments from pensioners, or reducing payments for those unable realistically to work — quickly becomes unconscionable (£) www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/... By @tomcalver.bsky.social

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1/ Good explainer in today’s Sunday Times from @tomcalver.bsky.social on why renewables are not cheap. I’d add this: The wholesale market price of electricity is the *short-run* marginal cost. When renewables dominate, it will often be close to zero.

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Wind and solar are cheapest sources of electricity we have. Building network that can carry them and contingencies for when it is dark & still is not. Until the grid catches up with our rush towards wind, UK households will pay a premium (£) thetimes.com/comment/colu... By @tomcalver.bsky.social

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The Greens are doing well in urban areas with insufficient incomes and poor access to housing. They have gained traction among the growing cohort who have gone to university and moved to the city but are struggling to keep up. (£) www.thetimes.com/comment/colu... By @tomcalver.bsky.social

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