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Posts by Jim McCormick

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In France, legislation came into effect recently for all car parks that have over 80 spaces to be covered with solar panels. Estimated to add around 11GW of renewable energy capacity to the national grid. Why not do likewise in Scotland? Braehead, Silverburn, Glasgow Fort etc.

1 week ago 9863 2346 410 378
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🚨 NEW: The Government has approved the UK's largest solar farm, Springwell, in Lincolnshire

It can produce up to 800MW of electricity, powering over 180,000 homes

1 week ago 55 8 1 8
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"I grew up across the street from a public library, and it was the only place my mom would let me go on my own. It was my second home, and I read everything that I could get."
~ Tracy Chapman
Chapman by Nicholas Albrecht
#Booksky

2 weeks ago 15277 1957 203 77
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To grow the economy we need more trams, and fewer kebabs Britain’s second-tier cities are being held back by a simple problem, too many people still cannot get across them quickly enough to reach the jobs, customers and opportunities that drive growth.

Why do our second-tier cities underperform?
Why do we have fewer trams in the UK?

I try my best to give an answer to these two interconnected questions.

chriscurtismk.substack.com/p/to-grow-th...

2 weeks ago 328 103 31 35

A few years ago my dad got hit by a van when out cycling. He was almost killed and left permanently disabled due to 3 broken vertebre.

The bloke who did it was speeding and fled the scene. Multiple previous offences.

He served less than a year in prison. My dad still cant walk longer distances.

2 weeks ago 235 68 27 3

One of the best jobs in UK social science, research & policy.

2 weeks ago 10 20 1 0

It’s just so stupid on so many levels.
The *fundamental* problem is that the world has less oil. We need to use less to account for that. Making petrol a fraction cheaper doesn’t help with the real issue, costs the government money and does very little for households.

3 weeks ago 728 183 12 9
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UK to give homes ‘free energy’ instead of turning off wind turbines Europe’s outdated and under-invested energy grid means huge amounts of renewable energy are wasted every year.

University of Oxford : maximising oil and gas extraction here would only save UK households up to £82 (€95) per year. A UK fully powered by renewable energy, would save households up to £441 (€510) a year on energy bills.
www.euronews.com/2026/03/27/e...

3 weeks ago 2630 997 62 62
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Trust in government is low in absolute & comparative terms in the UK (35%).

It hasn't collapsed - contra many assertions - more a gentle decline from a low base.

Very different political cultures etc, but levels of trust are *twice* as high in the likes of Finland/Switzerland.

3 weeks ago 2 2 1 0
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In defence of hand-wringers and pearl-clutchers To surrender the fight for international law is to accept worse outcomes and more civilian deaths

Three cheers for @robertshrimsley.bsky.social. Am reading and listening to too many self-styled fans of liberal democracy saying, in effect, 'let's park international law for the moment and talk about....'

1 month ago 121 35 2 4

11 chart places too low.

4 weeks ago 0 0 0 1
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1 month ago 19 32 0 5
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First cohort confirmed for new Scholarship support offers in 2026

Delighted to confirm support for our 2026 Scholarship Programme 🎓

A milestone year as we expand support packages for students entering and progressing through higher education.

Thanks to all our partners who helped shape this - an exciting year ahead!

www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/news/first-c...

1 month ago 1 1 0 0
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£3.4M awarded to 89 organisations across Scotland We are delighted to announce our latest funding recipients, with 89 organisations awarded £3.4M to support their work to prevent and reduce poverty and trauma across Scotland.

Our latest awards are now available, with £3,489,900 awarded to 89 organisations who are working to alleviate poverty and trauma in #Scotland.

View the full list below 👇

www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/news/34m-awa...

1 month ago 4 2 0 0
Beveridge at Eighty: Learning the Right Lessons Reader environment loaded

Having just read about about yet another 'new' Beveridge report - here's a piece by me & @iprnickp.bsky.social on the (mis)use of Beveridge in British politics & what we can still learn from him today.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

1 month ago 13 5 1 1

Thanks John. It's a pretty clear polling trend.

1 month ago 2 0 1 0

And Canada probably in the same thinly populated group.

1 month ago 0 1 0 0
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Good piece, although Pauline Hanson's populist party appears to be going through another wave of support by eating into the Liberal vote.

1 month ago 1 0 1 0
Dark background with Foundation Practice Rating logo top left. Test at the bottom says: Year Five - 2025/26. Two circles to the right side - one is larger and gradient colours. The text in the blue circle at the front says: Diversity, accountability and transparency in focus.

Dark background with Foundation Practice Rating logo top left. Test at the bottom says: Year Five - 2025/26. Two circles to the right side - one is larger and gradient colours. The text in the blue circle at the front says: Diversity, accountability and transparency in focus.

The Year Five results are now live: foundationpracticerating.org.uk/cohort-resul.... We've seen statistically significant improvements since the FPR began five years ago and the results are the strongest in our five‑year history.
#Diversity #Accountability #Transparency

1 month ago 3 2 0 0
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New #UofGSpotlight out now!

We dig into Scotland’s new Child Poverty Framework with @jimmccormick.bsky.social and why income support needs combined with access to quality services with @thomasrochow.bsky.social.

Tune in 🎧 uofgspotlight.com

1 month ago 2 2 0 1
Graph of average annual fees for BA/BSc or equivalent courses in the OECD showing England as the most expensive and Nordics the least

Graph of average annual fees for BA/BSc or equivalent courses in the OECD showing England as the most expensive and Nordics the least

Anglosphere agony vs Nordic nirvana.

(PS Can't believe I'd never seen this graph before, so grateful to @stephenkb.bsky.social for sharing in his fab morning newsletter (www.ft.com/inside-polit...)

1 month ago 145 86 11 11
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How I've learned that certainty is the thing to really fear After five decades hosting radio phone-ins and debates, Nicky Campbell reflects on the state of public debate

Nicky Campbell on his new podcast ‘Don’t Say A Word’

‘How I've learned that certainty is the thing to really fear’

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

1 month ago 47 11 3 1
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Our response to the growth of anti-migrant sentiment At The Robertson Trust, we believe in a fair and compassionate Scotland where everyone is valued and able to flourish.

The Robertson Trust has acted in response to rising anti‑migrant sentiment, increased hostility in public discourse, and the resulting harm experienced by migrants and racially minoritised communities across Scotland.

Read our full response:

www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/news/our-res...

1 month ago 3 5 0 0
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Get involved – Worker Support Centre Explore the ways you can support our work. This includes contributing funds that keep our vital services running, applying for roles with WSC or proposing a collaboration.

We're #hiring for two amazing roles!

⭐A Communications Manager to lead brand new @therobertsontrust.bsky.social funded three year hope based communications work at WSC.

✨A Policy & Participation Officer to support our policy work.

Check out both & apply!

workersupportcentre.org.uk/get-involved/

2 months ago 1 3 0 1
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New Blog 💡 | One year into our Community Spaces Fund, we’ve reviewed what we’ve learned so far to refine our approach and support stronger applications.

Read more⤵️

www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/news/learnin...

2 months ago 1 1 0 0

Dressing up for world book day is bullshit, even leaving the parental finance stuff aside. It's one of very few 'event' days in school calenders set aside for a solo, quiet, activity – and then it's turned into dress-up. Spectacularly misses the point. Schools should drop it from a great height.

1 month ago 611 54 84 32
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There is always a tweet.

1 month ago 2530 930 25 41
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How to AI-proof your job The data suggests soft skills more than quantitative competency equal success in a rapidly changing labour market

‘Contra the narrow focus of policymakers on Stem subjects or coding, now more than ever our economy rewards broad skillsets: team players, problem solvers, good communicators and creative thinkers.’ @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/5e25...

3 months ago 81 38 3 9
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The AI Shift: What millions of job ads reveal about AI displacement A close inspection suggests all is not what it seems

Have just subscribed to this AI/jobs newsletter and it's excellent

The AI Shift: What millions of job ads reveal about AI displacement - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @sarahoconnorft.ft.com @jburnmurdoch.ft.com

2 months ago 31 18 1 1
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How steep is Trump’s democratic backsliding? The erosion of established norms has been dramatic but institutions are holding up

Very good piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com....

The US under Trump 2.0 has shifted towards authoritarianism as record speed but unlike other examples (e.g. Putin, Orban) it's happened by bypassing institutions rather than permanently corrupting them...

www.ft.com/content/b474...

2 months ago 310 115 23 12