British Public Sector Innovation

In a coincidence that's too large to handle, today I am inspired to write about the ability of the British public sector to think outside the box and create new opportunities for economic development and technical innovation.

At a fringe event at TUC Congress, Louise Ellman MP's presence led to the telling of the story of Lancashire Enterprises, which was an astounding success at providing economic investment and job creation in Lancashire, despite opposition from the Conservative Government.

Then home today I read about this:

In the Seventies, British Rail actually patented a design for a flying saucer!

That's right - the same british spirit that created concorde, nuclear energy, the advanced passenger train also attempted interstellar travel. Love it!

SH

the UK's deadliest biscuit misses out Pretzels

You may laugh but research like this has real value.

After all the leader of the free world almost died due to a snack.

SH

Insights into Poverty

I've just been watching Hans Rosling presentation to TED about how data can give us insights into poverty. A refreshing view of how countries develop, and the priorities we must place within development.

Overheard/read this morning

Read in NewScientist this morning...

"In order to understand nose-picking......."

OK

"...it is important to differentiate between dried nasal mucus......"

yeah....

"and the stranded rhabditiform larvae of intestinal worms."

WHAT??!?!?!!!?!?!

Tories don't have enough support in the north

One of the papers yesterday had a story about the tory's concern that they still hadn't built up a level of support in the north without which they can't win. 

No shit. 

I think we can honestly say the conservatives have not exactly pursued many northern-friendly policies. The high-speed rail link (happening anyway) strikes me as about the only one.

In contrast the Tories have gleefully played to their power base about the closing down of the regional agenda and quangos if they win the next election.

I've oft repeated that the conservatives want to abolish RDAs for the wrong reasons. They say it's to save money but in truth RDAs only spend locally money that used to come from the centre. In other words, the closure of RDAs actually means goodbye to regeneration projects from town centres to local community projects, the country over. 

People aren't stupid. Public investment in our cities and towns has revolutionised the places we live and brought in private investment that never went their previously. The Tories want to return to a laissez-faire system that has kept poor northern areas starved of investment for decades.  

People aren't stupid. When the Tories say RDAs will go, northerners know they will be left to fend for themselves again. Like it wasn't hard enough last time. 

SH 

 

Protesters in Westminster

Walking along victoria, this group from the climate camp decided to climb up on the roof of what I assume is Eon's building to protest against new coal power stations. Personally I wish they'd climb on the roof of those who complain and stop wind farms going up but that's just my view.