Four takes on the new Burnham cabinet

Andy Burnham has become the new UK Prime Minister, and his early cabinet decisions, including breaking up the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, have drawn mixed reactions. The Tony Blair Institute's Guy Ward Jackson and Elizabeth Seger advocate for a state-funded open-source AI lab, while Re:State's Joe Hill calls for regulatory reform. Burnham's moves, such as appointing a new AI minister and an Energy Secretary viewed as a potential NIMBY, suggest the possibility of an early election.

Four takes on the new Burnham cabinet Plus why things might point to early election 😬 POD On YIMBY Pod this week, a double-interview special. We talk to Guy Ward Jackson and Elizabeth Seger from the Tony Blair Institute about why they think Britain needs a state-funded open-source AI lab. And then Joe Hill from Re:State makes the case for rethinking the regulatory state. It’s good nerdy stuff, and the perfect savoury alternative to the Westminster personnel drama this week. Go have a listen https://yimbypod.com Hello It has finally happened – Andy Burnham is our new Prime Minister, and this means that you’ll be drowning in pieces about What It All Means. I’m afraid I’m going to add another to the pile. I’ve already written about my mild scepticism of Burnham, https://takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/is-andy-burnham-serious but I’m hoping I’ll be pleasantly surprised. So this time I thought I’d offer up four shorter takes looking at some of Burnham’s first decisions in office. So read on to find out: Why breaking up the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology was a strange decision. My enthusiasm for the new AI minister and what tempers it Is the new Energy Secretary a NIMBY? How the Burnham government offers Angela Rayner an enormous opportunity for redemption it’s nothing to do with the tax thing . And why the decisions Burnham has made so far point to oh no the possibility of an early election. Now let’s get started The bizarre fate of the Government Digital Service Keep reading with a 7-day free trial Subscribe to Odds and Ends of History to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.