@davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social
Shooting for UK growth & progress with @britishprogress.org Previously: Chatham House research fellow and Labour parliamentary candidate. Britain could have the highest living standards in the world!
@fhpitts.bsky.socialReposted by @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialA privilege to contribute an essay to Reindustrialising Britain, @futureoftheleft.bsky.social's collection on the new politics of production, alongside interventions by
@ben-glover.bsky.social @drodrik.bsky.social @paulmason.bsky.social @davidedgerton.bsky.social @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social 🔗⬇️
@davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialWhitehall should empower mayors to decide if they want AVs, and if so, how they want to tax them. Local areas should retain the proceeds of the tax to invest in local infrastructure and public transport.
Thanks to @theguardian.com for covering this! www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
@davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialThe Government should act now: it is easier to introduce a tax before AVs are widespread. Even if revenue is initially low, the OBR and bond markets will reward future revenue streams, reducing immediate borrowing costs and increasing fiscal headroom now.
@davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialWe have a solution: a small charge on AVs that can raise up to £46 billion – money which can be spent on local infrastructure, public transport and retraining taxi and private hire drivers. We calculate that this will substantially reduce AV-induced congestion.
@davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialIn addition to this, fuel duty revenue is about to collapse, creating a massive hole in public finances (that EV taxation doesn’t come close to filling)
@davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialWhat's wrong with AVs? 1. They put hundreds of thousands of livelihoods at risk. 2. AVs will increase congestion, as the marginal cost of driving falls to zero. Waymos in California spend half their time empty.
@davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialRobotaxis are here! Last week, Uber & Wayve started offering driverless journeys in London, and Waymo is not far behind. We should welcome autonomous vehicles (AVs), but they come alongside three big problems. In a new report for @britishprogress.org, @anyamartin.bsky.social & I make a plan... 🧵
@georgeeaton.bsky.socialReposted by @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialWhy opposing data centres isn’t progressive – essential deep dive by @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social for Arguably.
“Many of the fears around data centres are overblown, and the benefits – to national security, tax revenue, public services – are substantial.” www.arguably.uk/p/opposing-d...
@georgeeaton.bsky.socialReposted by @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialWhat Britain can learn from Taiwan – excellent from @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social for Arguably on what the country gets right on tech, infrastructure, welfare and land taxes. www.arguably.uk/p/the-island...
@kaneemerson.bsky.socialReposted by @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.socialNEW from @britishprogress.org
Robotaxis are here in London!
Should they be taxed more?
A new CBP paper by @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social & @anyamartin.bsky.social argues for an AV charge to tackle congestion, replace lost fuel duty and manage the transition👇
