The Rest Is Money 208. Have We Just Surrendered Our Economic Independence To The US?
46 snips
Sep 17, 2025 
Andy Haldane, former Chief Economist at the Bank of England and chair of the East Midlands Inclusive Growth Commission, discusses the urgent need for hyper-local economic strategies. He highlights the importance of empowering mayors and aligning education with local job markets. The conversation touches on the potential risks of US dominance in AI infrastructure and how it impacts the UK’s economic independence. Haldane also explores gaps in careers advice, the significance of lifelong learning, and innovative vocational pathways for skill development.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hyper‑Local Growth Beats One‑Size Plans
- Local growth must be hyper-local, sometimes town by town, to meet very different needs within a region.
- Centralised Whitehall planning cannot tailor pathways for places like Ashfield versus Derby, so power must be localised.
Prioritise People Over Projects
- Invest in people by prioritising skills and work pathways over headline projects alone.
- Focus funding on training and progression that lifts individual pay and job security.
Delegate Education Powers Locally
- Devolve meaningful education powers to local leaders, not just post‑16 skills control.
- Tell the Department for Education to treat pre‑16 powers as delegable to mayors where appropriate.