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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 8m

She is not in jail because to date there has been no criminal prosecution; only a civil one, which cannot result in jail.

The police are still investigating her for a possible criminal offence, and if that results in a prosecution, it could result in a jail sentence.

Until then, wait.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 38m

You have a few misunderstandings about English law and the constitution.

1. The government has no power to order any citizen's arrest. It's Trumpian of you to think they can do that.
2. This isn't the time of Dickens. There is no legal provision for imprisonment until money is paid.

Reposted by B O'Brien

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 12h

I notice all those brave journalists, Guido alumni, and Tory hacks, who manufactured a scandal - a dangerous one to national security, at that - out of gossip, supposition, and sticky tape, have gone ALL QUIET now the witness statements have been released and are exactly as the PM detailed at PMQs.

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Reposted by B O'Brien

Stewart Macdonald @mrred8691.bsky.social · 18h

Zac Polanski this is how you bring down bills not with your fantasy half arsed politics and big smile.
That does fck all for anyone.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 18h

Even if there were more properties, stamp duty would continue to discourage people from moving home.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 20h

The issue being addressed here is adjacent to shortage of supply but distinct: the current stasis in the residential sales market. The result is that people cannot move house for jobs (bad for the economy) or to be near family (bad for happiness). These proposals are about getting people moving.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 20h

...Should Reeves opt for it, Left and Right might well unite to condemn it, for no other reason that it came from Labour, and that's the fashion atm.

But some Party has to do the long-term reforms that the country needs. The Tories didn't do them and wouldn't in the future. And Reform? 😞

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 20h

An annual property tax as part of a big bang retiring of stamp duty could square the circle: freeing up a stalled property market, protecting Treasury revenues (at least in the medium term) and not giving a tax break to the wealthy...

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 21h

Abolishing stamp duty won’t solve Britain’s housing crisis – but this radical property tax just might | Josh Ryan-Collins

Economists on all sides agree: rather than incremental changes, this deeply unfair market needs a ‘big bang’ moment, says associate professor of economics and finance Josh Ryan-Collins

www.theguardian.com

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 21h

Abolishing stamp duty won’t solve Britain’s housing crisis – but this radical property tax just might | Josh Ryan-Collins

Economists on all sides agree: rather than incremental changes, this deeply unfair market needs a ‘big bang’ moment, says associate professor of economics and finance Josh Ryan-Collins

www.theguardian.com

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

Creeping privatisation would have to involve selling at least some NHS assets.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

Booing other countries' national anthems is a very unattractive aspect of international matches. If a country is in the competition, you may disagree but the fact is, that team is indeed in the same competition as your team, so deal with it.

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Josh Russell → @MVTFWD @joshfwd.bsky.social · 1d

How would you feel if:

- you ended up with a Reform MP after the 2029 General Election

- who only got 20% of the vote

- and over 50% of people in your constituency had voted LD/GRN/LAB/YP

- and this happened around the country giving Reform 400 MPs and total power

Don’t forget FPTP.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

Where have you got all that from?!?

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

I am not arguing against that particularly but the point I have been challenged on is my assertion that out-sourcing is not privatisation.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

Are you arguing that out-sourcing = privatisation?

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

And?

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Kevin O’Connell @hibou2.bsky.social · 1d

“I think our NATO policy is out of date … I think the age of NATO is now fully over.”

Polanski ( likes to be known as Zac)

A potential danger to all of us.

Putin will love him 💕

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

No I am sorry but out-sourcing is not privatisation at all. Privatisation is selling the publicly owned assets. That is simply not what out-sourcing does. The meaning of words does matter

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 1d

Digital ID: Danes and Estonians find it ‘pretty uncontroversial’

Citizens have enrolled with little opposition, albeit with some concerns over security and privacy, as UK plans system

www.theguardian.com

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

I agree and I was going to. Especially in the South of the country there are many seats where the Lib Dems, also committed to the NHS, have MPs or where they are second to the Tories.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

The word for thst isn't privatisation but out-sourcing. Privatisation is where you sell it, eg you would float the NHS on the stock market, like Thatcher did with BT etc.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

Then vote Labour. The Tories and Reform could bring in a health insurance system. The Greens cannot win an election. Labour is increasing the NHS budget. Don't mess around with your vote: you can only use it once so use it effectively.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

You have arrived at that £250 billion by a 47% l tax on the assets of the rich. We who are on PAYE do not have our assets taxed at 47%. Our asset tax rate is about 0%.

Compare like with like. Either compare asset tax rates or compare income tax rates. Don't compare an asset tax with an income tax.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

Ordered. Looking forward to February.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

But you go ahead with your mendacious image of children all being forced to have ID. I'm sure it will get you clicks and Likes.