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Reposted by Nick Stone

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · 14m

Wholesale energy costs are not the *sole* driver of higher household energy bills.

For electricity bills, the largest source of upwards pressure comes from increasing costs of government policies and schemes funded through bills.

Read 'Splitting the bill' to learn more 👉 buff.ly/4x4GNAa

Chart showing Proportion of real terms increase in typical household dual fuel energy bill from 2015 to 2025, by component: GB

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Reposted by Nick Stone

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 14m

“Reform is attracting just over a quarter (26%) of Labour 2021 voters, 18% of Plaid 2021 voters and a massive 70% of Conservative voters since the last Senedd election in Caerphilly.”

Survation.
Insightful, selected, trusted.
CAMLAS
Public Affairs I Materion Cyhoeddus
For immediate release:
Survation polling for Camlas shows the collapse of Labour in Caerphilly Senedd by-election voting intention
And if the by-election was held today, for which candidate would you vote?/For whom did you vote using your postal vote?
42%
38%
12%
4%
Lyr Tomos
Powell, REF
Lindsay Geoffrey
Whittle, PC
Richard
Tunnicliffe, LAB
Gareth John
Potter, CON
3%
1%
Gareth Hughes, Steve Aicheler, LD
GRN
CAMLAS BASE Al rose laty to vote with undecided sopezed, and fro slurdeded and refued removed, Unweighted tote: 322 Survation.
Reform UK and Plaid Cymru neck and neck in Carphilly Senedd by-election - Labour pushed into third

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Nick Stone @europeannick.bsky.social · 8m

Thank you for the advice.

Outward journey, I flew from LBA to EGC.

Return journey (all in one day)

Bordeaux-Paris M
Paris GdN-London St P
London KX-Leeds
Leeds-Bingley/Crossflatts

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Nick Stone @europeannick.bsky.social · 11m

You did better than me.

Got it in two, here.

Nick Stone @europeannick.bsky.social · 13m

Got Eurostar train manager to sign a form confirming the delay into St P.

Then dashed across to KX, for the LNER service to Leeds.

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Reposted by Nick Stone

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 18m

The British voted for Brexit because of immigration.

But now, they want to turn back the clock in favor of the pre-2021 border system.

Brits are pining for the pre-Brexit migration system

The idea was that leaving the bloc would give the U.K. back “control” of its borders and create a fairer system. But the widespread perception is it didn’t turn out that way.

www.politico.eu

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Nick Stone @europeannick.bsky.social · 18m

Received compensation.

Managed to reach intended destination.

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Nick Stone @europeannick.bsky.social · 19m

The state of the nation’s finances -
a thread from @theifs.bsky.social

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 54m

NEW: The Chancellor almost certainly has a fiscal repair job on her hands at next month’s Budget.

But doing the bare minimum risks another fiscal groundhog day next year.

🧵 THREAD on our new IFS Green Budget's findings on the UK's economic outlook and fiscal situation:

Reposted by Nick Stone

John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 51m

Labour vote collapsing in next week’s Senedd by-election: Survation poll mailchi.mp/survation/ne...

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Reposted by Nick Stone

jacktshaw.bsky.social @jacktshaw.bsky.social · 12h

That local authorities are using reserves at an unsustainable rate is well understood, but the specific dimensions of that aren't. For example, the Institute for Government's new Performance Tracker highlights that LAs are drawing on reserves consistently, in higher numbers:

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Reposted by Nick Stone

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 13h

Trump doubling the bailout to Argentina to $40 BILLION (while they steal market from our farmers and Americans lose health care)

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Reposted by Nick Stone

UK Politics @politicsintheuk.bsky.social · 14h

Local Refuk f*cks you up hard.

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Reposted by Nick Stone

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 18h

A much needed corrective by @chrisgiles.ft.com to the "welfare is out of control" narrative, drawing on research by my colleague @benbgeiger.bsky.social

www.ft.com/content/ee67...

No need for a moral panic about the welfare system

It’s far from perfect, but the UK’s spending is broadly controlled and employment is high

www.ft.com

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Nick Stone @europeannick.bsky.social · 15h

Let's unpack this nonsense:

MPs cannot be mentioned by name in parliament.
Many MPs attend PMQs in order to listen. Not all speak.
MPs can respond with written as well as oral statements.
As an MP, there is an point to attending.

In other words, Mr Farage has a victim complex.

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Nick Stone @europeannick.bsky.social · 15h

My last Eurostar journey was poor.

Paris Nord to London StP, mid week afternoon departure.

Botched preparations. Our train departed 85 mins late, after the earlier scheduled dep. Arrived London 105 mins late.

No assistance with onward connections from London to Midlands & North.

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Reposted by Nick Stone

Shoaib M Khan @shoaibmkhan.bsky.social · 17h

‘Allowing a minister to determine judicial appointments risks politicising the judiciary, undermining public confidence in court impartiality, and eroding the important constitutional principle of separation of powers that underpins the rule of law": Garden Court Chambers response to Robert Jenrick.

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Reposted by Nick Stone

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 17h

@pimlicat.bsky.social:
"Rachel Reeves is completely correct to highlight the severity and long-term damage of Brexit - which slashed UK GDP by 4% - but more importantly has been a calamity for Brits facing spiralling supermarket prices and rocketing energy bills."
bestforbritain.org/government_r...

Government right to highlight Brexit impact ahead of Budget

Rachel Reeves is right to "highlight the severity and long-term damage of Brexit", in her comments ahead of the Budget, campaigners have said.

bestforbritain.org

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Reposted by Nick Stone

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · 19h

The OBR has been consistently disappointed by productivity growth...

... and if they mark down their forecasts at the upcoming Budget (as many expect), it would have significant consequences.

Find out more 👉 buff.ly/KmJEg1Y

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Reposted by Nick Stone

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

Centrist governments around the world are discovering they aren't being thanked just for being more realistic than right-wing populists. A warning for Keir Starmer indeed. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The crisis engulfing Emmanuel Macron contains a warning for Keir Starmer | Rafael Behr

The French president dominated the centre ground but has failed to build a legacy there. Labour is in danger of doing the same, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Nick Stone

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 20h

Rachel Reeves' admission of the "severe" economic damage of Brexit is welcome.

Now it's time for the government to stop making it even worse

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/15/k...

Keir Starmer's 'Brexit Is Bad, Let's Make It a Bit Worse' Strategy

The Chancellor just admitted that Brexit has been an economic disaster. It's time the Government stopped making it even worse by imitating Nigel Farage's damaging anti-migration agenda, argues Adam Bi...

bylinetimes.com

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Reposted by Nick Stone

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 22h

Brexit has been destructive to our economy, and has cost us £140 BILLIONS already.

Rachel Reeves: "The impact of Brexit is severe and long lasting."

Check out our Brexit cost tracker: https://www.bestforbritain.org/brexit_impact

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Reposted by Nick Stone

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 21h

Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 30% (-3)
LAB: 22% (+2)
CON: 20% (+1)
LDM: 15% (+1)
GRN: 9% (+1)
SNP: 3% (=)

Via @moreincommonuk.bsky.social, 10-13 Oct.
Changes w/ 3-6 Oct.

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Reposted by Nick Stone

Reform Party UK Exposed @reformexposed.bsky.social · 22h

Kent councillor stripped of Reform UK whip following complaints from female staff

Reform suspends KCC councillor following complaints from female staff

A Reform UK spokesperson has said it is being treated as a disciplinary matter

www.kentlive.news

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Nick Stone @europeannick.bsky.social · 23h

Brexit thread from @profjacob.bsky.social

Might add: can a Farage govt find a version of Brexit which boosts living standards?

Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 1d

🚨🚨Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledges she is looking at potential tax rises and spending cuts to fill a black hole in her Budget which she said was partly due to the lingering impact of #Brexit. 🧵
www.independent.co.uk/money/rachel...

Reeves eyes tax hikes as economy suffers ‘severe and long-lasting’ Brexit impact

Rachel Reeves said ‘austerity, Brexit, and the ongoing impact of Liz Truss’s mini-budget’ had weighed heavily on the UK economy.

www.independent.co.uk

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Nick Stone @europeannick.bsky.social · 1d

The UK government now confirms Brexit’s damage:

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, October 2025: “There is no doubt that the impact of Brexit has been severe and long-lasting.”

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