Author | Lightnews

Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · 22h

Rachel Reeves implies that everyone should pay more tax.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation says 10% of the UK population owns 57% of wealth, while 50% own less than 5%.

Inequality is fuelled by a tax system stacked in favour of the ultra-rich.

Here's how things could be fairer.

bit.ly/47C9462

How to raise £60 billion for public services: our ten tax reforms

The UK’s super-rich have accumulated record levels of wealth in recent years, while our public services have been decimated and inequality has soared.

taxjustice.uk

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · 1d

We're so fortunate to have the completed work on public view in Tate Britain.

Richard Morris @ahistoryinart.bsky.social · 1d

This is one of the studies (1885) John Singer Sargent made for 'Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose.' The lanterns which we can see here were painted with very thin layers of paint; this allowed the light to seem like it was emanating from within rather than just sitting on the surface.

Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · 2d

Anyone using an ultrasound machine can call themselves a sonographer and offer baby scans.

The consequences can be devastating.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Warning over high street baby scans giving 'dangerous advice'

Some high-street clinics are risking lives by letting untrained staff do baby scans, warn experts.

www.bbc.co.uk

Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · 9d

NHS leaders warn that without £3bn emergency fundiing hospitals will start rationing treatment.
This, while the Home Office is squandering billions by mismanaging private contracts worth an unbelievable £15.3bn to house asylum seekers.
bit.ly/3J6t7Bv

Home Affairs Committee - Publications - Committees - UK Parliament

Publications for Home Affairs Committee

bit.ly

Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · 10d

Blustery but exhilarating weather along the north Wales coast this weekend. #Wales

Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 19d

The beloved BBC Radio 4 programme In Our Time has been awarded the 2025 British Academy President’s Medal!

Professor Susan J Smith, President of the British Academy, praised the programme for bringing rigorous yet accessible discussion of complex ideas to millions of listeners: buff.ly/1bn63FD

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Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

Jonathan Freedland @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social · 19d

Not content with being the King of America, Donald Trump seems bent on becoming the King of the World. Latest Politics Weekly America, featuring my excellent colleague Andrew Roth open.spotify.com/episode/4e7F...

Donald Trump: King of the world?

open.spotify.com

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · 20d

The 'independent' IFS argues that our most vulnerable citizens should pay to fix the UK's financial woes.
It says nothing about tackling tax abuse by rich individuals and companies, nor stopping private providers of public servies from robbing taxpayers' money.
bit.ly/43odP1E

Rachel Reeves should consider welfare cuts in budget, IFS says

Thinktank urges chancellor to take ‘bold’ action on benefits and pensions to placate jittery financial markets

bit.ly

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Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

Museum of Science @museumofscience.bsky.social · 21d

Ada Lovelace used mathematics to design the world’s first algorithm intended for a machine. This was done decades before computers were even built!

Who is a woman in STEM that inspires you? 👩‍🔬🧪

#AdaLovelace #WomeninSTEM #Science

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Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 23d

Bank of England Governor warns of vulnerable global financial system & possible crash.

Inflated stock markets
AI overvalued
No regulation of shadow banking
Excessive debt - if one domino falls
Deregulation of finance
Trump tariffs

Who will pick-up the cost of bailouts?
archive.md/gQ3x2

G20 risk watchdog warns of potential for financial market crash

The latest surge in global share prices and other assets has left markets susceptible to a crash given the current uncertain economic and geopolitical backdrop, the G20's risk watchdog said on Monday.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

Full Fact @fullfact.org · 22d

New figures out today show an increase in unemployment, as well as a decrease in employment and economic inactivity in June-August compared to May-July.

Our updated explainer has the figures 👇
fullfact.org/economy/empl...

Unemployment and jobs: what’s changed under Labour? – Full Fact

Labour and the Conservatives have made seemingly contrasting claims about the state of the labour market—here’s what the figures show.

fullfact.org

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · 26d

Would comprehensive social care free to those who need it, regardless of income and savings work for the UK?

This would be similar to the way the NHS works and how adult social care works in Denmark and other countries too.

bit.ly/42Bssyt

Fixing Social Care: The Six Key Problems And How To Tackle Them

Different people have different opinions about what’s ‘wrong’ with social care and how to fix it. This long read outlines the six key issues and the options cited to tackle them.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 27d

BREAKING: The National Union of Journalists describe the Conservative Party's banning of Byline Times journalists from covering their conference as a threat to media freedom which "undermines the Conservative Party leader’s repeated pledge to fight for free speech"

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/c...

Conservatives Accused of ‘Trumpian’ Tactics After Barring Second Byline Times Journalist From Conference

The National Union of Journalists described the bans as a threat to media freedom which "undermines the Conservative Party leader’s repeated pledge to fight for free speech"

bylinetimes.com

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Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · Oct 6

What could the implications be if #NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) - a package of NHS funded care - is not improved?

@rachelhutchings.bsky.social's latest blog explains some concerning findings from her research on this poorly understood service. 👇

www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/nh...

NHS continuing health care: consigned to the too difficult box?

Alongside our new research today on NHS continuing health care (CHC), the report's lead author Rachel Hutchings sets out why CHC is important, what we found in our research, and describes what the imp...

www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · Oct 4

Thanks @orielcolwyn.bsky.social for a great day 1 of the North Eye photography festival.
Including an inspirational talk by the great Martin Parr.
To paraphrase Parr: the beauty of photograph is that you never know what you are going to get.
Here is young Parr with his dad.
bit.ly/4o4h7PJ

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · Oct 1

"Residents receive exceptional health & personal care, promoting their overall wellbeing & ensuring they lead a joyful, satisfying life in a surrounding that is nurturing, comfortable and supportive," says Morar Care Homes of its "luxurious" facilities.

The BBC uncovers the truth.
bit.ly/4mIkCdm

Disclosure - Care Home Undercover

Undercover exposé of a care home in crisis. Disclosure reveals the reality for some elderly residents at a large nursing home in the Highlands.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · Oct 1

"As I wheeled my cleaning trolley round the corridors, I was acutely aware of pleading faces peering out of bedrooms, hoping for a few minutes of company and conversation."

And for £1,800 a week.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I went undercover as a cleaner at a failing care home.

Catriona MacPhee worked in a Highland care home for seven weeks as part of BBC Disclosure investigation.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · Oct 1

It's National Black Dog Day 2025, dedicated to celebrating them and encouraging people to adopt them from shelters.

So here's beautiful Whizz, adopted from @dogstrust.bsky.social
in 2021. She's a joy.

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · Sep 26

Theatr Clwyd's £50m refit is a triumph for #Wales.

On a first visit to the 'new' theatre this week, much enjoyed Ayckbourn's Snake in the Grass.

Its Welsh-English bilingual Romeo & Juliet is off on tour ending at London's Globe, the 1st time Welsh will heard on the South Bank.
bit.ly/46yiErv

‘The language adds a whole new level’: Welsh-English version of Romeo and Juliet heads for the Globe

Bilingual production by Theatr Cymru is expected to be first time Welsh will be heard at South Bank venue

bit.ly

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Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Sep 24

Think the Tony Blair Institute looks sinister? You've not seen anything yet. Crucial investigation by @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and Democracy for Sale:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-the...

Inside the Tony Blair Institute

A former PM, tech tycoon Larry Ellison and Britain's data - what could go wrong?

democracyforsale.substack.com

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Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

Digital Health @digitalhealth2.bsky.social · Sep 24

Patients have complained about disruption to outpatients bookings and waiting lists following the introduction of a new electronic patient record (EPR) system at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

www.digitalhealth.net/2025/09/pati...

Patients complain about disruption following new EPR in Sheffield

Patients have complained about disruption to outpatient bookings following the introduction of a new EPR at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

www.digitalhealth.net

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Reposted by Gill Hitchcock

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · Sep 18

Privatisation of UK industries driving cost of living crisis & inequality.

People ripped off by water, energy, rail, mail companies.

Profiteering at care homes, dentists, GP surgeries, cataract clinics. Social housing destroyed.

Privatisation is a scam. Delivered low investment, poor service.

Privatisation of UK industries is driving cost of living crisis, says Greens leader

Zack Polanski calls mass privatisation a ‘failed experiment’ as report finds it has cost UK households £250 a year more

www.theguardian.com

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · Sep 18

Private Eye hits the nail on the head.

But it isn't responsible for the possibility of us being deemed a nation of losers and getting hammered by a massive tariff.

@privateeyenews.bsky.social

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · Sep 18

NHS GPs provide a wonderful service.

But the BMJ finds that one in three GPs in England don't work in the NHS, while it costs taxpayers £430,540 for each GP to qualify.

Wes Streeting should start improving retention by addressing burnout.

@bma.org.uk @patients-association.org.uk
bit.ly/4nc2ee9

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Gill Hitchcock @gillhitchcock.bsky.social · Sep 15

Prisons are to cut spending on education by 50%, despite Labour's pledge to improve “access to learning”.
How very short-sighted.
The Institute for Government reports that education in prison and employment on release are two of the best ways to reduce reoffending.
bit.ly/4n3Lzcr

Focusing on education and training in prisons could save money in the long term | Institute for Government

Expanding training and education provision in custody is the right move.

bit.ly