Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 2h

Have heard Coutinho across media today repeating same talking points as the Robinson interview

Strongly recommend @james-bg.bsky.social analysis of interview as he dismantles the claims and critiques omissions, distractions and consequences

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 2d

In latest Nick Robinson pod, Claire Coutinho sets out why her love of maths and data convinced her to call for abandoning climate change act, net zero targets and chase more fossil fuels extraction.

Curious, I’ve been using AI to examine these claims …

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Net Zero has become a religion: Claire Coutinho on climate, identity and cooking

Podcast Episode · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · 17/10/2025 · 42m

podcasts.apple.com

1 6

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 1d

Great companion piece to the Coutinho interview with Nick Robinson by @james-bg.bsky.social

Or you could just read James summary and save yourself the 40minutes!

James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 1d

Have started listening and right from the off we have claims from Coutinho that she was the first Energy Secretary to question net zero and that net zero is 'making emissions worse'.

The UK has delivered the fastest emissions reductions in the G20.

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 2d

In latest Nick Robinson pod, Claire Coutinho sets out why her love of maths and data convinced her to call for abandoning climate change act, net zero targets and chase more fossil fuels extraction.

Curious, I’ve been using AI to examine these claims …

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

2

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 1d

Robinson concluded ““it's hard to listen to Claire Coutinho without realising she's put a great deal of thought into her change of view”

I did find hard to listen, but reached a different conclusion!

4

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 2d

I think important to keep open minded, I agree with Coutinho we need to objectively consider the numbers- I advocate for evidence-led policy (not policy-led evidence); I believe in solutions for both social & environmental benefit

As far as I can see, investing in scaling renewables meets this bar

2 4

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 2d

Ok so it still has impact - so crucially I wanted to know from the data if the UK were to abandon net zero targets & climate change act & were to aggressively mine North Sea fossil fuels would this reduce energy bills?

Answer: No - now or in future; if anything, it will drive up bills in long term

An “all-in” fossil fuel strategy—even if net-zero targets were scrapped—would not meaningfully lower UK energy bills in the short, medium, or long term. The dominant drivers remain global wholesale gas prices and network charges, while green levies form a relatively small share of total bills

1 1 9

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 2d

Accepting we’re still at higher end, I looked at claim that the most significant driver of higher energy bills in the UK relates to the goal of net zero and/or green subsidies and/or UK action on climate change; this didn’t hold up - it’s material but far from biggest cause

Net-zero and green subsidies contribute materially to UK energy bills—around one-eighth of total costs—but they are not the predominant driver. Wholesale market prices and network charges represent a far larger share. Assertions that climate action is the single biggest cause of high UK bills overstate the scale of policy levies by a factor of two to three

2 6

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 2d

Firstly Coutinho states repeatedly that UK has most expensive energy bills in world; exploring global comparison sets, there seems to be no supporting evidence - we’re at higher end but not top

There is no evidence supporting the notion that the UK has the most expensive energy bills worldwide. It is one of the higher-cost markets, especially within Europe, but several small economies and other major European nations exceed UK rates both per kWh and in annual spending

1 7

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 2d

In latest Nick Robinson pod, Claire Coutinho sets out why her love of maths and data convinced her to call for abandoning climate change act, net zero targets and chase more fossil fuels extraction.

Curious, I’ve been using AI to examine these claims …

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...

Net Zero has become a religion: Claire Coutinho on climate, identity and cooking

Podcast Episode · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · 17/10/2025 · 42m

podcasts.apple.com

1 4 6

Reposted by Mr Joe Jenkins

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · Aug 28

Feels timely to ask ourselves this question: just what has the European Court of Human Rights ever done for us?

#ECHR

youtube.com/watch?v=ptfm...

Patrick Stewart sketch: what has the ECHR ever done for us?

YouTube video by The Guardian

youtube.com

1

Reposted by Mr Joe Jenkins

Mark Russell (he/him) @markrusselluk.bsky.social · 19d

Brilliant Children’s Charities coalition event led by young people. We @childrenssociety.bsky.social love working with pals @barnardos.org.uk @nspcc.bsky.social @actionforchildren.bsky.social @ncb.org.uk

Delighted to be joined by @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social Liz Kendal and Josh MacAlister

#Lab25

Pictures of Bridget, Liz, Mark and Lynn Perry, and the young people

2 4

Reposted by Mr Joe Jenkins

Mark Russell (he/him) @markrusselluk.bsky.social · 19d

Delighted to have a few words today with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and welcome her decision on school libraries and share something of @childrenssociety.bsky.social passion to see the government change more children’s lives for the better.

2 7

Reposted by Mr Joe Jenkins

The Children's Society Policy and Youth Practice @tcspolicypractice.bsky.social · 19d

Brogan, a Young Trustee at The Children’s Society, left us with a powerful message of hope - reminding us that with the right support, the potential of young people is limitless.

Image of Brogan with a text box that says, "I think the hope [for the future] is young people. We're a sad generation, but we have so much potential and when you see that change it's beautiful."

3 7

Reposted by Mr Joe Jenkins

The Children's Society Policy and Youth Practice @tcspolicypractice.bsky.social · 19d

Mark Russell, Chief Executive at The Children’s Society, spoke seriously about the challenge of improving young people’s lives amid declining wellbeing. Matt Hyde OBE, Chief Executive at Lloyds Bank Foundation, shared his vision for a caring, connected society.

Image of Mark Russel on the panel with a textbox that says "It is important to recognise the scale of the challenge in front of us. I've worked with young people for 30 years and things have never been so tough."

Image of Matt Hyde on the panel with a textbox that says, "We must believe in a nation of neighbours. In a better world, where people come together and support each other like we saw during Covid."

3 6

Reposted by Mr Joe Jenkins

Refugee Action @refugeeaction.bsky.social · 20d

🚨 This is a message from over 100 charities, including @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social, @sheltercharity.bsky.social, , @oxfamgb.bsky.social @savechildrenuk.bsky.social and @friends-earth.bsky.social: Scapegoating refugees won’t fix anything. It's time for real change

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Stop blaming migrants and tackle UK’s real problems, 100 charities tell home secretary

A letter warns Shabana Mahmood that ‘targeting refugees will do nothing to tackle’ problems with housing and the NHS

www.theguardian.com

1 22 42

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 19d

From @thetimes.com

2 1

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 20d

If we ended and reversed immigration to UK today not a single person would be any better off while a lot would be a whole lot worse

Let’s focus on the real problems facing communities across our country

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Stop blaming migrants and tackle UK’s real problems, 100 charities tell home secretary

A letter warns Shabana Mahmood that ‘targeting refugees will do nothing to tackle’ problems with housing and the NHS

www.theguardian.com

1 5

Reposted by Mr Joe Jenkins

Nerys Anthony @nerys-a.bsky.social · 23d

🎉 Delighted the Children’s Charities Coalition won Charity Collaboration of the Year at the Charity Times awards 🎉

@childrenssociety.bsky.social proud partner with @barnardos.org.uk @nspcc.bsky.social @actionforchildren.bsky.social & @ncb.org.uk

@tcspolicypractice.bsky.social 🎉 fab work team 🎉

Photo of a glass award on a busy table full of glasses and cutlery. You can see 2025 Winner on the glass

Eight people stood on a stage having their photo taken. Behind them it says 2025 Charity Times Awards

Two people - me and Jack holding the award. Smiling

3 5

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 28d

Popped over to the old bird site to see how it’s going; felt queasy within minutes and had to get back out of there

🙅🏻‍♂️

a rat is sticking its head out of a trash can with a sign that says you 're a rat

Alt: a rat is sticking its head out of a trash can with a sign that says you 're a rat

media.tenor.com

3

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 28d

“Lifting more children out of poverty is why I came into politics, I’m thinking every day about how to turn the tide on child poverty. Everything is on the table, including removing the two-child limit”

👏🏻 @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

1 3

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 28d

“our objective is to lift children out of poverty and that will mean we need to lift the [2-child benefit] cap”

👏🏻 👏🏻 @lucympowell.bsky.social

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

3

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 28d

Join @nspcc.bsky.social in this important campaign to change this outdated law and protect all children

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 28d

In England, my dog has stronger legal protection than my daughter

I can’t hit my pup but if I struck my daughter I could legally argue “reasonable punishment”

There’s NEVER justification for hitting children (or pups) they deserve full strength of the law to protect them

Sign now

bit.ly/466gr6j

Join us

Help end physical punishment

bit.ly

1 1

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 28d

Really pleased that @lucympowell.bsky.social highlighted how removing the 2-child benefit gap is the single biggest policy to immediately tackle child poverty

We @childrenssociety.bsky.social back early action to lift as many children out of hardship as possible

Lucy Powell MP @lucympowell.bsky.social · 29d

Had lots of good feedback on my #PoliticalThinking interview earlier this week.

On BBC Radio 4 tonight at 17:30 in full or listen now

We discuss: showing whose side we're on, telling a unifying story, not tacking one way, Gaza, 2 child benefit cap & more www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson - Lucy Powell: People have lost sense of Labour's values - BBC Sounds

Lucy Powell on being sacked by Starmer, and why she now wants to be his deputy.

www.bbc.co.uk

3

Mr Joe Jenkins @mrjoejenkins.bsky.social · 28d

Absolutely delighted to hear @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social committing to tackling child poverty as top priority as a moral mission for this government

We @childrenssociety.bsky.social fully back removing the punitive 2-child benefit gap to accelerate impact of new child poverty strategy

Bridget Phillipson MP @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social · 29d

Fighting child poverty would be my top priority as Deputy Leader.

Picture showing the front cover of the ‘Guardian’ newspaper on 20 September 2025, with headline “Two-child benefit cap is ‘spiteful’ — minister”, referring to comments made by Bridget Phillipson.

1 6

Reposted by Mr Joe Jenkins

Third Sector @thirdsector.co.uk · Sep 18

"You don't apply to be a chief executive unless you've got a certain sense of ego. And I admit I've got one too."

@markrusselluk.bsky.social explains why his ego and the @childrenssociety.bsky.social brand both need to be set aside to enable social change.

🎧 Full podcast interview: bit.ly/4mgVYk7

3 5