Author | Lightnews

Catharina

@catharina24.bsky.social

1.5K followers 1.8K following 2.6K posts

Work in an Academic Library 📚specialise in Interlibrary Loan & Document Supply. UK. Arts & Culture. Books. Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Crime drama. Politics & current affairs. Foodie. Feminist. Optimist. Labour🌹

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Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 3h

Got it- loud and clear!

Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 4h

“Let’s not fall for these myths about public spending. Investment is a long game that does not transform the immediate growth outlook and spending cuts are difficult. Anyone suggesting the opposite is not serious about improving the public finances”. Indeed!

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Reposted by Catharina

Chris Giles @chrisgiles.ft.com · 5h

I keep being told spending cuts are easy. Honest proposals such as those recently outlined by Policy Exchange show they are not

My column www.ft.com/content/f086...

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Reposted by Catharina

Andrew Sparrow @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social · 20h

Commons standards watchdog urged to investigate claim Sarah Pochin's 'racist' comments broke code of conduct, @peterwalker99.bsky.social reports - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

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Reposted by Catharina

Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 4d

Enjoying the intense light effects in contemporary US artist Dan McCaw’s depiction of a woman in a sunroom

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Reposted by Catharina

womensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 1d

Art deco Tea set, c 1928 by Grete Marks (1899-1990), ceramic artist and designer who trained at the Bauhaus #womensart

Angular shaped teapot, cup, sugar bowl and milk jug, in matching white with purple motif, all against a blue background

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Reposted by Catharina

Kate Strasdin @katestrasdin.bsky.social · 21h

Is it even worth having a ballgown if it doesn’t come with matching berry red choker necklace and wristwear? Mainbocher loved red and deployed it to excellent effect here in his 1947 gown @chicagomuseum.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

The front full length view of a long full skirted red velvet strapless ballgown. It has a beaded and sequinned decoration along the décolletage with matching necklace and bracelets

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Reposted by Catharina

Steve Akehurst @steveakehurst.bsky.social · 1d

Ahead of Budget, where do voters stand on tax and the dilemmas facing government?

Big new @persuasionuk.bsky.social report out today on this.

TL;DR as risky as breaching the manifesto is for Lab - failing on public services, cost of living and child poverty is *far riskier* for Lab.

🧵

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Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 17h

bsky.app/profile/anoo...

Anoosh Chakelian @anooshc.bsky.social · 17h

Could Labour get away with breaking its manifesto pledge on tax rises? This exclusive polling shared with the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social suggests it could:

Exclusive: New polling signals Rachel Reeves could break tax promises

The first “trade-off” analysis of public attitudes towards tax rises suggests Labour could raise income tax in the Budget

www.newstatesman.com

Reposted by Catharina

Anoosh Chakelian @anooshc.bsky.social · 17h

Could Labour get away with breaking its manifesto pledge on tax rises? This exclusive polling shared with the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social suggests it could:

Exclusive: New polling signals Rachel Reeves could break tax promises

The first “trade-off” analysis of public attitudes towards tax rises suggests Labour could raise income tax in the Budget

www.newstatesman.com

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Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 17h

He said he deeply regretted it:

Starmer says he regrets using 'island of strangers' phrase www.bbc.com/news/article...

Starmer says he regrets using 'island of strangers' phrase

The PM says he "had no idea" the language echoed Enoch Powell's 1968 speech about immigration.

www.bbc.com

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Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 18h

☹️ Christmas is rolling round too fast. Not enough time for me to save up for presents!

Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 18h

Some people are just a bit dim. Also when people rail and shriek at politics I just think, well if you can do a better job love then why aren’t you doing it?

Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 18h

Fucking hell!!

Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 18h

Are you advocating for this, like?

Reposted by Catharina

Diane Coyle @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social · 19h

I’ve written for @financialtimes.com about the need for belief in the future to get things built on.ft.com/47cO3Qs Why optimists build better infrastructure

Why optimists build better infrastructure

History credits the Victorians for their grand — and enduring — schemes but we need our eyes on the future to emulate them

on.ft.com

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Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 19h

‘Mood disorders’ as in things like bipolar disorder. 🙄

Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 19h

youtu.be/DbbNtvNa7g8?...

The Charlatans - We Are Love (Official Video)

YouTube video by The Charlatans

youtu.be

Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 19h

It’s so lazy, of politicians and journalists! Repeat after me- it’s not an out of work benefit..

Reposted by Catharina

Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · 20h

[email protected]'s response to Reform's proposals to "cut PIP payments to people with anxiety" in this BBC News
piece: bbc.co.uk/news/article...

So much of the political debate around PIP betrays a complete lack of understanding of what the benefit is for, who gets it & how it's assessed

Quote from BBC News article: Mental health charity Mind's head of policy Tom Pollard said Reform's plan seemed muddled and did not appear to "bear any relation to how this benefit actually works", not least because PIP is not an out of work benefit.

"People have to prove they face significant health and disability-related barriers in their day-to-day lives to qualify for Pip, and it is not based on diagnosis," he said.

"Anxiety can have a debilitating impact, and many people will also have multiple and complex health issues when anxiety is recorded as their 'primary condition'."

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Reposted by Catharina

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 19h

Unclear to me what some of Labour’s critics on here *want*. If you oppose further tax rises, you support the status quo OR further cuts. It’s just that simple.

Thérèse @tiggertherese.bsky.social · 19h

Labour below the Lib Dems and Greens, here we come...

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 19h

A difficult call, but I would be inclined to raise basic rate by 2p or even 3p not 1p if it meant I could avoid freezing thresholds all the way to the election:

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Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 19h

Perfect illustration that he doesn’t really care about the survivors!!

Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 21h

67 children would still be alive. Claire is magnificent!

Reposted by Catharina

Andrew Sparrow @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social · 22h

Tories confirm Chris Philp's bill proposing mass deportation of people with indefinite leave to remain no longer party policy - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

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Catharina @catharina24.bsky.social · 23h

Yay (but ouch!)