Craig
@craig.nikolic.co.uk
NHS GP Federation CEO. Not a GP/clinician.
Ex artillery forward observer, with dodgy knees and hearing.
Favourite comment about me: "His comms style is like a brick through a window."
Ex artillery forward observer, with dodgy knees and hearing.
Favourite comment about me: "His comms style is like a brick through a window."
Reposted by Craig
Anyway from now on we can all legitimately call Reform the "Black Shirts" - given they're flogging them to their actual members.
What an own goal!
Geddit?
What an own goal!
Geddit?
It takes a special kind of right-wing British political party to literally sell black shirts.
Are you going to tell them?
Or shall I?
Are you going to tell them?
Or shall I?
November 28, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Anyway from now on we can all legitimately call Reform the "Black Shirts" - given they're flogging them to their actual members.
What an own goal!
Geddit?
What an own goal!
Geddit?
I've spent a whole pile of this week talking to NHS folk from around the country on a lot of things and one thing that is becoming clear is that the good folk are becoming a lot less tolerant of those who just don't give a damn about staff morale or patient care.
About time really...
About time really...
November 28, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I've spent a whole pile of this week talking to NHS folk from around the country on a lot of things and one thing that is becoming clear is that the good folk are becoming a lot less tolerant of those who just don't give a damn about staff morale or patient care.
About time really...
About time really...
20-ish years ago, a peer manager who wanted both my corner office and job sent in "360 degree" feedback that was aimed to be as destructive as possible. Unfortunately for him, HR forwarded it to me instead of my boss.
Now, I tend to triage read emails as soon as I see them.
And the fun began.
1/2
Now, I tend to triage read emails as soon as I see them.
And the fun began.
1/2
The horror of the work blunder on.ft.com/4ojS0YQ | opinion
The horror of the work blunder
Few mishaps compare to leaking a Budget, but many employees can relate to the OBR slip-up this week
on.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:56 AM
20-ish years ago, a peer manager who wanted both my corner office and job sent in "360 degree" feedback that was aimed to be as destructive as possible. Unfortunately for him, HR forwarded it to me instead of my boss.
Now, I tend to triage read emails as soon as I see them.
And the fun began.
1/2
Now, I tend to triage read emails as soon as I see them.
And the fun began.
1/2
A whole pile of modern Christians seem to be gambling that the Christian heaven doesn't actually exist when saying politically opportunistic and idiotic things like this.
If it does exist then they're likely to find they get summarily rejected at the gates when they get there.
If it does exist then they're likely to find they get summarily rejected at the gates when they get there.
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:34 AM
A whole pile of modern Christians seem to be gambling that the Christian heaven doesn't actually exist when saying politically opportunistic and idiotic things like this.
If it does exist then they're likely to find they get summarily rejected at the gates when they get there.
If it does exist then they're likely to find they get summarily rejected at the gates when they get there.
Reposted by Craig
The version of the Gospels where the Samaritan crossed the road to kick the robbery victim in the head and go through his pockets for loose change was suppressed by the woke fathers of the early church.
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The version of the Gospels where the Samaritan crossed the road to kick the robbery victim in the head and go through his pockets for loose change was suppressed by the woke fathers of the early church.
UK 2025 in a nutshell.
The paranoia over being seen to help foreign folk is everywhere.
The paranoia over being seen to help foreign folk is everywhere.
November 28, 2025 at 8:13 AM
UK 2025 in a nutshell.
The paranoia over being seen to help foreign folk is everywhere.
The paranoia over being seen to help foreign folk is everywhere.
Which album had the biggest influence on you as a teenager?
Probably this.
Probably this.
November 27, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Which album had the biggest influence on you as a teenager?
Probably this.
Probably this.
Even then, I disagree with the second clause as we're just out of a major global pandemic that has resulted in many people with debilitating and permanent conditions needing help.
No, welfare spending is not 'out of control'.
(There is an underlying rise in health-related benfits, but this needs sensible reform - not knee jerk cuts.)
(There is an underlying rise in health-related benfits, but this needs sensible reform - not knee jerk cuts.)
November 27, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Even then, I disagree with the second clause as we're just out of a major global pandemic that has resulted in many people with debilitating and permanent conditions needing help.
My first "seasons greetings!" in a meeting just now.
It came from someone I really like so I'm conflicted in my normal curmudgeonly attitude to such November greetings 😀
It came from someone I really like so I'm conflicted in my normal curmudgeonly attitude to such November greetings 😀
November 27, 2025 at 12:34 PM
My first "seasons greetings!" in a meeting just now.
It came from someone I really like so I'm conflicted in my normal curmudgeonly attitude to such November greetings 😀
It came from someone I really like so I'm conflicted in my normal curmudgeonly attitude to such November greetings 😀
Student loans were where privileged people who had free education pulled up the ladder behind themselves.
The deal was, and still should be, that the state paid up front and recouped the cost from overall increased taxation.
With fees the state gets both the fees back and the increased tax income.
The deal was, and still should be, that the state paid up front and recouped the cost from overall increased taxation.
With fees the state gets both the fees back and the increased tax income.
Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage on.ft.com/3M2AYkD
Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage
Surprise move from chancellor means some university graduates in England may have to pay back debts sooner
on.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Student loans were where privileged people who had free education pulled up the ladder behind themselves.
The deal was, and still should be, that the state paid up front and recouped the cost from overall increased taxation.
With fees the state gets both the fees back and the increased tax income.
The deal was, and still should be, that the state paid up front and recouped the cost from overall increased taxation.
With fees the state gets both the fees back and the increased tax income.
Reposted by Craig
If you do not see yourself as racist and you're in a position of power then it's cowardice to not confront racism when it's right in front of you.
If you refuse out of expediency then, at best, you're an appeaser and enabler.
In both cases, you're probably not the right person for your job.
If you refuse out of expediency then, at best, you're an appeaser and enabler.
In both cases, you're probably not the right person for your job.
November 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
If you do not see yourself as racist and you're in a position of power then it's cowardice to not confront racism when it's right in front of you.
If you refuse out of expediency then, at best, you're an appeaser and enabler.
In both cases, you're probably not the right person for your job.
If you refuse out of expediency then, at best, you're an appeaser and enabler.
In both cases, you're probably not the right person for your job.
Reposted by Craig
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Craig
Torn between thinking this is genius and thinking it's symptomatic of the collapse of civilization
November 26, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Torn between thinking this is genius and thinking it's symptomatic of the collapse of civilization
If you do not see yourself as racist and you're in a position of power then it's cowardice to not confront racism when it's right in front of you.
If you refuse out of expediency then, at best, you're an appeaser and enabler.
In both cases, you're probably not the right person for your job.
If you refuse out of expediency then, at best, you're an appeaser and enabler.
In both cases, you're probably not the right person for your job.
November 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
If you do not see yourself as racist and you're in a position of power then it's cowardice to not confront racism when it's right in front of you.
If you refuse out of expediency then, at best, you're an appeaser and enabler.
In both cases, you're probably not the right person for your job.
If you refuse out of expediency then, at best, you're an appeaser and enabler.
In both cases, you're probably not the right person for your job.
The latest generation of tech is overwhelmingly so awful that I am holding onto my older kit longer than ever. Anything with “AI” at its heart is awful, from Apple Intelligence to CoPilot to the rubbish that’s put in cars.
The concept of enshittification is alive and well in oversold AI rubbish.
The concept of enshittification is alive and well in oversold AI rubbish.
stupid young people, stop buying a new phone every year if you don't want to be broke. wait no, not like that.
November 26, 2025 at 7:44 AM
The latest generation of tech is overwhelmingly so awful that I am holding onto my older kit longer than ever. Anything with “AI” at its heart is awful, from Apple Intelligence to CoPilot to the rubbish that’s put in cars.
The concept of enshittification is alive and well in oversold AI rubbish.
The concept of enshittification is alive and well in oversold AI rubbish.
I imagine the ethical approvals took quite a bit to clear on this!
Scientists in Japan have created a #tech system to measure pain perception through brain activity. Now you can know if someone else’s pain feels the same as yours.
spectrum.ieee.org/eeg-pain-per...
spectrum.ieee.org/eeg-pain-per...
November 25, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I imagine the ethical approvals took quite a bit to clear on this!
The priority seems to be not embarrassing senior decision makers and the manufacturer rather than actually delivering a quality vehicle.
Ajax armoured vehicles paused after soldiers report hearing problems on.ft.com/49zJEZr
Ajax armoured vehicles paused after soldiers report hearing problems
Suspension raises fresh questions around Ministry of Defence’s procurement processes
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
The priority seems to be not embarrassing senior decision makers and the manufacturer rather than actually delivering a quality vehicle.
Reposted by Craig
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
November 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
I wonder if the police could use secondary picketing laws to get rid of folk who are just there to be racist and don't actually have any kids at the school.
Doubt if they could, but it'd be amusing to see them "and why are you loitering around a school where you have no kids or legal purpose?"
Doubt if they could, but it'd be amusing to see them "and why are you loitering around a school where you have no kids or legal purpose?"
The protest follows a campaign by YouTube influencers against schools offering migrant parents lessons to improve their language skills
Mothers trying to learn English face demonstration outside school
The protest follows a campaign by YouTube influencers against schools offering migrant parents lessons to improve their language skills
www.thetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
I wonder if the police could use secondary picketing laws to get rid of folk who are just there to be racist and don't actually have any kids at the school.
Doubt if they could, but it'd be amusing to see them "and why are you loitering around a school where you have no kids or legal purpose?"
Doubt if they could, but it'd be amusing to see them "and why are you loitering around a school where you have no kids or legal purpose?"
Just looking for a meeting and I realised that next week is December... WTF...
November 25, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Just looking for a meeting and I realised that next week is December... WTF...
Reposted by Craig
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
I am still waiting on the "Chaos with Ed Miliband" that David Cameron threatened us with.
The top two posts on my Instagram feed are from two Labour cabinet ministers and are slightly different in tone, approach, and engagement.
November 25, 2025 at 9:28 AM
I am still waiting on the "Chaos with Ed Miliband" that David Cameron threatened us with.
As this story largely doesn’t affect rich people, nepo-babies, or those in other roles with influence, this government and the ones to come will ignore it.
After the Industrial Revolution there was intense destitution with the newly jobless and it took decades for the state to respond.
1/3
After the Industrial Revolution there was intense destitution with the newly jobless and it took decades for the state to respond.
1/3
AI could replace 3m low-skilled jobs by 2035, research finds
AI could replace 3m low-skilled jobs by 2035, research finds
Trades, machine operations and administrative roles are most at-risk, says leading educational research charity
Up to 3m low-skilled jobs could disappear in the UK by 2035 because of automation and AI, according to a report by a leading educational research charity.
The jobs most at risk are those in occupations such as trades, machine operations and administrative roles, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) said. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:52 AM
As this story largely doesn’t affect rich people, nepo-babies, or those in other roles with influence, this government and the ones to come will ignore it.
After the Industrial Revolution there was intense destitution with the newly jobless and it took decades for the state to respond.
1/3
After the Industrial Revolution there was intense destitution with the newly jobless and it took decades for the state to respond.
1/3
While standing in front of (hopefully faux) furs that look straight out of Are You Being Served? from the 1970s.
‘Replacing the old, stuffy department store’: John Lewis boss on its revamp
‘Replacing the old, stuffy department store’: John Lewis boss on its revamp
Peter Ruis discusses the chain’s £800m reboot, bringing ‘radical relevance’ – and that dance-driven Christmas ad
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM
While standing in front of (hopefully faux) furs that look straight out of Are You Being Served? from the 1970s.
Anyone remember the old days where you had live tickers on the major news reports about the Budget speech and what the Chancellor was saying because it wasn't leaked to the media days in advance?
Rachel Reeves poised to cut annual cash Isa limit to £12,000 in Budget on.ft.com/3LVHycE
Rachel Reeves poised to cut annual cash Isa limit to £12,000 in Budget
Move comes as UK government attempts to funnel more cash into London-listed stocks
on.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Anyone remember the old days where you had live tickers on the major news reports about the Budget speech and what the Chancellor was saying because it wasn't leaked to the media days in advance?