Ewan McGaughey

@ewanmg.bsky.social

6.3K followers 2.1K following 270 posts

🎓Law Professor @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social, CBR, Cambridge + @granthamlse.bsky.social
🌹Labour law, enterprise law, pensions, corporations, human rights
🌍Cares about stopping inequality, climate damage + war
🕸️ https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/ewan-mcgaughey .. more

Videos

Posts Replies Media Videos

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 14h

I think they were just short on time! My sense is every broadcaster, and every political party, sees that public ownership is the answer - but inertia and (irrational) fear of bond markets is stopping government take action.

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 15h

🤔Q: Why is Thames Water making a profit?

💡A: Because they've put bills up by 23%! They're appealing for bills to go up by 44%.

🤷‍♀️Where will those profits go? Since 1989 they paid over £13bn to shareholders, £10bn to banks + left £23bn in repair costs.

Me on BBC: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hTS...

Thames Water back in profit because they're extracting the highest bills ever (BBC News, 3 Dec 2025)

YouTube video by Ewan McGaughey

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Ewan McGaughey

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 3d

We estimate that by the start of 2025, the UK economy was approximately 8% smaller than it would have been without Brexit, based on macro data, and 6% smaller using firm-level micro data”

www.euronews.com/business/202...

A decade of Brexit: Britain falls behind peers in trade and growth

Economic analysis shows UK GDP per capita grew up to 10% less than similar nations as firms froze spending and productivity slipped.

www.euronews.com

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 6d

Why do we regulate wages? What should be the goals?

New videos on the minimum wage, fair pay, excessive pay, taxes and pensions:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ7x...

Why do we regulate wages? Is it enough to stop growing income inequality? And are taxes fair? #6(1)

YouTube video by Ewan McGaughey

m.youtube.com

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 9d

This is not accurate: the UK should have the best standards in the OECD, and it would be far from “extreme” to have probation periods. Need to have a read of this: www.ier.org.uk/comments/a-b...

Verifying connection

www.ier.org.uk

Reposted by Ewan McGaughey

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 9d

Brexit costing UK as much as £90bn in lost tax revenue every year, analysis finds

The analysis also found that the average Briton has seen a hit to GDP per head of between £2,700 and £3,700

www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/bre...

Brexit costing UK as much as £90bn in lost tax revenue every year, analysis finds

Brexit is costing the UK up to £90bn in lost tax revenues every year, according to new analysis.

www.thelondoneconomic.com

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 9d

Moreover a 6 month qualifying period would make us merely the joint-8th worst country for job security. That would not be achieving a fair balance.

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 9d

The problem is, the OECD database behind this chart is wrong. The OECD index is riddled with mistakes, it's from 2019, and was done by 'surveying' non-lawyers.

The chart below is accurate: based on the cutting edge Cambridge Centre for Business Research database. Do say if you want to know more.

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 9d

To be fair there was already a debate about the length of a probation period - 6 or 9 months. So it may seem like it's no big deal to have a 6 month qualifying period.

Trouble is, 2m people left unprotected + 5 month fixed term will explodes. It's why most OECD countries go day one, or close.

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 9d

Here's the story: www.ft.com/content/e494...

Starmer accused of manifesto breach after diluting workers’ rights bill

Government has dropped pledge to give employees protection against unfair dismissal from day one

www.ft.com

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 9d

If the UK government violates its Manifesto promise to have day one rights to fair dismissal (p.45), the UK will move from being the 3rd worst country in the OECD to being the 8th worst.

Not much "change", when 21% of British people live in poverty, struggle with bills + have no security at work.

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks - but the problem is that it doesn't work! When you click 'open anyway' it doesn't open, and the app doesn't open if you try to double click on it.

Any other ideas? Appreciate it if there's a solution.

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 10d

Hi Apache - on Mac it's impossible to open OpenOffice 4.1.16, because the security settings stop it.

""OpenOffice" was blocked to protect your Mac." - this is the message. And when you click "open anyway", nothing happens.

Can you fix this? Is it necessary to put it in the Apple App Store?

Reposted by Ewan McGaughey

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 11d

Budget 2025.

The wealthy hardly hit.

Minor tweaks on dividend and mansion tax.
No wealth tax.
No alignment of taxes on dividends & capital gains tax with taxation of wages.
Partnerships won't pay NIC on partners' share of profits
No financial transactions tax.

Lobbying and political donations pay

Reposted by Ewan McGaughey

Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 11d

With the six-year threshold freeze being extended by another three years, 78% of the 2010s’ real personal allowance increases will be reversed over the 2020s.

But it will still be £1,350 higher in real terms in 2030 than in 2010.

Reposted by Harro v. Asselt, Federica Genovese, Tim Stephens , and 1 more Harro v. Asselt, Federica Genovese, Tim Stephens, Ewan McGaughey

Tessa Khan @tessakhan.bsky.social · 11d

Huge news from the UK today: after UN climate talks in which there was a massive fight over language on fossil fuels, the UK government today announced that it will in fact be keeping many millions of barrels of oil & gas in the ground. Deeds rather than just words for a change! 🧵

Reposted by Ewan McGaughey

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 11d

A decade of national renewal? Not exactly.

The chancellor's public investment plans don't come close to our historic investment levels.

Underinvestment has left us with sewage in our rivers, constant railway disruptions, crumbling schools and a shortage of hospital beds.

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 11d

It's what any democracy with a functioning judiciary would do.

Reposted by Ewan McGaughey

Ben Chu @benchu.bsky.social · 11d

OBR: "We have not changed our assessment that Brexit will reduce the level of UK productivity by around 4 per cent after 15 years."

obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...

obr.uk

Reposted by Jill Rutter, Ewan McGaughey

Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 11d

Even after the mansion tax is applied, the owner of a £5m home in Westminster will pay proportionately less in property tax than the owner of a £210k Band B property in Sunderland.

Reposted by Andrew Scott, Ewan McGaughey

Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 11d

In all the years I've been campaigning, this is the first where I've feared retaliation - but even X is not above the law. That's why we've referred X to Ofcom for horrific posts that, having taken legal advice, we believe are illegal under the Online Safety Act. goodlaw.social/wk2q

X is not above the law

goodlaw.social

Reposted by Joseph Schafer, Anne Norton, Carolyn Whitzman , and 2 more Joseph Schafer, Anne Norton, Carolyn Whitzman, Ewan McGaughey, Prakash Kashwan

Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 11d

Landmark move: New York City's comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social, with hundreds of billions under his control, recommends dropping investment giant Blackrock because they won't reckon with climate change.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

NYC’s Lander Recommends Dropping $42 Billion BlackRock Mandate

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is urging three of the city’s pension funds to drop BlackRock Inc. because of “inadequate” climate plans, the latest move to penalize investment firms for failing...

www.bloomberg.com

Reposted by Ewan McGaughey

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 11d

'If a Chancellor were to extend a freeze on tax thresholds, that would increase taxes on working people, wouldn't it?'
Susanna Reid @goodmorningbritain.bsky.social

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 12d

The most annoying aspect is the BBC defending itself with "legal advice". What is this nonsense legal advice that suggests @rutgerbregman.com doesn't have a right to freedom of expression - protected in common law and human rights alike - or that the BBC could in any way be violating the law?

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 12d

Here's a brief paper, first drafted in 2015, on the deeper issue, which is that Trump is merely a product of a US political system corrupted by money, and mandated by a packed, extremist US Supreme Court under the guise of "free speech". The irony couldn't be greater papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Fascism-Lite in America (or the Social Ideal of Donald Trump)

What explains the election for the 45th President of the United States? Many commentators have said that Trump is a fascist. This builds on grave concern, since

papers.ssrn.com

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 12d

This is worse than Panorama's drama because:

(1) Trump is “the most openly corrupt president in American history” - beyond Nixon or Harding

(2) Trump did incite the January 6th riot. Any country with a functioning legal system would've jailed him, like Bolsonaro
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...

Reith lecturer accuses BBC of censoring his remarks on Trump

Dutch writer Rutger Bregman says claim that Trump was ‘most openly corrupt president in US history’ was removed

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Charles West, Ewan McGaughey

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 13d

'Kendall told a UKRI event on 24 November that nearly a fifth of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s budget will be earmarked for research aligned with Labour’s missions, with £8 billion of UKRI’s £38.6 billion budget over the next five years “targeted towards the UK’s national priorities”.' 1/3

Kendall: Haldane not breached by research spending direction

Science secretary defends decision to dedicate nearly a fifth of UKRI budget to policy priorities

www.timeshighereducation.com

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 19d

Lords say employment rights will create unemployment, but the actual evidence shows an absence of rights kills jobs.

If useless bosses can fire people without reason, that’s what damages the economy. It’s hereditary peers that need the boot.

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

‘Out of touch’ hereditary peers criticised for voting against workers’ rights

Lords look ‘undemocratic and firmly against interest of working people’, say senior trade union and Labour figures

www.theguardian.com

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 20d

New rule: taxes should be fair, so the rich pay more than the poor, capital pays more than labour, and we tax unearned wealth more than jobs.

Reposted by Ewan McGaughey

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 21d

‘It’s Time for a Debate About Who Owns Our Media’ Says Leader of the UK’s Trade Union Movement

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak warns that tech and media billionaires are threatening our democracy, as they campaign to destroy the BBC

bylinetimes.com/2025/11/14/i...

'It's Time for a Debate About Who Owns Our Media' Says Leader of the UK's Trade Union Movement

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak warns that tech and media billionaires are threatening our democracy, as they campaign to destroy the BBC

bylinetimes.com

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