Declan Gaffney
@greyskiesthinking.bsky.social
Research, analysis & grey-skies thinking on labour markets, social security, public finance & equality. Usual disclaimer. Cheap foreign labour 🇮🇪. Profile pic is Takashi Shimura with Toshiro Mifune in Stray Dog (Akira Kurosawa, 1949).
Pinned
If all young people deferred having children until they could meet the entire cost of raising them, there'd be no workers to pay for pensions in thirty years time.
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Been reading a lot of Philip Roth lately and it occurs to me that there was a mid-twentieth century belief in the transcendent power of sex that's about as dead as Manicheeism now.
November 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Been reading a lot of Philip Roth lately and it occurs to me that there was a mid-twentieth century belief in the transcendent power of sex that's about as dead as Manicheeism now.
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
I wonder if I am the first person to make the analogy that LLM output turning into LLM input is a classic Habsburg Jaw problem.
November 30, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I wonder if I am the first person to make the analogy that LLM output turning into LLM input is a classic Habsburg Jaw problem.
The name Accenture really sounds like it was generated by AI but sorry humanity, that's on you.
November 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The name Accenture really sounds like it was generated by AI but sorry humanity, that's on you.
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
This is 1 of several parents we’ve spoken with in the last 2 wks who are terrified about their future in the UK.
They work damn hard for shite pay while caring for British born & raised kids. This is who the govt is demonising & targeting with their cruel policies as they chase the Reform dog’s tail
They work damn hard for shite pay while caring for British born & raised kids. This is who the govt is demonising & targeting with their cruel policies as they chase the Reform dog’s tail
UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to
UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to
Woman cancels all benefits including disability living allowance for daughter after policy change announcement
A low-paid carer from Ghana has cancelled all the benefits she is legally entitled to, including the disability allowance one of her children receives, owing to fears about her immigration status after the policy changes announced by the home secretary.
The radical changes to legal migration announced by Shabana Mahmood on 20 November will penalise those who are living and working legally in the UK, but who claim benefits. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:44 PM
This is 1 of several parents we’ve spoken with in the last 2 wks who are terrified about their future in the UK.
They work damn hard for shite pay while caring for British born & raised kids. This is who the govt is demonising & targeting with their cruel policies as they chase the Reform dog’s tail
They work damn hard for shite pay while caring for British born & raised kids. This is who the govt is demonising & targeting with their cruel policies as they chase the Reform dog’s tail
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Ok so the Your Party Conference has ended with - and I promise you I am not making this up -
- With a man on stage singing Imagine.
- With a man on stage singing Imagine.
November 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Ok so the Your Party Conference has ended with - and I promise you I am not making this up -
- With a man on stage singing Imagine.
- With a man on stage singing Imagine.
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Gordon Parks by Adelaide de Menil
Vogue, January 1966
"The character of John Shaft, if truth be known, was Gordon Parks."
- Richard Roundtree
Vogue, January 1966
"The character of John Shaft, if truth be known, was Gordon Parks."
- Richard Roundtree
November 30, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Gordon Parks by Adelaide de Menil
Vogue, January 1966
"The character of John Shaft, if truth be known, was Gordon Parks."
- Richard Roundtree
Vogue, January 1966
"The character of John Shaft, if truth be known, was Gordon Parks."
- Richard Roundtree
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Personal view alert:
It would our politics good if more politicians - whatever their allegiance - posted to social media more in this way. Stick the soundbites to one side and demonstrate the intent and the rationale.
You might still disagree with it, but it's a better start for a debate.
It would our politics good if more politicians - whatever their allegiance - posted to social media more in this way. Stick the soundbites to one side and demonstrate the intent and the rationale.
You might still disagree with it, but it's a better start for a debate.
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
November 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Personal view alert:
It would our politics good if more politicians - whatever their allegiance - posted to social media more in this way. Stick the soundbites to one side and demonstrate the intent and the rationale.
You might still disagree with it, but it's a better start for a debate.
It would our politics good if more politicians - whatever their allegiance - posted to social media more in this way. Stick the soundbites to one side and demonstrate the intent and the rationale.
You might still disagree with it, but it's a better start for a debate.
Really good corrective to a debate that's being conducted on totally unreal premises.
Here's this week's column. Please - please - can we stop talking about migration in a way that's completely detached from the facts? www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Net migration is plummeting. Why can’t Labour say so? | Heather Stewart
An honest debate is needed on this polarising topic as sectors such as social care struggle with recruitment
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Really good corrective to a debate that's being conducted on totally unreal premises.
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Unaccountably, as always with these pieces, the sub-editors seem to have cut off the conclusion, which was surely “and my judgment has thus been proven so bad no one should ever listen to me on anything again”.
The economic damage Brexit has caused is undeniable - even Brexiteers are now admitting it.
https://www.thetimes.com/business/economics/article/we-brexiteers-must-acknowledge-the-costs-of-leaving-europe-p3mhqd66f
https://www.thetimes.com/business/economics/article/we-brexiteers-must-acknowledge-the-costs-of-leaving-europe-p3mhqd66f
We Brexiteers must acknowledge the costs of leaving Europe
Breaking free from the EU has undoubtedly deepened the UK’s malaise, and it’s no use denying it
www.thetimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Unaccountably, as always with these pieces, the sub-editors seem to have cut off the conclusion, which was surely “and my judgment has thus been proven so bad no one should ever listen to me on anything again”.
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Another one of those crazy Telegraph articles this weekend which, for some unknown reason, compares a healthy DINKY to a disabled single parent with three children.
November 30, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Another one of those crazy Telegraph articles this weekend which, for some unknown reason, compares a healthy DINKY to a disabled single parent with three children.
There's a national embarrassment in Fairview Park that SF might want to address first. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...
Dublin’s Herzog Park set to be ‘denamed’ by city councillors over Israel connections
Chief Rabbi says Jewish story deserves not to be ‘whitewashed or erased’
www.irishtimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:12 AM
There's a national embarrassment in Fairview Park that SF might want to address first. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...
History is still trying to catch up with this record, recorded in 1960 and dumped in the vaults till 1988.
November 29, 2025 at 10:47 PM
History is still trying to catch up with this record, recorded in 1960 and dumped in the vaults till 1988.
If they can't solve their own collective action problem how are they ever going to solve ours?
Chaos has engulfed the first 24 hours of the inaugural 'Your Party' conference in Liverpool, with Zarah Sultana boycotting the first day of the event, Jeremy Corbyn facing "witch-hunt" allegations, and an entryism row
@siennarodgers.bsky.social & @tomscotson.bsky.social report from Merseyside
@siennarodgers.bsky.social & @tomscotson.bsky.social report from Merseyside
“End The Witch-hunt”: The First 24 Hours At The Chaotic ‘Your Party’ Conference
Chaos has engulfed the first 24 hours of the inaugural conference of ‘Your Party’, the new political party being founded by Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Su...
www.politicshome.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:30 PM
If they can't solve their own collective action problem how are they ever going to solve ours?
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Every year we make a free-to-download-and-print-off-yourself colouring-in Advent Calendar. This year’s heavily features Bigfoots. Please share!
Download it for free here… www.worldofmoose.com/pages/2025-b...
Download it for free here… www.worldofmoose.com/pages/2025-b...
November 29, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Every year we make a free-to-download-and-print-off-yourself colouring-in Advent Calendar. This year’s heavily features Bigfoots. Please share!
Download it for free here… www.worldofmoose.com/pages/2025-b...
Download it for free here… www.worldofmoose.com/pages/2025-b...
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
'We have historically high welfare spending.' No we don't.
'We have a historically high proportion of working-age people not actually working.' No we don't.
'The number of Britons emigrating is skyrocketing.' No it isn't.
'We have a historically high proportion of working-age people not actually working.' No we don't.
'The number of Britons emigrating is skyrocketing.' No it isn't.
November 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
'We have historically high welfare spending.' No we don't.
'We have a historically high proportion of working-age people not actually working.' No we don't.
'The number of Britons emigrating is skyrocketing.' No it isn't.
'We have a historically high proportion of working-age people not actually working.' No we don't.
'The number of Britons emigrating is skyrocketing.' No it isn't.
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...
November 29, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...
Enjoyed this Christian McBride interview with one of the most interesting tenor players I've heard in a while, with lots of music. God becoming a professional jazz musician is a slog. www.wbgo.org/show/jazz-ni...
The fall and rise of saxophonist Nicole Glover
On this episode of JNIA, saxophonist Nicole Glover traces her journey to the top
www.wbgo.org
November 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Enjoyed this Christian McBride interview with one of the most interesting tenor players I've heard in a while, with lots of music. God becoming a professional jazz musician is a slog. www.wbgo.org/show/jazz-ni...
Completely indefensible, unless you think there's no moral limit to the exploitation of migrants. Ministers should be asked if this the intended effect of their policies. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
UK immigration status fears prompt carer to cancel benefits she is entitled to
Woman cancels all benefits including disability living allowance for daughter after policy change announcement
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Completely indefensible, unless you think there's no moral limit to the exploitation of migrants. Ministers should be asked if this the intended effect of their policies. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
I don't expect to see saxophonist Nicole Glover's Memories, Dreams, Reflections on many year-end lists (at least in part because HighNote/Savant's PR operation is basically nonexistent), but it's on mine.
November 28, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I don't expect to see saxophonist Nicole Glover's Memories, Dreams, Reflections on many year-end lists (at least in part because HighNote/Savant's PR operation is basically nonexistent), but it's on mine.
[Re: last post] And if you don't trust my taste ...
This is a great record. Plus Kayvon Gordon -- #JazzFromDetroit.
I don't expect to see saxophonist Nicole Glover's Memories, Dreams, Reflections on many year-end lists (at least in part because HighNote/Savant's PR operation is basically nonexistent), but it's on mine.
November 28, 2025 at 10:28 PM
[Re: last post] And if you don't trust my taste ...
Some great Sonny Rollins hommage on this (amongst other things). Bird Feathers sounds like it might have come straight from the Village Vanguard in November '57, the ballad last track could be from Way Out West. Recommended.
November 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Some great Sonny Rollins hommage on this (amongst other things). Bird Feathers sounds like it might have come straight from the Village Vanguard in November '57, the ballad last track could be from Way Out West. Recommended.
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
I don't think it's all of it by any measure but I do absolutely believe that the political media's raging anti-intellectual streak has got worse with time and has ended up influencing the way MPs talk, and what they choose to talk/think about
I don’t think this is a “politicians have got dumber” issue for the most part. If you look at the *actual CVs* of previous cohorts of MPs, their background is not radically different when you account for, you know, the fact the economy is different! It is primarily a media and ecosystem issue.
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
November 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I don't think it's all of it by any measure but I do absolutely believe that the political media's raging anti-intellectual streak has got worse with time and has ended up influencing the way MPs talk, and what they choose to talk/think about
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Kinnock voice - "I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions....and you end up in the grotesque chaos of a Labour government, a *Labour* government, rejecting visas for homeless 8 yr olds trying to joing their parents"
November 28, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Kinnock voice - "I’ll tell you what happens with impossible promises. You start with far-fetched resolutions....and you end up in the grotesque chaos of a Labour government, a *Labour* government, rejecting visas for homeless 8 yr olds trying to joing their parents"
Reposted by Declan Gaffney
Absolutely no sympathy for Home Secretary from me. Home office has decided to renege on rules it previously made. It deserves every terrible headline and more.
November 28, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Absolutely no sympathy for Home Secretary from me. Home office has decided to renege on rules it previously made. It deserves every terrible headline and more.
The Teardrop Explodes
Harry 'Sweets' Edison
Five Go Down To The Sea?
The Art Ensemble of Chicago
Henry Threadgill & Zooid
Harry 'Sweets' Edison
Five Go Down To The Sea?
The Art Ensemble of Chicago
Henry Threadgill & Zooid
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen;
Captain Beefheart
Roxy Music
Miles Davis
The Clash
Suicide
Captain Beefheart
Roxy Music
Miles Davis
The Clash
Suicide
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen:
Prince
Lady Gaga
David Byrne
Destiny’s Child
Kate Bush
Prince
Lady Gaga
David Byrne
Destiny’s Child
Kate Bush
November 28, 2025 at 12:50 AM
The Teardrop Explodes
Harry 'Sweets' Edison
Five Go Down To The Sea?
The Art Ensemble of Chicago
Henry Threadgill & Zooid
Harry 'Sweets' Edison
Five Go Down To The Sea?
The Art Ensemble of Chicago
Henry Threadgill & Zooid