Joe Blair
@joezblair.bsky.social
I will post about Wimbledon football, guitars, the blues and Bruce Springsteen a little more than might be healthy for you
Sorry, not sorry
Sorry, not sorry
Reposted by Joe Blair
Her *6* bedroomed house in North Kensington. 6!
November 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Her *6* bedroomed house in North Kensington. 6!
Reposted by Joe Blair
The only explanation for Zarah Sultana is that she has studied the history of socialist parties, written down every mistake they have ever made, and turned that into a to-do list
November 28, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The only explanation for Zarah Sultana is that she has studied the history of socialist parties, written down every mistake they have ever made, and turned that into a to-do list
Reposted by Joe Blair
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 80,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this weekend. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🚨BOOM! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 80,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000 this weekend. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Joe Blair
Reposted by Joe Blair
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
November 27, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Reposted by Joe Blair
Never let it be said that the British press is out of touch
November 27, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Never let it be said that the British press is out of touch
Reposted by Joe Blair
No matter where you're from, Happy Thanksgiving from all of us on E Street to everyone who calls this land home!
Bruce Springsteen - American Land (Live tour Video)
YouTube video by BruceSpringsteenVEVO
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
No matter where you're from, Happy Thanksgiving from all of us on E Street to everyone who calls this land home!
Reposted by Joe Blair
Next time someone asks what's the matter with Musk's Twitter, show them this:
An account in India, amplifying a billionaire from South Africa being cheered by an Irish passport holder (using an alias) to encourage civil unrest in the UK.
An account in India, amplifying a billionaire from South Africa being cheered by an Irish passport holder (using an alias) to encourage civil unrest in the UK.
November 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Next time someone asks what's the matter with Musk's Twitter, show them this:
An account in India, amplifying a billionaire from South Africa being cheered by an Irish passport holder (using an alias) to encourage civil unrest in the UK.
An account in India, amplifying a billionaire from South Africa being cheered by an Irish passport holder (using an alias) to encourage civil unrest in the UK.
Reposted by Joe Blair
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
It's a tragedy anyway but the way these numbers keep rising it is an absolute catastrophe
Hong Kong fire latest: rescue crews search for survivors as death toll rises to 65 with hundreds reported missing www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Hong Kong fire latest: rescue crews search for survivors as death toll rises to 65 with hundreds reported missing www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Hong Kong fire latest: rescue crews search for survivors as death toll rises to 65 with hundreds reported missing
Three men arrested as 26 rescue teams on site at Wang Fuk Court residential apartment complex in Tai Po district
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
It's a tragedy anyway but the way these numbers keep rising it is an absolute catastrophe
Hong Kong fire latest: rescue crews search for survivors as death toll rises to 65 with hundreds reported missing www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Hong Kong fire latest: rescue crews search for survivors as death toll rises to 65 with hundreds reported missing www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Reposted by Joe Blair
The right arguing that any increase in tax is both laser targeted at you & also magic money really shows just how lazy & thick they’ve gotten. They cling to ideas that have failed for decades because they have nothing else
November 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM
The right arguing that any increase in tax is both laser targeted at you & also magic money really shows just how lazy & thick they’ve gotten. They cling to ideas that have failed for decades because they have nothing else
Reposted by Joe Blair
Even @channel4news.bsky.social opens its budget coverage by asking "What will this do for Labour's position in the polls?"
Polls are not even a good predictor of future elections. They're certainly not a test by which budgets should be measured.
We have to break their cold, dead grip on politics.
Polls are not even a good predictor of future elections. They're certainly not a test by which budgets should be measured.
We have to break their cold, dead grip on politics.
November 26, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Even @channel4news.bsky.social opens its budget coverage by asking "What will this do for Labour's position in the polls?"
Polls are not even a good predictor of future elections. They're certainly not a test by which budgets should be measured.
We have to break their cold, dead grip on politics.
Polls are not even a good predictor of future elections. They're certainly not a test by which budgets should be measured.
We have to break their cold, dead grip on politics.
Reposted by Joe Blair
When I worked for Obama, I advised him on how to talk to Russian leaders. I never gave the Kremlin advice on how to talk to Obama (and I talked to Ushakov many times!).
November 26, 2025 at 5:33 PM
When I worked for Obama, I advised him on how to talk to Russian leaders. I never gave the Kremlin advice on how to talk to Obama (and I talked to Ushakov many times!).
Reposted by Joe Blair
Matt: we need measures to improve fertility - it's one of our biggest problems!
Also Matt: No not like that. I meant white people only.
Also Matt: No not like that. I meant white people only.
Reflections on the budget from the head of Students4Reform
November 26, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Matt: we need measures to improve fertility - it's one of our biggest problems!
Also Matt: No not like that. I meant white people only.
Also Matt: No not like that. I meant white people only.
Reposted by Joe Blair
Private jet passengers flying from UK face fourfold increase in tax on.ft.com/3Xnvtzk
Private jet passengers flying from UK face fourfold increase in tax
More than 500,000 trips will be subject to higher levies
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Private jet passengers flying from UK face fourfold increase in tax on.ft.com/3Xnvtzk
Reposted by Joe Blair
Vanguard plans to buy more gilts as UK Budget calms investor nerves on.ft.com/4p6N3Uz
Vanguard plans to buy more gilts as UK Budget calms investor nerves
Rachel Reeves’ plan to boost fiscal ‘headroom’ to £22bn sparks rally in government debt
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Vanguard plans to buy more gilts as UK Budget calms investor nerves on.ft.com/4p6N3Uz
Reposted by Joe Blair
The abolition of the two-child benefit cap, which punishes children for their parents' circumstances, is the best part of the budget, potentially lifting almost half a million children out of poverty.
It may also be the part that comes under fiercest attack. So it needs celebrating and defending.
It may also be the part that comes under fiercest attack. So it needs celebrating and defending.
And the two child benefit limit is abolished. An enormous victory for those who have campaigned tirelessly for eight long years through successive governments. This will lift at least 450,000 children out of poverty. Fewer kids will be hungry. No more women forced to disclose their rape.
November 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The abolition of the two-child benefit cap, which punishes children for their parents' circumstances, is the best part of the budget, potentially lifting almost half a million children out of poverty.
It may also be the part that comes under fiercest attack. So it needs celebrating and defending.
It may also be the part that comes under fiercest attack. So it needs celebrating and defending.
Reposted by Joe Blair
Shamefully I’ve never heard of the rape clause and I am utterly staggered that this is what it is.
November 26, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Shamefully I’ve never heard of the rape clause and I am utterly staggered that this is what it is.
Reposted by Joe Blair
Badenoch's attempt at a rebuttal is being substantially undermined by all UK assets moving up on the day. the reality is they were cheap vs. peers and there hasn't been a disaster vs. very low expectations:
November 26, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Badenoch's attempt at a rebuttal is being substantially undermined by all UK assets moving up on the day. the reality is they were cheap vs. peers and there hasn't been a disaster vs. very low expectations:
First step towards proper taxes on Wealth 👏
🚨 BREXIT BUDGET🚨
"From 2028, I am introducing a high value council tax surcharge in England. An annual £2,500 charge for properties worth more than £2 million, rising to £7,500 for properties worth more than £5 million."
"From 2028, I am introducing a high value council tax surcharge in England. An annual £2,500 charge for properties worth more than £2 million, rising to £7,500 for properties worth more than £5 million."
November 26, 2025 at 1:27 PM
First step towards proper taxes on Wealth 👏
Reposted by Joe Blair
"having changed my mind about the OBR, my internship there has begun smoothly"
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
"having changed my mind about the OBR, my internship there has begun smoothly"
Reposted by Joe Blair
I think at this point if you're including Diane Abbott - a woman who has never held government office, has been a backbencher since 2020, and is scarcely a government ally - on your list of political wrongdoers, we all know exactly what your real concerns are
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I think at this point if you're including Diane Abbott - a woman who has never held government office, has been a backbencher since 2020, and is scarcely a government ally - on your list of political wrongdoers, we all know exactly what your real concerns are
Reposted by Joe Blair
Everyone needs to calm down a bit. It’s an embarrassing and stupid leak. But we knew all the detail anyway- the Treasury had leaked it. Markets have reacted well. This bit of process won’t be anything close to the most politically difficult thing about today.
Keir Starmer: "The Chancellor will set out the Budget in just a few minutes time."
In fact, the OBR did it just a few minutes ago.
In fact, the OBR did it just a few minutes ago.
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Everyone needs to calm down a bit. It’s an embarrassing and stupid leak. But we knew all the detail anyway- the Treasury had leaked it. Markets have reacted well. This bit of process won’t be anything close to the most politically difficult thing about today.
Reposted by Joe Blair
The OBR publishing early is bad news for a) the person who carries the can b) the political debate around the OBR but maybe good for those of us who think Budget documents should be published before, not after, the Chancellor speaks as a matter of course when the world doesn't end at 13:30 today?
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The OBR publishing early is bad news for a) the person who carries the can b) the political debate around the OBR but maybe good for those of us who think Budget documents should be published before, not after, the Chancellor speaks as a matter of course when the world doesn't end at 13:30 today?
Reposted by Joe Blair
High value council tax surcharge
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
High value council tax surcharge