Matt Bennett
@matt1066.bsky.social
Historian: medieval warfare and literature. FSA. FRHS. Rejoin EU.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
The NHS asked for support.
The public asked for transparency.
Nobody asked for PFI.
Yesterday's budget brought it back anyway.
So who did ask? 🧵
Read full investigation👉 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
The public asked for transparency.
Nobody asked for PFI.
Yesterday's budget brought it back anyway.
So who did ask? 🧵
Read full investigation👉 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
November 28, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The NHS asked for support.
The public asked for transparency.
Nobody asked for PFI.
Yesterday's budget brought it back anyway.
So who did ask? 🧵
Read full investigation👉 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
The public asked for transparency.
Nobody asked for PFI.
Yesterday's budget brought it back anyway.
So who did ask? 🧵
Read full investigation👉 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Happy indeed!
Routledge is having a black Friday sale, which means the book that @matt1066.bsky.social and I put together about medieval hostageship is yours for a cool £37 paperback! Since I'm writing about hostages again, it's a happy thing.
www.routledge.com/Medieval-Hos...
www.routledge.com/Medieval-Hos...
Medieval Hostageship c.700-c.1500: Hostage, Captive, Prisoner of War, Guarantee, Peacemaker
This volume explores the issues of taking, using and being hostages in the Middle Ages. It brings together recent research in the areas of hostages and hostageships, looking at the act of hostage-taki...
www.routledge.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Happy indeed!
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Big move in the budget to lower energy bills by £1bn a year - by scrapping the energy efficiency tax. It’s welcome. But it comes in the same month that a new tax was added to our energy bills - a nuclear tax to pay for Sizewell C - and it’s also £1bn. Kinda standing still aren’t we..:)
November 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Big move in the budget to lower energy bills by £1bn a year - by scrapping the energy efficiency tax. It’s welcome. But it comes in the same month that a new tax was added to our energy bills - a nuclear tax to pay for Sizewell C - and it’s also £1bn. Kinda standing still aren’t we..:)
Reposted by Matt Bennett
A good day for Ed Miliband: mansion tax introduced, green levies moved off bills to taxation, ban on new North Sea oil and gas licences confirmed.
November 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
A good day for Ed Miliband: mansion tax introduced, green levies moved off bills to taxation, ban on new North Sea oil and gas licences confirmed.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
One small step - now let’s take a long walk.
The founder of an investment company who bought an £8.5 million London flat after supplying 50 million faulty PPE masks during the pandemic has had a criminal restraint order imposed on the property.
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
Financier’s £8.5m flat frozen amid tax investigation over PPE deal
Tim Horlick bought the Pimlico property shortly after his company was awarded the now-contentious £255m contract by the government
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:05 AM
One small step - now let’s take a long walk.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Matt Bennett
This is how we bring our energy bills down - reform our rip-off energy market, it’s impoverishes millions and holds back our economy - our new report shows. Read all about it at Babelfish.news
www.mirror.co.uk/money/labour...
www.mirror.co.uk/money/labour...
November 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This is how we bring our energy bills down - reform our rip-off energy market, it’s impoverishes millions and holds back our economy - our new report shows. Read all about it at Babelfish.news
www.mirror.co.uk/money/labour...
www.mirror.co.uk/money/labour...
Reposted by Matt Bennett
A leaked conversation between Steve Witkoff and a Vladimir Putin aide shows that Witkoff continually “encourages the Russians to think they can get Trump on their side”—and in doing so has prolonged the war with Ukraine, @anneapplebaum.bsky.social argues:
What Is Steve Witkoff Trying to Do?
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war.
bit.ly
November 26, 2025 at 9:47 PM
A leaked conversation between Steve Witkoff and a Vladimir Putin aide shows that Witkoff continually “encourages the Russians to think they can get Trump on their side”—and in doing so has prolonged the war with Ukraine, @anneapplebaum.bsky.social argues:
Reposted by Matt Bennett
"exiting the market" is a fun euphemism for thousands of students left without a school, thousands of people put out of work, entire local economies destroyed, and priceless knowledge lost.
I never thought it would be possible to have a stupider university policy than the Tories, but Labour schooled me.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Fifty higher education providers at risk of exiting market in England, MPs told
Regulator says 24 are at more immediate risk and may have to stop degree courses within next 12 months
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:09 PM
"exiting the market" is a fun euphemism for thousands of students left without a school, thousands of people put out of work, entire local economies destroyed, and priceless knowledge lost.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Probably won’t see this in mainstream media - aka the right wing press - coz it’s against their narrative. Wind energy in Britain broke a new record last week with nearly 23GW on the grid one cold windy evening. That was 56% of all electricity on Britain’s grid.
buff.ly/r8yeFmJ
buff.ly/r8yeFmJ
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Probably won’t see this in mainstream media - aka the right wing press - coz it’s against their narrative. Wind energy in Britain broke a new record last week with nearly 23GW on the grid one cold windy evening. That was 56% of all electricity on Britain’s grid.
buff.ly/r8yeFmJ
buff.ly/r8yeFmJ
Reposted by Matt Bennett
"The former BBC director general Tim Davie misled the public in suggesting BBC news reporters had a leftwing political agenda, Good Law Project can reveal." goodlaw.social/vyyj
Tim Davie misled audience about the BBC’s supposed leftwing agenda | Good Law Project
Speaking at a book festival, the former director general suggested the BBC newsroom was full of BLM T-shirts and Kamala mugs. But that’s fake news.
goodlaw.social
November 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
"The former BBC director general Tim Davie misled the public in suggesting BBC news reporters had a leftwing political agenda, Good Law Project can reveal." goodlaw.social/vyyj
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
We pour billions into saving an economically tiny steel industry whilst actively destroying one of our largest export industries. (Yes, higher education to overseas students who already massively subsidise UK students, are counted as exports).
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 24, 2025 at 7:37 AM
We pour billions into saving an economically tiny steel industry whilst actively destroying one of our largest export industries. (Yes, higher education to overseas students who already massively subsidise UK students, are counted as exports).
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Overseas-trained doctors leaving the UK in record numbers.
Direct result of racism and insecurity unleashed by major political parties.
Not enough home trained doctors. Takes years and high debt to become a doctor.
A healthcare crisis in the making.
Direct result of racism and insecurity unleashed by major political parties.
Not enough home trained doctors. Takes years and high debt to become a doctor.
A healthcare crisis in the making.
Overseas-trained doctors leaving the UK in record numbers
Medical bodies warn that hostility towards migrants is behind a 26% rise in departures last year that imperils NHS
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Overseas-trained doctors leaving the UK in record numbers.
Direct result of racism and insecurity unleashed by major political parties.
Not enough home trained doctors. Takes years and high debt to become a doctor.
A healthcare crisis in the making.
Direct result of racism and insecurity unleashed by major political parties.
Not enough home trained doctors. Takes years and high debt to become a doctor.
A healthcare crisis in the making.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
The NHS is seeing a costly old mistake return: PFI-style deals. 💸
They've drained billions; now similar plans are back.
We’re watching closely. Read more & help hold them accountable:
everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
They've drained billions; now similar plans are back.
We’re watching closely. Read more & help hold them accountable:
everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
November 23, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The NHS is seeing a costly old mistake return: PFI-style deals. 💸
They've drained billions; now similar plans are back.
We’re watching closely. Read more & help hold them accountable:
everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
They've drained billions; now similar plans are back.
We’re watching closely. Read more & help hold them accountable:
everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
Johnson is still unrepentant, it seems. He needs to be brought to book.
As always, @drrachelclarke.com gets right to the heart of it. ❤️
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
November 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Johnson is still unrepentant, it seems. He needs to be brought to book.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc... “Not only does this agreement sell out Ukraine and Europe for the benefit of Russia—which attacked Ukraine—it explicitly separates the U.S. from NATO, a long-time goal of Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.” This is a complete capitulation to Russia - it’s treachery
November 21, 2025
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Ukrainian people today.
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:03 AM
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc... “Not only does this agreement sell out Ukraine and Europe for the benefit of Russia—which attacked Ukraine—it explicitly separates the U.S. from NATO, a long-time goal of Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.” This is a complete capitulation to Russia - it’s treachery
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Boris Johnson took 4 days off as NHS warned of escalating Covid crisis www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Boris Johnson took 4 days off as NHS warned of escalating Covid crisis www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Matt Bennett
If we break the link between the price of gas and the price of the wind and the sun, we can bring down people's bills and put an end to the scourge of roller coaster energy bills.
November 21, 2025 at 12:02 PM
If we break the link between the price of gas and the price of the wind and the sun, we can bring down people's bills and put an end to the scourge of roller coaster energy bills.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Reposted by Matt Bennett
Once again, we have put up our banner and updated the number of covid dead. More than a quarter of a million people in the UK have died with covid as a cause of death on their death certificate. A devastating milestone. ❤️
November 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Once again, we have put up our banner and updated the number of covid dead. More than a quarter of a million people in the UK have died with covid as a cause of death on their death certificate. A devastating milestone. ❤️
Reposted by Matt Bennett
The budget is an opportunity to make a start. Put taxes where they belong - on the luxuries and take them off the things we need just to live.
November 20, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The budget is an opportunity to make a start. Put taxes where they belong - on the luxuries and take them off the things we need just to live.
Reposted by Matt Bennett
You probably won’t see this in mainstream media - aka the right wing press - coz it’s against their narrative. Wind energy in Britain broke a new record last week with nearly 23GW on the grid one cold windy evening.
buff.ly/twsgH5c
buff.ly/twsgH5c
November 21, 2025 at 7:30 AM
You probably won’t see this in mainstream media - aka the right wing press - coz it’s against their narrative. Wind energy in Britain broke a new record last week with nearly 23GW on the grid one cold windy evening.
buff.ly/twsgH5c
buff.ly/twsgH5c