Phil Lowthian
@phillowthian.bsky.social
OBE. Retired Civil Servant. Love Politics, Sport and Music. St Helens RLFC; MCFC; Golf; Cricket and Guitar hero!
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
What we're seeing with all this new data is that the Brexit damage is only getting worse as time goes on. Companies aren't "adjusting". They're either leaving, downscaling or going under. From manufacturing to services to culture to farming & fishing, the decline is snowballing rhe longer we're out.
New analysis by the politically neutral House of Commons library says that Brexit:
- cost the average Briton between £2,700 and £3,700
- lost the Treasury up to £90bn a year tax revenue.
Rachel Reeves budget options could have been very different!
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
- cost the average Briton between £2,700 and £3,700
- lost the Treasury up to £90bn a year tax revenue.
Rachel Reeves budget options could have been very different!
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Brexit costing UK up to £90bn in lost tax revenue , new analysis shows
Exclusive: Britons also up to £3,700 worse off, leading to calls for the Labour government to improve relations with the EU
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
What we're seeing with all this new data is that the Brexit damage is only getting worse as time goes on. Companies aren't "adjusting". They're either leaving, downscaling or going under. From manufacturing to services to culture to farming & fishing, the decline is snowballing rhe longer we're out.
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
'This isn't an opinion. This is counting.'
- A 100,000 drop in net migration costs us £7bn
- Scrapping the two-child benefit cap costs us £3bn
What gets more attention?
James O’Brien says 'we have become a ludicrous country'.
- Scrapping the two-child benefit cap costs us £3bn
What gets more attention?
James O’Brien says 'we have become a ludicrous country'.
November 27, 2025 at 11:29 AM
'This isn't an opinion. This is counting.'
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Net migration has fallen again to 204,000, the lowest level since 2021 and is forecast to continue falling over the coming years.
Not that you would know it from the endless coverage of Britain's supposed "immigration crisis"
Not that you would know it from the endless coverage of Britain's supposed "immigration crisis"
November 27, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Net migration has fallen again to 204,000, the lowest level since 2021 and is forecast to continue falling over the coming years.
Not that you would know it from the endless coverage of Britain's supposed "immigration crisis"
Not that you would know it from the endless coverage of Britain's supposed "immigration crisis"
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
On This Day:
Super League Grand Final; St Helens 8 defeated Wigan Warriors 4 at KCOM Stadium
Super League Grand Final; St Helens 8 defeated Wigan Warriors 4 at KCOM Stadium
Extended Highlights: 2020 Grand Final, Warriors v Saints
The Warriors and Saints go head-to-head to be crowned 2020 Betfred Super League champions
#SuperLeague #GrandFinal
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 9:20 AM
On This Day:
Super League Grand Final; St Helens 8 defeated Wigan Warriors 4 at KCOM Stadium
Super League Grand Final; St Helens 8 defeated Wigan Warriors 4 at KCOM Stadium
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Department for Work & Pensions 2024-25
Outdated IT systems which are inefficient to use and increase risk of error.
IT systems are not fully integrated, with separate systems for different benefits
Some benefit processing still paper-based
www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/u...
@nao.org.uk
Outdated IT systems which are inefficient to use and increase risk of error.
IT systems are not fully integrated, with separate systems for different benefits
Some benefit processing still paper-based
www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/u...
@nao.org.uk
www.nao.org.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Department for Work & Pensions 2024-25
Outdated IT systems which are inefficient to use and increase risk of error.
IT systems are not fully integrated, with separate systems for different benefits
Some benefit processing still paper-based
www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/u...
@nao.org.uk
Outdated IT systems which are inefficient to use and increase risk of error.
IT systems are not fully integrated, with separate systems for different benefits
Some benefit processing still paper-based
www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/u...
@nao.org.uk
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
The predictable crushing uniformity of the coverage of this Budget tells you an awful lot about the priorities of those papers, and also why there's actually quite a lot to praise in it bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/t...
November 27, 2025 at 9:40 AM
The predictable crushing uniformity of the coverage of this Budget tells you an awful lot about the priorities of those papers, and also why there's actually quite a lot to praise in it bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/t...
@lewisgoodall.com not sure this is the right focus for today’s budget analysis. @newsagents.bsky.social are normally on the money but this personalising of the budget on the Chancellor rather than its impacts on country seems misguided to me.
November 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
@lewisgoodall.com not sure this is the right focus for today’s budget analysis. @newsagents.bsky.social are normally on the money but this personalising of the budget on the Chancellor rather than its impacts on country seems misguided to me.
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Today, Nigel Farage reiterated his belief that Enoch Powell ‘was right’.
If you are a Sikh, he’s talking about you - about how ‘wearing turbans whilst driving a bus would disrupt Britain’.
If you are black, he’s talking about you - how when you moved in next door to white people, you ‘took over’.
If you are a Sikh, he’s talking about you - about how ‘wearing turbans whilst driving a bus would disrupt Britain’.
If you are black, he’s talking about you - how when you moved in next door to white people, you ‘took over’.
November 26, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Today, Nigel Farage reiterated his belief that Enoch Powell ‘was right’.
If you are a Sikh, he’s talking about you - about how ‘wearing turbans whilst driving a bus would disrupt Britain’.
If you are black, he’s talking about you - how when you moved in next door to white people, you ‘took over’.
If you are a Sikh, he’s talking about you - about how ‘wearing turbans whilst driving a bus would disrupt Britain’.
If you are black, he’s talking about you - how when you moved in next door to white people, you ‘took over’.
The language used by BBC news journalists describing the budget is unnecessarily loaded. “Clobbered” “raided” “penalised”
They really ought to be much more measured in their approach! Mason really shouted “is Christmas cancelled this year Chancellor?” Fuck me - appalling!
They really ought to be much more measured in their approach! Mason really shouted “is Christmas cancelled this year Chancellor?” Fuck me - appalling!
November 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The language used by BBC news journalists describing the budget is unnecessarily loaded. “Clobbered” “raided” “penalised”
They really ought to be much more measured in their approach! Mason really shouted “is Christmas cancelled this year Chancellor?” Fuck me - appalling!
They really ought to be much more measured in their approach! Mason really shouted “is Christmas cancelled this year Chancellor?” Fuck me - appalling!
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
And clowns who present this guy as a serious leader in waiting are also being asked for their opinion...
November 26, 2025 at 4:37 PM
And clowns who present this guy as a serious leader in waiting are also being asked for their opinion...
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
My personal favourite
November 26, 2025 at 4:36 PM
My personal favourite
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
On Truss & Kwarteng in ‘22. Allister Heath, Telegraph: “the best budget I have ever heard a British chancellor deliver". Alex Brummer, Mail: “a genuine Tory package elbowing to one side the Treasury's fiscal conservatism".
These men will now be paid actual money for their analysis of today’s budget.
These men will now be paid actual money for their analysis of today’s budget.
November 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
On Truss & Kwarteng in ‘22. Allister Heath, Telegraph: “the best budget I have ever heard a British chancellor deliver". Alex Brummer, Mail: “a genuine Tory package elbowing to one side the Treasury's fiscal conservatism".
These men will now be paid actual money for their analysis of today’s budget.
These men will now be paid actual money for their analysis of today’s budget.
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Farage accused of ‘persistent’ racial abuse by schoolmate who rejects ‘banter’ claims
Farage accused of ‘persistent’ racial abuse by schoolmate who rejects ‘banter’ claims
Farage accused of ‘persistent’ racial abuse by schoolmate who rejects ‘banter’ claims
www.independent.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Farage accused of ‘persistent’ racial abuse by schoolmate who rejects ‘banter’ claims
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Tory MPs now protesting about anti-protest laws which they themselves brought in..
November 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Tory MPs now protesting about anti-protest laws which they themselves brought in..
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Starmer calls on Farage to apologise to his alleged victims of racial abuse at school
Starmer calls on Farage to apologise to his alleged victims of racial abuse at school
Prime minister says Reform leader’s explanations about alleged comments are ‘unconvincing to say the least’
Keir Starmer has called on Nigel Farage to apologise to his school contemporaries who claim the Reform leader racially abused them while at Dulwich College.
The Guardian reported last week the testimony of Peter Ettedgui, who said a 13-year-old Farage “would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Starmer calls on Farage to apologise to his alleged victims of racial abuse at school
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
This Labour government now has a major and positive achievement under its belt. One that will make a huge difference to millions of children's and adults' lives. That is something all Labour MPs should be genuinely proud about. I hope they are.
November 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
This Labour government now has a major and positive achievement under its belt. One that will make a huge difference to millions of children's and adults' lives. That is something all Labour MPs should be genuinely proud about. I hope they are.
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
The origin of the word Tory is an insult, and boy! is Rachel Reeves deploying it that way
November 26, 2025 at 1:10 PM
The origin of the word Tory is an insult, and boy! is Rachel Reeves deploying it that way
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
🚨 BREXIT BUDGET 🚨
"We've got almost £400 million back from dodgy pandemic spending and contracts."
"Tory contracts, handed out by Tory ministers to Tory peers and Tory donors. Well, that money belongs in our schools and in our hospitals."
"We've got almost £400 million back from dodgy pandemic spending and contracts."
"Tory contracts, handed out by Tory ministers to Tory peers and Tory donors. Well, that money belongs in our schools and in our hospitals."
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
🚨 BREXIT BUDGET 🚨
"We've got almost £400 million back from dodgy pandemic spending and contracts."
"Tory contracts, handed out by Tory ministers to Tory peers and Tory donors. Well, that money belongs in our schools and in our hospitals."
"We've got almost £400 million back from dodgy pandemic spending and contracts."
"Tory contracts, handed out by Tory ministers to Tory peers and Tory donors. Well, that money belongs in our schools and in our hospitals."
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Nick Robinson and Michael Crick on BBC R4 Today blithely absolving Farage of racism just because Nigel learnt to stop hissing death camp gas sounds into his targets’ ears (and instead started doing his racism in political code) is giving me indigestion at 9am.
November 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Nick Robinson and Michael Crick on BBC R4 Today blithely absolving Farage of racism just because Nigel learnt to stop hissing death camp gas sounds into his targets’ ears (and instead started doing his racism in political code) is giving me indigestion at 9am.
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Precisely. This interpretation of ‘balance’ would involve the broadcast of a program in which Harris blatantly & repeatedly lied about winning a Presidential election she had lost & then encouraged her supporters to ‘fight like hell’ against the upholders of the actual result.
Prescott keeps repeating "I thought they'd show a programme about Harris the week after". He really doesn't understand the difference between balance, impartiality and objectivity.
November 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Precisely. This interpretation of ‘balance’ would involve the broadcast of a program in which Harris blatantly & repeatedly lied about winning a Presidential election she had lost & then encouraged her supporters to ‘fight like hell’ against the upholders of the actual result.
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
All the supposedly progressive people saying 'Nigel Farage's racism doesn't matter. His fans love it'.
It matters whether the leader of the party leading all the opinion polls is an outright racist. It matters if he called black people 'wogs' and said 'gas them' to Jews. Not everything is a game
It matters whether the leader of the party leading all the opinion polls is an outright racist. It matters if he called black people 'wogs' and said 'gas them' to Jews. Not everything is a game
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
All the supposedly progressive people saying 'Nigel Farage's racism doesn't matter. His fans love it'.
It matters whether the leader of the party leading all the opinion polls is an outright racist. It matters if he called black people 'wogs' and said 'gas them' to Jews. Not everything is a game
It matters whether the leader of the party leading all the opinion polls is an outright racist. It matters if he called black people 'wogs' and said 'gas them' to Jews. Not everything is a game
Reposted by Phil Lowthian
Looks like Farage's apparatchiks are trying to kill the fascist schoolboy remarks by claiming he was "just a child".
Don't fall for it please...
Don't fall for it please...
November 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Looks like Farage's apparatchiks are trying to kill the fascist schoolboy remarks by claiming he was "just a child".
Don't fall for it please...
Don't fall for it please...