River
@riverlorien.bsky.social
Happy escapee from the other place. Mix of interests inc health, welfare & disability policy, media, hospice/palliative care, the environment & animal welfare
Reposted by River
The Telegraph is a preposterous comic, but along with the Express and Mail, its outrageous politically motivated lies are printed daily and shared with the nation by the BBC and other broadcasters under the guise of "paper reviews" (among other lazy journalistic ruses).
bsky.app/profile/ferr...
bsky.app/profile/ferr...
Lies, damned lies and the Telegraph. They posted CSJ figures using an outrageously false comparison of 2 cases. It claimed a benefits family were better off by £18k than a working household when the real figure was £16k worse off. The details benefitsinthefuture.com #benefits #budget
Benefits in the Future – Welfare reform commentary and analysis
Welfare reform commentary and analysis
benefitsinthefuture.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The Telegraph is a preposterous comic, but along with the Express and Mail, its outrageous politically motivated lies are printed daily and shared with the nation by the BBC and other broadcasters under the guise of "paper reviews" (among other lazy journalistic ruses).
bsky.app/profile/ferr...
bsky.app/profile/ferr...
Reposted by River
Lies, damned lies and the Telegraph. They posted CSJ figures using an outrageously false comparison of 2 cases. It claimed a benefits family were better off by £18k than a working household when the real figure was £16k worse off. The details benefitsinthefuture.com #benefits #budget
Benefits in the Future – Welfare reform commentary and analysis
Welfare reform commentary and analysis
benefitsinthefuture.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Lies, damned lies and the Telegraph. They posted CSJ figures using an outrageously false comparison of 2 cases. It claimed a benefits family were better off by £18k than a working household when the real figure was £16k worse off. The details benefitsinthefuture.com #benefits #budget
Reposted by River
The encounter that took what was already a great #BearSeason2025 right over the top. Arctic foxes are not the easiest to find around Churchill so getting to spend time with this cutie who is still changing into their winter coat was amazing. #mammals 🌿
December 1, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The encounter that took what was already a great #BearSeason2025 right over the top. Arctic foxes are not the easiest to find around Churchill so getting to spend time with this cutie who is still changing into their winter coat was amazing. #mammals 🌿
Reposted by River
this was the story www.theguardian.com/society/arti...
Revealed: people with cancer, arthritis and amputations among 40% denied disability benefits
Observer finds thousands of claims for conditions including cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis are being rejected in England and Wales
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:53 PM
this was the story www.theguardian.com/society/arti...
Reposted by River
Left: Shelagh Fogarty dismisses Farage's antisemitism as "idiocy from when he was 12, 13, 14 at school"
Right: Peter Ettedgui, victim of Farage's antisemitism, "Knowing that I was Jewish, he said Hitler was right and gas them, followed by a hissing, imitating the sound of escaping gas"
Right: Peter Ettedgui, victim of Farage's antisemitism, "Knowing that I was Jewish, he said Hitler was right and gas them, followed by a hissing, imitating the sound of escaping gas"
December 1, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Left: Shelagh Fogarty dismisses Farage's antisemitism as "idiocy from when he was 12, 13, 14 at school"
Right: Peter Ettedgui, victim of Farage's antisemitism, "Knowing that I was Jewish, he said Hitler was right and gas them, followed by a hissing, imitating the sound of escaping gas"
Right: Peter Ettedgui, victim of Farage's antisemitism, "Knowing that I was Jewish, he said Hitler was right and gas them, followed by a hissing, imitating the sound of escaping gas"
'Reform’s welfare spokesman Lee Anderson, who repeatedly calls for benefit clampdowns and described Britain as a “food bank for the world”, claims more in taxpayer-funded hotel bills than any other MP in England, and the second most of any MP in the UK'
Senior MPs including Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and Darren Jones are claiming tens of thousands of pounds a year in taxpayer-funded rent expenses while either calling for or implementing benefit cuts on the poorest
By me, for the Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
By me, for the Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/politic...
Revealed: MPs rack up huge rent expenses while pushing through cuts to benefits
MPs are allowed to rent a second home, but while they are simultaneously cutting benefits for the vulnerable, the cost feels hard to swallow.
www.bigissue.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:52 PM
'Reform’s welfare spokesman Lee Anderson, who repeatedly calls for benefit clampdowns and described Britain as a “food bank for the world”, claims more in taxpayer-funded hotel bills than any other MP in England, and the second most of any MP in the UK'
Reposted by River
Two Met officers running spycops unit were ‘incredibly racist’, inquiry told
Two Met officers running spycops unit were ‘incredibly racist’, inquiry told
Undercover unit monitored Stephen Lawrence’s family, as well as thousands of mainly leftwing political activists
Two senior officers who supervised an undercover Scotland Yard unit spying on political campaigns were “horribly and incredibly” racist, a whistleblower has told a public inquiry.
Peter Francis, a former member of the unit, testified that one regularly used the “N-word”, while the other used a repertoire of explicit racist slurs. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Two Met officers running spycops unit were ‘incredibly racist’, inquiry told
'claims that welfare spending is out-of-control are also wildly misleading'
'if we count consistently over time, then the current level of out-of-work claims is NOT any kind of record; it’s similar to 2014/15 levels & noticeably lower than 2013.' (17-09-25)
'if we count consistently over time, then the current level of out-of-work claims is NOT any kind of record; it’s similar to 2014/15 levels & noticeably lower than 2013.' (17-09-25)
Are out-of-work benefit claims at a record high?
The official statistics are wildly misleading - I've now made some new estimates that show just how wrong they are
inequalities.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:08 PM
'claims that welfare spending is out-of-control are also wildly misleading'
'if we count consistently over time, then the current level of out-of-work claims is NOT any kind of record; it’s similar to 2014/15 levels & noticeably lower than 2013.' (17-09-25)
'if we count consistently over time, then the current level of out-of-work claims is NOT any kind of record; it’s similar to 2014/15 levels & noticeably lower than 2013.' (17-09-25)
Reposted by River
This year we're doing Whamutopia. Every time you hear Last Christmas you have to have a mulled wine at your earliest convenience and toast George Michael, because he was a lad
December 1, 2025 at 8:32 AM
This year we're doing Whamutopia. Every time you hear Last Christmas you have to have a mulled wine at your earliest convenience and toast George Michael, because he was a lad
Reposted by River
Here you go! #ChristmasSongBingo
Whammageddon is for losers!!!
Whammageddon is for losers!!!
December 1, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Here you go! #ChristmasSongBingo
Whammageddon is for losers!!!
Whammageddon is for losers!!!
Reposted by River
December 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by River
I must have missed the wall-to-wall coverage of demands for an investigation into Nigel Farage's lies about being a racist
Or about whether he knew Nathan Gill
Or about who bought his house in Frinton
Or about whether he knew Nathan Gill
Or about who bought his house in Frinton
November 30, 2025 at 9:15 PM
I must have missed the wall-to-wall coverage of demands for an investigation into Nigel Farage's lies about being a racist
Or about whether he knew Nathan Gill
Or about who bought his house in Frinton
Or about whether he knew Nathan Gill
Or about who bought his house in Frinton
Reposted by River
Sovereignty? Democracy? Sorry, but we can't afford those anymore. We'll be sued if we try to defend them.
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Hello, foreign oligarchs and corporations! Please come and sue the UK for billions | George Monbiot
The case of a planned Cumbrian coalmine shows how governments around the world are being threatened by litigation in shadowy offshore courts, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Sovereignty? Democracy? Sorry, but we can't afford those anymore. We'll be sued if we try to defend them.
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by River
Good morning , thank you to @rodshelf.bsky.social for today's #FoxOfTheDay !
December 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Good morning , thank you to @rodshelf.bsky.social for today's #FoxOfTheDay !
@mrjamesob.bsky.social
@lbc.co.uk #lbc
Resolution Foundation:
'Total welfare spending has fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13'
@lbc.co.uk #lbc
Resolution Foundation:
'Total welfare spending has fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13'
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
December 1, 2025 at 10:45 AM
@mrjamesob.bsky.social
@lbc.co.uk #lbc
Resolution Foundation:
'Total welfare spending has fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13'
@lbc.co.uk #lbc
Resolution Foundation:
'Total welfare spending has fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13'
Safe, legal pathways are 'disappearing':
“When legal routes aren’t available, people are pushed towards smugglers and dangerous journeys.
The suspension of family reunion – a route that overwhelmingly helped women and children – only makes it harder for families to stay together safely."
“When legal routes aren’t available, people are pushed towards smugglers and dangerous journeys.
The suspension of family reunion – a route that overwhelmingly helped women and children – only makes it harder for families to stay together safely."
Number of refugees allowed to settle in UK under UN schemes falls 26% in a year
Refugee Council says Home Office figures show safe and legal pathways are ‘disappearing when most needed’
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Safe, legal pathways are 'disappearing':
“When legal routes aren’t available, people are pushed towards smugglers and dangerous journeys.
The suspension of family reunion – a route that overwhelmingly helped women and children – only makes it harder for families to stay together safely."
“When legal routes aren’t available, people are pushed towards smugglers and dangerous journeys.
The suspension of family reunion – a route that overwhelmingly helped women and children – only makes it harder for families to stay together safely."
Reposted by River
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by River
So here's a thing. I help run my local food bank, and we're doing this: 12 Days of Christmas Giving.
It's the busiest time of year for us and we have to build up our stocks right through December.
I know you're not in N4, but all food banks are in the same boat, so if you can help please do! 🙏🎄
It's the busiest time of year for us and we have to build up our stocks right through December.
I know you're not in N4, but all food banks are in the same boat, so if you can help please do! 🙏🎄
November 30, 2025 at 10:29 AM
So here's a thing. I help run my local food bank, and we're doing this: 12 Days of Christmas Giving.
It's the busiest time of year for us and we have to build up our stocks right through December.
I know you're not in N4, but all food banks are in the same boat, so if you can help please do! 🙏🎄
It's the busiest time of year for us and we have to build up our stocks right through December.
I know you're not in N4, but all food banks are in the same boat, so if you can help please do! 🙏🎄
"The reason trial by jury is so important is also the reason the authorities seek to restrict them: juries can think independently"
Jenrick has already pledged that a Tory govt would reverse 'Blair-era changes' that restrict ministerial involvement in judicial appointments.
Jenrick has already pledged that a Tory govt would reverse 'Blair-era changes' that restrict ministerial involvement in judicial appointments.
“Cutting ordinary people out of the judicial system, weakening the scope of jury trials, and leaning even more upon magistrates and judges, will reinforce a more technocratic system and only deepen public mistrust.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...
Defending trial by jury is crucial in a society where democracy is being eroded | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 1:09 PM
"The reason trial by jury is so important is also the reason the authorities seek to restrict them: juries can think independently"
Jenrick has already pledged that a Tory govt would reverse 'Blair-era changes' that restrict ministerial involvement in judicial appointments.
Jenrick has already pledged that a Tory govt would reverse 'Blair-era changes' that restrict ministerial involvement in judicial appointments.
Reposted by River
Africa’s forests have joined the Brazilian Amazon and Australian forests in becoming carbon sources rather than sinks. Around 2010 the previous storage of our carbon emissions flipped, mainly through deforestation and degradation.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#climatechange #deforestation #Africa
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#climatechange #deforestation #Africa
Loss of tropical moist broadleaf forest has turned Africa’s forests from a carbon sink into a source - Scientific Reports
Africa’s forests and woody savannas have historically acted as a carbon sink, removing atmospheric carbon and storing it as biomass. However, our novel analysis reveals a critical transition from a ca...
www.nature.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Africa’s forests have joined the Brazilian Amazon and Australian forests in becoming carbon sources rather than sinks. Around 2010 the previous storage of our carbon emissions flipped, mainly through deforestation and degradation.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#climatechange #deforestation #Africa
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#climatechange #deforestation #Africa
Reposted by River
Low paid carer cancels her much needed benefits:
"My daughter, who is autistic, does not sleep much so I am constantly exhausted. My body is in so much pain."
"I’ve stopped the benefits, even though I need them, because I’m so scared I will not be able to get my settlement in the UK"
"My daughter, who is autistic, does not sleep much so I am constantly exhausted. My body is in so much pain."
"I’ve stopped the benefits, even though I need them, because I’m so scared I will not be able to get my settlement in the UK"
They won't be the only one. This government's cruel and inhumane anti-immigration policies are already cause widespread fear, even before they are implemented. Labour needs to change course on this right now before more harm is caused.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
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 9:37 AM
Low paid carer cancels her much needed benefits:
"My daughter, who is autistic, does not sleep much so I am constantly exhausted. My body is in so much pain."
"I’ve stopped the benefits, even though I need them, because I’m so scared I will not be able to get my settlement in the UK"
"My daughter, who is autistic, does not sleep much so I am constantly exhausted. My body is in so much pain."
"I’ve stopped the benefits, even though I need them, because I’m so scared I will not be able to get my settlement in the UK"
Reposted by River
Okay, here we go.
Health & care staff are no longer allowed a Covid booster, but they're still expected to look after COVID+ patients.
NHS/govt is reneging on its duty of care. Staff will become unwell, and patients too will suffer.
You know what to do
👇✍️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Health & care staff are no longer allowed a Covid booster, but they're still expected to look after COVID+ patients.
NHS/govt is reneging on its duty of care. Staff will become unwell, and patients too will suffer.
You know what to do
👇✍️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Okay, here we go.
Health & care staff are no longer allowed a Covid booster, but they're still expected to look after COVID+ patients.
NHS/govt is reneging on its duty of care. Staff will become unwell, and patients too will suffer.
You know what to do
👇✍️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Health & care staff are no longer allowed a Covid booster, but they're still expected to look after COVID+ patients.
NHS/govt is reneging on its duty of care. Staff will become unwell, and patients too will suffer.
You know what to do
👇✍️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by River
Yesterday, after our meeting with DCMS about the wall's permanence, we had the sad task of updating the number of covid dead. ❤️
November 29, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Yesterday, after our meeting with DCMS about the wall's permanence, we had the sad task of updating the number of covid dead. ❤️
Reposted by River
Sometimes you feel like you're being watched . . . thank you to @27rufus for today's #FoxOfTheDay
November 29, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Sometimes you feel like you're being watched . . . thank you to @27rufus for today's #FoxOfTheDay
'The report from the inquiry’s second module found that the Conservative UK government repeatedly failed to take action to protect disabled people in the early months of the pandemic, even though their risk of dying was twice as high as non-disabled people'
A report by the Covid inquiry into political decision-making during the pandemic proves that the “horrific” and disproportionate death toll among disabled people was not inevitable but the result of treating them as an “afterthought”, say campaigners.
www.disabilitynewsservice.com/inquiry-repo...
www.disabilitynewsservice.com/inquiry-repo...
Inquiry report shows ‘horrific’ Covid death toll among disabled people was not inevitable, say DPOs
A report by the Covid inquiry into political decision-making during the pandemic proves that the “horrific” and disproportionate death toll among disabled people was not inevitable but the result o…
www.disabilitynewsservice.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:50 AM
'The report from the inquiry’s second module found that the Conservative UK government repeatedly failed to take action to protect disabled people in the early months of the pandemic, even though their risk of dying was twice as high as non-disabled people'