Samir Jeraj
@sajeraj.bsky.social
Reporter and author. Writing on policy for The New Statesman. Commissioning editor for Hyphen. Senior Fellow John Schofield Trust. Swimmer with locs
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
Spot on. The terms of the plan 2 loan are utterly usurious. Notably the budget has not frozen just the threshold for repayments at a marginal rate of 9%, dragging more and more graduates into it, but it also freezes the interest of those loans which is as much as 6.2%! Which is ridiculous!!
I'm constantly shocked (but not surprised) by how little we discuss the additional financial burden placed on young people by the Clegg-Cameron student loan regime.
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
@rmcunliffe.bsky.social is one of the few journalists who brings it up continuously - once again in the wake of the budget 👇
Rachel Reeves hits young graduates with a double stealth tax
The Chancellor plans to raise as much money from freezing loan repayment thresholds as from the mansion tax
www.newstatesman.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Spot on. The terms of the plan 2 loan are utterly usurious. Notably the budget has not frozen just the threshold for repayments at a marginal rate of 9%, dragging more and more graduates into it, but it also freezes the interest of those loans which is as much as 6.2%! Which is ridiculous!!
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
Great analysis from @zoegrunewald.bsky.social for @theleaduk.bsky.social on today’s budget. Echoes my own thoughts about an overall sense of unambitious tinkering, despite some clear positives (2 child cap finally lifted)
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
The Lead's budget verdict: technocratic tweaks to a broken system
Lifting the two-child benefit is welcome, but Rachel Reeves' tax and spend plans fall far short of the financial shake up this country needs
national.thelead.uk
November 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Great analysis from @zoegrunewald.bsky.social for @theleaduk.bsky.social on today’s budget. Echoes my own thoughts about an overall sense of unambitious tinkering, despite some clear positives (2 child cap finally lifted)
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
November 26, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
BREAKING The entire Budget has leaked early
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
November 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
BREAKING The entire Budget has leaked early
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
I’m very in favour of min wage increase but this will have a significant impact on local council finances, unless Reeves can boost funding for social care:
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Millions of UK workers to get pay rise as Reeves plans increased minimum wage
Chancellor says people must be ‘properly rewarded for their hard work’ with 16- to 21-year-olds also in line for raise
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I’m very in favour of min wage increase but this will have a significant impact on local council finances, unless Reeves can boost funding for social care:
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
Why the two-child limit has to go, in a chart.
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Why the two-child limit has to go, in a chart.
Interested in what you make of this @stephenkb.bsky.social. I remember you writing(tweeting?) about the limited prospects for religious politics in the UK and potential role of London as a pretty religious city: www.theguardian.com/world/commen...
Is British politics immune to US-style rightwing Christianity? We’re about to find out | Lamorna Ash
Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson are increasingly espousing Christian ‘values’, and a wealthy US legal group is becoming influential – this could have dire consequences, says author Lamorna Ash
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Interested in what you make of this @stephenkb.bsky.social. I remember you writing(tweeting?) about the limited prospects for religious politics in the UK and potential role of London as a pretty religious city: www.theguardian.com/world/commen...
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
The Greens are now winning *20%* of Labour’s 2024 voters, far ahead of the Lib Dems on 11% and Reform on 10%. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
What would Zack Polanski do?
The Green Party leader on wealth taxes, the Nordic model and fiscal rules
www.newstatesman.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:50 AM
The Greens are now winning *20%* of Labour’s 2024 voters, far ahead of the Lib Dems on 11% and Reform on 10%. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reform took control of ten councils this May and lead several more, but not all is working as they might have hoped. Me for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Which Reform Council will go bankrupt first?
Councillors will not be able to keep promises on council tax
www.newstatesman.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Reform took control of ten councils this May and lead several more, but not all is working as they might have hoped. Me for the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
This is just insane for a number of reasons. Why is it the responsibility of ethnic minorities to ask “what is the cause of our division”? Who the hell thinks this is a good stance to hold?
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood made more explicit her argument that when ethnic minorities face racism, "we have no choice but to ask: what is the cause of our division"
Her answer is the level of net migration, 2019-23 causes racism. (She on Monday said it was caused by the scale of asylum)
Her answer is the level of net migration, 2019-23 causes racism. (She on Monday said it was caused by the scale of asylum)
November 21, 2025 at 6:02 PM
This is just insane for a number of reasons. Why is it the responsibility of ethnic minorities to ask “what is the cause of our division”? Who the hell thinks this is a good stance to hold?
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
It’s just nuts. Even if you accept Labour’s policy diagnosis, we “lost control” of our borders, and concern about immigration was rising long before the alarming rise of racism. The big change on racism has been we traded an anti-racist government for one that is at best Trappist on it.
I find insane that shabana mahmood is going out there and saying "white british people cannot be asked to accept too many of us outsiders, it is not in their nature, and their pushback against all of us is to be placated". What???
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood made more explicit her argument that when ethnic minorities face racism, "we have no choice but to ask: what is the cause of our division"
Her answer is the level of net migration, 2019-23 causes racism. (She on Monday said it was caused by the scale of asylum)
Her answer is the level of net migration, 2019-23 causes racism. (She on Monday said it was caused by the scale of asylum)
November 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM
It’s just nuts. Even if you accept Labour’s policy diagnosis, we “lost control” of our borders, and concern about immigration was rising long before the alarming rise of racism. The big change on racism has been we traded an anti-racist government for one that is at best Trappist on it.
Echoes the excellent point made by @stephenkb.bsky.social
When Adil Ray challenges Liz Kendall over Labour echoing Reforms policies, Kendall says that because people in her constituency are being targeted by racists the govt has to go after refugees and asylum seekers #GMB
November 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Echoes the excellent point made by @stephenkb.bsky.social
Genuinely baffled as to what qualifies Jonathan Hinder to intervene in a discussion about race:
www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
Shabana Mahmood is battling identity politics – on left and right
There is a nasty and racialised side to the attacks on the Home Secretary
www.newstatesman.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Genuinely baffled as to what qualifies Jonathan Hinder to intervene in a discussion about race:
www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
My colleague @robevansgdn.bsky.social reports on the latest from the Spycops inquiry, where Doreen Lawrence has said the police’s priorities were “completely misplaced” and they should have been concentrating on bringing the racist murderers of her son to justice, rather than spying on her family.
Doreen Lawrence says it was ‘deeply painful’ to learn undercover police spied on her family
Stephen Lawrence’s mother tells spycops inquiry Met police’s priorities after her son’s murder were ‘completely misplaced’
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
My colleague @robevansgdn.bsky.social reports on the latest from the Spycops inquiry, where Doreen Lawrence has said the police’s priorities were “completely misplaced” and they should have been concentrating on bringing the racist murderers of her son to justice, rather than spying on her family.
Will Labour sacrifice a functional NHS in their pursuit of an immigration policy that is unlikely to work even on its own terms?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Migrants to UK will not get benefits until becoming citizens under new plans
Refugee Council says plans would create ‘expensive bureaucracy’ and keep people in limbo
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Will Labour sacrifice a functional NHS in their pursuit of an immigration policy that is unlikely to work even on its own terms?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
Labour's approach to immigration from 1964 to 1979, articulated and enacted by Crossman, Soskice, Hattersley, Jenkins and others, was to limit numbers and integrate those who arrived.
Remember integration? That thing voters "really, really" care about? Where's that in the latest plans?
My column:
My column:
November 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
Why should people who “look like” the home secretary be on the hook for immigration policy?
This is great by @stephenkb.bsky.social:
This is great by @stephenkb.bsky.social:
Defence of Labour asylum policy reveals backsliding on racism
Home secretary’s framing of failures is partly low politics, but also a result of ministers’ poor approach to race relations
www.ft.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Why should people who “look like” the home secretary be on the hook for immigration policy?
This is great by @stephenkb.bsky.social:
This is great by @stephenkb.bsky.social:
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
Includes this titbit -
November 19, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Includes this titbit -
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
Labour’s asylum plans are horribly cruel – but they’re also a mix of hype, old policy and unachievable promises | Diane Taylor
Labour’s asylum plans are horribly cruel – but they’re also a mix of hype, old policy and unachievable promises | Diane Taylor
There is mounting disquiet among Labour MPs, while the vulnerable refugees at the heart of this story are living with a renewed sense of panic, says Diane Taylor, who writes on human rights, racism and civil liberties
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Labour’s asylum plans are horribly cruel – but they’re also a mix of hype, old policy and unachievable promises | Diane Taylor
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
Hundreds of low-paid NHS hospital staff win improved terms after strike threat
Hundreds of low-paid NHS hospital staff win improved terms after strike threat
More than 330 workers, mainly cleaners, caterers and porters, at St George’s, Epsom and St Helier hospital group voted to strike
Hundreds of low-paid NHS hospital workers are celebrating victory after bosses agreed to improve their terms and conditions following the threat of strike action.
More than 330 workers, mainly cleaners, caterers and porters, known as facilities staff, at St George’s, Epsom and St Helier hospital group (GESH) – 98% of those balloted – voted for strike action. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Hundreds of low-paid NHS hospital staff win improved terms after strike threat
Jewellery is still used as a means to identify bodies. Here's a recent example: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/w...
A Rail Platform Becomes a Lab to Identify 6,000 Bodies Sent From Russia
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Jewellery is still used as a means to identify bodies. Here's a recent example: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/w...
How many people would be comfortable buying a wedding ring that had been seized from a refugee. Maybe it was the last item they had to remember a loved one.
Is that the world we want our government to actively encourage?
Is that the world we want our government to actively encourage?
November 17, 2025 at 9:12 AM
How many people would be comfortable buying a wedding ring that had been seized from a refugee. Maybe it was the last item they had to remember a loved one.
Is that the world we want our government to actively encourage?
Is that the world we want our government to actively encourage?
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
This sounds incredibly exciting www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
‘A girl of genius’: archives unsealed of Amy Levy, queer Jewish writer admired by Oscar Wilde
Levy’s work was ‘ahead of her time’ and speaks to current debate around feminism, LGBTQ+ literature and Jewish identity, say researchers
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This sounds incredibly exciting www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Reposted by Samir Jeraj
pray for the media correspondents, the proudest and noblest of all the specialisms. They've had a hell of a week.
November 14, 2025 at 12:42 PM
pray for the media correspondents, the proudest and noblest of all the specialisms. They've had a hell of a week.