Tomato Soup
@souptomatosoup.uk
Anything posted here are my personal views.
Anonymised UK policy generalist with far too much experience, especially economic, tax, and international.
Preferred pronouns: They/Them/Their.
@souptomatosoup on twitter
Banner credit @pickardje.bsky.social
Anonymised UK policy generalist with far too much experience, especially economic, tax, and international.
Preferred pronouns: They/Them/Their.
@souptomatosoup on twitter
Banner credit @pickardje.bsky.social
Pinned
Tomato Soup
@souptomatosoup.uk
· Jul 23
irst Past the Post (FPTP) distorts the inputs and outcomes of elections.
Not only do most votes get ignored, but most voters are forced to "vote tactically" rather than for who they actually want.
We need #ElectoralReform.
Not only do most votes get ignored, but most voters are forced to "vote tactically" rather than for who they actually want.
We need #ElectoralReform.
Reposted by Tomato Soup
"womens rights activist" is the pretence for loud misogynists, transphobes, and homophobes, in the current society where such bigotry is government policy.
December 10, 2025 at 11:11 PM
"womens rights activist" is the pretence for loud misogynists, transphobes, and homophobes, in the current society where such bigotry is government policy.
When elected Pope, they become the head of a country "holy see", do they automatically gain dual nationality? Or does Italy give the equivalent of indefinite leave to remain to all popes by default?
Anyone know?
Anyone know?
December 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
When elected Pope, they become the head of a country "holy see", do they automatically gain dual nationality? Or does Italy give the equivalent of indefinite leave to remain to all popes by default?
Anyone know?
Anyone know?
Does anyone know of a site akin to Spareroom for finding people for flatshares in London?
In urgent need to avoid being evicted for xmas.
In urgent need to avoid being evicted for xmas.
December 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Does anyone know of a site akin to Spareroom for finding people for flatshares in London?
In urgent need to avoid being evicted for xmas.
In urgent need to avoid being evicted for xmas.
Reposted by Tomato Soup
Frustratingly, remainers said this again and again during the Brexit referendum: European states are small and in global terms weak on their own. And Europe’s enemies want it that way. But of course that was talking Britain down and other such delusional rubbish.
Elon Musk and his Russian friends call for the abolishment of the EU
December 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Frustratingly, remainers said this again and again during the Brexit referendum: European states are small and in global terms weak on their own. And Europe’s enemies want it that way. But of course that was talking Britain down and other such delusional rubbish.
It’s weird how much of an influencer Jesus turned out to be; he only had 12 followers!
(No offence meant, heard the joke, thought it was funny)
(No offence meant, heard the joke, thought it was funny)
December 5, 2025 at 11:03 AM
It’s weird how much of an influencer Jesus turned out to be; he only had 12 followers!
(No offence meant, heard the joke, thought it was funny)
(No offence meant, heard the joke, thought it was funny)
Reposted by Tomato Soup
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
December 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Holy shit.
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Looking to find someone to share a flat rental in London asap, please let me know if you know someone.
December 4, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Looking to find someone to share a flat rental in London asap, please let me know if you know someone.
Reposted by Tomato Soup
🧵 Ten years after Brexit, data catches up with lived reality.
UK 🇬🇧 GDP 8% smaller. Investment ⬇️ 18%. Productivity ⬇️ 4%. GDP/capita 10% lower than comparable nations.
Not bc of a single shock, but bc Brexit drained confidence, investment, capacity for a decade.
www.euronews.com/business/202...
UK 🇬🇧 GDP 8% smaller. Investment ⬇️ 18%. Productivity ⬇️ 4%. GDP/capita 10% lower than comparable nations.
Not bc of a single shock, but bc Brexit drained confidence, investment, capacity for a decade.
www.euronews.com/business/202...
December 3, 2025 at 5:31 PM
🧵 Ten years after Brexit, data catches up with lived reality.
UK 🇬🇧 GDP 8% smaller. Investment ⬇️ 18%. Productivity ⬇️ 4%. GDP/capita 10% lower than comparable nations.
Not bc of a single shock, but bc Brexit drained confidence, investment, capacity for a decade.
www.euronews.com/business/202...
UK 🇬🇧 GDP 8% smaller. Investment ⬇️ 18%. Productivity ⬇️ 4%. GDP/capita 10% lower than comparable nations.
Not bc of a single shock, but bc Brexit drained confidence, investment, capacity for a decade.
www.euronews.com/business/202...
Reposted by Tomato Soup
BREAKING: “The idea that leaving the EU was the answer to all our cares and concerns has clearly been proved wrong."
Keir Starmer says that "wild promises were made" about Brexit.
He adds: "The same argument is now being made about the European Convention on Human Rights"
Keir Starmer says that "wild promises were made" about Brexit.
He adds: "The same argument is now being made about the European Convention on Human Rights"
December 1, 2025 at 9:58 PM
BREAKING: “The idea that leaving the EU was the answer to all our cares and concerns has clearly been proved wrong."
Keir Starmer says that "wild promises were made" about Brexit.
He adds: "The same argument is now being made about the European Convention on Human Rights"
Keir Starmer says that "wild promises were made" about Brexit.
He adds: "The same argument is now being made about the European Convention on Human Rights"
Reposted by Tomato Soup
Turning Point at OU posted this girl's essay in full and man is it rough
November 29, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Turning Point at OU posted this girl's essay in full and man is it rough
Oh, hello Thursday.
a man in a suit is sitting in a chair and says it 's a terrible day emma
ALT: a man in a suit is sitting in a chair and says it 's a terrible day emma
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Oh, hello Thursday.
🤞
🚨 Graham linehan has DIED of shitting himself
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 PM
🤞
I am very uncomfortable with this idea, its bringing an even greater populist approach to justice - and reduced legitimacy too.
🔺BREAKING: Jury trials to be scrapped except for alleged rapists and killers
David Lammy is proposing that judges hear cases alone for crimes that could result in a sentence of up to five years to tackle court backlog
David Lammy is proposing that judges hear cases alone for crimes that could result in a sentence of up to five years to tackle court backlog
Jury trials to be scrapped except for alleged rapists and killers
Jury trials to be scrapped except for alleged rapists and killers
www.thetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I am very uncomfortable with this idea, its bringing an even greater populist approach to justice - and reduced legitimacy too.
Reposted by Tomato Soup
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 9:26 AM
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
I have failed to sleep for so long I am now too hungry to sleep…AAARRRGHGGGGHHH
a cartoon character with an angry look on his face and the words freetopsticker below him
ALT: a cartoon character with an angry look on his face and the words freetopsticker below him
media.tenor.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:30 AM
I have failed to sleep for so long I am now too hungry to sleep…AAARRRGHGGGGHHH
Reposted by Tomato Soup
Apparently there isn't good evidence that Google uses Gmail to train LLMs — I'm still glad to no longer rely on gmail for email, because I am a skeptic (paranoid?) and just don't trust that what they say is what they do
The malwarebytes Google opting-your-emails-into-ai-training thing is not true. The post is based on one bad tweet.
I know anti-tech lamenting is a Bluesky core principle, but please use the same judgement you would for any other clickbait.
www.theverge.com/news/826902/...
I know anti-tech lamenting is a Bluesky core principle, but please use the same judgement you would for any other clickbait.
www.theverge.com/news/826902/...
Google denies ‘misleading’ reports of Gmail using your emails to train AI
Google says “we do not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model.”
www.theverge.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Apparently there isn't good evidence that Google uses Gmail to train LLMs — I'm still glad to no longer rely on gmail for email, because I am a skeptic (paranoid?) and just don't trust that what they say is what they do
Reposted by Tomato Soup
Incredible. Grab the data whilst you can this won’t be up for long
X has changed their policy and now you can see where the accounts are based.
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
Here’s an “influencer from Texas”
November 21, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Incredible. Grab the data whilst you can this won’t be up for long
Reposted by Tomato Soup
Analysis of the language used in Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” shows it was drafted in Russian and translated into English.
I’ll try to dig up a link.
I’ll try to dig up a link.
November 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Analysis of the language used in Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan” shows it was drafted in Russian and translated into English.
I’ll try to dig up a link.
I’ll try to dig up a link.
If the USA so desperately wants to placate Russia with land gifts, they should offer Alaska
Reuters illustrated how much Ukrainian territory would be handed to Russia under Trump's plan, requiring forces to withdraw from unoccupied Donetsk and Luhansk areas including Sloviansk-Kramatorsk, which would fall under Russian control.
November 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
If the USA so desperately wants to placate Russia with land gifts, they should offer Alaska
Reposted by Tomato Soup
The anti-trans movement has always just been a veneer for the increased normalisation of misogyny and homophobia
November 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
The anti-trans movement has always just been a veneer for the increased normalisation of misogyny and homophobia
Reposted by Tomato Soup
"Trans people could be asked about whether they should be accessing single-sex services based on their physical appearance."
No. not "trans people". ANYONE. This moral panic leads inexorably to the policing of women based on their appearance deemed to be "unfeminine".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
No. not "trans people". ANYONE. This moral panic leads inexorably to the policing of women based on their appearance deemed to be "unfeminine".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trans people could be barred from services based on appearance
The new code of practice on access to single-sex services cannot gain legal force until it gets sign-off from ministers.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:36 PM
"Trans people could be asked about whether they should be accessing single-sex services based on their physical appearance."
No. not "trans people". ANYONE. This moral panic leads inexorably to the policing of women based on their appearance deemed to be "unfeminine".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
No. not "trans people". ANYONE. This moral panic leads inexorably to the policing of women based on their appearance deemed to be "unfeminine".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This is a point I have been yelling about for years the 5 year forecast makes sense in terms of limitations, but the fiscal rules aligned to that period have locked us into short-termist thinking that is killing effective policy.
Never fails to make me smile the way politicians understand the problem of short time horizons and embrace the 'objective of getting government to think further forward' once they are.... no longer politicians. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Mend broken budgets or Britain goes bust
Our system of five-year OBR forecasts means chancellors don’t worry much what happens after, but that’s the road to ruin
www.thetimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 AM
This is a point I have been yelling about for years the 5 year forecast makes sense in terms of limitations, but the fiscal rules aligned to that period have locked us into short-termist thinking that is killing effective policy.
Reposted by Tomato Soup
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
The military service drafted a new policy that classifies them as “potentially divisive.”
Reposted by Tomato Soup
When Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka. Tommy Robinson, aka. Tiny-Tommeh-Ten-Names) treats your policy announcement as a win, you must realise that things have gone sideways in a pretty significant way? Or is that just me?
A post on the Hostile Environment 2.0 asking:
Why is Labour doing this?
A post on the Hostile Environment 2.0 asking:
Why is Labour doing this?
The Hostile Environment 2.0 Patch Update
Labour’s asylum policy proves they fear the far-right more than they trust their own values.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 11:33 AM
When Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka. Tommy Robinson, aka. Tiny-Tommeh-Ten-Names) treats your policy announcement as a win, you must realise that things have gone sideways in a pretty significant way? Or is that just me?
A post on the Hostile Environment 2.0 asking:
Why is Labour doing this?
A post on the Hostile Environment 2.0 asking:
Why is Labour doing this?