Reposted by Altreik
This "open borders" line is *infuriating* - these people came here to study or work, because they had a uni place or a job to come to. They paid visa fees, student fees, NHS surcharge - and many of them are doing challenging and important work - staffing our care homes, for example, including Mum's.
Starmer keeps using this line, & it's bonkers.
Most importantly, it's untrue: the party that ended Free Movement, ran the "hostile environment" & made Suella Braverman Home Sec did not run "an experiment in open borders".
It's also politically mad. Voters who believe this will not vote for Starmer
Most importantly, it's untrue: the party that ended Free Movement, ran the "hostile environment" & made Suella Braverman Home Sec did not run "an experiment in open borders".
It's also politically mad. Voters who believe this will not vote for Starmer
!["And this is what Keir Starmer’s press secretary has said about Robert Jenrick at the lobby briefing this morning.
[Highlighted] Robert Jenrick was the immigration minister in a government that presided over an open borders experiment [Highlighted], a health minister who left people stuck on waiting lists, and a Treasury minister during the worst decline in living standards on record.”
While Reform continues to welcome failed Tory retreads, this Labor government is putting the country back on track."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cixgmtrg7nzy4gkmyfeosaox/bafkreibe3jczrmbmzfnhj2adl4qe432lbpmcbn6m6qrentwih7vxj4fu7y@jpeg)
January 15, 2026 at 2:29 PM
This "open borders" line is *infuriating* - these people came here to study or work, because they had a uni place or a job to come to. They paid visa fees, student fees, NHS surcharge - and many of them are doing challenging and important work - staffing our care homes, for example, including Mum's.
I’m not sure about this especially as it will lead to endless calls for the Home Sec to sack police chiefs over every incident- how will it work where the mayor is the PCC?
NEW Shabana Mahmood announces not only that Craig Guildford, the chief constable of West Midlands Police, no longer has her confidence after a "devastating" independent review, but also that the government will reintroduce the power for home secretaries to sack chief constables
January 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM
I’m not sure about this especially as it will lead to endless calls for the Home Sec to sack police chiefs over every incident- how will it work where the mayor is the PCC?
Another u-turn after Labour MPs spent months defending it and also means that a sensible policy (ID cards) is now written off as its associated with a terrible government
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Another u-turn after Labour MPs spent months defending it and also means that a sensible policy (ID cards) is now written off as its associated with a terrible government
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Altreik
"Your base supporters are crucial because they're the ones sharing, discussing, and framing these moments in everyday conversations. When they're demoralised, they either stay silent or actively undermine your messaging, allowing opponents to dominate the narrative space."
[email protected]
[email protected]
January 13, 2026 at 11:48 AM
"Your base supporters are crucial because they're the ones sharing, discussing, and framing these moments in everyday conversations. When they're demoralised, they either stay silent or actively undermine your messaging, allowing opponents to dominate the narrative space."
[email protected]
[email protected]
A good article and one where I have really complex thoughts; and comments made me realise we don’t think about what a successful business looks like and why would someone want to open one?
Latest from me, on an eternally overlooked, sniffed-at issue that is politically huge www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK’s high streets have reached a tipping point – and Reform will reap the benefits | John Harris
When even Poundland and charity shops are closing, we’re near a point of no return. But there is hope, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 3:17 PM
A good article and one where I have really complex thoughts; and comments made me realise we don’t think about what a successful business looks like and why would someone want to open one?
Reposted by Altreik
The level of quixoticism at this point is like Kemi Badenoch spending all day trying to win over Your Party voters. What part of ‘no’ does Blue Labour not understand?
1% of Reform UK voters have a favourable opinion of the Labour Party, compared to 98% seeing it unfavourably, including 89% who view the party *very* unfavourably.
Conservative voters are more sympathetic.
Conservative voters are more sympathetic.
Only Reform voters can save Labour
By Luke Akehurst
By Luke Akehurst
January 9, 2026 at 3:32 PM
The level of quixoticism at this point is like Kemi Badenoch spending all day trying to win over Your Party voters. What part of ‘no’ does Blue Labour not understand?
A good article from @stephenkb.bsky.social rightly expressing fury at the moral vacuum
that the Government and a lot of the Labour ‘old right’ have towards basic fundamental rights.
www.ft.com/content/0e12...
that the Government and a lot of the Labour ‘old right’ have towards basic fundamental rights.
www.ft.com/content/0e12...
Threatening to strip someone of their citizenship is no joke
That this Labour government seems to find Alaa Abdel Fattah’s predicament a laughing matter is unconscionable
www.ft.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:08 AM
A good article from @stephenkb.bsky.social rightly expressing fury at the moral vacuum
that the Government and a lot of the Labour ‘old right’ have towards basic fundamental rights.
www.ft.com/content/0e12...
that the Government and a lot of the Labour ‘old right’ have towards basic fundamental rights.
www.ft.com/content/0e12...
Peak Kemi on Radio 4. Says Maduro being removed was morally good because she lived in Nigeria, moaned that the PM spends all his time in meetings and then starts ranting about welfare.
January 6, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Peak Kemi on Radio 4. Says Maduro being removed was morally good because she lived in Nigeria, moaned that the PM spends all his time in meetings and then starts ranting about welfare.
Reposted by Altreik
a politician able to use proper words and reasonably complex sentences instead of sounding like GenAI trying to communicate with primary school children
January 1, 2026 at 8:07 PM
a politician able to use proper words and reasonably complex sentences instead of sounding like GenAI trying to communicate with primary school children
@stephenkb.bsky.social thought you would find this funny- I assume it’s some sort of ‘the 1945 Government did too much universalism?’ stance?
One interesting nugget in this piece could explain the (otherwise baffling) appearance of Ramsay MacDonald in a 2024 Labour Party Election Broadcast
December 19, 2025 at 8:51 AM
@stephenkb.bsky.social thought you would find this funny- I assume it’s some sort of ‘the 1945 Government did too much universalism?’ stance?
Extremely candid but I see we’ve reached the stage of ‘payroll minister’ is able to criticise the PM and his team with no fear of retribution.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Former Scottish secretary hits out at ‘humiliating’ sacking by Keir Starmer in reshuffle
Ian Murray says he has still not been given an explanation for his demotion to technology minister
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Extremely candid but I see we’ve reached the stage of ‘payroll minister’ is able to criticise the PM and his team with no fear of retribution.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Altreik
Yeah, look, I realize I just wrote something, but the NYT has managed to annoy me enough to get me to write something else.
othermeans.io/p/reforms-of...
othermeans.io/p/reforms-of...
Reforms of the Reckless
On The New York Times Losing Their Minds
othermeans.io
December 8, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Yeah, look, I realize I just wrote something, but the NYT has managed to annoy me enough to get me to write something else.
othermeans.io/p/reforms-of...
othermeans.io/p/reforms-of...
Reposted by Altreik
Excitingly, my book now has a cover. You can see it here, where you can also now pre-order!
www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/no-sec...
www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/no-sec...
No Second Chances
Between 2016 and 2019, a unique coalition assembled within British politics. Combining Corbynite campaigners and Conservative Cabinet ministers, celebrities and grassroots activists, seasoned politica...
www.bitebackpublishing.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Excitingly, my book now has a cover. You can see it here, where you can also now pre-order!
www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/no-sec...
www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/no-sec...
Reposted by Altreik
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
November 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
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
Reposted by Altreik
The OBR publishing early is bad news for a) the person who carries the can b) the political debate around the OBR but maybe good for those of us who think Budget documents should be published before, not after, the Chancellor speaks as a matter of course when the world doesn't end at 13:30 today?
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The OBR publishing early is bad news for a) the person who carries the can b) the political debate around the OBR but maybe good for those of us who think Budget documents should be published before, not after, the Chancellor speaks as a matter of course when the world doesn't end at 13:30 today?
Reposted by Altreik
I commend this review which I carried out in 2013. The recommendations remain relevant today. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f09...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
November 26, 2025 at 12:24 PM
I commend this review which I carried out in 2013. The recommendations remain relevant today. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f09...
I think one of the biggest failures has been that the university sector & policy people who benefited from it have completed failed to make the case for the sector.
There is a lot of blame to go around but it’s a really big failure considering how much the sector is worth…
There is a lot of blame to go around but it’s a really big failure considering how much the sector is worth…
With Rachel Reeves reportedly set to apply a new tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, most Britons support such a move at the previously mooted level of 6%
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
November 24, 2025 at 11:43 PM
I think one of the biggest failures has been that the university sector & policy people who benefited from it have completed failed to make the case for the sector.
There is a lot of blame to go around but it’s a really big failure considering how much the sector is worth…
There is a lot of blame to go around but it’s a really big failure considering how much the sector is worth…
She really is uniquely terrible.
Kemi Badenoch tells Keir Starmer that he is leading "the first government in history to float increasing income tax rates only to then U-turn on it all after the actual budget".
Starmer: "The Budget is next week"
Starmer: "The Budget is next week"
November 19, 2025 at 12:16 PM
She really is uniquely terrible.
An article which claims the Prime Ministers Chief of Staff, a very busy man, is spending hours of his time with Lord Glasman- a man who wants to deploy the navy in the channel.
www.thetimes.com/article/a4a7...
www.thetimes.com/article/a4a7...
Wes Streeting’s furious call with Morgan McSweeney over ‘coup’ claims
MPs agree that No 10’s dire week is only a prelude to Keir Starmer’s reckoning at elections next year. Can a government paralysed by division last that long?
www.thetimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:25 PM
An article which claims the Prime Ministers Chief of Staff, a very busy man, is spending hours of his time with Lord Glasman- a man who wants to deploy the navy in the channel.
www.thetimes.com/article/a4a7...
www.thetimes.com/article/a4a7...
Really hard to see how this would work- what would happen to the thousands of Syrians in the UK? Would Govt really want a difficult debate every year about essentially deporting people based on a foreign office assessment
Govt policy is there would be temporary, time-limited offers of protection. (People will know that they might go home - which lot would want, in principle, though historically many people also stay)
Govt rhetoric + spin (false, obvs!) is all would be *immediately* returned *the moment* it is safe
Govt rhetoric + spin (false, obvs!) is all would be *immediately* returned *the moment* it is safe
November 15, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Really hard to see how this would work- what would happen to the thousands of Syrians in the UK? Would Govt really want a difficult debate every year about essentially deporting people based on a foreign office assessment
Reposted by Altreik
Here's a chart of the marginal tax rate for someone with two kids. They pay 53% tax on every £ they earn between £60k and £80k. 62% on every £ they earn between £100k and £125k.
9% more if they've a student loan
This is from our tax calculator: buff.ly/CFoExUX
9% more if they've a student loan
This is from our tax calculator: buff.ly/CFoExUX
November 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Here's a chart of the marginal tax rate for someone with two kids. They pay 53% tax on every £ they earn between £60k and £80k. 62% on every £ they earn between £100k and £125k.
9% more if they've a student loan
This is from our tax calculator: buff.ly/CFoExUX
9% more if they've a student loan
This is from our tax calculator: buff.ly/CFoExUX
At this point I struggle to see why the U.K. shouldn’t just do an Italy and appoint a technocrat who actually believes in making choices and fixing stuff. We are led by a PM whose only North Star is a rapidly increasing poll deficit.
November 14, 2025 at 9:17 AM
At this point I struggle to see why the U.K. shouldn’t just do an Italy and appoint a technocrat who actually believes in making choices and fixing stuff. We are led by a PM whose only North Star is a rapidly increasing poll deficit.
My take is that politically tax rises will be more unpopular and damaging than a lot of people on here think and tax rises are always unpopular but Labour cannot sort out living standards and public services without reaching for the big levers
November 13, 2025 at 11:17 PM
My take is that politically tax rises will be more unpopular and damaging than a lot of people on here think and tax rises are always unpopular but Labour cannot sort out living standards and public services without reaching for the big levers
Great news. They were a Cameronite gimmick which made no sense and just confused people about who is responsible for policing.
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
*
UK politics live – latest updates
The controversial system of police and crime commissioners is to be abolished by the government, the Guardian has learned.
Under the system, introduced under the Conservatives, all 43 police forces covering local areas across England and Wales had to answer to an elected official. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Great news. They were a Cameronite gimmick which made no sense and just confused people about who is responsible for policing.