Chris Read
@christophe-read.bsky.social
Labour leader, Rotherham MBC. Swinton Rockingham ward councillor. Building a better borough, one day at a time.
https://linktr.ee/ChrisReadRotherham
https://linktr.ee/ChrisReadRotherham
Reposted by Chris Read
If I asked you which country has the most progressive tax system in the developed world — where high earners hand over an especially large share of their income relative to the average worker — what would your answer be?
The answer is in fact Britain. on.ft.com/4a5jIFc
The answer is in fact Britain. on.ft.com/4a5jIFc
November 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM
If I asked you which country has the most progressive tax system in the developed world — where high earners hand over an especially large share of their income relative to the average worker — what would your answer be?
The answer is in fact Britain. on.ft.com/4a5jIFc
The answer is in fact Britain. on.ft.com/4a5jIFc
Reposted by Chris Read
The Covid enquiry's finding that Johnson's government was "toxic and chaotic" should prompt the question: what conditions must be in place for there to be good government, because the evidence before & since suggests it wasn't merely an individual failing? This question, though, won't be asked.
November 21, 2025 at 8:38 AM
The Covid enquiry's finding that Johnson's government was "toxic and chaotic" should prompt the question: what conditions must be in place for there to be good government, because the evidence before & since suggests it wasn't merely an individual failing? This question, though, won't be asked.
There’ll be lots of debate over the coming months about whether the government has gone far enough on Fair Funding - and I don’t know yet. But nothing makes the argument better for the principle than K&C proposing to take a step they admit 75% of other councils have already had to.
November 20, 2025 at 10:56 PM
There’ll be lots of debate over the coming months about whether the government has gone far enough on Fair Funding - and I don’t know yet. But nothing makes the argument better for the principle than K&C proposing to take a step they admit 75% of other councils have already had to.
Reposted by Chris Read
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
For what it’s worth, she’s well entitled to the security. Senior politicians need to make their decisions without regard to future threats against themselves and their families. Yes she was a disaster and is bonkers but that’s not a reason to slip into Trump-style permission of violence.
Liz Truss due to her brief stint as PM receives a lifetime pension worth £100,000 annually and £1 million in 24 hour year round security.
Funded by the taxpayer to spend all her time talking down the UK.
Funded by the taxpayer to spend all her time talking down the UK.
November 18, 2025 at 10:52 PM
For what it’s worth, she’s well entitled to the security. Senior politicians need to make their decisions without regard to future threats against themselves and their families. Yes she was a disaster and is bonkers but that’s not a reason to slip into Trump-style permission of violence.
Reposted by Chris Read
Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".
Labour Peer Who Fled The Nazis Condemns His Party's Immigration Crackdown
Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Lord Dubs said he was "lost for words".
Reposted by Chris Read
Journalists cosying up to Donald Trump should look at how easily he shrugs off the brutal dismemberment of one of their colleagues – an opinion writer for the Washington Post – and reflect on how easily he’d do the same if it was them.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Journalists cosying up to Donald Trump should look at how easily he shrugs off the brutal dismemberment of one of their colleagues – an opinion writer for the Washington Post – and reflect on how easily he’d do the same if it was them.
All those Tories who joined Reform so they could hope that the Labour government would bail them out. 🤮
Ultimately Durham - and other councils - are hoping the govt’s fair funding review helps them out. But as Tony Travers says, the savings look familiar: I don’t know how many stories I’ve written over the years of these sorts of comparatively small but extremely tangible cuts to neighbourhoods
November 18, 2025 at 9:15 AM
All those Tories who joined Reform so they could hope that the Labour government would bail them out. 🤮
Those irrational libraries preventing Reform from balancing the books.
A good eg of the financial reality facing Reform in local govt
Durham is looking at hiking parking charges and permits, litter picking/weed killing/summer planting reductions and the “rationalisation” of libraries, leisure centres and tips, as it tries to hold down council tax
on.ft.com/4oPaVvI
Durham is looking at hiking parking charges and permits, litter picking/weed killing/summer planting reductions and the “rationalisation” of libraries, leisure centres and tips, as it tries to hold down council tax
on.ft.com/4oPaVvI
Reform council cuts back on litter picking and gardening in bid to fill shortfall
[FREE TO READ] The measures underline the financial realities facing the party after its first six months in local government
on.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Those irrational libraries preventing Reform from balancing the books.
At this morning’s Cabinet meeting:
✅ Financial inclusion
✅ Plans for Catcliffe flood defences
✅ Safeguarding adults partnership plan
✅ Pride in Place funding for central Rotherham
✅ Financial inclusion
✅ Plans for Catcliffe flood defences
✅ Safeguarding adults partnership plan
✅ Pride in Place funding for central Rotherham
November 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
At this morning’s Cabinet meeting:
✅ Financial inclusion
✅ Plans for Catcliffe flood defences
✅ Safeguarding adults partnership plan
✅ Pride in Place funding for central Rotherham
✅ Financial inclusion
✅ Plans for Catcliffe flood defences
✅ Safeguarding adults partnership plan
✅ Pride in Place funding for central Rotherham
Knocking on doors? In 1973? 🤔
Amused myself for a full four seconds imagining someone writing to the Rotherham Advertiser or whatever in 1973 announcing what a great day it had been on the hashtag Labour Doorstep
November 17, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Knocking on doors? In 1973? 🤔
Before the last election, Labour ridiculed Rishi Sunak for prioritising funding for Tunbridge Wells over more deprived areas. If they’re not careful, ministers could be about to make the same mistake again, as Steve Houghton writes in the Yorkshire Post: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion...
November 17, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Before the last election, Labour ridiculed Rishi Sunak for prioritising funding for Tunbridge Wells over more deprived areas. If they’re not careful, ministers could be about to make the same mistake again, as Steve Houghton writes in the Yorkshire Post: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion...
Bumfuzzled. youtu.be/yQybUl6UdUY?...
Quotes from West Wing S04E12 Guns and Butter
YouTube video by The man in a hat
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Bumfuzzled. youtu.be/yQybUl6UdUY?...
Reposted by Chris Read
2015 Shabana Mahmood really needs to have a word with 2025 Shabana Mahmood
November 16, 2025 at 8:14 PM
2015 Shabana Mahmood really needs to have a word with 2025 Shabana Mahmood
Reposted by Chris Read
Not the first to make this point. But there is a tyrant in charge of another country who is accused of being heavily linked to a paedophile sex ring - and supposed ‘patriots’ in this country are passionately willing him to take down our national broadcaster. Madness.
November 15, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Not the first to make this point. But there is a tyrant in charge of another country who is accused of being heavily linked to a paedophile sex ring - and supposed ‘patriots’ in this country are passionately willing him to take down our national broadcaster. Madness.
The River Rother at Catcliffe seems to be falling again tonight, but earlier on was three metres higher than normal. The council’s drainage team was on site all day operating pumps, but the need for further physical alleviation was very evident once again.
November 15, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The River Rother at Catcliffe seems to be falling again tonight, but earlier on was three metres higher than normal. The council’s drainage team was on site all day operating pumps, but the need for further physical alleviation was very evident once again.
Public service announcement: apparently Christmas is go 🎄
November 15, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Public service announcement: apparently Christmas is go 🎄
We’re committed to creating hundreds of apprenticeships, giving people opportunities they might not otherwise have. The latest six are working for our housing partners Equans: www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/education/si...
Six Rotherham youngsters kickstart their career in construction
Sustainable regeneration specialist Equans has welcomed six ambitious apprentices to its Rotherham team, with the youngsters beginning an exciting new chapter in their journey towards a rewarding care...
www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
We’re committed to creating hundreds of apprenticeships, giving people opportunities they might not otherwise have. The latest six are working for our housing partners Equans: www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/education/si...
After the terrible flooding in Catcliffe two years ago, we’re pushing on with the development of plans to reduce the risk in the future: www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/...
Major flood defence scheme could be in place by 2028
RISK of future flooding in Catcliffe and Treeton may be effectively wiped out by plans to remove a bottleneck on the River Rother - and the work may be completed as early as 2028.
www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:14 AM
After the terrible flooding in Catcliffe two years ago, we’re pushing on with the development of plans to reduce the risk in the future: www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/...
Reposted by Chris Read
The Russiagate and Epstein plot lines suddenly are joined...
NEW: Jeffrey Epstein said in emails that he had been advising the Russian government on how to deal with Donald Trump, one of several cases in which he wielded his connections to try to influence the course of foreign affairs. w @nahaltoosi
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 12, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The Russiagate and Epstein plot lines suddenly are joined...
Maybe they’ll be banned from going on holiday to Florida.
Can Trump actually sue the BBC for $1bn?
Can Trump actually sue the BBC for $1bn?
www.thetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Maybe they’ll be banned from going on holiday to Florida.
Shameful.
NEW: UK confirms 15% cut to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria for its next funding round, a decision aid agenices say will result in hundreds of thousands of otherwise avoidable deaths.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK cuts contribution to Aids, tuberculosis and malaria fund by £150m
Campaigners say 15% cut, which is smaller than had been feared, is serious setback in efforts to combat the diseases
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Shameful.
Amen.
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 11, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Amen.
Reposted by Chris Read
History can be boring but it's fascinating for context on your own existence. When Harold Wilson took office (an event I consider to be basically contemporary - my parents were both alive) about 5% of the UK still didn't have hot water. Several hundred thousand people still didn't have electricity.
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
November 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
History can be boring but it's fascinating for context on your own existence. When Harold Wilson took office (an event I consider to be basically contemporary - my parents were both alive) about 5% of the UK still didn't have hot water. Several hundred thousand people still didn't have electricity.