@frankbarrylong.bsky.social
That's one underappreciated aspect of the Tory disaster. Real GDP per head fell every quarter from Q2 22 to Q4 23. It was a proper real terms recession, but the number of people in the country rose, making the gross GDP number rise, even if it's across fewer people. That's ended now.
November 27, 2025 at 11:26 AM
That's one underappreciated aspect of the Tory disaster. Real GDP per head fell every quarter from Q2 22 to Q4 23. It was a proper real terms recession, but the number of people in the country rose, making the gross GDP number rise, even if it's across fewer people. That's ended now.
The top decile of income earners is taxed very highly.
The top 0.1% of wealth owners have a low tax burden relative to their wealth and earnings. The total wealth of UK billionares has gone from £250bn in 2010 to £619bn today. Median household wealth has gone from £238k to £293k in the same time.
The top 0.1% of wealth owners have a low tax burden relative to their wealth and earnings. The total wealth of UK billionares has gone from £250bn in 2010 to £619bn today. Median household wealth has gone from £238k to £293k in the same time.
November 26, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The top decile of income earners is taxed very highly.
The top 0.1% of wealth owners have a low tax burden relative to their wealth and earnings. The total wealth of UK billionares has gone from £250bn in 2010 to £619bn today. Median household wealth has gone from £238k to £293k in the same time.
The top 0.1% of wealth owners have a low tax burden relative to their wealth and earnings. The total wealth of UK billionares has gone from £250bn in 2010 to £619bn today. Median household wealth has gone from £238k to £293k in the same time.
Just a bit weird that some of Munster's best performers over the past few seasons are worth only a couple of caps at most. the lack of international opportunity has damaged Munster.
November 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Just a bit weird that some of Munster's best performers over the past few seasons are worth only a couple of caps at most. the lack of international opportunity has damaged Munster.
Carbery is apparently good enough for the Champions cup winners and top 14 runners up
Healy told he's not wanted, so he headed to scotland where he's got 10 caps. Snyman moved on because of Kleyn becoming NIQ. It's too many players for it to be paranoia on the side of Munster fans.
Healy told he's not wanted, so he headed to scotland where he's got 10 caps. Snyman moved on because of Kleyn becoming NIQ. It's too many players for it to be paranoia on the side of Munster fans.
November 20, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Carbery is apparently good enough for the Champions cup winners and top 14 runners up
Healy told he's not wanted, so he headed to scotland where he's got 10 caps. Snyman moved on because of Kleyn becoming NIQ. It's too many players for it to be paranoia on the side of Munster fans.
Healy told he's not wanted, so he headed to scotland where he's got 10 caps. Snyman moved on because of Kleyn becoming NIQ. It's too many players for it to be paranoia on the side of Munster fans.
Kleyn is probably going to be gone at the end of the season due to the limit on NIQ players, he's only NIQ because he's apparently not good enough for an Ireland squad but plenty good enough for Ireland. Frisch - not good enough for Ireland, good enough for France. Carbery - dumped without ceremony.
November 20, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Kleyn is probably going to be gone at the end of the season due to the limit on NIQ players, he's only NIQ because he's apparently not good enough for an Ireland squad but plenty good enough for Ireland. Frisch - not good enough for Ireland, good enough for France. Carbery - dumped without ceremony.
Pretty sick of losing players because Farrell doesn't seem to rate Munster players. Coombes has been excellent for Munster for seasons, top try scorer and tackle count, only 2 caps. He's almost 28, international career is not going to happen with Farrell, might as well get the money in France.
November 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Pretty sick of losing players because Farrell doesn't seem to rate Munster players. Coombes has been excellent for Munster for seasons, top try scorer and tackle count, only 2 caps. He's almost 28, international career is not going to happen with Farrell, might as well get the money in France.
Prendergast is on a 50% successful tackle completion rate for the entire season according to RugbyPass stats. One, if not arguably two of his missed tackles last week led to tries. He's a defensive liability.
Crowley? 93%
If Prendergast was playing for Munster, he'd have been dropped ages ago
Crowley? 93%
If Prendergast was playing for Munster, he'd have been dropped ages ago
November 19, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Prendergast is on a 50% successful tackle completion rate for the entire season according to RugbyPass stats. One, if not arguably two of his missed tackles last week led to tries. He's a defensive liability.
Crowley? 93%
If Prendergast was playing for Munster, he'd have been dropped ages ago
Crowley? 93%
If Prendergast was playing for Munster, he'd have been dropped ages ago
57% tackle completion isn't good enough at international level.
He's not that much better in attack to justify the liability in defense. Sort that out and he'll be a fine player but that's not the case now.
He's not that much better in attack to justify the liability in defense. Sort that out and he'll be a fine player but that's not the case now.
November 15, 2025 at 11:22 PM
57% tackle completion isn't good enough at international level.
He's not that much better in attack to justify the liability in defense. Sort that out and he'll be a fine player but that's not the case now.
He's not that much better in attack to justify the liability in defense. Sort that out and he'll be a fine player but that's not the case now.
Or bluey, something special, number blocks, etc...
November 15, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Or bluey, something special, number blocks, etc...
Carbery, Carty.
He retired basically walking around the pitch utterly spent because he had to maintain performance over 80 mins, due to a refusal to trust Crowley.
He retired basically walking around the pitch utterly spent because he had to maintain performance over 80 mins, due to a refusal to trust Crowley.
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Carbery, Carty.
He retired basically walking around the pitch utterly spent because he had to maintain performance over 80 mins, due to a refusal to trust Crowley.
He retired basically walking around the pitch utterly spent because he had to maintain performance over 80 mins, due to a refusal to trust Crowley.
You also have a bit of stagnation in playing styles and disillusionment among younger players. Sexton is a perfect example, his longevity has stored up a much bigger problem for Irish rugby, there's an entire generation of 10s that have been rejected, we're now skipping to the next generation.
November 14, 2025 at 4:56 PM
You also have a bit of stagnation in playing styles and disillusionment among younger players. Sexton is a perfect example, his longevity has stored up a much bigger problem for Irish rugby, there's an entire generation of 10s that have been rejected, we're now skipping to the next generation.
That said, Leamy and Flannery, both mentioned in the article, retired that season!
November 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
That said, Leamy and Flannery, both mentioned in the article, retired that season!
You could argue it worked, Stringer 41, DOC 39, Ryan 37, ROG 36, Earls 36, Archer 37, Murray 36, POC was a bit unlucky at 36, was contracted for another 2 years.
That's a lot of players at Munster in 2012 who kept playing top level rugby into their late 30s.
That's a lot of players at Munster in 2012 who kept playing top level rugby into their late 30s.
November 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
You could argue it worked, Stringer 41, DOC 39, Ryan 37, ROG 36, Earls 36, Archer 37, Murray 36, POC was a bit unlucky at 36, was contracted for another 2 years.
That's a lot of players at Munster in 2012 who kept playing top level rugby into their late 30s.
That's a lot of players at Munster in 2012 who kept playing top level rugby into their late 30s.
I would say leaving the customs union has been more damaging than leaving the single market. Britain isn't going back in any time soon, I'm not convinced the EU would even bother with Reform so high in the polls, it'd be a waste of time for them. Would still say it's an ambition if I was Labour...
November 14, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I would say leaving the customs union has been more damaging than leaving the single market. Britain isn't going back in any time soon, I'm not convinced the EU would even bother with Reform so high in the polls, it'd be a waste of time for them. Would still say it's an ambition if I was Labour...
Got blocked this morning on here by a commentator critical of the government this morning for pointing that out. Only ever voted once for them. The fact that the press is shouting "U turn" despite Labour not actually announcing the policy is nuts.
November 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Got blocked this morning on here by a commentator critical of the government this morning for pointing that out. Only ever voted once for them. The fact that the press is shouting "U turn" despite Labour not actually announcing the policy is nuts.
e.g. limiting pension tax relief, capping salary sacrifice. If you earn at that level, you can get over 50% off an electric car lease by artificially dropping your reported income via salary sacrifice. It's a crazy subsidy, not available to lower earners or people whose company won't offer it.
November 14, 2025 at 10:30 AM
e.g. limiting pension tax relief, capping salary sacrifice. If you earn at that level, you can get over 50% off an electric car lease by artificially dropping your reported income via salary sacrifice. It's a crazy subsidy, not available to lower earners or people whose company won't offer it.
The Tories did it time and time again in the last election.
I do suspect there's going to be a lot of closing of loopholes that help reduce tax on people in that £100-125k bracket who have 63% marginal tax (72% with student loans, well over 100% up to 117k with loss of childcare benefits)
I do suspect there's going to be a lot of closing of loopholes that help reduce tax on people in that £100-125k bracket who have 63% marginal tax (72% with student loans, well over 100% up to 117k with loss of childcare benefits)
November 14, 2025 at 10:27 AM
The Tories did it time and time again in the last election.
I do suspect there's going to be a lot of closing of loopholes that help reduce tax on people in that £100-125k bracket who have 63% marginal tax (72% with student loans, well over 100% up to 117k with loss of childcare benefits)
I do suspect there's going to be a lot of closing of loopholes that help reduce tax on people in that £100-125k bracket who have 63% marginal tax (72% with student loans, well over 100% up to 117k with loss of childcare benefits)
When did they announce income taxes were going up?
They implied it, but haven't announced it.
Monday' speech tested the waters, to see what the reaction would be. Markets liked it, MPs and public didn't, so don't do it.
Media said it's happening, that's not the same as Labour saying it.
They implied it, but haven't announced it.
Monday' speech tested the waters, to see what the reaction would be. Markets liked it, MPs and public didn't, so don't do it.
Media said it's happening, that's not the same as Labour saying it.
November 14, 2025 at 9:52 AM
When did they announce income taxes were going up?
They implied it, but haven't announced it.
Monday' speech tested the waters, to see what the reaction would be. Markets liked it, MPs and public didn't, so don't do it.
Media said it's happening, that's not the same as Labour saying it.
They implied it, but haven't announced it.
Monday' speech tested the waters, to see what the reaction would be. Markets liked it, MPs and public didn't, so don't do it.
Media said it's happening, that's not the same as Labour saying it.
Probably because at least half of that speculation is simply made up, some of it is testing the political reaction (e.g. with Income Tax) and part is leaks on non finalised decisions.
November 14, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Probably because at least half of that speculation is simply made up, some of it is testing the political reaction (e.g. with Income Tax) and part is leaks on non finalised decisions.
Tax increases are coming.
Doing it responsibly, you model the financial and political results of each kind of tax. They've probably looked at hundreds of options but the press has announced, with certainty, dozens of potential tax rises with very little context of the decision making process.
Doing it responsibly, you model the financial and political results of each kind of tax. They've probably looked at hundreds of options but the press has announced, with certainty, dozens of potential tax rises with very little context of the decision making process.
November 14, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Tax increases are coming.
Doing it responsibly, you model the financial and political results of each kind of tax. They've probably looked at hundreds of options but the press has announced, with certainty, dozens of potential tax rises with very little context of the decision making process.
Doing it responsibly, you model the financial and political results of each kind of tax. They've probably looked at hundreds of options but the press has announced, with certainty, dozens of potential tax rises with very little context of the decision making process.
The press has speculated about almost every possible tax situation, then announced it as if it's policy.
November 14, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The press has speculated about almost every possible tax situation, then announced it as if it's policy.
Makes sense to locate it where the transmission infrastructure and nuclear skills are. Didcot has the transmission infrastructure, but nobody living locally who has experience running a nuclear reactor. There's some nuclear experience locally but it's not exactly what you need.
November 13, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Makes sense to locate it where the transmission infrastructure and nuclear skills are. Didcot has the transmission infrastructure, but nobody living locally who has experience running a nuclear reactor. There's some nuclear experience locally but it's not exactly what you need.
These shenanigans are nothing compared to Saipan.
November 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
These shenanigans are nothing compared to Saipan.
Just could not get on with Sonic Youth, listened to them at the time, but just not into it. Ditto Alice in Chains. I couldn't name a My Bloody Valentine song. Probably know one if I heard it but literally zero knowledge of them. Which I think I should considering they were part Irish
November 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Just could not get on with Sonic Youth, listened to them at the time, but just not into it. Ditto Alice in Chains. I couldn't name a My Bloody Valentine song. Probably know one if I heard it but literally zero knowledge of them. Which I think I should considering they were part Irish
POC has a lot to answer but it seems to be a systematic issue with Ireland, Leinster and Munster
November 9, 2025 at 9:32 AM
POC has a lot to answer but it seems to be a systematic issue with Ireland, Leinster and Munster