Helen Barnard
@helenbarnard.bsky.social
Director of Policy, Research, Impact, TrussellTrust Trustee NatCen. Former JRF & Pro Bono Economics. Author: Want (Giants: A New Beveridge Report) http://amzn.eu/d/hk1ojO6
This ⬇️
Lifting the 2 child limit is the single most effective thing the Chancellor can do to reduce child poverty & give kids a decent start in life.
Labour promised to end the need for emergency food & tackle child poverty. Ending the 2CL would be a big step to delivering those promises.
Lifting the 2 child limit is the single most effective thing the Chancellor can do to reduce child poverty & give kids a decent start in life.
Labour promised to end the need for emergency food & tackle child poverty. Ending the 2CL would be a big step to delivering those promises.
This is good news. But the framing that moves to reduce poverty are simply backbench tantrums is bizarre revisionism.
The govt has manifesto commitments to reduce foodbank use and MPs and members have a deep commitment to reduce poverty & improve social mobility. Strange to ignore that.
The govt has manifesto commitments to reduce foodbank use and MPs and members have a deep commitment to reduce poverty & improve social mobility. Strange to ignore that.
Rachel Reeves insists that the wider welfare bill must be tackled as polling shows Britons would prefer public service spending cuts to tax rises
November 23, 2025 at 10:24 AM
This ⬇️
Lifting the 2 child limit is the single most effective thing the Chancellor can do to reduce child poverty & give kids a decent start in life.
Labour promised to end the need for emergency food & tackle child poverty. Ending the 2CL would be a big step to delivering those promises.
Lifting the 2 child limit is the single most effective thing the Chancellor can do to reduce child poverty & give kids a decent start in life.
Labour promised to end the need for emergency food & tackle child poverty. Ending the 2CL would be a big step to delivering those promises.
Finally we have Justice for George. #StrictlyComeDancing
November 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Finally we have Justice for George. #StrictlyComeDancing
Come on - 10s for George!!! #StrictlyComeDancing
November 22, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Come on - 10s for George!!! #StrictlyComeDancing
TEAM GEORGE’S HIPS! #StrictlyComeDancing
November 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
TEAM GEORGE’S HIPS! #StrictlyComeDancing
I LOVE the idea of a #StrictlyComeDancing All-Stars special! Let’s get Bill Bailey, Layton, Hamza, Rose et al back for a Special!
November 22, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I LOVE the idea of a #StrictlyComeDancing All-Stars special! Let’s get Bill Bailey, Layton, Hamza, Rose et al back for a Special!
Balvindar looking especially delighted there’s no dance off, as she always seems to end up in it even when she dances brilliantly. #StrictlyComeDancing
November 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Balvindar looking especially delighted there’s no dance off, as she always seems to end up in it even when she dances brilliantly. #StrictlyComeDancing
Such a shame La Voix’s having to leave #StrictlyComeDancing Her dance quality was variable but she was such a brilliant part of the show.
November 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Such a shame La Voix’s having to leave #StrictlyComeDancing Her dance quality was variable but she was such a brilliant part of the show.
Sweet moment this week:
- Little teenager had a very heavy cold
- Big teenager came to his dad after breakfast saying:
“I think LT isn’t well. So, I made her hot chocolate with breakfast.”
He didn’t have any, just made it for his sister & came to suggest to his dad she should go back to bed.
- Little teenager had a very heavy cold
- Big teenager came to his dad after breakfast saying:
“I think LT isn’t well. So, I made her hot chocolate with breakfast.”
He didn’t have any, just made it for his sister & came to suggest to his dad she should go back to bed.
November 22, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Sweet moment this week:
- Little teenager had a very heavy cold
- Big teenager came to his dad after breakfast saying:
“I think LT isn’t well. So, I made her hot chocolate with breakfast.”
He didn’t have any, just made it for his sister & came to suggest to his dad she should go back to bed.
- Little teenager had a very heavy cold
- Big teenager came to his dad after breakfast saying:
“I think LT isn’t well. So, I made her hot chocolate with breakfast.”
He didn’t have any, just made it for his sister & came to suggest to his dad she should go back to bed.
Right. #TeamGeorge Assemble!! (I like Alex but as per the teenager - this house is Team George). We cannot let him go out in Blackpool. She also thinks the judges are unfairly harsh on him. So He Needs Us! #StrictlyComeDancing
November 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Right. #TeamGeorge Assemble!! (I like Alex but as per the teenager - this house is Team George). We cannot let him go out in Blackpool. She also thinks the judges are unfairly harsh on him. So He Needs Us! #StrictlyComeDancing
Reposted by Helen Barnard
As the Government prepares for the Autumn Budget, Jon Fitzmaurice looks back at our #WorkMatters discussion with @helenbarnard.bsky.social, @duncanweldon.bsky.social & Suren Thiru and asks whether the ‘smorgasbord’ approach will kick start economic renewal?
www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
Will a ‘smorgasbord’ approach kick start economic and labour market renewal? - Lancaster University
As the Government prepares for a landmark Autumn Budget, the Work Foundation at Lancaster University hosted an online event to review the latest labour market and inflation statistics and discuss whet...
www.lancaster.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
As the Government prepares for the Autumn Budget, Jon Fitzmaurice looks back at our #WorkMatters discussion with @helenbarnard.bsky.social, @duncanweldon.bsky.social & Suren Thiru and asks whether the ‘smorgasbord’ approach will kick start economic renewal?
www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
More absolute gold from the village facebook page:
“If anybody took my pumpkin crate (still with my sign on) from outside the field, PLEASE bring it back!!”
More updates as I have them.
“If anybody took my pumpkin crate (still with my sign on) from outside the field, PLEASE bring it back!!”
More updates as I have them.
November 19, 2025 at 7:43 PM
More absolute gold from the village facebook page:
“If anybody took my pumpkin crate (still with my sign on) from outside the field, PLEASE bring it back!!”
More updates as I have them.
“If anybody took my pumpkin crate (still with my sign on) from outside the field, PLEASE bring it back!!”
More updates as I have them.
Good. In Playbook on energy bills: "Chancellor is eying knocking up to £170 off annual energy bills by shifting levies toward general taxation". Helps cost of living pressures but also much more rationale - energy bills weren't designed to pay fairly for public policy, tax is.
November 19, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Good. In Playbook on energy bills: "Chancellor is eying knocking up to £170 off annual energy bills by shifting levies toward general taxation". Helps cost of living pressures but also much more rationale - energy bills weren't designed to pay fairly for public policy, tax is.
Watching an episode of the Good Life: Tom proposes to bank manager to release equity from his house to provide income & bank gets the house when they die. Detached 4 bed London house with a big garden. He's laughed out of the office as the house is only worth £25k.
November 18, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Watching an episode of the Good Life: Tom proposes to bank manager to release equity from his house to provide income & bank gets the house when they die. Detached 4 bed London house with a big garden. He's laughed out of the office as the house is only worth £25k.
Imagining if the comms skill & energy we’ve seen from the Home Office this week was applied to some of the steps government has taken so far to tackle poverty:
- Employment Rights reform
- Renter’s Rights & social housing
- Expansion of free school meals, breakfast clubs & warm homes discount.
- Employment Rights reform
- Renter’s Rights & social housing
- Expansion of free school meals, breakfast clubs & warm homes discount.
November 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Imagining if the comms skill & energy we’ve seen from the Home Office this week was applied to some of the steps government has taken so far to tackle poverty:
- Employment Rights reform
- Renter’s Rights & social housing
- Expansion of free school meals, breakfast clubs & warm homes discount.
- Employment Rights reform
- Renter’s Rights & social housing
- Expansion of free school meals, breakfast clubs & warm homes discount.
However - I'm a Celebrity is on EVERY NIGHT??!! What? I'm only watching because the teenager wants to. I didn't realise it would be our only TV for 3 weeks! 😭
Well done Strictly & I'm a Celebrity - casting streamers has succeeded in suddenly getting one of our teenagers wanting to watch both. On a TV. In the sitting room. With us. I KNOW!!!
November 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
However - I'm a Celebrity is on EVERY NIGHT??!! What? I'm only watching because the teenager wants to. I didn't realise it would be our only TV for 3 weeks! 😭
Reposted by Helen Barnard
WORK MATTERS: Join us on Wednesday between 14.00-15.00 to discuss what the labour market & inflation statistics mean for the decisions facing the Government at the Autumn Budget feat @duncanweldon.bsky.social, @helenbarnard.bsky.social & Suren Thiru.
Sign-up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte...
Sign-up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte...
November 17, 2025 at 10:08 AM
WORK MATTERS: Join us on Wednesday between 14.00-15.00 to discuss what the labour market & inflation statistics mean for the decisions facing the Government at the Autumn Budget feat @duncanweldon.bsky.social, @helenbarnard.bsky.social & Suren Thiru.
Sign-up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte...
Sign-up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte...
EXCLUSIVE: Labour begged to make major change as dozens of stars join forces with new demand www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Labour begged to make huge change as dozens of stars join forces with new demand
More than 40 celebrities including Arelene Phillips, Mark Bonnar, Jason Isaacs and Bill Nighy have joined forces to call for the 'cruel' two-child benefit limit to be scrapped
www.mirror.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:20 AM
EXCLUSIVE: Labour begged to make major change as dozens of stars join forces with new demand www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Well done Strictly & I'm a Celebrity - casting streamers has succeeded in suddenly getting one of our teenagers wanting to watch both. On a TV. In the sitting room. With us. I KNOW!!!
November 16, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Well done Strictly & I'm a Celebrity - casting streamers has succeeded in suddenly getting one of our teenagers wanting to watch both. On a TV. In the sitting room. With us. I KNOW!!!
Oh great. Our boiler’s broken. Glad I got the stove fire going & we’ve just stocked up on fuel.
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Oh great. Our boiler’s broken. Glad I got the stove fire going & we’ve just stocked up on fuel.
Shirley’s definitely had her weetabix. #StrictlyComeDancing
November 15, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Shirley’s definitely had her weetabix. #StrictlyComeDancing
If the dance wasn’t ‘rumba-y’ enough that’s not George’s fault!! He’s not the choreographer.
#StrictlyComeDancing
#StrictlyComeDancing
November 15, 2025 at 7:41 PM
If the dance wasn’t ‘rumba-y’ enough that’s not George’s fault!! He’s not the choreographer.
#StrictlyComeDancing
#StrictlyComeDancing
Lewis has real ‘Dad stomping upstairs to tell the kids, for the last time, to shut up & go to sleep’ energy.’ #StrictlyComeDancing
November 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Lewis has real ‘Dad stomping upstairs to tell the kids, for the last time, to shut up & go to sleep’ energy.’ #StrictlyComeDancing
You can tell it’s a good dance when none of the judges feel the need to say ‘musicality’ ‘entertainer’ or ‘energy’. #StrictlyComeDancing
November 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
You can tell it’s a good dance when none of the judges feel the need to say ‘musicality’ ‘entertainer’ or ‘energy’. #StrictlyComeDancing
What happened to last night’s Have I Got News for You? Latest episode on @BBCiPlayer is last week (7th Nov) and next one is next Friday. Where’s Friday 14th’s Nov episode?
November 15, 2025 at 3:24 PM
What happened to last night’s Have I Got News for You? Latest episode on @BBCiPlayer is last week (7th Nov) and next one is next Friday. Where’s Friday 14th’s Nov episode?
Excellent piece from @trussellscot.bsky.social's @ayazmanji.bsky.social on how we need to reform Universal Credit, 15 years after it was announced by the coalition government. www.bigissue.com/opinion/univ...
Universal credit flaws are driving people to food banks. It must cover the essentials
Trussell's Ayaz Manji writes about why universal credit needs reforming 15 years on from the government first revealing plans for the benefit.
www.bigissue.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Excellent piece from @trussellscot.bsky.social's @ayazmanji.bsky.social on how we need to reform Universal Credit, 15 years after it was announced by the coalition government. www.bigissue.com/opinion/univ...