Ian Lumley
@ianlumley.bsky.social
Interested in Socialist Politics, Labour Party Member, Science, Atheism, Space Exploration, Type A Aortic Dissection Survivor
Reposted by Ian Lumley
BP to scrap paid rest breaks and most bank holiday bonuses for forecourt staff.
Changes to employee benefits would cut take-home pay by at least 6.25%.
Would exec pay and dividends be cut? No chance.
Hard-won rights eroded as corporations rule without ever being elected.
Back to Victorian times.
Changes to employee benefits would cut take-home pay by at least 6.25%.
Would exec pay and dividends be cut? No chance.
Hard-won rights eroded as corporations rule without ever being elected.
Back to Victorian times.
BP to scrap paid rest breaks and most bank holiday bonuses for forecourt staff
Exclusive: Plans to offset increase in minimum ‘fair pay’ set by Living Wage Foundation will affect 5,400 employees
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
BP to scrap paid rest breaks and most bank holiday bonuses for forecourt staff.
Changes to employee benefits would cut take-home pay by at least 6.25%.
Would exec pay and dividends be cut? No chance.
Hard-won rights eroded as corporations rule without ever being elected.
Back to Victorian times.
Changes to employee benefits would cut take-home pay by at least 6.25%.
Would exec pay and dividends be cut? No chance.
Hard-won rights eroded as corporations rule without ever being elected.
Back to Victorian times.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Crypto investor gives £9m to Reform UK as donations exceed those to Tories.
Super rich don't donate, they invest to shape party policies to secure advantages for their class.
Normal people can't match them.
Direct donations to political parties must be criminalized.
Super rich don't donate, they invest to shape party policies to secure advantages for their class.
Normal people can't match them.
Direct donations to political parties must be criminalized.
Crypto investor gives £9m to Reform UK as donations exceed those to Tories
Christopher Harborne’s record gift revealed in Electoral Commission figures prompts renewed calls for cap on political donations
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Crypto investor gives £9m to Reform UK as donations exceed those to Tories.
Super rich don't donate, they invest to shape party policies to secure advantages for their class.
Normal people can't match them.
Direct donations to political parties must be criminalized.
Super rich don't donate, they invest to shape party policies to secure advantages for their class.
Normal people can't match them.
Direct donations to political parties must be criminalized.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Time to admit the truth: Brexit has been an unmitigated economic failure, says The Telegraph.
Brexit Effect:
UK GDP down 8%
Investment down 18%
Productivity down 4%
Employment down 4%
Immigration not cut
No trade benefits
No regulatory freedom
Why do some still vote for Farage?
archive.ph/L2Gqp
Brexit Effect:
UK GDP down 8%
Investment down 18%
Productivity down 4%
Employment down 4%
Immigration not cut
No trade benefits
No regulatory freedom
Why do some still vote for Farage?
archive.ph/L2Gqp
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Time to admit the truth: Brexit has been an unmitigated economic failure, says The Telegraph.
Brexit Effect:
UK GDP down 8%
Investment down 18%
Productivity down 4%
Employment down 4%
Immigration not cut
No trade benefits
No regulatory freedom
Why do some still vote for Farage?
archive.ph/L2Gqp
Brexit Effect:
UK GDP down 8%
Investment down 18%
Productivity down 4%
Employment down 4%
Immigration not cut
No trade benefits
No regulatory freedom
Why do some still vote for Farage?
archive.ph/L2Gqp
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Bank of England warns of AI bubble risk, "sharp correction" in the value of major tech companies.
Repetition of dotcom mania, binge funded by banks.
Govt response - deregulation and lower capital requirements for banks.
Strategy for avoiding the crash?
Repetition of dotcom mania, binge funded by banks.
Govt response - deregulation and lower capital requirements for banks.
Strategy for avoiding the crash?
Bank of England warns of AI bubble risk
The central bank says US stock price valuations are their most stretched since the dotcom bubble burst.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Bank of England warns of AI bubble risk, "sharp correction" in the value of major tech companies.
Repetition of dotcom mania, binge funded by banks.
Govt response - deregulation and lower capital requirements for banks.
Strategy for avoiding the crash?
Repetition of dotcom mania, binge funded by banks.
Govt response - deregulation and lower capital requirements for banks.
Strategy for avoiding the crash?
Reposted by Ian Lumley
UK budget freeze on income tax thresholds
Over the next 5 yrs, 780,000 more people, the poorest, will pay income tax for the first time.
Someone earning £50,000 will pay £9,512 in tax, an increase of £1,247 because thresholds are frozen.
Can't grow economy by hitting low/middle income earners.
Over the next 5 yrs, 780,000 more people, the poorest, will pay income tax for the first time.
Someone earning £50,000 will pay £9,512 in tax, an increase of £1,247 because thresholds are frozen.
Can't grow economy by hitting low/middle income earners.
The government’s budget is simply managing decline
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth
leftfootforward.org
November 29, 2025 at 8:35 AM
UK budget freeze on income tax thresholds
Over the next 5 yrs, 780,000 more people, the poorest, will pay income tax for the first time.
Someone earning £50,000 will pay £9,512 in tax, an increase of £1,247 because thresholds are frozen.
Can't grow economy by hitting low/middle income earners.
Over the next 5 yrs, 780,000 more people, the poorest, will pay income tax for the first time.
Someone earning £50,000 will pay £9,512 in tax, an increase of £1,247 because thresholds are frozen.
Can't grow economy by hitting low/middle income earners.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
The UK government’s budget is simply managing decline.
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth.
Can't grow economy by hiking taxes on low/middle income families.
Whatever happened to taxing the rich?
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth.
Can't grow economy by hiking taxes on low/middle income families.
Whatever happened to taxing the rich?
The government’s budget is simply managing decline
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth
leftfootforward.org
November 28, 2025 at 12:29 PM
The UK government’s budget is simply managing decline.
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth.
Can't grow economy by hiking taxes on low/middle income families.
Whatever happened to taxing the rich?
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth.
Can't grow economy by hiking taxes on low/middle income families.
Whatever happened to taxing the rich?
Reposted by Ian Lumley
UK govt wants jury trials scrapped except for rape, murder, manslaughter or cases passing a public interest test.
What would toff judges do to protesters against bad laws, environmental and other issues.
Bad choice by a govt led by a human rights lawyer.
What would toff judges do to protesters against bad laws, environmental and other issues.
Bad choice by a govt led by a human rights lawyer.
Justice secretary wants most jury trials scrapped
Only cases of alleged murder, rape or manslaughter will be decided by a jury under new proposals to cut court backlogs.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 7:46 AM
UK govt wants jury trials scrapped except for rape, murder, manslaughter or cases passing a public interest test.
What would toff judges do to protesters against bad laws, environmental and other issues.
Bad choice by a govt led by a human rights lawyer.
What would toff judges do to protesters against bad laws, environmental and other issues.
Bad choice by a govt led by a human rights lawyer.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Budget 2025.
The wealthy hardly hit.
Minor tweaks on dividend and mansion tax.
No wealth tax.
No alignment of taxes on dividends & capital gains tax with taxation of wages.
Partnerships won't pay NIC on partners' share of profits
No financial transactions tax.
Lobbying and political donations pay
The wealthy hardly hit.
Minor tweaks on dividend and mansion tax.
No wealth tax.
No alignment of taxes on dividends & capital gains tax with taxation of wages.
Partnerships won't pay NIC on partners' share of profits
No financial transactions tax.
Lobbying and political donations pay
November 26, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Budget 2025.
The wealthy hardly hit.
Minor tweaks on dividend and mansion tax.
No wealth tax.
No alignment of taxes on dividends & capital gains tax with taxation of wages.
Partnerships won't pay NIC on partners' share of profits
No financial transactions tax.
Lobbying and political donations pay
The wealthy hardly hit.
Minor tweaks on dividend and mansion tax.
No wealth tax.
No alignment of taxes on dividends & capital gains tax with taxation of wages.
Partnerships won't pay NIC on partners' share of profits
No financial transactions tax.
Lobbying and political donations pay
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Curse of Private Equity.
Four of UK's biggest dental firms have raked in £1.2bn gross profit over the past two years,
Market controlled by My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services.
Prices 3.5 times more than NHS dentist.
No govt curbs profiteering.
Four of UK's biggest dental firms have raked in £1.2bn gross profit over the past two years,
Market controlled by My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services.
Prices 3.5 times more than NHS dentist.
No govt curbs profiteering.
Regulator bares teeth as dentists earn £1.2bn
The gross profit figures for private equity-owned My Dentist, PortmanDentex and Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services rose by 20 per cent year-on-year between 2023 and 2024.
www.thisismoney.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Curse of Private Equity.
Four of UK's biggest dental firms have raked in £1.2bn gross profit over the past two years,
Market controlled by My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services.
Prices 3.5 times more than NHS dentist.
No govt curbs profiteering.
Four of UK's biggest dental firms have raked in £1.2bn gross profit over the past two years,
Market controlled by My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services.
Prices 3.5 times more than NHS dentist.
No govt curbs profiteering.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
November 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for taking bribes for pro-Russia interviews and speeches.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Former Reform in Wales leader Nathan Gill jailed for pro-Russian bribery
Nathan Gill, 52, is sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after admitting taking bribes while an MEP.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for taking bribes for pro-Russia interviews and speeches.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
To be fair to Nigel Farage, Reform UK has always insisted that the European parliament is corrupt. And now the party has finally provided indisputable proof.
November 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
To be fair to Nigel Farage, Reform UK has always insisted that the European parliament is corrupt. And now the party has finally provided indisputable proof.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
The UK political system is corrupt.
Political donations enable corporations/rich to buy parties, hand consultancies to legislators.
Normal people are disillusioned, increasingly don't register to vote or vote.
How will the govt cleanse the system?
Watch the Minister's reply.
Political donations enable corporations/rich to buy parties, hand consultancies to legislators.
Normal people are disillusioned, increasingly don't register to vote or vote.
How will the govt cleanse the system?
Watch the Minister's reply.
November 20, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The UK political system is corrupt.
Political donations enable corporations/rich to buy parties, hand consultancies to legislators.
Normal people are disillusioned, increasingly don't register to vote or vote.
How will the govt cleanse the system?
Watch the Minister's reply.
Political donations enable corporations/rich to buy parties, hand consultancies to legislators.
Normal people are disillusioned, increasingly don't register to vote or vote.
How will the govt cleanse the system?
Watch the Minister's reply.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
When a Labour government sees the approval of Tommy Robinson as more important that the approval of the Labour Party membership, things are probably going wrong
November 17, 2025 at 6:11 PM
When a Labour government sees the approval of Tommy Robinson as more important that the approval of the Labour Party membership, things are probably going wrong
Reposted by Ian Lumley
UK and Norway won nature's lottery in 1970 - found oil/gas in the North Sea.
UK squandered wealth, appeased corporations.
Norway levied 78% tax, took direct stake in companies.
Norway now has $1.8 trillion sovereign fund. UK has public finance crisis.
UK Govts still appeasing corporations/rich.
UK squandered wealth, appeased corporations.
Norway levied 78% tax, took direct stake in companies.
Norway now has $1.8 trillion sovereign fund. UK has public finance crisis.
UK Govts still appeasing corporations/rich.
How sparsely populated Norway amassed $1.8 trillion | Fortune Europe
Launched in the early 1990s to invest mostly in bonds, the fund has grown to become the largest of its kind by acquiring small equity stakes in thousands of companies across the world.
fortune.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:38 AM
UK and Norway won nature's lottery in 1970 - found oil/gas in the North Sea.
UK squandered wealth, appeased corporations.
Norway levied 78% tax, took direct stake in companies.
Norway now has $1.8 trillion sovereign fund. UK has public finance crisis.
UK Govts still appeasing corporations/rich.
UK squandered wealth, appeased corporations.
Norway levied 78% tax, took direct stake in companies.
Norway now has $1.8 trillion sovereign fund. UK has public finance crisis.
UK Govts still appeasing corporations/rich.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
If Shabana Mahmood wants to talk about what's 'tearing Britain apart', let's start with billionaire tax evasion, the cost of living crisis, overflowing prisons, sewage spilling into rivers and streets full of people sleeping rough
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 AM
If Shabana Mahmood wants to talk about what's 'tearing Britain apart', let's start with billionaire tax evasion, the cost of living crisis, overflowing prisons, sewage spilling into rivers and streets full of people sleeping rough
Reposted by Ian Lumley
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:59 AM
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Water company United Utilities enjoys 131% rise in profits after bills go up £112.
UU has 205+ criminal convictions.
Loses over 175bn litres of water to leaks. In 2024 dumped sewage 450,778 hours in rivers//akes. No exec prosecuted/fined
Rewarded with higher price and profit.
archive.ph/7aP8O
UU has 205+ criminal convictions.
Loses over 175bn litres of water to leaks. In 2024 dumped sewage 450,778 hours in rivers//akes. No exec prosecuted/fined
Rewarded with higher price and profit.
archive.ph/7aP8O
Water company enjoys 131% rise in profits after bills go up £112
United Utilities, whose executives are barred from receiving bonuses because of pollution record, will pay out most of the increase in dividends
www.thetimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Water company United Utilities enjoys 131% rise in profits after bills go up £112.
UU has 205+ criminal convictions.
Loses over 175bn litres of water to leaks. In 2024 dumped sewage 450,778 hours in rivers//akes. No exec prosecuted/fined
Rewarded with higher price and profit.
archive.ph/7aP8O
UU has 205+ criminal convictions.
Loses over 175bn litres of water to leaks. In 2024 dumped sewage 450,778 hours in rivers//akes. No exec prosecuted/fined
Rewarded with higher price and profit.
archive.ph/7aP8O
Reposted by Ian Lumley
UK economy grew by just 0.1% in 3rd quarter in 2025.
People lack spending power - low wages, pensions and benefits; high energy, water, Internet, rents, grocery and other costs; regressive taxes.
Need equitable distribution of income and wealth.
People lack spending power - low wages, pensions and benefits; high energy, water, Internet, rents, grocery and other costs; regressive taxes.
Need equitable distribution of income and wealth.
Economy grew by 0.1% in third quarter, official figures show
The chancellor responds to the data by saying there is more to do in her coming budget to "build an economy that works for working people".
news.sky.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:46 PM
UK economy grew by just 0.1% in 3rd quarter in 2025.
People lack spending power - low wages, pensions and benefits; high energy, water, Internet, rents, grocery and other costs; regressive taxes.
Need equitable distribution of income and wealth.
People lack spending power - low wages, pensions and benefits; high energy, water, Internet, rents, grocery and other costs; regressive taxes.
Need equitable distribution of income and wealth.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Universal Credit allows bosses to get away with paying wages that are too low to live on. Don't stigmatise the millions of hard-working people who depend on it as 'lazy'.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Universal Credit allows bosses to get away with paying wages that are too low to live on. Don't stigmatise the millions of hard-working people who depend on it as 'lazy'.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Nigel Farage will probably use his 39th appearance on Question Time to complain about the BBC's leftwing bias
November 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Nigel Farage will probably use his 39th appearance on Question Time to complain about the BBC's leftwing bias
Reposted by Ian Lumley
England homelessness grown by a fifth since 2022, now 300,000.
Successive govts cut local authority funding in real terms, cut real wages/benefits, no curbs on profiteering, lack of social housing.
Cheaper to build social housing than using temporary accommodation.
Misery is a political choice.
Successive govts cut local authority funding in real terms, cut real wages/benefits, no curbs on profiteering, lack of social housing.
Cheaper to build social housing than using temporary accommodation.
Misery is a political choice.
Homelessness figures higher than data suggests, research shows
Official data for England underestimates the scale of the problem, according to research for charity Crisis says.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 AM
England homelessness grown by a fifth since 2022, now 300,000.
Successive govts cut local authority funding in real terms, cut real wages/benefits, no curbs on profiteering, lack of social housing.
Cheaper to build social housing than using temporary accommodation.
Misery is a political choice.
Successive govts cut local authority funding in real terms, cut real wages/benefits, no curbs on profiteering, lack of social housing.
Cheaper to build social housing than using temporary accommodation.
Misery is a political choice.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Elon Musk's $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders.
Musk used his wealth to incite violence, hatred in the US & UK.
How long before UK execs demand more for mediocre performance.
The ultra rich buy political system, bribe politicians, create pollution and inequity.
Tax them.
Musk used his wealth to incite violence, hatred in the US & UK.
How long before UK execs demand more for mediocre performance.
The ultra rich buy political system, bribe politicians, create pollution and inequity.
Tax them.
Elon Musk's $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders
The richest man in the world will get hundreds of millions of new shares if he hits his targets.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Elon Musk's $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders.
Musk used his wealth to incite violence, hatred in the US & UK.
How long before UK execs demand more for mediocre performance.
The ultra rich buy political system, bribe politicians, create pollution and inequity.
Tax them.
Musk used his wealth to incite violence, hatred in the US & UK.
How long before UK execs demand more for mediocre performance.
The ultra rich buy political system, bribe politicians, create pollution and inequity.
Tax them.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Anti-black racism 'baked' into Met, review finds.
This is 26 years after the Macpherson report which concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".
Little changed.
Leaders of major political parties incite hatred. None charged.
This is 26 years after the Macpherson report which concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".
Little changed.
Leaders of major political parties incite hatred. None charged.
Anti-black racism 'baked' into Met Police, review says
The independent review surveyed 40 years of evidence of how racism has affected black communities and black Met Police staff.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Anti-black racism 'baked' into Met, review finds.
This is 26 years after the Macpherson report which concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".
Little changed.
Leaders of major political parties incite hatred. None charged.
This is 26 years after the Macpherson report which concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".
Little changed.
Leaders of major political parties incite hatred. None charged.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
PPE Medpro linked to Michelle Mone owes £39m in unpaid taxes.
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
Company linked to Michelle Mone owes £39m in unpaid taxes
Statement by administrators puts PPE Medpro’s total debts at £188m, including £39m said to be owed to HMRC
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 AM
PPE Medpro linked to Michelle Mone owes £39m in unpaid taxes.
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?