Longwordmonthly
@longwordmonthly.bsky.social
Qualitative healthcare researcher.
Evidence led.
Evidence led.
Not much commercial benefit came out of the UK-China meeting. Yet, if a services agreement can be reached, that would make a significant contribution.
For all the manufacturing headlines, UK is a service-based economy. #r4today
For all the manufacturing headlines, UK is a service-based economy. #r4today
January 31, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Not much commercial benefit came out of the UK-China meeting. Yet, if a services agreement can be reached, that would make a significant contribution.
For all the manufacturing headlines, UK is a service-based economy. #r4today
For all the manufacturing headlines, UK is a service-based economy. #r4today
Latest productivity figures show an uptick growth- it’s been a while.
Hold on though - this is likely due to job cuts for in low wage sectors, as Reeves’ NI rise works its way through the lag from the previous Budget.
Bravo, Rachel - you did it. #r4today
Hold on though - this is likely due to job cuts for in low wage sectors, as Reeves’ NI rise works its way through the lag from the previous Budget.
Bravo, Rachel - you did it. #r4today
January 31, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Latest productivity figures show an uptick growth- it’s been a while.
Hold on though - this is likely due to job cuts for in low wage sectors, as Reeves’ NI rise works its way through the lag from the previous Budget.
Bravo, Rachel - you did it. #r4today
Hold on though - this is likely due to job cuts for in low wage sectors, as Reeves’ NI rise works its way through the lag from the previous Budget.
Bravo, Rachel - you did it. #r4today
January 31, 2026 at 8:34 AM
EU will continue to build up its defence budget. But slowly.
Because if the Democrats get back the House in November and then win the next Election, European nations will seek to return to US underwriting of European arms strength and go back to funding other departments. #r4today
Because if the Democrats get back the House in November and then win the next Election, European nations will seek to return to US underwriting of European arms strength and go back to funding other departments. #r4today
January 31, 2026 at 8:25 AM
EU will continue to build up its defence budget. But slowly.
Because if the Democrats get back the House in November and then win the next Election, European nations will seek to return to US underwriting of European arms strength and go back to funding other departments. #r4today
Because if the Democrats get back the House in November and then win the next Election, European nations will seek to return to US underwriting of European arms strength and go back to funding other departments. #r4today
That bond analysis ignored that Japan has carried extraordinarily high debt for many years without the meltdown expected- its central bank keeps the bond markets happy with v low interest rates to protect bonds. #r4today
January 31, 2026 at 7:47 AM
That bond analysis ignored that Japan has carried extraordinarily high debt for many years without the meltdown expected- its central bank keeps the bond markets happy with v low interest rates to protect bonds. #r4today
I find this both encouraging but also confusing - can anyone make sense of this?
(Can you read this, or firewalled?) #bbcpm
www.ft.com/content/a1fd...
(Can you read this, or firewalled?) #bbcpm
www.ft.com/content/a1fd...
We will use EU summit to further unwind Brexit, vows Keir Starmer
UK prime minister plans to explore ways to tear down trade barriers to boost growth and cut prices
www.ft.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:06 PM
I find this both encouraging but also confusing - can anyone make sense of this?
(Can you read this, or firewalled?) #bbcpm
www.ft.com/content/a1fd...
(Can you read this, or firewalled?) #bbcpm
www.ft.com/content/a1fd...
So funny, listening to The Times podcast from Starmer’s plane, heading to Beijing.
The presser huddle was held next to the toilet(!), almost none of the hacks could hear a word he said. 😂
All they could do was ask those directly next to him what the headlines were and they all ran with that! #bbcpm
The presser huddle was held next to the toilet(!), almost none of the hacks could hear a word he said. 😂
All they could do was ask those directly next to him what the headlines were and they all ran with that! #bbcpm
January 30, 2026 at 3:30 PM
So funny, listening to The Times podcast from Starmer’s plane, heading to Beijing.
The presser huddle was held next to the toilet(!), almost none of the hacks could hear a word he said. 😂
All they could do was ask those directly next to him what the headlines were and they all ran with that! #bbcpm
The presser huddle was held next to the toilet(!), almost none of the hacks could hear a word he said. 😂
All they could do was ask those directly next to him what the headlines were and they all ran with that! #bbcpm
@meganekenyon.bsky.social why such a soft interview on the pod with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun Ap Iorwerth, Megan?
You didn’t ask a single challenging question in the entire interview - why?
You didn’t ask a single challenging question in the entire interview - why?
January 30, 2026 at 3:11 PM
@meganekenyon.bsky.social why such a soft interview on the pod with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun Ap Iorwerth, Megan?
You didn’t ask a single challenging question in the entire interview - why?
You didn’t ask a single challenging question in the entire interview - why?
What a great initiative from France’s Montpellier mayor Michaël Delafosse to combat narco-traffickers: pull down shops suspected of laundering drug money and replace them with a cycle lane!
Can we do this please? #r4today #LocalElections
Can we do this please? #r4today #LocalElections
January 30, 2026 at 8:16 AM
What a great initiative from France’s Montpellier mayor Michaël Delafosse to combat narco-traffickers: pull down shops suspected of laundering drug money and replace them with a cycle lane!
Can we do this please? #r4today #LocalElections
Can we do this please? #r4today #LocalElections
“Have you used chatbots for a conversation?” - that’s a terribly phrased research question, IPSOS.
That could be “yes once, it was hopeless” through to “yes, everyday”.
Context is everything- as it stands, that’s not insightful data. #ProperResearch #r4today
That could be “yes once, it was hopeless” through to “yes, everyday”.
Context is everything- as it stands, that’s not insightful data. #ProperResearch #r4today
January 30, 2026 at 7:49 AM
“Have you used chatbots for a conversation?” - that’s a terribly phrased research question, IPSOS.
That could be “yes once, it was hopeless” through to “yes, everyday”.
Context is everything- as it stands, that’s not insightful data. #ProperResearch #r4today
That could be “yes once, it was hopeless” through to “yes, everyday”.
Context is everything- as it stands, that’s not insightful data. #ProperResearch #r4today
Here is what atomic scientists think about nuclear build up and the upcoming end of the US-Russia pact. #r4today
thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...
thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...
2026 Doomsday Clock Statement: Nuclear Risk - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
The lack of arms control talks and a general dearth of leadership on nuclear issues has worsened the nuclear outlook.
thebulletin.org
January 30, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Here is what atomic scientists think about nuclear build up and the upcoming end of the US-Russia pact. #r4today
thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...
thebulletin.org/doomsday-clo...
The last nuclear arms control pact between the US and Russia is set to end next week.
It will end fifty years of collaboration between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
Is this not a significant moment worth reporting in UK media?
(Source: NYT)
#r4today
It will end fifty years of collaboration between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
Is this not a significant moment worth reporting in UK media?
(Source: NYT)
#r4today
January 30, 2026 at 6:43 AM
The last nuclear arms control pact between the US and Russia is set to end next week.
It will end fifty years of collaboration between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
Is this not a significant moment worth reporting in UK media?
(Source: NYT)
#r4today
It will end fifty years of collaboration between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
Is this not a significant moment worth reporting in UK media?
(Source: NYT)
#r4today
The only trade deal announced from Starmer’s charm offensive in China so far is import tax reduction on UK whisky from 10% to 5%.
That’s worth just £250m …….over five years.
(Source: Bloomberg) #r4today
That’s worth just £250m …….over five years.
(Source: Bloomberg) #r4today
January 30, 2026 at 6:37 AM
The only trade deal announced from Starmer’s charm offensive in China so far is import tax reduction on UK whisky from 10% to 5%.
That’s worth just £250m …….over five years.
(Source: Bloomberg) #r4today
That’s worth just £250m …….over five years.
(Source: Bloomberg) #r4today
Truss didn’t destroy the EU relationship, Mr. Alexander- she was only PM for forty odd days! There were many others who did that. #bbcqt
January 29, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Truss didn’t destroy the EU relationship, Mr. Alexander- she was only PM for forty odd days! There were many others who did that. #bbcqt
The more I look at this, the less convinced I am that inflation has been tamed. With our high government spending and higher labour costs, this is going to make keeping a lid on inflation pretty difficult. Firms will raise prices to maintain profits and consumers will spend more with their extra pay
We are told that inflation is going to return to 2 percent from the current 3.8 percent next year.
Yet water bills are going up 5.4%, council tax 5%, food inflation is still rising, non-regulated train fares are rising, private rent rise average is 4%.
🤔🤔🤔 #r4today
Yet water bills are going up 5.4%, council tax 5%, food inflation is still rising, non-regulated train fares are rising, private rent rise average is 4%.
🤔🤔🤔 #r4today
January 29, 2026 at 8:34 PM
The more I look at this, the less convinced I am that inflation has been tamed. With our high government spending and higher labour costs, this is going to make keeping a lid on inflation pretty difficult. Firms will raise prices to maintain profits and consumers will spend more with their extra pay
I wonder what untruths Rachel Reeves will bring back from her visit to China?
Sleight of hand is her stock in trade after all. For instance she told us that rail fares have been frozen this year - in fact the majority of fares increased.
#bbcpm
Sleight of hand is her stock in trade after all. For instance she told us that rail fares have been frozen this year - in fact the majority of fares increased.
#bbcpm
January 29, 2026 at 3:52 PM
I wonder what untruths Rachel Reeves will bring back from her visit to China?
Sleight of hand is her stock in trade after all. For instance she told us that rail fares have been frozen this year - in fact the majority of fares increased.
#bbcpm
Sleight of hand is her stock in trade after all. For instance she told us that rail fares have been frozen this year - in fact the majority of fares increased.
#bbcpm
Germany has downgraded its GDP forecast to just 1 percent, despite historic levels of €1 trillion fiscal stimulus.
Its structural economic weakness is taking a lot longer to resolve than expected. 🇩🇪 #wato
Its structural economic weakness is taking a lot longer to resolve than expected. 🇩🇪 #wato
January 29, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Germany has downgraded its GDP forecast to just 1 percent, despite historic levels of €1 trillion fiscal stimulus.
Its structural economic weakness is taking a lot longer to resolve than expected. 🇩🇪 #wato
Its structural economic weakness is taking a lot longer to resolve than expected. 🇩🇪 #wato