Mike Harris
@mjrharris.bsky.social
CEO, http://89up.org; publisher of http://TheLead.uk, http://LittleAtoms.com, free speech, climate, digital rights, freedom, oh and was a Labour councillor for a bit.
Reposted by Mike Harris
Pleased to have been able to add some northern perspectives to The Lead's comprehensive coverage of child poverty. Ultimately, children are poor because adults are poor, and lifting the two-child cap is necessary but not sufficient to end it.
The announcement of the much-delayed child poverty strategy is welcome but four million children will still remain in poverty when it ends in 2029
A special edition of The Lead this afternoon from @nmozz.bsky.social
A special edition of The Lead this afternoon from @nmozz.bsky.social
Labour has opened the door to ending child poverty, now they must walk through it
The announcement of the much-delayed child poverty strategy is welcome but four million children will still remain in poverty when it ends in 2029
national.thelead.uk
December 5, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Pleased to have been able to add some northern perspectives to The Lead's comprehensive coverage of child poverty. Ultimately, children are poor because adults are poor, and lifting the two-child cap is necessary but not sufficient to end it.
Reposted by Mike Harris
The announcement of the much-delayed child poverty strategy is welcome but four million children will still remain in poverty when it ends in 2029
A special edition of The Lead this afternoon from @nmozz.bsky.social
A special edition of The Lead this afternoon from @nmozz.bsky.social
Labour has opened the door to ending child poverty, now they must walk through it
The announcement of the much-delayed child poverty strategy is welcome but four million children will still remain in poverty when it ends in 2029
national.thelead.uk
December 5, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The announcement of the much-delayed child poverty strategy is welcome but four million children will still remain in poverty when it ends in 2029
A special edition of The Lead this afternoon from @nmozz.bsky.social
A special edition of The Lead this afternoon from @nmozz.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Harris
Great analysis from @zoegrunewald.bsky.social for @theleaduk.bsky.social on today’s budget. Echoes my own thoughts about an overall sense of unambitious tinkering, despite some clear positives (2 child cap finally lifted)
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
The Lead's budget verdict: technocratic tweaks to a broken system
Lifting the two-child benefit is welcome, but Rachel Reeves' tax and spend plans fall far short of the financial shake up this country needs
national.thelead.uk
November 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Great analysis from @zoegrunewald.bsky.social for @theleaduk.bsky.social on today’s budget. Echoes my own thoughts about an overall sense of unambitious tinkering, despite some clear positives (2 child cap finally lifted)
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
national.thelead.uk/p/the-leads-...
How does it not have a proper garden?
I feel like there's a good Instagram account in the making here: Crap Private Gyms of Belgravia.
November 27, 2025 at 10:38 PM
How does it not have a proper garden?
Reposted by Mike Harris
As political scandals go, a grubby backroom deal to, errrr, lift 450,000 children out of poverty is at least a novel one.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
As political scandals go, a grubby backroom deal to, errrr, lift 450,000 children out of poverty is at least a novel one.
Reposted by Mike Harris
X's new transparency feature has exposed many of the platform's influential MAGA personalities as being located outside the US.
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
Bots, AI memes and Reform councillors: How foreign Facebook pages are hijacking UK patriotism
Fake British “patriot” pages run from abroad are fooling thousands – including elected councillors.
national.thelead.uk
November 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
X's new transparency feature has exposed many of the platform's influential MAGA personalities as being located outside the US.
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
This is similar to the trend exposed by @kdenkwrites.com in the UK, where foreign 'UK patriot' accounts are even fooling councillors.
national.thelead.uk/p/reform-cou...
Reposted by Mike Harris
Sir Geoffrey was one of the truly great human rights champions of his generation, a tireless champion of civil liberties, and an inspirational humanist. We will remember him not only for his profound professional achievements but for his moral clarity and steadfast and generous support of our cause.
Humanists UK mourns leading human rights lawyer Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC (1933-2025)
Humanists UK is deeply saddened to learn of the death of its long-standing patron, the distinguished human rights lawyer Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC (Hon), aged 92. A committed humanist, Sir Geoffrey dedi...
humanists.uk
November 6, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Sir Geoffrey was one of the truly great human rights champions of his generation, a tireless champion of civil liberties, and an inspirational humanist. We will remember him not only for his profound professional achievements but for his moral clarity and steadfast and generous support of our cause.
Reposted by Mike Harris
This month, in the vacuum that should be being used to platform Black stories, that space is instead being filled with swelling hostility. Black History Month matters. In fact, it may be more important now than it’s ever been.
@nmozz.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/black-hist...
@nmozz.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/black-hist...
Black History Month is more important than ever – but it is being hollowed out
Why we're shining a light on Black stories this month. Plus: The latest from Reform Watch, and everything our team is reading, watching and listening to this week.
national.thelead.uk
October 9, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This month, in the vacuum that should be being used to platform Black stories, that space is instead being filled with swelling hostility. Black History Month matters. In fact, it may be more important now than it’s ever been.
@nmozz.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/black-hist...
@nmozz.bsky.social
national.thelead.uk/p/black-hist...
Reposted by Mike Harris
i desperately want everyone involved in the destruction of USAID to have to, st the very least, answer to the american people for the suffering and misery they have caused apnews.com/article/myan...
Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.
apnews.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
i desperately want everyone involved in the destruction of USAID to have to, st the very least, answer to the american people for the suffering and misery they have caused apnews.com/article/myan...
EXCLUSIVE: Former Reform leader convicted of taking Russian bribes.
This should be *huge national news* - a direct link between Reform and Russia. #Russiagate
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
This should be *huge national news* - a direct link between Reform and Russia. #Russiagate
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
The Lead Untangles: The Reform leader’s Russian influence scandal
Not unreported, but certainly not given much spotlight, what do the Russian bribes taken by a former Reform UK leader tell us?
national.thelead.uk
October 3, 2025 at 9:08 AM
EXCLUSIVE: Former Reform leader convicted of taking Russian bribes.
This should be *huge national news* - a direct link between Reform and Russia. #Russiagate
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
This should be *huge national news* - a direct link between Reform and Russia. #Russiagate
national.thelead.uk/p/the-lead-u...
Reposted by Mike Harris
Kemi Badenoch refusing to acknowledge that Tommy Robinson is "far-right", now on LBC, and refusing to condemn Elon Musk's words. In fact she says what Musk said *isn't* incitement. So what would be incitement then? How violent would his words have to be before he was deemed a threat to this country?
September 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Kemi Badenoch refusing to acknowledge that Tommy Robinson is "far-right", now on LBC, and refusing to condemn Elon Musk's words. In fact she says what Musk said *isn't* incitement. So what would be incitement then? How violent would his words have to be before he was deemed a threat to this country?
Coming up to 4,000 emails to MPs - you know what to do folks
That escalated. Thank you to the thousands of people who have already signed our call for the Home Secretary to ban Elon Musk from the UK.
startafire.co/scramnews/ba...
startafire.co/scramnews/ba...
September 16, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Coming up to 4,000 emails to MPs - you know what to do folks
Reposted by Mike Harris
Elon Musk seems to have hit a nerve with readers of The Lead. We're calling on the Home Secretary to place him on the banned list after his vile speech at the 'Unite the Kingdom' rally.
Tell your MP: Ban Elon Musk from the UK
Home Secretary: Ban Elon Musk from the UK
startafire.co
September 14, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Elon Musk seems to have hit a nerve with readers of The Lead. We're calling on the Home Secretary to place him on the banned list after his vile speech at the 'Unite the Kingdom' rally.
If you do anything today click here to petition your MP to ban Elon Musk from the UK
startafire.co/scramnews/ba...
startafire.co/scramnews/ba...
Tell your MP: Ban Elon Musk from the UK
Home Secretary: Ban Elon Musk from the UK
startafire.co
September 14, 2025 at 4:21 PM
If you do anything today click here to petition your MP to ban Elon Musk from the UK
startafire.co/scramnews/ba...
startafire.co/scramnews/ba...
Reposted by Mike Harris
We call on the Home Secretary to act following Elon Musk's vile words and hatred stirring at the 'Unite The Kingdom' rally. Sign our petition now and get Musk banned.
Ban Elon Musk from the UK
We call on the Home Secretary to act following Musk's vile words and hatred stirring at the 'Unite The Kingdom' rally. Sign our petition now and get Elon Musk banned.
national.thelead.uk
September 14, 2025 at 1:51 PM
We call on the Home Secretary to act following Elon Musk's vile words and hatred stirring at the 'Unite The Kingdom' rally. Sign our petition now and get Musk banned.
Reposted by Mike Harris
Not sure what else there is to say at this point
Me for @theleaduk.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...
Me for @theleaduk.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...
August 26, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Not sure what else there is to say at this point
Me for @theleaduk.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...
Me for @theleaduk.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...
Three Lions playing in the pub.
"Thirty years of hurt...."
Overheard: "Sorry - this is the *men's song*"
🔥🔥🔥🔥
"Thirty years of hurt...."
Overheard: "Sorry - this is the *men's song*"
🔥🔥🔥🔥
July 27, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Three Lions playing in the pub.
"Thirty years of hurt...."
Overheard: "Sorry - this is the *men's song*"
🔥🔥🔥🔥
"Thirty years of hurt...."
Overheard: "Sorry - this is the *men's song*"
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Reposted by Mike Harris
This is actual good news and it wouldn’t have happened under the Tories and we who voted Labour should note it.
Labour launches £500m ‘Best Start’ child support programme
Labour launches £500m ‘Best Start’ child support programme
The government has announced a £500 million scheme to help disadvantaged children - Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the rollout of extra "Best Start" family hubs would offer youth services...
www.channel4.com
July 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
This is actual good news and it wouldn’t have happened under the Tories and we who voted Labour should note it.
My view is it is far too early to have any view on whether Labour is succeeding or not.
But this report card is a very good start at explaining what Labour has done with its first year in office
national.thelead.uk/p/labour-gov...
But this report card is a very good start at explaining what Labour has done with its first year in office
national.thelead.uk/p/labour-gov...
A year of Labour in power - the report card, part I
We rank how Keir Starmer and the government is performing against a progressive agenda on the economy, NHS, housing and education and you give your ratings too
national.thelead.uk
July 4, 2025 at 3:57 PM
My view is it is far too early to have any view on whether Labour is succeeding or not.
But this report card is a very good start at explaining what Labour has done with its first year in office
national.thelead.uk/p/labour-gov...
But this report card is a very good start at explaining what Labour has done with its first year in office
national.thelead.uk/p/labour-gov...
Reposted by Mike Harris
Whenever I look into small consumer-facing businesses in London it’s often a shock when they’ve even filed a first year’s accounts on time, let alone actually paid any tax due. Honestly seems you’re a bit of a mug if you bother doing so.
40% of all corporation tax owed by small businesses isn't paid. How has this happened, without anyone noticing or caring?
Because nobody wants to talk about it.
These reactions to the latest HMRC tax gap figures are typical:
Because nobody wants to talk about it.
These reactions to the latest HMRC tax gap figures are typical:
June 20, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Whenever I look into small consumer-facing businesses in London it’s often a shock when they’ve even filed a first year’s accounts on time, let alone actually paid any tax due. Honestly seems you’re a bit of a mug if you bother doing so.
Reposted by Mike Harris
Another day with an almost completely decarbonised grid.
June 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Another day with an almost completely decarbonised grid.
Reposted by Mike Harris
The truly impressive thing is that the tories who are doing it have looked at a government whose ratings are in the toilet and are - charitably - struggling to connect and instead of thinking “bite our tongue, eat shit and apologise and we could be back in in 5 years”, they’ve chosen…this?
It's quite remarkable that the elite of the British right has chosen *now* as the moment to go blood-and-soil. When the actual public have probably never been as un-racist as they are.
June 20, 2025 at 7:40 AM
The truly impressive thing is that the tories who are doing it have looked at a government whose ratings are in the toilet and are - charitably - struggling to connect and instead of thinking “bite our tongue, eat shit and apologise and we could be back in in 5 years”, they’ve chosen…this?
So a teacher earning 34k, renting, with 3 kids doesn't get a payment to heat their home
But a pensioner who owns their home on the same money does?
Cool story bro.
But a pensioner who owns their home on the same money does?
Cool story bro.
June 9, 2025 at 4:45 PM
So a teacher earning 34k, renting, with 3 kids doesn't get a payment to heat their home
But a pensioner who owns their home on the same money does?
Cool story bro.
But a pensioner who owns their home on the same money does?
Cool story bro.
Reposted by Mike Harris
It’s sort of reassuring to know the richest man on earth spends his time tweeting and doing ket.
May 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
It’s sort of reassuring to know the richest man on earth spends his time tweeting and doing ket.
Very good idea that solves the problem.
Also, gets closer to merger of NI / income tax, which would be significantly more sensible way of taxing all types of income - very odd unearned income taxed less.
Also, gets closer to merger of NI / income tax, which would be significantly more sensible way of taxing all types of income - very odd unearned income taxed less.
How to reverse Labour's cut to Winter Fuel Payment. NEW substack post
The policy is a disaster. It's electorally toxic. But it also slams poor pensioners. In 22/23 only TWELVE PER CENT of pensioners in poverty were on benefits that entitle them to WFP
1/5
cradle2grave.substack.com/p/heres-how-...
The policy is a disaster. It's electorally toxic. But it also slams poor pensioners. In 22/23 only TWELVE PER CENT of pensioners in poverty were on benefits that entitle them to WFP
1/5
cradle2grave.substack.com/p/heres-how-...
Here's how to scrap the cuts to Winter Fuel Payment
Labour should restore Winter Fuel Payment for everyone in retirement, paid for by a levy on private pensions
cradle2grave.substack.com
May 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Very good idea that solves the problem.
Also, gets closer to merger of NI / income tax, which would be significantly more sensible way of taxing all types of income - very odd unearned income taxed less.
Also, gets closer to merger of NI / income tax, which would be significantly more sensible way of taxing all types of income - very odd unearned income taxed less.