Doug Scrafton
@par-adise.bsky.social
Retired diplomat and councillor, living in Cornwall. People think I've moved to the left - the reality is that the country has lurched violently to the right, surely? Please don't blame me - I voted remain.
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
November 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
What is your view @noahlawmp.bsky.social ?
Must be getting old. I remember the days when the prevailing sense in Britain was of concern for those in the world less fortunate and a determination to help them where possible, and where confiscating their belongings would be anathema. Earned us respect in those countries I served in. Oh well...
November 17, 2025 at 4:32 PM
What is your view @noahlawmp.bsky.social ?
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
Must be getting old. I remember the days when the prevailing sense in Britain was of concern for those in the world less fortunate and a determination to help them where possible, and where confiscating their belongings would be anathema. Earned us respect in those countries I served in. Oh well...
November 17, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Must be getting old. I remember the days when the prevailing sense in Britain was of concern for those in the world less fortunate and a determination to help them where possible, and where confiscating their belongings would be anathema. Earned us respect in those countries I served in. Oh well...
Must be getting old. I remember the days when the prevailing sense in Britain was of concern for those in the world less fortunate and a determination to help them where possible, and where confiscating their belongings would be anathema. Earned us respect in those countries I served in. Oh well...
November 17, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Must be getting old. I remember the days when the prevailing sense in Britain was of concern for those in the world less fortunate and a determination to help them where possible, and where confiscating their belongings would be anathema. Earned us respect in those countries I served in. Oh well...
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
🚨NEW - The PNG Courier's overseas correspondent on the crisis at the Beeb
And Auntie's anti-Trump bias
Click for more:
mrhenrymorris.substack.com/p/the-png-co...
And Auntie's anti-Trump bias
Click for more:
mrhenrymorris.substack.com/p/the-png-co...
The PNG Courier's overseas correspondent on the crisis at the Beeb
Auntie's anti-Trump bias
mrhenrymorris.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
🚨NEW - The PNG Courier's overseas correspondent on the crisis at the Beeb
And Auntie's anti-Trump bias
Click for more:
mrhenrymorris.substack.com/p/the-png-co...
And Auntie's anti-Trump bias
Click for more:
mrhenrymorris.substack.com/p/the-png-co...
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
No boat crossings at all in the last 7 days.
The BBC hasn’t sent this to our phones as breaking news.
The BBC hasn’t sent this to our phones as breaking news.
November 5, 2025 at 3:05 PM
No boat crossings at all in the last 7 days.
The BBC hasn’t sent this to our phones as breaking news.
The BBC hasn’t sent this to our phones as breaking news.
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to ask her to consider Cllr Giles's position in the Tory Party and whether, instead, she should be sent packing to Reform and, in 2029, sent packing from Cornwall Council, by which time I hope we'll have put this dark, disgusting period of old-fashioned racism behind us
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to ask her to consider Cllr Giles's position in the Tory Party and whether, instead, she should be sent packing to Reform and, in 2029, sent packing from Cornwall Council, by which time I hope we'll have put this dark, disgusting period of old-fashioned racism behind us
As an Arabist, I have avoided comment on Gaza for fear of being accused of bias. But naturally I applaud the release of the hostages taken during Hamas' indefensible 7 October attack. And I welcome the ceasefire and release of Palestinians held in Israel without trial. I look forward to hearing
October 14, 2025 at 8:44 AM
As an Arabist, I have avoided comment on Gaza for fear of being accused of bias. But naturally I applaud the release of the hostages taken during Hamas' indefensible 7 October attack. And I welcome the ceasefire and release of Palestinians held in Israel without trial. I look forward to hearing
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
October 9, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
The Deputy Chair of the Reform group on Cornwall Council, Rowland O’Connor, has quit the party, ITV West Country reports.
O’Connor says his views on how to help local people “increasingly diverged from those of the party”.
O’Connor says his views on how to help local people “increasingly diverged from those of the party”.
October 9, 2025 at 9:54 AM
The Deputy Chair of the Reform group on Cornwall Council, Rowland O’Connor, has quit the party, ITV West Country reports.
O’Connor says his views on how to help local people “increasingly diverged from those of the party”.
O’Connor says his views on how to help local people “increasingly diverged from those of the party”.
Looks like they have revived Jeremy Hunt's magic money tree! Thousands for young people getting their first job, cutting business rates - what about a free Caribbean cruise for all pensioners???
🚨 NEW: The Tories will pledge to scrap business rates for hospitality, retail and leisure firms that pay £110k a year or less in business rates
[@benrileysmith]
[@benrileysmith]
October 6, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Looks like they have revived Jeremy Hunt's magic money tree! Thousands for young people getting their first job, cutting business rates - what about a free Caribbean cruise for all pensioners???
and his feisty puppy, Champers, have enjoyed their morning constitutional along the beach, under the close supervision of the current Mrs S.
Champers is trying to remember the rest of that saying about red skies in the morning. Doug is thinking that he may nip out and batten down a few hatches...
Champers is trying to remember the rest of that saying about red skies in the morning. Doug is thinking that he may nip out and batten down a few hatches...
October 2, 2025 at 7:13 AM
and his feisty puppy, Champers, have enjoyed their morning constitutional along the beach, under the close supervision of the current Mrs S.
Champers is trying to remember the rest of that saying about red skies in the morning. Doug is thinking that he may nip out and batten down a few hatches...
Champers is trying to remember the rest of that saying about red skies in the morning. Doug is thinking that he may nip out and batten down a few hatches...
I'm not uncritical of the BBC. But 'Beyond Belief' broadcast on Radio 4 just after 6am today was the most balanced and reasoned discussion of immigration I have heard in years (despite some Widdicombe nonsense). If you have access to BBC Sounds, and half an hour to spare, it is worth a listen.
September 28, 2025 at 8:04 AM
I'm not uncritical of the BBC. But 'Beyond Belief' broadcast on Radio 4 just after 6am today was the most balanced and reasoned discussion of immigration I have heard in years (despite some Widdicombe nonsense). If you have access to BBC Sounds, and half an hour to spare, it is worth a listen.
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
Private Eye nailing it again
September 16, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Private Eye nailing it again
Oh, BBC! Why all this news time devoted to the murder of one rightwing activist. You give massacred schoolchildren much less coverage!
September 12, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Oh, BBC! Why all this news time devoted to the murder of one rightwing activist. You give massacred schoolchildren much less coverage!
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
Reposted by Doug Scrafton
The PNG Courier overseas edition on mini-roundabouts
(And Yvette Cooper's bunting)
open.substack.com/pub/mrhenrym...
(And Yvette Cooper's bunting)
open.substack.com/pub/mrhenrym...
The PNG Courier overseas edition on mini-roundabouts
And Yvette Cooper's bunting
open.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 7:30 AM
The PNG Courier overseas edition on mini-roundabouts
(And Yvette Cooper's bunting)
open.substack.com/pub/mrhenrym...
(And Yvette Cooper's bunting)
open.substack.com/pub/mrhenrym...
