Philip Taylor
@philipjtaylor.bsky.social
Commercial and Agricultural Property Solicitor. Companion of John Ruskin's Guild of St George.
Pinned
Philip Taylor
@philipjtaylor.bsky.social
· Jan 26
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
YouTube video by Louis Price
youtu.be
It was prophesied. The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui youtu.be/_AJQlRmJvLA?... via @YouTube
Trump calls female journalist 'ugly' after she said he looked knackered www.msn.com/en-gb/news/w...
MSN
www.msn.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Trump calls female journalist 'ugly' after she said he looked knackered www.msn.com/en-gb/news/w...
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Two West Virginia National Guard members shot in Washington, DC today have died.
November 26, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Two West Virginia National Guard members shot in Washington, DC today have died.
Before the line closed the last half mile to Fleetwood station was axed and it was demolished. Trains stopped short at Wyre Dock station which was renamed Fleetwood.
Fleetwood: Time to disinter this from Levelling Up archive because BBC and local media today seem to have forgotten, just an oversight you know nothing sinister
Boris Johnson pledges to re-open Poulton and Fleetwood railway line
He has promised plans for the re-opening of the disused railway line between Poulton and Fleetwood
www.lancs.live
November 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Before the line closed the last half mile to Fleetwood station was axed and it was demolished. Trains stopped short at Wyre Dock station which was renamed Fleetwood.
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Arrests at farmers' central London tractor protest
Arrests at farmers' central London tractor protest
The tractors drove to Parliament on Budget day in a protest over inheritance tax.
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Arrests at farmers' central London tractor protest
Reposted by Philip Taylor
The mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew has been detained by US immigration agents in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown
Mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew arrested by ICE agents
www.thetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew has been detained by US immigration agents in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown
Reposted by Philip Taylor
President Donald Trump’s personal travel routine has generated an estimated $70.8M in taxpayer costs this year, and projections based on federal audit data show the total could exceed $300M if the pattern continues.
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/trumps-gol...
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/trumps-gol...
Trump’s Golf-Related Travel Costs Are Outpacing His First-Term Levels, Hitting $70.8 Million in 2025
Federal records show presidential golf travel consuming tens of millions in public funds at a pace unmatched in modern administrations.
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
President Donald Trump’s personal travel routine has generated an estimated $70.8M in taxpayer costs this year, and projections based on federal audit data show the total could exceed $300M if the pattern continues.
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/trumps-gol...
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/trumps-gol...
Reposted by Philip Taylor
People on BlueSky: AI is useless! A stochastic parrot!
Mathematicians/biologists/physicists: It is already helping us do frontier technical research and in some cases solve open problems arxiv.org/pdf/2511.16072
(There are of course, as always, many caveats, but the paper is genuinely remarkable)
Mathematicians/biologists/physicists: It is already helping us do frontier technical research and in some cases solve open problems arxiv.org/pdf/2511.16072
(There are of course, as always, many caveats, but the paper is genuinely remarkable)
arxiv.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
People on BlueSky: AI is useless! A stochastic parrot!
Mathematicians/biologists/physicists: It is already helping us do frontier technical research and in some cases solve open problems arxiv.org/pdf/2511.16072
(There are of course, as always, many caveats, but the paper is genuinely remarkable)
Mathematicians/biologists/physicists: It is already helping us do frontier technical research and in some cases solve open problems arxiv.org/pdf/2511.16072
(There are of course, as always, many caveats, but the paper is genuinely remarkable)
Reposted by Philip Taylor
🚨A 1999 visa overstay just pulled the press secretary’s own relative into ICE custody, showing how a crackdown built for others can return without warning to those closest to power.
open.substack.com/pub/theintel...
open.substack.com/pub/theintel...
White House Press Secretary’s Own Family Swept Into Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
A distant relative of Karoline Leavitt was detained over a 1999 visa overstay, exposing how the immigration system she defends now touches her own family.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:54 PM
🚨A 1999 visa overstay just pulled the press secretary’s own relative into ICE custody, showing how a crackdown built for others can return without warning to those closest to power.
open.substack.com/pub/theintel...
open.substack.com/pub/theintel...
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Neoliberal IFS wants govt to ditch the triple lock on state pension.
Silence on corporate welfare, taxing the rich/corporations.
UK state pension is almost the worst in Europe.
2m retirees live in poverty. 110,000 a year die in fuel poverty.
How many pensioners does the IFS kill?
archive.ph/AaLRa
Silence on corporate welfare, taxing the rich/corporations.
UK state pension is almost the worst in Europe.
2m retirees live in poverty. 110,000 a year die in fuel poverty.
How many pensioners does the IFS kill?
archive.ph/AaLRa
The UK must remove the pension triple lock
With each economic shock, it ratchets up the value of state retirement payments relative to average earnings
www.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Neoliberal IFS wants govt to ditch the triple lock on state pension.
Silence on corporate welfare, taxing the rich/corporations.
UK state pension is almost the worst in Europe.
2m retirees live in poverty. 110,000 a year die in fuel poverty.
How many pensioners does the IFS kill?
archive.ph/AaLRa
Silence on corporate welfare, taxing the rich/corporations.
UK state pension is almost the worst in Europe.
2m retirees live in poverty. 110,000 a year die in fuel poverty.
How many pensioners does the IFS kill?
archive.ph/AaLRa
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Kemi Badenoch doing her best to shore up the Labour leadership's position by accusing them of raising taxes to pay for welfare
November 26, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Kemi Badenoch doing her best to shore up the Labour leadership's position by accusing them of raising taxes to pay for welfare
Reposted by Philip Taylor
UK bank shares bounce higher after they escape tax rises in Rachel Reeves' 2nd Budget
November 26, 2025 at 2:27 PM
UK bank shares bounce higher after they escape tax rises in Rachel Reeves' 2nd Budget
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Tory MPs now protesting about anti-protest laws which they themselves brought in..
November 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Tory MPs now protesting about anti-protest laws which they themselves brought in..
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Incredible
“After Ferreira was detained, Dos Santos Rodrigues said Michael Leavitt Sr. and his father, Bob Leavitt, reached out to her.”
“‘They just kept saying, ‘Tell her to self-deport,’” she recalled. “Self-deport to where? Brazil is not her home.’” www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/26/m...
“‘They just kept saying, ‘Tell her to self-deport,’” she recalled. “Self-deport to where? Brazil is not her home.’” www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/26/m...
‘Brazil is not her home.’ Mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew, brought to US as child, detained by ICE. - The Boston Globe
Bruna Ferreira, 33, was brought to the United States as a child in 1998. She is now in removal proceedings in Louisiana.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Incredible
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Budget 2025
Cash ISA limit cut from £20,000 to £12,000, £8,000 more if invested in shares; over 65s can keep £20,000 in cash.
Example of how the state helps the City of London.
£8,000 in shares doesn't mean companies get more for investment. It is transfer from A to B. City gets commissions.
Cash ISA limit cut from £20,000 to £12,000, £8,000 more if invested in shares; over 65s can keep £20,000 in cash.
Example of how the state helps the City of London.
£8,000 in shares doesn't mean companies get more for investment. It is transfer from A to B. City gets commissions.
November 26, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Budget 2025
Cash ISA limit cut from £20,000 to £12,000, £8,000 more if invested in shares; over 65s can keep £20,000 in cash.
Example of how the state helps the City of London.
£8,000 in shares doesn't mean companies get more for investment. It is transfer from A to B. City gets commissions.
Cash ISA limit cut from £20,000 to £12,000, £8,000 more if invested in shares; over 65s can keep £20,000 in cash.
Example of how the state helps the City of London.
£8,000 in shares doesn't mean companies get more for investment. It is transfer from A to B. City gets commissions.
Reposted by Philip Taylor
I'm hearing criticisms of the end to the two child limit, because it was done just to mollify Labour backbenchers, at a cost of £billions.
I remember another govt delivering a referendum on EU membership, just to mollify restive backbenchers. That's costing way, way more... A little perspective?
I remember another govt delivering a referendum on EU membership, just to mollify restive backbenchers. That's costing way, way more... A little perspective?
November 26, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I'm hearing criticisms of the end to the two child limit, because it was done just to mollify Labour backbenchers, at a cost of £billions.
I remember another govt delivering a referendum on EU membership, just to mollify restive backbenchers. That's costing way, way more... A little perspective?
I remember another govt delivering a referendum on EU membership, just to mollify restive backbenchers. That's costing way, way more... A little perspective?
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Blind Dan was a yeast seller who used to go from house to house with a basket selling yeast in the early 20th century. On this photograph he is standing outside a property in the Creswell Model Village.
#DisabilityHistoryMonth #20thCentury
#DisabilityHistoryMonth #20thCentury
November 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Blind Dan was a yeast seller who used to go from house to house with a basket selling yeast in the early 20th century. On this photograph he is standing outside a property in the Creswell Model Village.
#DisabilityHistoryMonth #20thCentury
#DisabilityHistoryMonth #20thCentury
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Norwich Cathedral.
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Norwich Cathedral.
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Government shuts VAT loophole that used by some taxi firms to lower their tax bill
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/gov...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/gov...
Government shuts VAT loophole that used by some taxi firms to lower their tax bill
People who use private taxi operators such as Uber might see the cost of a ride rise after the government closed a rather complicated tax loophole, which could lead Uber and other companies to pay a h...
www.ianvisits.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Government shuts VAT loophole that used by some taxi firms to lower their tax bill
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/gov...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/gov...
Reposted by Philip Taylor
A Harry Potter themed Christmas Tree has arrived at King’s Cross station, that is both delightful and yet also manages to be a bit depressing.
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
There’s a Harry Potter themed Christmas Tree in King’s Cross station
A Harry Potter themed Christmas Tree has arrived at King’s Cross station, that is both delightful and yet also manages to be a bit depressing.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A Harry Potter themed Christmas Tree has arrived at King’s Cross station, that is both delightful and yet also manages to be a bit depressing.
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Demolition work continues at pace on the old Stones brewery site. Hopefully, this time next year the new development will be well underway.
I think the site owners are on record saying the current phase is more difficult and expensive than envisaged #Sheffield
I think the site owners are on record saying the current phase is more difficult and expensive than envisaged #Sheffield
November 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Demolition work continues at pace on the old Stones brewery site. Hopefully, this time next year the new development will be well underway.
I think the site owners are on record saying the current phase is more difficult and expensive than envisaged #Sheffield
I think the site owners are on record saying the current phase is more difficult and expensive than envisaged #Sheffield
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Also note that in March's OBR forecast, it forecast 1.3 million net additional dwellings in the UK between 2025/26 & 2029/30 (5 years), but in the latest OBR forecast, it has now added in an extra year to bump it up to 1.49 million over 6 years between 2024/25 & 2029/30)!
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
The OBR now forecasts 1.49 million net additional dwellings in the UK between 2024/25 & 2029/30, which is politically convenient to say the least. Note the government's 1.5 million new homes target is England only.
#autumnbudget #AutumnBudget2025 #AutumnBudget25 #Budget #ukhousing #ukconstruction
#autumnbudget #AutumnBudget2025 #AutumnBudget25 #Budget #ukhousing #ukconstruction
November 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Also note that in March's OBR forecast, it forecast 1.3 million net additional dwellings in the UK between 2025/26 & 2029/30 (5 years), but in the latest OBR forecast, it has now added in an extra year to bump it up to 1.49 million over 6 years between 2024/25 & 2029/30)!
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Though it's getting lots of attention, the extra tax on £2m+ houses will raise only £435m by 2030-31. Higher taxes on dividends will raise 3x as much, & taxes on salary sacrifice pension contributions will raise 5x as much. Political importance is not the same as macroeconomic significance.
November 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Though it's getting lots of attention, the extra tax on £2m+ houses will raise only £435m by 2030-31. Higher taxes on dividends will raise 3x as much, & taxes on salary sacrifice pension contributions will raise 5x as much. Political importance is not the same as macroeconomic significance.
Reposted by Philip Taylor
What does the Budget mean for the North?
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
November 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
What does the Budget mean for the North?
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
Reposted by Philip Taylor
Top tip, if you realise your shirt is unironed and you’re about to go on TV - put a jumper on.
November 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Top tip, if you realise your shirt is unironed and you’re about to go on TV - put a jumper on.
Reposted by Philip Taylor
ICYMI, here were my first thoughts on the Budget...
(Also a warning that the OBR's accidental gaffe should should not be allowed to distract from the deliberate kite-flying and misinformation that came from HMT and No.10... 😠)
julianhjessop.substack.com/p/rachel-ree...
(Also a warning that the OBR's accidental gaffe should should not be allowed to distract from the deliberate kite-flying and misinformation that came from HMT and No.10... 😠)
julianhjessop.substack.com/p/rachel-ree...
November 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
ICYMI, here were my first thoughts on the Budget...
(Also a warning that the OBR's accidental gaffe should should not be allowed to distract from the deliberate kite-flying and misinformation that came from HMT and No.10... 😠)
julianhjessop.substack.com/p/rachel-ree...
(Also a warning that the OBR's accidental gaffe should should not be allowed to distract from the deliberate kite-flying and misinformation that came from HMT and No.10... 😠)
julianhjessop.substack.com/p/rachel-ree...