Simon S
@sphynxzilla.bsky.social
Political junkie, proud leftie, anti-racist, supporter of LGBT, theatre lover, numptie. All views are my own. 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Simon S
this very obvious and essential fact is never given any airtime in our mainstream discourse or by our mainstream parties. an indicator that our democratic institutions are failing us.
Immigration creates jobs, supports public services, & drives growth.
These are economic facts.
How is it that the only days we *dont* have the media banging on about immigration is on the days we’re handed the budget? #r4today
These are economic facts.
How is it that the only days we *dont* have the media banging on about immigration is on the days we’re handed the budget? #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:54 AM
this very obvious and essential fact is never given any airtime in our mainstream discourse or by our mainstream parties. an indicator that our democratic institutions are failing us.
Reposted by Simon S
Somehow this got missed off the "Benefit Street" front pages today
70% of the additional spending from removing the two-child limit will go to families who are in work. This is targeting support for low-income working households who are being priced out of a decent standard of living despite doing everything asked of them.
November 27, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Somehow this got missed off the "Benefit Street" front pages today
Reposted by Simon S
Left: Luke Johnson, Chairman of Gail's Bakery, who was pro-Brexit, criticises Labour for not understanding the private sector and how wealth is created
Right: The thing he voted for, Brexit, costs the UK £90 billion in lost tax revenue every year #BBCQT
Right: The thing he voted for, Brexit, costs the UK £90 billion in lost tax revenue every year #BBCQT
November 27, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Left: Luke Johnson, Chairman of Gail's Bakery, who was pro-Brexit, criticises Labour for not understanding the private sector and how wealth is created
Right: The thing he voted for, Brexit, costs the UK £90 billion in lost tax revenue every year #BBCQT
Right: The thing he voted for, Brexit, costs the UK £90 billion in lost tax revenue every year #BBCQT
Reposted by Simon S
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
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 1:16 PM
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Reposted by Simon S
Abysmal, mindless, utterly zombified. You can't even call it policymaking because that implies a degree of thought which simply isn't present. Pretty soon they might actually hit Cameron's 'tens of thousands' target and then they'll shit themselves with horror at the consequences.
PM describes net migration of 205k as "a step in the right direction". His govt has no public position on a sustainable level of immigration is, nor any known process to decide what, why & how. Starmer is now implying he wants it significantly lower
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Net migration drop ‘step in the right direction’ – Starmer
Net migration peaked at a record 944,000 in the year to March 2023 but has fallen sharply since then.
www.standard.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Abysmal, mindless, utterly zombified. You can't even call it policymaking because that implies a degree of thought which simply isn't present. Pretty soon they might actually hit Cameron's 'tens of thousands' target and then they'll shit themselves with horror at the consequences.
Reposted by Simon S
All these references to 'Broken Britain' irritate me greatly. We have many problems in the United Kingdom, but it is not 'broken', and, like our one-time relationship with the EU, the alternative - as offered by the likes of Mr Farage - is deeply unappealing to me.
The Daily Mail, Daily Express, Times and Daily Telegraph are ALL carrying this two-page advert prominently within their news pages today.
That tells you a LOT about these newspapers - and the £££ available to Farage
That tells you a LOT about these newspapers - and the £££ available to Farage
November 27, 2025 at 3:08 PM
All these references to 'Broken Britain' irritate me greatly. We have many problems in the United Kingdom, but it is not 'broken', and, like our one-time relationship with the EU, the alternative - as offered by the likes of Mr Farage - is deeply unappealing to me.
Reposted by Simon S
Tories and Reform complaining about the budget they caused.
November 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Tories and Reform complaining about the budget they caused.
Reposted by Simon S
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 Simon S
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Reposted by Simon S
Wake up to 400 emails on how I can hide my money from the Chancellor and, as ever, it's good to see the generous, warm-hearted, UK press in action.
November 27, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Wake up to 400 emails on how I can hide my money from the Chancellor and, as ever, it's good to see the generous, warm-hearted, UK press in action.
Reposted by Simon S
Quick analysis of The Times today:
Wall to wall negative coverage of Labour’s budget. An editorial that tuts about lack of growth but takes no responsibility. And a double page ad to join Farage/Reform.
Absolutely no analysis on how rightwing ideology - including Brexit - has been utterly ruinous.
Wall to wall negative coverage of Labour’s budget. An editorial that tuts about lack of growth but takes no responsibility. And a double page ad to join Farage/Reform.
Absolutely no analysis on how rightwing ideology - including Brexit - has been utterly ruinous.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Quick analysis of The Times today:
Wall to wall negative coverage of Labour’s budget. An editorial that tuts about lack of growth but takes no responsibility. And a double page ad to join Farage/Reform.
Absolutely no analysis on how rightwing ideology - including Brexit - has been utterly ruinous.
Wall to wall negative coverage of Labour’s budget. An editorial that tuts about lack of growth but takes no responsibility. And a double page ad to join Farage/Reform.
Absolutely no analysis on how rightwing ideology - including Brexit - has been utterly ruinous.
Reposted by Simon S
Serious howls of outrage in the media this morning at what is a relatively modest Budget from Labour that does nothing more than fiddle around the margins.
It does highlight the missed opportunity. If you’re going to get this reaction anyway, why not at least get it for attempting a big swing?
It does highlight the missed opportunity. If you’re going to get this reaction anyway, why not at least get it for attempting a big swing?
November 27, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Serious howls of outrage in the media this morning at what is a relatively modest Budget from Labour that does nothing more than fiddle around the margins.
It does highlight the missed opportunity. If you’re going to get this reaction anyway, why not at least get it for attempting a big swing?
It does highlight the missed opportunity. If you’re going to get this reaction anyway, why not at least get it for attempting a big swing?
Reposted by Simon S
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in its study “The Economic Impact of Brexit” examined nearly a decade of data since 2016. It concluded that the UK economy has shrunk by 6-8%.
That’s up to £231 billion every year!
No wonder Rachel Reeves is struggling!
That’s up to £231 billion every year!
No wonder Rachel Reeves is struggling!
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 AM
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in its study “The Economic Impact of Brexit” examined nearly a decade of data since 2016. It concluded that the UK economy has shrunk by 6-8%.
That’s up to £231 billion every year!
No wonder Rachel Reeves is struggling!
That’s up to £231 billion every year!
No wonder Rachel Reeves is struggling!
Reposted by Simon S
Nigel Farage fans want us all to forget his extreme views during his schoolboy years.
The same Nigel Farage fans who won’t let go of Shamima Begum’s extreme views during her schoolgirl years.
As an adult, Shamima has seen the error of her ways, whereas Nigel.…
The same Nigel Farage fans who won’t let go of Shamima Begum’s extreme views during her schoolgirl years.
As an adult, Shamima has seen the error of her ways, whereas Nigel.…
November 27, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Nigel Farage fans want us all to forget his extreme views during his schoolboy years.
The same Nigel Farage fans who won’t let go of Shamima Begum’s extreme views during her schoolgirl years.
As an adult, Shamima has seen the error of her ways, whereas Nigel.…
The same Nigel Farage fans who won’t let go of Shamima Begum’s extreme views during her schoolgirl years.
As an adult, Shamima has seen the error of her ways, whereas Nigel.…
Reposted by Simon S
Reposted by Simon S
Laughable if not so hypocritical Mel Stride calls for more grown up politics when leader of party he represents stands at despatch box in one of greatest institutions in the world making stupid voices & personal insults to the Chancelor the tories aren’t and never were fit fit to govern #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Laughable if not so hypocritical Mel Stride calls for more grown up politics when leader of party he represents stands at despatch box in one of greatest institutions in the world making stupid voices & personal insults to the Chancelor the tories aren’t and never were fit fit to govern #r4today
Reposted by Simon S
🔥 Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
New: Boris Johnson’s ‘Brexit Titanic success’ was half right
Nearly ten years on, the first full assessment of Brexit confirms what millions warned: Britain made itself poorer
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 7:04 AM
🔥 Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
A new decade-long Brexit study quantifies it:
A 6–8% hit to GDP
That's £180bn-£240bn a year
It means less tax revenue and so less money for everything.
Brexit made Britain MUCH poorer.
Reposted by Simon S
Over to the BBC now (sadly) as Charlie thinks the OBR leaking the budget a few minutes early is definitely a reason for Reeves and Starmer to resign.
On a separate note, someone really needs to sit him down and explain to him how ludicrous his haircut is.
On a separate note, someone really needs to sit him down and explain to him how ludicrous his haircut is.
November 27, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Over to the BBC now (sadly) as Charlie thinks the OBR leaking the budget a few minutes early is definitely a reason for Reeves and Starmer to resign.
On a separate note, someone really needs to sit him down and explain to him how ludicrous his haircut is.
On a separate note, someone really needs to sit him down and explain to him how ludicrous his haircut is.
Reposted by Simon S
Shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, contradicting himself. He excuses Kemi Badenoch's playground jibes against Rachel Reeves as 'theater'.
He wants a more civil discourse, yet Stride calls Reeves 'incompetent', something no politician would have done back in the days of a more civil discourse.
#r4today
He wants a more civil discourse, yet Stride calls Reeves 'incompetent', something no politician would have done back in the days of a more civil discourse.
#r4today
November 27, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, contradicting himself. He excuses Kemi Badenoch's playground jibes against Rachel Reeves as 'theater'.
He wants a more civil discourse, yet Stride calls Reeves 'incompetent', something no politician would have done back in the days of a more civil discourse.
#r4today
He wants a more civil discourse, yet Stride calls Reeves 'incompetent', something no politician would have done back in the days of a more civil discourse.
#r4today
Reposted by Simon S
Good stuff from Rutte, and a reminder to the US and Russia that there are some things they cannot control
www.politico.eu/article/mark...
www.politico.eu/article/mark...
Rutte rules out Russian veto on Ukraine joining NATO
The alliance chief also warned that the threat Moscow poses to Europe will far outlast any peace deal reached with Kyiv.
www.politico.eu
November 27, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Good stuff from Rutte, and a reminder to the US and Russia that there are some things they cannot control
www.politico.eu/article/mark...
www.politico.eu/article/mark...
Reposted by Simon S
Covid/ PPE/ Ayanda Capital. 50 million masks rejected. Unfit for purpose.
I don’t think you are remotely “patriotic” when you sting taxpayer citizens for profit when the country is in extremis.
I think we have to get out heads around this and our rules.
I don’t think you are remotely “patriotic” when you sting taxpayer citizens for profit when the country is in extremis.
I think we have to get out heads around this and our rules.
November 26, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Covid/ PPE/ Ayanda Capital. 50 million masks rejected. Unfit for purpose.
I don’t think you are remotely “patriotic” when you sting taxpayer citizens for profit when the country is in extremis.
I think we have to get out heads around this and our rules.
I don’t think you are remotely “patriotic” when you sting taxpayer citizens for profit when the country is in extremis.
I think we have to get out heads around this and our rules.
Reposted by Simon S
November 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Simon S
'Rachel Reeves has done more to help kids in poverty than 7 Tory Chancellors'
Kevin Maguire
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Kevin Maguire
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
'Rachel Reeves transformed herself from Scrooge to Mother Christmas'
'Budget deserves to be remembered as the moment the UK Labour Government found its moral purpose and consigned the callous, cruel and cynical Tory two-child benefit to the dustbin of British history'
www.mirror.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 5:47 PM
'Rachel Reeves has done more to help kids in poverty than 7 Tory Chancellors'
Kevin Maguire
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Kevin Maguire
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...