Tom MacInnes
@tommacinnes.bsky.social
Interim Director of Policy, Citizens Advice. Policy stuff, data, graphs, that kind of thing.
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Poverty is so expensive to our state and public services. It damages life chances for children and has a massive drag on the economy.
Here’s what one of our brilliant frontline advisers wrote in our Budget submission on this:
Here’s what one of our brilliant frontline advisers wrote in our Budget submission on this:
November 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Poverty is so expensive to our state and public services. It damages life chances for children and has a massive drag on the economy.
Here’s what one of our brilliant frontline advisers wrote in our Budget submission on this:
Here’s what one of our brilliant frontline advisers wrote in our Budget submission on this:
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Scrapping the two-child limit is a brilliant step forward. Reversing this cruel policy will not only pull hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty altogether (and lift many more out of very deep poverty); it will also stop over 100 additional children from being pulled into poverty every day
November 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Scrapping the two-child limit is a brilliant step forward. Reversing this cruel policy will not only pull hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty altogether (and lift many more out of very deep poverty); it will also stop over 100 additional children from being pulled into poverty every day
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
One of the big mistakes the left made was branding tax credits as corporate welfare.
You need cash transfers as well as a minimum wage because different people have different financial needs.
A minimum wage high enough to support three kids and a disabled spouse is not a sensible minimum wage.
You need cash transfers as well as a minimum wage because different people have different financial needs.
A minimum wage high enough to support three kids and a disabled spouse is not a sensible minimum wage.
This is another thing I had to cut from my piece - the minimum wage is best understood as an anti-poverty measure *for single or childless couples at the start of their working lives*. But it's not a lever that helps most people struggling to make ends meet. Only cash transfers do that.
Why the two-child limit has to go, in a chart.
November 25, 2025 at 7:34 PM
One of the big mistakes the left made was branding tax credits as corporate welfare.
You need cash transfers as well as a minimum wage because different people have different financial needs.
A minimum wage high enough to support three kids and a disabled spouse is not a sensible minimum wage.
You need cash transfers as well as a minimum wage because different people have different financial needs.
A minimum wage high enough to support three kids and a disabled spouse is not a sensible minimum wage.
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Why the two-child limit has to go, in a chart.
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Why the two-child limit has to go, in a chart.
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Buckle up friend it’s time for bread made out of crisps 🍞 🥔
Full disclosure it was not a flawless first attempt.
The aim was to make a loaf of bread where the majority ingredient is crisps.
1. Buy 450g of crisps, without shame
Full disclosure it was not a flawless first attempt.
The aim was to make a loaf of bread where the majority ingredient is crisps.
1. Buy 450g of crisps, without shame
November 23, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Buckle up friend it’s time for bread made out of crisps 🍞 🥔
Full disclosure it was not a flawless first attempt.
The aim was to make a loaf of bread where the majority ingredient is crisps.
1. Buy 450g of crisps, without shame
Full disclosure it was not a flawless first attempt.
The aim was to make a loaf of bread where the majority ingredient is crisps.
1. Buy 450g of crisps, without shame
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
You can’t cut child poverty without scrapping the two child benefit limit, and you can’t be a Labour government if you preside over rising child poverty. Me for @labourlist.bsky.social on the route to getting done what Labour must get done. labourlist.org/2025/11/gord...
'Gordon Brown, Labour MPs, and voters agree: Act on child poverty now' - LabourList
Gordon Brown, Labour MPs and the public agree - tax gambling companies and end child poverty now.
labourlist.org
November 9, 2025 at 10:23 AM
You can’t cut child poverty without scrapping the two child benefit limit, and you can’t be a Labour government if you preside over rising child poverty. Me for @labourlist.bsky.social on the route to getting done what Labour must get done. labourlist.org/2025/11/gord...
Really good thread from Becca here
Initial thoughts on the Keep Britain Working Review
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
November 5, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Really good thread from Becca here
Proper good news today - the Renters' Rights Act gets Royal Assent. Citizens Advice see 200 people a day with problems in private rented housing. The act shifts the balance towards tenants, but it's just the start, as @tessthompsonca.bsky.social says here wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/the-renters-...
The Renters’ Rights Act is here — but the work is just beginning
After years of waiting, the Renters’ Rights Act has finally received Royal Assent and passed into law. We’ve campaigned hard for this, and…
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
October 28, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Proper good news today - the Renters' Rights Act gets Royal Assent. Citizens Advice see 200 people a day with problems in private rented housing. The act shifts the balance towards tenants, but it's just the start, as @tessthompsonca.bsky.social says here wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/the-renters-...
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Is saying that the Jews run the world antisemitic or just vigilant? Tune in for next week's episode of "is it racist to be racist"
Is the Reform MP who says she’s driven mad by TV adverts full of Black & Asian people a racist or realist? How many migrants would the Tories expel? & should the UK be selling fighter jets to Türkiye?
Join LIVE at 9PM on X & YouTube or on ITV1 at 1045PM 📺
#Peston
Join LIVE at 9PM on X & YouTube or on ITV1 at 1045PM 📺
#Peston
October 28, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Is saying that the Jews run the world antisemitic or just vigilant? Tune in for next week's episode of "is it racist to be racist"
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Every word of this.
Freezing Local Housing Allowance ultimately lowers living standards for low-income private renters.
Other income boosts cannot compensate for the loss experienced from LHA failing to keep up with rents.
Read the latest Housing Outlook➡️https://buff.ly/iZ80qbA
Other income boosts cannot compensate for the loss experienced from LHA failing to keep up with rents.
Read the latest Housing Outlook➡️https://buff.ly/iZ80qbA
October 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Every word of this.
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Twenty of the second tier Championship clubs in 2025 now have higher attendances than the 15k that Villa had in 1986. Football as a source of local connection + pride was in a bad way then and a much better place beyond the premiership today
October 18, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Twenty of the second tier Championship clubs in 2025 now have higher attendances than the 15k that Villa had in 1986. Football as a source of local connection + pride was in a bad way then and a much better place beyond the premiership today
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
My colleague @mashley.bsky.social argued recently that directly reducing electricity bills (to reverse the levies) may be a better use of government money than cutting VAT.
Why? Because it opens up an affordable route to get off gas and further lower bills, via electric heating
Why? Because it opens up an affordable route to get off gas and further lower bills, via electric heating
Is removing VAT really the best way to cut energy bills?
Targeting electricity bills, subsidising bill-funded schemes, or a one-off debt forgiveness program offer more effective, fair, and sustainable solutions
www.nesta.org.uk
October 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
My colleague @mashley.bsky.social argued recently that directly reducing electricity bills (to reverse the levies) may be a better use of government money than cutting VAT.
Why? Because it opens up an affordable route to get off gas and further lower bills, via electric heating
Why? Because it opens up an affordable route to get off gas and further lower bills, via electric heating
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Excellent thread on what should guide any Jobcentre engagement with disabled claimants (many of these principles should be standard across the whole UC system - not just for those currently exempt from conditionality).
DWP plans to introduce a ‘support conversation’ for disabled claimants who don’t currently meet a work coach. My new paper explores how this conversation can be done effectively and avoid causing harm 🧵
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
A fresh start: transforming engagement with disabled benefits claimants through a case worker model
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Excellent thread on what should guide any Jobcentre engagement with disabled claimants (many of these principles should be standard across the whole UC system - not just for those currently exempt from conditionality).
This is what we keep seeing- and keep saying- at Citizens Advice. Was in Durham today speaking to debt advisors and no one there thought the cost of living crisis had ended.
“I think politicians are ignoring prices and bills and hoping we’ll forget about them and find something else to complain about…”
My report on how the flighty Westminster bubble forgot about the cost-of-living crisis, which certainly isn't over:
My report on how the flighty Westminster bubble forgot about the cost-of-living crisis, which certainly isn't over:
Energy bills rise while Westminster talks immigration
Why have our politicians forgotten about the cost-of-living crisis?
www.newstatesman.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:33 PM
This is what we keep seeing- and keep saying- at Citizens Advice. Was in Durham today speaking to debt advisors and no one there thought the cost of living crisis had ended.
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
“I think politicians are ignoring prices and bills and hoping we’ll forget about them and find something else to complain about…”
My report on how the flighty Westminster bubble forgot about the cost-of-living crisis, which certainly isn't over:
My report on how the flighty Westminster bubble forgot about the cost-of-living crisis, which certainly isn't over:
Energy bills rise while Westminster talks immigration
Why have our politicians forgotten about the cost-of-living crisis?
www.newstatesman.com
October 14, 2025 at 11:51 AM
“I think politicians are ignoring prices and bills and hoping we’ll forget about them and find something else to complain about…”
My report on how the flighty Westminster bubble forgot about the cost-of-living crisis, which certainly isn't over:
My report on how the flighty Westminster bubble forgot about the cost-of-living crisis, which certainly isn't over:
New @citizensadvice.bsky.social report on Temporary Accommodation. People know that it's really expensive for local authorities to house tenants in TA, but this report shows how expensive it is for the families too.
lnkd.in/ejB5ycRU
lnkd.in/ejB5ycRU
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
September 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
New @citizensadvice.bsky.social report on Temporary Accommodation. People know that it's really expensive for local authorities to house tenants in TA, but this report shows how expensive it is for the families too.
lnkd.in/ejB5ycRU
lnkd.in/ejB5ycRU
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
💡 Ofgem’s changes on standing charges won’t cut bills - lower charges just mean a higher cost per unit for energy.
Tinkering at the edges won’t help people this winter. We need long-term, targeted support for households facing record energy prices ⤵️
https://shorturl.at/NSTLZ
Tinkering at the edges won’t help people this winter. We need long-term, targeted support for households facing record energy prices ⤵️
https://shorturl.at/NSTLZ
Energy standing charge options coming, but they might not cut bills
The regulator's plans could be in place by the end of January, but it warns total bills won't fall.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 24, 2025 at 8:10 AM
💡 Ofgem’s changes on standing charges won’t cut bills - lower charges just mean a higher cost per unit for energy.
Tinkering at the edges won’t help people this winter. We need long-term, targeted support for households facing record energy prices ⤵️
https://shorturl.at/NSTLZ
Tinkering at the edges won’t help people this winter. We need long-term, targeted support for households facing record energy prices ⤵️
https://shorturl.at/NSTLZ
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Our latest data shows that people’s problems are becoming more urgent and more complex.
And the systems designed to support them are harder to navigate than ever.
Join us on 25 September to hear from a panel of experts and explore our data ⤵️ https://bit.ly/41XFPsn #CADataInsights
And the systems designed to support them are harder to navigate than ever.
Join us on 25 September to hear from a panel of experts and explore our data ⤵️ https://bit.ly/41XFPsn #CADataInsights
September 17, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Our latest data shows that people’s problems are becoming more urgent and more complex.
And the systems designed to support them are harder to navigate than ever.
Join us on 25 September to hear from a panel of experts and explore our data ⤵️ https://bit.ly/41XFPsn #CADataInsights
And the systems designed to support them are harder to navigate than ever.
Join us on 25 September to hear from a panel of experts and explore our data ⤵️ https://bit.ly/41XFPsn #CADataInsights
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
There was some good chat here a while back about the glorious awfulness of Ukraine 0-0 Switzerland AET at the World Cup in 2006 - aka Probably the Worst Game of All Time. Is Kairat 0-0 Celtic in the second leg of the CL qualifiers (aggregate 0-0, heading to extra time) a rival?
August 26, 2025 at 6:29 PM
There was some good chat here a while back about the glorious awfulness of Ukraine 0-0 Switzerland AET at the World Cup in 2006 - aka Probably the Worst Game of All Time. Is Kairat 0-0 Celtic in the second leg of the CL qualifiers (aggregate 0-0, heading to extra time) a rival?
I don't drive much and am terrible at parking when I do, but this is a good example of a market intervention that obviously works for consumers. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Government teams with parking giants to ensure drivers can use preferred apps in all car parks
British Parking Association will develop and run the 'national parking platform', providing drivers with a more flexible parking experience.
www.gov.uk
August 12, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I don't drive much and am terrible at parking when I do, but this is a good example of a market intervention that obviously works for consumers. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Tom MacInnes
Come and join the best team going to do impactful work on welfare policy. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop research and influencing skills in a friendly and supportive organisation.
My team at @citizensadvice.bsky.social is recruiting for a Policy Research Assistant. Come and join us!
www.jobtrain.co.uk/citizensadvi...
www.jobtrain.co.uk/citizensadvi...
Policy Research Assistant:Blended between office and home (England and Wales)
www.jobtrain.co.uk
August 8, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Come and join the best team going to do impactful work on welfare policy. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop research and influencing skills in a friendly and supportive organisation.