Matthew Bailey
@whyoutloud.bsky.social
Political bits and bobs, often to no meaningful end. Formerly the likes of thatchersrise etc over on the 'other' place.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
The two child cap is a test of the government’s seriousness: if you are serious about child poverty, you lift it, and if you are serious about not wasting money, you don’t fritter away cash on dumb things like vouchers to try and manage the PLP.
If the government chooses to keep the 2 child limit and spend money on vouchers and parenting programmes instead, child poverty will rise and this will be a conscious and deliberate political choice in defiance of all the evidence
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The two child cap is a test of the government’s seriousness: if you are serious about child poverty, you lift it, and if you are serious about not wasting money, you don’t fritter away cash on dumb things like vouchers to try and manage the PLP.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
real ‘we respect student opinion but only if we already agree’ vibes across the sector
Did @uniofnottingham.bsky.social consult any students before announcing the proposed course closures? @uonucu.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
University of Nottingham students fight 'insane' cull of courses
Traitors composer Sam Watts is among those against plans to cut University of Nottingham courses.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 AM
real ‘we respect student opinion but only if we already agree’ vibes across the sector
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
![Cartoon by Stephen Collins for The Guardian. Script as follows:
[scene is Winston Churchill in a bbc studio, giving his 'finest hour' speech]
1
CHURCHILL:
The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.
2
CHURCHILL:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.
3
CHURCHILL:
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free
and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sun-
BBC PRESENTER:
Thank you prime minister
4
BBC PRESENTER:
Mr hitler, your response?
5
HITLER [in the studio]:
Vell zis is hysterical woke nonsense as usual from mr Churchill
6
HITLER:
What we are proposing -
CHURCHILL:
Hang on
7
HITLER:
Let me finish - what we are proposing eez a simple power-sharing arrangement -
8
CHURCHILL:
What's he doing here
BBC PRESENTER:
It's important we hear both sides of the debate
9
CHURCHILL:
This isn't a debate
You don't debate fascists
10
HITLER:
Oh here we go with ze Godwins law!
11
HITLER:
Why must you people always compare ze things you don't like to 'fascists, Nazis, Hitler'...
CHURCHILL:
Because you are a fascist Nazi Hit-
12
HITLER [standing up, saluting]:
RAUSS!
BBC PRESENTER:
*Please* Mr Churchill let him speak
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibw4ldc3fhslbvxgy2oqrof2oys5kpgh7zu6a5f3usmx3lf4547qm@jpeg)
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
I’m surprised Davie has resigned over that Panorama edit (seems like a bit of a nothingburger to me) but I’m glad he’s gone. On his watch the BBC simply gave up the ghost on factual documentary TV, and decided the best way to serve its audience was to patronise it.
1/2
1/2
November 9, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I’m surprised Davie has resigned over that Panorama edit (seems like a bit of a nothingburger to me) but I’m glad he’s gone. On his watch the BBC simply gave up the ghost on factual documentary TV, and decided the best way to serve its audience was to patronise it.
1/2
1/2
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
The BBC is tearing itself apart to appease publications and politicians who want to see it die.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The BBC is tearing itself apart to appease publications and politicians who want to see it die.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
So, I assume we’re going to demand that heads roll at Fox News for all the shit they chatted about Sadiq Khan? Is that how this works? #FuckBoris
November 9, 2025 at 10:15 PM
So, I assume we’re going to demand that heads roll at Fox News for all the shit they chatted about Sadiq Khan? Is that how this works? #FuckBoris
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Depressing that the BBC has so little inherent institutional strength, it is kicked about so easily.
This is not good sign for our polity.
This is not good sign for our polity.
November 9, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Depressing that the BBC has so little inherent institutional strength, it is kicked about so easily.
This is not good sign for our polity.
This is not good sign for our polity.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Ah, 9 November – a sad one, this: 59th anniversary of the day Paul McCartney died, forcing the other Beatles to replace him with an orphan they had trained to impersonate him, and then (obviously) put clues in songs and on album covers so people could find out anyway
November 9, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Ah, 9 November – a sad one, this: 59th anniversary of the day Paul McCartney died, forcing the other Beatles to replace him with an orphan they had trained to impersonate him, and then (obviously) put clues in songs and on album covers so people could find out anyway
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
And they say there are no new sitcom ideas
November 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM
And they say there are no new sitcom ideas
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Tune in at 18:10 to see Thora Hird founding Antifa in Went The Day Well
November 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Tune in at 18:10 to see Thora Hird founding Antifa in Went The Day Well
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
It’s not even going to advance your position in the party because they are going to see it as disloyal, which it is?
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 PM
It’s not even going to advance your position in the party because they are going to see it as disloyal, which it is?
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
The government have been rolling the pitch for tax rises for a month, your intervention here is not going to change their plans, and all this is going to do is make things more difficult for the party that you are deputy leader of.
It’s an actively, aggressively stupid intervention on every level.
It’s an actively, aggressively stupid intervention on every level.
“Don’t put up income tax, NI or VAT”…in the same interview “spend more money”. While I think the Labour leadership should have thought more intelligently (read: at all) about how to get out of their tax pledges, can see why they made them!
Labour should stick to manifesto pledges on tax, deputy leader says
The government has repeatedly refused to rule out increasing income tax in this month's Budget.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The government have been rolling the pitch for tax rises for a month, your intervention here is not going to change their plans, and all this is going to do is make things more difficult for the party that you are deputy leader of.
It’s an actively, aggressively stupid intervention on every level.
It’s an actively, aggressively stupid intervention on every level.
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Long live terrestrial, linear TV.
Tonight would have been shite and, quite frankly, impossible without it.
#TheCelebrityTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
Tonight would have been shite and, quite frankly, impossible without it.
#TheCelebrityTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Long live terrestrial, linear TV.
Tonight would have been shite and, quite frankly, impossible without it.
#TheCelebrityTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
Tonight would have been shite and, quite frankly, impossible without it.
#TheCelebrityTraitors #CelebrityTraitors
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Let's talk about linguistic arseholery. I have been thinking lately of examples of people being dickishly pedantic (or just wrong-headed) about what to call things. Three examples below, starting with the well-known case of Anthony Powell. 🧵
November 4, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Let's talk about linguistic arseholery. I have been thinking lately of examples of people being dickishly pedantic (or just wrong-headed) about what to call things. Three examples below, starting with the well-known case of Anthony Powell. 🧵
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
My TV Crime Penguin Postcard series is now available as a choose-your-own quintet. Get your bunch of fives here: colemandesign.co.uk/tv-crime-pen...
November 5, 2025 at 10:50 AM
My TV Crime Penguin Postcard series is now available as a choose-your-own quintet. Get your bunch of fives here: colemandesign.co.uk/tv-crime-pen...
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
spent all morning on this
November 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
spent all morning on this
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
"Paul was the only Beatle who seemed to own a radio or keep up with the charts". @quantick.bsky.social on #PaulMcCartney's *other* band and the new WINGS compilation > bit.ly/4nERyUC
November 4, 2025 at 6:27 PM
"Paul was the only Beatle who seemed to own a radio or keep up with the charts". @quantick.bsky.social on #PaulMcCartney's *other* band and the new WINGS compilation > bit.ly/4nERyUC
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
"changes would “encourage students to study a greater breadth of GCSE subjects inc the arts, humanities and languages alongside English, maths and science”
Okay, govt spokesperson, but can we get the same commitment to such subject diversity for universities?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Okay, govt spokesperson, but can we get the same commitment to such subject diversity for universities?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
England curriculum should focus less on exams and more on life skills, finds review
Experts say pupils should spend less time in exam halls and more time on activities like life skills, sport and work experience
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:30 AM
"changes would “encourage students to study a greater breadth of GCSE subjects inc the arts, humanities and languages alongside English, maths and science”
Okay, govt spokesperson, but can we get the same commitment to such subject diversity for universities?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Okay, govt spokesperson, but can we get the same commitment to such subject diversity for universities?
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Excellent as ever.
'“It has stopped making sense to work,” she said, which certainly explains her approach to opposition.'
thecritic.co.uk/making-a-mes...
'“It has stopped making sense to work,” she said, which certainly explains her approach to opposition.'
thecritic.co.uk/making-a-mes...
Making a mess of a mess | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
To get one incoherent speech on the economy may be regarded as a misfortune. To get two in the same morning… well, it did at least move us towards an explanation of why people have to keep making them...
thecritic.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Excellent as ever.
'“It has stopped making sense to work,” she said, which certainly explains her approach to opposition.'
thecritic.co.uk/making-a-mes...
'“It has stopped making sense to work,” she said, which certainly explains her approach to opposition.'
thecritic.co.uk/making-a-mes...
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
If you're going to go on television and make a song and dance about being honest, it would be best if you weren't dancing around the main point.
thecritic.co.uk/maki...
thecritic.co.uk/maki...
November 4, 2025 at 6:45 PM
If you're going to go on television and make a song and dance about being honest, it would be best if you weren't dancing around the main point.
thecritic.co.uk/maki...
thecritic.co.uk/maki...
Reposted by Matthew Bailey
Fantastic British drama starring #PeterVaughan as a shrewd insurance investigator!
📽️ SMOKESCREEN (1964) 3:50pm #TPTVsubtitles with #YvonneRomain #JohnCarson #SamKydd
📽️ SMOKESCREEN (1964) 3:50pm #TPTVsubtitles with #YvonneRomain #JohnCarson #SamKydd
November 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Fantastic British drama starring #PeterVaughan as a shrewd insurance investigator!
📽️ SMOKESCREEN (1964) 3:50pm #TPTVsubtitles with #YvonneRomain #JohnCarson #SamKydd
📽️ SMOKESCREEN (1964) 3:50pm #TPTVsubtitles with #YvonneRomain #JohnCarson #SamKydd