We are all expecting, and hoping, that Andy Burnham will shake up the tax system to both raise the revenue he needs and make it fairer. A budget good for people, good for the economy and good for the planet.

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 3w ago

Andy Burnham looks at holding expanded autumn Budget ft.trib.al/YSmiCeZ

Mike Tapp. Going against government policy or mentioning secret government policy? If the latter, does that make him a leaking Tapp?

Time to shake up the tax system.

Patriotic Millionaires UK@patmillsuk.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Responding to the result of the Makerfield by-election

Read this book. In the month we sadly remember the life of Jo Cox MP who worked to cross boundaries and get people to learn about each other. This book does just that. It shows us that all the boundaries are artificial and we need to touch each other as humans. We must touch each other.

Same could be said of difficulties for the SNP and Scottish flag. I may put up both England and Scotland flags as I wish both to do well. Let people make of that what they will...

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 2mo ago

'The World Cup is a difficult time for far-right activists,' writes Robert Shrimsley, 'since people will be putting up England flags without wishing to deport immigrants. Terribly confusing.' Tap here to read his latest column: ft.trib.al/nc0GofR

For use with Large Language Models. i.e. Machine Learning general purpose AIs.

Andy Wheeler@andy-whee.bsky.social · 2mo ago

AI used in specific tasks, pattern recognition e.g. medical diagnosis, and overseen by human experts performs impressively. AI used in general tasks with no informed oversight performs poorly. The greatest danger AI poses is people believing it. Need better approach. Ideas attached based on Asimov.

The only reasons that Blair has put his head over the parapet: 1. Scared that Labour might move to the left. Must stop that. 2. Seen the way the wind is blowing and if 1 cannot be achieved, disconnecting from Starmer and hoping for consultancy and influence with new government.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2mo ago

Tony Blair says Labour must abandon net zero, support Trump and move firmly to the right

It is about time that someone called Andy becomes PM. !!!!

Peter Walker@peterwalker99.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I’m in a sunny car park at a sports club in Makerfield, currently full of Labour activists - and this massive sign - ahead of Andy Burnham’s official by-election launch speech fairly soon.

Small change government. This is the basic problem. Over promise, under deliver. Then say they have delivered. People don't see it and so don't believe it. Yougov poll.

This is why Streeting would be a bad alternative to Starmer. Has the same profile and problems. It would be no change. No policy difference or approach difference.

YouGov@yougov.co.uk · 3mo ago

NHS staff increasingly believe Wes Streeting is doing a bad job as health secretary and that the Labour government is handling the NHS badly Streeting as health secretary Good job: 22% (-3 from 19-28 Feb 2025) Bad job: 53% (+13) Labour handling of NHS Well: 24% (-6) Badly: 66% (+13)

I'll wager that those five constituencies combined also avoided more inheritance tax (through offshore funds, etc.) than Scotland and Wales as well. And they spent more on specialist accountancy fees.

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 3mo ago

Just five constituencies in London paid more inheritance tax combined than the whole of Scotland and Wales put together. ft.trib.al/5UmfKSp

Two options as I see it. 1. Starmer finally really does "get it" and includes big policies in the speech - Big new NHS services, big new railway, water, power network. Paid for by wealth taxes. 2. Charlie simply says "My government will continue so you may sit in session." (short and sweet)

Institute for Government@instituteforgovernment.org.uk · 3mo ago

Tomorrow, the King will be delivering his speech as part of the State Opening of Parliament - the formal beginning of each new session of parliament. Find out why it is so important, and how the speech is debated and voted on, in our explainer: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/ki...

That speech is not enough by itself. Better, but still "small change". No mention of paying for change beyond incremental. Plenty of money out there, go tax those who wouldn't miss some (includes me and proud to pay more). King's speech Wednesday now last chance.

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 3mo ago

Starmer vows he will not ‘walk away’ as leadership rivals circle ft.trib.al/9EdqhcJ

Zelenskyy permit for Putin to hold his parade. First class politics and comedy.

MeidasTouch@meidastouch.com · 3mo ago

Zelensky issued an official presidential decree authorizing Russia to hold its Victory Day parade in Moscow tomorrow. He included the exact coordinates of Red Square. That's it. A+ trolling.

There is only so many times you should turn equipment off and then on again before you come to the conclusion that it is just knackered and needs replacing. Starmer Reset

Cheltenham Socialist@jpmendis.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Another reset speech by Starmer on Monday. Doesn’t he and his spads realise that a man with nothing to steer his political leadership can read pre-written speeches as many times as he wants, but without courage or conviction the speech disappears into the ether……Until the next time!

Recent books by Jewish authors: Israel in Palestine, Jewish Rejection of Zionism - Yakov Rabkin. Israel, What Went Wrong - Omer Bartov. Selling Israel, Zionism Propaganda and the Uses of Hasbara - Harriet Malinowitz. and perhaps best of all: The Future is Peace - Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah.

Likely sequence: Starmer to McSweeney: "Make sure Peter gets the clearance he needs" (meaning "Check him out" or...?) McSweeney to Robbins: "Ensure Peter is cleared no matter what" (meaning "fix it") "and just tell us the result, keep the detail to yourself." Stinks of plausible deniability.

Pippa Crerar@pippacrerar.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Friday’s @theguardian.com front page: Starmer in peril as top official ousted over Mandelson row

Weep that we are supporting this. We will be shamed forever.

Reuters@reuters.com · 4mo ago

Orphaned by Israeli strike, Syrian girl in Beirut wants to return to friends and school reut.rs/4bZ5ftZ

Liberty arrested by cops. Irony meter on overload. (Photo by Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times)

Leaders who want and glorify war and violence are not followers of Jesus, even if they call themselves Christian. They are followers of the devil. What they say they believe is not important. Look at what they do.

Protection money. "That's a nice boat you have there. Pity if something were to happen to it." Showing mafia boss Trump how to do it.

Shipwreck@shipwreck75.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Iran is considering a proposal to levy transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a lawmaker said on Thursday, a potential bid to monetise Tehran's newfound grip over the critical waterway.-Reuters

Lots of programmes recently on empire. If you want an entertaining (but still informative) option, I recommend Al Murray: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Why Does Everyone Hate The British Empire? - YouTube

youtube.com

Alice Roberts@profaliceroberts.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I very much enjoyed this lecture on the stories of two missionaries - delving into the complexity of the relationships between evangelising missions and colonial power. Nuanced and thoughtful with a great Q&A. I can see why those who only want to celebrate empire hate this so much!

The first AI wars? Targetting by AI. What next? Deciding which country to declare war on?

Amos Toh@amostoh.bsky.social · 5mo ago

1/ As the US continues AI-enabled strikes on Iran, new @brennancenter.org research from @emileayoub.bsky.social and me examines how the military’s investments in the technology have been building to this moment. Congress must step up and reckon with AI’s dangers to life, liberty, and democracy 🧵:

At least it it has reached some of the main press. Make Armageddon Great Again. These nutcases sometimes talk of Islam as a "death cult", but their Rapturism is the ultimate death cult. I respond by offering Ragnarok.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 5mo ago

US troops were told war on Iran was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’, watchdog alleges

Sheer insanity. I have often observed that there is a section of the evangelical right in the US that thinks this, but I didn't suspect that it also infested the leadership and military. newrepublic.com/post/207270/...

Military Leaders Say Iran War Is So Trump Can Bring About “Armageddon”

Troops have logged more than 110 complaints about such comments with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

newrepublic.com

Stay "in charge" as long as you want Keir. Then the next one will be Zack.

Mark Chadbourn@chadbourn.bsky.social · 5mo ago

New YouGov UK poll. RFM: 23% (-1) GRN: 21% (+4) LAB: 16% (-2) CON: 16% (-2) LDM: 14% (=)

Of course there will be a strong response. Israel was expecting Hezbollah to get involved. It makes an excuse for another incursion into Lebanon. They now have troops available freed up from Gaza. This time they will keep it. "Greater Israel"

Shipwreck@shipwreck75.bsky.social · 5mo ago

There will be "a strong response to Hezbollah's shooting" following sirens in Haifa. -Channel 12 Israel

Definition of "Elite": Any group of people who are better than you at something and who disagree with you about a topic you feel strongly about. Elites: Academic - too clever, no common sense Financial - too rich Sports - far too fit Political - another party that gets more votes etc., etc.

Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · 5mo ago

How Matt Goodwin's definition of "the Elite" focuses on university workers and civil servants, while excluding the investment bankers, asset managers and global real estate executives who pay him bylinetimes.com/2026/02/25/r...

Cost of Living. New initiative. Please support. Inequality Tax Justice www.costoflivingaction.org.uk

Cost of Living Action - A Real Plan for an Affordable Britain

Cost of Living Action is a coalition of civil society groups who are calling on the government to tackle the cost of living crisis by guaranteeing affordable energy, boosting incomes, and raising taxe...

costoflivingaction.org.uk

Did Ratcliffe "colonise" Monaco? Is that wrong? So when is he coming home?

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I wrote for the Guardian about why Jim Ratcliffe's talk of Britain being "colonised" by immigrants crosses the line between legitimate debate and inflammatory rhetoric. It fuses echoes of Powellism with great replacement conspiracies of "civilisational erasure" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...