ben smoke
@bencsmoke.bsky.social
journalist. gobshite. chaos merchant. tree obsessive. not necessarily in that order. bensmoke.com
The Renters Rights Act has been framed by those in power as a silver bullet for the housing crisis but is it actually up to the task of fixing the spiralling rents that are driving it? @jeremycorbyn.bsky.social doesn’t think so…
The Renters Rights Act has been framed by those in power as a silver bullet for the housing crisis but is it actually up to the task of fixing the spiralling rents that are driving it? @jeremycorbyn.bsky.social doesn’t think so…
REVEALED: New rules for rent tribunals introduced by the Renters Rights Act are actually increasing rents at a faster rate than the national average, despite claims from Housing Secretary Angela Rayner that they would bring rents down...
I just hate to say ‘I told you so’ (not really) but from the start it was obvious that without rent controls, the Renters’ Rights Bill was a pointless bit of tickboxing
ben smoke@bencsmoke.bsky.social · 6d agoREVEALED: New rules for rent tribunals introduced by the Renters Rights Act are actually increasing rents at a faster rate than the national average, despite claims from Housing Secretary Angela Rayner that they would bring rents down...
REVEALED: New rules for rent tribunals introduced by the Renters Rights Act are actually increasing rents at a faster rate than the national average, despite claims from Housing Secretary Angela Rayner that they would bring rents down...
a potential ai apocalypse has dominated the headlines for the last couple of weeks, but are we letting worry about what the technology could do in the future distract us from what tech bros are doing right now? i certainly think so!
a potential ai apocalypse has dominated the headlines for the last couple of weeks, but are we letting worry about what the technology could do in the future distract us from what tech bros are doing right now? i certainly think so!
This summer I’ve published investigations into government corruption and reported on actions, fights and victories across the globe. Got much more planned so please consider becoming a paid subscriber (50% off first 3 months for a limited time only!!) wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/help-me-ke...
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wefightthegoodfight.substack.com
REVEALED: Burnham’s cabinet have taken almost £1 million in donations, gifts and hospitality this year as the PM u-turns on support for caps on political donations ahead of crunch votes and debates next week when Parliament returns 🧵
Last week @acornunion.bsky.social scored big wins for members on bills, bailiffs and more as landlords, utilities companies and councils across the country were targeted in a national day of action. Read more here: wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/people-are...
People are fighting soaring bills (and winning!)
ACORN are taking the fight to the source of the cost of living crisis
wefightthegoodfight.substack.com
BREAKING: Jury refuses to convict in second Filton trial After more than 38 hours of deliberation, the jury refused to convict Madeleine Norman, Hannah Davidson, Teuta Hoxha, Ola Alexandra Herbich, Ian Sanders, William Plastow and Yulia Brigadirova of all charges against them.
The MOD refused to answer any questions posed about the donations, their size, their timing or the potential conflicts of interest (either real or perceived) amounting from them. READ FULL PIECE HERE: wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/revealed-w...
Revealed: Wes Streeting raises £64,000 whilst agreeing to suspend leadership campaign
Defence sec has raised over £200,000 this year with those linked to Palantir, Israeli weapons companies, property developers and health, gambling, and privatised energy sectors among donors.
wefightthegoodfight.substack.com
Look, just like Farage, people just like giving Wes Streeting money with absolutely no expectations or obligations. It's just a perfectly normal part of British politics.
ben smoke@bencsmoke.bsky.social · last mo.In just 7 months Streeting has raised almost ten times the amount an average Labour MP has raised in over two years.
NEW: Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has received over £200,000 in donations this year, including £64,000 between agreeing to back Burnham + re-entering Cabinet.
NEW: Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has received over £200,000 in donations this year, including £64,000 between agreeing to back Burnham + re-entering Cabinet.
NEW: activists from @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social have painted a mural on a scorched mountainside in Wales urging the Prime Minister to take action on climate change and not to allow more drilling in the north sea.
last week hundreds took to the streets across canada to impose a people’s arms embargo on weapons, hardware and technology being used in genocide in gaza. i spoke to some of the organisers to find out more… wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/inside-the...
Inside the People's Arms Embargo
Elbit out of Canada
wefightthegoodfight.substack.com
last week hundreds took to the streets across canada to impose a people’s arms embargo on weapons, hardware and technology being used in genocide in gaza. i spoke to some of the organisers to find out more… wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/inside-the...
Inside the People's Arms Embargo
Elbit out of Canada
wefightthegoodfight.substack.com
celebrate perhaps the most inconsequential by-election in history with some light ad hacking wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/bus-stop-a...
Bus stop action highlights Farage's dodgy dealings
Climate Resistance activists act on eve of Clacton by-election
wefightthegoodfight.substack.com
NEW: Housing Sec Angela Rayner took £20,000 in speaker fee from an anti-rent controls lobbying group just weeks before ruling out a rent freeze in what campaigners from London Renters Union have called a conflict of interest. Read all about it here: wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/rayner-tak...
Rayner takes payment from landlords before ditching rent controls
London Renters Union urges Housing Secretary to listen to renters
wefightthegoodfight.substack.com
"A spokesperson for Angela Rayner said, “All earnings have been declared in line with the rules.” And therein lies the problem - corruption is perfectly fine in this country as long as you record it with the right people.
ben smoke@bencsmoke.bsky.social · 2mo agoNEW: Housing Sec Angela Rayner took £20,000 in speaker fee from an anti-rent controls lobbying group just weeks before ruling out a rent freeze in what campaigners from London Renters Union have called a conflict of interest. Read all about it here: wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/rayner-tak...
celebrate perhaps the most inconsequential by-election in history with some light ad hacking wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/bus-stop-a...
Bus stop action highlights Farage's dodgy dealings
Climate Resistance activists act on eve of Clacton by-election
wefightthegoodfight.substack.com
Well, that "fresh start/reset" lasted a fun *checks notes* negative three weeks...
ben smoke@bencsmoke.bsky.social · 2mo agoNEW: Housing Sec Angela Rayner took £20,000 in speaker fee from an anti-rent controls lobbying group just weeks before ruling out a rent freeze in what campaigners from London Renters Union have called a conflict of interest. Read all about it here: wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/rayner-tak...
I said it before, I’ll say it again, it’s embarrassing how little our MPs can be bought for.
ben smoke@bencsmoke.bsky.social · 2mo agoNEW: Housing Sec Angela Rayner took £20,000 in speaker fee from an anti-rent controls lobbying group just weeks before ruling out a rent freeze in what campaigners from London Renters Union have called a conflict of interest. Read all about it here: wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/rayner-tak...
The majority of them are in a big club, and the rest of us aren't invited
ben smoke@bencsmoke.bsky.social · 2mo agoNEW: Housing Sec Angela Rayner took £20,000 in speaker fee from an anti-rent controls lobbying group just weeks before ruling out a rent freeze in what campaigners from London Renters Union have called a conflict of interest. Read all about it here: wefightthegoodfight.substack.com/p/rayner-tak...