Kevin O’Connell

@hibou2.bsky.social

When Adam delved and Eve span Who then was the gentleman ? “I have no homeland. I was born in one country, grew up in another, and live in a third. I have survived, but I do not belong anywhere. Not even in my own skin.”

UK inflation fell significantly again in November, down to 3.2% from the 3.6% in Oct & 3.8% in Sep. It's the lowest rate since March. Despite media reporting it as a surprise, it's to be expected & on course with the Bank of England projection for it to head towards the 2% target next year.

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Busiest day of announcements I can remember. Our Labour Government do more in a day than the Tories did in 14 years. Our workers are better protected, our Politics will be better protected and our BBC will be updated. And that’s not to mention house building 👏👏👏

1. Erasmus Scheme from Jan 2027
2. Abuse victims to get specialist NHS support
3. New licensing scheme blocking illegal knife sales and imports.
4. 500 jobs protected at Grangemouth as UK Government partners with INEOS to save vital plant’s future
5. Marine Recovery Fund to get nature thriving and accelerate offshore wind development
6. Major consultation on a revamped National Planning Policy Framework :
* New builds to include nature-friendly features, such as installing swift bricks, to support wildlife
* A default ‘yes’ to suitable homes being built around rail stations
* A default ‘yes’ to new homes building upwards in towns and cities
2. Workers Rights Bill passes
3. UK’s first Universal Studios theme park has been granted planning permission to begin construction in Bedford 
4. Review into foreign financial influence & interference in domestic politics from Russia & other hostile states
5. UK PMI composite output index up to 52.1 in December, from 51.2 in Nov
6. Government launches Charter Review to future-proof the BBC

France has just made pet abandonment a crime . Up to €45000 fine/3 years imprisonment . Will this end the epidemic of abandoned dogs at the start of the national holiday weeks in August ?

Employers pay no NI on workers under 21. Big saving through the tax system. Why do employers in the hospitality business not take on more and more young workers ? There are more than a million of them out of work or training.

Absolutely fabulous news! The Lords have passed the Employment Rights Bill. The 2 Houses now agree, & it can go for Royal Assent and become law. It means the original time scale for implementation remains in place. Amazing what the threat of extra sitting days just before Christmas can do! 1/2

A big thank you to Angela Rayner for her work on 2 bills which are going for Royal Assent (likely this week). The Employment Rights Bill The Planning and Infrastructure Bill Both are flagship pieces of legislation from our Labour government. She guided both through most stages in Parliament. 1/3

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I am in tears The Employment Rights Bill has passed the Lords and goes for Royal Assent this week Sick pay for everyone No more zero hours contracts No more trade union act 2016 years So much more Doing what you sent a Labour government here to do

Yes! Our Labour government has just announced an independent review in to foreign financial interference in UK politics! It will be reported on by the end of March 2026, in 3 months. It has just been announced in the Commons, using the example of the conviction of a senior Reform member! 1/3

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In more good news for the UK’s automotive sector today: Nissan launch the new electric Leaf, meaning there will now be a UK-made mass market EV. Worth noticing that the Tories chose this weekend to dismiss the prospects of UK automotive ever competing with Chinese EVs 🤦‍♀️

Tory Govts squandered our tax money giving lucrative contracts to mates, dodgy PPE deals, loans to crooks in Covid etc & didn’t chase to get it back Labour in Govt have got £14 million back from a Migrant Hotel Company that wasn’t fulfilling its contract Would never have happened under Tories 🤷🏼‍♂️

Mears: Asylum seeker hotel firm hands back almost £14m in profit - BBC News

Mears, which provides services in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the north of England, made more profit than its contracts allow.

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Am appalled by the doctors deciding to strike..not only does it risk harm to ordinary people who depend on them, it jeopardises the NHS itself..and who is lying in the wings praying this happens?? Reform and Tories .. an act of self harm if ever there was one ! If either get into govt ALL will lose

My wife is a doctor and through her know a great many doctors and know of the issues they face. But right now they have lost my support. I do not agree with their strike action. It is wrong. It is damaging. And dare I say it, given what is on offer, they are greedy. 2/2

The Guardian posts a uniquely anti Labour take, squeezing personality politics into their crass headline . I ask myself…. WTF ??? “How many more times will the Bank of England rescue Rachel Reeves?” Something amiss in that rag.