Burnham can’t take the politics out of social care reform Andy Burnham's pledge to tackle social care is an encouraging, though familiar, commitment, but he will need to face some very difficult choices to succeed says @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...

Burnham can’t take the politics out of social care reform | Institute for Government

The new PM will have to prioritise to make progress on social care during this parliament

instituteforgovernment.org.uk

PS There's debate to be had about whether major reform to anything in the UK has ever come from cross party consensus prior to it being introduced. Historically, the governing party goes for it while the opposition initially fights it tooth n' nail before realising it works and/or that it's popular.

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · last wk.

tfw you say you're willing to work cross-party on a total reform of social care but then rule out any of the revenue-raising steps needed to pay for it. #Cakeism is clearly alive and well.

This is nuts. Yes we need better protections online, but this is a massive overreach by Starmer. For many young people, especially marginalised ones such as trans and neurodivergent, online spaces can be a safe place for them to develop a genuine support community www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Starmer to announce ‘Australia plus’ ban on social media for under-16s

Sources say hardline measures will also prevent young users from being to talk to strangers on gaming apps

theguardian.com

Really interesting results ⬇️

Nancy Hey@worklifeyou.bsky.social · 2mo ago

UK Measures of National WellbeingJune 2026 Continued improvement of subjective wellbeing from the 2020 crash. Misery measures 4.9% low life satisfaction 3.9 % low feeling worthwhile 8.1% low happiness 23.6% high anxiety 64.4% hopeful about the future www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...

Conference starts with a panel discussing where we start. @socialcarefuture.bsky.social’s Andy McCabe sums up the state of care as “precarious” but describes the glimmers of hope that point to a better future

Today’s job. A little light work for a rainy Tuesday. Let’s hope it’s as easy to find our way through the discussions!

A part of my book, Who Wants Normal?, that felt important to include was cultural prejudice around disability aids. I spoke with people who endure pain or stay indoors rather than use one. We can talk about helping people keep healthy as they age without stigmatising “ending up in a wheelchair.”

“It’s good news if you’re *to blame*”? Bloody hell.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 3mo ago

At least 80% responsibility for ill health in old age down to individual, says study

We still need a huge effort to reduce loneliness and build belonging in the UK and globally. Sign up to join Tracey Crouch, Olivia Field, Trey Leveque, Liz Schwartz and me for a special TransAtlantic conversation on how to drive impact again. shorensteincenter.org/event/only-t...

Only The Beginning: Sustainable Strategies For Tackling Loneliness - The Shorenstein Center

shorensteincenter.org

Totally this. Too often we assume digital exclusion is about age. Well, the digital revolution was kicked off by people now 70+, grandma can probably manage an app if she can see the phone. We don't think nearly enough about digital exclusion caused by disability, affordability & language barriers.

Rachel Coldicutt@rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Sorry, but one more. A provisional driving license is £34. The gov.uk app requires an iPhone 8 or newer. 2nd hand iPhone 8s start at £68 and require regular data top ups. Also, govt controls the price of govt ID, but they don't control the price of phones. Digital isn't free at the point of use.

The Department of Health and Social Care is running a survey to explore the self-funder care journey and better understand how to support individuals and families in their care searches. The survey can be found here: forms.office.com/pages/respon...

Later on Louise Casey will set out her first thoughts on her Commission on adult social care. Despite consensus that reform is needed, action has largely eluded us.

Happy ‘Thank-goodness-my-kids-are-too-old-for-World-Book-Day’ to all who celebrate

Not at all comforting to see the questions being raised about the integrity of the election / result - the playbook being followed VERY closely here

Sign up for Chloe Green's Social Media to Win Campaigns workshop on 3rd March at https://smk.org.uk/training-events/social-media-to-win-campaigns/

Good to see this - practical proposals for addressing the loneliness that sits beneath and feeds so many of the big challenges we face today

Unofficial BBCNews (UK) Bot@bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Hobbies could hold key to beating loneliness, say Liberal Democrats

I really hope people advocating to ban kids from SM read this. Some kids are isolated by disabilities or circumstances. Furthermore, some kids grow up in abusive households. “Ideally, a child’s exposure to online worlds should be moderated by their parents” isn’t a reassuring sentiment for everyone

Prof Deborah Lupton, MPH PhD@dalupton.bsky.social · 6mo ago

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... The impacts of locking under 16 yos from their social media networks are now beginning to bite for those young people who relied on them for social connection

I’m sorry, but if ‘other people have views, and they’re annoying’ is news to you in govt, then you have not properly prepared for government www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Alaa Abd el-Fattah has shown supremacy of the Stakeholder State

My time working in No 10 showed me how much time and energy is sapped by people obsessed with fringe issues. It doesn’t have to be this way

thetimes.com

All this government's humiliating retreats could have been avoided if ministers had listened to lobby groups before announcing the policy, rather than waiting until afterwards.

Well, this explains a lot about Labour's travails if little else. Verging on conspiracism. Hate to break it to politicians of this and all future generations, you will be governing in a complex society. You need to factor that into your operating model. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Alaa Abd el-Fattah has shown supremacy of the Stakeholder State

My time working in No 10 showed me how much time and energy is sapped by people obsessed with fringe issues. It doesn’t have to be this way

thetimes.com

The reason for overcrowding of A&E is that too many people haven't got entirely predictable crises managed through anticipatory care and too many people then need an admission. It is not that some people with minor illnesses are there too.

David Oliver@mancunianmedic.bsky.social · 7mo ago

This is not the main cause of long waits for admission, or overcrowding and is not the fault of GPs. However, they try to spin the story www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

We're probably going to miss our target... donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05... But if you donate to this excellent cause by noon today your money will be doubled and (if you drop me an email) I'll give you free access to the members-only London Centric stories I'm working on.

Jim Waterson@jim.londoncentric.media · 8mo ago

I volunteer with a London youth club that does amazing things on a budget with low overheads. This week we're running a matched funding campaign. For every £1 donated the club gets £2. And if you donate any amount, I'll give you a free month of London Centric. donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

The future of adult social care relies on public understanding. So how can we shifting the way we talk to build understanding and strengthen support for investment and reform? If you want to communicate about social care in a way that connects, these resources will help: bit.ly/3KINLs5

“I tell my story so that future generations don’t have to go through the box ticking I did, to be able to get the care I need.” Powerful words from Freya who shared her story as part of our Care Can’t Wait campaign. Read her story: www.adass.org.uk/campaign_art... #ncasc25 #reframingsocialcare

Enjoying the start of my first #NCASC - @clentonf.bsky.social demonstrating his usual way with words as he argues for storytelling to engage people with social care saying “stories move people, spreadsheets don’t”

ADASS@adass.bsky.social · 8mo ago

ADASS President Jess McGregor is joined by @blimeysimon.bsky.social , @clentonf.bsky.social, and Freya Viles from Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living for a session on reframing social care and why stories matter. #ncasc25

Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record. @independentsage.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer

observer.co.uk

I hate that AI has made me approach cute animal videos with an air of suspicion. I resent having to harden my heart to the possibility of an unlikely friendship between a very large dog and a very small one

Progressive thought has been totally expunged from the British political mainstream, and *still* the argument is that there’s an unacceptable institutional bias to the left within the news media. It is *utterly* mad. Very clear for all to see what’s happening here.

So many echoes of my conversations with students experiencing loneliness here. The structure of freshers’ weeks etc put so much pressure on first meetings when in fact it’s through regular, repeated, low pressure contact that most of us ultimately find our people

Unofficial BBCNews (UK) Bot@bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social · 9mo ago

How to cope with loneliness in your first year of university

Befriending Week 2025 is here! From 1 - 7 November, communities will be gathering to celebrate befriending and social connection. We have a fantastic programme lined up - visit the blog to find out what's in store! befriending.co.uk/bw25-launch #BefriendingWeek #WythnosCyfeillio