Michael Powell
@whitehalltimes.com
I publish opinion and commentary at https://whitehalltimes.com.
He thinks his arm and hand gesturing adds weight and credibility to his words. It doesn’t, and his words are merely the leaking ramblings of an addled mind.
FactPost@factpostnews.bsky.social · 2d agoTrump on the Reflecting Pool: There's a tape that I posted on Truth where you have people leaning over the side. The weakest part, because of the flexibility. You know, it moves. It's very complicated. And these guys knew what they were doing. And they cut all the way along the base. Cut, cut, cut.
The wealth tax that answers its own objections. Read it at whitehalltimes.com
The wealth tax that answers its own objections
Zucman's 2% minimum would touch fewer than 1,000 households and raise £10bn. The usual arguments against don't survive the design.
whitehalltimes.com
HMRC cannot tell you how much tax Britain's 157 billionaires pay. Not roughly. Not at all. The Public Accounts Committee confirmed it last year. The Sunday Times can count them; the tax authority can't. Worth remembering when people say a minimum tax on the very rich is unworkable. 1/8
I'm broadly in favour of wealth taxes, in line with Gabriel Zucman's proposals. Not out of some lefty, Marxist ambition - simply because I believe it makes logical sense. New post on this topic coming soon.
BladeoftheSun@bladeofthes.bsky.social · 2w agoThe revelation that Sunak has paid £1M in tax in the last 3 years 0.13% of his £720m wealth. While the average person has paid about £45k or 14%, 100x as much. Should open your eyes to just how much and how blatantly the rich dodge tax
I disagree that progressives/The Left has become more “institutionalist.” That’s not it at all. It’s just that the right has become performatively less trusting of science and institutions that progressives’ stance appears more intense. It isn’t.
The News Agents@thenewsagents.co.uk · 6d ago“I’m glad we live in a country that is deferential to expertise - but at times in the pandemic, that did go too far.” “I’m not sure school closures were a price worth paying.” Lewis on how ‘legitimate questions’ have emerged - and should be asked - about how we handled Covid.
My tuppenceworth on the long Covid conversation - complete anosmia and ageusia since October 2021: bsky.app/profile/whit...
Lewis Goodall@lewisgoodall.com · 5d agoLong covid is a disputed subject, at best.
This is just outrageously arrogant. Lewis is right in his assertions.
Paolo Sandro@paolosandro.bsky.social · 5d ago@lewisgoodall.com, I say this as someone who appreciates you and your reporting: please stop. You really don't seem to be informed enough/adequately on this, and are digging yourself further with each new claim. The evidence is overwhelming that COVID was and still is a threat to children
When people ask what's wrong with the world, this - to me - is a satisfactory answer. $10bn profit in 3 months following America's war on Iran. Near $12bn when Russia invaded Ukraine. These are war profits. Is $5bn not sufficient? Shell should be funding Ukraine with the other $5bn.
Shell posts second-highest profits ever as traders cash in on Iran disruption
UK oil major says earnings have surged even as its gas production fell sharply because of Middle East war
ft.com
My contribution to this conversation is that I suffered total and complete loss of smell and taste due to a 2021 covid infection, and they have never returned. The NHS doesn’t care and/or doesn’t know how to deal with my symptoms. Nobody I know experienced anything close, so just don’t get it.
The Fig Economy@figgityfigs.bsky.social · last wk.One of my Crank Theories of Everything, at least of Everything in the Recent Past, is that we are dealing (badly) with COVID trauma we’d mostly prefer to pretend never happened.
Every day, Ukraine surpasses expectations. How long can it keep up this level of counter attack? Can it increase pressure on Russia and Putin even further?
🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦@militarynewsua.bsky.social · last wk.❗️At night, 🇺🇦Ukrainian drones attacked a Wildberries warehouse and an oil refinery in 🇷🇺Ryazan.
The No.10 North argument should be put to bed by finding the geographical centre of the four capital cities of the UK - which, by this web app, is Upton in Wirral! So, if anything, Burnham has gone around 9km too far north, by choosing Manchester. triangulate.streamlit.app
The country is already asking: "What's the point of a Zack Polanski, if he wants to be a political leader and MP, but won't stand in any by-elections?"
Zack Polanski@zackpolanski.bsky.social · 2w agoIts not just me & Angela Rayner. If this Labour government rule out rent controls, a wealth tax, refuse to nationalise water companies, drill for oil and gas, continue to arm Israel - The country will be asking what's the point of a Labour Government? www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Labour’s (Starmer’s) policies working well.
Jon Featonby@jonfeatonby.bsky.social · 2w agoNo arrivals by small boats for the last 10 days now. As of yesterday, 12,469 people had arrived so far this year across the Channel, down over 11,000 (47%) on the same time last year. More than 10% down on 2023 as well, which was when crossings were, by comparison to other years, lower.
Taking VAT off electricity hands every household a cheque, including the ones who won’t notice £45. The same £850m put through the Warm Home Discount or benefit uprating would reach the people who can’t pay, and only them.
Peter Stefanovic@peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 2w agoBREAKING: VAT on electricity bills is to be removed from 1 October, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced. The move is expected to take around £45 off the yearly Ofgem price cap.
Did Nolan claim to be making a documentary? These people are crazy. They may be suffering from Wokeness Derangement Syndrome?
Twlldun@twlldun.bsky.social · 2w ago
Setting the scene today for Lord Lord? I think it’s a pretty safe bet that Sacha Lord will get a peerage from Prime Minister Burnham. Of course, he won’t be allowed to be Lord “Lord” - perhaps Lord Altrincham?
ALL the MORE reason to make Ed Miliband Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Trump Action Tracker@trumpactiontracker.bsky.social · last mo.President Trump warns Andy Burnham against making Ed Miliband chancellor, interfering in how another country and ally runs the country TAT: [Foreign policy | Undermining democracy]
It might be “American” but it’s certainly not very statesmanlike. Certainly not what political leaders should be doing.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · last mo.Trump: "Intel came in. They had a problem. I said, 'I can solve your problem, but I want 10% of the company' ... somebody said that's not very American. I said, 'No, I think it's very American, actually.' And I've done that with other deals."
He doesn’t need to be; this is why we have Foreign and Defence Secretaries.
Sky News@news.sky.com · last mo.NATO secretary general Mark Rutte tells Sky's Cathy Newman he is 'not concerned' by Andy Burnham's foreign affairs experience
The man could never win. Abroad too much. Not abroad enough. Doomed to failure from the moment Labour won the 2024 general election.
Lee Hurley@hleehurley.com · last mo."Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of being a “plastic patriot” after failing to fly the cross of St George outside No 10 for the World Cup." [Telegraph]
Enjoying all the London-based and London-centric journalists’ takes on Burnham’s speech this morning. They really don’t know how to perceive him or write about him. Good on him.
Would be fantastic to have Miliband’s experience back in government.
Rachel Sylvester@rachelsylvester.bsky.social · last mo.David Miliband is ready to serve in Andy Burnham’s Cabinet. Burnham is actively considering appointing him - possibly as foreign secretary with a seat in the Lords. My story for @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...
The unions have realised they can’t stop the Burnham runaway train, so now they’ve set their sights on Miliband - who, by the way, has as much experience and competence as anyone else in the PLP to be chancellor. And definitely more than careerist Streeting.
Financial Times@financialtimes.com · last mo.Unions combine to try to stop Ed Miliband becoming chancellor ft.trib.al/auMrIQH
This chart tells a story other than its main polling questions. The don't knows are 12%. A mere ~2% was the difference between Remaining and Leaving the EU on this day 10 years ago. You could argue the 'don't knows' should include the 'could've worked' responses, because, how could they know?
Brexit was always built on lies. Adam is merely sharing the receipts.
Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · last mo.“Your wages will rise... weekly food shops will get cheaper… You and your family will benefit from a resurgent economy... Politicians both local and national will become more accountable..." A quick reminder of how Brexit was sold to us ten years ago today
It's this kind of shrugging despotism that is symptomatic of dictators out of their depth. See also: Donald Trump.
WarTranslated (Dmitri)@wartranslated.bsky.social · last mo.Putin stated that there are no violations and that their country was providing assistance to the residents of Donbas.
It’s the language. The media’s language will prevent it from ever happening, won’t it. Let’s stop talking about in these terms. A “reversal” would’ve been a withdrawal of Article 50 within a few days. Let’s say “Does Nick Clegg think the UK could rejoin the EU?”
Sky News@news.sky.com · last mo.Does Nick Clegg think Brexit could be reversed?
