Buck Frexit
@beany.bsky.social
The same remoaning remoaner from Twitter. Anti Brexit, Anti Tory, Anti Trump. Pro Facts, Pro Fun, Pro not putting up with racism. Grieving mother 💔
Reposted by Buck Frexit
The young graduates with large student debts who are hit hardest by recent changes to the student loan system were one of the strongest constituencies for Labour in the 2024 general election.
Spoke to Shleagh Fogarty yesterday sbout why the Chancellor is wrong: our “student loan” system is not remotely fair. It’s regressive and embedding inter and intra generational wealth inequality. It’s not a loan system, it’s a bad grad tax in all but name.
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
Student loans are 'fair', says Rachel Reeves, amid backlash | LBC
YouTube video by LBC
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 11:47 AM
The young graduates with large student debts who are hit hardest by recent changes to the student loan system were one of the strongest constituencies for Labour in the 2024 general election.
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Graduate: Why do I have to pay usurious interest rates on this loan?
Government: It isn't really a loan - think of it more like a tax.
Graduate: Why do I have to pay an extra 9% tax compared with older graduates?
Government: It isn't a tax - it is a loan!
Government: It isn't really a loan - think of it more like a tax.
Graduate: Why do I have to pay an extra 9% tax compared with older graduates?
Government: It isn't a tax - it is a loan!
This is such a facile argument. Sure, let's have a conversation about how universities should be funded. But let's also talk interest rates, debt that functions like an extra tax, repayment thresholds, and what that's actually doing to millions of young people who did everything they were told to do
2026: Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to"
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
January 29, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Graduate: Why do I have to pay usurious interest rates on this loan?
Government: It isn't really a loan - think of it more like a tax.
Graduate: Why do I have to pay an extra 9% tax compared with older graduates?
Government: It isn't a tax - it is a loan!
Government: It isn't really a loan - think of it more like a tax.
Graduate: Why do I have to pay an extra 9% tax compared with older graduates?
Government: It isn't a tax - it is a loan!
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Instead of asking "who should pay for someone's degree?", we should ask: Does it make sense for someone earning £55k to have a marginal tax rate of 51%? What will that do to savings, to productivity, to life prospects, to their chances of buying a home or having children or starting a business?
January 29, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Instead of asking "who should pay for someone's degree?", we should ask: Does it make sense for someone earning £55k to have a marginal tax rate of 51%? What will that do to savings, to productivity, to life prospects, to their chances of buying a home or having children or starting a business?
Reposted by Buck Frexit
This is such a facile argument. Sure, let's have a conversation about how universities should be funded. But let's also talk interest rates, debt that functions like an extra tax, repayment thresholds, and what that's actually doing to millions of young people who did everything they were told to do
2026: Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to"
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
January 29, 2026 at 2:44 PM
This is such a facile argument. Sure, let's have a conversation about how universities should be funded. But let's also talk interest rates, debt that functions like an extra tax, repayment thresholds, and what that's actually doing to millions of young people who did everything they were told to do
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Let's hope this positive news gets as much attention as the people who try to convince us that the UK is a murder ravaged hellscape.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Homicides at lowest level in nearly 50 years, ONS statistics show
The 499 homicide cases in the year to September were the lowest in England and Wales since 1977.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Let's hope this positive news gets as much attention as the people who try to convince us that the UK is a murder ravaged hellscape.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Buck Frexit
...Rachel Reeves' freeze in repayment thresholds in the 2025 Budget did make the system less progressive (with those in the middle being projected to pay more as a result than those at the top) - but the big reduction in the progressivity of the system was the 2022 shift from Plan 2 to Plan 5
January 29, 2026 at 3:20 PM
...Rachel Reeves' freeze in repayment thresholds in the 2025 Budget did make the system less progressive (with those in the middle being projected to pay more as a result than those at the top) - but the big reduction in the progressivity of the system was the 2022 shift from Plan 2 to Plan 5
Reposted by Buck Frexit
....also worth noting that, on this basis, the impact of the Conservatives' 2022 reforms (creating Plan 5 loans for uni cohorts after 2023) was to make the system less progressive i.e those with higher incomes are projected to pay back less relative to the previous system...
January 29, 2026 at 3:08 PM
....also worth noting that, on this basis, the impact of the Conservatives' 2022 reforms (creating Plan 5 loans for uni cohorts after 2023) was to make the system less progressive i.e those with higher incomes are projected to pay back less relative to the previous system...
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Growth has weakened *further* since the pandemic.
Towards the end of last year the economy has taken six YEARS to grow as much as it would have in seven MONTHS, if it was still growing as fast as its pre-pandemic trend.
Find out more ➡️ buff.ly/VWHNFCb
Towards the end of last year the economy has taken six YEARS to grow as much as it would have in seven MONTHS, if it was still growing as fast as its pre-pandemic trend.
Find out more ➡️ buff.ly/VWHNFCb
January 29, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Growth has weakened *further* since the pandemic.
Towards the end of last year the economy has taken six YEARS to grow as much as it would have in seven MONTHS, if it was still growing as fast as its pre-pandemic trend.
Find out more ➡️ buff.ly/VWHNFCb
Towards the end of last year the economy has taken six YEARS to grow as much as it would have in seven MONTHS, if it was still growing as fast as its pre-pandemic trend.
Find out more ➡️ buff.ly/VWHNFCb
Reposted by Buck Frexit
90,000 properties in England/Wales are owned by offshore companies. Almost half unlawfully hide their true ownership
We've found them, mapped them, and published everything
▶️ This 60-second video shows how to find secretly owned property near you
📊 Details & stats below
We've found them, mapped them, and published everything
▶️ This 60-second video shows how to find secretly owned property near you
📊 Details & stats below
January 29, 2026 at 12:46 PM
90,000 properties in England/Wales are owned by offshore companies. Almost half unlawfully hide their true ownership
We've found them, mapped them, and published everything
▶️ This 60-second video shows how to find secretly owned property near you
📊 Details & stats below
We've found them, mapped them, and published everything
▶️ This 60-second video shows how to find secretly owned property near you
📊 Details & stats below
Reposted by Buck Frexit
This is very good on just how trapped we are by the geopolitical weakness, anti-immigrant rhetoric and trade dysfunction of Brexit.
By not changing the Tory record, for fear of alienating Reform voters, Labour - and so the country - is hamstrung by strategic idiocy and populist cruelty.
By not changing the Tory record, for fear of alienating Reform voters, Labour - and so the country - is hamstrung by strategic idiocy and populist cruelty.
My Trade Secrets today, in which it's fair to say I go off on one.
The Labour party is famously "a moral crusade or it is nothing". On aid, immigration and trade they're going for the latter option, with betrayals of principle both repugnant and pointless. 1/n
The Labour party is famously "a moral crusade or it is nothing". On aid, immigration and trade they're going for the latter option, with betrayals of principle both repugnant and pointless. 1/n
The abandonment of Labour’s moral crusade
[FREE TO READ] The UK is taking a cynical but fruitless turn to the reactionary and insular on aid, immigration and trade
as.ft.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:06 PM
This is very good on just how trapped we are by the geopolitical weakness, anti-immigrant rhetoric and trade dysfunction of Brexit.
By not changing the Tory record, for fear of alienating Reform voters, Labour - and so the country - is hamstrung by strategic idiocy and populist cruelty.
By not changing the Tory record, for fear of alienating Reform voters, Labour - and so the country - is hamstrung by strategic idiocy and populist cruelty.
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Even though Europe doesn't the ability to take on Trump's America militarily, the EU has several powerful tools to resist American aggression.
But individual Europeans also have a powerful tool: they can vote with their wallets.
But individual Europeans also have a powerful tool: they can vote with their wallets.
How a boycott America movement is starting to work against Trump
Could a boycott of US products and services actually send a message to the Trump administration? Katie Rosseinsky looks at how peaceful protest can bring real change and the ‘3.5 per cent rule’ that c...
www.independent.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Even though Europe doesn't the ability to take on Trump's America militarily, the EU has several powerful tools to resist American aggression.
But individual Europeans also have a powerful tool: they can vote with their wallets.
But individual Europeans also have a powerful tool: they can vote with their wallets.
Reposted by Buck Frexit
I don’t usually follow the ONS redundancy data that closely, but that’s a fairly notable pickup over the last 18 months.
www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
January 29, 2026 at 11:11 AM
I don’t usually follow the ONS redundancy data that closely, but that’s a fairly notable pickup over the last 18 months.
www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
Reposted by Buck Frexit
“With student loans the UK government has become a loanshark. Trapping poorly paid graduates in decades of “debt” that they can realistically never repay. If it were a commercial deal the government would be trying to regulate the company out of business.”
Lewis Goodall
Lewis Goodall
January 29, 2026 at 9:38 AM
“With student loans the UK government has become a loanshark. Trapping poorly paid graduates in decades of “debt” that they can realistically never repay. If it were a commercial deal the government would be trying to regulate the company out of business.”
Lewis Goodall
Lewis Goodall
Reposted by Buck Frexit
MAGA: We want our money back
Ukraine: Fine. Give us our nukes back & we'll call it even.
Ukraine: Fine. Give us our nukes back & we'll call it even.
Just a friendly reminder that Ukraine was disarmed by the US in coordination with russia. This is if you want to say that the US had no obligation towards Ukraine
January 29, 2026 at 9:44 AM
MAGA: We want our money back
Ukraine: Fine. Give us our nukes back & we'll call it even.
Ukraine: Fine. Give us our nukes back & we'll call it even.
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Couldn't happen to a nicer Nazi.
January 29, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Couldn't happen to a nicer Nazi.
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Hero of the day. Tony Slater, who rummaged through discarded McDonald’s litter on verge, found a receipt, contacted the local environmental health officer. Who contacted McD, who used CCTV to work out the car responsible.
Result: £500 fine. 💥
(Via @thetimes.com)
Result: £500 fine. 💥
(Via @thetimes.com)
January 29, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Hero of the day. Tony Slater, who rummaged through discarded McDonald’s litter on verge, found a receipt, contacted the local environmental health officer. Who contacted McD, who used CCTV to work out the car responsible.
Result: £500 fine. 💥
(Via @thetimes.com)
Result: £500 fine. 💥
(Via @thetimes.com)
Reposted by Buck Frexit
The astronomical debt from student loans puts kids from lower income group families off going to university and discourages others from studying courses that won't offer "a return."
That was obvious from the start and it's also turned some university courses into little more than finishing schools
That was obvious from the start and it's also turned some university courses into little more than finishing schools
January 29, 2026 at 8:29 AM
The astronomical debt from student loans puts kids from lower income group families off going to university and discourages others from studying courses that won't offer "a return."
That was obvious from the start and it's also turned some university courses into little more than finishing schools
That was obvious from the start and it's also turned some university courses into little more than finishing schools
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Did a News Agents ep on the absurdity of the system three years ago. It’s become even worse since then.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
Degrees, Debt, Despair: uni students in 2023
Podcast Episode · The News Agents · 20/01/2023 · 43m
podcasts.apple.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Did a News Agents ep on the absurdity of the system three years ago. It’s become even worse since then.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/d...
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Spoke to Shleagh Fogarty yesterday sbout why the Chancellor is wrong: our “student loan” system is not remotely fair. It’s regressive and embedding inter and intra generational wealth inequality. It’s not a loan system, it’s a bad grad tax in all but name.
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
Student loans are 'fair', says Rachel Reeves, amid backlash | LBC
YouTube video by LBC
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Spoke to Shleagh Fogarty yesterday sbout why the Chancellor is wrong: our “student loan” system is not remotely fair. It’s regressive and embedding inter and intra generational wealth inequality. It’s not a loan system, it’s a bad grad tax in all but name.
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
Reposted by Buck Frexit
PM of Greenland Nielsen to President Macron: "You stood by our side without any hesitation in the extremely difficult situation we are facing. To you and to the French people, I wish to express my thanks. Greenland will not forget this."
January 28, 2026 at 7:32 PM
PM of Greenland Nielsen to President Macron: "You stood by our side without any hesitation in the extremely difficult situation we are facing. To you and to the French people, I wish to express my thanks. Greenland will not forget this."
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Dear voter, sick of the other parties and tempted by Reform UK? Don’t be daft. Don’t do it. They’re not your friends. Unless you are already rich, this report proves that they will only make your life and your family’s lives worse talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/01/28/d...
Dear voter, sick of the other parties and tempted by Reform UK? Don’t be daft. Don’t do it. They’re not your friends. Unless you are already rich, this report proves that they will only make your life...
From the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) yesterday: Reform UK have announced plans for cuts to income tax in Scotland if they were to win the Scottish Parliament elections in May. They say they …
talkingupscotlandtwo.com
January 28, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Dear voter, sick of the other parties and tempted by Reform UK? Don’t be daft. Don’t do it. They’re not your friends. Unless you are already rich, this report proves that they will only make your life and your family’s lives worse talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2026/01/28/d...
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Donald’s Department of Justice, in contravention of the law, still hasn’t released over 99% of the Epstein files.
January 28, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Donald’s Department of Justice, in contravention of the law, still hasn’t released over 99% of the Epstein files.
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Residents of Clacton, I know he’s literally being paid to be your MP but perhaps the way to get him to ever visit you let alone hold constituency surgeries wouod be to have a whip round and offer him a few £million?
Farage is in Dubai hosting a lunch for Indian billionaire Sunny Varkey, the latest non-UK resident to back Reform.
Farage Seeks Support at Dubai Lunch Backed by Indian Billionaire
Nigel Farage hosted a private lunch event in Dubai on Tuesday with the backing of Indian billionaire Sunny Varkey, underscoring the Reform UK party’s embrace of wealthy donors based in the United Arab...
www.bloomberg.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Residents of Clacton, I know he’s literally being paid to be your MP but perhaps the way to get him to ever visit you let alone hold constituency surgeries wouod be to have a whip round and offer him a few £million?
Reposted by Buck Frexit
Farage is in Dubai hosting a lunch for Indian billionaire Sunny Varkey, the latest non-UK resident to back Reform.
Farage Seeks Support at Dubai Lunch Backed by Indian Billionaire
Nigel Farage hosted a private lunch event in Dubai on Tuesday with the backing of Indian billionaire Sunny Varkey, underscoring the Reform UK party’s embrace of wealthy donors based in the United Arab...
www.bloomberg.com
January 28, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Farage is in Dubai hosting a lunch for Indian billionaire Sunny Varkey, the latest non-UK resident to back Reform.