The Bear
@bearlypolitics.co.uk
Politics, power, propaganda - explained without the spin.
Author of Bear Necessities of Politics and Power and editor of BearlyPolitics.co.uk 🐻
Soon to be ex-NHS.
Author of Bear Necessities of Politics and Power and editor of BearlyPolitics.co.uk 🐻
Soon to be ex-NHS.
Pinned
The Bear
@bearlypolitics.co.uk
· Sep 2
Bearly Politics | The Bear | Substack
Welcome to Bearly Politics! I'm The Bear, your slightly exasperated guide to the strange world of modern politics. Here, I attempt to tackle the absurdities of power, with claws sharpened by satire an...
bearlypolitics.co.uk
📌 Notice 📌
If you’re looking for my longer form posts, you can now find them on bearlypolitics.co.uk.
🐻
If you’re looking for my longer form posts, you can now find them on bearlypolitics.co.uk.
🐻
Reposted by The Bear
1. Fewer than 5% of estates are subject to Inheritance tax.
2. Those estates that are subject to IHT are not those of the super-rich, they are those of people who typically bought a house a long time ago, saw its capital value rise ridiculously but didn't know enough to use loopholes to avoid IHT.
2. Those estates that are subject to IHT are not those of the super-rich, they are those of people who typically bought a house a long time ago, saw its capital value rise ridiculously but didn't know enough to use loopholes to avoid IHT.
December 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM
1. Fewer than 5% of estates are subject to Inheritance tax.
2. Those estates that are subject to IHT are not those of the super-rich, they are those of people who typically bought a house a long time ago, saw its capital value rise ridiculously but didn't know enough to use loopholes to avoid IHT.
2. Those estates that are subject to IHT are not those of the super-rich, they are those of people who typically bought a house a long time ago, saw its capital value rise ridiculously but didn't know enough to use loopholes to avoid IHT.
I’m willing to be that Streeting is going to go full-fannywobble and start blaming doctors for every conceivable wrong in the NHS on the back of this decision.
December 15, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I’m willing to be that Streeting is going to go full-fannywobble and start blaming doctors for every conceivable wrong in the NHS on the back of this decision.
Best decision when it comes to mental health has been to tell X to go fuck itself.
While I still distribute articles on there, I have not meaningfully engaged with it since September - and don’t want to ever feel like I’m being forced to do so.
While I still distribute articles on there, I have not meaningfully engaged with it since September - and don’t want to ever feel like I’m being forced to do so.
"Bluesky is an echo chamber."
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
December 15, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Best decision when it comes to mental health has been to tell X to go fuck itself.
While I still distribute articles on there, I have not meaningfully engaged with it since September - and don’t want to ever feel like I’m being forced to do so.
While I still distribute articles on there, I have not meaningfully engaged with it since September - and don’t want to ever feel like I’m being forced to do so.
Erm… what now?
Reform MP Danny Kruger on pornstar/provocateur Bonnie Blue announcing her support for the party: "We’ll take votes from wherever we can get them, we want all the support we can get. Quite like Bonnie Blue."
Says party isn't "going to be fussy, we're not going to be judgemental" about Reform voters
Says party isn't "going to be fussy, we're not going to be judgemental" about Reform voters
December 15, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Erm… what now?
Reposted by The Bear
After reading yet another piece about inheritance anxiety, I realised that I felt… none of it.
Not because I don’t care, but because when my estate is being taxed, I will be, by the very nature of my demise, be unavailable for comment.
There is a larger conversation though, and I have it below:
Not because I don’t care, but because when my estate is being taxed, I will be, by the very nature of my demise, be unavailable for comment.
There is a larger conversation though, and I have it below:
Why the UK Is So Weird About Inheritance Tax
A DINKWAC’s view of a national panic, imagined confiscations, and the uncomfortable truth about wealth, fear and being dead.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 11:03 AM
After reading yet another piece about inheritance anxiety, I realised that I felt… none of it.
Not because I don’t care, but because when my estate is being taxed, I will be, by the very nature of my demise, be unavailable for comment.
There is a larger conversation though, and I have it below:
Not because I don’t care, but because when my estate is being taxed, I will be, by the very nature of my demise, be unavailable for comment.
There is a larger conversation though, and I have it below:
As part of a Dink myself, I can honestly say I have not once worried about the inheritance tax that may need to be paid when my partner and I one day topple off this mortal coil.
Whoever ends up being the beneficiary of our estate is getting money they did not work for, and they should be taxed.
Whoever ends up being the beneficiary of our estate is getting money they did not work for, and they should be taxed.
December 15, 2025 at 7:42 AM
As part of a Dink myself, I can honestly say I have not once worried about the inheritance tax that may need to be paid when my partner and I one day topple off this mortal coil.
Whoever ends up being the beneficiary of our estate is getting money they did not work for, and they should be taxed.
Whoever ends up being the beneficiary of our estate is getting money they did not work for, and they should be taxed.
Reposted by The Bear
Britain’s hospitals average 90% bed occupancy throughout the year, and 95% in winter.
This is not normal!
1/3
This is not normal!
1/3
December 14, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Britain’s hospitals average 90% bed occupancy throughout the year, and 95% in winter.
This is not normal!
1/3
This is not normal!
1/3
It’s impressive to combine a complete misunderstanding of NHS funding, workforce dynamics and productivity economics with a casually misogynistic aside about women “not working”.
That’s a full bingo card of not knowing what you’re talking about.
That’s a full bingo card of not knowing what you’re talking about.
December 14, 2025 at 10:56 AM
It’s impressive to combine a complete misunderstanding of NHS funding, workforce dynamics and productivity economics with a casually misogynistic aside about women “not working”.
That’s a full bingo card of not knowing what you’re talking about.
That’s a full bingo card of not knowing what you’re talking about.
Reposted by The Bear
Actually, money alone WILL fix the NHS. Specifically, money to recruit/retain a full workforce and money to build/maintain buildings and equipment.
Expecting productivity gains without enough workers and/or adequate capital investment is idiotic.
Expecting productivity gains without enough workers and/or adequate capital investment is idiotic.
Yes, money alone won’t fix the NHS.
But without money you don’t have beds, theatres, or staff - and without those, “productivity” collapses.
Calling that inefficiency just shows how spectacularly the Telegraph misunderstands the system.
But without money you don’t have beds, theatres, or staff - and without those, “productivity” collapses.
Calling that inefficiency just shows how spectacularly the Telegraph misunderstands the system.
December 14, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Actually, money alone WILL fix the NHS. Specifically, money to recruit/retain a full workforce and money to build/maintain buildings and equipment.
Expecting productivity gains without enough workers and/or adequate capital investment is idiotic.
Expecting productivity gains without enough workers and/or adequate capital investment is idiotic.
Reposted by The Bear
“As someone who has been a clipboarder, I can 100% attest to their usefulness - but also to just how dangerous they can be when they’re mistaken for fire-extinguishers.”
Great quote.
Great quote.
Yup - and he’s doing this exactly because he has nowhere left to run after disastrous policy decisions.
Yes, the Conservatives caused the NHS to be where it is today, but unfortunately Labour has done precious little to actually fix any of the fundamental issues in the system.
Yes, the Conservatives caused the NHS to be where it is today, but unfortunately Labour has done precious little to actually fix any of the fundamental issues in the system.
December 14, 2025 at 9:14 AM
“As someone who has been a clipboarder, I can 100% attest to their usefulness - but also to just how dangerous they can be when they’re mistaken for fire-extinguishers.”
Great quote.
Great quote.
Yup - and he’s doing this exactly because he has nowhere left to run after disastrous policy decisions.
Yes, the Conservatives caused the NHS to be where it is today, but unfortunately Labour has done precious little to actually fix any of the fundamental issues in the system.
Yes, the Conservatives caused the NHS to be where it is today, but unfortunately Labour has done precious little to actually fix any of the fundamental issues in the system.
December 14, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Yup - and he’s doing this exactly because he has nowhere left to run after disastrous policy decisions.
Yes, the Conservatives caused the NHS to be where it is today, but unfortunately Labour has done precious little to actually fix any of the fundamental issues in the system.
Yes, the Conservatives caused the NHS to be where it is today, but unfortunately Labour has done precious little to actually fix any of the fundamental issues in the system.
Yes, money alone won’t fix the NHS.
But without money you don’t have beds, theatres, or staff - and without those, “productivity” collapses.
Calling that inefficiency just shows how spectacularly the Telegraph misunderstands the system.
But without money you don’t have beds, theatres, or staff - and without those, “productivity” collapses.
Calling that inefficiency just shows how spectacularly the Telegraph misunderstands the system.
December 14, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Yes, money alone won’t fix the NHS.
But without money you don’t have beds, theatres, or staff - and without those, “productivity” collapses.
Calling that inefficiency just shows how spectacularly the Telegraph misunderstands the system.
But without money you don’t have beds, theatres, or staff - and without those, “productivity” collapses.
Calling that inefficiency just shows how spectacularly the Telegraph misunderstands the system.
I find it fascinating how the Telegraph can spend half its time berating migrants coming to the UK for a better life, while spending the other half treating British people leaving for cheaper housing and lower costs as a national heartbreak rather than, apparently, migration.
December 14, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I find it fascinating how the Telegraph can spend half its time berating migrants coming to the UK for a better life, while spending the other half treating British people leaving for cheaper housing and lower costs as a national heartbreak rather than, apparently, migration.
Reposted by The Bear
Bear knocks it out of the park again...
A winter flu surge.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
Saturday Long Read: The NHS is Collapsing and Labour is Running out of Excuses
A system shaved to the bone, a winter crisis already unfolding, and a government furious because the arithmetic no longer works.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Bear knocks it out of the park again...
Reposted by The Bear
Excellent article from Bear - depressing but spot on ⬇️
“That deep integration between social and healthcare is an amazing thing when it works well - but when it doesn’t, like it hasn’t for many years in this country, it becomes a growing disaster of multiple points of failure.”
“That deep integration between social and healthcare is an amazing thing when it works well - but when it doesn’t, like it hasn’t for many years in this country, it becomes a growing disaster of multiple points of failure.”
A winter flu surge.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
Saturday Long Read: The NHS is Collapsing and Labour is Running out of Excuses
A system shaved to the bone, a winter crisis already unfolding, and a government furious because the arithmetic no longer works.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Excellent article from Bear - depressing but spot on ⬇️
“That deep integration between social and healthcare is an amazing thing when it works well - but when it doesn’t, like it hasn’t for many years in this country, it becomes a growing disaster of multiple points of failure.”
“That deep integration between social and healthcare is an amazing thing when it works well - but when it doesn’t, like it hasn’t for many years in this country, it becomes a growing disaster of multiple points of failure.”
Reposted by The Bear
Quote from Bears excellent article. Because if your health system cannot survive five days of industrial action, that isn’t evidence that striking resident doctors are immoral villains out to destroy the NHS - it’s evidence that you’re running a health system with the resilience of wet tissue paper.
A winter flu surge.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
Saturday Long Read: The NHS is Collapsing and Labour is Running out of Excuses
A system shaved to the bone, a winter crisis already unfolding, and a government furious because the arithmetic no longer works.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Quote from Bears excellent article. Because if your health system cannot survive five days of industrial action, that isn’t evidence that striking resident doctors are immoral villains out to destroy the NHS - it’s evidence that you’re running a health system with the resilience of wet tissue paper.
A winter flu surge.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
Saturday Long Read: The NHS is Collapsing and Labour is Running out of Excuses
A system shaved to the bone, a winter crisis already unfolding, and a government furious because the arithmetic no longer works.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
A winter flu surge.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
A looming doctors’ strike.
A health system with no slack left.
This is neither bad luck nor a “perfect storm” - it’s exactly what will happen when resilience is treated as optional and difficult decisions are used to excuse incompetent ones.
A Saturday long read.
Reposted by The Bear
So why is Starmer doubling down on failure?
December 12, 2025 at 8:18 PM
So why is Starmer doubling down on failure?
The Great 75 Brexit Benefit Debunk has begun. Three responses have been published so far, and more will follow next week.
To everyone who has given their support so far, thank you so much.
This is a helluva long road ahead, and I appreciate every encouraging message, comment and piece of advice.
To everyone who has given their support so far, thank you so much.
This is a helluva long road ahead, and I appreciate every encouraging message, comment and piece of advice.
The 75 Brexit Benefits: A Reckoning Begins
Why I’m taking on a think tank, a pseudonym, and an entire decade of political myth-making - one “benefit” at a time.
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The Great 75 Brexit Benefit Debunk has begun. Three responses have been published so far, and more will follow next week.
To everyone who has given their support so far, thank you so much.
This is a helluva long road ahead, and I appreciate every encouraging message, comment and piece of advice.
To everyone who has given their support so far, thank you so much.
This is a helluva long road ahead, and I appreciate every encouraging message, comment and piece of advice.
Oh - my weekend just became more interesting.
December 12, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Oh - my weekend just became more interesting.
Reposted by The Bear
The third “Brexit Benefit” debunked by Mr Bear is the idea we avoided contributed to a range of Eurozone programmes designed for countries that adopted the Euro.
A Brexit benefit that only works if time runs backwards and the UK suddenly loves EU debt.
That’s… not how reality works.
That’s… not how reality works.
Debunking Benefit 3: The Multiverse Where Britain Randomly Volunteers to Underwrite the EU
A benefit built entirely out of counterfactual smoke, time slippage and the UK mysteriously becoming fiscally adventurous for the first time in history.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The third “Brexit Benefit” debunked by Mr Bear is the idea we avoided contributed to a range of Eurozone programmes designed for countries that adopted the Euro.
A Brexit benefit that only works if time runs backwards and the UK suddenly loves EU debt.
That’s… not how reality works.
That’s… not how reality works.
Debunking Benefit 3: The Multiverse Where Britain Randomly Volunteers to Underwrite the EU
A benefit built entirely out of counterfactual smoke, time slippage and the UK mysteriously becoming fiscally adventurous for the first time in history.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 7:29 AM
A Brexit benefit that only works if time runs backwards and the UK suddenly loves EU debt.
That’s… not how reality works.
That’s… not how reality works.
Small update: the author of 75 Brexit Benefits has entered the comments on the first two debunks.
I’m not going to respond directly - but as a live case study in framing, deflection and methodological discomfort, it’s proving unexpectedly useful.
Sometimes the footnotes write themselves.
I’m not going to respond directly - but as a live case study in framing, deflection and methodological discomfort, it’s proving unexpectedly useful.
Sometimes the footnotes write themselves.
The second debunk in the Brexit Benefits autopsy: CBAM. Turns out the big win is checks notes… running two overlapping carbon regimes and charging ourselves for EU top-ups.
Truly inspiring stuff.
Truly inspiring stuff.
Debunking Benefit 2: Why Keeping 100% of Not-Very-Much Isn’t a Benefit
In which a revenue simulation becomes a miracle, context vanishes, and Brexit gets another imaginary dividend.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Small update: the author of 75 Brexit Benefits has entered the comments on the first two debunks.
I’m not going to respond directly - but as a live case study in framing, deflection and methodological discomfort, it’s proving unexpectedly useful.
Sometimes the footnotes write themselves.
I’m not going to respond directly - but as a live case study in framing, deflection and methodological discomfort, it’s proving unexpectedly useful.
Sometimes the footnotes write themselves.
Husband and I are out to see Titanique to celebrate resigning - not sure what I make of the symbolism of that to be honest.
a woman with long red hair is standing in front of a black background with the words `` all by myself '' .
Alt: a woman with long red hair is standing in front of a black background with the words `` all by myself '' .
media.tenor.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Husband and I are out to see Titanique to celebrate resigning - not sure what I make of the symbolism of that to be honest.