A thread of inspirational quotes from two of my idols: Kemi Badenoch and Ange Postecoglou

(uh-oh, I may have gotten some mixed up... or have I??)

🧵

Couple of things here: crypto boosters need to contend with just how much easier they have made these kind of extortion scams - almost as if it were feature, not bug, of the tech.

Also, cannot be coincidence that these hacks are ramping up as Russia’s economy is feeling the sanctions squeeze.

I think this media habit has become such a problem it needs an embarrassing nickname - 'bookie journalism' or 'Mystic Meg' or something - which should be thrown back at journalists every single time they do this.

Safe, warm, affordable housing is vital for health, but not everyone has it.

Lives are being cut short by up to 16 years across the UK and where we live is part of the problem.

You can be part of the solution by asking your MP to #MakeHealthEqual. 👉https://bit.ly/4guMfFn

Garbage Day is literally the clearest, best informed source for understanding what is going on in the US right now. Amazing work by Ryan and the team, but also, what a world 😞

Pet parrots which typically live alone (whilst those in the wild live in large flocks) were given the technology to call each other. They would use it for up to three hours a day, and developed favourite friends 💔
on.ft.com/3K05vhS

Some thoughts on yesterday
www.garbageday.email/p/the-logica...

Shocking: less than 3% of private rentals in Britain are affordable for people needing housing benefit.

People are being pushed towards homelessness and ill health.

@RachelReevesMP can fix this in Nov’s budget by restoring housing benefit to the real cost of rent. Act now: bit.ly/3V1d76a

Convenience Store Woman is a great and, crucially, short!

For @theleaduk.bsky.social I had another look at the impact of the poorly-designed 'Making Tax Digital' policy on the most economically vulnerable workers in the economy.

The added cost for disabled people at the same time as benefit cuts is inexplicable.

national.thelead.uk/p/making-tax...

This is a great piece, and really good to see it citing Citizens Advice data on how many renters have to put up with sub-standard conditions for the benefit of their landlords 'yield'

Who’s with me for a campaign to stop politicians wearing hi viz jackets and hard hats when talking about the economy and instead being filmed playing Total War: Warhammer

Severe shortage of accessible housing for disabled people causing serious hardship news.sky.com/video/severe...

'powerful tools' also not an unreasonable description of some of the people in charge of them

I’m quoting this because it is a very fair point for which I have an answer: The first thing is to recognize that in a democracy there is no such thing as “ the majority.” Instead, there are many and multiple overlapping majorities that can be assembled from different parts of the whole.

🚨 We're hiring a Policy Research Assistant in the Families, Welfare and Work team at Citizens Advice🚨

Come and help us make the benefits system fairer (and work with lots of lovely people)!

Deadline to apply is 21st August: www.jobtrain.co.uk/citizensadvi...

Really good analysis of a maddening part of current UC design, with some very pragmatic recommendations that could save a lot of hassle, confusion and financial detrimental.

I feel like that final sign off should be made mandatory by legislation!

Just altered the prompt and refed ChatGPT the last thing I'd asked it - I'd say this is pretty close!

Crucial message from Citizen's Advice: "When both working full-time and claiming maximum benefit entitlement leaves one in a low-income limbo, focusing on making the former slightly more financially beneficial than the latter is only ever going to have a limited impact on outcomes..." (1/2)

Raising state pension age is a surefire way of increasing spend on disability benefits
www.ft.com/content/1b30...

The narrative around Universal Credit has long centred around work incentives.

This new briefing examines how effective UC is at encouraging employment – and how that focus may have overshadowed the deeper complexities of getting into work. 🧵

🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Thank you so much to the University of Sheffield for awarding me an honorary Doctor of Letters. I’m so touched.

It was a privilege to give an address to the graduating class (all those years watching US high school dramas weren’t wasted).