Edward
@fornbirkibeinn.bsky.social
Nobody very important. Ferrets, greyhounds, poorly thought-through opinions. Englishman living in rural Northern Ireland. he/him
Reposted by Edward
Minor point. But this is the OBR saying that the briefing about income tax being dropped because of improved forecasts is bollocks.
November 26, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Minor point. But this is the OBR saying that the briefing about income tax being dropped because of improved forecasts is bollocks.
Reposted by Edward
Sorry, no, Motability was not about 'helping the most vulnerable' - it was about providing people who need modified vehicles modified vehicles!
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Sorry, no, Motability was not about 'helping the most vulnerable' - it was about providing people who need modified vehicles modified vehicles!
Reposted by Edward
It was striking IMV that the OBR publishing early meant that Faisal Islam and Helen Miller got to talk *more* and we had less 'how is that gonna play in Fungibleton Central?' style waffle.
Am enjoying BBC pundits' heads exploding over something that is entirely normal in Europe. Pretty sure the German budget (in draft, so not even decided) is just a press release...
November 26, 2025 at 12:23 PM
It was striking IMV that the OBR publishing early meant that Faisal Islam and Helen Miller got to talk *more* and we had less 'how is that gonna play in Fungibleton Central?' style waffle.
Reposted by Edward
I fear that as a society we're putting a strain on the definition of the word "regressive" beyond what it can reasonably be expected to bear
Seems regressive if this means that someone with a £50m house pays the same as a £5m house
November 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I fear that as a society we're putting a strain on the definition of the word "regressive" beyond what it can reasonably be expected to bear
Reposted by Edward
It’s like they’ve taken some of the really amateurish, contrived and artificial attempts at tax avoidance that were common in the noughties and applied the same techniques to manifesto tax promise avoidance.
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
It’s like they’ve taken some of the really amateurish, contrived and artificial attempts at tax avoidance that were common in the noughties and applied the same techniques to manifesto tax promise avoidance.
Reposted by Edward
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
Reposted by Edward
I actually think it's bad that the law thinks that calling a 17 year old a "sissy porn-watching scumbag", a "groomer" and a "disgusting incel" in public is not a crime, and indeed I do not think criticising this would constitute "[picking] sides in the debate about sex and gender identity".
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I actually think it's bad that the law thinks that calling a 17 year old a "sissy porn-watching scumbag", a "groomer" and a "disgusting incel" in public is not a crime, and indeed I do not think criticising this would constitute "[picking] sides in the debate about sex and gender identity".
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Sometimes wonder if what the UK needs is a thinktank that doesn't do any new research, it just repeats obviously true statements that people try to ignore because they're inconvenient.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
International students cross-subsidise home students. Your pension is paid for out of general taxation.
Reposted by Edward
I mean the government that introduced tax credits was the one that introduced the minimum wage. And this made perfect sense!
November 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I mean the government that introduced tax credits was the one that introduced the minimum wage. And this made perfect sense!
Reposted by Edward
FFS 😡
FINLAND IS NOT RE-GAUGING ITS RAILWAYS
Just because an urbanist influencer has posted a 6 months old piece (that was anyway inaccurate) about it does not mean it is happening!
Finland *might* lay some additional standard gauge track from Sweden to Oulu
FINLAND IS NOT RE-GAUGING ITS RAILWAYS
Just because an urbanist influencer has posted a 6 months old piece (that was anyway inaccurate) about it does not mean it is happening!
Finland *might* lay some additional standard gauge track from Sweden to Oulu
November 24, 2025 at 11:41 AM
FFS 😡
FINLAND IS NOT RE-GAUGING ITS RAILWAYS
Just because an urbanist influencer has posted a 6 months old piece (that was anyway inaccurate) about it does not mean it is happening!
Finland *might* lay some additional standard gauge track from Sweden to Oulu
FINLAND IS NOT RE-GAUGING ITS RAILWAYS
Just because an urbanist influencer has posted a 6 months old piece (that was anyway inaccurate) about it does not mean it is happening!
Finland *might* lay some additional standard gauge track from Sweden to Oulu
Reposted by Edward
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Edward
What's the opposite of the Overton window, where a mainstream concern such as restoring our relationship with the EU, is driven off the legitimate agenda by presenting a choice as an unchangeable reality?
There must be a snazzy polsci name for that. Because that's where we are.
There must be a snazzy polsci name for that. Because that's where we are.
She said the Office for Budget Responsibility’s report on Wednesday would conclude that a downgrade of productivity was down to Brexit and to the Conservative’s austerity measures – and would say explicitly that it was not due to the policies of the current government.
November 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
What's the opposite of the Overton window, where a mainstream concern such as restoring our relationship with the EU, is driven off the legitimate agenda by presenting a choice as an unchangeable reality?
There must be a snazzy polsci name for that. Because that's where we are.
There must be a snazzy polsci name for that. Because that's where we are.
Just checked Glasman's Wikipedia page and was shocked to discover he's about a decade younger than I thought he was.
November 24, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Just checked Glasman's Wikipedia page and was shocked to discover he's about a decade younger than I thought he was.
I'm not saying we should ban the Times comment pages, but only because I think that is a decision that is best taken by a case officer for the Prevent programme.
November 24, 2025 at 11:34 PM
I'm not saying we should ban the Times comment pages, but only because I think that is a decision that is best taken by a case officer for the Prevent programme.
I suppose history does show that both economically destructive capital controls and blatantly racist policy to try to win votes are consistent with Labour values. Specifically the values of losing Labour governments, but that too is a tradition.
Possibly the stupidest idea I've heard in the last few months, which is saying something. Shows utter ignorance around practicalities regardless of the ethics/desirability.
Trevor Phillips proposes banning "remittances" (ie: imposing currency/exchange controls on international cash transfers by foreign nationals from Britain). He says this would disincentivise immigration, in a Times piece saying the Home Secretary needs to go [much] further
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 11:19 PM
I suppose history does show that both economically destructive capital controls and blatantly racist policy to try to win votes are consistent with Labour values. Specifically the values of losing Labour governments, but that too is a tradition.
Hot take: Rogue one works because it's both Gareth Edwards and Tony Gilroy, not because Gilroy rescued it.
Gilroy makes it flow whilst retaining just enough coherence, but if it was all his it would be a duller film.
Gilroy makes it flow whilst retaining just enough coherence, but if it was all his it would be a duller film.
November 24, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Hot take: Rogue one works because it's both Gareth Edwards and Tony Gilroy, not because Gilroy rescued it.
Gilroy makes it flow whilst retaining just enough coherence, but if it was all his it would be a duller film.
Gilroy makes it flow whilst retaining just enough coherence, but if it was all his it would be a duller film.
Reposted by Edward
Reposted by Edward
My hot take is that IHT makes absolutely no sense. "Inheritance" is one word.
November 24, 2025 at 11:30 AM
My hot take is that IHT makes absolutely no sense. "Inheritance" is one word.
Reposted by Edward
This is the kind of thing we have to get better at. Need to equip local authorities (or in this case IMO, the railway authority) with the powers to CPO and develop this stuff.
Yeah, our council keep pushing for a 2nd entrance/trying to encourage the owner to develop the old goods warehouse by using the bottom floors for parking (to pay for the development of the other floors). The owner seems pretty happy with another 30+ years of dereliction.
November 24, 2025 at 1:56 PM
This is the kind of thing we have to get better at. Need to equip local authorities (or in this case IMO, the railway authority) with the powers to CPO and develop this stuff.
Reposted by Edward
So many people (especially ie journalists and politicians) main understanding of the “trans debate” is almost entirely understood through the lens of social media.
I see it all the time, not even just from bigots. And I think it’s really important people get that bigger perspective that it’s not
I see it all the time, not even just from bigots. And I think it’s really important people get that bigger perspective that it’s not
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 PM
So many people (especially ie journalists and politicians) main understanding of the “trans debate” is almost entirely understood through the lens of social media.
I see it all the time, not even just from bigots. And I think it’s really important people get that bigger perspective that it’s not
I see it all the time, not even just from bigots. And I think it’s really important people get that bigger perspective that it’s not
Reposted by Edward
In Birmingham, the bottom end of the old Curzon st station was sold off and student accommodation built on it for BCU circa 2008. Then works began for HS2 station and they had to buy the land and knock down the high rise circa 2017. Flawless.
November 24, 2025 at 12:57 PM
In Birmingham, the bottom end of the old Curzon st station was sold off and student accommodation built on it for BCU circa 2008. Then works began for HS2 station and they had to buy the land and knock down the high rise circa 2017. Flawless.
Reposted by Edward
I do think there's quite a good real time road trip movie about a family driving towards the intended target of a nuclear attack in the hopes of it ending quicker.
Maybe one for the Coens?
Maybe one for the Coens?
November 24, 2025 at 11:25 AM
I do think there's quite a good real time road trip movie about a family driving towards the intended target of a nuclear attack in the hopes of it ending quicker.
Maybe one for the Coens?
Maybe one for the Coens?
Reposted by Edward
Lisa Nandy: “Why shouldn’t the next target for nuclear annihilation be Wigan or Barnsley or Bradford?”
November 24, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Lisa Nandy: “Why shouldn’t the next target for nuclear annihilation be Wigan or Barnsley or Bradford?”
Reposted by Edward
Summarised all the Budget preview pieces to save you time:
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Summarised all the Budget preview pieces to save you time:
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2