Mike Harrison
@higheredactuary.bsky.social
Pensions, Higher Education, medieval history, running, diversity, climate change, grade 3 piano (2024). Partner @ Mercer. Actuary (both sides of the Atlantic 🇬🇧🇨🇦). Views my own.
Pinned
a cartoon minion is standing in the snow and waving .
ALT: a cartoon minion is standing in the snow and waving .
media.tenor.com
Put your virtual hand up (and pass it on) if you’d be personally happy to PAY MORE TAXES so we could have better public services, fewer benefit cuts and faster progress on climate change.
I’ll start…
I’ll start…
New product line idea for games workshop
But also, wow 🤩
But also, wow 🤩
A book from the 19th century that depicts the Rhine Valley by creating an impression of three-dimensionality and spatial distance.
@MasayukiTsuda2 #globalmuseum #books #travel #19thcentury
@MasayukiTsuda2 #globalmuseum #books #travel #19thcentury
December 3, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I think I agree with the 53% here…
53% of Britons oppose further strikes by resident doctors, the highest level of opposition yet recorded by YouGov, amid the British Medical Association announcing a five-day walkout ahead of Christmas
Support: 38%
Oppose: 53%
yougov.co.uk/topics/healt...
Support: 38%
Oppose: 53%
yougov.co.uk/topics/healt...
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I think I agree with the 53% here…
Quotes of the day so far (and it’s not even 8 o’clock yet):
1) “four shots? that’s a lot of coffee” - server at Starbucks
2) “we’ve been joined by the revenue protection team” - train conductor
1) “four shots? that’s a lot of coffee” - server at Starbucks
2) “we’ve been joined by the revenue protection team” - train conductor
December 2, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Quotes of the day so far (and it’s not even 8 o’clock yet):
1) “four shots? that’s a lot of coffee” - server at Starbucks
2) “we’ve been joined by the revenue protection team” - train conductor
1) “four shots? that’s a lot of coffee” - server at Starbucks
2) “we’ve been joined by the revenue protection team” - train conductor
Because AI i) cannot do maths in any meaningful sense and ii) turns the best written advice into average boilerplate, I find this… surprising…
December 2, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Because AI i) cannot do maths in any meaningful sense and ii) turns the best written advice into average boilerplate, I find this… surprising…
Reposted by Mike Harrison
Overall, the combination of tax rises and giveaways since last year’s Budget is progressive.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
December 1, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Overall, the combination of tax rises and giveaways since last year’s Budget is progressive.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
Sensible business strategy.
Half of the University of Manchester’s students will be studying online in the next 10 years as the institution pivots to more flexible learning, according to its latest strategy. Juliette Rowsell reports
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/half-manchester-students-be-learning-online-10-years
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/half-manchester-students-be-learning-online-10-years
December 1, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Sensible business strategy.
Excellent stuff.
What can YOU do to help?
What can YOU do to help?
💬 "People talk about social mobility like it’s a ladder, but I’ve always thought it’s more like trying to read a map in a language you haven’t been taught."
Our alum, Bethany, candidly shares the lessons she's learned through her social mobility journey ⤵️
Our alum, Bethany, candidly shares the lessons she's learned through her social mobility journey ⤵️
My social mobility journey: Navigating without a map - The Sutton Trust
Our alum, Bethany, shares important insights from her social mobility journey.
www.suttontrust.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Excellent stuff.
What can YOU do to help?
What can YOU do to help?
We both know you won't be able to resist this article...
Runaway nuns banned from social media! Top class stuff.
Runaway nuns banned from social media! Top class stuff.
Austrian nuns win reprieve in abandoned convent - if they stay off social media
The three nuns say they were taken out of the convent against their will and placed in a care home.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 4:47 PM
We both know you won't be able to resist this article...
Runaway nuns banned from social media! Top class stuff.
Runaway nuns banned from social media! Top class stuff.
I mean it’s not resoundingly positive…
Britons react to the 2025 Budget
Fair: 21%
Unfair: 48%
Affordable: 22%
Unaffordable: 47%
Will leave country...
Better off: 9%
Worse off: 47%
No diff: 31%
Will leave self and family...
Better off: 3%
Worse off: 50%
No diff: 37%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Fair: 21%
Unfair: 48%
Affordable: 22%
Unaffordable: 47%
Will leave country...
Better off: 9%
Worse off: 47%
No diff: 31%
Will leave self and family...
Better off: 3%
Worse off: 50%
No diff: 37%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
November 27, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I mean it’s not resoundingly positive…
Facts.
The Chancellor has scrapped the two-child limit, benefitting more than half a million families.
More than half of the affected families have at least one member in work, and 88% had 3 or 4 children.
More than half of the affected families have at least one member in work, and 88% had 3 or 4 children.
November 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Facts.
Neat Budget summary from @resolutionfoundation.org.
🚨 Our initial Budget response is out now 🚨
Today's Budget will ease cost of living pressures next year – but it backloads the fiscal repair job to eve of next election.
Find out more 👉 buff.ly/PBAWLKZ
Today's Budget will ease cost of living pressures next year – but it backloads the fiscal repair job to eve of next election.
Find out more 👉 buff.ly/PBAWLKZ
November 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Neat Budget summary from @resolutionfoundation.org.
Do OBR stands for: “Oh blast!! Recall?!?”
November 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Do OBR stands for: “Oh blast!! Recall?!?”
When people say “technical error” they mean “human error”, right, or even just… you know… “error”?
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 PM
When people say “technical error” they mean “human error”, right, or even just… you know… “error”?
Agreed - excellent news re the two child cap. 😃
Personally very happy about the two child cap being removed - the more children growing up in poverty, the fewer able to reach their potential - with long term impacts for social mobility - and with it the wider economy.
November 26, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Agreed - excellent news re the two child cap. 😃
Reposted by Mike Harrison
Free apprenticeship training for under 25s for SMEs is brill (and hopefully will help encourage the creation of more opportunities)
November 26, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Free apprenticeship training for under 25s for SMEs is brill (and hopefully will help encourage the creation of more opportunities)
Pensions news hot off the Budget press… though not as hot as the OBR’s press releases…
🔥
🔥
Strong welcome for indexation of pre-97 accrued benefits in PPF and FAS. Puts more pressure on other DB schemes to do likewise, with amendments to Pension Schemes Bill.
November 26, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Pensions news hot off the Budget press… though not as hot as the OBR’s press releases…
🔥
🔥
"The Parliamentary Labour Party is sprawling and naïve" one government figure says… presumably thinking this is a sensible comment to make that will win friends and influence people?
Rachel Reeves will be hoping this Budget buys her some time
Deep unpopularity in the country and jittery Labour MPs is the prism through which both the countdown to this Budget and its aftermath should be seen.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 11:35 AM
"The Parliamentary Labour Party is sprawling and naïve" one government figure says… presumably thinking this is a sensible comment to make that will win friends and influence people?
You’ve got to love a nice cathedral on a chilly morning!!
Anyone recognise this one?!
@curatorkate.bsky.social @susanabernethy2.bsky.social
Anyone recognise this one?!
@curatorkate.bsky.social @susanabernethy2.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
You’ve got to love a nice cathedral on a chilly morning!!
Anyone recognise this one?!
@curatorkate.bsky.social @susanabernethy2.bsky.social
Anyone recognise this one?!
@curatorkate.bsky.social @susanabernethy2.bsky.social
😂
I hope someone checks in with these guys today to see how they’ll cope with the Budget
November 26, 2025 at 8:23 AM
😂
tell your mates.
and get yourselves checked, gents.
be like Dave.
x
and get yourselves checked, gents.
be like Dave.
x
Former PM David Cameron reveals he had prostate cancer
The former PM is calling for more men to be screened for the disease, which is the most common cancer in males in the UK.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:56 AM
tell your mates.
and get yourselves checked, gents.
be like Dave.
x
and get yourselves checked, gents.
be like Dave.
x
We need to STOP BURNING STUFF.
🌍 🔥 ♻️
🌍 🔥 ♻️
Burning fossil fuels causes the climate to change and many extreme weather events to become more severe. #fact
November 24, 2025 at 8:51 AM
We need to STOP BURNING STUFF.
🌍 🔥 ♻️
🌍 🔥 ♻️
There is hazelnut yogurt in the fridge.
What did I do to deserve this?
🤢
What did I do to deserve this?
🤢
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 PM
There is hazelnut yogurt in the fridge.
What did I do to deserve this?
🤢
What did I do to deserve this?
🤢
“Do as I say and not as I do”… as my Mum used to say!
Excellent pensions reporting in today’s FT from @marymcd.bsky.social.
Excellent pensions reporting in today’s FT from @marymcd.bsky.social.
November 20, 2025 at 7:27 AM
“Do as I say and not as I do”… as my Mum used to say!
Excellent pensions reporting in today’s FT from @marymcd.bsky.social.
Excellent pensions reporting in today’s FT from @marymcd.bsky.social.
Repealing the two-child limit in full is the most powerful policy lever the Government can pull to drive down child poverty rates.
Read 'No half measures' now ⤵️ buff.ly/qVc9CWs
Read 'No half measures' now ⤵️ buff.ly/qVc9CWs
November 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM