KS_1968
@karenroberts.bsky.social
Twitter refugee. Enjoy politics, old movies & music esp Bowie.
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KS_1968
@karenroberts.bsky.social
· Sep 20
9 months gone. 39 more till the orange fartbag is history.
Reposted by KS_1968
Was at a station today when someone was hit by a train
Whole thing was thoroughly wretched
But particularly feel so sorry for ticket office lady who did her best & the train driver
Unimaginably awful for all concerned
And that poor woman & her family
Whole thing was thoroughly wretched
But particularly feel so sorry for ticket office lady who did her best & the train driver
Unimaginably awful for all concerned
And that poor woman & her family
November 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Was at a station today when someone was hit by a train
Whole thing was thoroughly wretched
But particularly feel so sorry for ticket office lady who did her best & the train driver
Unimaginably awful for all concerned
And that poor woman & her family
Whole thing was thoroughly wretched
But particularly feel so sorry for ticket office lady who did her best & the train driver
Unimaginably awful for all concerned
And that poor woman & her family
Reposted by KS_1968
🔺 Update: At least 36 people have been killed and many are trapped after huge fires engulfed an entire high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong
At least a dozen killed in Hong Kong tower block fire
About 4,000 people live in the Tai Po high-rise apartment complex. The deadly blaze is thought to have spread through bamboo scaffolding
www.thetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
🔺 Update: At least 36 people have been killed and many are trapped after huge fires engulfed an entire high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong
Reposted by KS_1968
Just think, if Dominic Raab’s Bill of Rights Bill had become law, its provision for the “right” to trial by jury, where legislation provides for trial by jury, would make no difference to anything
November 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Just think, if Dominic Raab’s Bill of Rights Bill had become law, its provision for the “right” to trial by jury, where legislation provides for trial by jury, would make no difference to anything
What a total knob. 🤦♀️
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Bank customer with ‘phobia of Pride flags’ loses case against NatWest
Mark Jennings claimed Pride-related paraphernalia at bank branch caused him ‘severe psychological distress’
www.independent.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
What a total knob. 🤦♀️
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Reposted by KS_1968
Rachel Reeves says budget will cut living costs after shock OBR leak
Rachel Reeves says budget will cut living costs after shock OBR leak
Chancellor unveils action on energy bills, rail fares and two-child benefit cap as OBR reveals £26bn tax rises
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Rachel Reeves says budget will cut living costs after shock OBR leak
Reposted by KS_1968
The government can stick to this plan, or the government can get re-elected. Unlikely it can do both. Therefore either the government has a death wish or the 27-29 figures are yet another budgetary fairy tale. Remember when this government promised to be serious and not to duck the hard choices?
The government’s spending plans are “25-27: spending increases, 27-29: paaaain” which, uh…the election is 2028-9!
November 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The government can stick to this plan, or the government can get re-elected. Unlikely it can do both. Therefore either the government has a death wish or the 27-29 figures are yet another budgetary fairy tale. Remember when this government promised to be serious and not to duck the hard choices?
Reposted by KS_1968
Nigel Farage is holding a post-budget press conference and his sidekick is Zia Yusuf. Yusuf does very much feel like the shadow (shadow) chancellor, rather than Richard Tice, who had been the party’s main voice on economics.
November 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Nigel Farage is holding a post-budget press conference and his sidekick is Zia Yusuf. Yusuf does very much feel like the shadow (shadow) chancellor, rather than Richard Tice, who had been the party’s main voice on economics.
Reposted by KS_1968
Danny Kruger: 10-15 years ago when the triple lock was introduced, there was a real problem with pensioner poverty.
Because Thatcher cut the link of pension levels to earnings.
#PoliticsLive
Because Thatcher cut the link of pension levels to earnings.
#PoliticsLive
November 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Danny Kruger: 10-15 years ago when the triple lock was introduced, there was a real problem with pensioner poverty.
Because Thatcher cut the link of pension levels to earnings.
#PoliticsLive
Because Thatcher cut the link of pension levels to earnings.
#PoliticsLive
Reposted by KS_1968
oh man, lettuce truthers :)
You'll be hearing plenty more on BGE24 from me in coming days and weeks - I have a book to sell after all - but for now a little amuse bouche from the endnotes - *was* Liz Truss really outlasted by a lettuce?
November 26, 2025 at 3:08 PM
oh man, lettuce truthers :)
Reposted by KS_1968
Utterly juvenile and unparliamentary antics from Kemi Badenoch during her response to the budget.
Desperate, undignified and ineffective.
Desperate, undignified and ineffective.
November 26, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Utterly juvenile and unparliamentary antics from Kemi Badenoch during her response to the budget.
Desperate, undignified and ineffective.
Desperate, undignified and ineffective.
🤣🤣
🚨 BREXIT BUDGET🚨
"And Finally, Madam Deputy speaker, we are ramping up sanctions on Russia and we are freezing known Russian assets."
"But let me be clear. I don't actually mean the Honourable Member for Clacton."
"And Finally, Madam Deputy speaker, we are ramping up sanctions on Russia and we are freezing known Russian assets."
"But let me be clear. I don't actually mean the Honourable Member for Clacton."
November 26, 2025 at 3:12 PM
🤣🤣
Reposted by KS_1968
One of the most bizarre ministerial resignations was that of Hugh Dalton over the 1947 budget leaking minutes before its delivery
November 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
One of the most bizarre ministerial resignations was that of Hugh Dalton over the 1947 budget leaking minutes before its delivery
Reposted by KS_1968
Lol congratulations to whoever briefed that the chancellor was going to axe Cycle to Work, then didn't. Whatever was going on behind the scenes, you've just done wonders for London's bike shops pre-Christmas.
If my group chats are anything to go by, Treasury briefing "we're going to end the cycle to work tax break that enables people to buy a large family-sized e-bike" has done more than any other advertising campaign to boost the uptake of family-sized e-bikes. Sales must be through the roof this week.
November 26, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Lol congratulations to whoever briefed that the chancellor was going to axe Cycle to Work, then didn't. Whatever was going on behind the scenes, you've just done wonders for London's bike shops pre-Christmas.
At last! 👏👏
💥 Govt says fuel duty to *go up* from next September.
In the past the OBR has assumed that fuel duty would start to rise after a one-year freeze.
This time, the govt has said explicitly that it will only be frozen for five months, and will start increasing it after that.
In the past the OBR has assumed that fuel duty would start to rise after a one-year freeze.
This time, the govt has said explicitly that it will only be frozen for five months, and will start increasing it after that.
November 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
At last! 👏👏
Reposted by KS_1968
Am still in the Commons chamber.
Very striking that 90% of the lobby left the Commons as soon as Kemi Badenoch stood up.
You could say it's bad form.
It's certainly proof that no serious political journalist or commentator believes she has any chance of ever being PM.
Very striking that 90% of the lobby left the Commons as soon as Kemi Badenoch stood up.
You could say it's bad form.
It's certainly proof that no serious political journalist or commentator believes she has any chance of ever being PM.
November 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Am still in the Commons chamber.
Very striking that 90% of the lobby left the Commons as soon as Kemi Badenoch stood up.
You could say it's bad form.
It's certainly proof that no serious political journalist or commentator believes she has any chance of ever being PM.
Very striking that 90% of the lobby left the Commons as soon as Kemi Badenoch stood up.
You could say it's bad form.
It's certainly proof that no serious political journalist or commentator believes she has any chance of ever being PM.
Reposted by KS_1968
And for anyone who recognises that we'll need to tax EV's and the earlier this is priced in the better
November 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
And for anyone who recognises that we'll need to tax EV's and the earlier this is priced in the better
Reposted by KS_1968
🔴 El hospital que ha ardido en Cartagena está recubierto del mismo material inflamable que el edificio del Campanar en Valencia donde murieron 10 personas
El hospital que ardió en Cartagena está recubierto del mismo material inflamable que el edificio del Campanar en Valencia
Las chapas de aluminio rellenas de polietileno son como las que cubrían el bloque de pisos que se incendió en Valencia, la Torre Ámbar de Madrid o la Torre Grenfell de Londres
social.elpais.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
🔴 El hospital que ha ardido en Cartagena está recubierto del mismo material inflamable que el edificio del Campanar en Valencia donde murieron 10 personas
Reposted by KS_1968
Reposted by KS_1968
And honestly I don't give a fuck if it's popular or not. It's going to make a lot of kids' lives better. That's the point of government. Not an opinion poll.
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
And honestly I don't give a fuck if it's popular or not. It's going to make a lot of kids' lives better. That's the point of government. Not an opinion poll.
Reposted by KS_1968
The higher taxes on gambling are also good news. The grip of this parasitic industry on high streets, sport and broadcasting is a social disaster.
bsky.app/profile/prem...
bsky.app/profile/prem...
UK gambling industry made £15.6bn in 2024 (£16.8bn in 2025)
Most companies holed up in Gibraltar & Malta, dodge UK taxes. Some pay corporation tax at the rate of 3%-4%. No VAT on gambling.
Public bears the cost of gambling addiction.
Firms resent paying extra tax to clear their mess.
Tax them.
Most companies holed up in Gibraltar & Malta, dodge UK taxes. Some pay corporation tax at the rate of 3%-4%. No VAT on gambling.
Public bears the cost of gambling addiction.
Firms resent paying extra tax to clear their mess.
Tax them.
UK's Online Gambling Industry: The £3.8 Billion Tax Question Nobody's Answering
UK's online gambling industry generates £15.6bn annually but pays minimal tax. With £3.8bn in receipts, experts say it's time for reform Here's why.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The higher taxes on gambling are also good news. The grip of this parasitic industry on high streets, sport and broadcasting is a social disaster.
bsky.app/profile/prem...
bsky.app/profile/prem...
Reposted by KS_1968
The abolition of the two-child benefit cap, which punishes children for their parents' circumstances, is the best part of the budget, potentially lifting almost half a million children out of poverty.
It may also be the part that comes under fiercest attack. So it needs celebrating and defending.
It may also be the part that comes under fiercest attack. So it needs celebrating and defending.
And the two child benefit limit is abolished. An enormous victory for those who have campaigned tirelessly for eight long years through successive governments. This will lift at least 450,000 children out of poverty. Fewer kids will be hungry. No more women forced to disclose their rape.
November 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The abolition of the two-child benefit cap, which punishes children for their parents' circumstances, is the best part of the budget, potentially lifting almost half a million children out of poverty.
It may also be the part that comes under fiercest attack. So it needs celebrating and defending.
It may also be the part that comes under fiercest attack. So it needs celebrating and defending.
Reposted by KS_1968
It might have been written before the last budget, so deeply unserious it is.
November 26, 2025 at 1:54 PM
It might have been written before the last budget, so deeply unserious it is.
Reposted by KS_1968
Glaringly obvious Badenoch’s response to the budget was written before the actual budget, and that they didn’t do much to take advantage of the extra prep time the OBR gave them.
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Glaringly obvious Badenoch’s response to the budget was written before the actual budget, and that they didn’t do much to take advantage of the extra prep time the OBR gave them.
Reposted by KS_1968
Here is the smorgasbord in full. Removing tax benefits from salary sacrifice pension schemes raises a whopping £4.7bn.
November 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Here is the smorgasbord in full. Removing tax benefits from salary sacrifice pension schemes raises a whopping £4.7bn.
Reposted by KS_1968
If you are eligible for the mobility component of PIP, you can spend *your own money* topping that up to have a great accessible car. Critics should ask: Why are you against this? What it is about disabled people that makes you believe it’s wrong to have nice things they paid for themselves?
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
If you are eligible for the mobility component of PIP, you can spend *your own money* topping that up to have a great accessible car. Critics should ask: Why are you against this? What it is about disabled people that makes you believe it’s wrong to have nice things they paid for themselves?