Laurie Dunkin Wedd
@ldw1.bsky.social
Bought no coal or gas since 1977, no flights since 2006, no petrol since 2015.
PV, EV, domestic battery.
ME/CFS. #UBI
Kent UK.
Sometimes musical.
PV, EV, domestic battery.
ME/CFS. #UBI
Kent UK.
Sometimes musical.
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
"Rachel Reeves has squandered the opportunity at this budget to set out a clear vision for the tax system"
We recently set out how Reeves could approach tax reform to drive growth www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
See our live blog www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/au...
We recently set out how Reeves could approach tax reform to drive growth www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
See our live blog www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/au...
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 PM
"Rachel Reeves has squandered the opportunity at this budget to set out a clear vision for the tax system"
We recently set out how Reeves could approach tax reform to drive growth www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
See our live blog www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/au...
We recently set out how Reeves could approach tax reform to drive growth www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
See our live blog www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/au...
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Well this is the most chaotic run up to a budget ever. The OBR published their forecast based on the budget half an hour before Rachel Reeves stood up to give her speech!
This allowed Ed Davey to give his comeback to the budget tax hikes in PMQs before the budget speech even started!
This allowed Ed Davey to give his comeback to the budget tax hikes in PMQs before the budget speech even started!
November 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Well this is the most chaotic run up to a budget ever. The OBR published their forecast based on the budget half an hour before Rachel Reeves stood up to give her speech!
This allowed Ed Davey to give his comeback to the budget tax hikes in PMQs before the budget speech even started!
This allowed Ed Davey to give his comeback to the budget tax hikes in PMQs before the budget speech even started!
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Cost of extending the fuel duty cut plus cancelled uprating next year: £2.4 billion.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
November 26, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Cost of extending the fuel duty cut plus cancelled uprating next year: £2.4 billion.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Opportunity to equalise rates of tax and eliminate cliff edges in marginal rates, missed. Opportunity to reform stamp duty, missed. Opportunity to shift tax burden away from workers, missed. Opportunity to incentivise investment, undermined. Opportunity to drive EV adoption, undermined...
November 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Opportunity to equalise rates of tax and eliminate cliff edges in marginal rates, missed. Opportunity to reform stamp duty, missed. Opportunity to shift tax burden away from workers, missed. Opportunity to incentivise investment, undermined. Opportunity to drive EV adoption, undermined...
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Your regular reminder 👇
🏥 81% want publicly owned NHS
🏫 78% want publicly owned schools
💧 73% want publicly owned water
🚂 70% want publicly owned rail
✉️ 70% want publicly owned mail
🚍 67% want publicly owned buses
💡 65% want publicly owned energy
🏥 81% want publicly owned NHS
🏫 78% want publicly owned schools
💧 73% want publicly owned water
🚂 70% want publicly owned rail
✉️ 70% want publicly owned mail
🚍 67% want publicly owned buses
💡 65% want publicly owned energy
EXCLUSIVE: Poll shows huge support for nationalisation of key industries and utilities
Privatisation has failed.
leftfootforward.org
November 26, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Your regular reminder 👇
🏥 81% want publicly owned NHS
🏫 78% want publicly owned schools
💧 73% want publicly owned water
🚂 70% want publicly owned rail
✉️ 70% want publicly owned mail
🚍 67% want publicly owned buses
💡 65% want publicly owned energy
🏥 81% want publicly owned NHS
🏫 78% want publicly owned schools
💧 73% want publicly owned water
🚂 70% want publicly owned rail
✉️ 70% want publicly owned mail
🚍 67% want publicly owned buses
💡 65% want publicly owned energy
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Hmmm, let me think....
November 26, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Hmmm, let me think....
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Criticise your political opponent's suggestions, refute their solutions, by all means.
There's no need for ridicule or ad hominem attacks.
Reeves' remarks have rightly backfired. Now, everyone understands @zackpolanski.bsky.social has spooked Labour (& that their comms are still a disaster).
There's no need for ridicule or ad hominem attacks.
Reeves' remarks have rightly backfired. Now, everyone understands @zackpolanski.bsky.social has spooked Labour (& that their comms are still a disaster).
November 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Criticise your political opponent's suggestions, refute their solutions, by all means.
There's no need for ridicule or ad hominem attacks.
Reeves' remarks have rightly backfired. Now, everyone understands @zackpolanski.bsky.social has spooked Labour (& that their comms are still a disaster).
There's no need for ridicule or ad hominem attacks.
Reeves' remarks have rightly backfired. Now, everyone understands @zackpolanski.bsky.social has spooked Labour (& that their comms are still a disaster).
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
More than 500 immigration law experts speak out against Labour's asylum proposals
@ilpaimmigration.bsky.social
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/more...
@ilpaimmigration.bsky.social
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/more...
More than 500 migration law experts speak out against Labour’s immigration proposals
Experts argue that the policies are “gimmicks” designed to make the government look tough, but they are not evidence-based
leftfootforward.org
November 26, 2025 at 11:14 AM
More than 500 immigration law experts speak out against Labour's asylum proposals
@ilpaimmigration.bsky.social
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/more...
@ilpaimmigration.bsky.social
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/more...
Some idiot from RefUK on @bbc5live.bsky.social. Off switch employed…
November 26, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Some idiot from RefUK on @bbc5live.bsky.social. Off switch employed…
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
🔥🔥🔥 While everyone is distracted by other budget news, Labour have just announced that they will allow more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea 🔥🔥🔥
Genuinely catastrophic for our climate and further proof that Labour care more about corporate profits than people or planet.
Genuinely catastrophic for our climate and further proof that Labour care more about corporate profits than people or planet.
November 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
🔥🔥🔥 While everyone is distracted by other budget news, Labour have just announced that they will allow more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea 🔥🔥🔥
Genuinely catastrophic for our climate and further proof that Labour care more about corporate profits than people or planet.
Genuinely catastrophic for our climate and further proof that Labour care more about corporate profits than people or planet.
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
NEW: Nigel Farage shakes hands with Adam Johnson, well-known 6 January rioter, at a Republican Party fundraiser in Florida, this March - as unearthed by @nafeez.bsky.social for @bylinetimes.bsky.social today
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/n...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/n...
November 24, 2025 at 12:06 PM
NEW: Nigel Farage shakes hands with Adam Johnson, well-known 6 January rioter, at a Republican Party fundraiser in Florida, this March - as unearthed by @nafeez.bsky.social for @bylinetimes.bsky.social today
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/n...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/n...
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
The UK government has again frozen fuel duty but will charge EV owners by the mile. Hard to see this as anything other than an attempt to suppress EV adoption.
November 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
The UK government has again frozen fuel duty but will charge EV owners by the mile. Hard to see this as anything other than an attempt to suppress EV adoption.
Ooh - Rachel has a pop at @zackpolanski.bsky.social. They’ve noticed that you’re here to replace them, Zack!
November 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Ooh - Rachel has a pop at @zackpolanski.bsky.social. They’ve noticed that you’re here to replace them, Zack!
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Rachel Reeves wants us to buy British "that's why we stepped in to save British Steel"
So why can't we own our own water - starting with Thames Water?
Spiralling water bills are taking money directly out of people's pockets, flowing to shareholders around the world #Budget2025
So why can't we own our own water - starting with Thames Water?
Spiralling water bills are taking money directly out of people's pockets, flowing to shareholders around the world #Budget2025
November 26, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Rachel Reeves wants us to buy British "that's why we stepped in to save British Steel"
So why can't we own our own water - starting with Thames Water?
Spiralling water bills are taking money directly out of people's pockets, flowing to shareholders around the world #Budget2025
So why can't we own our own water - starting with Thames Water?
Spiralling water bills are taking money directly out of people's pockets, flowing to shareholders around the world #Budget2025
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Decent move - but why wait till 2029? Too many tax exemptions apply to pensions, it’s part of our regressive tax regime - the more money you have the more exemptions you get.
November 26, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Decent move - but why wait till 2029? Too many tax exemptions apply to pensions, it’s part of our regressive tax regime - the more money you have the more exemptions you get.
Rachel Reeves is no orator, is she?
With zero charisma and nil political skill, how did this lot get elected?
(I know really: by being Not The Tory Party.)
With zero charisma and nil political skill, how did this lot get elected?
(I know really: by being Not The Tory Party.)
November 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Rachel Reeves is no orator, is she?
With zero charisma and nil political skill, how did this lot get elected?
(I know really: by being Not The Tory Party.)
With zero charisma and nil political skill, how did this lot get elected?
(I know really: by being Not The Tory Party.)
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Thankfully, there are some taxes on wealth. 💸
🏰 The new Mansion Tax is a step in the right direction, but its like a sticking plaster on a broken leg —only expected to raise around £400 million, for scale that’s about 48x less than our preferred wealth tax.
5/?
🏰 The new Mansion Tax is a step in the right direction, but its like a sticking plaster on a broken leg —only expected to raise around £400 million, for scale that’s about 48x less than our preferred wealth tax.
5/?
November 26, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Thankfully, there are some taxes on wealth. 💸
🏰 The new Mansion Tax is a step in the right direction, but its like a sticking plaster on a broken leg —only expected to raise around £400 million, for scale that’s about 48x less than our preferred wealth tax.
5/?
🏰 The new Mansion Tax is a step in the right direction, but its like a sticking plaster on a broken leg —only expected to raise around £400 million, for scale that’s about 48x less than our preferred wealth tax.
5/?
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Profoundly infuriating. Every single barrel of oil pumped moves us deeper into dangerous climate change. The science is absolutely clear about this: the carbon budget to limit to 1.5°C is practically gone. Tipping points loom. We need rapid fossil fuel PHASE OUT.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
More North Sea exploration to be allowed in new Labour plan
The chancellor will unveil the North Sea Strategy in her Budget speech, the BBC understands.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Profoundly infuriating. Every single barrel of oil pumped moves us deeper into dangerous climate change. The science is absolutely clear about this: the carbon budget to limit to 1.5°C is practically gone. Tipping points loom. We need rapid fossil fuel PHASE OUT.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Conservative MPs should be red faced with embarrassment not indignation.
This chancellor is the one who is clearing up their mess.
They’d do well to listen to her not shout like a bunch of guffawing hooligans. #budget
This chancellor is the one who is clearing up their mess.
They’d do well to listen to her not shout like a bunch of guffawing hooligans. #budget
November 26, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Conservative MPs should be red faced with embarrassment not indignation.
This chancellor is the one who is clearing up their mess.
They’d do well to listen to her not shout like a bunch of guffawing hooligans. #budget
This chancellor is the one who is clearing up their mess.
They’d do well to listen to her not shout like a bunch of guffawing hooligans. #budget
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Damning line from the OBR this: "We have assessed that none of the policy measures in this Budget have a sufficiently material impact to justify adjusting our post-measures potential output forecast."
Ie it's a budget which does nothing new for growth.
Ie it's a budget which does nothing new for growth.
November 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Damning line from the OBR this: "We have assessed that none of the policy measures in this Budget have a sufficiently material impact to justify adjusting our post-measures potential output forecast."
Ie it's a budget which does nothing new for growth.
Ie it's a budget which does nothing new for growth.
Bloody rowdy in the Commons today. Dep Speaker must get a grip. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
Budget 2025: Follow Rachel Reeves speech live
The Office for Budget Responsibility unexpectedly publishes its growth forecast ahead of Reeves's statement at 12:30 GMT.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Bloody rowdy in the Commons today. Dep Speaker must get a grip. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Sorry I haven't been active on social media today, I've been flat out making sure everything goes smoothly on my first day as website manager for the OBR.
November 26, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Sorry I haven't been active on social media today, I've been flat out making sure everything goes smoothly on my first day as website manager for the OBR.
Reposted by Laurie Dunkin Wedd
Incidentally to the leak, a remarkably dull set of measures compared to all the pre-budget excitable briefings, once again illustrating the strategic vacuum at the heart of this government.
BREAKING The entire Budget has leaked early
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
- £22BN of headroom
- £26bn tax rises
- Freeze on tax thresholds
- Pay per mileage confirmed
- Changes to capital gains
November 26, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Incidentally to the leak, a remarkably dull set of measures compared to all the pre-budget excitable briefings, once again illustrating the strategic vacuum at the heart of this government.
They should be electric. No vibration, no noise. EVs are a demonstrably better experience in every way. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Army halts use of Ajax armoured vehicles after soldiers fall ill
The UK government previously said they were ready for deployment with interest from Nato allies.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 11:35 AM
They should be electric. No vibration, no noise. EVs are a demonstrably better experience in every way. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...