Nicole
@nicoledso.bsky.social
We finally got rid of the Tories 🥳 but haven’t got rid of Brexit which is causing untold damage. 🇬🇧 🇦🇪
Reposted by Nicole
How it started ... How it's going
January 17, 2026 at 9:58 PM
How it started ... How it's going
Reposted by Nicole
When I lecture to students about how the apparently thriving economy of the 1920s was really a house of cards just waiting to be knocked down, one of the points I stress is how much a small number of the very rich were essentially propping up consumer spending in unsustainable ways
The top 10% now account for nearly half of all consumer spending.
January 17, 2026 at 6:50 PM
When I lecture to students about how the apparently thriving economy of the 1920s was really a house of cards just waiting to be knocked down, one of the points I stress is how much a small number of the very rich were essentially propping up consumer spending in unsustainable ways
3 more fucking years of this shit, and if Vance gets in it could be even worse. Still remembering all those tories who said we should get closer to USA, Russia, Pacific nations and decouple from Europe and that Trump would make the world safer for us all. Fucking idiots
January 17, 2026 at 8:35 PM
3 more fucking years of this shit, and if Vance gets in it could be even worse. Still remembering all those tories who said we should get closer to USA, Russia, Pacific nations and decouple from Europe and that Trump would make the world safer for us all. Fucking idiots
I feel truly blessed that my masters was completely funded by the European social fund. One of the many reasons I was so against leaving the EU. Haven’t changed my mind about that. I feel so sorry for the younger generation
The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 5:54 PM
I feel truly blessed that my masters was completely funded by the European social fund. One of the many reasons I was so against leaving the EU. Haven’t changed my mind about that. I feel so sorry for the younger generation
It does make me smile that this Facebook viral post about “I made an agreement with the government to pay NI and they agreed to pay me my pension at 60” thing being shared by lots of women in Dubai. Woman you’ve lived in Dubai for 20-30 years paying £170 a YEAR in voluntary NI contributions!
January 13, 2026 at 11:32 AM
It does make me smile that this Facebook viral post about “I made an agreement with the government to pay NI and they agreed to pay me my pension at 60” thing being shared by lots of women in Dubai. Woman you’ve lived in Dubai for 20-30 years paying £170 a YEAR in voluntary NI contributions!
Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform I see!!
January 12, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform I see!!
Americans who defend school shootings with the 2nd amendment and how it protects Americans from government over reach, how’s that going exactly?
January 11, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Americans who defend school shootings with the 2nd amendment and how it protects Americans from government over reach, how’s that going exactly?
Reposted by Nicole
Any time I see a starter pack I repost it. Starter packs are network builders. Network building makes this place better for everyone. If you have a good starter pack, send it round and remind people.
Follow the people that help shape the work of Britain's leading cross-party think tank - with a mission to enable markets and government to work together to benefit society.
👉 Check out our starter pack of SMF researchers & associated Senior Fellows: go.bsky.app/Kpjs1G7
👉 Check out our starter pack of SMF researchers & associated Senior Fellows: go.bsky.app/Kpjs1G7
January 7, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Any time I see a starter pack I repost it. Starter packs are network builders. Network building makes this place better for everyone. If you have a good starter pack, send it round and remind people.
Reposted by Nicole
Starmer ABSOLUTELY needs to level with the British public about our national security. ASAP. He has already waited far too long.
Hasn’t helped that the UK media has also been VERY slow to accept that the world order has been flipped on its head (present company excluded @stephenkb.bsky.social).
Hasn’t helped that the UK media has also been VERY slow to accept that the world order has been flipped on its head (present company excluded @stephenkb.bsky.social).
Today's newsletter: a lot of people in and around the government keep talking about how Starmer will 'spend more time on domestic priorities this year'. He obviously won't be able to and the government needs to come to terms with that (and then explain to the country why that is and what it means):
Keir Starmer should level with voters about foreign policy priorities
Some in government would rather the PM focus on domestic challenges
www.ft.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Starmer ABSOLUTELY needs to level with the British public about our national security. ASAP. He has already waited far too long.
Hasn’t helped that the UK media has also been VERY slow to accept that the world order has been flipped on its head (present company excluded @stephenkb.bsky.social).
Hasn’t helped that the UK media has also been VERY slow to accept that the world order has been flipped on its head (present company excluded @stephenkb.bsky.social).
For fucks sale Labour have you got nothing better to do than driving restrictions. Seriously?!!!
January 6, 2026 at 5:46 PM
For fucks sale Labour have you got nothing better to do than driving restrictions. Seriously?!!!
What the fuck is he talking about? America you voted for this guy TWICE!!
January 6, 2026 at 4:27 PM
What the fuck is he talking about? America you voted for this guy TWICE!!
WHY THE FUCK has politics live got Jacob Rees Mogg on talking about international fucking law?!!!! Of all people
January 5, 2026 at 5:03 PM
WHY THE FUCK has politics live got Jacob Rees Mogg on talking about international fucking law?!!!! Of all people
And yet they banned children’s books
Elon Musk chatbot repeatedly making CSAM on demand should be one of the single biggest stories right now and it's effectively a collective shrug instead
January 5, 2026 at 3:57 PM
And yet they banned children’s books
Reposted by Nicole
For no reason whatsoever, I’m reminding you that before the US invaded Iraq in 2003, the Bush administration said that Iraq’s oil revenue would fund everything.
www.meforum.org/middle-east-...
www.meforum.org/middle-east-...
January 3, 2026 at 5:59 PM
For no reason whatsoever, I’m reminding you that before the US invaded Iraq in 2003, the Bush administration said that Iraq’s oil revenue would fund everything.
www.meforum.org/middle-east-...
www.meforum.org/middle-east-...
The only president in history not to start any wars has stated bombing another country again I see
#peacepresident
#peacepresident
January 3, 2026 at 7:45 AM
The only president in history not to start any wars has stated bombing another country again I see
#peacepresident
#peacepresident
Reposted by Nicole
Having had a day to think through everything about El-Fattah, here's where I stand. Yes, it's possible to believe all of these things at once! In fact, it really shouldn't be that hard.
December 29, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Having had a day to think through everything about El-Fattah, here's where I stand. Yes, it's possible to believe all of these things at once! In fact, it really shouldn't be that hard.
Do as it’s blowing up on the other place do people have views on the Alaa El Fattah guy? If what’s posted is correct seems a very strange person to waste political capital on?
December 28, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Do as it’s blowing up on the other place do people have views on the Alaa El Fattah guy? If what’s posted is correct seems a very strange person to waste political capital on?
Merry Christmas from Dubai! ❤️
December 25, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Merry Christmas from Dubai! ❤️
FFS Labour. Increasing inheritance tax to 2.5 million where it should be massively lowered but pay a lower rate to pay for social care. Useless absolutely useless
December 23, 2025 at 3:16 PM
FFS Labour. Increasing inheritance tax to 2.5 million where it should be massively lowered but pay a lower rate to pay for social care. Useless absolutely useless
Dog sitting. Not exactly sure where I sleep
December 18, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Dog sitting. Not exactly sure where I sleep
Labour finally announcing a few really big and good policies. Housing and joining Erasmus. Also the employee rights bill - which while I’m mostly in favour I do have a few concerns…
December 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Labour finally announcing a few really big and good policies. Housing and joining Erasmus. Also the employee rights bill - which while I’m mostly in favour I do have a few concerns…
Fucking public got it wrong again on strictly.
December 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Fucking public got it wrong again on strictly.
Mass shooting at Hanukkah in bondi beach. Sounds horrific.
December 14, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Mass shooting at Hanukkah in bondi beach. Sounds horrific.
Just read this by John Oxley and it’s so spot on. Well worth a read
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
Why can't the English teach their politicians how to think?
How warped incentives are shallowing out our discourse
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Just read this by John Oxley and it’s so spot on. Well worth a read
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...
Reposted by Nicole
That is a huge drop. Huge.
Starmer will now play the 'look-what-we-achieved' politics of this brilliantly, everyone will calm down, sensible immigration policies will emerge, and Farage will disappear.
Narrator: 'Meanwhile on Planet Earth....'
Starmer will now play the 'look-what-we-achieved' politics of this brilliantly, everyone will calm down, sensible immigration policies will emerge, and Farage will disappear.
Narrator: 'Meanwhile on Planet Earth....'
NEW: Net migration falls sharply to 204,000 in the year to June.
That’s a fall from 649,000 in the year to June 2024. It is a drop of nearly 80% from its 2023 peak.
That’s a fall from 649,000 in the year to June 2024. It is a drop of nearly 80% from its 2023 peak.
November 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM
That is a huge drop. Huge.
Starmer will now play the 'look-what-we-achieved' politics of this brilliantly, everyone will calm down, sensible immigration policies will emerge, and Farage will disappear.
Narrator: 'Meanwhile on Planet Earth....'
Starmer will now play the 'look-what-we-achieved' politics of this brilliantly, everyone will calm down, sensible immigration policies will emerge, and Farage will disappear.
Narrator: 'Meanwhile on Planet Earth....'