Paul Hebden
@paulhebden.bsky.social
I help people and organisations to speak human: https://www.campaignsalience.co.uk/
Code apps: https://campaignsalience.shinyapps.io/NewsApp3/
Write: https://campaignsalience.substack.com/
Code apps: https://campaignsalience.shinyapps.io/NewsApp3/
Write: https://campaignsalience.substack.com/
Pinned
Paul Hebden
@paulhebden.bsky.social
· Aug 12
FWIW - this is how food prices spiked in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and how the cost of essentials is spiking again now.
"granny tax" is another right wing trope.
Not to say there isn't an issue around asset rich, cash poor homeowners, but this can always be resolved.
It's just interesting to me how long loved these tropes of the right are.
"Granny tax" is part of the reactionary trinity of tropes: >>
Not to say there isn't an issue around asset rich, cash poor homeowners, but this can always be resolved.
It's just interesting to me how long loved these tropes of the right are.
"Granny tax" is part of the reactionary trinity of tropes: >>
November 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
"granny tax" is another right wing trope.
Not to say there isn't an issue around asset rich, cash poor homeowners, but this can always be resolved.
It's just interesting to me how long loved these tropes of the right are.
"Granny tax" is part of the reactionary trinity of tropes: >>
Not to say there isn't an issue around asset rich, cash poor homeowners, but this can always be resolved.
It's just interesting to me how long loved these tropes of the right are.
"Granny tax" is part of the reactionary trinity of tropes: >>
The Daily Telegraph is a newspaper of Nazis
November 27, 2025 at 7:42 AM
The Daily Telegraph is a newspaper of Nazis
Not massively engaged, but I feel the vibes around the budget (whether or not I agree with it) were quite.... competent? Almost like if a Labour chancellor just does what a Labour chancellor wants, no bullshit "missing billions" & ignores the constant emergency narrative, they look credible.
November 27, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Not massively engaged, but I feel the vibes around the budget (whether or not I agree with it) were quite.... competent? Almost like if a Labour chancellor just does what a Labour chancellor wants, no bullshit "missing billions" & ignores the constant emergency narrative, they look credible.
Framing 101 guys.... please.
Don't start with you opponents frame.
Don't start with you opponents frame.
November 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Framing 101 guys.... please.
Don't start with you opponents frame.
Don't start with you opponents frame.
Reposted by Paul Hebden
Outside government, the need for serious tax reform is universally accepted and there is remarkable agreement over how to do it. We must turn our attention to the reasons why successive governments have failed to deliver, despite this consensus.
November 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Outside government, the need for serious tax reform is universally accepted and there is remarkable agreement over how to do it. We must turn our attention to the reasons why successive governments have failed to deliver, despite this consensus.
Reposted by Paul Hebden
Recently, authors from CenTax and eight other think tanks from across the political spectrum declared agreement on the way ahead. It’s regrettable that this Budget contains barely a hint of progress against any of the seven reform packages we proposed 👇
centax.org.uk/tax-reforms-...
centax.org.uk/tax-reforms-...
Tax Reforms for Growth | CenTax
centax.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Recently, authors from CenTax and eight other think tanks from across the political spectrum declared agreement on the way ahead. It’s regrettable that this Budget contains barely a hint of progress against any of the seven reform packages we proposed 👇
centax.org.uk/tax-reforms-...
centax.org.uk/tax-reforms-...
Reposted by Paul Hebden
For a government that’s supposedly obsessed with growth, we seem no closer to the realisation that our broken tax system is part of the UK’s growth problem, and that major structural reforms – not just rate-changes or more bolt-ons – are needed to fix it.
November 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
For a government that’s supposedly obsessed with growth, we seem no closer to the realisation that our broken tax system is part of the UK’s growth problem, and that major structural reforms – not just rate-changes or more bolt-ons – are needed to fix it.
Reposted by Paul Hebden
There's still no sense that the govt has a vision for a good tax system - or a strategy for getting there. In this climate, even moves in the right direction (e.g. Council Tax) come across as ad hoc revenue-grabs not principled efforts to make the system fairer & more efficient.
November 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
There's still no sense that the govt has a vision for a good tax system - or a strategy for getting there. In this climate, even moves in the right direction (e.g. Council Tax) come across as ad hoc revenue-grabs not principled efforts to make the system fairer & more efficient.
Reposted by Paul Hebden
Today’s #Budget was an opportunity to tackle tax reform head-on rather than yet more rate tinkering. Some of the Chancellor’s announcements are a small step in that direction. But they are less a ‘smorgasbord’, more a series of nibbles. 🧵
November 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Today’s #Budget was an opportunity to tackle tax reform head-on rather than yet more rate tinkering. Some of the Chancellor’s announcements are a small step in that direction. But they are less a ‘smorgasbord’, more a series of nibbles. 🧵
We need "gurus" and "guides" who can give progressive meaning to people yearning for a sense that they belong.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/where-...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/where-...
Where are the left wing "gurus" who can give meaning in these weird times?
A progressive content playbook still seems to be missing in efforts to build media to rival the likes of Joe Rogan and the other so-called 'brocasters.' Perhaps one way to get into this, is to reflect...
www.linkedin.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
We need "gurus" and "guides" who can give progressive meaning to people yearning for a sense that they belong.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/where-...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/where-...
Reposted by Paul Hebden
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 Paul Hebden
Side point, but it can’t be said often enough that so much of today’s political debate is taken up with migration, when it is *plunging* 📉 (from OBR docs):
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Side point, but it can’t be said often enough that so much of today’s political debate is taken up with migration, when it is *plunging* 📉 (from OBR docs):
All those ultra wealthy people who were going to be filling up airports to leave the country because of changes to way they were taxed.
Never happened, at least not beyond what was expected.
A great big "meh" from the OBR in response to one of the media and the right wing's longest standing tropes
Never happened, at least not beyond what was expected.
A great big "meh" from the OBR in response to one of the media and the right wing's longest standing tropes
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
All those ultra wealthy people who were going to be filling up airports to leave the country because of changes to way they were taxed.
Never happened, at least not beyond what was expected.
A great big "meh" from the OBR in response to one of the media and the right wing's longest standing tropes
Never happened, at least not beyond what was expected.
A great big "meh" from the OBR in response to one of the media and the right wing's longest standing tropes
Reposted by Paul Hebden
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
Reposted by Paul Hebden
Looks like enough to broadly placate markets and lots of small things to please Labour backbenchers happy.
A safety first budget in terms of shoring up the government’s position.
But against a background of sluggish growth and a tough outlook for living standards.
A safety first budget in terms of shoring up the government’s position.
But against a background of sluggish growth and a tough outlook for living standards.
November 26, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Looks like enough to broadly placate markets and lots of small things to please Labour backbenchers happy.
A safety first budget in terms of shoring up the government’s position.
But against a background of sluggish growth and a tough outlook for living standards.
A safety first budget in terms of shoring up the government’s position.
But against a background of sluggish growth and a tough outlook for living standards.
There's a sizeable portion of the Reform base "reluctant Reformers" who really care about "competence" and are gonna be mighty unimpressed if they are nerds and notice the OBR briefing was leaked
November 26, 2025 at 12:33 PM
There's a sizeable portion of the Reform base "reluctant Reformers" who really care about "competence" and are gonna be mighty unimpressed if they are nerds and notice the OBR briefing was leaked
There it is. A freeze to tax thresholds and national insurance on people's pension contributions.
November 26, 2025 at 12:16 PM
There it is. A freeze to tax thresholds and national insurance on people's pension contributions.
Reposted by Paul Hebden
"He told the BBC he had been contacted by people "who were nine years old and Nigel Farage, when he was 18 years old, marched frequently into the playground where they were playing and they were told to 'go back to Africa."
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Nigel Farage’s abuse was persistent, not banter, claims ex-schoolmate
Peter Ettedgui says he was targeted at Dulwich College. The Reform UK leader denies he racially abused anybody
www.thetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:09 AM
"He told the BBC he had been contacted by people "who were nine years old and Nigel Farage, when he was 18 years old, marched frequently into the playground where they were playing and they were told to 'go back to Africa."
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Paul Hebden
7:15am and already bored/tired/frustrated by numerous 'black hole' references on BBC Radio Scotland.
What was the point of the Dilnot Review? Were BBC presenters ever told of its findings?
share.google/RTxF7uhSsFfc...
What was the point of the Dilnot Review? Were BBC presenters ever told of its findings?
share.google/RTxF7uhSsFfc...
share.google
November 26, 2025 at 7:17 AM
7:15am and already bored/tired/frustrated by numerous 'black hole' references on BBC Radio Scotland.
What was the point of the Dilnot Review? Were BBC presenters ever told of its findings?
share.google/RTxF7uhSsFfc...
What was the point of the Dilnot Review? Were BBC presenters ever told of its findings?
share.google/RTxF7uhSsFfc...
There are alot of straw men being used to argue against a wealth tax at the moment.
1 - the idea that everyone on the left sees a wealth tax as some kind of panacea for all the UK's ills, is hyperbole and not a serious argument.
>>>
1 - the idea that everyone on the left sees a wealth tax as some kind of panacea for all the UK's ills, is hyperbole and not a serious argument.
>>>
November 26, 2025 at 5:32 AM
There are alot of straw men being used to argue against a wealth tax at the moment.
1 - the idea that everyone on the left sees a wealth tax as some kind of panacea for all the UK's ills, is hyperbole and not a serious argument.
>>>
1 - the idea that everyone on the left sees a wealth tax as some kind of panacea for all the UK's ills, is hyperbole and not a serious argument.
>>>
Reposted by Paul Hebden
The tax system is dysfunctional. It taxes workers more than the wealthy and it's riddled with inefficiencies. Tomorrow's Budget is a chance to fix that.
📺 @rachaelhenry.bsky.social on @gbnewsonline.bsky.social 👇
📺 @rachaelhenry.bsky.social on @gbnewsonline.bsky.social 👇
November 25, 2025 at 9:10 PM
The tax system is dysfunctional. It taxes workers more than the wealthy and it's riddled with inefficiencies. Tomorrow's Budget is a chance to fix that.
📺 @rachaelhenry.bsky.social on @gbnewsonline.bsky.social 👇
📺 @rachaelhenry.bsky.social on @gbnewsonline.bsky.social 👇
I love this idea that's become common on here that income tax rises are sane in a moment when unemployment is rising and nominal wages rises are going on to reverse. Sure let's keep hitting median income earners and small businesses with higher taxes. Someone please speak up for the billionaires.
November 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I love this idea that's become common on here that income tax rises are sane in a moment when unemployment is rising and nominal wages rises are going on to reverse. Sure let's keep hitting median income earners and small businesses with higher taxes. Someone please speak up for the billionaires.
No-one has ever claimed a wealth tax is some kind of silver bullet to all society's ills.
People are reacting to a strawman that's a consequence of successful campaigning
But it's up to other parts of the "progressive" movement to advance their demands too.
You don't shit on your comrades.
People are reacting to a strawman that's a consequence of successful campaigning
But it's up to other parts of the "progressive" movement to advance their demands too.
You don't shit on your comrades.
November 25, 2025 at 5:37 PM
No-one has ever claimed a wealth tax is some kind of silver bullet to all society's ills.
People are reacting to a strawman that's a consequence of successful campaigning
But it's up to other parts of the "progressive" movement to advance their demands too.
You don't shit on your comrades.
People are reacting to a strawman that's a consequence of successful campaigning
But it's up to other parts of the "progressive" movement to advance their demands too.
You don't shit on your comrades.
As someone who played a role in wealth tax campaigning, I'm finding this sudden pivot against the wealth tax by the likes of Jo and by Aditya in Guardian last week a bit frustrating. The Wealth Tax campaign has been successful, cos it's been smart, strategic and loud. >>
"Much of the left appears to have convinced itself that wealth tax is all that is needed. This is incorrect — and an incessant focus on wealth taxation is obscuring the need for broader tax increases." Clear and interesting piece by @jomichell.bsky.social:
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Wealth tax and looser fiscal rules won’t save the Budget | British Politics and Policy at LSE
The narrative on the left that a wealth tax and looser fiscal rules would solve the Chancellor's 2025 Budget headaches has got out of hand.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
November 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
As someone who played a role in wealth tax campaigning, I'm finding this sudden pivot against the wealth tax by the likes of Jo and by Aditya in Guardian last week a bit frustrating. The Wealth Tax campaign has been successful, cos it's been smart, strategic and loud. >>