Martin Rathfelder
@rathfelder.bsky.social
Retired Mancunian agitator. Patient representative/ public contributor in Manchester University. Unpaid advocate for disabled people. Wikipedian. Whalley Range Labour Party.
Perfection is the enemy of improvement!
Perfection is the enemy of improvement!
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
New Home Office impact assessment finds that cutting skilled and social care visas will cost the UK up to £10 billion with a central estimate of -£5.4 billion.
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
December 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New Home Office impact assessment finds that cutting skilled and social care visas will cost the UK up to £10 billion with a central estimate of -£5.4 billion.
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Welcome to Britain, a country so short of dentists that an MP's 87-year-old mum pulled her teeth out with pliers. Also a country with thousands of foreign-qualified dentists who can’t work until they pass an exam so oversubscribed it’s like trying to book Glasto tickets. www.ft.com/content/f4e5...
December 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Welcome to Britain, a country so short of dentists that an MP's 87-year-old mum pulled her teeth out with pliers. Also a country with thousands of foreign-qualified dentists who can’t work until they pass an exam so oversubscribed it’s like trying to book Glasto tickets. www.ft.com/content/f4e5...
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
I just want to remind people who have forgotten that Zarah Sultana claims she wishes to "nationalise the entire economy" (? What does that actually mean)
Zarah Sultana voted with the Tories in every vote on the Employment Rights Bill last night.
That includes voting to keep the Lords' wrecking amendments on strike ballot thresholds and to keep the 2016 Trade Union Act's restrictions on unions' political funds.
That includes voting to keep the Lords' wrecking amendments on strike ballot thresholds and to keep the 2016 Trade Union Act's restrictions on unions' political funds.
December 9, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I just want to remind people who have forgotten that Zarah Sultana claims she wishes to "nationalise the entire economy" (? What does that actually mean)
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Mike Scott of Notts Keep Our NHS Public said:
"Over £40bn of debt is still to be repaid years later. To make a profit, private companies overcharge the NHS, whereas the public sector can build at cost so there's no possibility that private could be cheaper."
westbridgfordwire.com/the-nhs-is-s...
"Over £40bn of debt is still to be repaid years later. To make a profit, private companies overcharge the NHS, whereas the public sector can build at cost so there's no possibility that private could be cheaper."
westbridgfordwire.com/the-nhs-is-s...
The NHS is struggling – Is private finance the answer or the problem? | West Bridgford Wire
Mike Scott, Chair of Nottingham and Notts branch of the NHS campaign group Keep Our NHS Public writes in response to this recent article Budget 2025 legal
westbridgfordwire.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Mike Scott of Notts Keep Our NHS Public said:
"Over £40bn of debt is still to be repaid years later. To make a profit, private companies overcharge the NHS, whereas the public sector can build at cost so there's no possibility that private could be cheaper."
westbridgfordwire.com/the-nhs-is-s...
"Over £40bn of debt is still to be repaid years later. To make a profit, private companies overcharge the NHS, whereas the public sector can build at cost so there's no possibility that private could be cheaper."
westbridgfordwire.com/the-nhs-is-s...
red, white and blue? What does it mean to you? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Branding and logo for Great British Railways unveiled
The new red, white and blue branding mirrors the colours of the Union Flag, and will start to appear from next year.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 5:07 PM
red, white and blue? What does it mean to you? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
We are looking for clinicians who work with autistic people without Learning Disabilities to support their sensory motor needs to complete a survey asking experiences asssing and supporting autistic adults.
www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...
www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...
December 8, 2025 at 2:11 PM
We are looking for clinicians who work with autistic people without Learning Disabilities to support their sensory motor needs to complete a survey asking experiences asssing and supporting autistic adults.
www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...
www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
🤔 Corruption may seem far away from our normal lives. But it’s actually in our communities, our economy, and our politics too.
🌍 It’s a whole-of-society problem that needs a whole-of-society solution.
🗣️That’s what we’re calling for here at UKACC — and we want you to join us 🫵
🌍 It’s a whole-of-society problem that needs a whole-of-society solution.
🗣️That’s what we’re calling for here at UKACC — and we want you to join us 🫵
December 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
🤔 Corruption may seem far away from our normal lives. But it’s actually in our communities, our economy, and our politics too.
🌍 It’s a whole-of-society problem that needs a whole-of-society solution.
🗣️That’s what we’re calling for here at UKACC — and we want you to join us 🫵
🌍 It’s a whole-of-society problem that needs a whole-of-society solution.
🗣️That’s what we’re calling for here at UKACC — and we want you to join us 🫵
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Two Mill investigations have been followed up by the national press this week. Thanks to @theguardian.com for crediting our reporting on both without needing to be prompted.
It’s because of our paying members that we can do impactful journalism like this, which holds local authorities to account.
It’s because of our paying members that we can do impactful journalism like this, which holds local authorities to account.
December 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Two Mill investigations have been followed up by the national press this week. Thanks to @theguardian.com for crediting our reporting on both without needing to be prompted.
It’s because of our paying members that we can do impactful journalism like this, which holds local authorities to account.
It’s because of our paying members that we can do impactful journalism like this, which holds local authorities to account.
who is this Bram?
December 8, 2025 at 3:49 PM
who is this Bram?
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
I think this is the right policy, but I am perplexed as to why Rachel Reeves thinks it is the right policy for London, but 'why don't we have less investment in exchange for a freeze' is a *good* policy for the rest of England, where the railways need more investment to start with?
December 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I think this is the right policy, but I am perplexed as to why Rachel Reeves thinks it is the right policy for London, but 'why don't we have less investment in exchange for a freeze' is a *good* policy for the rest of England, where the railways need more investment to start with?
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Private developers aren't going to build all the homes we need - historically we've only hit the numbers this government is going for when we've been building social homes.
December 8, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Private developers aren't going to build all the homes we need - historically we've only hit the numbers this government is going for when we've been building social homes.
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Farage is in the mud again: police reports over £9k dodgy spending - a refurbished HQ he “forgot” to declare, an armoured Land Rover shoved into “national” costs, and missing receipts everywhere. Add it to the pile: Russian cash, extremist bile, antisemitic bullying - now alleged fraud too.
December 8, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Farage is in the mud again: police reports over £9k dodgy spending - a refurbished HQ he “forgot” to declare, an armoured Land Rover shoved into “national” costs, and missing receipts everywhere. Add it to the pile: Russian cash, extremist bile, antisemitic bullying - now alleged fraud too.
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Bram? Who's he?
December 8, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Bram? Who's he?
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Interesting and timely @resolutionfoundation.org research showing that redesigning Scottish disability benefits to give claimants a more dignified experience doesn't mean the system becomes more expensive or claims have to rise. www.resolutionfoundation.org/press-releas...
Reforms to Scottish disability payments suggest that the system can be kinder without being costlier • Resolution Foundation
Adult Disability Payments (ADP), which were introduced in Scotland in 2022 to replace Personal Independence Payments (PIP), show that it may be possible to implement a claimant-centred and dignified d...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
December 8, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Interesting and timely @resolutionfoundation.org research showing that redesigning Scottish disability benefits to give claimants a more dignified experience doesn't mean the system becomes more expensive or claims have to rise. www.resolutionfoundation.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Here's what one respondent to our survey said.
What do YOU think needs to change about rail?
Please fill in our survey and share your views: bettertransport.org.uk/campaigns/ra...
What do YOU think needs to change about rail?
Please fill in our survey and share your views: bettertransport.org.uk/campaigns/ra...
December 8, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Here's what one respondent to our survey said.
What do YOU think needs to change about rail?
Please fill in our survey and share your views: bettertransport.org.uk/campaigns/ra...
What do YOU think needs to change about rail?
Please fill in our survey and share your views: bettertransport.org.uk/campaigns/ra...
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
The number of global deaths of children under-5 is projected to increase this year (from 4.6m to 4.8m) for the first time this century. (FT)
The price of aid cuts.
The price of aid cuts.
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The number of global deaths of children under-5 is projected to increase this year (from 4.6m to 4.8m) for the first time this century. (FT)
The price of aid cuts.
The price of aid cuts.
Reform UK councillor’s company fined £40,000 for hiring illegal worker www.ft.com/content/de36...
Reform UK councillor’s company fined £40,000 for hiring illegal worker
Michael Andrew Harrison, who represents Seaham in Durham, is appealing against the penalty
www.ft.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Reform UK councillor’s company fined £40,000 for hiring illegal worker www.ft.com/content/de36...
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Some facts:
- Tory govt average employment = 73.8%
- Labour govt average employment = 75%
- Tory govt average employment = 73.8%
- Labour govt average employment = 75%
Telegraph headline: Employment slumps to 14-year low
Reality: employment today is 75% vs 70.3% in 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Reality: employment today is 75% vs 70.3% in 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Some facts:
- Tory govt average employment = 73.8%
- Labour govt average employment = 75%
- Tory govt average employment = 73.8%
- Labour govt average employment = 75%
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
What a shit
A sole practitioner lawyer buys up cheap freeholds in Sheffield, writes to the leaseholders with allegations of breaches of covenants & then offers them a “speedy” deal to buy the freedom him at an inflated cost
And the SRA have been investigating for 2 years….🫥🫥🫥
Private Eye
A sole practitioner lawyer buys up cheap freeholds in Sheffield, writes to the leaseholders with allegations of breaches of covenants & then offers them a “speedy” deal to buy the freedom him at an inflated cost
And the SRA have been investigating for 2 years….🫥🫥🫥
Private Eye
December 8, 2025 at 10:01 AM
What a shit
A sole practitioner lawyer buys up cheap freeholds in Sheffield, writes to the leaseholders with allegations of breaches of covenants & then offers them a “speedy” deal to buy the freedom him at an inflated cost
And the SRA have been investigating for 2 years….🫥🫥🫥
Private Eye
A sole practitioner lawyer buys up cheap freeholds in Sheffield, writes to the leaseholders with allegations of breaches of covenants & then offers them a “speedy” deal to buy the freedom him at an inflated cost
And the SRA have been investigating for 2 years….🫥🫥🫥
Private Eye
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
RFK Jr.'s claim that COVID vaccines are deadly? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. In this new extraordinarily large study, vaccinated individuals had a 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19 and a 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those unvaccinated. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination and 4-Year All-Cause Mortality Among Adults in France
This cohort study uses the data from all adults aged 18 to 59 years living in France on November 1, 2021, to evaluate whether there is an association of receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with long-t...
jamanetwork.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:08 PM
RFK Jr.'s claim that COVID vaccines are deadly? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. In this new extraordinarily large study, vaccinated individuals had a 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19 and a 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those unvaccinated. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Martin Rathfelder
Most households subject to the two-child limit already have at least one adult in work.
Of the minority of households that are not in work, more than nine-in-ten have a child under three or a disabled family member with additional care needs, making any return to the labour market challenging.
Of the minority of households that are not in work, more than nine-in-ten have a child under three or a disabled family member with additional care needs, making any return to the labour market challenging.
December 7, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Most households subject to the two-child limit already have at least one adult in work.
Of the minority of households that are not in work, more than nine-in-ten have a child under three or a disabled family member with additional care needs, making any return to the labour market challenging.
Of the minority of households that are not in work, more than nine-in-ten have a child under three or a disabled family member with additional care needs, making any return to the labour market challenging.