Michael Birtwhistle
@salfordmh.bsky.social
Consultant Community and Rehabilitation Psychiatrist. Rides bicycles. Politically engaged. Likes a good discussion. http://mas.to/@SalfordMH just in case. And here.
Anyone who quotes fourteen years is either disingenuous or hasn't paid attention to the fifteenth, or the sixteenth in progress.
Add in that, if you start from May 2010 it's now well over fifteen years of mismanagement, and Labour are doubling down.
November 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Anyone who quotes fourteen years is either disingenuous or hasn't paid attention to the fifteenth, or the sixteenth in progress.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
When you see "14 years of x" line, it tells you you're dealing with someone who can't analyse politics without a party lens.
Britain's been governed by the same overarching philosophy since 1979, regardless of which party was in power. And without understanding that, you won't understand anything.
Britain's been governed by the same overarching philosophy since 1979, regardless of which party was in power. And without understanding that, you won't understand anything.
How should Labour tackle 14 years of mismanagement? I'd like to hear some realistic alternatives, considering the available resources in law professionals, university places and tutors and physical spaces. All I've read so far here is 'throw money at it' without considering the resource implications
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 AM
When you see "14 years of x" line, it tells you you're dealing with someone who can't analyse politics without a party lens.
Britain's been governed by the same overarching philosophy since 1979, regardless of which party was in power. And without understanding that, you won't understand anything.
Britain's been governed by the same overarching philosophy since 1979, regardless of which party was in power. And without understanding that, you won't understand anything.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
November 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
"I'd like to hear some realistic alternatives" is the rallying cry of the political, social and intellectual bankrupt. there's so much written about alternatives i honestly don't think its humanly possible to read them all in a lifetime.
November 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
"I'd like to hear some realistic alternatives" is the rallying cry of the political, social and intellectual bankrupt. there's so much written about alternatives i honestly don't think its humanly possible to read them all in a lifetime.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
"but it was important to leave it in place for 18 months for some reason" (UK Labour doing a good pitch for the role of 20th century USA in doing the right thing after all other options have been exhausted)
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the two-child benefit cap will be lifted.
She told the Commons: “We on this side of the House do not believe that the solution to a broken welfare system is to punish the most vulnerable children” 👏
She told the Commons: “We on this side of the House do not believe that the solution to a broken welfare system is to punish the most vulnerable children” 👏
November 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
"but it was important to leave it in place for 18 months for some reason" (UK Labour doing a good pitch for the role of 20th century USA in doing the right thing after all other options have been exhausted)
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
To put that these Motability cuts into perspective...
It will save around £300 million.
Latest figures show the DWP has spent over £400 million fighting people on PIP appeals.
Scrap policies that punish Disabled people & stop pretending it's about economic efficiency! #Budget
It will save around £300 million.
Latest figures show the DWP has spent over £400 million fighting people on PIP appeals.
Scrap policies that punish Disabled people & stop pretending it's about economic efficiency! #Budget
November 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
To put that these Motability cuts into perspective...
It will save around £300 million.
Latest figures show the DWP has spent over £400 million fighting people on PIP appeals.
Scrap policies that punish Disabled people & stop pretending it's about economic efficiency! #Budget
It will save around £300 million.
Latest figures show the DWP has spent over £400 million fighting people on PIP appeals.
Scrap policies that punish Disabled people & stop pretending it's about economic efficiency! #Budget
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
'gender critical'
if someone has a penis then *obviously* they behave in these ways - any denial of that is 'gender ideology'
if someone has a vagina then *obviously* they behave in these ways - any denial of that is 'gender ideology'
'gender critical' is sexism
'gender ideology' is feminism
if someone has a penis then *obviously* they behave in these ways - any denial of that is 'gender ideology'
if someone has a vagina then *obviously* they behave in these ways - any denial of that is 'gender ideology'
'gender critical' is sexism
'gender ideology' is feminism
November 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
'gender critical'
if someone has a penis then *obviously* they behave in these ways - any denial of that is 'gender ideology'
if someone has a vagina then *obviously* they behave in these ways - any denial of that is 'gender ideology'
'gender critical' is sexism
'gender ideology' is feminism
if someone has a penis then *obviously* they behave in these ways - any denial of that is 'gender ideology'
if someone has a vagina then *obviously* they behave in these ways - any denial of that is 'gender ideology'
'gender critical' is sexism
'gender ideology' is feminism
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Should have gone with the PSV Eindhoven armoured vehicles instead
Ajax armoured vehicles paused after soldiers report hearing problems on.ft.com/49zJEZr
Ajax armoured vehicles paused after soldiers report hearing problems
Suspension raises fresh questions around Ministry of Defence’s procurement processes
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Should have gone with the PSV Eindhoven armoured vehicles instead
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
And please note: this is the model that our *Labour* politicians are absolutely falling over themselves to implement here. This is what the New Statesman group of Means Testing Shaggers really love. It sucks and doesn't work and leads to resentment and fascism.
November 26, 2025 at 10:41 AM
And please note: this is the model that our *Labour* politicians are absolutely falling over themselves to implement here. This is what the New Statesman group of Means Testing Shaggers really love. It sucks and doesn't work and leads to resentment and fascism.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Elon Musk should get free childcare. He should also get taxed into the ground. That's the way to keep an economy working. Or else you end up in a situation where a family earning $140k a year is on the edge of destitution.
November 26, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Elon Musk should get free childcare. He should also get taxed into the ground. That's the way to keep an economy working. Or else you end up in a situation where a family earning $140k a year is on the edge of destitution.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Fundamentally what that lays out is that America has been running an experiment in the kind of "only the poor get benefits," anti-universalist politics that western liberals love, and the result seems to be severe financial distress across most of the population leading to fascism.
November 26, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Fundamentally what that lays out is that America has been running an experiment in the kind of "only the poor get benefits," anti-universalist politics that western liberals love, and the result seems to be severe financial distress across most of the population leading to fascism.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
btw the nasty stuff being done by wes streeting and @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social is causing generational damage to the labour party. the likes of which haven't been since the reputational damage thatcher did to the tories.
labour isn't going to be able to easily wash their hands of it.
labour isn't going to be able to easily wash their hands of it.
'gender critical' is such incoherent nonsense that eventually the dam will burst and *some* of them will be held accountable for the harms they've caused
they'll be viewed the same way as homophobes
only question is in how long that takes to happen and the damages they will cause in the meantime
they'll be viewed the same way as homophobes
only question is in how long that takes to happen and the damages they will cause in the meantime
November 26, 2025 at 10:45 AM
btw the nasty stuff being done by wes streeting and @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social is causing generational damage to the labour party. the likes of which haven't been since the reputational damage thatcher did to the tories.
labour isn't going to be able to easily wash their hands of it.
labour isn't going to be able to easily wash their hands of it.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
We should charge them 5% if they want to withdraw large amounts of assets from the UK.
November 26, 2025 at 9:20 AM
We should charge them 5% if they want to withdraw large amounts of assets from the UK.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Absolutely, leaving Norway triggers an exit tax of 37.8% on unrealised capital gains above 3 million Krone.
Odd that this isn't part of the conversation.
Odd that this isn't part of the conversation.
November 26, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Absolutely, leaving Norway triggers an exit tax of 37.8% on unrealised capital gains above 3 million Krone.
Odd that this isn't part of the conversation.
Odd that this isn't part of the conversation.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
@zackpolanski.bsky.social wants to introduce a wealth tax of 1% on assets of over £10m & 2% on assets over £1bn & if the super rich want to leave the UK because they are being taxed a tiny amount more then we should wave them goodbye
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
November 26, 2025 at 9:18 AM
@zackpolanski.bsky.social wants to introduce a wealth tax of 1% on assets of over £10m & 2% on assets over £1bn & if the super rich want to leave the UK because they are being taxed a tiny amount more then we should wave them goodbye
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
John Redwood was my MP growing up, he came to our school just after 9K fees were passed and we just spent the whole time he was meant to be speaking to our year bollocking him about the Iraq War and tuition fees and he was so owned he cried about it on his now defunct blog.
@zackpolanski.bsky.social wants to introduce a wealth tax of 1% on assets of over £10m & 2% on assets over £1bn & if the super rich want to leave the UK because they are being taxed a tiny amount more then we should wave them goodbye
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
November 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
John Redwood was my MP growing up, he came to our school just after 9K fees were passed and we just spent the whole time he was meant to be speaking to our year bollocking him about the Iraq War and tuition fees and he was so owned he cried about it on his now defunct blog.
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Many men feel the stripper really likes them. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something
November 26, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Many men feel the stripper really likes them. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something
Breaking: Motability cars to be provided only in "invalid colours". "Full citizens" to have the right to stop them and confiscate any "luxury mobility aids" as payment. "The sub-human scum must know their place", said Reeves, "to restore dignity and respect".
November 26, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Breaking: Motability cars to be provided only in "invalid colours". "Full citizens" to have the right to stop them and confiscate any "luxury mobility aids" as payment. "The sub-human scum must know their place", said Reeves, "to restore dignity and respect".
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Karmy-Jones said that juries were “not the cause of the backlog. The cause is the systematic underfunding and neglect that has been perpetrated by this government and its predecessors for years”.
No shit!
No shit!
November 25, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Karmy-Jones said that juries were “not the cause of the backlog. The cause is the systematic underfunding and neglect that has been perpetrated by this government and its predecessors for years”.
No shit!
No shit!
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
what the fuck
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
what the fuck
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Labour party today:
- Disabled people can’t drive Audis, BMWs and Mercedes on Motability. No to £25k Audis but £36k Nissans are fine
- Discredited PFI to return for funding NHS projects
- Trial by jury to be axed except for most serious cases
That’s just today
- Disabled people can’t drive Audis, BMWs and Mercedes on Motability. No to £25k Audis but £36k Nissans are fine
- Discredited PFI to return for funding NHS projects
- Trial by jury to be axed except for most serious cases
That’s just today
November 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Labour party today:
- Disabled people can’t drive Audis, BMWs and Mercedes on Motability. No to £25k Audis but £36k Nissans are fine
- Discredited PFI to return for funding NHS projects
- Trial by jury to be axed except for most serious cases
That’s just today
- Disabled people can’t drive Audis, BMWs and Mercedes on Motability. No to £25k Audis but £36k Nissans are fine
- Discredited PFI to return for funding NHS projects
- Trial by jury to be axed except for most serious cases
That’s just today
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Foxes. Welcome to the war on cars.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Foxes blamed after more than 40 cars have brakes damaged in late night attacks
Foxes or other wildlife could be causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to dozens of electric cars
www.independent.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Foxes. Welcome to the war on cars.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
There are over 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. Is it not time that we released some of these people?
#MarwanBarghouti #Palestine #Palestinianprisoners
#MarwanBarghouti #Palestine #Palestinianprisoners
November 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM
There are over 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. Is it not time that we released some of these people?
#MarwanBarghouti #Palestine #Palestinianprisoners
#MarwanBarghouti #Palestine #Palestinianprisoners
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
Reposted by Michael Birtwhistle
Since 2011 the fuel duty freeze has cost the Treasury £133 billion.
This huge amount could have paid for lower train and bus fares, better stations, safer walking, wheeling and cycling and much more!
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
This huge amount could have paid for lower train and bus fares, better stations, safer walking, wheeling and cycling and much more!
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Rachel Reeves will freeze fuel duty to dodge ‘political suicide’
The chancellor will also highlight a rise in the minimum wage and plans to cut energy bills as she tries to win over voters by focusing on cost of living
www.thetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Since 2011 the fuel duty freeze has cost the Treasury £133 billion.
This huge amount could have paid for lower train and bus fares, better stations, safer walking, wheeling and cycling and much more!
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
This huge amount could have paid for lower train and bus fares, better stations, safer walking, wheeling and cycling and much more!
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...