Seb Schmoller
@schmoller.net
Wrote/ran TUC courses for union reps. Led Sheffield College's educational IT. Led ALT. Did techish consulting. Now involved in Further/Adult Ed/School governance. Finishing a maths degree. Walking a Border Collie.
Politics, outdoors, cycling, Sheffield.
Politics, outdoors, cycling, Sheffield.
Pinned
Seb Schmoller
@schmoller.net
· 20d
Crested Coral fungus on Beech leaves, in Gleadless Valley's Cat Lane Woods, Sheffield:
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
From Sheffield's Meersbrook Park this evening, looking out over the City towards the Hallamshire Hospital.
November 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
From Sheffield's Meersbrook Park this evening, looking out over the City towards the Hallamshire Hospital.
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
i mean not to prejudge this, but the cyber expert is likely to say 'yeah you hit publish, mate'
OBR calls in cyber expert over botched release of Budget analysis
OBR calls in cyber expert over botched release of Budget analysis
Rachel Reeves's statement was thrown into chaos after journalists were able to access the document early.
www.bbc.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:25 AM
i mean not to prejudge this, but the cyber expert is likely to say 'yeah you hit publish, mate'
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Me on @bloomberg.com discussing the two child limit
November 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Me on @bloomberg.com discussing the two child limit
Hard-hitting and interesting thread by @danneidle.bsky.social picking up on @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social's excellent investigation:
A solicitor, Andrew Milne has been bullying leaseholders across Sheffield into paying him extraordinary sums, with no legal basis.
Why hasn't the SRA stopped him? Because he's conducted an extraordinary campaign against the SRA. 180 complaints. Two judicial reviews.
More here: buff.ly/LmLVegM
Why hasn't the SRA stopped him? Because he's conducted an extraordinary campaign against the SRA. 180 complaints. Two judicial reviews.
More here: buff.ly/LmLVegM
SRA urged to take action as we reveal solicitor has ‘purposely frustrated’ investigation
Solicitor Andrew Jonathan Milne delayed an official investigation into his alleged professional misconduct by overwhelming the regulator with complaints and threatening them with two injunctions se…
buff.ly
November 27, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Hard-hitting and interesting thread by @danneidle.bsky.social picking up on @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social's excellent investigation:
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Milne is in the spotlight thanks to some amazing reporting from The Sheffield Tribune: buff.ly/8ZTPmDL
A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived
Exclusive: The Tribune can reveal that Andrew Milne has threatened leaseholders with high court action. It ‘broke my heart’ one woman says
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Milne is in the spotlight thanks to some amazing reporting from The Sheffield Tribune: buff.ly/8ZTPmDL
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Overall, the combination of tax rises and giveaways since last year’s Budget is progressive.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
November 27, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Overall, the combination of tax rises and giveaways since last year’s Budget is progressive.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
Incomes for households in the bottom half of the distribution have increased by 1.0 per cent and incomes for households in the top half fell by 0.7 per cent.
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
It's good that the Office for Budgetary Responsibility has issued a document explaining its productivity prediction downgrade.
It could, however, have been much shorter.
Along the lines of:
"As figure 5.2 shows, the OBR's productivity forecasts have zero credibility & should be ignored."
It could, however, have been much shorter.
Along the lines of:
"As figure 5.2 shows, the OBR's productivity forecasts have zero credibility & should be ignored."
November 27, 2025 at 9:31 AM
It's good that the Office for Budgetary Responsibility has issued a document explaining its productivity prediction downgrade.
It could, however, have been much shorter.
Along the lines of:
"As figure 5.2 shows, the OBR's productivity forecasts have zero credibility & should be ignored."
It could, however, have been much shorter.
Along the lines of:
"As figure 5.2 shows, the OBR's productivity forecasts have zero credibility & should be ignored."
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
The most interesting OBR paper yesterday was the one that didn't leak - the justification for their productivity downgrade. There's a very important assumption in it that could make or break the government.
November 27, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The most interesting OBR paper yesterday was the one that didn't leak - the justification for their productivity downgrade. There's a very important assumption in it that could make or break the government.
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Matt: we need measures to improve fertility - it's one of our biggest problems!
Also Matt: No not like that. I meant white people only.
Also Matt: No not like that. I meant white people only.
Reflections on the budget from the head of Students4Reform
November 26, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Matt: we need measures to improve fertility - it's one of our biggest problems!
Also Matt: No not like that. I meant white people only.
Also Matt: No not like that. I meant white people only.
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
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 1:03 PM
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
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 Seb Schmoller
The government’s decision to halve the time limit for refugees to leave Home Office accommodation is driving people into homelessness and exploitation, according to migrant rights campaigners and homelessness charities
By me, for @theleaduk.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
By me, for @theleaduk.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
New asylum policies making homeless refugees “targets for the far right”
Labour’s abrupt return to the 28-day move-on period is pushing vulnerable people into rough sleeping and exposing them to fraud and abuse.
national.thelead.uk
November 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The government’s decision to halve the time limit for refugees to leave Home Office accommodation is driving people into homelessness and exploitation, according to migrant rights campaigners and homelessness charities
By me, for @theleaduk.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
By me, for @theleaduk.bsky.social national.thelead.uk/p/new-asylum...
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
somebody who is good at the economy please help them budget this, their bullshit factory is dying
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates on.ft.com/4ij0yh8
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates
A burning platform
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM
somebody who is good at the economy please help them budget this, their bullshit factory is dying
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
We should abolish juries because
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
November 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
We should abolish juries because
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
1. The don't give reasons
2. There is little evidence of their competence
3. We don't use them outside a narrow area of the criminal law, other jurisdictions don't use them and are perfectly just
/1
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
One of the big mistakes the left made was branding tax credits as corporate welfare.
You need cash transfers as well as a minimum wage because different people have different financial needs.
A minimum wage high enough to support three kids and a disabled spouse is not a sensible minimum wage.
You need cash transfers as well as a minimum wage because different people have different financial needs.
A minimum wage high enough to support three kids and a disabled spouse is not a sensible minimum wage.
This is another thing I had to cut from my piece - the minimum wage is best understood as an anti-poverty measure *for single or childless couples at the start of their working lives*. But it's not a lever that helps most people struggling to make ends meet. Only cash transfers do that.
Why the two-child limit has to go, in a chart.
November 25, 2025 at 7:34 PM
One of the big mistakes the left made was branding tax credits as corporate welfare.
You need cash transfers as well as a minimum wage because different people have different financial needs.
A minimum wage high enough to support three kids and a disabled spouse is not a sensible minimum wage.
You need cash transfers as well as a minimum wage because different people have different financial needs.
A minimum wage high enough to support three kids and a disabled spouse is not a sensible minimum wage.
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
"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 5:03 PM
"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...
"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 5:03 PM
"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...
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Like many services, as Signal grows, it becomes a more appealing place for scammers to try and cause harm.
We've put together tips to help you protect yourself from phishing, scams, & impersonation attempts. Plus info about how Signal support communicates.
support.signal.org/hc/en-us/art...
We've put together tips to help you protect yourself from phishing, scams, & impersonation attempts. Plus info about how Signal support communicates.
support.signal.org/hc/en-us/art...
Staying Safe from Phishing, Scams, and Impersonation
We provide a privacy-first, end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) messaging and calling platform designed so only you and your intended recipients can communicate securely. Even with strong encryption, attac...
support.signal.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Like many services, as Signal grows, it becomes a more appealing place for scammers to try and cause harm.
We've put together tips to help you protect yourself from phishing, scams, & impersonation attempts. Plus info about how Signal support communicates.
support.signal.org/hc/en-us/art...
We've put together tips to help you protect yourself from phishing, scams, & impersonation attempts. Plus info about how Signal support communicates.
support.signal.org/hc/en-us/art...
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Great piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com about the weird hollowing out of the UK tax system, how it compares with Scandinavia (vastly MORE progressive), and the strange reluctance of anyone in politics to talk about this truth.
on.ft.com/4abEiUj
on.ft.com/4abEiUj
Britain’s tax system combines the worst of the US and Scandinavia
[FREE TO READ] The UK’s experiment in eating the rich while shrinking the state has left everyone worse off
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Great piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com about the weird hollowing out of the UK tax system, how it compares with Scandinavia (vastly MORE progressive), and the strange reluctance of anyone in politics to talk about this truth.
on.ft.com/4abEiUj
on.ft.com/4abEiUj
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Money and Open Access
Wouldn't you and your institution rather keep your grant funds to spend on research than hand it over - directly or indirectly - to publishers? I know I would!
Wouldn't you and your institution rather keep your grant funds to spend on research than hand it over - directly or indirectly - to publishers? I know I would!
Money and Open Access
Wouldn't you and your institution rather keep your grant funds to spend on research than hand it over - directly or indirectly - to publishers? I know I would!
telescoper.blog
November 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Money and Open Access
Wouldn't you and your institution rather keep your grant funds to spend on research than hand it over - directly or indirectly - to publishers? I know I would!
Wouldn't you and your institution rather keep your grant funds to spend on research than hand it over - directly or indirectly - to publishers? I know I would!
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Seb Schmoller
Clive James writes about how he tried to do the Paul Heinreid thing of lighting two cigarettes to give one to an attractive girl at a party, only for her to say she didn’t smoke, meaning he had to carry on smoking both simultaneously like a walrus.
You know how science invented vaping, for people who want the hit of smoking a cigarette while looking like an absolute dweeb? When will science invent a cigarette for people who don't want to smoke but do want to kid themselves that they are Paul Heinreid in 'Now Voyager'?
November 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Clive James writes about how he tried to do the Paul Heinreid thing of lighting two cigarettes to give one to an attractive girl at a party, only for her to say she didn’t smoke, meaning he had to carry on smoking both simultaneously like a walrus.