Sidney P
@baroninthetrees.bsky.social
Green flaneuese & disability activist
'The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion' - Camus
'The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion' - Camus
Pinned
Sidney P
@baroninthetrees.bsky.social
· Nov 15
For the first time in 40 years, I have no car. Surplus to requirement, for a Londoner; not welcome on a dying planet.
Join the club 💚
Reposted by Sidney P
Finland ended homelessness with a housing first strategy that gave people apartments before they secured employment
Now they’re proposing a 4 day work week and 6 hour work days
True work life balance
Meanwhile in the US, people work two jobs and can’t afford food or healthcare.
Now they’re proposing a 4 day work week and 6 hour work days
True work life balance
Meanwhile in the US, people work two jobs and can’t afford food or healthcare.
December 8, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Finland ended homelessness with a housing first strategy that gave people apartments before they secured employment
Now they’re proposing a 4 day work week and 6 hour work days
True work life balance
Meanwhile in the US, people work two jobs and can’t afford food or healthcare.
Now they’re proposing a 4 day work week and 6 hour work days
True work life balance
Meanwhile in the US, people work two jobs and can’t afford food or healthcare.
Reposted by Sidney P
New analysis shows:
That there are now more people alive in the UK that voted Remain in 2016 than those who voted Leave in 2016.
The "will of the people" expressed by direct vote in 2016... has changed.
That there are now more people alive in the UK that voted Remain in 2016 than those who voted Leave in 2016.
The "will of the people" expressed by direct vote in 2016... has changed.
The majority opposed to Brexit has reached eight million
Ministers need courage to keep it that way
kellnerp.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:53 AM
New analysis shows:
That there are now more people alive in the UK that voted Remain in 2016 than those who voted Leave in 2016.
The "will of the people" expressed by direct vote in 2016... has changed.
That there are now more people alive in the UK that voted Remain in 2016 than those who voted Leave in 2016.
The "will of the people" expressed by direct vote in 2016... has changed.
Reposted by Sidney P
December 4, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Reposted by Sidney P
400 redundancies at the University of Essex, of which 200 will be academics. A bloodbath drawn out over the next few months. Grim.
December 2, 2025 at 9:49 PM
400 redundancies at the University of Essex, of which 200 will be academics. A bloodbath drawn out over the next few months. Grim.
Reposted by Sidney P
Every sympathy for University of Essex (and pressures facing them) but this is very bad news for Southend.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Roles to be lost are part of wave of redundancy programmes across UK’s higher education sector
giftarticle.ft.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Every sympathy for University of Essex (and pressures facing them) but this is very bad news for Southend.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Reposted by Sidney P
Listen, if you tell me that “taxation is theft” I’m going to need you to quit driving on highways or walking on sidewalks or attending a public school or using police or fire services or city snow removal.
I would mention libraries, but…
I would mention libraries, but…
December 2, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Listen, if you tell me that “taxation is theft” I’m going to need you to quit driving on highways or walking on sidewalks or attending a public school or using police or fire services or city snow removal.
I would mention libraries, but…
I would mention libraries, but…
Reposted by Sidney P
Listening to David Lammy on @BBCr4today attempting to justify abolishing trial by jury, it is increasingly and terrifyingly clear that he simply does not understand the issues.
December 2, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Listening to David Lammy on @BBCr4today attempting to justify abolishing trial by jury, it is increasingly and terrifyingly clear that he simply does not understand the issues.
Reposted by Sidney P
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit.
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit.
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit.
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit.
Reposted by Sidney P
Since the Nathan Gill conviction, a lot of people seem to be waking up to Putin's meddling in British politics
Here's a handy primer from me and @goldbergradio.bsky.social
A Beginner's Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Here's a handy primer from me and @goldbergradio.bsky.social
A Beginner's Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
A Beginners Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
Podcast Episode · Byline Podcast · 29/11/2025 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Since the Nathan Gill conviction, a lot of people seem to be waking up to Putin's meddling in British politics
Here's a handy primer from me and @goldbergradio.bsky.social
A Beginner's Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Here's a handy primer from me and @goldbergradio.bsky.social
A Beginner's Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Reposted by Sidney P
"There is wider exasperation that the UK political system doesn’t really understand Brussels, possibly never did, and under-estimates the problems that then arise in negotiations."
Amid ongoing chatter in London about some Labour figures wanting to go further in EU relations, what does Brussels think of the UK... I've drawn a typical consensus view based on many conversations including with the few there who really care...
encompass-europe.com/comment/ever...
encompass-europe.com/comment/ever...
Everything Brussels really thinks about the UK
Mostly, the Brussels bubble does not consider the UK too much. That rather amorphous group of those working in and around the institutions whether for government or other organisations, that…
encompass-europe.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM
"There is wider exasperation that the UK political system doesn’t really understand Brussels, possibly never did, and under-estimates the problems that then arise in negotiations."
Reposted by Sidney P
I'm not sure a squeezed middle isn't an almost inevitable consequence of demographics. There are 13 million pensioners in the UK. Compared to 25 million full time workers. Do the maths, it won't be pretty however you cut it.
Latest from me: on the budget, Labour's troubles, & the government's increasingly tense & distant relationship with the UK's squeezed middle www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The ‘squeezed middle’ is back – and this time it could be Labour’s undoing | John Harris
Last week’s budget left middle-income families anxious and angry. The party is turning its back on voters it can little afford to lose, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I'm not sure a squeezed middle isn't an almost inevitable consequence of demographics. There are 13 million pensioners in the UK. Compared to 25 million full time workers. Do the maths, it won't be pretty however you cut it.
Reposted by Sidney P
Let's hear it for the unashamedly selfish elderly who really don't care about the nation's finances as long as they don't pay a penny extra.
November 28, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Let's hear it for the unashamedly selfish elderly who really don't care about the nation's finances as long as they don't pay a penny extra.
Reposted by Sidney P
“A petition demanding a full inquiry into Russian influence in UK politics has surged past 100,000 signatures after being shared at remarkable speed across social media.”
Russian influence petition surges past 100,000 signatures
A petition demanding a full inquiry into Russian influence in UK politics has passed 100,000 signatures
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 10:46 PM
“A petition demanding a full inquiry into Russian influence in UK politics has surged past 100,000 signatures after being shared at remarkable speed across social media.”
Reposted by Sidney P
I mean, yes, I suppose that’s good - but shame they couldn’t see it early enough to prevent it, like almost half the UK (and 62% in Scotland) could.
November 30, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I mean, yes, I suppose that’s good - but shame they couldn’t see it early enough to prevent it, like almost half the UK (and 62% in Scotland) could.
Reposted by Sidney P
Economists for Brexit are nothing but pathetic losers who hide their nasty far right Nationalism behind economic buzz words.
Even in this article the author spends half his time blaming Remainer obstruction rather than being honest what his side did.
Small dick energy in its purest form.
Even in this article the author spends half his time blaming Remainer obstruction rather than being honest what his side did.
Small dick energy in its purest form.
November 30, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Sidney P
Well, that's two things that make me happy. 1. I have never purchased anything from Gail's bakery, and 2 I don't watch BBCQT anymore.
November 27, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Well, that's two things that make me happy. 1. I have never purchased anything from Gail's bakery, and 2 I don't watch BBCQT anymore.
Reposted by Sidney P
In the richest city in the richest country on the planet, the thing we can’t afford is to forget those who are left hungry.
November 27, 2025 at 9:50 PM
In the richest city in the richest country on the planet, the thing we can’t afford is to forget those who are left hungry.
Reposted by Sidney P
"more than half of unpaid carers in Wales are cutting back on food and heating – and this should be sounding alarm bells of shame across the land.
That’s a 53% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Something is going very wrong with support for unpaid carers in Wales."
That’s a 53% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Something is going very wrong with support for unpaid carers in Wales."
Where did it all go so wrong for unpaid carers in Cymru?
More than 52% of unpaid carers in Wales are cutting back on food and heating - Rob Simkins of Carers Wales asks how we've ended up here.
bylines.cymru
November 27, 2025 at 12:04 PM
"more than half of unpaid carers in Wales are cutting back on food and heating – and this should be sounding alarm bells of shame across the land.
That’s a 53% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Something is going very wrong with support for unpaid carers in Wales."
That’s a 53% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Something is going very wrong with support for unpaid carers in Wales."
Reposted by Sidney P
‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims
‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims
Equality Trust study shows how House of Lords appointments, big donations and media concentration affects political decision
Structural corruption and the rise of “conduits for unelected power” are reshaping British politics, according to a stark report from the Equality Trust.
Unelected influence has surged over the past two decades, the report claims, driven by the growing political clout of the ultra-rich and the institutions that enable it. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims
Reposted by Sidney P
Now over 68,000
🔥 Highly recommended that you all sign and share.
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 27, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Now over 68,000
Reposted by Sidney P
Serious howls of outrage in the media this morning at what is a relatively modest Budget from Labour that does nothing more than fiddle around the margins.
It does highlight the missed opportunity. If you’re going to get this reaction anyway, why not at least get it for attempting a big swing?
It does highlight the missed opportunity. If you’re going to get this reaction anyway, why not at least get it for attempting a big swing?
November 27, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Serious howls of outrage in the media this morning at what is a relatively modest Budget from Labour that does nothing more than fiddle around the margins.
It does highlight the missed opportunity. If you’re going to get this reaction anyway, why not at least get it for attempting a big swing?
It does highlight the missed opportunity. If you’re going to get this reaction anyway, why not at least get it for attempting a big swing?
Reposted by Sidney P
It's nowhere near good enough on Labour's big target, growth - and growth is essential to keep Farage out of No. 10.
SMEs know EU SM+CU is essential so they can export more and contribute to GDP growth yet Brexit is barely even mentioned.
Hopeless, just hopeless.
SMEs know EU SM+CU is essential so they can export more and contribute to GDP growth yet Brexit is barely even mentioned.
Hopeless, just hopeless.
November 27, 2025 at 8:44 AM
It's nowhere near good enough on Labour's big target, growth - and growth is essential to keep Farage out of No. 10.
SMEs know EU SM+CU is essential so they can export more and contribute to GDP growth yet Brexit is barely even mentioned.
Hopeless, just hopeless.
SMEs know EU SM+CU is essential so they can export more and contribute to GDP growth yet Brexit is barely even mentioned.
Hopeless, just hopeless.
I'd have gone for >=1.5m. It's time.
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This. Can anyone explain?
I don't get how this is supposed to work. Councils in London and SE will get a lot more council tax revenue but most councils elsewhere will get next to nothing.
November 26, 2025 at 10:16 PM
This. Can anyone explain?
Reposted by Sidney P
I don't get how this is supposed to work. Councils in London and SE will get a lot more council tax revenue but most councils elsewhere will get next to nothing.
November 26, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I don't get how this is supposed to work. Councils in London and SE will get a lot more council tax revenue but most councils elsewhere will get next to nothing.