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B O'Brien

@bobrien.bsky.social

77 followers 49 following 3.3K posts

Pro-Labour, anti-anti-politics. Enjoy rational debate, despise populism of Left or Right, supporter of parliamentary democracy. "That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." (Christopher Hitchens).

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 5h

It says it will make it simpler. It doesn't say it will be mandatory to use it.

The mandatory element is for Right to Work checks.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 5h

...that is what the government says and therefore Full Fact is correct in its explanation of what has been said.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 5h

The press release says digital ID will make applications for welfare simpler. It does not say it will be mandatory for welfare applications. The mandatory element is, according to the press release, limited to Right to Work checks.

You are entitled to be skeptical of the assurance but ...

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 5h

It does say that, but it doesn't say that it will be mandatory to have digital ID to apply for welfare. The mandatory situation is, according to the press release, limited to the Right to Work check.

Reposted by B O'Brien

Noah Berlatsky @nberlat.bsky.social · 6h

as one party has become more and more untethered from the truth, the news media has become more and more circumspect in never admitting that truth exists.

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Reposted by B O'Brien

Clive @watcherskies72.bsky.social · 6h

I live in Sweden where we all have national ID and digital ID. It's a game changer, no need to remember passwords. ID theft is very rare... It is just so convenient to be able to access all Government/Bank services without any hassles (or gas bills)

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 6h

I have no idea what you're talking about now.

The fact is, the HMG press release says nothing about pensioners or other welfare claimants needing digital ID. If it did say it, you would quote it to prove your point but you haven't quoted it.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 7h

She doesn't.

fullfact.org/economy/liz-...

The facts around former PMs’ £115,000 annual ‘allowance’ – Full Fact

They are allowed to claim back up to £115,000 each year for the costs associated with continuing public duties—but it’s not a “salary”.

fullfact.org

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 7h

Do enlighten us.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 7h

You would have quoted it if there were.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 8h

The second paragraph is entirely made up by you. There is nothing in the press release to support your second paragraph. Literally nothing.

Reposted by B O'Brien

Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 10h

Yet again Badenoch has shown how the state and the policymaking community hate the young and listen only to the old. And some observers lap it up. We can't go on like this.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 12h

It's not necessarily fine. You might object to it, in fact I know you do. But that isn't the point in this thread, is it? The thread is about whether Full Fact are right, not about whether we like the policy. Your last reply, albeit aggrieved, accepts that Full Fact have indeed got the policy right

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 13h

The press release by HMG did not say it would be necessary to engage with public services. It said it was mandatory for Right to Work checks. It was very specific and clear.

This is why we have to have fact-checkers. You are just making things up.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 14h

By "semantics, you mean the facts.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 14h

It is not true that everyone in the UK will be required to have it. I, for one, won't be required to have it. Therefore, it is not mandatory for everyone in the UK.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 14h

They haven't got it wrong.

The Lib Dems said that the id would be mandatory for everyone. HMG says it would be required for Right to Work checks but is not mandatory otherwise. So someone not starting a new job would not need it. Ergo, it is not mandatory for everyone, ergo Full Fact is right.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 15h

...additional revenue for the Treasury. So it depends on how long term a view you want to take. It is a loss of revenue for 10 years, and an increase in revenue thereafter.

Having said, that, these are all just rumours. It is just what the think tank's workings out said.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 15h

In the think tank proposal, there would be a loss of revenue from a house sale by ending SDLT. Instead, the house purchaser would pay a new annual property tax. It would take about 10 years for those annual payments to compensate for that Year 1 loss. After that, the revenue would be ...

Reposted by B O'Brien

Han🌹🏳️‍🌈 @ceremonialgeek.bsky.social · 15h

While the Tories want to scrap VAT on private schools, Labour are introducing breakfast clubs across the country to help the poorest in society. Labour spoke about a Britain built for all, and tackling child poverty. The difference between the two parties is clear.

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 16h

"Digital ID will be mandatory for Right to Work checks by the end of the Parliament.". That's not everyone, as the Lib Dems have falsely claimed.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 16h

Full Fact is correct.

The claim by the Lib Dems is that it will be mandatory for everyone. HMG has said it will be required for entering employment but it will not be mandatory for everyone. For example, someone not looking to get a new job would not need it.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 17h

Thanks. Is there a source for the Tories' score?

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B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

...would get your point across without breaking the law and would not entail your volunteers acquiring criminal records.

Do you even warn your volunteers of the serious effects on their lives of having criminal records?

It's unnecessary.

B O'Brien @bobrien.bsky.social · 1d

You are right. Jonathan Hall KC, the UK government Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has written as much in The Observer. No doubt charges against this individual will be dropped. But that begs a question of you. Why don't you ask *all* your volunteers to display that message? It...