B O'Brien
@bobrien.bsky.social
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).
Concluding paragraphs
January 1, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Concluding paragraphs
It rose a bit faster after the financial crisis. Obviously, the trajectory is always up, however far back you start from.
December 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM
It rose a bit faster after the financial crisis. Obviously, the trajectory is always up, however far back you start from.
The Act and how it has been interpreted by courts already mean that the literal meaning of words is not the deciding factor. Would most people who saw the protest conclude that support for the organization was the real intention? That's the question a court would use to decide a verdict.
December 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The Act and how it has been interpreted by courts already mean that the literal meaning of words is not the deciding factor. Would most people who saw the protest conclude that support for the organization was the real intention? That's the question a court would use to decide a verdict.
A court will have to decide but she might find it hard to refute a prosecution case that most people would interpret her action as support for PA. Case law sets the bar for conviction quite low.
December 26, 2025 at 11:14 AM
A court will have to decide but she might find it hard to refute a prosecution case that most people would interpret her action as support for PA. Case law sets the bar for conviction quite low.
More poppycock from you.
December 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
More poppycock from you.
And to reiterate, using the BoE calculator (ie CPI), over the period you say you are interested in, MPs' pay has gone down in real terms. If you disagree, please say why, but please not by telling an absurd story about the BoE not using CPI, even though it says it does.
December 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
And to reiterate, using the BoE calculator (ie CPI), over the period you say you are interested in, MPs' pay has gone down in real terms. If you disagree, please say why, but please not by telling an absurd story about the BoE not using CPI, even though it says it does.
No. It is based on many Acts of Parliament, judicial rulings, precedents and conventions over centuries. Many of them are much more recent that 1649, eg the 1911 Act of Parliament mentioned here 👇
December 23, 2025 at 6:04 PM
No. It is based on many Acts of Parliament, judicial rulings, precedents and conventions over centuries. Many of them are much more recent that 1649, eg the 1911 Act of Parliament mentioned here 👇
Can you use the word "profiteering" for margins as low as these?
December 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Can you use the word "profiteering" for margins as low as these?
These profit margins are not high by the standards of large public companies.
December 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
These profit margins are not high by the standards of large public companies.
Yet it is very easy to test that the BoE is using CPI, by cross-referencing it with the ONS data on CPI since 2025. See screenshots.
Are you going to correct your wrong blog that denies that the BoE uses CPI?
Are you going to correct your wrong blog that denies that the BoE uses CPI?
December 21, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Yet it is very easy to test that the BoE is using CPI, by cross-referencing it with the ONS data on CPI since 2025. See screenshots.
Are you going to correct your wrong blog that denies that the BoE uses CPI?
Are you going to correct your wrong blog that denies that the BoE uses CPI?
MPs do not get a vote on their pay rises.
As you're interested, here's a useful list of the pay roses IPSA has awarded over the past 15 years
As you're interested, here's a useful list of the pay roses IPSA has awarded over the past 15 years
December 20, 2025 at 4:01 PM
MPs do not get a vote on their pay rises.
As you're interested, here's a useful list of the pay roses IPSA has awarded over the past 15 years
As you're interested, here's a useful list of the pay roses IPSA has awarded over the past 15 years
I don't think your bottom picture is of Jess Phillips's announcement, is it? Here's a still from her statement. The chamber isn't packed but nor is it as empty as your own image suggests.
December 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I don't think your bottom picture is of Jess Phillips's announcement, is it? Here's a still from her statement. The chamber isn't packed but nor is it as empty as your own image suggests.
That's a real terms pay cut for MPs, then. Source: Bank of England Inflation Calculator.
December 20, 2025 at 11:56 AM
That's a real terms pay cut for MPs, then. Source: Bank of England Inflation Calculator.
Why do you keep saying that it uses CPIH? It's extraordinary of you. The BoE Inflation Calculator specifically states that it uses CPI and not CPIH. You have been given the link and a screenshot twice already; now a third time. You are not coming across as a serious person. Please explain yourself.
December 19, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Why do you keep saying that it uses CPIH? It's extraordinary of you. The BoE Inflation Calculator specifically states that it uses CPI and not CPIH. You have been given the link and a screenshot twice already; now a third time. You are not coming across as a serious person. Please explain yourself.
All are charged with violent disorder, which could or could not involve actual use of violence...
December 19, 2025 at 12:29 PM
All are charged with violent disorder, which could or could not involve actual use of violence...
Other data if you would like to see it.
The policy of IPSA, when setting MP pay rises, has for many years been that it should track the average public sector pay rise the previous year.
The policy of IPSA, when setting MP pay rises, has for many years been that it should track the average public sector pay rise the previous year.
December 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Other data if you would like to see it.
The policy of IPSA, when setting MP pay rises, has for many years been that it should track the average public sector pay rise the previous year.
The policy of IPSA, when setting MP pay rises, has for many years been that it should track the average public sector pay rise the previous year.
I have data from 2010 if you are interested.
December 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I have data from 2010 if you are interested.
I do see, however, that you have withdrawn your initial statement in your blog that MPs' pay has been decoupled from public sector pay rises, and that it has "frequently" exceeded the public sector averages. So thank you for withdrawing that untrue assertion. L
December 18, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I do see, however, that you have withdrawn your initial statement in your blog that MPs' pay has been decoupled from public sector pay rises, and that it has "frequently" exceeded the public sector averages. So thank you for withdrawing that untrue assertion. L
"The Bank of England inflation calculator is based on CPIH, not CPI."
You should check this on the BoE website. As I have already told you, it is based on CPI, not CPIH.
You should check this on the BoE website. As I have already told you, it is based on CPI, not CPIH.
December 18, 2025 at 12:20 PM
"The Bank of England inflation calculator is based on CPIH, not CPI."
You should check this on the BoE website. As I have already told you, it is based on CPI, not CPIH.
You should check this on the BoE website. As I have already told you, it is based on CPI, not CPIH.
I have analysed the years 2010 onwards. Do you still think your description of MPs' pay awards was fair?
Would you allow me to write an article on your excellent blog to present this data?
(Footnotes available if you want them).
Would you allow me to write an article on your excellent blog to present this data?
(Footnotes available if you want them).
December 18, 2025 at 11:34 AM
I have analysed the years 2010 onwards. Do you still think your description of MPs' pay awards was fair?
Would you allow me to write an article on your excellent blog to present this data?
(Footnotes available if you want them).
Would you allow me to write an article on your excellent blog to present this data?
(Footnotes available if you want them).
Oh no, I am sure no British PM has ever attended a sports event in their official capacity. Absolutely unheard of behaviour. Who does Labour chappy think he is? The head of His Majesty 's government or something? Absolutely bloody bounder.
December 17, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Oh no, I am sure no British PM has ever attended a sports event in their official capacity. Absolutely unheard of behaviour. Who does Labour chappy think he is? The head of His Majesty 's government or something? Absolutely bloody bounder.
If you were to research the data on MPs' real-terms pay, you would then add a line for them that is also downward, roughly as I have shown in blue.
MPs' pay rises are pegged to the average public sector pay rise the previous year.
MPs' pay rises are pegged to the average public sector pay rise the previous year.
December 17, 2025 at 8:04 AM
If you were to research the data on MPs' real-terms pay, you would then add a line for them that is also downward, roughly as I have shown in blue.
MPs' pay rises are pegged to the average public sector pay rise the previous year.
MPs' pay rises are pegged to the average public sector pay rise the previous year.
MP salary in 2010: £65738.
£65738 in 2025 would be £102517.
MP salary in 2025: £93904
£65738 in 2025 would be £102517.
MP salary in 2025: £93904
December 16, 2025 at 5:42 PM
MP salary in 2010: £65738.
£65738 in 2025 would be £102517.
MP salary in 2025: £93904
£65738 in 2025 would be £102517.
MP salary in 2025: £93904
I am.informef by ChatGPT:
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I am.informef by ChatGPT: