Bernadette Meaden
@ducklings.bsky.social
Reading, writing, pictures, and ducks.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Next week, it’ll be “omg I saw asylum seekers with shoes. Shoes! Time to ban shoes!”
Switched on BBC News and they’re crowing about how their investigation has led to the govt banning asylum seekers from using taxis to go see a doctor. Sick country.
November 29, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Next week, it’ll be “omg I saw asylum seekers with shoes. Shoes! Time to ban shoes!”
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
I keep seeing arguments that the Government should have spent the money on services eg Sure Start rather than lifting the two-child benefit cap.
The evidence for cash transfers is very strong. And cash transfers go straight to families.
Their decision is completely evidence backed and valid.
The evidence for cash transfers is very strong. And cash transfers go straight to families.
Their decision is completely evidence backed and valid.
November 28, 2025 at 11:41 AM
I keep seeing arguments that the Government should have spent the money on services eg Sure Start rather than lifting the two-child benefit cap.
The evidence for cash transfers is very strong. And cash transfers go straight to families.
Their decision is completely evidence backed and valid.
The evidence for cash transfers is very strong. And cash transfers go straight to families.
Their decision is completely evidence backed and valid.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
My letter in today's Financial Times
#DisabilityRights #Discrimination #Equalities
@disabledgreens.bsky.social
#DisabilityRights #Discrimination #Equalities
@disabledgreens.bsky.social
November 29, 2025 at 10:06 AM
My letter in today's Financial Times
#DisabilityRights #Discrimination #Equalities
@disabledgreens.bsky.social
#DisabilityRights #Discrimination #Equalities
@disabledgreens.bsky.social
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Dismal framing. Every aspect of most asylum seekers’ lives is controlled & paid for by the Home Office. They can’t work, are told where to live & have no autonomy or dignity. So they aren’t *choosing* to use taxis & don’t need to be “banned” from doing so. The HO just needs to get its act in order.
Government to ban asylum seekers from using taxis
The ban is set to come in February and any exemptions will have to be signed off by the Home Office.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Dismal framing. Every aspect of most asylum seekers’ lives is controlled & paid for by the Home Office. They can’t work, are told where to live & have no autonomy or dignity. So they aren’t *choosing* to use taxis & don’t need to be “banned” from doing so. The HO just needs to get its act in order.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
The Health and Social Care Committee’s evaluation of palliative care in England was published yesterday.
It’s hugely important, not least in the context of the assisted dying bill.
It’s had almost no media coverage.
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
It’s hugely important, not least in the context of the assisted dying bill.
It’s had almost no media coverage.
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
November 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
The Health and Social Care Committee’s evaluation of palliative care in England was published yesterday.
It’s hugely important, not least in the context of the assisted dying bill.
It’s had almost no media coverage.
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
It’s hugely important, not least in the context of the assisted dying bill.
It’s had almost no media coverage.
committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
November 29, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Wow - this guy must be really, REALLY bad with money if an extra £208 per month will “ruin” his retirement.
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
November 29, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Wow - this guy must be really, REALLY bad with money if an extra £208 per month will “ruin” his retirement.
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
What do these corporations have in common?
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
November 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
What do these corporations have in common?
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel
In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.
This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
I love this idea. My dad died when I was three and I had to figure out simple things like how to tie a tie and even shave on my own. Please retweet this because I know there are a lot of kids out there who could use some help with day to day life.
November 26, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I love this idea. My dad died when I was three and I had to figure out simple things like how to tie a tie and even shave on my own. Please retweet this because I know there are a lot of kids out there who could use some help with day to day life.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Well worth a read.
More journalism like this please and more journalists with this sort of courage.
More journalism like this please and more journalists with this sort of courage.
”Reform UK's barrister tried to scare us. Our advice to other news sites: don't play the bullies game." Martin Shipton from @nation.cymru on being bullied by Reform's lawyers: www.thenerve.news/p/reform-nat...
Reform UK’s barrister tried to scare us. Our advice to other news sites: don’t play the bully’s game
My news organisation, Nation.Cymru, was threatened with legal action over a story involving Nigel Farage’s party in the Senedd. Instead of hiring our own lawyer, we simply told them to go away, writes...
www.thenerve.news
November 28, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Well worth a read.
More journalism like this please and more journalists with this sort of courage.
More journalism like this please and more journalists with this sort of courage.
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need."
Acts 2: 44-45
Acts 2: 44-45
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:10 PM
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need."
Acts 2: 44-45
Acts 2: 44-45
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
The "guy making a case about low taxes" was in fact Karl Williams of the Centre for Policy Studies - author of the fictional/fabricated and now withdrawn "£234 billion" cost number cited by Katie Lam and Reform.
Funnily Amol Rajan didn't ask him about that.. 😉
Funnily Amol Rajan didn't ask him about that.. 😉
And again I wonder why a super expert like Portes is not on BBC4 today instead of a guy making a case about low taxes
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 28, 2025 at 8:24 AM
The "guy making a case about low taxes" was in fact Karl Williams of the Centre for Policy Studies - author of the fictional/fabricated and now withdrawn "£234 billion" cost number cited by Katie Lam and Reform.
Funnily Amol Rajan didn't ask him about that.. 😉
Funnily Amol Rajan didn't ask him about that.. 😉
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social interview with Evan Davis @evanhd.bsky.social on BBC Radio 4 PM #BBCPM
🧵 PART 1/4
🧵 PART 1/4
November 27, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social interview with Evan Davis @evanhd.bsky.social on BBC Radio 4 PM #BBCPM
🧵 PART 1/4
🧵 PART 1/4
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Homeland Security doesn’t grasp the fact that the first Thanksgiving was about making “room at the table” for European “invaders.”
November 27, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Homeland Security doesn’t grasp the fact that the first Thanksgiving was about making “room at the table” for European “invaders.”
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
• John O'Donohue •
November 27, 2025 at 9:11 PM
• John O'Donohue •
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
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?
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
There's an advert on his website for a 'Depot Supervisor' that pays £12.75 an hour for shift work.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss
‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss
‘Madness’ to increase welfare spending in Budget, says AO World boss
www.independent.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
There's an advert on his website for a 'Depot Supervisor' that pays £12.75 an hour for shift work.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
If he wants to reduce welfare spending maybe he should pay staff enough that they don't need in-work benefits.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
“The Motability scheme was set up to protect the most vulnerable. Not to subsidise the lease on a Mercedes Benz,” Reeves says.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
“The Motability scheme was set up to protect the most vulnerable. Not to subsidise the lease on a Mercedes Benz,” Reeves says.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
Misleading and nasty in equal measure.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Lamorna Ash charts the invoking of Christianity by the British right, from establishment figures to Unite the Kingdom, and suggests that “powerful backers and strategists on the US Christian right increasingly see Britain as fertile ground for its movement”
Is British politics immune to US-style rightwing Christianity? We’re about to find out | Lamorna Ash
Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson are increasingly espousing Christian ‘values’, and a wealthy US legal group is becoming influential – this could have dire consequences, says author Lamorna Ash
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Lamorna Ash charts the invoking of Christianity by the British right, from establishment figures to Unite the Kingdom, and suggests that “powerful backers and strategists on the US Christian right increasingly see Britain as fertile ground for its movement”
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Ahead of Labour's budget, Yanis Varoufakis talks about the lasting impact of Thatcherite politics on today's episode.
Listen here: linktr.ee/boldpolitics
Listen here: linktr.ee/boldpolitics
November 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Ahead of Labour's budget, Yanis Varoufakis talks about the lasting impact of Thatcherite politics on today's episode.
Listen here: linktr.ee/boldpolitics
Listen here: linktr.ee/boldpolitics
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
On budget day, here's a timely reminder of the vital public services we've lost over the past 15 years through government cuts.
November 26, 2025 at 9:16 AM
On budget day, here's a timely reminder of the vital public services we've lost over the past 15 years through government cuts.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Right.
November 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Right.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
November 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u
Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️
buff.ly/s5mz97u