Jonty
@jonty24.bsky.social
Retired Civil Servant (UK) and long term mature student at the University of Life. Arsenal fan , enthusiastic traveller (using trains where available) and Duolingo aficionado.🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇦
Kemi will be so proud though.....
November 30, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Kemi will be so proud though.....
It's appalling. The NHS has its problems, but I'm so pleased it was set up and has endured.
November 29, 2025 at 11:26 PM
It's appalling. The NHS has its problems, but I'm so pleased it was set up and has endured.
Spot on. And somebody will get the right hump from all this and try starting another one to show how it should be done.....
November 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Spot on. And somebody will get the right hump from all this and try starting another one to show how it should be done.....
Caught the start of Jeremy Corbyn's speech today. Sounded tired and flat. If this party/project survives, all it will do is be a vote splitter at a time when the country least needs it.
November 29, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Caught the start of Jeremy Corbyn's speech today. Sounded tired and flat. If this party/project survives, all it will do is be a vote splitter at a time when the country least needs it.
Is centrist the same as being pretty middle of the road?
November 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Is centrist the same as being pretty middle of the road?
Yes, more awareness is definitely needed.
November 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Yes, more awareness is definitely needed.
The trouble with "Trots" is that they attract a lot of people with energy and enthusiasm, fire them up and then usually let them down badly. I saw this in my Union days and it will likely happen with this project.
November 29, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The trouble with "Trots" is that they attract a lot of people with energy and enthusiasm, fire them up and then usually let them down badly. I saw this in my Union days and it will likely happen with this project.
Yes, the dynamic will be changing. But there will still be some current pensioners with just the state pension as their only source of income.
November 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Yes, the dynamic will be changing. But there will still be some current pensioners with just the state pension as their only source of income.
And while the position of pensioners may have improved over the last 10/15 years, before that, things were difficult for a lot more of them. There is some rebalancing of society needed to adapt to the modern age. But it needs to be done very thoughtfully.
November 29, 2025 at 12:04 PM
And while the position of pensioners may have improved over the last 10/15 years, before that, things were difficult for a lot more of them. There is some rebalancing of society needed to adapt to the modern age. But it needs to be done very thoughtfully.
This is the thing. Some people will have reasonable occupational pensions. But many won't, at least not currently. So any further pension reforms need to deal properly with the issue.
November 29, 2025 at 11:59 AM
This is the thing. Some people will have reasonable occupational pensions. But many won't, at least not currently. So any further pension reforms need to deal properly with the issue.
Longer term, it may be more sensible to tie pensions increases just to inflation. But for the moment, I think it it still justifiable.
November 29, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Longer term, it may be more sensible to tie pensions increases just to inflation. But for the moment, I think it it still justifiable.
Everything you've set out should be perfectly reasonable and uncontroversial in a decent society. Yet their are employers moaning the minimum wage is too high and louder criticism of the triple lock, with a number of younger folk seemingly finding it too generous.
November 29, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Everything you've set out should be perfectly reasonable and uncontroversial in a decent society. Yet their are employers moaning the minimum wage is too high and louder criticism of the triple lock, with a number of younger folk seemingly finding it too generous.
I very much think that while you need to adapt with the times, certain values are timeless and can/should be retained. You would hope that the Guardian keeps the values, but it does seem to be shifting. But at the moment everything is shifting rightwards unfortunately.
November 29, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I very much think that while you need to adapt with the times, certain values are timeless and can/should be retained. You would hope that the Guardian keeps the values, but it does seem to be shifting. But at the moment everything is shifting rightwards unfortunately.
There's increased targeting of pensions and the minimum wage. Whilst I accept there are affluent pensioners, most aren't and the state pension level isn't high in Europe. And is a £12 ph minimum wage really adequate in UK 2026 or sufficient to recognise the value of the employees work?
November 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
There's increased targeting of pensions and the minimum wage. Whilst I accept there are affluent pensioners, most aren't and the state pension level isn't high in Europe. And is a £12 ph minimum wage really adequate in UK 2026 or sufficient to recognise the value of the employees work?
Very disappointing to read her latest column, which came across as quite sneering. When I read it, it did make me wonder if this is the start of her journey over to the dark side.
November 29, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Very disappointing to read her latest column, which came across as quite sneering. When I read it, it did make me wonder if this is the start of her journey over to the dark side.
And a lot of the talking heads/influencers we see on TV are very much leading this thinking, whether intentionally or unintentionally. A lot of scapegoating and finger pointing and with language used that is starting to get unpleasant.
November 29, 2025 at 7:40 AM
And a lot of the talking heads/influencers we see on TV are very much leading this thinking, whether intentionally or unintentionally. A lot of scapegoating and finger pointing and with language used that is starting to get unpleasant.
The last couple of days is showing that as a nation, we are becoming very selfish and insular from our fellow citizens and the gap in generational thinking, a lot wider. A bit more fraying of society. Mrs T infamously said there was no such thing as society. We might be getting to that stage.
November 29, 2025 at 7:36 AM
The last couple of days is showing that as a nation, we are becoming very selfish and insular from our fellow citizens and the gap in generational thinking, a lot wider. A bit more fraying of society. Mrs T infamously said there was no such thing as society. We might be getting to that stage.
Others have mentioned it, but this may well be a nod to the proud boys.
November 29, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Others have mentioned it, but this may well be a nod to the proud boys.
If the gent has paid millions in tax, it seems to suggest he'll cope with the additional property tax, even in retirement.
November 28, 2025 at 4:25 PM
If the gent has paid millions in tax, it seems to suggest he'll cope with the additional property tax, even in retirement.
Tories in power for 92% of the last 15 years. I think he needs to redirect his comments.......
November 28, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Tories in power for 92% of the last 15 years. I think he needs to redirect his comments.......