Mr Benn
@markbenn.bsky.social
A middle-aged father of two who hasn't been able to get to the fancy dress shop recently.
I only came back here a few weeks ago.
All is well here, though not much has changed ... well, the kids are slightly taller, but that was always going to happen.
All is well here, though not much has changed ... well, the kids are slightly taller, but that was always going to happen.
January 11, 2026 at 8:32 AM
I only came back here a few weeks ago.
All is well here, though not much has changed ... well, the kids are slightly taller, but that was always going to happen.
All is well here, though not much has changed ... well, the kids are slightly taller, but that was always going to happen.
A side issue, but people will only really notice around 2030. If a Reform government is in place, they'll be able to take the credit - though possibly also the consequences.
January 11, 2026 at 8:19 AM
A side issue, but people will only really notice around 2030. If a Reform government is in place, they'll be able to take the credit - though possibly also the consequences.
I thought I'd be conspicuous. Hope all is going well. Up in Stirling still?
January 10, 2026 at 10:44 PM
I thought I'd be conspicuous. Hope all is going well. Up in Stirling still?
I had a conversation with some Cambridge University professors a few years back whose attitude seemed to be that it was a disgrace that their first undergrads didn't already have a graduate level of the subject.
Can't help but feel this is coming from the same place.
Can't help but feel this is coming from the same place.
January 10, 2026 at 6:04 PM
I had a conversation with some Cambridge University professors a few years back whose attitude seemed to be that it was a disgrace that their first undergrads didn't already have a graduate level of the subject.
Can't help but feel this is coming from the same place.
Can't help but feel this is coming from the same place.
Why does that fact you own this not surprise me in the slightest?
(In fact, is there a coat you don't own?)
(In fact, is there a coat you don't own?)
January 4, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Why does that fact you own this not surprise me in the slightest?
(In fact, is there a coat you don't own?)
(In fact, is there a coat you don't own?)
I honestly don't think enough has been written about the UK's role in the world if Farage takes over.
Certainly feel support for Ukraine may disappear overnight with a reset on still relatively close UK-EU relations.
Certainly feel support for Ukraine may disappear overnight with a reset on still relatively close UK-EU relations.
January 4, 2026 at 9:22 AM
I honestly don't think enough has been written about the UK's role in the world if Farage takes over.
Certainly feel support for Ukraine may disappear overnight with a reset on still relatively close UK-EU relations.
Certainly feel support for Ukraine may disappear overnight with a reset on still relatively close UK-EU relations.
Don't think he's saying that.
Feel you are playing the man, rather than the ball here.
Feel you are playing the man, rather than the ball here.
January 3, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Don't think he's saying that.
Feel you are playing the man, rather than the ball here.
Feel you are playing the man, rather than the ball here.
I feel you are being disingenuous in your interpretation.
January 3, 2026 at 8:03 PM
I feel you are being disingenuous in your interpretation.
The problem is that if you act tough, you might actually have to show that you are tough.
We aren't tough.
We aren't tough.
January 3, 2026 at 7:58 PM
The problem is that if you act tough, you might actually have to show that you are tough.
We aren't tough.
We aren't tough.
Note also that most union members don't vote. Unite elections are typically in the low-teens percentage wise, while the RMT (a far more active union membership) barely reaches 30%.
December 30, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Note also that most union members don't vote. Unite elections are typically in the low-teens percentage wise, while the RMT (a far more active union membership) barely reaches 30%.
That's not exactly true. Immigration in and of itself isn't a positive or negative for the economy - it's more important who comes in and what they do.
100 single, 25-year-old post grads will bring more economic benefit than 100 45-year-old unemployed weavers with dependents.
100 single, 25-year-old post grads will bring more economic benefit than 100 45-year-old unemployed weavers with dependents.
December 29, 2025 at 9:42 PM
That's not exactly true. Immigration in and of itself isn't a positive or negative for the economy - it's more important who comes in and what they do.
100 single, 25-year-old post grads will bring more economic benefit than 100 45-year-old unemployed weavers with dependents.
100 single, 25-year-old post grads will bring more economic benefit than 100 45-year-old unemployed weavers with dependents.
Who is also likely to be unwilling to admit they vote Tory in the paper that their friends and colleagues read.
December 28, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Who is also likely to be unwilling to admit they vote Tory in the paper that their friends and colleagues read.
An idle thought after that debacle: is climate change destroying test match cricket?
December 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
An idle thought after that debacle: is climate change destroying test match cricket?
People posting this nonsense.
December 27, 2025 at 8:33 AM
People posting this nonsense.
Which can all be watched on iPlayer (which is not terrestrial TV).
December 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Which can all be watched on iPlayer (which is not terrestrial TV).
I'm writing this from Mike Tapp's constituency and I completely understand why he's saying this.
I think he's mistaken to do so and I don't think it will do him any favours at the next election, but I do understand it.
I think he's mistaken to do so and I don't think it will do him any favours at the next election, but I do understand it.
December 26, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I'm writing this from Mike Tapp's constituency and I completely understand why he's saying this.
I think he's mistaken to do so and I don't think it will do him any favours at the next election, but I do understand it.
I think he's mistaken to do so and I don't think it will do him any favours at the next election, but I do understand it.
But isn't this the problem regarding which voters they want to attract? How do you appeal to aspirational voters - with wants and values very different to those that were at the core of the party - without losing those who those voters would see as "left behind"?
December 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
But isn't this the problem regarding which voters they want to attract? How do you appeal to aspirational voters - with wants and values very different to those that were at the core of the party - without losing those who those voters would see as "left behind"?
Sorry, but, "phwooooaaaarrrrr!"
December 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Sorry, but, "phwooooaaaarrrrr!"
Probably/possibly. You'd expect some effect, but the surprise of Brexit is how Britain's economy continues to track those of other developed European countries - which may say more about the nature of developed Western economies than anything else.
December 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Probably/possibly. You'd expect some effect, but the surprise of Brexit is how Britain's economy continues to track those of other developed European countries - which may say more about the nature of developed Western economies than anything else.
But considering the 8% of missing growth would have meant the UK growing in line with the US, rather than any country in the EU, is that really a trustworthy figure?
December 24, 2025 at 8:51 AM
But considering the 8% of missing growth would have meant the UK growing in line with the US, rather than any country in the EU, is that really a trustworthy figure?
I think it's a difficult one because it's clearly also a IHT dodge.
Feels like a better policy could be drawn up to stop this happening.
Feels like a better policy could be drawn up to stop this happening.
December 24, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I think it's a difficult one because it's clearly also a IHT dodge.
Feels like a better policy could be drawn up to stop this happening.
Feels like a better policy could be drawn up to stop this happening.
A £2m estate after all is said and done.
Wish I were that poor.
Wish I were that poor.
December 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
A £2m estate after all is said and done.
Wish I were that poor.
Wish I were that poor.
Of course it's glib, it's social media!
I didn't know I had to offer a solution. What's yours?
I didn't know I had to offer a solution. What's yours?
December 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Of course it's glib, it's social media!
I didn't know I had to offer a solution. What's yours?
I didn't know I had to offer a solution. What's yours?