Matt Severn
@mattsevern.bsky.social
LibDem councillor, retailer, former bookseller, Dad, husband, Christian, non league fan x2 clubs, strategy gamer, SF&F reader, 4 x Parliamentary candidate.
Mostly found in Cumbria and North Lancashire.
Mostly found in Cumbria and North Lancashire.
Reposted by Matt Severn
Idea: whining about your taxes in the press comes with a *free* wallet inspection from HMRC just to make sure you're not over paying
November 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Idea: whining about your taxes in the press comes with a *free* wallet inspection from HMRC just to make sure you're not over paying
Reposted by Matt Severn
Problem: you have two left wing parties in British politics.
Solution: start a new left wing party to unify the movement
Problem: you now have four left wing parties in British politics
Solution: start a new left wing party to unify the movement
Problem: you now have four left wing parties in British politics
November 29, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Problem: you have two left wing parties in British politics.
Solution: start a new left wing party to unify the movement
Problem: you now have four left wing parties in British politics
Solution: start a new left wing party to unify the movement
Problem: you now have four left wing parties in British politics
Reposted by Matt Severn
They are blowing up boats for drug trafficking.
Then he is pardoning a drug trafficker.
Illogical.
Then he is pardoning a drug trafficker.
Illogical.
November 29, 2025 at 7:30 AM
They are blowing up boats for drug trafficking.
Then he is pardoning a drug trafficker.
Illogical.
Then he is pardoning a drug trafficker.
Illogical.
Reposted by Matt Severn
I have a lot of thoughts here - but broadly agree with Stephen.
There isn't a lack of intellegent policy thinkers but there is very little reward for doing that thinking with the general public - and almost no tolerance from anyone for the sort of trade offs those thoughts require.
There isn't a lack of intellegent policy thinkers but there is very little reward for doing that thinking with the general public - and almost no tolerance from anyone for the sort of trade offs those thoughts require.
I don’t think this is a “politicians have got dumber” issue for the most part. If you look at the *actual CVs* of previous cohorts of MPs, their background is not radically different when you account for, you know, the fact the economy is different! It is primarily a media and ecosystem issue.
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
November 28, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I have a lot of thoughts here - but broadly agree with Stephen.
There isn't a lack of intellegent policy thinkers but there is very little reward for doing that thinking with the general public - and almost no tolerance from anyone for the sort of trade offs those thoughts require.
There isn't a lack of intellegent policy thinkers but there is very little reward for doing that thinking with the general public - and almost no tolerance from anyone for the sort of trade offs those thoughts require.
Reposted by Matt Severn
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
![I confess that I always had difficulty with interpreting the Biblical precept to love our neighbours “as ourselves” until I read some of the words of C.S. Lewis. He pointed out that we don't exactly love ourselves when we fall below the standards and beliefs we have accepted. Indeed we might even hate ourselves for some unworthy deed.
None of this, of course, tells us exactly what kind of political and social institutions we should have. On this point, Christians will very often genuinely disagree, though it is a mark of Christian manners that they will do so with courtesy and mutual respect. [Applause] What is certain, however, is that any set of social and economic arrangements which is not founded on the acceptance of individual responsibility will do nothing but harm.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xbnsfdtxoothg654ujxe3p25/bafkreicrdgbtvm54qnmttwe6crhxwt4be5v3izjmqtnvlxmaljwg5wolai@jpeg)
November 28, 2025 at 12:15 PM
We have got to make politics intellectual again. It is the only way that societies thrive is when politicians have the capability to actually think and reflect deeply:
Reposted by Matt Severn
I don't remember Jeremy Hunt being asked if it was self interest that made him vandalise the public finances.
November 27, 2025 at 11:25 PM
I don't remember Jeremy Hunt being asked if it was self interest that made him vandalise the public finances.
Reposted by Matt Severn
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
Reposted by Matt Severn
Doing a U-turn on a tax the market both wanted and expected on the day of the budget itself would have been absolute smackhead behaviour. From great piece by @pronouncedalva.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/...
November 25, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Doing a U-turn on a tax the market both wanted and expected on the day of the budget itself would have been absolute smackhead behaviour. From great piece by @pronouncedalva.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/cover-story/...
Reposted by Matt Severn
what the fuck
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
what the fuck
Reposted by Matt Severn
pretty much every long-time Labour volunteer I know is seriously considering whether to vote Green or Lib Dem.
It is amazingly horrifying in how little Labour leaders have zero, even negative faith in the values that their party's supposed to stand for. I have the deepest sympathies for the party ground floor workers and supporters who're disgusted by this grotesque betrayal of their values. It's despairing.
November 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
pretty much every long-time Labour volunteer I know is seriously considering whether to vote Green or Lib Dem.
Reposted by Matt Severn
The BBC is reporting details from Shumeet Banerji's resignation letter from the BBC Board.
Pretty obvious implication is that Samir Shah has been running the board incompetently, and not defending executives against Robbie Gibb and chums.
Pretty obvious implication is that Samir Shah has been running the board incompetently, and not defending executives against Robbie Gibb and chums.
November 25, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The BBC is reporting details from Shumeet Banerji's resignation letter from the BBC Board.
Pretty obvious implication is that Samir Shah has been running the board incompetently, and not defending executives against Robbie Gibb and chums.
Pretty obvious implication is that Samir Shah has been running the board incompetently, and not defending executives against Robbie Gibb and chums.
Reposted by Matt Severn
Yeah - the only 'here's why it is different' are people just huffily going 'well, of course it's different'. I mean, yes, sure, it is a vaguely different lever, but to everyone hit by it, it is still money that was appearing in *their* bank account on payday that *won't*.
There's this weird mindset that voters won't object to a breaking of tax promises is if it's done in a sufficiently convoluted way. Like they're fae creatures impressed you found a way around their contract terms or something.
November 25, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Yeah - the only 'here's why it is different' are people just huffily going 'well, of course it's different'. I mean, yes, sure, it is a vaguely different lever, but to everyone hit by it, it is still money that was appearing in *their* bank account on payday that *won't*.
Reposted by Matt Severn
Tourist Tax is fine I think. Worth noting though how this started as an idea for local authority discretion but seems likely to end as a Treasury imposition on England. The unchanging policy that HMT must control as much as possible. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reeves Budget to Embrace Tourist Tax for Cities Including London
The UK will allow Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and other local leaders to impose a “tourist tax” on overnight stays in English cities.
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Tourist Tax is fine I think. Worth noting though how this started as an idea for local authority discretion but seems likely to end as a Treasury imposition on England. The unchanging policy that HMT must control as much as possible. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Matt Severn
To illustrate how disingenuous this campaign is
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
To illustrate how disingenuous this campaign is
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
Reposted by Matt Severn
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Matt Severn
BBC removes description of Donald Trump as "the most openly corrupt president in American history" from the broadcast today of Rutger Bregman's Reith Lecture. I was among the several hundred people to hear the original at the lecture theatre
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
BBC removes description of Donald Trump as "the most openly corrupt president in American history" from the broadcast today of Rutger Bregman's Reith Lecture. I was among the several hundred people to hear the original at the lecture theatre
Reposted by Matt Severn
If this is true, every halfway decent foreign intelligence service on the planet already has the receipts ….
November 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
If this is true, every halfway decent foreign intelligence service on the planet already has the receipts ….
Reposted by Matt Severn
an underrated part of the British crisis is that the justice system is under massive strain, not least because criminal barristers are often being paid *less for taking a case than their costs in doing so.*.
www.theguardian.com/law/2022/aug...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2022/aug...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
David Lammy considers scrapping jury trials for all but the most serious cases
Senior lawyers criticise justice secretary’s radical plan, saying it could ‘destroy justice as we know it’
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
an underrated part of the British crisis is that the justice system is under massive strain, not least because criminal barristers are often being paid *less for taking a case than their costs in doing so.*.
www.theguardian.com/law/2022/aug...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2022/aug...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Reposted by Matt Severn
absolutely batshit insane for a government to drag out the fuel duty "freeze" (annual tax cut) even further
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
absolutely batshit insane for a government to drag out the fuel duty "freeze" (annual tax cut) even further
The government doesn’t seem to understand the concept or causes of price inflation
November 25, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The government doesn’t seem to understand the concept or causes of price inflation
Reposted by Matt Severn
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
Reposted by Matt Severn
We are not yet a year into Trump’s second term and already DOGE has been mothballed, MTG has bailed from Congress, the administration tried and failed to present a Russian plan to end the war, and the ‘Secretary of War’ is trying to court-martial a US Senator. Time for a reminder of this I think…
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
We are not yet a year into Trump’s second term and already DOGE has been mothballed, MTG has bailed from Congress, the administration tried and failed to present a Russian plan to end the war, and the ‘Secretary of War’ is trying to court-martial a US Senator. Time for a reminder of this I think…
Reposted by Matt Severn
These people really do not understand our country at all. If we had people being snatched off the streets by masked agents and thrown in the back of a van simply because of the colour of their skin there would be an outcry. The public would be appalled.
Trevor Philips in the Times, calling for a Trump/Miller-style of random deportations based on skin colour.
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
These people really do not understand our country at all. If we had people being snatched off the streets by masked agents and thrown in the back of a van simply because of the colour of their skin there would be an outcry. The public would be appalled.
Reposted by Matt Severn
Food prices really are *the* most visible sign of inflation for many people, and really breeds discontent. The government should be trying everything to lower prices
Not since the Corn Laws have we had a government this committed to keeping food prices high.
UK supermarkets set to be hit by higher business rates after Treasury U-turn
Chancellor expected to use Budget to include large retail premises in the top band of the property-based levy
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Food prices really are *the* most visible sign of inflation for many people, and really breeds discontent. The government should be trying everything to lower prices