@ryan1969.bsky.social
I'll add that Chas and Dave were session musicians on this record to add to its greatness I think
December 15, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I'll add that Chas and Dave were session musicians on this record to add to its greatness I think
Surely one thing the government can say is that we’re putting up your taxes to pay for defence now we can’t rely on the USA. Europe and the Uk should be able to defend itself against Russia but it will cost
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Surely one thing the government can say is that we’re putting up your taxes to pay for defence now we can’t rely on the USA. Europe and the Uk should be able to defend itself against Russia but it will cost
my local library got a refurb, but I can't help feeling they missed a trick. It was totally rebuilt, but I feel they could have added some flats at the top (like the Lidl which is opposite). Would generate revenue to keep the library running I'd hope.
October 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
my local library got a refurb, but I can't help feeling they missed a trick. It was totally rebuilt, but I feel they could have added some flats at the top (like the Lidl which is opposite). Would generate revenue to keep the library running I'd hope.
But I think his record in Manchester is pretty good, seems a balanced mix between soft left, but still business friendly. Taking over the busses with a planned system, has worked, and I'd compare that favourably with Starmer's treatment of the water companies for example
September 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
But I think his record in Manchester is pretty good, seems a balanced mix between soft left, but still business friendly. Taking over the busses with a planned system, has worked, and I'd compare that favourably with Starmer's treatment of the water companies for example
ciaran and evelyn surely
September 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
ciaran and evelyn surely
you just think its an open goal for the Labour government to step in and do something. Be on the side of the consumer when they're being ripped off - see also Gatwick drop off fees, Thames Water (again), Starmer should just subscribe to which magazine (if he's not already)!
September 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
you just think its an open goal for the Labour government to step in and do something. Be on the side of the consumer when they're being ripped off - see also Gatwick drop off fees, Thames Water (again), Starmer should just subscribe to which magazine (if he's not already)!
I can add cut back on mental health services and then have greater numbers on sickness related benefits. It goes on
September 8, 2025 at 11:06 AM
I can add cut back on mental health services and then have greater numbers on sickness related benefits. It goes on
With Osborne so much of the austerity program was just false economies. Cut spending then have a massive backlog in the courts system so you have more people on remand costing more millions. See asylum hotels , bnb for the homeless etc
September 8, 2025 at 11:05 AM
With Osborne so much of the austerity program was just false economies. Cut spending then have a massive backlog in the courts system so you have more people on remand costing more millions. See asylum hotels , bnb for the homeless etc
Forward prices set to decline by around 20% for the UK over the next few years as LNG replaces Russian gas
August 21, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Forward prices set to decline by around 20% for the UK over the next few years as LNG replaces Russian gas
I don't think so, there's interconnectors that link both UK gas and power systems. Wholesale prices are comparable to the EU, but there could be extra grid costs. Prices have gone up as Russia cut gas to EU markets and the UK has followed due to these connections.
August 21, 2025 at 7:17 AM
I don't think so, there's interconnectors that link both UK gas and power systems. Wholesale prices are comparable to the EU, but there could be extra grid costs. Prices have gone up as Russia cut gas to EU markets and the UK has followed due to these connections.
Friend was in the US in the 90’s and didn’t have ID for a beer. Barman asked who his favourite band was. He replied U2. Barman served him saying no one under the age of 25 has u2 as their favourite band!
July 26, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Friend was in the US in the 90’s and didn’t have ID for a beer. Barman asked who his favourite band was. He replied U2. Barman served him saying no one under the age of 25 has u2 as their favourite band!
In case you’ve not read it Fatherland by robert Harris is a good read
July 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
In case you’ve not read it Fatherland by robert Harris is a good read
yes, thank goodness Thames Water wasn't burdened down by excessive regulation, oh wait on...
July 16, 2025 at 7:11 AM
yes, thank goodness Thames Water wasn't burdened down by excessive regulation, oh wait on...
Thanks for this, I guess one thing not mentioned is property taxation, or some kind of reform. I'd love to see some council tax/stamp duty/inheritance tax on property overhaul (I know too optimistic). But more straightforward than a wealth tax and falls on foreign/offshore owners too
July 15, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Thanks for this, I guess one thing not mentioned is property taxation, or some kind of reform. I'd love to see some council tax/stamp duty/inheritance tax on property overhaul (I know too optimistic). But more straightforward than a wealth tax and falls on foreign/offshore owners too
I think the frustrating thing is that if you can get to why post covid there has been this increase in benefits claimants (mental health provision/long covid/cost of living makes benefits better/nhs waiting lists) then you can actually save money but all about cutting cost not looking at why
July 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I think the frustrating thing is that if you can get to why post covid there has been this increase in benefits claimants (mental health provision/long covid/cost of living makes benefits better/nhs waiting lists) then you can actually save money but all about cutting cost not looking at why
Also I look at my parents, its possible they will need social care (lets hope not) but they will also have enjoyed house price inflation (on one house not an empire) but a tax on housing seems politically impossible and result is more tax on income and those who are cut off from something similar
June 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Also I look at my parents, its possible they will need social care (lets hope not) but they will also have enjoyed house price inflation (on one house not an empire) but a tax on housing seems politically impossible and result is more tax on income and those who are cut off from something similar
I think Michael Moore put it a while ago, back in the 60's you could get a decent job, your own home, good pension, things got better. Now even though we're so much richer but none of things apply. Perhaps covered up by low inflation and high asset inflation, but never sustainable
June 25, 2025 at 11:39 AM
I think Michael Moore put it a while ago, back in the 60's you could get a decent job, your own home, good pension, things got better. Now even though we're so much richer but none of things apply. Perhaps covered up by low inflation and high asset inflation, but never sustainable
But there were 2 FT reports this week. One said 50 families owned a third of all wealth the other talked about the high % of trusts owning property in London. Surely they are a better target than income?
May 21, 2025 at 4:57 PM
But there were 2 FT reports this week. One said 50 families owned a third of all wealth the other talked about the high % of trusts owning property in London. Surely they are a better target than income?
‘I saw an awful band in Asia yesterday’.
‘Singapore?’
‘Yes. And the rest of the band were poor too.’
‘Singapore?’
‘Yes. And the rest of the band were poor too.’
April 20, 2025 at 5:34 AM
‘I saw an awful band in Asia yesterday’.
‘Singapore?’
‘Yes. And the rest of the band were poor too.’
‘Singapore?’
‘Yes. And the rest of the band were poor too.’
And I do want better public services, but maybe tax property which has gone up so much over the last couple of decades rather than income. Or perhaps a better trading relationship with the EU that might grow the economy and generate revenue than being scared of upsetting Brexit voters
April 1, 2025 at 12:11 PM
And I do want better public services, but maybe tax property which has gone up so much over the last couple of decades rather than income. Or perhaps a better trading relationship with the EU that might grow the economy and generate revenue than being scared of upsetting Brexit voters
i've just read the excerpt, but what i don't want is a water company that takes billions out of the industry for dividends but then doesn't have the money to stop sewage going into rivers or the sea. Perhaps they could stop dividend payments until things are sorted rather than put up my bills?
April 1, 2025 at 12:10 PM
i've just read the excerpt, but what i don't want is a water company that takes billions out of the industry for dividends but then doesn't have the money to stop sewage going into rivers or the sea. Perhaps they could stop dividend payments until things are sorted rather than put up my bills?
I can't help thinking that there might be more votes in Labour being a consumer champion - how does deregulating improve our customer experience - I've had some terrible customer service in the last few weeks that will act as a drag on that particular customers business - i won't be going back!
March 17, 2025 at 9:11 AM
I can't help thinking that there might be more votes in Labour being a consumer champion - how does deregulating improve our customer experience - I've had some terrible customer service in the last few weeks that will act as a drag on that particular customers business - i won't be going back!
Exactly who is running the nhs in England? The health secretary or nhs England. It doesn’t make sense and blurs lines of responsibility
March 11, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Exactly who is running the nhs in England? The health secretary or nhs England. It doesn’t make sense and blurs lines of responsibility