Simon Brignell
@simonbrignell.bsky.social
Communist Party member, trade unionist, and activist in Cromwell's backyard.
Fights for NHS dentistry, public transport, housing, peace and socialism in Britain.
Penchant for beer and pizza.
#Unite #CPB #ToothlessInEngland
simonbrignell.substack.com
Fights for NHS dentistry, public transport, housing, peace and socialism in Britain.
Penchant for beer and pizza.
#Unite #CPB #ToothlessInEngland
simonbrignell.substack.com
My letter in this weekend's Morning Star 🚩☮️
April 12, 2025 at 8:41 PM
My letter in this weekend's Morning Star 🚩☮️
A paltry wage increase at the expense of welfare cuts, especially to the vulnerable, and increasing likelihood of war is really not worth celebrating.
After years of Tory wreckage, Labour’s finally turning things around. Living standards are rising, the National Living Wage is going up by 6.7%, putting £1,400 more in workers' pockets, and interest rate cuts are easing mortgages. The Tories bled the country dry - Labour’s cleaning up their mess.
March 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
A paltry wage increase at the expense of welfare cuts, especially to the vulnerable, and increasing likelihood of war is really not worth celebrating.
Reposted by Simon Brignell
UK law denies the full minimum wage rate to workers below the age of 21.
They pay full price for housing, food, shoes, clothes, transport, medicines and other essentials.
Output of their labour is not sold at lower price.
Legalised age discrimination, exploitation of young workers.
They pay full price for housing, food, shoes, clothes, transport, medicines and other essentials.
Output of their labour is not sold at lower price.
Legalised age discrimination, exploitation of young workers.
Prem Sikka: A boost in the minimum wage is welcome, but more must be done to improve people’s material conditions
'Despite the increase, the minimum wage will still be comparatively low, and millions will live below the minimum acceptable standard of living.'
leftfootforward.org
March 23, 2025 at 5:57 PM
UK law denies the full minimum wage rate to workers below the age of 21.
They pay full price for housing, food, shoes, clothes, transport, medicines and other essentials.
Output of their labour is not sold at lower price.
Legalised age discrimination, exploitation of young workers.
They pay full price for housing, food, shoes, clothes, transport, medicines and other essentials.
Output of their labour is not sold at lower price.
Legalised age discrimination, exploitation of young workers.
Very successful party stall in Cambridge this morning, lots of encouraging conversations were had. Good interest in our pamphlet on Reform UK!
Keep an eye out for the YCL stall on Mill Road tomorrow!
Keep an eye out for the YCL stall on Mill Road tomorrow!
February 22, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Very successful party stall in Cambridge this morning, lots of encouraging conversations were had. Good interest in our pamphlet on Reform UK!
Keep an eye out for the YCL stall on Mill Road tomorrow!
Keep an eye out for the YCL stall on Mill Road tomorrow!
Reposted by Simon Brignell
NEW BLOGPOST: "Campaigners meet to oppose the Greater #Cambridge Partnership’s proposed busway from Addenbrooke’s Hospital to the A11" cambridgetownowl.com/2025/02/19/c... There's a cheaper road alternative in the shorter term and a better rail alternative in the longer term. But GCP ignored both.
Campaigners meet to oppose the GCP’s proposed busway from Addenbrooke’s to the A11
…which barely goes halfway to Haverhill – yet for reasons only they can explain, councillors from all three main parties approved the proposals at various stages from GCP officers to ge…
cambridgetownowl.com
February 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
NEW BLOGPOST: "Campaigners meet to oppose the Greater #Cambridge Partnership’s proposed busway from Addenbrooke’s Hospital to the A11" cambridgetownowl.com/2025/02/19/c... There's a cheaper road alternative in the shorter term and a better rail alternative in the longer term. But GCP ignored both.
Cambridge - your generosity never ceases to amaze!
We collected 10 bags of groceries at our collection for the foodbank on Saturday.
As our leaflet says: We completely reject the cynical conclusion that "human beings are fundamentally selfish".
What more proof do you need?
We collected 10 bags of groceries at our collection for the foodbank on Saturday.
As our leaflet says: We completely reject the cynical conclusion that "human beings are fundamentally selfish".
What more proof do you need?
February 2, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Cambridge - your generosity never ceases to amaze!
We collected 10 bags of groceries at our collection for the foodbank on Saturday.
As our leaflet says: We completely reject the cynical conclusion that "human beings are fundamentally selfish".
What more proof do you need?
We collected 10 bags of groceries at our collection for the foodbank on Saturday.
As our leaflet says: We completely reject the cynical conclusion that "human beings are fundamentally selfish".
What more proof do you need?
I'm running for Chair in the upcoming Unite Cambridge Engineering Branch elections as part of the Unite and Organise Engineering slate.
We need a return to rank and file organising in our unions ✊
We need a return to rank and file organising in our unions ✊
January 26, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I'm running for Chair in the upcoming Unite Cambridge Engineering Branch elections as part of the Unite and Organise Engineering slate.
We need a return to rank and file organising in our unions ✊
We need a return to rank and file organising in our unions ✊
Reposted by Simon Brignell
NEW BLOGPOST: "When the planning experts came to #Cambridge" cambridgetownowl.com/2025/01/15/w... I went to a conference today and gave Peter Freeman a copy of this book by Hall and Jones...
When the planning experts came to Cambridge
The blurb said: “This event is being hosted by Landmark Chambers in partnership with Mills & Reeve and Bidwells. It is free to attend and will take place in person at Jesus College, Unive…
cambridgetownowl.com
January 15, 2025 at 9:09 PM
NEW BLOGPOST: "When the planning experts came to #Cambridge" cambridgetownowl.com/2025/01/15/w... I went to a conference today and gave Peter Freeman a copy of this book by Hall and Jones...
Reposted by Simon Brignell
Just started on YouTube so this is MESSY but it’s a start right, and we all have to start somewhere?! Trying to start posting on all the channels to raise public awareness 🤞
youtube.com/shorts/Pr8Vd...
youtube.com/shorts/Pr8Vd...
#NHS
YouTube video by Julia Patterson
youtube.com
January 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Just started on YouTube so this is MESSY but it’s a start right, and we all have to start somewhere?! Trying to start posting on all the channels to raise public awareness 🤞
youtube.com/shorts/Pr8Vd...
youtube.com/shorts/Pr8Vd...
Just in case anyone was still wondering what sort of "socialist" Paul Mason really is 👇
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/maso...
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/maso...
Mason appointed to arms industry advice post
morningstaronline.co.uk
January 7, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Just in case anyone was still wondering what sort of "socialist" Paul Mason really is 👇
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/maso...
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/maso...
Reposted by Simon Brignell
📣Affiliate announcement| Our latest affiliate is North Norfolk Trades Union Council.
📲Affiliate your organisation here: actionnetwork.org/fundraising/...
#StrikeMap
📲Affiliate your organisation here: actionnetwork.org/fundraising/...
#StrikeMap
January 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
📣Affiliate announcement| Our latest affiliate is North Norfolk Trades Union Council.
📲Affiliate your organisation here: actionnetwork.org/fundraising/...
#StrikeMap
📲Affiliate your organisation here: actionnetwork.org/fundraising/...
#StrikeMap
Reposted by Simon Brignell
Just as we predicted …
Meanwhile, where is the response to the emergency within emergency services, which is less lucrative and attractive to private health companies?🚨🚨🚨
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Meanwhile, where is the response to the emergency within emergency services, which is less lucrative and attractive to private health companies?🚨🚨🚨
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Deal between NHS and independent sector to cut NHS waiting lists
New agreement struck between NHS and independent sector to help tackle waiting lists and give patients greater choice
www.gov.uk
January 6, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Just as we predicted …
Meanwhile, where is the response to the emergency within emergency services, which is less lucrative and attractive to private health companies?🚨🚨🚨
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Meanwhile, where is the response to the emergency within emergency services, which is less lucrative and attractive to private health companies?🚨🚨🚨
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Simon Brignell
When you hear Starmer’s ‘radical NHS plans’ today, ask yourself why he isn’t prioritising emergency services, when patients are needlessly dying 🚨
(It’s probably because emergency services aren’t attractive to private health companies, so are being left behind)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
(It’s probably because emergency services aren’t attractive to private health companies, so are being left behind)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Ambulance handover delays in England may harm 1,000 patients a day
Exclusive: 414,137 people believed to have experienced some level of harm in last year, Guardian analysis finds
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2025 at 7:50 AM
When you hear Starmer’s ‘radical NHS plans’ today, ask yourself why he isn’t prioritising emergency services, when patients are needlessly dying 🚨
(It’s probably because emergency services aren’t attractive to private health companies, so are being left behind)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
(It’s probably because emergency services aren’t attractive to private health companies, so are being left behind)
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Simon Brignell
FTSE 100 CEO gets more in less than 3 days than average worker pay for a yr.
Median CEO pay £4.22m, 113 times average worker.
Nothing to do with performance. Shareholder objections ignored.
Need worker-elected directors on boards. Let workers vote on exec pay.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Median CEO pay £4.22m, 113 times average worker.
Nothing to do with performance. Shareholder objections ignored.
Need worker-elected directors on boards. Let workers vote on exec pay.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
FTSE 100 bosses make more money in 2025 by noon today than average worker in a year
Bosses to hit milestone on third working day of 2025 with median hourly pay of £1,298, says High Pay Centre
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2025 at 8:01 AM
FTSE 100 CEO gets more in less than 3 days than average worker pay for a yr.
Median CEO pay £4.22m, 113 times average worker.
Nothing to do with performance. Shareholder objections ignored.
Need worker-elected directors on boards. Let workers vote on exec pay.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Median CEO pay £4.22m, 113 times average worker.
Nothing to do with performance. Shareholder objections ignored.
Need worker-elected directors on boards. Let workers vote on exec pay.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Well earned pint or two of Egyptian Cream after work 🍺
Merry Christmas, all!
Merry Christmas, all!
December 24, 2024 at 3:16 PM
Well earned pint or two of Egyptian Cream after work 🍺
Merry Christmas, all!
Merry Christmas, all!
Solidarity with Luton Vauxhall workers who start action tomorrow against factory closure ✊🚩
December 16, 2024 at 11:12 PM
Solidarity with Luton Vauxhall workers who start action tomorrow against factory closure ✊🚩
Reposted by Simon Brignell
I’m really disliking the vibe coming from this government of ‘the NHS is in a state so don’t worry everyone, we have told NHS leaders to keep patients safe’
Sorry what? NHS leaders try to do that every day. It’s up to the government to resource things properly 🚨
Sorry what? NHS leaders try to do that every day. It’s up to the government to resource things properly 🚨
December 12, 2024 at 11:30 AM
I’m really disliking the vibe coming from this government of ‘the NHS is in a state so don’t worry everyone, we have told NHS leaders to keep patients safe’
Sorry what? NHS leaders try to do that every day. It’s up to the government to resource things properly 🚨
Sorry what? NHS leaders try to do that every day. It’s up to the government to resource things properly 🚨
Reposted by Simon Brignell
If “capitalism is so great” how come capitalists gotta ban communism/socialism and any choices towards a free and open democracy that isn’t capitalism?
🇺🇸 : www.instagram.com/reel/DDXuXL2...
🇺🇸 : www.instagram.com/reel/DDXuXL2...
December 10, 2024 at 12:26 PM
If “capitalism is so great” how come capitalists gotta ban communism/socialism and any choices towards a free and open democracy that isn’t capitalism?
🇺🇸 : www.instagram.com/reel/DDXuXL2...
🇺🇸 : www.instagram.com/reel/DDXuXL2...
This is an excellent letter in the Morning Star. In the wake of Labour ploughing ahead with plans for privatisation that wouldn't be out of place in a Tory manifesto, Peter makes a lot of sense.
We need to see more of this.
We need to see more of this.
December 10, 2024 at 1:51 PM
This is an excellent letter in the Morning Star. In the wake of Labour ploughing ahead with plans for privatisation that wouldn't be out of place in a Tory manifesto, Peter makes a lot of sense.
We need to see more of this.
We need to see more of this.
Reposted by Simon Brignell
Nearly half the 1.5m UK children growing up in poverty in the private rental sector are pushed into it by housing costs.
Private renters paying three times as much as mortgagor for the same housing.
Yet govts cut real wages/benefits, don't curb profiteering
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/priv...
Private renters paying three times as much as mortgagor for the same housing.
Yet govts cut real wages/benefits, don't curb profiteering
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/priv...
Private rental costs drive hundreds of thousands of children into poverty
morningstaronline.co.uk
December 7, 2024 at 7:04 AM
Nearly half the 1.5m UK children growing up in poverty in the private rental sector are pushed into it by housing costs.
Private renters paying three times as much as mortgagor for the same housing.
Yet govts cut real wages/benefits, don't curb profiteering
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/priv...
Private renters paying three times as much as mortgagor for the same housing.
Yet govts cut real wages/benefits, don't curb profiteering
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/priv...
Reposted by Simon Brignell
More coverage of our report launched this week in the The Morning Star 👉
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/acad...
#StrikeMap
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/acad...
#StrikeMap
Academics hail ‘considerable value’ of Strike Map data
morningstaronline.co.uk
December 7, 2024 at 1:26 PM
More coverage of our report launched this week in the The Morning Star 👉
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/acad...
#StrikeMap
morningstaronline.co.uk/article/acad...
#StrikeMap
This has been removed now but its simply incredible that this got published in the first place.
A certain German said, "Germany should concentrate all of its strength on marking out a way of life for our people through the allocation of adequate Lebensraum for the next one hundred years."
A certain German said, "Germany should concentrate all of its strength on marking out a way of life for our people through the allocation of adequate Lebensraum for the next one hundred years."
December 6, 2024 at 12:00 AM
This has been removed now but its simply incredible that this got published in the first place.
A certain German said, "Germany should concentrate all of its strength on marking out a way of life for our people through the allocation of adequate Lebensraum for the next one hundred years."
A certain German said, "Germany should concentrate all of its strength on marking out a way of life for our people through the allocation of adequate Lebensraum for the next one hundred years."
Reposted by Simon Brignell
Hello! I am looking for all of the people on Bluesky who oppose NHS privatisation! If that’s you, please could you repost this and follow me, and I’ll follow you back? Let’s get connected!! Ju 🌟🌟🌟
November 27, 2024 at 3:48 PM
Hello! I am looking for all of the people on Bluesky who oppose NHS privatisation! If that’s you, please could you repost this and follow me, and I’ll follow you back? Let’s get connected!! Ju 🌟🌟🌟
Reposted by Simon Brignell
Today, we handed in a letter to the Prime Minister. It calls on the government to end its reckless escalation in Ukraine and withdraw the use of British Storm Shadow missiles. We need peace talks now. Leaders must step back from the nuclear brink.
November 26, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Today, we handed in a letter to the Prime Minister. It calls on the government to end its reckless escalation in Ukraine and withdraw the use of British Storm Shadow missiles. We need peace talks now. Leaders must step back from the nuclear brink.