Tom Railton
@tomrailton.bsky.social
Head of Comms and Politics at Prospect union. Mainly politics and Newcastle United on here.
Exactly. What does she think the 'bread' in the phrase 'bread and circuses' is referring to?
Also the Romans literally had a welfare system that included cash transfers for poor children. (And subsidised grain for low income workers...).
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
November 28, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Exactly. What does she think the 'bread' in the phrase 'bread and circuses' is referring to?
Reposted by Tom Railton
'Unions secured stronger rights by returning to the negotiating table — delivering real protections for workers now' says Mike Clancy of @prospectunion.bsky.social
‘To deliver day-one rights, unions like mine chose strategy over stalemate’ – LabourList
Perhaps the strangest perception of trade unions that exists in the modern media landscape is that we are people who hate to negotiate. I have…
labourlist.org
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
'Unions secured stronger rights by returning to the negotiating table — delivering real protections for workers now' says Mike Clancy of @prospectunion.bsky.social
This is a completely pointless thing to poll. You could have put 96% instead of 6% and got broadly similar results.
With Rachel Reeves reportedly set to apply a new tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, most Britons support such a move at the previously mooted level of 6%
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%
yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...
November 25, 2025 at 1:16 AM
This is a completely pointless thing to poll. You could have put 96% instead of 6% and got broadly similar results.
Is there a clearer example of how broken our politics is than this?
Snap polls on Budget leaks that most of the public have not been following.
This tells you literally nothing about how popular the govt is going to be in 2029 and even less about what the right choice for the country is.
Snap polls on Budget leaks that most of the public have not been following.
This tells you literally nothing about how popular the govt is going to be in 2029 and even less about what the right choice for the country is.
Do you think the government was right or wrong to decide not to raise income tax at the Budget?
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
November 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Is there a clearer example of how broken our politics is than this?
Snap polls on Budget leaks that most of the public have not been following.
This tells you literally nothing about how popular the govt is going to be in 2029 and even less about what the right choice for the country is.
Snap polls on Budget leaks that most of the public have not been following.
This tells you literally nothing about how popular the govt is going to be in 2029 and even less about what the right choice for the country is.
Reposted by Tom Railton
We’ve written to the Culture Secretary & Chair of the BBC Board, calling for Robbie Gibb’s removal from the board. Many BBC staff are concerned that he is a block to the BBC maintaining its chartered objective of independence. Read more here: bectu.org.uk/news/bectu-c...
Bectu calls for removal of Robbie Gibb from BBC Board
Following the resignation of Tim Davie from the BBC, Bectu has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and...
bectu.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 11:02 AM
We’ve written to the Culture Secretary & Chair of the BBC Board, calling for Robbie Gibb’s removal from the board. Many BBC staff are concerned that he is a block to the BBC maintaining its chartered objective of independence. Read more here: bectu.org.uk/news/bectu-c...
Reposted by Tom Railton
NEW: The biggest union in the BBC, Bectu, has written to culture secretary Lisa Nandy and BBC chair Samir Shah, demanding the removal of Robbie Gibb from the BBC Board.
They say Gibb, a political appointee, is a “direct block to the BBC maintaining its chartered objective of independence”.
They say Gibb, a political appointee, is a “direct block to the BBC maintaining its chartered objective of independence”.
November 14, 2025 at 9:24 AM
NEW: The biggest union in the BBC, Bectu, has written to culture secretary Lisa Nandy and BBC chair Samir Shah, demanding the removal of Robbie Gibb from the BBC Board.
They say Gibb, a political appointee, is a “direct block to the BBC maintaining its chartered objective of independence”.
They say Gibb, a political appointee, is a “direct block to the BBC maintaining its chartered objective of independence”.
Reposted by Tom Railton
...in which I pull together all the most noteworthy aspects of Sir Robbie Gibb's tangled life at the intersection of politics and journalism.
November 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM
...in which I pull together all the most noteworthy aspects of Sir Robbie Gibb's tangled life at the intersection of politics and journalism.
Reposted by Tom Railton
🚨 Prospect warns that Reform's plan to shift public sector pensions from defined benefit to defined contribution for new entrants could end up costing taxpayers tens of billions rather than saving money.
Read more in @theguardian.com
Read more in @theguardian.com
Reform’s public-sector pensions plan could cost billions extra, union warns
Prospect says proposals to make payouts less generous would damage public finances rather than save money
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:06 PM
🚨 Prospect warns that Reform's plan to shift public sector pensions from defined benefit to defined contribution for new entrants could end up costing taxpayers tens of billions rather than saving money.
Read more in @theguardian.com
Read more in @theguardian.com
Reposted by Tom Railton
Hadn’t, in truth, really absorbed the scale of what the Conservatives are proposing on ILR and immigration more broadly until this week’s Sunday Times interviews. Some thoughts on that in today’s note:
Tory deportation plan would upend Britain
Proposing such a radical bill with little public support is a gift to Nigel Farage
www.ft.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Hadn’t, in truth, really absorbed the scale of what the Conservatives are proposing on ILR and immigration more broadly until this week’s Sunday Times interviews. Some thoughts on that in today’s note:
The idea that British football in the 1980s was a safe space for Jews (let alone any other minority or, you know, women) is utterly insane.
Jenrick casting 1980s British football hooliganism as something that was easily dealt with by police and not an era defining issue which we're still living with the consequences of today... He's genuinely the most unserious person in British politics rn
October 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The idea that British football in the 1980s was a safe space for Jews (let alone any other minority or, you know, women) is utterly insane.
Also, call me crazy, but I remember a time when Conservatives were somewhat against the 'collapse of the old order'
October 7, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Also, call me crazy, but I remember a time when Conservatives were somewhat against the 'collapse of the old order'
Reposted by Tom Railton
Has Labour learned anything from Remain?
The government actually has to make a case for the things it believes — or risk proving the populists right.
✍️ www.linestotake.com/p/has-labour...
My newsletter, out now.
The government actually has to make a case for the things it believes — or risk proving the populists right.
✍️ www.linestotake.com/p/has-labour...
My newsletter, out now.
October 6, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Has Labour learned anything from Remain?
The government actually has to make a case for the things it believes — or risk proving the populists right.
✍️ www.linestotake.com/p/has-labour...
My newsletter, out now.
The government actually has to make a case for the things it believes — or risk proving the populists right.
✍️ www.linestotake.com/p/has-labour...
My newsletter, out now.
Give it Ange til the end of the... Republic
French prime ministers resigns three weeks after appointment on.ft.com/4pXeLDS
French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu resigns
Macron ally was appointed just three weeks ago
on.ft.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Give it Ange til the end of the... Republic
Doh-ge
*gasp*
October 5, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Doh-ge
At least our freedom wouldn't be compromised by ID cards though...
Otherwise the plan would be this. All UK citizens, all legal permanent residents, all legal visa holders & all tourists would need to provide facial ID to the government.
And the facial recognition system would need a zero % false positive rate. And then you simply flag anyone not in the system 3/n
And the facial recognition system would need a zero % false positive rate. And then you simply flag anyone not in the system 3/n
October 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
At least our freedom wouldn't be compromised by ID cards though...
Reposted by Tom Railton
Indeed, it really is ridiculous how much it needs restating that it is the cost of living and services that are central here. This is why these voters elected Labour; it’s why they’re pissed off.
October 5, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Indeed, it really is ridiculous how much it needs restating that it is the cost of living and services that are central here. This is why these voters elected Labour; it’s why they’re pissed off.
Reposted by Tom Railton
🚨 Prospect condemns Arron Banks’ violent remarks about civil servants.
It isn't surprising that someone like Banks who has no understanding of the complexity of government wants to see civil service job cuts, but it's shocking that anyone in politics would use such language.
It isn't surprising that someone like Banks who has no understanding of the complexity of government wants to see civil service job cuts, but it's shocking that anyone in politics would use such language.
September 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
🚨 Prospect condemns Arron Banks’ violent remarks about civil servants.
It isn't surprising that someone like Banks who has no understanding of the complexity of government wants to see civil service job cuts, but it's shocking that anyone in politics would use such language.
It isn't surprising that someone like Banks who has no understanding of the complexity of government wants to see civil service job cuts, but it's shocking that anyone in politics would use such language.
Reposted by Tom Railton
Retrospectively removing indefinite leave to remain would be immoral and economically damaging. It would tear families apart.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
September 22, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Retrospectively removing indefinite leave to remain would be immoral and economically damaging. It would tear families apart.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
Game plan was clearly to keep it tight and try and nick a goal. Did the first part pretty well. Very very unlucky not to get a pen for a smash and grab.
Given the rotation, fwds out, and our attack still clicking, it's a decent point.
Also great to see Botman and Hall back looking decent. #nufc
Given the rotation, fwds out, and our attack still clicking, it's a decent point.
Also great to see Botman and Hall back looking decent. #nufc
September 21, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Game plan was clearly to keep it tight and try and nick a goal. Did the first part pretty well. Very very unlucky not to get a pen for a smash and grab.
Given the rotation, fwds out, and our attack still clicking, it's a decent point.
Also great to see Botman and Hall back looking decent. #nufc
Given the rotation, fwds out, and our attack still clicking, it's a decent point.
Also great to see Botman and Hall back looking decent. #nufc
