touched1983.bsky.social
@touched1983.bsky.social
Reposted
You can learn more about build-to-rent and the role of institutional investors in the UK’s housing market at our website.

www.common-wealth.org/publications...
Open for Business or Up for Sale? Institutional Investors in the UK Real Estate Market
Institutional investor landlords are on the rise in the UK private rental sector. Their focus on profit maximisation threatens to exacerbate the housing crisis.
www.common-wealth.org
January 27, 2026 at 10:30 AM
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This week's column is about something that's arguably more important than anything in the news, crucial as some of the other issues are.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK government didn't want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I'm not surprised | George Monbiot
It took an FOI request to bring this national security assessment to light. For ‘doomsayers’ like us, it is the ultimate vindication, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:02 PM
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UK's Reform party is making me think twice about using the word "reform", which is a shame. Reform should not mean 'vandalise your country's national interest while pretending to be patriotic'.
January 26, 2026 at 5:22 PM
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Two things to learn from this.
1. The rightwing newspapers are lobby groups whose purpose is to advance the class interest of their proprietors.
2. Lobbyists for the rich and powerful lose their jobs if they are not prepared to lie.
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...
Analysis: UK newspaper editorial opposition to climate action overtakes support for first time - Carbon Brief
Nearly 100 UK newspaper editorials opposed climate action in 2025, a record figure that reveals the backlash against net-zero in the right-leaning press
www.carbonbrief.org
January 26, 2026 at 12:53 PM
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On Wed, 21st Jan, the Scotonomics podcast episode will feature Professor Danny Dorling @dannydorling.bsky.social
Primarily, we are online to discuss his latest book: The Next Crisis. Thoughts turn to the role of the mainstream economist. Danny's book: www.versobooks.com/en-gb/produc... 1/4
The Next Crisis
Every month, surveys around the world ask people to tell them what they are really thinking. The results are at times reassuring, some-times chilling and often unexpected. In The Next Crisis, leading ...
www.versobooks.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:55 AM
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Awaiting the next crash.

Capital requirements for UK banks to be lowered.

Safety buffers reduced as govt appeases the finance lobby.

Practical effect will be higher dividends, rather than investment in the real economy.

Public purse will bailout banks. Profits privatised, losses see socialised.
The Bank of England’s capital mistake?
On 2 December 2025, the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee announced it would be lowering the capital requirement for UK banks. This column argues that higher macro-financial risk and sharply reduced fiscal capacity point to a need for higher rather than lower bank capital requirements. The most likely practical effect of this weakening of resilience will be higher payouts to bank shareholders, rather than increased lending to the real economy.
cepr.org
January 18, 2026 at 9:11 AM
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It is the source of so many of our evils: the astonishing concentration of wealth in the hands of a very few, and the immense political power that gives them. We cannot solve our problems until we tackle it.
This week's column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
At the root of all our problems stands one travesty: politicians’ surrender to the super-rich | George Monbiot
There are many excuses for failing to tax the ultra-wealthy. The truth is that governments don’t tackle the problem because they don’t want to, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:18 PM
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“We refuse to let this crisis disappear. No amount of blisters will stop us.” Giel Malual and John Kwai on the final leg of 730-mile “Long Walk to Freedom for Sudan” en route to Duncansby. So far, they’ve raised £73k to help Sudanese children displaced by conflict.

www.gofundme.com/f/the-long-w...
‘This is about hope for a generation’: South Sudan duo heading for Caithness on 730-mile fundraising walk
Two friends from South Sudan are walking the length of the British mainland, raising money to build a school in a refugee camp.
www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 9:50 AM
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One of the great moments in antifascist cinema history. Casablanca (1940). Patrons at Rick's Café drown out the Nazis marching song “Die Wacht am Rhein.” with a rousing “La Marseillaise”.
A scene in spirit for January 2026. (whatever the complexities of that French anthem today)
January 14, 2026 at 10:44 AM
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Iceland classifies the collapse of Atlantic Ocean current as a security risk

AMOC is also essential for marine life. The circulation carries nutrients, increases salinity, and brings oxygen to the deepest levels of the ocean.
www.seafoodsource.com/news/environ...
Iceland classifies the collapse of Atlantic Ocean current as a security risk
The Icelandic government has declared the possible collapse of a major Atlantic Ocean current (AMOC) a national security risk.
www.seafoodsource.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:18 PM
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Politicians are calling for a senior police officer to be sacked BECAUSE WEST MIDLANDS POLICE USED MICROSOFT CO-PILOT, WHICH WE'RE ALL BEING TOLD IS GREAT AND THE FUTURE. The same politicians who are gung-ho and balls deep for piping hot AI. There's your fucking story.
January 14, 2026 at 1:13 PM
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The Economic Case for UBI Just Got Stronger youtu.be/q1cx921XUwU?...
The Economic Case for UBI Just Got Stronger
YouTube video by Richard J Murphy
youtu.be
January 14, 2026 at 7:14 AM
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SETTING: SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE: We were hurtling towards climate chaos which ended up really hurting the economy. More info here: doi.org/10.1093/bios...
November 27, 2025 at 10:02 PM
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Any time a British right winger starts finger-wagging you about the hopes and dreams of poor benighted foreigners, you know it’s only a matter of time before we hurl those same people into national anarchy and warlordism, while we all have a big circle-jerk about how brave and righteous we are.
January 14, 2026 at 5:18 PM
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Number crunching: Individuals arrested within five days for suspected manslaughter after fire apparently related to building materials ripped through seven Hong Kong apartment blocks v individuals arrested over Grenfell

From the new Private Eye, out now.
December 11, 2025 at 11:47 AM
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I never really need an excuse to make my Black Pudding Meatballs – a deep love of mine – #RecipeOfTheDay, but since it does happen to be St Andrew’s Day, it felt like a particularly opportune moment! www.nigella.com/recipes/blac...
Black Pudding Meatballs
When I included these black pudding meatballs in Cook, Eat, Repeat, I thought they would be a niche choice, but I have been gratifyingly overwhelmed by the number of people who have made and loved the...
www.nigella.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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China has brought millions out of poverty. The US has not – by choice.

The UK is following the US model. Wealth concentrated in fewer hands. 24m can't attain minimum standard of living, real average wage unchanged since 2008, public services eroded, profiteering is rife.
China has brought millions out of poverty. The US has not – by choice
Despite the US’s economic success, income inequality remains breathtaking. But this is no glitch – it’s the system
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:50 AM
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The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
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Ultra-processed food (UPF) is linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body .

Increased risk of a dozen health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.

Companies know but inflict harms to boost profits. Need effective regulation.
Ultra-processed food linked to harm in every major human organ, study finds
World’s largest scientific review warns consumption of UPFs poses seismic threat to global health and wellbeing
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 AM
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I had a great conversation with the wonderful @zackpolanski.bsky.social on his podcast. Do please listen in. I don't think you'll have heard anything quite like it. And there's a LOT more here than the title suggests. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...
How Labour Negate Progressive Ideas Through ‘Divide and Rule’ | George Monbiot | Zack Polanski
Podcast Episode · Bold Politics with Zack Polanski · 19/11/2025 · 40m
podcasts.apple.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM
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France’s birds start to show signs of recovery after bee-harming pesticide ban
Every country should do and save the birds
But Trump say no - pesticide industry profit is all that matters
Despite US lost almost 3 billion insectivorous birds since 1970s
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
France’s birds start to show signs of recovery after bee-harming pesticide ban
Analysis shows small hike in populations of insect-eating species after 2018 ruling, but full recovery may take decades
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
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Rachel Reeves has already made a complete mess of her Budget, so I thought I should offer an alternative. This is the first part. There are several more to come. When the country's economy is failing, it's time to be radical. Nothing less will do. www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
The Alternative Budget 2025 – The Background
Rachel Reeves will be presenting her Budget on November 26, if the Labour government of which she is a part lasts that long. I will be commenting on that Budget on the day on BBC Radio 2, and elsewh...
www.taxresearch.org.uk
November 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM
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In 2023-24 HMRC issued 456 penalties to wealthy individuals for £5.8m, 25 prosecuted.

Tax scams designed by accountants, lawyers; five prosecutions in 2023-2024.

Govt taking powers to snoop on benefit claimants' bank accounts; mainly poor, old, sick. Nothing equivalent on tax abuse industry.
Nothing will change until the political system is freed from the clutches of corporations and the super-rich
The law is being used to enforce existing power structures for the benefit of the few
leftfootforward.org
November 16, 2025 at 9:40 AM