Tracy
@tpine99.bsky.social
Keen interest in politics (keeping Tories/Reform the hell out of govt!), animal welfare, nature, Welsh rugby union, gardening.
Reposted by Tracy
Excellent episode, really worth a listen.
“We need a Jonathan Powell in Downing Street.”
“He never spoke to journalists.”
@jonsopel1.bsky.social asks Lord David Blunkett about claims by some that Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, has been briefing journalists against the PM’s wishes.
“He never spoke to journalists.”
@jonsopel1.bsky.social asks Lord David Blunkett about claims by some that Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, has been briefing journalists against the PM’s wishes.
November 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Excellent episode, really worth a listen.
Reposted by Tracy
I disagree here. I argued when Johnson was in power that we didn't have to respond to every fire being lit in Number 10, & we don't have to be blown around by every gust today. Indeed, the frenzy of briefing & whatsapp-journalism makes it more urgent to filter out the noise & do analysis more slowly
November 14, 2025 at 11:15 AM
I disagree here. I argued when Johnson was in power that we didn't have to respond to every fire being lit in Number 10, & we don't have to be blown around by every gust today. Indeed, the frenzy of briefing & whatsapp-journalism makes it more urgent to filter out the noise & do analysis more slowly
Reposted by Tracy
The issue is less the reporting than the volume of comment & analysis dedicated to every breath of speculation - esp. as we'll leap straight after the budget to "what does this mean for the polls/the next budget".It gets hard to differentiate what might happen from what did happen. That's a problem.
November 14, 2025 at 11:32 AM
The issue is less the reporting than the volume of comment & analysis dedicated to every breath of speculation - esp. as we'll leap straight after the budget to "what does this mean for the polls/the next budget".It gets hard to differentiate what might happen from what did happen. That's a problem.
Reposted by Tracy
It’s one thing to argue about what the budget *should* do: that’s part of our role as democratic citizens.
But the constant “what does this mean for the government” analysis could probably wait until we know what they’ve actually chosen to do.
But the constant “what does this mean for the government” analysis could probably wait until we know what they’ve actually chosen to do.
November 14, 2025 at 9:56 AM
It’s one thing to argue about what the budget *should* do: that’s part of our role as democratic citizens.
But the constant “what does this mean for the government” analysis could probably wait until we know what they’ve actually chosen to do.
But the constant “what does this mean for the government” analysis could probably wait until we know what they’ve actually chosen to do.
Reposted by Tracy
This is probably a crazy idea, but wouldn't it be better to react to the *actual* budget, rather than to every leak and piece of speculation in the months beforehand?
November 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
This is probably a crazy idea, but wouldn't it be better to react to the *actual* budget, rather than to every leak and piece of speculation in the months beforehand?
Reposted by Tracy
Farage earns more than any other MP for NOT being an MP. He says it’s “obviously sad” that part of his constituency is the most deprived area in England.
But everything he’s ever done, said and wanted has made sure of it.
This is the whole country if he gets into power.
(Private Eye)
But everything he’s ever done, said and wanted has made sure of it.
This is the whole country if he gets into power.
(Private Eye)
November 14, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Farage earns more than any other MP for NOT being an MP. He says it’s “obviously sad” that part of his constituency is the most deprived area in England.
But everything he’s ever done, said and wanted has made sure of it.
This is the whole country if he gets into power.
(Private Eye)
But everything he’s ever done, said and wanted has made sure of it.
This is the whole country if he gets into power.
(Private Eye)
Reposted by Tracy
@danneidle.bsky.social and the team at Tax Policy Associates have been sharing their attached calculator - and it is a fantastic piece of work.
Having had a look at what a 2p increase in taxes would mean for my own income, it is, honestly, minimal and easily absorbable on a monthly basis.
Having had a look at what a 2p increase in taxes would mean for my own income, it is, honestly, minimal and easily absorbable on a monthly basis.
UK Marginal Tax Rate Dashboard
taxpolicy.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
@danneidle.bsky.social and the team at Tax Policy Associates have been sharing their attached calculator - and it is a fantastic piece of work.
Having had a look at what a 2p increase in taxes would mean for my own income, it is, honestly, minimal and easily absorbable on a monthly basis.
Having had a look at what a 2p increase in taxes would mean for my own income, it is, honestly, minimal and easily absorbable on a monthly basis.
Reposted by Tracy
It's really a genuinely good way of visualising and understanding what the actual impact will be on your actual income without the fear mongering that we've seen doing the rounds.
Really, really good work.
Really, really good work.
November 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It's really a genuinely good way of visualising and understanding what the actual impact will be on your actual income without the fear mongering that we've seen doing the rounds.
Really, really good work.
Really, really good work.
Reposted by Tracy
"But we must compete with the oth-"
That's just it. You don't. You are THE public broadcaster. No other body shares your mission. Why add to the noise?
The BBC has an opportunity to say "you've heard all the breathless gossip - tune in at 6pm for the facts". To bring light rather than heat.
That's just it. You don't. You are THE public broadcaster. No other body shares your mission. Why add to the noise?
The BBC has an opportunity to say "you've heard all the breathless gossip - tune in at 6pm for the facts". To bring light rather than heat.
November 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM
"But we must compete with the oth-"
That's just it. You don't. You are THE public broadcaster. No other body shares your mission. Why add to the noise?
The BBC has an opportunity to say "you've heard all the breathless gossip - tune in at 6pm for the facts". To bring light rather than heat.
That's just it. You don't. You are THE public broadcaster. No other body shares your mission. Why add to the noise?
The BBC has an opportunity to say "you've heard all the breathless gossip - tune in at 6pm for the facts". To bring light rather than heat.
Reposted by Tracy
🔴Reform Councillor Accused of Flouting Transparency Rules After Refusing to Declare His Company
Councillor in flagship Reform council failed to register his firm, or respond to questions about it from his constituent, prompting a formal complaint
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/13/r...
Councillor in flagship Reform council failed to register his firm, or respond to questions about it from his constituent, prompting a formal complaint
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/13/r...
Reform Councillor Accused of Flouting Transparency Rules After Refusing to Declare His Company
Councillor in flagship Reform council failed to name his firm on his register of interests, or respond to questions about it from his constituent, prompting a formal complaint
bylinetimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:06 AM
🔴Reform Councillor Accused of Flouting Transparency Rules After Refusing to Declare His Company
Councillor in flagship Reform council failed to register his firm, or respond to questions about it from his constituent, prompting a formal complaint
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/13/r...
Councillor in flagship Reform council failed to register his firm, or respond to questions about it from his constituent, prompting a formal complaint
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/13/r...
Reposted by Tracy
Finally. A pointless post that in the past was adequately dealt with by councillors. Created by Conservatives because it was the only way they could win elections, on a micro-turnout where no one cared about the outcome.
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Finally. A pointless post that in the past was adequately dealt with by councillors. Created by Conservatives because it was the only way they could win elections, on a micro-turnout where no one cared about the outcome.
Reposted by Tracy
Von der Leyen and Starmer had a phone call last night reaffirming their desire to begin negotiations on the SPS and ETS agreements.
A reminder that an SPS agreement will lower the cost of your weekly shop!
https://bit.ly/4hXZIpR
A reminder that an SPS agreement will lower the cost of your weekly shop!
https://bit.ly/4hXZIpR
Starmer and Von der Leyen agree on need for rapid progress on Brexit reset deal
They agreed formal talks would begin on food and drink and emissions trading deals.
www.standard.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Von der Leyen and Starmer had a phone call last night reaffirming their desire to begin negotiations on the SPS and ETS agreements.
A reminder that an SPS agreement will lower the cost of your weekly shop!
https://bit.ly/4hXZIpR
A reminder that an SPS agreement will lower the cost of your weekly shop!
https://bit.ly/4hXZIpR
Reposted by Tracy
In the same week a news hurricane engulfs the BBC in the UK, the NYT: hold my beer.
To be fair, I believe the NYT deserves a shitstorm: it does brilliant journalism. It’s also untransparent & unaccountable
To be fair, I believe the NYT deserves a shitstorm: it does brilliant journalism. It’s also untransparent & unaccountable
To recap: Jeffrey Epstein offered a NY Times reporter photos taken in Epstein's kitchen of Donald Trump and girls in bikinis *and* implored the NYT reporter to put this information in the public discourse in 2015
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
“would you like photos of donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen?” -Jeffrey Epstein
November 13, 2025 at 9:56 AM
In the same week a news hurricane engulfs the BBC in the UK, the NYT: hold my beer.
To be fair, I believe the NYT deserves a shitstorm: it does brilliant journalism. It’s also untransparent & unaccountable
To be fair, I believe the NYT deserves a shitstorm: it does brilliant journalism. It’s also untransparent & unaccountable
Reposted by Tracy
"I have met some very bad people....none as bad as trump.
Not one decent cell in his body..so yes - dangerous."
Jeffrey Epstein 2017
Not one decent cell in his body..so yes - dangerous."
Jeffrey Epstein 2017
November 13, 2025 at 9:23 AM
"I have met some very bad people....none as bad as trump.
Not one decent cell in his body..so yes - dangerous."
Jeffrey Epstein 2017
Not one decent cell in his body..so yes - dangerous."
Jeffrey Epstein 2017
Reposted by Tracy
Reform in Kent are “a threat to public safety”, the Fire Brigades Union said.
Reform haven’t signed off on fire brigade budgets, “failed to govern and lead the fire service” and haven’t even met with the fire service which is one of their responsibilities.
Reform haven’t signed off on fire brigade budgets, “failed to govern and lead the fire service” and haven’t even met with the fire service which is one of their responsibilities.
Reform leader branded “captain chaos” as Kent fire authority in disarray
The Fire Brigades Union has slammed the record of Reform’s ‘flagship council’ as it emerged that Kent and Medway Fire Authority was in disarray following the removal of five councillors, including its...
www.fbu.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reform in Kent are “a threat to public safety”, the Fire Brigades Union said.
Reform haven’t signed off on fire brigade budgets, “failed to govern and lead the fire service” and haven’t even met with the fire service which is one of their responsibilities.
Reform haven’t signed off on fire brigade budgets, “failed to govern and lead the fire service” and haven’t even met with the fire service which is one of their responsibilities.
Reposted by Tracy
These are the questions BBC staffers weren't allowed to ask the DG and Chair at yesterday's town hall meeting. Spot a pattern?
November 12, 2025 at 2:42 PM
These are the questions BBC staffers weren't allowed to ask the DG and Chair at yesterday's town hall meeting. Spot a pattern?
Reposted by Tracy
@mrjamesob.bsky.social
you need to do more to share what Labour do.
The work they are doing is transformational & is setting up the foundations up for a much better future.
Yet you do tend to be negative & rarely focus on the positives.
Let's see more shows looking at policy not personality.
you need to do more to share what Labour do.
The work they are doing is transformational & is setting up the foundations up for a much better future.
Yet you do tend to be negative & rarely focus on the positives.
Let's see more shows looking at policy not personality.
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
@mrjamesob.bsky.social
you need to do more to share what Labour do.
The work they are doing is transformational & is setting up the foundations up for a much better future.
Yet you do tend to be negative & rarely focus on the positives.
Let's see more shows looking at policy not personality.
you need to do more to share what Labour do.
The work they are doing is transformational & is setting up the foundations up for a much better future.
Yet you do tend to be negative & rarely focus on the positives.
Let's see more shows looking at policy not personality.
Reposted by Tracy
This was a December ritual for us - get your kid involved in choosing what goes, and explain what you’re doing (in a believer-appropriate way obvs…)
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This was a December ritual for us - get your kid involved in choosing what goes, and explain what you’re doing (in a believer-appropriate way obvs…)
Reposted by Tracy
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
The Telegraph’s BBC hypocrisy
A paper that knows a thing or two about editorial f*ck-ups...
writesbright.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Reposted by Tracy
The Telegraph routinely spreads myths about a range of subjects - especially climate change.
It has been forced to publish over 100 corrections this year so far.
Yet it has the gall to lecture the BBC - and whip up a national panic - about journalistic standards
It has been forced to publish over 100 corrections this year so far.
Yet it has the gall to lecture the BBC - and whip up a national panic - about journalistic standards
The Telegraph’s Record of Climate Falsehoods
The Telegraph, which has accused the BBC of bias and a lack of editorial rigour, has been forced to amend a swathe of climate inaccuracies. The BBC’s director-general and CEO resigned this weekend aft...
www.desmog.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The Telegraph routinely spreads myths about a range of subjects - especially climate change.
It has been forced to publish over 100 corrections this year so far.
Yet it has the gall to lecture the BBC - and whip up a national panic - about journalistic standards
It has been forced to publish over 100 corrections this year so far.
Yet it has the gall to lecture the BBC - and whip up a national panic - about journalistic standards
Reposted by Tracy
"To ensure the BBC’s independence, impartiality and trust, Robbie Gibb should have no role in appointing the new director general"
Good call by @eddavey.libdems.org.uk:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Good call by @eddavey.libdems.org.uk:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The first step towards saving our precious BBC: remove Robbie Gibb from the board | Ed Davey
The BBC belongs to all of us, and it is under attack as never before. The government must defend it from its enemies, within and without, says Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
"To ensure the BBC’s independence, impartiality and trust, Robbie Gibb should have no role in appointing the new director general"
Good call by @eddavey.libdems.org.uk:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Good call by @eddavey.libdems.org.uk:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Tracy
There was a time when I'd have cared deeply about the BBC.
But they adopted a deliberate policy of kowtowing to the right, backing away from every fight, believing compliance would protect the license fee, and the right would leave them alone.
Stand up to bullies, or get knocked down by reality.
But they adopted a deliberate policy of kowtowing to the right, backing away from every fight, believing compliance would protect the license fee, and the right would leave them alone.
Stand up to bullies, or get knocked down by reality.
November 10, 2025 at 5:34 PM
There was a time when I'd have cared deeply about the BBC.
But they adopted a deliberate policy of kowtowing to the right, backing away from every fight, believing compliance would protect the license fee, and the right would leave them alone.
Stand up to bullies, or get knocked down by reality.
But they adopted a deliberate policy of kowtowing to the right, backing away from every fight, believing compliance would protect the license fee, and the right would leave them alone.
Stand up to bullies, or get knocked down by reality.
Reposted by Tracy
I don't often call for resignations. But Sir Robbie Gibb's role in the BBC boardroom coup makes his continued role there untenable. He must resign or be removed
‘Gibb’s supporters say he is trying to save the BBC from itself; he was also heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way, he would “blow the place up”.’
“a group of politically-appointed directors has forced the hand of Samir Shah,the chair, and the departure of the two most senior people in the organisation. Their resignations should be called out for what they are: political interference..”1/
November 10, 2025 at 12:24 PM
I don't often call for resignations. But Sir Robbie Gibb's role in the BBC boardroom coup makes his continued role there untenable. He must resign or be removed
Reposted by Tracy
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
November 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
Reposted by Tracy
O2's putting prices up more than it said it would when people signed up. It makes a mockery of Ofcom’s rules. You’ve a right to leave penalty free within 30 days of notification! Here’s how to save large!
For more watch the full Martin Lewis Money Show at ITVX
For more watch the full Martin Lewis Money Show at ITVX
November 10, 2025 at 10:04 AM
O2's putting prices up more than it said it would when people signed up. It makes a mockery of Ofcom’s rules. You’ve a right to leave penalty free within 30 days of notification! Here’s how to save large!
For more watch the full Martin Lewis Money Show at ITVX
For more watch the full Martin Lewis Money Show at ITVX