Reposted by Steve
"The SNP’s election pitch seems to be yes, we have a record of failure, but we are the least bad option. And for many voters that might just be enough," writes @chrismarshll.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
After nearly two decades in power, the SNP has embraced 'project fear'
The party which once decried ‘project fear’ during the independence referendum is now employing the same tactic to maint...
www.holyrood.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
"The SNP’s election pitch seems to be yes, we have a record of failure, but we are the least bad option. And for many voters that might just be enough," writes @chrismarshll.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
Reposted by Steve
This is clever briefing but not actually how OBR forecasts work.
The last pre-measures forecast, where this could have been true - was 31 Oct, 5 days before Chancellor's speech. Market determinants were also taken a month ago.
This suggest pulling back was the plan all along.
The last pre-measures forecast, where this could have been true - was 31 Oct, 5 days before Chancellor's speech. Market determinants were also taken a month ago.
This suggest pulling back was the plan all along.
The UK government ditched plans to raise income tax rates after an improved fiscal forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility, according to people familiar with the matter.
Follow our live blog for the latest: on.ft.com/4pc7LC1
Follow our live blog for the latest: on.ft.com/4pc7LC1
November 14, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This is clever briefing but not actually how OBR forecasts work.
The last pre-measures forecast, where this could have been true - was 31 Oct, 5 days before Chancellor's speech. Market determinants were also taken a month ago.
This suggest pulling back was the plan all along.
The last pre-measures forecast, where this could have been true - was 31 Oct, 5 days before Chancellor's speech. Market determinants were also taken a month ago.
This suggest pulling back was the plan all along.
Reposted by Steve
I also do think there is a rhetorical argument here as well.
Everyone is so fed up with the funk around the economy and society at the moment. A government willing to stand up and make a dramatic change would get a better (and a stress *better* not *good*) hearing on tax rises than one that fudges.
Everyone is so fed up with the funk around the economy and society at the moment. A government willing to stand up and make a dramatic change would get a better (and a stress *better* not *good*) hearing on tax rises than one that fudges.
Yes, I think this is what the “it’s smart not to do income tax” stuff is missing. If you remove salary sacrifice on someone’s pension contributions you are increasing their income tax! If you freeze thresholds you are increasing their income tax!
Issue for Labour now isn't whether they break their manifesto pledge on tax. It is whether they do so in a way which is blatant, honest but sustainable - or whether they do so by a myriad of complex and likely insufficient means whilst arguing they are not.
Imho, one seems more toxic than the other
Imho, one seems more toxic than the other
November 14, 2025 at 11:28 AM
I also do think there is a rhetorical argument here as well.
Everyone is so fed up with the funk around the economy and society at the moment. A government willing to stand up and make a dramatic change would get a better (and a stress *better* not *good*) hearing on tax rises than one that fudges.
Everyone is so fed up with the funk around the economy and society at the moment. A government willing to stand up and make a dramatic change would get a better (and a stress *better* not *good*) hearing on tax rises than one that fudges.
We should have some time, maybe a decade or so, where men are not allowed to be in charge of anything
"my least woke opinion is---"
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
November 14, 2025 at 11:29 AM
We should have some time, maybe a decade or so, where men are not allowed to be in charge of anything
Reposted by Steve
Ultimately it comes down to what you're going to say at the next election.
Would you rather say "we broke our pledge but at least things are better" or "everything's still shit but at least we kept our pledge"?
Would you rather say "we broke our pledge but at least things are better" or "everything's still shit but at least we kept our pledge"?
Too much analysis was still treating breaking the tax pledge as “just another unpopular decision” rather than recognising consequence of breaking a promise which defined an election for the public. If is correct the govt won’t now break it they may have avoided a deeply scarring loss of public trust
November 14, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Ultimately it comes down to what you're going to say at the next election.
Would you rather say "we broke our pledge but at least things are better" or "everything's still shit but at least we kept our pledge"?
Would you rather say "we broke our pledge but at least things are better" or "everything's still shit but at least we kept our pledge"?
Rachel Reeves’ all you can tax buffet
Yay, the even worse option of lots of small taxes upsetting noisy lobby groups.
Big scoop by my colleagues, this:
November 14, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Rachel Reeves’ all you can tax buffet
Reposted by Steve
There really is no word that says "strategic clarity" more than "smorgasbord".
November 14, 2025 at 7:14 AM
There really is no word that says "strategic clarity" more than "smorgasbord".
Rachel Reeves is going to deliver a budget written by Torsten Bell that will piss off so many people she’ll have to quit. And then guess who gets her job?
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Rachel Reeves is going to deliver a budget written by Torsten Bell that will piss off so many people she’ll have to quit. And then guess who gets her job?
Reposted by Steve
labour unveils 2029 manifesto title
“All pain, no gain,” says government source of extraordinary FT story that Reeves has abandoned income tax rise after weeks of pitch-rolling. www.ft.com/content/6cbb...
Starmer and Reeves ditch Budget plan to increase income tax rates
Chancellor explores alternative ways to raise revenue to fill fiscal hole estimated at up to £30bn
www.ft.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:14 AM
labour unveils 2029 manifesto title
Reposted by Steve
Gonna have to be fuel duty and the triple lock then
November 14, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Gonna have to be fuel duty and the triple lock then
I wonder which cohort is larger, regretful brexit voters or regretful Labour voters?
November 14, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I wonder which cohort is larger, regretful brexit voters or regretful Labour voters?
I just think they should seriously consider that “stop making mistakes” plan they were talking about a month or two ago.
Yay, the even worse option of lots of small taxes upsetting noisy lobby groups.
Big scoop by my colleagues, this:
November 13, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I just think they should seriously consider that “stop making mistakes” plan they were talking about a month or two ago.
Budget day will just be a list of 101 tax loopholes that Torsten Bell found each one raising an extra 27 pence
November 13, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Budget day will just be a list of 101 tax loopholes that Torsten Bell found each one raising an extra 27 pence
@josielong.bsky.social it’s on!!! bsky.app/profile/flyi...
Just imagine the Krakatoa of enraged, flailing bullshit we would get, if it looked like Ed was going to thrash Streeting in a leadership election.
November 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
@josielong.bsky.social it’s on!!! bsky.app/profile/flyi...
Reposted by Steve
100% right. There is so much about this whole BBC saga that is simply mad but Lewis is right that the Corporation now has the chance to take a stand for something important. It should take that opportunity.
Have written for the New Statesman about why, if he will not accept an apology, the BBC should welcome a Trump lawsuit. They should show guts and fight it because impartially matters and if they don't, they will have tacitly accepted a rewritten history.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
Trump's attack can rescue the BBC
The BBC should use the threat of legal action to strike a blow for press freedom
www.newstatesman.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:46 PM
100% right. There is so much about this whole BBC saga that is simply mad but Lewis is right that the Corporation now has the chance to take a stand for something important. It should take that opportunity.
Surely the only correct response to hearing that Wes Streeting is gunning for your job is a great big belly laugh?
November 11, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Surely the only correct response to hearing that Wes Streeting is gunning for your job is a great big belly laugh?
Reposted by Steve
[in mary poppins court]
clerk:call the witness for the prosecution
*spoonful of sugar walks in*
medicine: oh, shit
clerk:call the witness for the prosecution
*spoonful of sugar walks in*
medicine: oh, shit
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
[in mary poppins court]
clerk:call the witness for the prosecution
*spoonful of sugar walks in*
medicine: oh, shit
clerk:call the witness for the prosecution
*spoonful of sugar walks in*
medicine: oh, shit
Reposted by Steve
“Households hit by the two child limit” and “households who will be disproportionately hit by taxing salary sacrifice” are both “Labour 2024” voters. Keir Starmer managed to get “the dream electoral coalition for Blairism” but he is too embarrassed by success to govern for and with it.
November 11, 2025 at 5:58 PM
“Households hit by the two child limit” and “households who will be disproportionately hit by taxing salary sacrifice” are both “Labour 2024” voters. Keir Starmer managed to get “the dream electoral coalition for Blairism” but he is too embarrassed by success to govern for and with it.
Reposted by Steve
The worst you can accuse Panorama of doing is making a misleading edit – and I’d dispute that! – to make *a point that was true*.
The programme aired without anyone seeing any issues with the edit. It was on iPlayer for a year without complaints. Donald Trump *did* incite Jan 6th.
The programme aired without anyone seeing any issues with the edit. It was on iPlayer for a year without complaints. Donald Trump *did* incite Jan 6th.
Tory culture spox demanding the BBC "grovel" to Trump is baffling. Who is this supposed to chime with?
Just a bizarre line that no one who doesn't use X would ever think.
Just a bizarre line that no one who doesn't use X would ever think.
November 11, 2025 at 8:54 AM
The worst you can accuse Panorama of doing is making a misleading edit – and I’d dispute that! – to make *a point that was true*.
The programme aired without anyone seeing any issues with the edit. It was on iPlayer for a year without complaints. Donald Trump *did* incite Jan 6th.
The programme aired without anyone seeing any issues with the edit. It was on iPlayer for a year without complaints. Donald Trump *did* incite Jan 6th.
Reposted by Steve
Interesting
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Interesting
Reposted by Steve
If only the BBC hadn’t spent years alienating all the people who might care to leap to its defence now…
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
If only the BBC hadn’t spent years alienating all the people who might care to leap to its defence now…
Reposted by Steve
I am watching a lot of ITVx at the moment because I’m binging Fringe but my god TV adverts are offensively awful.
youtu.be/9h9wStdPkQY?...
youtu.be/9h9wStdPkQY?...
Bill Hicks on "Marketing" (Explicit Language)
YouTube video by RunChatLive
youtu.be
November 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
I am watching a lot of ITVx at the moment because I’m binging Fringe but my god TV adverts are offensively awful.
youtu.be/9h9wStdPkQY?...
youtu.be/9h9wStdPkQY?...
Reposted by Steve
I hate autumn. I hate it more than any other season. At least with winter you know to whack on that Michelin man coat and moisturise like fuck. With autumn you might be too hot. But you might be freezing cold. You'll probably get soaked. And pumpkin spice tastes awful AND STINKS.
September 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
I hate autumn. I hate it more than any other season. At least with winter you know to whack on that Michelin man coat and moisturise like fuck. With autumn you might be too hot. But you might be freezing cold. You'll probably get soaked. And pumpkin spice tastes awful AND STINKS.