Natasha Davies
@daviesna2.bsky.social
Policy & public affairs bod. Geek, feminist, rugby fan, love to socialise & enjoy a rant. Views my own, obvs
A sign of some much needed sense from the UK Government finally, perhaps?
Shame the same caution and focus on getting things right, and quite frankly fair and proportionate, was not on show immediately after the court ruling. Which has been wilfully over interpreted by too many
Shame the same caution and focus on getting things right, and quite frankly fair and proportionate, was not on show immediately after the court ruling. Which has been wilfully over interpreted by too many
Calls to hurry up bringing in new guidance on transgender people’s use of certain spaces has been rejected by a women and equalities minister, who argued the need to “get it right” rather than introducing it in “an untimely fashion”
Minister warns over introducing trans rules in ‘untimely fashion’, amid row
Calls to hurry up bringing in new guidance on transgender people’s use of certain spaces has been rejected by a women and equalities minister, who argued the need to “get it right” rather than introdu...
nation.cymru
November 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A sign of some much needed sense from the UK Government finally, perhaps?
Shame the same caution and focus on getting things right, and quite frankly fair and proportionate, was not on show immediately after the court ruling. Which has been wilfully over interpreted by too many
Shame the same caution and focus on getting things right, and quite frankly fair and proportionate, was not on show immediately after the court ruling. Which has been wilfully over interpreted by too many
Very useful headline analysis from @waleswbg.bsky.social of today's detailed Welsh Government budget proposals.
Big risks ahead without some significant effort to protect public services 👇
Big risks ahead without some significant effort to protect public services 👇
Investing in women means investing in public services.
Read our response to today's detailed Draft Budget to learn why 2% inflationary uplifts fall short of what is required to support women in Wales 👇
wwbg.org.uk/wwbg-respond...
Read our response to today's detailed Draft Budget to learn why 2% inflationary uplifts fall short of what is required to support women in Wales 👇
wwbg.org.uk/wwbg-respond...
WWBG responds to the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget 2026-27 - Wales Women's Budget Group
WWBG and WEN Wales warn that 2% inflationary uplifts fall short and urge the Welsh Government to use remaining unallocated funding to protect women and public services in Wales. Today’s detailed Draft...
wwbg.org.uk
November 3, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Very useful headline analysis from @waleswbg.bsky.social of today's detailed Welsh Government budget proposals.
Big risks ahead without some significant effort to protect public services 👇
Big risks ahead without some significant effort to protect public services 👇
Reposted by Natasha Davies
I see quite a lot of "Reform getting 36% from a standing start is remarkable" and feel I need to point out that it the "standing start" narrative is basically a Reform talking point and needs to be treated with care. It's a consolidation of left and right, in a smart, strategic way.
October 24, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I see quite a lot of "Reform getting 36% from a standing start is remarkable" and feel I need to point out that it the "standing start" narrative is basically a Reform talking point and needs to be treated with care. It's a consolidation of left and right, in a smart, strategic way.
So it would seem the best way to beat Reform, is to actually challenge Reform. On their rhetoric, their policies and their values.
Who could have guessed 🤷🏼♀️
Who could have guessed 🤷🏼♀️
October 24, 2025 at 8:17 AM
So it would seem the best way to beat Reform, is to actually challenge Reform. On their rhetoric, their policies and their values.
Who could have guessed 🤷🏼♀️
Who could have guessed 🤷🏼♀️
As always a a great listen, and articulates well why I've been feeling uncomfortable with the ID card announcement despite probably being broadly in favour of the principle
🆕 Sunday School: Identity Politics 🪪
🌹 Digital ID & Labour Conference
🇺🇸 White House pivots on Ukraine & Gaza
🎒Why Youth Mobility matters
@sturdyalex.bsky.social & @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social are your Sunday treat.
🍊 open.spotify.com/episode/0BRv...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
🌹 Digital ID & Labour Conference
🇺🇸 White House pivots on Ukraine & Gaza
🎒Why Youth Mobility matters
@sturdyalex.bsky.social & @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social are your Sunday treat.
🍊 open.spotify.com/episode/0BRv...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
Sunday School: Identity Politics
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 28/09/2025 · 58m
podcasts.apple.com
September 28, 2025 at 10:57 AM
As always a a great listen, and articulates well why I've been feeling uncomfortable with the ID card announcement despite probably being broadly in favour of the principle
An important debate in the Senedd yesterday courtesy of Mark Isherwood MS.
Our palliative and end of life care system is at breaking point. This is not a sustainable position for our hospice services to be operating within.
Our palliative and end of life care system is at breaking point. This is not a sustainable position for our hospice services to be operating within.
Hospices are facing an “unsustainable” financial crisis due to rising costs and falling income, forcing them to close beds and cut vital end-of-life services, a Senedd member warned
Hospices facing ‘unsustainable’ financial crisis
Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Hospices are facing an “unsustainable” financial crisis due to rising costs and falling income, forcing them to close beds and cut vital end-of-life services, a Sene...
nation.cymru
September 25, 2025 at 9:31 AM
An important debate in the Senedd yesterday courtesy of Mark Isherwood MS.
Our palliative and end of life care system is at breaking point. This is not a sustainable position for our hospice services to be operating within.
Our palliative and end of life care system is at breaking point. This is not a sustainable position for our hospice services to be operating within.
Reposted by Natasha Davies
Every election is a sort of collective entrance exam into the future. It occasionally happens that populations fail the exam.
But for the US to fail essentially a resit of its 2016 exam, featuring the same questions, having studied the answers for eight years, is much rarer and pretty unforgivable.
But for the US to fail essentially a resit of its 2016 exam, featuring the same questions, having studied the answers for eight years, is much rarer and pretty unforgivable.
September 23, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Every election is a sort of collective entrance exam into the future. It occasionally happens that populations fail the exam.
But for the US to fail essentially a resit of its 2016 exam, featuring the same questions, having studied the answers for eight years, is much rarer and pretty unforgivable.
But for the US to fail essentially a resit of its 2016 exam, featuring the same questions, having studied the answers for eight years, is much rarer and pretty unforgivable.
Why is the whole of central Cardiff currently a building site?! Honestly it's making getting around an absolute nightmare 😭
September 23, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Why is the whole of central Cardiff currently a building site?! Honestly it's making getting around an absolute nightmare 😭
Reposted by Natasha Davies
In Wales, the gender wealth gap stands at 23%
Why do men hold more wealth than women & how could a UK wealth tax help address this?
Join us to unpack this issue with @fmohiuddin.bsky.social @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social in Episode 1 of our new podcast, WWBG Explains🎙️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMP8...
Why do men hold more wealth than women & how could a UK wealth tax help address this?
Join us to unpack this issue with @fmohiuddin.bsky.social @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social in Episode 1 of our new podcast, WWBG Explains🎙️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMP8...
WWBG Explains Ep 1 - Wealth Tax and the Gender Wealth Gap in Wales
YouTube video by Wales Women's Budget Group WWBG
www.youtube.com
September 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
In Wales, the gender wealth gap stands at 23%
Why do men hold more wealth than women & how could a UK wealth tax help address this?
Join us to unpack this issue with @fmohiuddin.bsky.social @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social in Episode 1 of our new podcast, WWBG Explains🎙️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMP8...
Why do men hold more wealth than women & how could a UK wealth tax help address this?
Join us to unpack this issue with @fmohiuddin.bsky.social @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social in Episode 1 of our new podcast, WWBG Explains🎙️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMP8...
Reposted by Natasha Davies
This is terrifying.
👉 Half of NGOs and charities supporting refugees have faced threats
👉 Some heads of the organisations have received “credible death threats”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/21/refugee-charities-install-safe-rooms-and-relocate-amid-rise-in-far-right-threats
👉 Half of NGOs and charities supporting refugees have faced threats
👉 Some heads of the organisations have received “credible death threats”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/21/refugee-charities-install-safe-rooms-and-relocate-amid-rise-in-far-right-threats
Refugee charities install safe rooms and relocate amid rise in far-right threats
Exclusive: One NGO placed on an online hitlist had to temporarily close its office owing to harassing phone calls
www.theguardian.com
August 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This is terrifying.
👉 Half of NGOs and charities supporting refugees have faced threats
👉 Some heads of the organisations have received “credible death threats”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/21/refugee-charities-install-safe-rooms-and-relocate-amid-rise-in-far-right-threats
👉 Half of NGOs and charities supporting refugees have faced threats
👉 Some heads of the organisations have received “credible death threats”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/21/refugee-charities-install-safe-rooms-and-relocate-amid-rise-in-far-right-threats
Reposted by Natasha Davies
Good on the Mirror for having the bravery to strike out against this bullshit
🚨An important reminder of the trauma faced by asylum seekers.
Not just in fleeing persecution abroad.
Not just in the perilous and desperate journey to these shores.
But by the hatred and vitriol put on them by the right wing in this country for callous political gain.
Not just in fleeing persecution abroad.
Not just in the perilous and desperate journey to these shores.
But by the hatred and vitriol put on them by the right wing in this country for callous political gain.
August 22, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Good on the Mirror for having the bravery to strike out against this bullshit
I've added my name to the below this morning. If you care about the erasure of trans rights. If you're angry about it being done under the guise of feminism consider adding your name too 👇
chng.it/VswFWG9F2k
chng.it/VswFWG9F2k
Not in our name: Women in support of the trans+ community
Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?
chng.it
August 9, 2025 at 10:30 AM
I've added my name to the below this morning. If you care about the erasure of trans rights. If you're angry about it being done under the guise of feminism consider adding your name too 👇
chng.it/VswFWG9F2k
chng.it/VswFWG9F2k
If the reporting on the forthcoming EHRC guidance following the supreme court judgement is true, it's an absolute disgrace.
If the UK Labour government accept the guidance, without question, it will be proof they have completely lost their soul.
If the UK Labour government accept the guidance, without question, it will be proof they have completely lost their soul.
August 9, 2025 at 10:01 AM
If the reporting on the forthcoming EHRC guidance following the supreme court judgement is true, it's an absolute disgrace.
If the UK Labour government accept the guidance, without question, it will be proof they have completely lost their soul.
If the UK Labour government accept the guidance, without question, it will be proof they have completely lost their soul.
Reposted by Natasha Davies
Labour lied
August 8, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Labour lied
Got to love sitting on hold for 20 mins to make a GP appointment only to be told that they can't make any appointments until next week. System being updated so is currently view only.
Would have been too difficult to put that info on the website or the pre-record message when you call i guess
Would have been too difficult to put that info on the website or the pre-record message when you call i guess
robert downey jr. is wearing a suit and tie and making a funny face .
ALT: robert downey jr. is wearing a suit and tie and making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
August 1, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Got to love sitting on hold for 20 mins to make a GP appointment only to be told that they can't make any appointments until next week. System being updated so is currently view only.
Would have been too difficult to put that info on the website or the pre-record message when you call i guess
Would have been too difficult to put that info on the website or the pre-record message when you call i guess
An absolute must read piece 👇
Those of us who care about trans rights, equality and basic decency need to be as loud and organised as the terfs and bigots have been in bringing us to this ridiculous state of affairs.
Those of us who care about trans rights, equality and basic decency need to be as loud and organised as the terfs and bigots have been in bringing us to this ridiculous state of affairs.
The trans rights stitch-up: How the government plans to silence parliamentary debate on the most far-reaching restriction of minority rights in our lifetime open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...
July 25, 2025 at 11:25 AM
An absolute must read piece 👇
Those of us who care about trans rights, equality and basic decency need to be as loud and organised as the terfs and bigots have been in bringing us to this ridiculous state of affairs.
Those of us who care about trans rights, equality and basic decency need to be as loud and organised as the terfs and bigots have been in bringing us to this ridiculous state of affairs.
Hey @cardiffcouncil.bsky.social it's really unhelpful to lock the gates to Bute Park when there's a cricket match on. Not for the first time many people find themselves stuck in the park and doubling back
July 18, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Hey @cardiffcouncil.bsky.social it's really unhelpful to lock the gates to Bute Park when there's a cricket match on. Not for the first time many people find themselves stuck in the park and doubling back
Getting irrationally angry at posts that don't note that the 10 year health plan being launched today by the UK Government is for England.
It's not difficult. The UK has 4 governments making decisions about 4 health services.
It's not difficult. The UK has 4 governments making decisions about 4 health services.
a cartoon character with an angry look on his face and the words freetopsticker below him
ALT: a cartoon character with an angry look on his face and the words freetopsticker below him
media.tenor.com
July 3, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Getting irrationally angry at posts that don't note that the 10 year health plan being launched today by the UK Government is for England.
It's not difficult. The UK has 4 governments making decisions about 4 health services.
It's not difficult. The UK has 4 governments making decisions about 4 health services.
Because the changes to PiP, that would have pushed 250,000 people into poverty wouldn't have also impacted child poverty levels?! Child poverty does not exist in a vacuum.
If this is the level of policy understanding and critical thinking among senior government personnel we are in real trouble.
If this is the level of policy understanding and critical thinking among senior government personnel we are in real trouble.
July 2, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Because the changes to PiP, that would have pushed 250,000 people into poverty wouldn't have also impacted child poverty levels?! Child poverty does not exist in a vacuum.
If this is the level of policy understanding and critical thinking among senior government personnel we are in real trouble.
If this is the level of policy understanding and critical thinking among senior government personnel we are in real trouble.
There are some very important lessons i hope the UK Government take from the ongoing debacle surrounding the welfare Bill.
Principle among them, you cannot rush through complex policy changes, without proper consultation.
Principle among them, you cannot rush through complex policy changes, without proper consultation.
July 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
There are some very important lessons i hope the UK Government take from the ongoing debacle surrounding the welfare Bill.
Principle among them, you cannot rush through complex policy changes, without proper consultation.
Principle among them, you cannot rush through complex policy changes, without proper consultation.
Reposted by Natasha Davies
And this is why you don't mess about with complex policy areas at the last minute to hit some arbitrary figure determined by a five year forecast.
Worth reminding ourselves the entire point of the welfare bill (whatever the govt might claim) was to restore fiscal headroom after a bad forecast.
That’s blown now. It is possible that the whole debacle will undermine fiscal credibility by demonstrating the govt is incapable of sticking to plans.
That’s blown now. It is possible that the whole debacle will undermine fiscal credibility by demonstrating the govt is incapable of sticking to plans.
July 1, 2025 at 5:42 PM
And this is why you don't mess about with complex policy areas at the last minute to hit some arbitrary figure determined by a five year forecast.
Reposted by Natasha Davies
Labour MP @marietidball.bsky.social delivers a powerful speech:
“It is with a heavy broken heart that I will be voting against this bill today.
“As a matter of conscience, I need my constituents to know I cannot support the proposed changes to PIP as currently drafted...”
“It is with a heavy broken heart that I will be voting against this bill today.
“As a matter of conscience, I need my constituents to know I cannot support the proposed changes to PIP as currently drafted...”
July 1, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Labour MP @marietidball.bsky.social delivers a powerful speech:
“It is with a heavy broken heart that I will be voting against this bill today.
“As a matter of conscience, I need my constituents to know I cannot support the proposed changes to PIP as currently drafted...”
“It is with a heavy broken heart that I will be voting against this bill today.
“As a matter of conscience, I need my constituents to know I cannot support the proposed changes to PIP as currently drafted...”
And it's in this context that the UK Government want to make significant cuts to disability and health related benefits, which all evidence suggests will make people poorer.
Labour rebels please stand firm and force a proper rethink
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Labour rebels please stand firm and force a proper rethink
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Britain’s ‘medieval’ health inequality is devastating NHS, experts say
Exclusive: Health service estimated to be spending £50bn a year on effects of deprivation and child poverty
www.theguardian.com
June 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
And it's in this context that the UK Government want to make significant cuts to disability and health related benefits, which all evidence suggests will make people poorer.
Labour rebels please stand firm and force a proper rethink
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Labour rebels please stand firm and force a proper rethink
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Natasha Davies
This isn't a victory, and will only serve to apply a two tier system of welfare and punish people pushed into claiming after November 2026.
Ghoulish policymaking focussed only on avoiding an embarrassing rebellion and with zero consideration of fairness.
Keir's two tier welfare state.
Ghoulish policymaking focussed only on avoiding an embarrassing rebellion and with zero consideration of fairness.
Keir's two tier welfare state.
Government retreats on welfare cuts, after most Labour backbenchers opposed the bill getting a second reading. The changes will apply from Nov 2026 to new claimants only. 370,000 disabled people won't face cuts of £1.5bn, but future policy will cover fewer people
www.politico.eu/newsletter/l...
www.politico.eu/newsletter/l...
Keir caves again
Presented by Goldman Sachs By SAM BLEWETT with BETHANY DAWSON PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser Good Friday morning. This is Sam Blewett…
www.politico.eu
June 27, 2025 at 8:25 AM
This isn't a victory, and will only serve to apply a two tier system of welfare and punish people pushed into claiming after November 2026.
Ghoulish policymaking focussed only on avoiding an embarrassing rebellion and with zero consideration of fairness.
Keir's two tier welfare state.
Ghoulish policymaking focussed only on avoiding an embarrassing rebellion and with zero consideration of fairness.
Keir's two tier welfare state.
Protecting existing benefit claimants in no way fixes the fundamental issue with the PiP and UC proposals. The UC proposals already leave young people high and dry, as apparently they are not allowed to get sick.
Rebels need to hold firm. This is bad policy. Driven by the wrong priorities.
Rebels need to hold firm. This is bad policy. Driven by the wrong priorities.
June 27, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Protecting existing benefit claimants in no way fixes the fundamental issue with the PiP and UC proposals. The UC proposals already leave young people high and dry, as apparently they are not allowed to get sick.
Rebels need to hold firm. This is bad policy. Driven by the wrong priorities.
Rebels need to hold firm. This is bad policy. Driven by the wrong priorities.