Giles
@gidamo.bsky.social
Radiology physicist, CofE Lay Reader and Warden of Readers, Diocese of Sheffield, photographer, occasional bass player. Labour, Europhile.
Reposted by Giles
One of the things that Blair's Labour got absolutely right was Sure Start - of course the Tories killed it. And sadly it's exactly the kind of state intervention that Starmer seems allergic to.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/may/22/sure-start-centres-saved-uk-government-2-for-every-1-s
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/may/22/sure-start-centres-saved-uk-government-2-for-every-1-s
Sure Start centres saved UK government £2 for every £1 spent, study finds
New Labour initiative created ‘remarkably long-lasting’ health and education improvements, says report
www.theguardian.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:58 AM
One of the things that Blair's Labour got absolutely right was Sure Start - of course the Tories killed it. And sadly it's exactly the kind of state intervention that Starmer seems allergic to.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/may/22/sure-start-centres-saved-uk-government-2-for-every-1-s
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/may/22/sure-start-centres-saved-uk-government-2-for-every-1-s
Reposted by Giles
On VE Day, remember the Scallywags and the Coats Mission: Britain’s secret last line – prepared for the worst, needed to save King & country |
By Stuart Burrell
By Stuart Burrell
Lest we forget: scallywags, escorts and boltholes
On VE Day, remember the Scallywags and the Coats Mission: Britain’s secret last line – prepared for the worst, needed to save King & country
eastangliabylines.co.uk
May 8, 2025 at 4:53 AM
On VE Day, remember the Scallywags and the Coats Mission: Britain’s secret last line – prepared for the worst, needed to save King & country |
By Stuart Burrell
By Stuart Burrell
Reposted by Giles
Opponents, on left and right, like to claim that Labour has reneged on all its promises.
But three quarters of the most important ones are on track or achieved.
Stephen McNair reports on some of the stuff that the media miss
But three quarters of the most important ones are on track or achieved.
Stephen McNair reports on some of the stuff that the media miss
‘Labour’s gone back on all their promises.’ Really?
Labour is accused of abandoning its promises. But is this true, or is the activity simply not being reported?
eastangliabylines.co.uk
May 4, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Opponents, on left and right, like to claim that Labour has reneged on all its promises.
But three quarters of the most important ones are on track or achieved.
Stephen McNair reports on some of the stuff that the media miss
But three quarters of the most important ones are on track or achieved.
Stephen McNair reports on some of the stuff that the media miss
Britain next?
First Germany said NO to fascism and Trumpism.
Then Canada said NO to fascism and Trumpism.
And now Australia has said NO to fascism and Trumpism.
The people of the world are speaking with their votes and we want democracy not authoritarianism.
#SheShed
Then Canada said NO to fascism and Trumpism.
And now Australia has said NO to fascism and Trumpism.
The people of the world are speaking with their votes and we want democracy not authoritarianism.
#SheShed
May 4, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Britain next?
Reposted by Giles
It's been revealed that the Office for National Statistics, which prepares the UK's inflation data, has been using the wrong prices to estimate it. They have used list prices, not what most people pay. The result? Serious overstatement of inflation. www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/04...
The UK’s inflation data has been seriously overstated
FT Alphaville has an article this morning that has the headline:
The UK’s inflation figures were wrong and now we just have to live with that
I won't quote it at length, although it is good investig...
www.taxresearch.org.uk
April 30, 2025 at 6:49 AM
It's been revealed that the Office for National Statistics, which prepares the UK's inflation data, has been using the wrong prices to estimate it. They have used list prices, not what most people pay. The result? Serious overstatement of inflation. www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/04...
Reposted by Giles
Farage, "7.2 million foreign-born people have registered with GPs in the last 10 years... All I'm doing here is giving you cold hard facts"
Farage forgets to mention all of the working adults pay tax
And the only reason we don't have enough GPs is because the Conservatives didn't fund them
Farage forgets to mention all of the working adults pay tax
And the only reason we don't have enough GPs is because the Conservatives didn't fund them
April 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Farage, "7.2 million foreign-born people have registered with GPs in the last 10 years... All I'm doing here is giving you cold hard facts"
Farage forgets to mention all of the working adults pay tax
And the only reason we don't have enough GPs is because the Conservatives didn't fund them
Farage forgets to mention all of the working adults pay tax
And the only reason we don't have enough GPs is because the Conservatives didn't fund them
Reposted by Giles
Dismantling NHS England might cut costs, but it also cuts expertise. Here’s why it’s a risky cure for a fragile system.
Guy Chapman reports
Guy Chapman reports
NHS England is being disbanded. Should we be worried?
A cure or a symptom? NHS England’s demise raises urgent questions about what really ails with the NHS
eastangliabylines.co.uk
April 15, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Dismantling NHS England might cut costs, but it also cuts expertise. Here’s why it’s a risky cure for a fragile system.
Guy Chapman reports
Guy Chapman reports
Reposted by Giles
The government is preparing a first Land Use Strategy for England to guide how we use the land.
@stephenmcnair.bsky.social summarise the key elements.
Meanwhile you can still have your say. The public consultation closes 25 April.
@stephenmcnair.bsky.social summarise the key elements.
Meanwhile you can still have your say. The public consultation closes 25 April.
Land use in England: what is the government now doing?
The government is preparing a first Land Use Strategy for England to guide how we use the land. We summarise the key elements
eastangliabylines.co.uk
April 13, 2025 at 5:56 AM
The government is preparing a first Land Use Strategy for England to guide how we use the land.
@stephenmcnair.bsky.social summarise the key elements.
Meanwhile you can still have your say. The public consultation closes 25 April.
@stephenmcnair.bsky.social summarise the key elements.
Meanwhile you can still have your say. The public consultation closes 25 April.
Reposted by Giles
March 30, 2025 at 3:05 PM
This looks fake. No date. No author.
Is this true?
Is this true?
March 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This looks fake. No date. No author.
Is this true?
Is this true?
Reposted by Giles
Dr Patrick Hart, a Bristol GP of 8 years and doctor for 11 years, is currently serving a 12-month prison sentence…
…for climate protest.
…for climate protest.
Vigil to be held for jailed Bristol GP and medical activist Dr Patrick Hart
Bristol GP sparks citywide debate on the duty of a doctor to prevent future deaths as a public health advocate
westenglandbylines.co.uk
March 29, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Dr Patrick Hart, a Bristol GP of 8 years and doctor for 11 years, is currently serving a 12-month prison sentence…
…for climate protest.
…for climate protest.
Reposted by Giles
Say it takes 10 years to rejoin the EU...
If we start today, we'll be back in 10 years.
But if we wait a decade, it will take 20 years. Except that it won't, because we will have had 10 more years of diverging.
So it might take a quarter of a century.
Start today please. We owe it to the future.
If we start today, we'll be back in 10 years.
But if we wait a decade, it will take 20 years. Except that it won't, because we will have had 10 more years of diverging.
So it might take a quarter of a century.
Start today please. We owe it to the future.
March 18, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Say it takes 10 years to rejoin the EU...
If we start today, we'll be back in 10 years.
But if we wait a decade, it will take 20 years. Except that it won't, because we will have had 10 more years of diverging.
So it might take a quarter of a century.
Start today please. We owe it to the future.
If we start today, we'll be back in 10 years.
But if we wait a decade, it will take 20 years. Except that it won't, because we will have had 10 more years of diverging.
So it might take a quarter of a century.
Start today please. We owe it to the future.
Reposted by Giles
It will come as no surprise to anyone to hear Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok has declared that there is at least a 75 percent chance that President Donald Trump is a "Russian asset" who has been "compromised" by Russian President Vladimir Putin
www.newsweek.com/elon-musks-c...
www.newsweek.com/elon-musks-c...
Elon Musk's chatbot says there's a strong chance Trump is "Russian asset"
Musk's AI chatbot Grok suggested Trump was 85 percent likely to be "a Russian asset" when simply asked if the president was one, without any qualifiers.
www.newsweek.com
March 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
It will come as no surprise to anyone to hear Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok has declared that there is at least a 75 percent chance that President Donald Trump is a "Russian asset" who has been "compromised" by Russian President Vladimir Putin
www.newsweek.com/elon-musks-c...
www.newsweek.com/elon-musks-c...
Reposted by Giles
Reposted by Giles
Repost & like, if you stand with President Zelensky!
February 28, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Repost & like, if you stand with President Zelensky!
Reposted by Giles
BREAKING: WHO BEARS THE MOST RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OVAL OFFICE ARGUMENT? WITH 79,312 VOTES 👏
March 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
BREAKING: WHO BEARS THE MOST RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OVAL OFFICE ARGUMENT? WITH 79,312 VOTES 👏
Reposted by Giles
Trump and Vance’s shameful behavior has embarrassed their country. President Zelenskyy is a hero. He should have been treated as such
Jeez. This is absolutely appalling & shameful from Trump and Vance. President Zelenskyy is the democratically elected leader of a sovereign country who is bravely standing against the illegal invasion of Ukraine by a murderous ACTUAL dictator called Vladimir Putin
February 28, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Trump and Vance’s shameful behavior has embarrassed their country. President Zelenskyy is a hero. He should have been treated as such
Reposted by Giles
🚨BREAKING - Steve Reed has just launched the biggest review into the water sector since privatisation.
But wait…..he says the commission can’t even consider public ownership. 🤯
We need to act quickly to change his mind. ⏰
Sign our petition now ✍️
weownit.org.uk/act-now/stev...
But wait…..he says the commission can’t even consider public ownership. 🤯
We need to act quickly to change his mind. ⏰
Sign our petition now ✍️
weownit.org.uk/act-now/stev...
Steve Reed: include public ownership as an option in your independent commission on the water sector. | We Own It
Steve Reed must put public ownership back on the table.
weownit.org.uk
February 27, 2025 at 2:52 PM
🚨BREAKING - Steve Reed has just launched the biggest review into the water sector since privatisation.
But wait…..he says the commission can’t even consider public ownership. 🤯
We need to act quickly to change his mind. ⏰
Sign our petition now ✍️
weownit.org.uk/act-now/stev...
But wait…..he says the commission can’t even consider public ownership. 🤯
We need to act quickly to change his mind. ⏰
Sign our petition now ✍️
weownit.org.uk/act-now/stev...
I’ve had a thought.
Not only should we not buy online from American suppliers on 28th Feb, we should also try and ensure they’ve nothing to deliver either. That would shut down warehouses and delivery.
It may affect staff😥, but it’ll amplify the message.
Not only should we not buy online from American suppliers on 28th Feb, we should also try and ensure they’ve nothing to deliver either. That would shut down warehouses and delivery.
It may affect staff😥, but it’ll amplify the message.
February 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I’ve had a thought.
Not only should we not buy online from American suppliers on 28th Feb, we should also try and ensure they’ve nothing to deliver either. That would shut down warehouses and delivery.
It may affect staff😥, but it’ll amplify the message.
Not only should we not buy online from American suppliers on 28th Feb, we should also try and ensure they’ve nothing to deliver either. That would shut down warehouses and delivery.
It may affect staff😥, but it’ll amplify the message.
Reposted by Giles
I hadn’t heard this before, but it’s perfect.
@alicejolly.bsky.social
@alicejolly.bsky.social
When I worked in UK academia I recall hearing of a Japanese man who was baffled at how Britain had decided to run its universities like firms. “Why? Your universities are excellent and your firms are terrible.”
To repeat: "A country so stupid it actively trashes one of things it's good at and famous for."
February 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I hadn’t heard this before, but it’s perfect.
@alicejolly.bsky.social
@alicejolly.bsky.social
Reposted by Giles
Turns out your CEO lurching to the far-right isn't good for company sales - who knew!
February 26, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Turns out your CEO lurching to the far-right isn't good for company sales - who knew!
Reposted by Giles
Reposted by Giles
"The net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy, analysis has found, providing high-wage jobs across the country while cutting climate-heating emissions and increasing energy security." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Britain’s net zero economy is booming, CBI says
Green sector growing at triple the rate of the UK economy, providing high-wage jobs and increasing energy security
www.theguardian.com
February 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
"The net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy, analysis has found, providing high-wage jobs across the country while cutting climate-heating emissions and increasing energy security." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Giles
El Capitan displays a massive American flag upside down—the traditional signal of distress or extreme emergency.
February 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
El Capitan displays a massive American flag upside down—the traditional signal of distress or extreme emergency.
Reposted by Giles
We must all band together. There are far more of us than there are of them. Never forget that, no matter how difficult this may become!!
February 21, 2025 at 3:27 AM
We must all band together. There are far more of us than there are of them. Never forget that, no matter how difficult this may become!!