Idlebirder
@idlebirder.bsky.social
England
Ornithologist
Conservation
Environmentalist
Peaceful protester
British Stamps collector
Ornithologist
Conservation
Environmentalist
Peaceful protester
British Stamps collector
Reposted by Idlebirder
UK PM Keir Starmer to woo voters & MPs with plan to cut cost of living.
Can't be done without curbing profiteering, increasing real wages, democratizing the workplace, equitable distribution of income/wealth.
Start by ending privatisation of water/energy.
Can't be done without curbing profiteering, increasing real wages, democratizing the workplace, equitable distribution of income/wealth.
Start by ending privatisation of water/energy.
Keir Starmer to woo voters and MPs with new year plan to cut cost of living
PM to highlight energy bill and interest rate cuts, plus end to two-child benefit cap, and to invite his MPs to Chequers
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:32 AM
UK PM Keir Starmer to woo voters & MPs with plan to cut cost of living.
Can't be done without curbing profiteering, increasing real wages, democratizing the workplace, equitable distribution of income/wealth.
Start by ending privatisation of water/energy.
Can't be done without curbing profiteering, increasing real wages, democratizing the workplace, equitable distribution of income/wealth.
Start by ending privatisation of water/energy.
Reposted by Idlebirder
In the 6th largest economy, 103000 people died in poverty in 2024.
120,000 died in fuel poverty, couldn't afford adequate heating.
Ethnic minorities, pensioners, single working age adults more likely to die in poverty.
Poverty and death sentence is a political choice as govts appease the rich.
120,000 died in fuel poverty, couldn't afford adequate heating.
Ethnic minorities, pensioners, single working age adults more likely to die in poverty.
Poverty and death sentence is a political choice as govts appease the rich.
www.mariecurie.org.uk
January 1, 2026 at 9:08 AM
In the 6th largest economy, 103000 people died in poverty in 2024.
120,000 died in fuel poverty, couldn't afford adequate heating.
Ethnic minorities, pensioners, single working age adults more likely to die in poverty.
Poverty and death sentence is a political choice as govts appease the rich.
120,000 died in fuel poverty, couldn't afford adequate heating.
Ethnic minorities, pensioners, single working age adults more likely to die in poverty.
Poverty and death sentence is a political choice as govts appease the rich.
Reposted by Idlebirder
Racial and religious hate crime on UK public transport is growing, data shows.
Nurtured by Reform, Tories and Starmer's "Island of Strangers" speech. Scapegoating minorities for economic/political failures.
Without immigration, UK economy can't function.
Nurtured by Reform, Tories and Starmer's "Island of Strangers" speech. Scapegoating minorities for economic/political failures.
Without immigration, UK economy can't function.
Racial and religious hate crime on UK public transport is growing, data shows
Anti-racism groups warn some people are avoiding public transport or limiting their use of it for fear of abuse
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Racial and religious hate crime on UK public transport is growing, data shows.
Nurtured by Reform, Tories and Starmer's "Island of Strangers" speech. Scapegoating minorities for economic/political failures.
Without immigration, UK economy can't function.
Nurtured by Reform, Tories and Starmer's "Island of Strangers" speech. Scapegoating minorities for economic/political failures.
Without immigration, UK economy can't function.
🆘 "How First Past the Post turns politics into tribal warfare" electoral-reform.org.uk/how-first-pa... Electoral Reform Society – ERS
How First Past the Post turns politics into tribal warfare
Poll after poll and headline after headline in the U.K may leave you with the impression of a country more divided than ever. This is never more obvious than in the seemingly daily polli
electoral-reform.org.uk
January 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM
🆘 "How First Past the Post turns politics into tribal warfare" electoral-reform.org.uk/how-first-pa... Electoral Reform Society – ERS
Reposted by Idlebirder
Charity warns of rise in 'clothing poverty'.
Profiteering and cuts in real wages force people rely on charity.
Charity provides food, clothing, air ambulance, hospices and more in the 6th largest economy.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Profiteering and cuts in real wages force people rely on charity.
Charity provides food, clothing, air ambulance, hospices and more in the 6th largest economy.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Charity warns of rise in 'clothing poverty' among working people
The Sharewear Clothing Scheme in Nottingham says demand is so high it is running out of clothes.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Charity warns of rise in 'clothing poverty'.
Profiteering and cuts in real wages force people rely on charity.
Charity provides food, clothing, air ambulance, hospices and more in the 6th largest economy.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Profiteering and cuts in real wages force people rely on charity.
Charity provides food, clothing, air ambulance, hospices and more in the 6th largest economy.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.
Reposted by Idlebirder
Private equity struggles to value assets, sells assets to itself to pay investors.
Sold £79.2bn of assets to itself, to new entities under its control with money from new investors to pay earlier investors.
A ponzi scheme full of conflict of interests.
Sold £79.2bn of assets to itself, to new entities under its control with money from new investors to pay earlier investors.
A ponzi scheme full of conflict of interests.
PE firms sell assets to themselves at a record rate in 2025
Private equity firms sold companies to themselves at a record rate this year, using a controversial tactic
www.cityam.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Private equity struggles to value assets, sells assets to itself to pay investors.
Sold £79.2bn of assets to itself, to new entities under its control with money from new investors to pay earlier investors.
A ponzi scheme full of conflict of interests.
Sold £79.2bn of assets to itself, to new entities under its control with money from new investors to pay earlier investors.
A ponzi scheme full of conflict of interests.
Reposted by Idlebirder
Tory Curse.
Pothole compensation claims made to councils in Britain rose by 90% between 2021 and 2024.
Only 26% of claims led to a payout.
A friend, night-worker had to replace 4 tyres this year, pay for steering damage.
Boosts GDP but destructive.
Pothole compensation claims made to councils in Britain rose by 90% between 2021 and 2024.
Only 26% of claims led to a payout.
A friend, night-worker had to replace 4 tyres this year, pay for steering damage.
Boosts GDP but destructive.
Pothole claims up 90% in three years, says RAC
Research from the motoring group also finds that only one in four claims results in a payout.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 30, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Tory Curse.
Pothole compensation claims made to councils in Britain rose by 90% between 2021 and 2024.
Only 26% of claims led to a payout.
A friend, night-worker had to replace 4 tyres this year, pay for steering damage.
Boosts GDP but destructive.
Pothole compensation claims made to councils in Britain rose by 90% between 2021 and 2024.
Only 26% of claims led to a payout.
A friend, night-worker had to replace 4 tyres this year, pay for steering damage.
Boosts GDP but destructive.
Reposted by Idlebirder
The 51st state.
Trump demands that the UK allows American chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated meat into its supermarkets.
UK already agreed to pay more for US drugs, reduced tax on private equity managers, considering cutting tax on tech companies.
'Tacking back control', someone said.
Trump demands that the UK allows American chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated meat into its supermarkets.
UK already agreed to pay more for US drugs, reduced tax on private equity managers, considering cutting tax on tech companies.
'Tacking back control', someone said.
Chlorinated chicken row as US seeks leverage over stalled UK tech pact
Britain is facing renewed pressure from the White House to allow American chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated meat into UK supermarkets.
www.farminguk.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:24 AM
The 51st state.
Trump demands that the UK allows American chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated meat into its supermarkets.
UK already agreed to pay more for US drugs, reduced tax on private equity managers, considering cutting tax on tech companies.
'Tacking back control', someone said.
Trump demands that the UK allows American chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated meat into its supermarkets.
UK already agreed to pay more for US drugs, reduced tax on private equity managers, considering cutting tax on tech companies.
'Tacking back control', someone said.
Reposted by Idlebirder
Typical FTSE 100 CEO collects average UK wage in TWO days. CEO collects 141 times average employee's earnings. Some collect 1,110 times more.
No link between CEO pay and performance - look at water, energy, banking, gambling sectors?
Govts preach pay restraint to workers. No curbs on exec pay.
No link between CEO pay and performance - look at water, energy, banking, gambling sectors?
Govts preach pay restraint to workers. No curbs on exec pay.
The bosses paid the average UK salary in just TWO days
The growing pay gap between what chief executives and their employees earn will reignite the debate around 'fat cat' pay as shareholder revolts against boardroom excess surge.
www.thisismoney.co.uk
December 28, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Typical FTSE 100 CEO collects average UK wage in TWO days. CEO collects 141 times average employee's earnings. Some collect 1,110 times more.
No link between CEO pay and performance - look at water, energy, banking, gambling sectors?
Govts preach pay restraint to workers. No curbs on exec pay.
No link between CEO pay and performance - look at water, energy, banking, gambling sectors?
Govts preach pay restraint to workers. No curbs on exec pay.
Reposted by Idlebirder
Former Wessex Water CEO received £170k bonus despite ban on performance pay.
Received total of £693,000 in pay from Malaysian-owned parent company, YTL Utilities (UK), including bonus.
Company has 47+ criminal convictions, dumps sewage in rivers, fleeces customers, rewards bosses.
Received total of £693,000 in pay from Malaysian-owned parent company, YTL Utilities (UK), including bonus.
Company has 47+ criminal convictions, dumps sewage in rivers, fleeces customers, rewards bosses.
Former Wessex Water boss received £170,000 bonus despite ban on performance pay
Company owners say bonus was unrelated to water business and complied with ban after pollution conviction
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Former Wessex Water CEO received £170k bonus despite ban on performance pay.
Received total of £693,000 in pay from Malaysian-owned parent company, YTL Utilities (UK), including bonus.
Company has 47+ criminal convictions, dumps sewage in rivers, fleeces customers, rewards bosses.
Received total of £693,000 in pay from Malaysian-owned parent company, YTL Utilities (UK), including bonus.
Company has 47+ criminal convictions, dumps sewage in rivers, fleeces customers, rewards bosses.
Reposted by Idlebirder
Reform and Tories 'defending cruelty' over support for trail hunting.
Why do some people enjoy seeing living innocent animals torn to shreds?
How long before cruelty becomes a way of life?
Why do some people enjoy seeing living innocent animals torn to shreds?
How long before cruelty becomes a way of life?
Reform and Tories 'defending cruelty' over support for trail hunting
The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was pictured at a hunt on Friday, as was Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake, despite foxes still often being torn to shreds by dogs at the events
www.mirror.co.uk
December 27, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reform and Tories 'defending cruelty' over support for trail hunting.
Why do some people enjoy seeing living innocent animals torn to shreds?
How long before cruelty becomes a way of life?
Why do some people enjoy seeing living innocent animals torn to shreds?
How long before cruelty becomes a way of life?
Reposted by Idlebirder
UK govt U-turns on plan to raise inheritance tax for farmers, increases threshold for full relief from £1m to £2.5m.
What was the point of defending the policy for months? Same for winter fuel payment cut, two child benefit cap, disability benefit cuts.
Self-inflicted political damage.
What was the point of defending the policy for months? Same for winter fuel payment cut, two child benefit cap, disability benefit cuts.
Self-inflicted political damage.
Ministers raise inheritance tax threshold for farms after backlash
U-turn lifts limit from £1m to £2.5m after protests and warnings that family farms were at risk
www.theguardian.com
December 24, 2025 at 8:58 AM
UK govt U-turns on plan to raise inheritance tax for farmers, increases threshold for full relief from £1m to £2.5m.
What was the point of defending the policy for months? Same for winter fuel payment cut, two child benefit cap, disability benefit cuts.
Self-inflicted political damage.
What was the point of defending the policy for months? Same for winter fuel payment cut, two child benefit cap, disability benefit cuts.
Self-inflicted political damage.
Reposted by Idlebirder
Consequences of poverty, austerity and fiscal rules.
People in poorest areas of England ‘more likely to need emergency care for lung conditions’
Poor housing, pollution lack of quit smoking support, low investment in the NHS inflict misery and death.
People in poorest areas of England ‘more likely to need emergency care for lung conditions’
Poor housing, pollution lack of quit smoking support, low investment in the NHS inflict misery and death.
People in poorest areas of England ‘more likely to need emergency care for lung conditions’
Analysis finds those from most deprived backgrounds almost twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for respiratory conditions
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Consequences of poverty, austerity and fiscal rules.
People in poorest areas of England ‘more likely to need emergency care for lung conditions’
Poor housing, pollution lack of quit smoking support, low investment in the NHS inflict misery and death.
People in poorest areas of England ‘more likely to need emergency care for lung conditions’
Poor housing, pollution lack of quit smoking support, low investment in the NHS inflict misery and death.
Reposted by Idlebirder
City & Guilds bosses handed bonus after training firm privatized.
£1.7m bonus for CEO + £100k pay rise; £1.2m bonus for CFO + £70k pay rise.
1,600 staff & 1,800 “associates” put on short-term contracts. Low wages, high staff churn; 300 leave a year. A third of jobs to be relocated to Greece.
£1.7m bonus for CEO + £100k pay rise; £1.2m bonus for CFO + £70k pay rise.
1,600 staff & 1,800 “associates” put on short-term contracts. Low wages, high staff churn; 300 leave a year. A third of jobs to be relocated to Greece.
Bosses at City & Guilds handed million-pound bonuses after training firm is privatised
Exclusive: Executives at body that trained chef Jamie Oliver awarded pay rises and bonuses after sale to private firm – as hundreds of jobs may be offshored
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:45 PM
City & Guilds bosses handed bonus after training firm privatized.
£1.7m bonus for CEO + £100k pay rise; £1.2m bonus for CFO + £70k pay rise.
1,600 staff & 1,800 “associates” put on short-term contracts. Low wages, high staff churn; 300 leave a year. A third of jobs to be relocated to Greece.
£1.7m bonus for CEO + £100k pay rise; £1.2m bonus for CFO + £70k pay rise.
1,600 staff & 1,800 “associates” put on short-term contracts. Low wages, high staff churn; 300 leave a year. A third of jobs to be relocated to Greece.
Reposted by Idlebirder
Death rates rise when NHS England cuts back on nursing.
Higher deaths where hospitals replace nurses lower-paid staff.
NHS budget depleted by PFI, energy bills.
Hospitals lost 1936 nurses & 4240 support staff in this financial year.
Govt enacting barriers to foreign recruitment.
archive.ph/WnG4M
Higher deaths where hospitals replace nurses lower-paid staff.
NHS budget depleted by PFI, energy bills.
Hospitals lost 1936 nurses & 4240 support staff in this financial year.
Govt enacting barriers to foreign recruitment.
archive.ph/WnG4M
Death rates rise when NHS cuts back on nursing
Using lower-paid workers to plug the gaps left by a failure to hire registered nurses damages safety, new research has shown
www.thetimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Death rates rise when NHS England cuts back on nursing.
Higher deaths where hospitals replace nurses lower-paid staff.
NHS budget depleted by PFI, energy bills.
Hospitals lost 1936 nurses & 4240 support staff in this financial year.
Govt enacting barriers to foreign recruitment.
archive.ph/WnG4M
Higher deaths where hospitals replace nurses lower-paid staff.
NHS budget depleted by PFI, energy bills.
Hospitals lost 1936 nurses & 4240 support staff in this financial year.
Govt enacting barriers to foreign recruitment.
archive.ph/WnG4M
Reposted by Idlebirder
Poorest Britons lose right to financial privacy.
The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 empowers the state to 24/7 snoop on the bank accounts of recipients of universal credit; employment and support allowance; state pension credit.
No court order needed. No right of appeal.
The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 empowers the state to 24/7 snoop on the bank accounts of recipients of universal credit; employment and support allowance; state pension credit.
No court order needed. No right of appeal.
December 21, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Poorest Britons lose right to financial privacy.
The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 empowers the state to 24/7 snoop on the bank accounts of recipients of universal credit; employment and support allowance; state pension credit.
No court order needed. No right of appeal.
The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 empowers the state to 24/7 snoop on the bank accounts of recipients of universal credit; employment and support allowance; state pension credit.
No court order needed. No right of appeal.
Reposted by Idlebirder
In the sixth largest economy, millions of Britons rely on food banks.
No curbs on profiteering. Energy prices up 44% since 2021-22.
Thousands of people can't afford heating, rely on community ‘warm spaces’.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined. Govts appease the rich.
No curbs on profiteering. Energy prices up 44% since 2021-22.
Thousands of people can't afford heating, rely on community ‘warm spaces’.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined. Govts appease the rich.
‘Bills keep going higher’: community ‘warm spaces’ on the rise in the UK
As places such as Walworth Living Room step in to help people in need, charities lament lack of government help
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:34 AM
In the sixth largest economy, millions of Britons rely on food banks.
No curbs on profiteering. Energy prices up 44% since 2021-22.
Thousands of people can't afford heating, rely on community ‘warm spaces’.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined. Govts appease the rich.
No curbs on profiteering. Energy prices up 44% since 2021-22.
Thousands of people can't afford heating, rely on community ‘warm spaces’.
1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined. Govts appease the rich.
Reposted by Idlebirder
The fish are disappearing but they will keep on fishing until the ocean is empty of life
Pacific halibut catch declines as spawning biomass reaches lowest point in 40 years
www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-...
Pacific halibut catch declines as spawning biomass reaches lowest point in 40 years
www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-...
Pacific halibut catch declines as spawning biomass reaches lowest point in 40 years
Commercial landings of Pacific halibut across the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada are down.
www.seafoodsource.com
December 15, 2025 at 12:50 AM
The fish are disappearing but they will keep on fishing until the ocean is empty of life
Pacific halibut catch declines as spawning biomass reaches lowest point in 40 years
www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-...
Pacific halibut catch declines as spawning biomass reaches lowest point in 40 years
www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-...
Reposted by Idlebirder
UK CEO salary increases outstripping those of the workforce.
Remuneration Committees & non-execs perpetuate fat-cattery as rises provide a benchmark for their greed.
Need worker-elected directors on boards of large companies, workers to vote on exec pay to secure equitable distribution of income.
Remuneration Committees & non-execs perpetuate fat-cattery as rises provide a benchmark for their greed.
Need worker-elected directors on boards of large companies, workers to vote on exec pay to secure equitable distribution of income.
CEO salary: an opportunity cost? - High Pay Centre
Against the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis, data highlights a worrying trend: CEO salary increases outstripping those of the wider workforce.
highpaycentre.org
December 20, 2025 at 7:54 AM
UK CEO salary increases outstripping those of the workforce.
Remuneration Committees & non-execs perpetuate fat-cattery as rises provide a benchmark for their greed.
Need worker-elected directors on boards of large companies, workers to vote on exec pay to secure equitable distribution of income.
Remuneration Committees & non-execs perpetuate fat-cattery as rises provide a benchmark for their greed.
Need worker-elected directors on boards of large companies, workers to vote on exec pay to secure equitable distribution of income.
Reposted by Idlebirder
Yorkshire Water boss 'mistaken' to keep £1.3m payment secret
Nicola Shaw says she was wrong in
www.bbc.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Reposted by Idlebirder
Michelle Mone-linked PPE Medpro wound up after order to repay £148m for faulty goods.
Company has £600,000 assets. Govt is unsecured creditor, won't recover anything.
Hard to trace money in offshore bank accounts.
Govt could sue directors for fraud, will take years, what will it recover?
Company has £600,000 assets. Govt is unsecured creditor, won't recover anything.
Hard to trace money in offshore bank accounts.
Govt could sue directors for fraud, will take years, what will it recover?
Michelle Mone-linked PPE Medpro wound up after being ordered to repay £148m
In a ruling, Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Sebastian Prentis placed the company into liquidation
www.independent.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Michelle Mone-linked PPE Medpro wound up after order to repay £148m for faulty goods.
Company has £600,000 assets. Govt is unsecured creditor, won't recover anything.
Hard to trace money in offshore bank accounts.
Govt could sue directors for fraud, will take years, what will it recover?
Company has £600,000 assets. Govt is unsecured creditor, won't recover anything.
Hard to trace money in offshore bank accounts.
Govt could sue directors for fraud, will take years, what will it recover?
Reposted by Idlebirder
AI likely to displace jobs, says Bank of England governor.
It is already displacing jobs. No govt had strategy for education, training, jobs. Markets won't provide answers.
AI stock market bubble also waiting to burst, will cause havoc.
Need an active state but passivity is the vogue.
It is already displacing jobs. No govt had strategy for education, training, jobs. Markets won't provide answers.
AI stock market bubble also waiting to burst, will cause havoc.
Need an active state but passivity is the vogue.
AI likely to displace jobs, says Bank of England governor
Andrew Bailey says workers need to be trained to move into jobs that use AI, but adds it might not lead to mass unemployment.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 7:36 AM
AI likely to displace jobs, says Bank of England governor.
It is already displacing jobs. No govt had strategy for education, training, jobs. Markets won't provide answers.
AI stock market bubble also waiting to burst, will cause havoc.
Need an active state but passivity is the vogue.
It is already displacing jobs. No govt had strategy for education, training, jobs. Markets won't provide answers.
AI stock market bubble also waiting to burst, will cause havoc.
Need an active state but passivity is the vogue.
Can't imagine who would seriously consider voting for Reform?🤔
Reform UK’s flagship Kent Council’s budget reveals ‘gaping’ £60 million deficit – and it could get worse
Reform UK council’s budget reveals ‘gaping’ £60 million deficit
Kent County Council (KCC), faces a projected debt increase of tens of millions of pounds, even with maximum council tax hikes
www.independent.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Can't imagine who would seriously consider voting for Reform?🤔
Reposted by Idlebirder
Paddy Power and Betfair to pay £2m settlement after failing to protect users.
Companies exploit/encourage addiction.
Puny fines are just another cost of doing business.
Nothing will change until execs personally fined and prosecuted, exploiters shut down.
Companies exploit/encourage addiction.
Puny fines are just another cost of doing business.
Nothing will change until execs personally fined and prosecuted, exploiters shut down.
Paddy Power and Betfair to pay £2m settlement after failing to protect users
Failings included allowing customer to place £20,000 in bets across eight-hour session, Gambling Commission finds
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Paddy Power and Betfair to pay £2m settlement after failing to protect users.
Companies exploit/encourage addiction.
Puny fines are just another cost of doing business.
Nothing will change until execs personally fined and prosecuted, exploiters shut down.
Companies exploit/encourage addiction.
Puny fines are just another cost of doing business.
Nothing will change until execs personally fined and prosecuted, exploiters shut down.
Reposted by Idlebirder
How much longer will england piss away money for these "water" companies?
December 18, 2025 at 8:25 AM
How much longer will england piss away money for these "water" companies?