Stephen Richmond
@sjrichmond.bsky.social
The lefty egalitarian type of Liberal that appears to be out of vogue!
Full disclosure, this is where I've got my pension, however, a good video from Fidelity on the UK pension!
It's a much smaller % of GDP than other comparable countries. It going up faster than inflation isn't a problem so long as we stop at some point!
youtu.be/7vtYnp03zkc?...
It's a much smaller % of GDP than other comparable countries. It going up faster than inflation isn't a problem so long as we stop at some point!
youtu.be/7vtYnp03zkc?...
Is the UK State Pension less generous than other countries?
YouTube video by Fidelity UK
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Full disclosure, this is where I've got my pension, however, a good video from Fidelity on the UK pension!
It's a much smaller % of GDP than other comparable countries. It going up faster than inflation isn't a problem so long as we stop at some point!
youtu.be/7vtYnp03zkc?...
It's a much smaller % of GDP than other comparable countries. It going up faster than inflation isn't a problem so long as we stop at some point!
youtu.be/7vtYnp03zkc?...
Obviously humiliating for the UK and recent governments but look at how organised the Swiss are! Perfect straight line. So neat and tidy!
October 31, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Obviously humiliating for the UK and recent governments but look at how organised the Swiss are! Perfect straight line. So neat and tidy!
D66 tied for most seats in the Dutch GE on an explicitly social liberal platform, calling themselves soc libs explicitly in the manifesto (& even including a UBI!!). It's delightful.
I'm fascinated that what a few years ago was apparently "Socialist" is now "pragmatic centrism"!
I'm fascinated that what a few years ago was apparently "Socialist" is now "pragmatic centrism"!
October 30, 2025 at 4:46 PM
D66 tied for most seats in the Dutch GE on an explicitly social liberal platform, calling themselves soc libs explicitly in the manifesto (& even including a UBI!!). It's delightful.
I'm fascinated that what a few years ago was apparently "Socialist" is now "pragmatic centrism"!
I'm fascinated that what a few years ago was apparently "Socialist" is now "pragmatic centrism"!
This week on "Stephen's mum relearning geography things via jigsaw!"
My mother has fixed America. It is whole again.
Peace, democracy and prosperity will once again fill these lands.
My mother has fixed America. It is whole again.
Peace, democracy and prosperity will once again fill these lands.
August 7, 2025 at 5:23 PM
This week on "Stephen's mum relearning geography things via jigsaw!"
My mother has fixed America. It is whole again.
Peace, democracy and prosperity will once again fill these lands.
My mother has fixed America. It is whole again.
Peace, democracy and prosperity will once again fill these lands.
With America's political climate in turmoil the nation has fractured.
Only my mother can put it back together.
Will she succeed?
Find out next time on --- "Stephen's Mum relearns geography things via jigsaw."
Only my mother can put it back together.
Will she succeed?
Find out next time on --- "Stephen's Mum relearns geography things via jigsaw."
August 4, 2025 at 7:23 PM
With America's political climate in turmoil the nation has fractured.
Only my mother can put it back together.
Will she succeed?
Find out next time on --- "Stephen's Mum relearns geography things via jigsaw."
Only my mother can put it back together.
Will she succeed?
Find out next time on --- "Stephen's Mum relearns geography things via jigsaw."
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
A helpful reminder. 👍🧡
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me
In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.
thebetter.news
July 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
A helpful reminder. 👍🧡
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
If a new “Corbyn party” is set up, Starmer only has himself to blame. He would essentially be the midwife to a “Corbyn party”. It would be the crowning glory of Starmer’s terrible party management. He and the clique around him have systematically embarked on purging the left of the Labour Party. 🥀
Starmer would be foolish not to recognise the threat posed by a left-wing Corbyn party
Starmer would be foolish not to recognise the threat posed by a left-wing Corbyn party
Those of us who remember Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party with a fond nostalgia will never forget how chaotic it was.
news.sky.com
July 4, 2025 at 8:17 PM
If a new “Corbyn party” is set up, Starmer only has himself to blame. He would essentially be the midwife to a “Corbyn party”. It would be the crowning glory of Starmer’s terrible party management. He and the clique around him have systematically embarked on purging the left of the Labour Party. 🥀
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
Moving speeches from the Labour backbenches as well as Lib Dem benches today. I hope the Government listens to them - we must look after disabled and vulnerable people.
July 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Moving speeches from the Labour backbenches as well as Lib Dem benches today. I hope the Government listens to them - we must look after disabled and vulnerable people.
Good lord this is brutal.
Continuing the same mistakes that we made after the GFC is not a rational policy position to take.
It's more difficult now because of the more inflationary/higher interest rate environment but I think we do need to invest, not double down on cuts.
Continuing the same mistakes that we made after the GFC is not a rational policy position to take.
It's more difficult now because of the more inflationary/higher interest rate environment but I think we do need to invest, not double down on cuts.
July 1, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Good lord this is brutal.
Continuing the same mistakes that we made after the GFC is not a rational policy position to take.
It's more difficult now because of the more inflationary/higher interest rate environment but I think we do need to invest, not double down on cuts.
Continuing the same mistakes that we made after the GFC is not a rational policy position to take.
It's more difficult now because of the more inflationary/higher interest rate environment but I think we do need to invest, not double down on cuts.
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
Dear Labour MPs, if you vote for the government’s Welfare Bill today, you are voting to:
💔 Push 150,000 people into poverty.
👥 Create a two-tier welfare system.
✂️ Continue austerity in the welfare budget.
🥀 Ruin Labour’s reputation as a progressive party.
Please find the courage to vote against it!
💔 Push 150,000 people into poverty.
👥 Create a two-tier welfare system.
✂️ Continue austerity in the welfare budget.
🥀 Ruin Labour’s reputation as a progressive party.
Please find the courage to vote against it!
July 1, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Dear Labour MPs, if you vote for the government’s Welfare Bill today, you are voting to:
💔 Push 150,000 people into poverty.
👥 Create a two-tier welfare system.
✂️ Continue austerity in the welfare budget.
🥀 Ruin Labour’s reputation as a progressive party.
Please find the courage to vote against it!
💔 Push 150,000 people into poverty.
👥 Create a two-tier welfare system.
✂️ Continue austerity in the welfare budget.
🥀 Ruin Labour’s reputation as a progressive party.
Please find the courage to vote against it!
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
Dear Keir, if you can’t handle more than one major policy area at a time, then maybe being Prime Minister is not for you… Just saying. 🥀
Starmer says he lost grip on Labour welfare revolt due to focus on foreign affairs
Starmer says he lost grip on Labour welfare revolt due to focus on foreign affairs
Prime minister says he would ‘have liked to get to a better position with colleagues sooner than we did’
Keir Starmer has said he did not get a grip on the Labour rebellion over disability benefits earlier because he was focused on foreign affairs.
The prime minister acknowledged he had not got it right, and said he would have wanted to make the concessions earlier. “I’d have liked to get to a better position with colleagues sooner than we did,” Starmer said in an interview with the Sunday Times. “I’m putting this as context rather than an excuse. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
June 29, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Dear Keir, if you can’t handle more than one major policy area at a time, then maybe being Prime Minister is not for you… Just saying. 🥀
I've never had disability benefits, but I admit I have had times where (looking back) I probably should have, and it would have got me back on me feet faster.
I certainly know people with disabilities, whether from bad luck or just old age.
This bill is, frankly, indefensible.
I certainly know people with disabilities, whether from bad luck or just old age.
This bill is, frankly, indefensible.
Cutting PIP will do nothing to help people into work, when so many rely on this support to stay employed.
Slashing carers allowance will hurt those selflessly looking after loved ones and taking pressure off our NHS.
Slashing carers allowance will hurt those selflessly looking after loved ones and taking pressure off our NHS.
June 18, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I've never had disability benefits, but I admit I have had times where (looking back) I probably should have, and it would have got me back on me feet faster.
I certainly know people with disabilities, whether from bad luck or just old age.
This bill is, frankly, indefensible.
I certainly know people with disabilities, whether from bad luck or just old age.
This bill is, frankly, indefensible.
I actually think a war with Iran now makes less sense than the Iraq war.
It would be rewarding a government that, while, yes, technically an ally, has literally just done some pretty heinous things!
It would be rewarding a government that, while, yes, technically an ally, has literally just done some pretty heinous things!
“In 2003 Liberal Democrats lead the campaign against the Iraq war.
“Can the Government confirm that, if President Trump joins the war between Israel and Iran, today’s Labour government will not blindly follow the US into war again?”
@LibDemDaisy.bsky.social
“Can the Government confirm that, if President Trump joins the war between Israel and Iran, today’s Labour government will not blindly follow the US into war again?”
@LibDemDaisy.bsky.social
June 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I actually think a war with Iran now makes less sense than the Iraq war.
It would be rewarding a government that, while, yes, technically an ally, has literally just done some pretty heinous things!
It would be rewarding a government that, while, yes, technically an ally, has literally just done some pretty heinous things!
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
I’ve urged the Government to U-turn on planned cuts to Personal Independence Payments. PIP helps people stay clean, safe and independent - removing that support will push vulnerable people in #Woking and across the country into crisis.
www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk/news/scrap-c...
www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk/news/scrap-c...
Scrap 'cruel' cuts to PIP support, urges Forster
Woking MP Will Forster has urged the Government to scrap planned cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) as part of changes to disability benefits after new figures revealed that 83 per cent of l...
www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk
June 17, 2025 at 7:29 AM
I’ve urged the Government to U-turn on planned cuts to Personal Independence Payments. PIP helps people stay clean, safe and independent - removing that support will push vulnerable people in #Woking and across the country into crisis.
www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk/news/scrap-c...
www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk/news/scrap-c...
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
The proposed cut to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is hugely damaging. Not only will it see money taken away from those in need, but also from those who help care for them - who may lose their Carer's Allowance as a result. Today I pressed the Govt to rethink these changes.
June 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The proposed cut to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is hugely damaging. Not only will it see money taken away from those in need, but also from those who help care for them - who may lose their Carer's Allowance as a result. Today I pressed the Govt to rethink these changes.
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
If the cuts to welfare go ahead as drafted, there will be many more early deaths and many more headlines like these on Labour's watch.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Overhaul benefit system to protect vulnerable claimants, urge MPs
MPs say new laws and
www.bbc.co.uk
May 15, 2025 at 9:11 AM
If the cuts to welfare go ahead as drafted, there will be many more early deaths and many more headlines like these on Labour's watch.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
BREAKING: Mayors for Guaranteed Income say 20 studies show basic income increased employment.
"Not a single pilot has shown decreased employment among recipients of guaranteed income, and the vast majority of pilots have shown increased rates of full-time employment."
"Not a single pilot has shown decreased employment among recipients of guaranteed income, and the vast majority of pilots have shown increased rates of full-time employment."
May 14, 2025 at 1:10 AM
BREAKING: Mayors for Guaranteed Income say 20 studies show basic income increased employment.
"Not a single pilot has shown decreased employment among recipients of guaranteed income, and the vast majority of pilots have shown increased rates of full-time employment."
"Not a single pilot has shown decreased employment among recipients of guaranteed income, and the vast majority of pilots have shown increased rates of full-time employment."
The claim that immigration has "exploded" in the last 30 years comes up a lot followed by talking points about crime.
Well, if that's true, I can't help but note crime is WAY down over that period!
Well, if that's true, I can't help but note crime is WAY down over that period!
May 13, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The claim that immigration has "exploded" in the last 30 years comes up a lot followed by talking points about crime.
Well, if that's true, I can't help but note crime is WAY down over that period!
Well, if that's true, I can't help but note crime is WAY down over that period!
I think I'd be a fun Pope. Not a very religious one admittedly, but fun!
May 7, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I think I'd be a fun Pope. Not a very religious one admittedly, but fun!
Pretty sure it could cut it up to 100% but 40% is a pretty good next step.
PBO report found that a Guaranteed Basic Income can reduce poverty by 40% at just 5% of the cost of poverty.
Hours worked would remain virtually unchanged. This saves lives and taxpayers money.
Hours worked would remain virtually unchanged. This saves lives and taxpayers money.
May 5, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Pretty sure it could cut it up to 100% but 40% is a pretty good next step.
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
"Since the election, Labour has lost more than three times as many voters to the Lib Dems as to Reform" (Rachel Sylvester writes in the Observer today).
They don't act like they are concerned about *those* lost votes
They don't act like they are concerned about *those* lost votes
May 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
"Since the election, Labour has lost more than three times as many voters to the Lib Dems as to Reform" (Rachel Sylvester writes in the Observer today).
They don't act like they are concerned about *those* lost votes
They don't act like they are concerned about *those* lost votes
Off the wall bananas choices from Labour atm.
May 3, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Off the wall bananas choices from Labour atm.
Remember kids if doing something causes you to fail so badly it causes a wafe of fascists to win elections up and down the country... time to double down!!
No wonder Labour are getting crushed, amazingly short sighted.
No wonder Labour are getting crushed, amazingly short sighted.
Hearing those six voters all wrote “I hate Ed miliband” on their ballots
May 3, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Remember kids if doing something causes you to fail so badly it causes a wafe of fascists to win elections up and down the country... time to double down!!
No wonder Labour are getting crushed, amazingly short sighted.
No wonder Labour are getting crushed, amazingly short sighted.
Reposted by Stephen Richmond
What an opportunity for we Libs to develop some ideological definition! 🔶️🙏
It's this sort of thing that makes me think the Lib Dems have a real chance to 'breach containment' as it were.
They are the only major UK party that has the space to change the public's perception of them. The opinions on the rest seem very set.
They are the only major UK party that has the space to change the public's perception of them. The opinions on the rest seem very set.
Should probably make these quizes a bit harder next time! Here are the answers for those who are asking
May 2, 2025 at 6:54 PM
What an opportunity for we Libs to develop some ideological definition! 🔶️🙏
This is correct. I too was right all along and I agree with this.
For what little it's worth, my contribution to this morning's "here's why today's result proves how I was right all along" discourse is that it feels increasingly clear to me they should have reversed the NI cuts and gone all out on trying to fix public services.
May 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This is correct. I too was right all along and I agree with this.