Steve Rayson
@steverayson.bsky.social
Author of The Fall of the Red Wall and Badgeland. Co-founder Buzzsumo and Kineo. My latest book is Collapse of the Conservatives.
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Steve Rayson
@steverayson.bsky.social
· Dec 5
My new book 'Collapse of the Conservatives: Volatile Voters, Broken Britain and a Punishment Election' is now out! You can get a copy at amzn.to/48fzWsp
Reposted by Steve Rayson
Marginal tax rates for graduates with student loans – add interest and another 6% for postgrads.
£25,000: 37%
£50,270: 51%
£100,000: 71%
£25,000: 37%
£50,270: 51%
£100,000: 71%
February 1, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Marginal tax rates for graduates with student loans – add interest and another 6% for postgrads.
£25,000: 37%
£50,270: 51%
£100,000: 71%
£25,000: 37%
£50,270: 51%
£100,000: 71%
Reposted by Steve Rayson
I'm not prone to exaggeration but this is probably the biggest scoop I've ever been involved in
Mandelson's partner took £10,000 from Epstein to pay for his osteopath course while Mandelson was de facto UK deputy prime minister, according to new files
more to follow
www.ft.com/content/c950...
Mandelson's partner took £10,000 from Epstein to pay for his osteopath course while Mandelson was de facto UK deputy prime minister, according to new files
more to follow
www.ft.com/content/c950...
Jeffrey Epstein sent £10,000 to Mandelson’s husband, emails show
Epstein sent Reinaldo Avila da Silva payment in 2009
www.ft.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:34 PM
I'm not prone to exaggeration but this is probably the biggest scoop I've ever been involved in
Mandelson's partner took £10,000 from Epstein to pay for his osteopath course while Mandelson was de facto UK deputy prime minister, according to new files
more to follow
www.ft.com/content/c950...
Mandelson's partner took £10,000 from Epstein to pay for his osteopath course while Mandelson was de facto UK deputy prime minister, according to new files
more to follow
www.ft.com/content/c950...
Reposted by Steve Rayson
My first remarks since being arrested last night.
January 30, 2026 at 11:30 PM
My first remarks since being arrested last night.
Reposted by Steve Rayson
"People sense something fraudulent in the mismatch between his sense of authority – and the complete absence in reality," author David Runciman tells Lewis Goodall.
From historic win to record low polling, how has it gone so wrong, so fast, for Starmer?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/how-...
From historic win to record low polling, how has it gone so wrong, so fast, for Starmer?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/how-...
How has Keir Starmer's political power been spent so quickly? | The News Agents
Author and academic David Runciman tells Lewis Goodall why he thinks Keir Starmer has plummeted in public opinion since coming to power – and where the PM’s strategy has failed.
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 12:41 PM
"People sense something fraudulent in the mismatch between his sense of authority – and the complete absence in reality," author David Runciman tells Lewis Goodall.
From historic win to record low polling, how has it gone so wrong, so fast, for Starmer?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/how-...
From historic win to record low polling, how has it gone so wrong, so fast, for Starmer?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/how-...
Reposted by Steve Rayson
This is such a facile argument. Sure, let's have a conversation about how universities should be funded. But let's also talk interest rates, debt that functions like an extra tax, repayment thresholds, and what that's actually doing to millions of young people who did everything they were told to do
2026: Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to"
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
2020: That time Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would scrap university tuition fees
January 29, 2026 at 2:44 PM
This is such a facile argument. Sure, let's have a conversation about how universities should be funded. But let's also talk interest rates, debt that functions like an extra tax, repayment thresholds, and what that's actually doing to millions of young people who did everything they were told to do
Reposted by Steve Rayson
Spoke to Shleagh Fogarty yesterday sbout why the Chancellor is wrong: our “student loan” system is not remotely fair. It’s regressive and embedding inter and intra generational wealth inequality. It’s not a loan system, it’s a bad grad tax in all but name.
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
Student loans are 'fair', says Rachel Reeves, amid backlash | LBC
YouTube video by LBC
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Spoke to Shleagh Fogarty yesterday sbout why the Chancellor is wrong: our “student loan” system is not remotely fair. It’s regressive and embedding inter and intra generational wealth inequality. It’s not a loan system, it’s a bad grad tax in all but name.
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
Reposted by Steve Rayson
Pollsters shouldn't put this sort of thing out there, it's irresponsible.
January 28, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Pollsters shouldn't put this sort of thing out there, it's irresponsible.
Reposted by Steve Rayson
At the 2024 election, Labour won 135 rural or semi-rural seats — nearly a third of its Commons force
If an election were held tomorrow, our research shows the party would win just two semi-rural seats, and not one fully rural seat, writes More in Common's Louis O'Geran
What's gone so badly wrong?
If an election were held tomorrow, our research shows the party would win just two semi-rural seats, and not one fully rural seat, writes More in Common's Louis O'Geran
What's gone so badly wrong?
Labour has its work cut out avoiding a rural wipeout
A general election held tomorrow could see Labour win zero rural constituencies. Why has the British countryside fallen out so badly with Keir Star...
www.politicshome.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:43 AM
At the 2024 election, Labour won 135 rural or semi-rural seats — nearly a third of its Commons force
If an election were held tomorrow, our research shows the party would win just two semi-rural seats, and not one fully rural seat, writes More in Common's Louis O'Geran
What's gone so badly wrong?
If an election were held tomorrow, our research shows the party would win just two semi-rural seats, and not one fully rural seat, writes More in Common's Louis O'Geran
What's gone so badly wrong?
Reposted by Steve Rayson
Not the sort of letter committed to paper by a well man. "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"
January 19, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Not the sort of letter committed to paper by a well man. "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"
Reposted by Steve Rayson
The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.
Reposted by Steve Rayson
Great piece on pressures on European state pension schemes including this chart showing comparative cost now and projection to 2070. UK costs relatively low in comparison to most others www.ft.com/content/9c3c...
January 15, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Great piece on pressures on European state pension schemes including this chart showing comparative cost now and projection to 2070. UK costs relatively low in comparison to most others www.ft.com/content/9c3c...
Reposted by Steve Rayson
Great review by @PeterKellner1 of The British General Election of 2024 www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/7209...
Half the picture: what ‘The British General Election of 2024’ doesn’t reveal
This 22nd book in the series lacks something that made its predecessors so compelling—an understanding of the people involved in the campaign, not jus...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Great review by @PeterKellner1 of The British General Election of 2024 www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/7209...
Reposted by Steve Rayson
In their hearts, MPs from all parties know that Britain needs a new, fair and affordable plan for pensions. My Substack (subscriptions are free) argues that It will take guts, but one might be on the way
kellnerp.substack.com/p/can-britai...
kellnerp.substack.com/p/can-britai...
Can Britain succeed where France has failed?
Needed: a fair, affordable plan for pensions. It will take guts, but might be on the way
kellnerp.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:05 AM
In their hearts, MPs from all parties know that Britain needs a new, fair and affordable plan for pensions. My Substack (subscriptions are free) argues that It will take guts, but one might be on the way
kellnerp.substack.com/p/can-britai...
kellnerp.substack.com/p/can-britai...
Reposted by Steve Rayson
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Slashing jury trials could clear courts backlog within a decade, says Lammy
Exclusive: Lord chancellor urges MPs to back judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and Wales
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Steve Rayson
ladies, it's ok because only paying subscribers can make/distribute deepfake porn of you and your children now www.ft.com/content/c24d...
Elon Musk’s xAI restricts Grok after outcry over sexualised images
Start-up limits use of image generation system to paid users following spread of deepfakes and child sex abuse material
www.ft.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:36 AM
ladies, it's ok because only paying subscribers can make/distribute deepfake porn of you and your children now www.ft.com/content/c24d...
How is this any better?
January 9, 2026 at 12:13 PM
How is this any better?
Reposted by Steve Rayson
So many reasons I could not cut it in politics, but one is I would just laugh inappropriately too much. Imagine, you’re at a meeting of senior leaders and the CEO comes out with this crap.
Keir Starmer has this morning urged Cabinet to keep its nerve amid grim opinion polling (today’s YouGov put Labour in third place behind Reform & Tories)
“Governments do not lose because polls go down. They lose when they lose belief or nerve. We will do neither,” he said
“Governments do not lose because polls go down. They lose when they lose belief or nerve. We will do neither,” he said
January 6, 2026 at 2:26 PM
So many reasons I could not cut it in politics, but one is I would just laugh inappropriately too much. Imagine, you’re at a meeting of senior leaders and the CEO comes out with this crap.
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter
January 6, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter
Reposted by Steve Rayson
During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover.
January 4, 2026 at 2:36 AM
During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover.
Reposted by Steve Rayson
These freaks want territorial expansion and they know Trump will do everything he can to deliver.
This isn’t just a tweet from some random asshole either. This is Stephen Miller’s wife. Miller was in the room with Trump during the kidnapping of Maduro.
This isn’t just a tweet from some random asshole either. This is Stephen Miller’s wife. Miller was in the room with Trump during the kidnapping of Maduro.
January 3, 2026 at 9:22 PM
These freaks want territorial expansion and they know Trump will do everything he can to deliver.
This isn’t just a tweet from some random asshole either. This is Stephen Miller’s wife. Miller was in the room with Trump during the kidnapping of Maduro.
This isn’t just a tweet from some random asshole either. This is Stephen Miller’s wife. Miller was in the room with Trump during the kidnapping of Maduro.
Reposted by Steve Rayson
European weakness on full display by these horribly contorted responses from Merz, Macron and Starmer - neither condoning nor condemning US actions in Venezuela
Such weakness only risks making the Europeans more vulnerable (ie Greenland)
Such weakness only risks making the Europeans more vulnerable (ie Greenland)
January 3, 2026 at 7:43 PM
European weakness on full display by these horribly contorted responses from Merz, Macron and Starmer - neither condoning nor condemning US actions in Venezuela
Such weakness only risks making the Europeans more vulnerable (ie Greenland)
Such weakness only risks making the Europeans more vulnerable (ie Greenland)
Reposted by Steve Rayson
LOL
👺 Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia backs Maduro, says disputes must be settled through dialogue
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned what it called US armed aggression against Venezuela on 3 January and said it is deeply concerned.
www.pravda.com.ua
January 3, 2026 at 11:41 AM
LOL
Reposted by Steve Rayson
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
Reposted by Steve Rayson
“Who would move to here from the US, Canada, Europe, South Korea or Australia for potentially lower wages, exorbitant visa fees and no certainty of being able to stay very long?” asks @benansell.bsky.social.
Labour’s Mr Micawber politics
The government hopes that ‘something will turn up’ to produce growth, but curbing immigration will only harm the economy
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
December 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
“Who would move to here from the US, Canada, Europe, South Korea or Australia for potentially lower wages, exorbitant visa fees and no certainty of being able to stay very long?” asks @benansell.bsky.social.