Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
@willthong.com
💻 Release Engineer at a cybersecurity firm
🌹 Ex-Labour fundraiser, 2021-2023
🎓 Ex-Magdalene College, Cambridge fundraiser
🧑🍳 Even more formerly a MasterChef 2017 contestant
All opinions personal; RT ≠ endorsement
🌹 Ex-Labour fundraiser, 2021-2023
🎓 Ex-Magdalene College, Cambridge fundraiser
🧑🍳 Even more formerly a MasterChef 2017 contestant
All opinions personal; RT ≠ endorsement
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
A selection of fury from Labour MPs, ministers and advisors - “This is batshit crazy” “they are f-ing deluded” “did we watch the Tories and think, let’s have a bit of that?” “why are you slagging off your main rival and then putting him on the morning round to show everyone how much better he is”
November 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
A selection of fury from Labour MPs, ministers and advisors - “This is batshit crazy” “they are f-ing deluded” “did we watch the Tories and think, let’s have a bit of that?” “why are you slagging off your main rival and then putting him on the morning round to show everyone how much better he is”
The only political fight Labour’s leadership is willing to have is against Labour’s left flank. McSweeney is right that liberal navel gazing often stops us getting into power; but his analysis misses that remoulding the state into an image of ourselves is key to lasting change once we've got it.
Robbie Gibb issue is just one case where Labour has left in place people appointed by the Tories : Arif Ahmed at OfS, Kishwer and Reindorf at EHRC. Real self-sabotage.
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The only political fight Labour’s leadership is willing to have is against Labour’s left flank. McSweeney is right that liberal navel gazing often stops us getting into power; but his analysis misses that remoulding the state into an image of ourselves is key to lasting change once we've got it.
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
Robbie Gibb issue is just one case where Labour has left in place people appointed by the Tories : Arif Ahmed at OfS, Kishwer and Reindorf at EHRC. Real self-sabotage.
November 11, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Robbie Gibb issue is just one case where Labour has left in place people appointed by the Tories : Arif Ahmed at OfS, Kishwer and Reindorf at EHRC. Real self-sabotage.
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it
Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society.
It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...
renewal.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
1. It's impossible to stop people attempting to reach the UK to claim asylum.
2. If all other routes are closed then they will use small boats to attempt to reach the UK
3. The only way to "stop the boats" is to operate safe routes
/1
2. If all other routes are closed then they will use small boats to attempt to reach the UK
3. The only way to "stop the boats" is to operate safe routes
/1
It would now take a miracle for Labour to avoid defeat at the next election
November 9, 2025 at 10:53 AM
1. It's impossible to stop people attempting to reach the UK to claim asylum.
2. If all other routes are closed then they will use small boats to attempt to reach the UK
3. The only way to "stop the boats" is to operate safe routes
/1
2. If all other routes are closed then they will use small boats to attempt to reach the UK
3. The only way to "stop the boats" is to operate safe routes
/1
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
Alan carr winning the game and then winning psychologically by forcing the others to forgive him immediately....total superiority
November 6, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Alan carr winning the game and then winning psychologically by forcing the others to forgive him immediately....total superiority
Given the (clever, good) shenanigans he pulled to betray the traitors by voting out Cat rather than David, Joe really should've realised how sus it made him look and clearly explained his actions to the other Faithfuls #TheTraitors
November 6, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Given the (clever, good) shenanigans he pulled to betray the traitors by voting out Cat rather than David, Joe really should've realised how sus it made him look and clearly explained his actions to the other Faithfuls #TheTraitors
Frankly deserved the knighthood for this iconic moment alone 👏 youtu.be/3E4s0RqCBzU
November 4, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Frankly deserved the knighthood for this iconic moment alone 👏 youtu.be/3E4s0RqCBzU
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
My letter in the Guardian about why the Equality and Human Rights Commission's guidance on sex and gender is unworkable and goes far beyond what the Supreme Court judgement actually said.
November 4, 2025 at 10:39 AM
My letter in the Guardian about why the Equality and Human Rights Commission's guidance on sex and gender is unworkable and goes far beyond what the Supreme Court judgement actually said.
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
The reality is we have the highest tax burden in our history, large and increasingly expensive public debt, and yet *low* taxes on average earners vs historical trend.
If we want better public services, *we* need to pay for them. But almost no-one dares to actually say that.
If we want better public services, *we* need to pay for them. But almost no-one dares to actually say that.
November 3, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The reality is we have the highest tax burden in our history, large and increasingly expensive public debt, and yet *low* taxes on average earners vs historical trend.
If we want better public services, *we* need to pay for them. But almost no-one dares to actually say that.
If we want better public services, *we* need to pay for them. But almost no-one dares to actually say that.
I think a key part of how the Traitors have been so successful in the celebrity version of #TheTraitors is that they're not motivated by the prize pot - they're just trying to play the game well, and that demands teamwork. (also for career reasons they have more invested in not coming off nasty)
November 2, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I think a key part of how the Traitors have been so successful in the celebrity version of #TheTraitors is that they're not motivated by the prize pot - they're just trying to play the game well, and that demands teamwork. (also for career reasons they have more invested in not coming off nasty)
This from John Healey is just profoundly silly. Of course the language we communicate in isn't the same as the language we use to describe our politics. "progressive consensus" is a perfectly good label to describe "whinging about brown folk in adverts is racist, and weird to boot".
October 31, 2025 at 1:01 PM
This from John Healey is just profoundly silly. Of course the language we communicate in isn't the same as the language we use to describe our politics. "progressive consensus" is a perfectly good label to describe "whinging about brown folk in adverts is racist, and weird to boot".
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
ladies and gentlemen...we got him
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
ladies and gentlemen...we got him
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
Increasingly I think the point of a wealth tax is not to raise money but to create space for raising income tax. The lethal thing in politics is when the compliant middle class feels like they have been taken for mugs; if you want to get money out of them, someone else needs to pay more too.
October 29, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Increasingly I think the point of a wealth tax is not to raise money but to create space for raising income tax. The lethal thing in politics is when the compliant middle class feels like they have been taken for mugs; if you want to get money out of them, someone else needs to pay more too.
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
Ahead of Budget, where do voters stand on tax and the dilemmas facing government?
Big new @persuasionuk.bsky.social report out today on this.
TL;DR as risky as breaching the manifesto is for Lab - failing on public services, cost of living and child poverty is *far riskier* for Lab.
🧵
Big new @persuasionuk.bsky.social report out today on this.
TL;DR as risky as breaching the manifesto is for Lab - failing on public services, cost of living and child poverty is *far riskier* for Lab.
🧵
October 29, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Ahead of Budget, where do voters stand on tax and the dilemmas facing government?
Big new @persuasionuk.bsky.social report out today on this.
TL;DR as risky as breaching the manifesto is for Lab - failing on public services, cost of living and child poverty is *far riskier* for Lab.
🧵
Big new @persuasionuk.bsky.social report out today on this.
TL;DR as risky as breaching the manifesto is for Lab - failing on public services, cost of living and child poverty is *far riskier* for Lab.
🧵
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
A strategy based on 'well, what if everything political science tells us, everything economics tells us and everything history tells us is wrong?' is ending in a predictable fashion.
It's increasingly obvious that Labour's strategy - call it Starmerism, Blue Labour, whatever - has got it badly wrong. It has alienated the party's core vote while failing to win over those leaning to Reform. There was no shortage of people warning them they were getting it wrong either.
Three years ago, Labour was polling in the 50s.
October 28, 2025 at 12:07 PM
A strategy based on 'well, what if everything political science tells us, everything economics tells us and everything history tells us is wrong?' is ending in a predictable fashion.
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
On Pochin Labour took the lead and went hard against her, not on day 5, but from the start: the result has been a Tory and Reform smash up. It would be nice to hope lessons have been learned.
October 26, 2025 at 6:25 PM
On Pochin Labour took the lead and went hard against her, not on day 5, but from the start: the result has been a Tory and Reform smash up. It would be nice to hope lessons have been learned.
Hot damn Wes on fire here - Number 10 are finally allowing Cabinet ministers to say what the average Labour MP thinks: racism is bad, actually, regardless of how chill about it Taliban Nige is
October 26, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Hot damn Wes on fire here - Number 10 are finally allowing Cabinet ministers to say what the average Labour MP thinks: racism is bad, actually, regardless of how chill about it Taliban Nige is
Mind-bending incompetence - some days it feels like Starmer's monkey paw got handed over to Taliban Nige in July 2024
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Manhunt for asylum seeker jailed for sexual assault mistakenly released
Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu sparked nationwide protests after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Mind-bending incompetence - some days it feels like Starmer's monkey paw got handed over to Taliban Nige in July 2024
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
Katie Lam’s comments stink of desperation.
This crass racism used to mean she’d be kicked out of the Tories but not now.
The Conservative Party seem to be falling all over themselves to chase the tail of Tommy - two names - Robinson.
It’s becoming like the BNP in a twin set & pearls.
This crass racism used to mean she’d be kicked out of the Tories but not now.
The Conservative Party seem to be falling all over themselves to chase the tail of Tommy - two names - Robinson.
It’s becoming like the BNP in a twin set & pearls.
October 22, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Katie Lam’s comments stink of desperation.
This crass racism used to mean she’d be kicked out of the Tories but not now.
The Conservative Party seem to be falling all over themselves to chase the tail of Tommy - two names - Robinson.
It’s becoming like the BNP in a twin set & pearls.
This crass racism used to mean she’d be kicked out of the Tories but not now.
The Conservative Party seem to be falling all over themselves to chase the tail of Tommy - two names - Robinson.
It’s becoming like the BNP in a twin set & pearls.
How is this not the line?! It's almost like the PM's conference speech never happened 🤦♀️
Katie Lam’s comments stink of desperation.
This crass racism used to mean she’d be kicked out of the Tories but not now.
The Conservative Party seem to be falling all over themselves to chase the tail of Tommy - two names - Robinson.
It’s becoming like the BNP in a twin set & pearls.
This crass racism used to mean she’d be kicked out of the Tories but not now.
The Conservative Party seem to be falling all over themselves to chase the tail of Tommy - two names - Robinson.
It’s becoming like the BNP in a twin set & pearls.
October 22, 2025 at 12:29 PM
How is this not the line?! It's almost like the PM's conference speech never happened 🤦♀️
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
I really hope this scene from Peacemaker stops being relevant soon
October 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I really hope this scene from Peacemaker stops being relevant soon
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
Good thread on how a big part of the problem of British politics is big media figures with no real interest in being across the details.
Peston tells Lam that she said something that he "genuinely didn't understand". "But who are these people who came legally who should leave?"
This does not look like faux naivety.
He should know the answer!
She misleads in her answer to him.
So he gives a misleading summary of her policy on air.
This does not look like faux naivety.
He should know the answer!
She misleads in her answer to him.
So he gives a misleading summary of her policy on air.
October 21, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Good thread on how a big part of the problem of British politics is big media figures with no real interest in being across the details.
Reposted by Will Reid-Tong (née Thong)
The thing about the Overton window is that it just shifts by default if you let people propose insane policies like removing people with indefinite leave to remain without robust challenge. It doesn't just go away, it slowly leaks into the mainstream water supply unless you properly hose it down.
October 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
The thing about the Overton window is that it just shifts by default if you let people propose insane policies like removing people with indefinite leave to remain without robust challenge. It doesn't just go away, it slowly leaks into the mainstream water supply unless you properly hose it down.