Charlie W
@charlie-w.bsky.social
Officially … advocacy for low energy buildings and active travel. In reality, a running commentary on what I’m reading or doing. I also journal (intermittently) at groupbuilding.net. Passivhaus Certified Designer.
Also, isn’t the point of triangulation to park an issue so that you can use precious legislative & advocacy time for other things? This immigration thing just goes on and on (in addition to being crap).
November 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Also, isn’t the point of triangulation to park an issue so that you can use precious legislative & advocacy time for other things? This immigration thing just goes on and on (in addition to being crap).
Not seeing a whole lot of ‘uniting the left’ activity from Labour today, tbf. They have the strongest position (most MPs), so are responsible for using it well, I would say.
November 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Not seeing a whole lot of ‘uniting the left’ activity from Labour today, tbf. They have the strongest position (most MPs), so are responsible for using it well, I would say.
There’s no breakthrough into a liberal nirvana, the best case is an uneasy truce, arrived at gradually. People don’t have the cognitive chops to re-order their values annually.
"my least woke opinion is---"
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
November 16, 2025 at 11:41 AM
There’s no breakthrough into a liberal nirvana, the best case is an uneasy truce, arrived at gradually. People don’t have the cognitive chops to re-order their values annually.
Hoping for Pluribus that the crunch issue of value - what do the Others live for, what is their purpose? - will be broached soon.
November 16, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Hoping for Pluribus that the crunch issue of value - what do the Others live for, what is their purpose? - will be broached soon.
In other news, Pluribus is not bad. The lead character reminds me of my ex, which is a bit triggering … but at the same time a brave decision by the show creators, and I applaud it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM
In other news, Pluribus is not bad. The lead character reminds me of my ex, which is a bit triggering … but at the same time a brave decision by the show creators, and I applaud it.
A full afternoon spent in the misery of coaching a special needs kid through maths homework. There is extra, remedial homework. And you go at a third of the normal speed. If a mis-step is possible, your kid will make it. What’s 80-9? Counts on fingers. 81.
November 15, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A full afternoon spent in the misery of coaching a special needs kid through maths homework. There is extra, remedial homework. And you go at a third of the normal speed. If a mis-step is possible, your kid will make it. What’s 80-9? Counts on fingers. 81.
Reposted by Charlie W
When Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico sneered at EU support for Ukraine and told students who defended it to “go fight there”, they simply stood up and walked out. In one quiet, powerful gesture, these young people showed more moral courage than the man leading their country.💙💛
November 15, 2025 at 11:37 AM
When Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico sneered at EU support for Ukraine and told students who defended it to “go fight there”, they simply stood up and walked out. In one quiet, powerful gesture, these young people showed more moral courage than the man leading their country.💙💛
Must go do tasks, but first: some chat on here about how Labour people divide. Are many of them dull white centrists because old (and actually a bit on the right)? Do they support 'sensibilism' and 'managerialism'? I don't see the divide that way. I see it as supporting the honest over careerists.
November 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Must go do tasks, but first: some chat on here about how Labour people divide. Are many of them dull white centrists because old (and actually a bit on the right)? Do they support 'sensibilism' and 'managerialism'? I don't see the divide that way. I see it as supporting the honest over careerists.
There will be a budget, our taxes will change by some moderate amount in one or more dimensions, hopefully it will be a bit fairer than before, the sun will continue to rise.
November 14, 2025 at 1:27 PM
There will be a budget, our taxes will change by some moderate amount in one or more dimensions, hopefully it will be a bit fairer than before, the sun will continue to rise.
Iiuir the Treasury _has_ to do a certain amount of inter-departmental consultation on its budget, because that's how the OBR has been set up. It's completely reasonable to model some proposals. It's not flip-flopping to evaluate them.
November 14, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Iiuir the Treasury _has_ to do a certain amount of inter-departmental consultation on its budget, because that's how the OBR has been set up. It's completely reasonable to model some proposals. It's not flip-flopping to evaluate them.
Well gosh, the BBC is reporting very moderately and carefully here. Which is good! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Rachel Reeves backs off from plans to raise income tax rates in Budget
The chancellor had been widely expected to increase income tax rates, which would have broken a manifesto promise.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Well gosh, the BBC is reporting very moderately and carefully here. Which is good! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Just to take a step back here. The below is, tbh, a fucking mess of an analysis.
November 14, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Just to take a step back here. The below is, tbh, a fucking mess of an analysis.
Reposted by Charlie W
This is also why Finland is the one military I’d bet on.
This would be great but it’s kinda funny that Germany would still have a small total force + reserve than Finland (wartime strength 280,000 and total reserve about 900,000)
www.ft.com/content/6cbf...
www.ft.com/content/6cbf...
November 13, 2025 at 10:27 PM
This is also why Finland is the one military I’d bet on.
It's fair to expect good government. It is a team effort, though, and the team is the whole country. Usually, this doesn't need saying; it's understood.
November 14, 2025 at 9:40 AM
It's fair to expect good government. It is a team effort, though, and the team is the whole country. Usually, this doesn't need saying; it's understood.
Reposted by Charlie W
Oh sure, it looks like they’ve briefed overnight that income tax won’t be increased. But that’s ruling something out, not leaking the contents of the Budget. I very much doubt they set the income tax hare running in the first place.
November 14, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Oh sure, it looks like they’ve briefed overnight that income tax won’t be increased. But that’s ruling something out, not leaking the contents of the Budget. I very much doubt they set the income tax hare running in the first place.
Even though I'd prefer a less fevered and more confident approach by all (government, media, all of you lot tbh). Give the Reform type saboteurs less space. Pretty rancid out there at the moment.
November 14, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Even though I'd prefer a less fevered and more confident approach by all (government, media, all of you lot tbh). Give the Reform type saboteurs less space. Pretty rancid out there at the moment.
Interesting thread, so am keeping an open mind about 'abandoning plans to abandon plans' type stories.
There is a small subset of pro-Starmer ultras on here who either genuinely don’t understand that budget stories *are directly briefed out by the Treasury, with permission* or pretend not to know that. And so they claim the plans never existed, haven’t changed, etc. It is maddening, and dumb as fuck.
November 14, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Interesting thread, so am keeping an open mind about 'abandoning plans to abandon plans' type stories.
Reposted by Charlie W
Every office has an executive tier whose emails are like:
saw on news , , can we replce complianc dept with web 3
and a worker tier whose emails are like:
Dear Jim,
First of all, I *love* this idea! Unfortunately, I spoke with Legal and identified a few issues with this approach. For starters…
saw on news , , can we replce complianc dept with web 3
and a worker tier whose emails are like:
Dear Jim,
First of all, I *love* this idea! Unfortunately, I spoke with Legal and identified a few issues with this approach. For starters…
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 13, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Every office has an executive tier whose emails are like:
saw on news , , can we replce complianc dept with web 3
and a worker tier whose emails are like:
Dear Jim,
First of all, I *love* this idea! Unfortunately, I spoke with Legal and identified a few issues with this approach. For starters…
saw on news , , can we replce complianc dept with web 3
and a worker tier whose emails are like:
Dear Jim,
First of all, I *love* this idea! Unfortunately, I spoke with Legal and identified a few issues with this approach. For starters…
For @sabsldn.bsky.social xmas begins after you’ve seen this. Tickets for next Weds!
November 12, 2025 at 7:01 PM
For @sabsldn.bsky.social xmas begins after you’ve seen this. Tickets for next Weds!
Tuning in to Wes on NHS reform (his official job) and hard to make out much of substance tbh. Advanced Foundation Trusts?
November 12, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Tuning in to Wes on NHS reform (his official job) and hard to make out much of substance tbh. Advanced Foundation Trusts?
Having been to a CLP dinner where Andy Burnham was the guest speaker, I can actually visualise voting for him, although not 100% keen on any such change tbh.
November 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Having been to a CLP dinner where Andy Burnham was the guest speaker, I can actually visualise voting for him, although not 100% keen on any such change tbh.
Reposted by Charlie W
Labour members favour Andy Burnham for leader over other senior party figures by substantial numbers
Andy Burnham 80% vs 12% Shabana Mahmood
Andy Burnham 77% vs 13% Ed Miliband
Andy Burnham 74% vs 19% Wes Streeting
Andy Burnham 72% vs 20% Yvette Cooper
Andy Burnham 67% vs 24% Angela Rayner
Andy Burnham 80% vs 12% Shabana Mahmood
Andy Burnham 77% vs 13% Ed Miliband
Andy Burnham 74% vs 19% Wes Streeting
Andy Burnham 72% vs 20% Yvette Cooper
Andy Burnham 67% vs 24% Angela Rayner
September 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Labour members favour Andy Burnham for leader over other senior party figures by substantial numbers
Andy Burnham 80% vs 12% Shabana Mahmood
Andy Burnham 77% vs 13% Ed Miliband
Andy Burnham 74% vs 19% Wes Streeting
Andy Burnham 72% vs 20% Yvette Cooper
Andy Burnham 67% vs 24% Angela Rayner
Andy Burnham 80% vs 12% Shabana Mahmood
Andy Burnham 77% vs 13% Ed Miliband
Andy Burnham 74% vs 19% Wes Streeting
Andy Burnham 72% vs 20% Yvette Cooper
Andy Burnham 67% vs 24% Angela Rayner
Streeting has no chance with members. None. What would be the point of attempting any of this?
November 12, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Streeting has no chance with members. None. What would be the point of attempting any of this?
McSweeney gone yet?
November 12, 2025 at 10:41 AM
McSweeney gone yet?
Reposted by Charlie W
Personal note: London has been home for a very, very long time, but as of today, I am also officially a Brit - that is to say, a British citizen. I feel relieved and I feel grateful - but not, perhaps, in the forelock-tugging way GB News/Starmer expect a new immigrant to be.
November 12, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Personal note: London has been home for a very, very long time, but as of today, I am also officially a Brit - that is to say, a British citizen. I feel relieved and I feel grateful - but not, perhaps, in the forelock-tugging way GB News/Starmer expect a new immigrant to be.