Craig Smith
@craigally1.bsky.social
Public affairs person in Scottish third sector. Interested in mental health, politics and lots invetween! All views my own
52 -48 strikes again
New Scottish Independence poll, Ipsos 27 Nov - 3 Dec (changes vs 12-18 Jun):
Yes ~ 47% (+1)
No ~ 43% (nc)
Don't Know ~ 9% (-1)
Excluding Don't Knows (/ vs 2014):
Yes ~ 52% (nc / +7)
No ~ 48% (nc / -7)
Yes ~ 47% (+1)
No ~ 43% (nc)
Don't Know ~ 9% (-1)
Excluding Don't Knows (/ vs 2014):
Yes ~ 52% (nc / +7)
No ~ 48% (nc / -7)
December 10, 2025 at 11:14 PM
52 -48 strikes again
Reposted by Craig Smith
Severe malnutrition among under-5s in Gaza City has tripled in two weeks, charity says
Severe malnutrition among under-5s in Gaza City has tripled in two weeks, charity says
MSF says number of people needing care for malnutrition has quadrupled since May and blames Israeli ‘policy of starvation’
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Middle East crisis – live updates
The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has said that rates of severe malnutrition among children under five at its Gaza City clinic have tripled in the last two weeks as starvation in the Israeli-besieged strip worsens.
The global aid community has sounded the alarm as Gaza descends deeper into mass starvation, with daily deaths from starvation reported as Israel allows only a trickle of aid into the territory. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
July 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Severe malnutrition among under-5s in Gaza City has tripled in two weeks, charity says
Reposted by Craig Smith
Absolutely incredible turnout for Budapest Pride! So proud of all the organizers, including some old friends, who estimate hundreds of thousands— major embarrassment to Orban
June 28, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Absolutely incredible turnout for Budapest Pride! So proud of all the organizers, including some old friends, who estimate hundreds of thousands— major embarrassment to Orban
Creating a two tier sytem where new claimants are hugely disadvantaged though the 4 point #PIP rule, really isn’t a ‘massive concession’, it’s blatantly unfair. What happens to people who report a change of circumstance will they be treated as new? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer offers ‘massive concessions’ on welfare bill to Labour rebels
Exclusive: Leading rebels say they have been promised significant changes to planned cuts which could help bill avoid defeat
www.theguardian.com
June 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Creating a two tier sytem where new claimants are hugely disadvantaged though the 4 point #PIP rule, really isn’t a ‘massive concession’, it’s blatantly unfair. What happens to people who report a change of circumstance will they be treated as new? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Embracing my 40s and ‘learning’ to garden. Though I think I may have killed the lawn… black dead moss wasn’t the look I was going for
June 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Embracing my 40s and ‘learning’ to garden. Though I think I may have killed the lawn… black dead moss wasn’t the look I was going for
No money for social security and risible threats that the welfare system will ‘collapse’ without cuts, but enough money for nuclear weapon capable jets.
Talk about priorities
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Talk about priorities
www.bbc.com/news/article...
UK to purchase nuclear-carrying F-35A fighter jets
Downing Street says the move is "the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation".
www.bbc.com
June 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
No money for social security and risible threats that the welfare system will ‘collapse’ without cuts, but enough money for nuclear weapon capable jets.
Talk about priorities
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Talk about priorities
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Craig Smith
heraldscotland.com/news/25152274.pam-duncan-glancy-urges-msps-reject-assisted-dying-bill/
@andrewlearmonth.bsky.social
(2/4)
@andrewlearmonth.bsky.social
(2/4)
May 12, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Sod’s Law… on train home to start annual leave, and dumped out in Bathgate due to fire on track… joys happy holidays 😂
March 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Sod’s Law… on train home to start annual leave, and dumped out in Bathgate due to fire on track… joys happy holidays 😂
From the ever helpful Scottish Parliament SPICe spice-spotlight.scot/2024/12/17/s...
SG are (rightly) spending £314m in additional spend on Adult Disability Payment (ADP) above what they receive from UK gov for equivalent spend on PIP
If PIP spending decreases that funding gap will grow and grow
SG are (rightly) spending £314m in additional spend on Adult Disability Payment (ADP) above what they receive from UK gov for equivalent spend on PIP
If PIP spending decreases that funding gap will grow and grow
Social Security Budget 2025-26
The social security budget for 2025-26 is approaching £7 billion. This blog looks at what that money is spent on.
spice-spotlight.scot
March 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
From the ever helpful Scottish Parliament SPICe spice-spotlight.scot/2024/12/17/s...
SG are (rightly) spending £314m in additional spend on Adult Disability Payment (ADP) above what they receive from UK gov for equivalent spend on PIP
If PIP spending decreases that funding gap will grow and grow
SG are (rightly) spending £314m in additional spend on Adult Disability Payment (ADP) above what they receive from UK gov for equivalent spend on PIP
If PIP spending decreases that funding gap will grow and grow
The UK Gov’s green paper on social security says next to nothing about the impact of the proposals on the Scottish social security system and those supported by it. But knock on impacts, particularly to Adult Disability Payment (ADP), could be significant:
March 18, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The UK Gov’s green paper on social security says next to nothing about the impact of the proposals on the Scottish social security system and those supported by it. But knock on impacts, particularly to Adult Disability Payment (ADP), could be significant:
Reposted by Craig Smith
PIP is going to the gateway to both PIP and LCWRA after 2028 so the four point thing is a huge everyone issue.
March 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM
PIP is going to the gateway to both PIP and LCWRA after 2028 so the four point thing is a huge everyone issue.
Reposted by Craig Smith
Benefit reforms unveiled by Liz Kendall may have 'severe' impact on Scottish budget, warns SNP
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Benefit reforms may have 'severe' impact on Scottish budget, warns SNP
‘Pro-work’ UK welfare shake-up to address status quo that is “failing the very people it is supposed to help and holding our country back”
www.scotsman.com
March 18, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Benefit reforms unveiled by Liz Kendall may have 'severe' impact on Scottish budget, warns SNP
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Craig Smith
Today the UK Government Minister announced what look like massive cuts to disability benefits. The Resolution Foundation has calculated around a million (of 3.6 million total) PIP/ ADP recipients stand to lose out. Here's my first take on the announcement.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19020...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19020...
Thread by @SalWitcher on Thread Reader App
@SalWitcher: Here's my 1st take on @leicesterliz's statement today on proposals for disability benefits, following weeks of govt scaremongering & demonising sick & disabled people, placing their menta...
threadreaderapp.com
March 18, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Today the UK Government Minister announced what look like massive cuts to disability benefits. The Resolution Foundation has calculated around a million (of 3.6 million total) PIP/ ADP recipients stand to lose out. Here's my first take on the announcement.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19020...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19020...
Surprise surprise Newsnight again conflates PIP with economic inactivity and unemployment…. PIP is not an income replacement benefit
March 10, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Surprise surprise Newsnight again conflates PIP with economic inactivity and unemployment…. PIP is not an income replacement benefit
Reposted by Craig Smith
Labour’s reported disability benefit cuts are not just about budgeting but a belief: paid work is a virtue (and people who don’t perform it deserve a worse life than everyone else).
My col. in tomorrow’s paper. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My col. in tomorrow’s paper. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
There is a shameful British tradition of demonising disabled people. Why is Labour reigniting it? | Frances Ryan
Ministers run away from a wealth tax and then concoct a punitive benefits system. They have made that choice and it’s immoral, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com
March 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Labour’s reported disability benefit cuts are not just about budgeting but a belief: paid work is a virtue (and people who don’t perform it deserve a worse life than everyone else).
My col. in tomorrow’s paper. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My col. in tomorrow’s paper. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Craig Smith
Millions more Disabled people face even worse poverty if the Govt makes cuts to vital disability benefits.
New figures from @trusselluk.bsky.social highlight the situation many Disabled people are already facing. ⬇️
Join our campaign for updates: buff.ly/DG3KGBA
New figures from @trusselluk.bsky.social highlight the situation many Disabled people are already facing. ⬇️
Join our campaign for updates: buff.ly/DG3KGBA
🚨BREAKING: Almost 1 in 5 people claiming Universal Credit and disability benefits have used a food bank in the last month.
This shouldn't be the case in one of the richest countries in the world.
This shouldn't be the case in one of the richest countries in the world.
March 10, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Millions more Disabled people face even worse poverty if the Govt makes cuts to vital disability benefits.
New figures from @trusselluk.bsky.social highlight the situation many Disabled people are already facing. ⬇️
Join our campaign for updates: buff.ly/DG3KGBA
New figures from @trusselluk.bsky.social highlight the situation many Disabled people are already facing. ⬇️
Join our campaign for updates: buff.ly/DG3KGBA
Reposted by Craig Smith
Child deaths surge amid ‘Gazafication’ of West Bank, report says
Child deaths surge amid ‘Gazafication’ of West Bank, report says
Palestinians facing mass displacements, airstrikes and rise in attacks on children and other civilians, rights group says
www.theguardian.com
March 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Child deaths surge amid ‘Gazafication’ of West Bank, report says
Reposted by Craig Smith
It’s worse than that. Labour are actually going to make PIP harder (!) to get; freeze payment levels this year (no triple lock for disabled people) and reduce payment levels for those unfit for work. This is so callous. www.itv.com/news/2025-03...
www.itv.com
March 7, 2025 at 11:52 PM
It’s worse than that. Labour are actually going to make PIP harder (!) to get; freeze payment levels this year (no triple lock for disabled people) and reduce payment levels for those unfit for work. This is so callous. www.itv.com/news/2025-03...
Reposted by Craig Smith
Dear Policy Exchange,
PIP is not an out-of-work benefit. So why are you trying to score political points by insisting young people on #PIP must work, volunteer or go into training?
PIP enables disabled people to do these things. Cutting it will do the opposite.
Thanks
Dr Watts
PIP is not an out-of-work benefit. So why are you trying to score political points by insisting young people on #PIP must work, volunteer or go into training?
PIP enables disabled people to do these things. Cutting it will do the opposite.
Thanks
Dr Watts
March 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Dear Policy Exchange,
PIP is not an out-of-work benefit. So why are you trying to score political points by insisting young people on #PIP must work, volunteer or go into training?
PIP enables disabled people to do these things. Cutting it will do the opposite.
Thanks
Dr Watts
PIP is not an out-of-work benefit. So why are you trying to score political points by insisting young people on #PIP must work, volunteer or go into training?
PIP enables disabled people to do these things. Cutting it will do the opposite.
Thanks
Dr Watts