David Lynch
@dlynch.bsky.social
Gentleman, scholar, acrobat.
Frequently opinionated, occasionally right.
Opinions are mine, obvs, but should be yours too.
Frequently opinionated, occasionally right.
Opinions are mine, obvs, but should be yours too.
Pinned
David Lynch
@dlynch.bsky.social
· Apr 21
Roots of Fascism compared:
1930s Germany: Shattering defeat in WWI, ruinous financial reparations and loss of territory imposed at Treaty of Versailles, hyperinflation, Great Depression, mass unemployment, economic and political collapse of Weimar Republic
2020s USA: Egg prices a bit high
1930s Germany: Shattering defeat in WWI, ruinous financial reparations and loss of territory imposed at Treaty of Versailles, hyperinflation, Great Depression, mass unemployment, economic and political collapse of Weimar Republic
2020s USA: Egg prices a bit high
Reposted by David Lynch
A Royal Commission into wholesale tax reform led by a newly ennobled Lord Neidle should have been announced in the summer of 2024. Absent that, tinkering will just erode goodwill and create unintended consequences.
November 13, 2025 at 9:26 AM
A Royal Commission into wholesale tax reform led by a newly ennobled Lord Neidle should have been announced in the summer of 2024. Absent that, tinkering will just erode goodwill and create unintended consequences.
Reposted by David Lynch
NEW - we've data showing huge numbers of people reducing their income to avoid high marginal income tax rates. Not just at the £100k point (as previously reported). But at the £50k point:
November 14, 2025 at 12:47 PM
NEW - we've data showing huge numbers of people reducing their income to avoid high marginal income tax rates. Not just at the £100k point (as previously reported). But at the £50k point:
"My partner, Dave, and I usually live in London, but we’ve started to spend six months of the year in Barcelona over the winter"
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
November 14, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Reposted by David Lynch
"My partner, Dave, and I usually live in London, but we’ve started to spend six months of the year in Barcelona over the winter"
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
November 14, 2025 at 10:11 AM
"My partner, Dave, and I usually live in London, but we’ve started to spend six months of the year in Barcelona over the winter"
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by David Lynch
Yup
I despair of Labour. Can we not just have a sensible budget, delivered on the day, that apologises for hard choices and then just gets on with giving us something that will give us some hope? All this briefing and speculation makes them look like clowns.
November 14, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Yup
Reposted by David Lynch
People think Britain was a better place when they were prettier, had more sex, went out more and didn't go oof every time they moved.
November 14, 2025 at 9:45 AM
People think Britain was a better place when they were prettier, had more sex, went out more and didn't go oof every time they moved.
Rarely if ever see it suggested, but surely the easiest and best solution to 'small boats' is somehow persuading the French to stop them setting off in the first place.
OK, maybe not 'easy', but surely worth a try? And UK govt could and surely would make a generous offer to the French in return.
OK, maybe not 'easy', but surely worth a try? And UK govt could and surely would make a generous offer to the French in return.
Labour government will propose changes to the asylum system, on grounds it is 'excessively generous'.
This government needs to get control in the Channel, clear hotels + secure public confidence.
V little chance that these changes will deliver control or confidence
news.sky.com/story/home-s...
This government needs to get control in the Channel, clear hotels + secure public confidence.
V little chance that these changes will deliver control or confidence
news.sky.com/story/home-s...
Home secretary to tackle UK's 'excessive generosity' with sweeping immigration reforms
In a statement to MPs on Monday, Shabana Mahmood is expected to tighten up the rules to allow for more deportations, and reduce the "pull factors" that attract migrants to the UK.
news.sky.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Rarely if ever see it suggested, but surely the easiest and best solution to 'small boats' is somehow persuading the French to stop them setting off in the first place.
OK, maybe not 'easy', but surely worth a try? And UK govt could and surely would make a generous offer to the French in return.
OK, maybe not 'easy', but surely worth a try? And UK govt could and surely would make a generous offer to the French in return.
Great unused political catch phrases:
"Steer calmer with Keir Starmer."
"Steer calmer with Keir Starmer."
November 14, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Great unused political catch phrases:
"Steer calmer with Keir Starmer."
"Steer calmer with Keir Starmer."
'Stability is change'...
November 14, 2025 at 7:56 AM
'Stability is change'...
And we thought *that* was an Omnishambles...
“Smorgasbord approach”? I can think of a different term that’s more appropriate.
Oh boy
November 14, 2025 at 7:52 AM
And we thought *that* was an Omnishambles...
Reposted by David Lynch
Following the FT’s “no income tax hike scoop”, feels like we’ve come a long way to get nowhere. This was my take for Mergermarket on 19 Sep. As you were. This Budget was always going to be impossible - the best they could do was have it make sense. They’re flubbing it.
November 13, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Following the FT’s “no income tax hike scoop”, feels like we’ve come a long way to get nowhere. This was my take for Mergermarket on 19 Sep. As you were. This Budget was always going to be impossible - the best they could do was have it make sense. They’re flubbing it.
Reposted by David Lynch
Just think how long her budget speech is going to be. It's like a Radio 4 panel game show. "You've got 120 minutes to raise £30 billion pounds and you can't mention income tax. And you're time starts....."
November 13, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Just think how long her budget speech is going to be. It's like a Radio 4 panel game show. "You've got 120 minutes to raise £30 billion pounds and you can't mention income tax. And you're time starts....."
Reposted by David Lynch
It might work for us GIF
Yay, the even worse option of lots of small taxes upsetting noisy lobby groups.
Big scoop by my colleagues, this:
November 14, 2025 at 7:07 AM
It might work for us GIF
Starmer & Reeves are finished.
That being so, they might as well do the right thing; raise income tax, reform property taxes, remove absurd marginal tax rates etc
It's the one service they can do their country (and party); bequeath a cleaner slate to their less tainted successors at nos 10 & 11.
That being so, they might as well do the right thing; raise income tax, reform property taxes, remove absurd marginal tax rates etc
It's the one service they can do their country (and party); bequeath a cleaner slate to their less tainted successors at nos 10 & 11.
Starmer and Reeves ditch plan to increase income tax rates in the Budget
Chancellor explores alternative ways to raise revenue to fill fiscal hole estimated at up to £30bn
on.ft.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Starmer & Reeves are finished.
That being so, they might as well do the right thing; raise income tax, reform property taxes, remove absurd marginal tax rates etc
It's the one service they can do their country (and party); bequeath a cleaner slate to their less tainted successors at nos 10 & 11.
That being so, they might as well do the right thing; raise income tax, reform property taxes, remove absurd marginal tax rates etc
It's the one service they can do their country (and party); bequeath a cleaner slate to their less tainted successors at nos 10 & 11.
Reposted by David Lynch
🔉What dangers does X pose to our democracy? And should the government stop using it?
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
November 13, 2025 at 10:33 AM
🔉What dangers does X pose to our democracy? And should the government stop using it?
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
Reposted by David Lynch
Except it isn't broadly split between left and right flanks unless you position the LibDems to the right.
Half of voters who backed Labour in 2024 have deserted the party, according to internal polling shared with Labour MPs, reports PolHome's Harriet Symonds
The figures suggest Labour's lost vote is broadly split between its left and right flanks, demonstrating the electoral challenge facing the party
The figures suggest Labour's lost vote is broadly split between its left and right flanks, demonstrating the electoral challenge facing the party
Half of 2024 Labour Voters Have Gone Elsewhere, Party Privately Tells MPs
Half of voters who backed Labour at the last general election have deserted the party, according to internal polling shared with Labour MPs.
www.politicshome.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Except it isn't broadly split between left and right flanks unless you position the LibDems to the right.
Reposted by David Lynch
Who last longer...?
November 13, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Who last longer...?
Reposted by David Lynch
🚨 Jeffrey Epstein: "I have met some very bad people. None as bad as Trump. Not one decent cell in his body."
November 13, 2025 at 1:34 PM
🚨 Jeffrey Epstein: "I have met some very bad people. None as bad as Trump. Not one decent cell in his body."
Reposted by David Lynch
Reposted by David Lynch
“There are currently five trans prisoners with male genitalia serving time in E wing of HMP Downview, a women’s prison in Banstead, Surrey.”
Just put them in a men’s prison, if necessary in an annex for vulnerable men, there’s no need for them to be with women.
🎁
www.thetimes.com/article/b2c6...
Just put them in a men’s prison, if necessary in an annex for vulnerable men, there’s no need for them to be with women.
🎁
www.thetimes.com/article/b2c6...
Biological men still in HMP Downview women’s jail despite trans ruling
The Ministry of Justice has no plans to move the five prisoners six months after the Supreme Court ruling requiring single-sex institutions
www.thetimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:12 PM
“There are currently five trans prisoners with male genitalia serving time in E wing of HMP Downview, a women’s prison in Banstead, Surrey.”
Just put them in a men’s prison, if necessary in an annex for vulnerable men, there’s no need for them to be with women.
🎁
www.thetimes.com/article/b2c6...
Just put them in a men’s prison, if necessary in an annex for vulnerable men, there’s no need for them to be with women.
🎁
www.thetimes.com/article/b2c6...
Reposted by David Lynch
Here's a chart of the marginal tax rate for someone with two kids. They pay 53% tax on every £ they earn between £60k and £80k. 62% on every £ they earn between £100k and £125k.
9% more if they've a student loan
This is from our tax calculator: buff.ly/CFoExUX
9% more if they've a student loan
This is from our tax calculator: buff.ly/CFoExUX
November 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Here's a chart of the marginal tax rate for someone with two kids. They pay 53% tax on every £ they earn between £60k and £80k. 62% on every £ they earn between £100k and £125k.
9% more if they've a student loan
This is from our tax calculator: buff.ly/CFoExUX
9% more if they've a student loan
This is from our tax calculator: buff.ly/CFoExUX
Reposted by David Lynch
The Republican president is a pedophile who has doubled my healthcare costs and let scores of violent criminals out of jail. But a Democratic mayor-elect wants to make busses free in a city I don't live in. I have never felt more politically homeless.
November 13, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The Republican president is a pedophile who has doubled my healthcare costs and let scores of violent criminals out of jail. But a Democratic mayor-elect wants to make busses free in a city I don't live in. I have never felt more politically homeless.
Reposted by David Lynch
Wes Streeting talking two years ago about how he would win the Labour leadership.
November 13, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Wes Streeting talking two years ago about how he would win the Labour leadership.