Ian Lumley
@ianlumley.bsky.social
Interested in Socialist Politics, Labour Party Member, Science, Atheism, Space Exploration, Type A Aortic Dissection Survivor
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Curse of Private Equity.
Four of UK's biggest dental firms have raked in £1.2bn gross profit over the past two years,
Market controlled by My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services.
Prices 3.5 times more than NHS dentist.
No govt curbs profiteering.
Four of UK's biggest dental firms have raked in £1.2bn gross profit over the past two years,
Market controlled by My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services.
Prices 3.5 times more than NHS dentist.
No govt curbs profiteering.
Regulator bares teeth as dentists earn £1.2bn
The gross profit figures for private equity-owned My Dentist, PortmanDentex and Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services rose by 20 per cent year-on-year between 2023 and 2024.
www.thisismoney.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Curse of Private Equity.
Four of UK's biggest dental firms have raked in £1.2bn gross profit over the past two years,
Market controlled by My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services.
Prices 3.5 times more than NHS dentist.
No govt curbs profiteering.
Four of UK's biggest dental firms have raked in £1.2bn gross profit over the past two years,
Market controlled by My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services.
Prices 3.5 times more than NHS dentist.
No govt curbs profiteering.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
November 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for taking bribes for pro-Russia interviews and speeches.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Former Reform in Wales leader Nathan Gill jailed for pro-Russian bribery
Nathan Gill, 52, is sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after admitting taking bribes while an MEP.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Ex-leader of Reform UK in Wales sentenced to 10.5 years in prison for taking bribes for pro-Russia interviews and speeches.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Who else was involved,?
Party can now add treason to racism, misogyny, islamaphobia, economic illiteracy as its electoral credentials.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
To be fair to Nigel Farage, Reform UK has always insisted that the European parliament is corrupt. And now the party has finally provided indisputable proof.
November 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
To be fair to Nigel Farage, Reform UK has always insisted that the European parliament is corrupt. And now the party has finally provided indisputable proof.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
The UK political system is corrupt.
Political donations enable corporations/rich to buy parties, hand consultancies to legislators.
Normal people are disillusioned, increasingly don't register to vote or vote.
How will the govt cleanse the system?
Watch the Minister's reply.
Political donations enable corporations/rich to buy parties, hand consultancies to legislators.
Normal people are disillusioned, increasingly don't register to vote or vote.
How will the govt cleanse the system?
Watch the Minister's reply.
November 20, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The UK political system is corrupt.
Political donations enable corporations/rich to buy parties, hand consultancies to legislators.
Normal people are disillusioned, increasingly don't register to vote or vote.
How will the govt cleanse the system?
Watch the Minister's reply.
Political donations enable corporations/rich to buy parties, hand consultancies to legislators.
Normal people are disillusioned, increasingly don't register to vote or vote.
How will the govt cleanse the system?
Watch the Minister's reply.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
When a Labour government sees the approval of Tommy Robinson as more important that the approval of the Labour Party membership, things are probably going wrong
November 17, 2025 at 6:11 PM
When a Labour government sees the approval of Tommy Robinson as more important that the approval of the Labour Party membership, things are probably going wrong
Reposted by Ian Lumley
UK and Norway won nature's lottery in 1970 - found oil/gas in the North Sea.
UK squandered wealth, appeased corporations.
Norway levied 78% tax, took direct stake in companies.
Norway now has $1.8 trillion sovereign fund. UK has public finance crisis.
UK Govts still appeasing corporations/rich.
UK squandered wealth, appeased corporations.
Norway levied 78% tax, took direct stake in companies.
Norway now has $1.8 trillion sovereign fund. UK has public finance crisis.
UK Govts still appeasing corporations/rich.
How sparsely populated Norway amassed $1.8 trillion | Fortune Europe
Launched in the early 1990s to invest mostly in bonds, the fund has grown to become the largest of its kind by acquiring small equity stakes in thousands of companies across the world.
fortune.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:38 AM
UK and Norway won nature's lottery in 1970 - found oil/gas in the North Sea.
UK squandered wealth, appeased corporations.
Norway levied 78% tax, took direct stake in companies.
Norway now has $1.8 trillion sovereign fund. UK has public finance crisis.
UK Govts still appeasing corporations/rich.
UK squandered wealth, appeased corporations.
Norway levied 78% tax, took direct stake in companies.
Norway now has $1.8 trillion sovereign fund. UK has public finance crisis.
UK Govts still appeasing corporations/rich.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
If Shabana Mahmood wants to talk about what's 'tearing Britain apart', let's start with billionaire tax evasion, the cost of living crisis, overflowing prisons, sewage spilling into rivers and streets full of people sleeping rough
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 AM
If Shabana Mahmood wants to talk about what's 'tearing Britain apart', let's start with billionaire tax evasion, the cost of living crisis, overflowing prisons, sewage spilling into rivers and streets full of people sleeping rough
Reposted by Ian Lumley
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:59 AM
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Water company United Utilities enjoys 131% rise in profits after bills go up £112.
UU has 205+ criminal convictions.
Loses over 175bn litres of water to leaks. In 2024 dumped sewage 450,778 hours in rivers//akes. No exec prosecuted/fined
Rewarded with higher price and profit.
archive.ph/7aP8O
UU has 205+ criminal convictions.
Loses over 175bn litres of water to leaks. In 2024 dumped sewage 450,778 hours in rivers//akes. No exec prosecuted/fined
Rewarded with higher price and profit.
archive.ph/7aP8O
Water company enjoys 131% rise in profits after bills go up £112
United Utilities, whose executives are barred from receiving bonuses because of pollution record, will pay out most of the increase in dividends
www.thetimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Water company United Utilities enjoys 131% rise in profits after bills go up £112.
UU has 205+ criminal convictions.
Loses over 175bn litres of water to leaks. In 2024 dumped sewage 450,778 hours in rivers//akes. No exec prosecuted/fined
Rewarded with higher price and profit.
archive.ph/7aP8O
UU has 205+ criminal convictions.
Loses over 175bn litres of water to leaks. In 2024 dumped sewage 450,778 hours in rivers//akes. No exec prosecuted/fined
Rewarded with higher price and profit.
archive.ph/7aP8O
Reposted by Ian Lumley
UK economy grew by just 0.1% in 3rd quarter in 2025.
People lack spending power - low wages, pensions and benefits; high energy, water, Internet, rents, grocery and other costs; regressive taxes.
Need equitable distribution of income and wealth.
People lack spending power - low wages, pensions and benefits; high energy, water, Internet, rents, grocery and other costs; regressive taxes.
Need equitable distribution of income and wealth.
Economy grew by 0.1% in third quarter, official figures show
The chancellor responds to the data by saying there is more to do in her coming budget to "build an economy that works for working people".
news.sky.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:46 PM
UK economy grew by just 0.1% in 3rd quarter in 2025.
People lack spending power - low wages, pensions and benefits; high energy, water, Internet, rents, grocery and other costs; regressive taxes.
Need equitable distribution of income and wealth.
People lack spending power - low wages, pensions and benefits; high energy, water, Internet, rents, grocery and other costs; regressive taxes.
Need equitable distribution of income and wealth.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Universal Credit allows bosses to get away with paying wages that are too low to live on. Don't stigmatise the millions of hard-working people who depend on it as 'lazy'.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Universal Credit allows bosses to get away with paying wages that are too low to live on. Don't stigmatise the millions of hard-working people who depend on it as 'lazy'.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Nigel Farage will probably use his 39th appearance on Question Time to complain about the BBC's leftwing bias
November 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Nigel Farage will probably use his 39th appearance on Question Time to complain about the BBC's leftwing bias
Reposted by Ian Lumley
England homelessness grown by a fifth since 2022, now 300,000.
Successive govts cut local authority funding in real terms, cut real wages/benefits, no curbs on profiteering, lack of social housing.
Cheaper to build social housing than using temporary accommodation.
Misery is a political choice.
Successive govts cut local authority funding in real terms, cut real wages/benefits, no curbs on profiteering, lack of social housing.
Cheaper to build social housing than using temporary accommodation.
Misery is a political choice.
Homelessness figures higher than data suggests, research shows
Official data for England underestimates the scale of the problem, according to research for charity Crisis says.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 AM
England homelessness grown by a fifth since 2022, now 300,000.
Successive govts cut local authority funding in real terms, cut real wages/benefits, no curbs on profiteering, lack of social housing.
Cheaper to build social housing than using temporary accommodation.
Misery is a political choice.
Successive govts cut local authority funding in real terms, cut real wages/benefits, no curbs on profiteering, lack of social housing.
Cheaper to build social housing than using temporary accommodation.
Misery is a political choice.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Elon Musk's $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders.
Musk used his wealth to incite violence, hatred in the US & UK.
How long before UK execs demand more for mediocre performance.
The ultra rich buy political system, bribe politicians, create pollution and inequity.
Tax them.
Musk used his wealth to incite violence, hatred in the US & UK.
How long before UK execs demand more for mediocre performance.
The ultra rich buy political system, bribe politicians, create pollution and inequity.
Tax them.
Elon Musk's $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders
The richest man in the world will get hundreds of millions of new shares if he hits his targets.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Elon Musk's $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders.
Musk used his wealth to incite violence, hatred in the US & UK.
How long before UK execs demand more for mediocre performance.
The ultra rich buy political system, bribe politicians, create pollution and inequity.
Tax them.
Musk used his wealth to incite violence, hatred in the US & UK.
How long before UK execs demand more for mediocre performance.
The ultra rich buy political system, bribe politicians, create pollution and inequity.
Tax them.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Anti-black racism 'baked' into Met, review finds.
This is 26 years after the Macpherson report which concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".
Little changed.
Leaders of major political parties incite hatred. None charged.
This is 26 years after the Macpherson report which concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".
Little changed.
Leaders of major political parties incite hatred. None charged.
Anti-black racism 'baked' into Met Police, review says
The independent review surveyed 40 years of evidence of how racism has affected black communities and black Met Police staff.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Anti-black racism 'baked' into Met, review finds.
This is 26 years after the Macpherson report which concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".
Little changed.
Leaders of major political parties incite hatred. None charged.
This is 26 years after the Macpherson report which concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".
Little changed.
Leaders of major political parties incite hatred. None charged.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
PPE Medpro linked to Michelle Mone owes £39m in unpaid taxes.
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
Company linked to Michelle Mone owes £39m in unpaid taxes
Statement by administrators puts PPE Medpro’s total debts at £188m, including £39m said to be owed to HMRC
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 AM
PPE Medpro linked to Michelle Mone owes £39m in unpaid taxes.
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Pollution from Ineos’s Antwerp plastic plant ‘will cause more deaths than jobs created’.
But shareholders will be richer.
Chemicals seep into water supply and companies don't invest in waste disposal.
Companies don't bear social cost of their operations
But shareholders will be richer.
Chemicals seep into water supply and companies don't invest in waste disposal.
Companies don't bear social cost of their operations
Pollution from Ineos’s Antwerp plastic plant ‘will cause more deaths than jobs created’
Lawyers challenge €4bn Project One development, saying emissions and health impacts vastly underestimated
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Pollution from Ineos’s Antwerp plastic plant ‘will cause more deaths than jobs created’.
But shareholders will be richer.
Chemicals seep into water supply and companies don't invest in waste disposal.
Companies don't bear social cost of their operations
But shareholders will be richer.
Chemicals seep into water supply and companies don't invest in waste disposal.
Companies don't bear social cost of their operations
Reposted by Ian Lumley
NHS staff bearing brunt as ‘ugly’ racism of 70s and 80s returns, says Streeting
Racism promoted by too many UK political parties, social media platforms and right wing press to promote their own agenda
Minorities scapegoated for failed economic policies.
Racism promoted by too many UK political parties, social media platforms and right wing press to promote their own agenda
Minorities scapegoated for failed economic policies.
NHS staff bearing brunt as ‘ugly’ racism of 70s and 80s returns, says Streeting
Exclusive: Health secretary and NHS England chief warn of winter pressures and rising levels of abuse
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:25 AM
NHS staff bearing brunt as ‘ugly’ racism of 70s and 80s returns, says Streeting
Racism promoted by too many UK political parties, social media platforms and right wing press to promote their own agenda
Minorities scapegoated for failed economic policies.
Racism promoted by too many UK political parties, social media platforms and right wing press to promote their own agenda
Minorities scapegoated for failed economic policies.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Corporate Welfare
Drax receives subsidies for burning wood to produce electricity. £869m last year. £458.6m a year for 2027-2031. UK Govt not taken equity stake.
In 2024, paid £97m dividend, £300m share buyback
Drax electricity is the most expensive. It is the biggest single UK carbon emitter.
Drax receives subsidies for burning wood to produce electricity. £869m last year. £458.6m a year for 2027-2031. UK Govt not taken equity stake.
In 2024, paid £97m dividend, £300m share buyback
Drax electricity is the most expensive. It is the biggest single UK carbon emitter.
Drax power plant to go on earning ‘over £1m a day’ from burning wood pellets
Analysts say Britain’s biggest power plant in line to earn £458.6m a year under new government subsidy contract
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Corporate Welfare
Drax receives subsidies for burning wood to produce electricity. £869m last year. £458.6m a year for 2027-2031. UK Govt not taken equity stake.
In 2024, paid £97m dividend, £300m share buyback
Drax electricity is the most expensive. It is the biggest single UK carbon emitter.
Drax receives subsidies for burning wood to produce electricity. £869m last year. £458.6m a year for 2027-2031. UK Govt not taken equity stake.
In 2024, paid £97m dividend, £300m share buyback
Drax electricity is the most expensive. It is the biggest single UK carbon emitter.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Reform press conferences on what it might do were it to win an election four years from now shouldn't be getting more media coverage than concrete policy announcements from Britain's actual government
November 3, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reform press conferences on what it might do were it to win an election four years from now shouldn't be getting more media coverage than concrete policy announcements from Britain's actual government
Reposted by Ian Lumley
UK ‘to lose 600,000 workers to illness without better health support at work’.
Without good food, housing, healthcare people suffer. Need poverty reduction targets.
6.26m people in England awaiti 7.41m hospital appointments.
Privatisation of the NHS means money buys less, longer waits.
Without good food, housing, healthcare people suffer. Need poverty reduction targets.
6.26m people in England awaiti 7.41m hospital appointments.
Privatisation of the NHS means money buys less, longer waits.
UK ‘to lose 600,000 workers to illness without better health support at work’
Exclusive: Royal Society of Public Health says ‘fundamental shift’ needed in how firms help those with health conditions
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
UK ‘to lose 600,000 workers to illness without better health support at work’.
Without good food, housing, healthcare people suffer. Need poverty reduction targets.
6.26m people in England awaiti 7.41m hospital appointments.
Privatisation of the NHS means money buys less, longer waits.
Without good food, housing, healthcare people suffer. Need poverty reduction targets.
6.26m people in England awaiti 7.41m hospital appointments.
Privatisation of the NHS means money buys less, longer waits.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
The cost of winter fuel payments is £3bn a year. The profits of the big four gas supply giants in 2023 were £65bn. It's hard to see any obvious policy conclusions here, but I'm sure top economists are working on the problem.
November 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The cost of winter fuel payments is £3bn a year. The profits of the big four gas supply giants in 2023 were £65bn. It's hard to see any obvious policy conclusions here, but I'm sure top economists are working on the problem.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will now have to be called by his real name, just like everybody else, and rent or buy somewhere to live, just everybody else. That's supposed to be a punishment, by the way.
November 1, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will now have to be called by his real name, just like everybody else, and rent or buy somewhere to live, just everybody else. That's supposed to be a punishment, by the way.
Reposted by Ian Lumley
Corporate Rip-off.
Ofcom rules brought in to stop phone/broadband companies from hiking prices mid-contract.
O2 to ignore the rules.
15.6m O2 customer bills to rise 40% more than expected.
Other companies bound to follow. They raise capital from customers.
Customers need enforceable rights
Ofcom rules brought in to stop phone/broadband companies from hiking prices mid-contract.
O2 to ignore the rules.
15.6m O2 customer bills to rise 40% more than expected.
Other companies bound to follow. They raise capital from customers.
Customers need enforceable rights
Ofcom slams O2 over unexpected mobile phone contract price rise
The media regulator said it was disappointed O2 raised prices more than was advertised when customers took out contracts.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Corporate Rip-off.
Ofcom rules brought in to stop phone/broadband companies from hiking prices mid-contract.
O2 to ignore the rules.
15.6m O2 customer bills to rise 40% more than expected.
Other companies bound to follow. They raise capital from customers.
Customers need enforceable rights
Ofcom rules brought in to stop phone/broadband companies from hiking prices mid-contract.
O2 to ignore the rules.
15.6m O2 customer bills to rise 40% more than expected.
Other companies bound to follow. They raise capital from customers.
Customers need enforceable rights