@jabrahams.bsky.social
Reposted
This is how Chris Mason, like a child filled with wonder, described "the choreography and theatre that surrounds a Budget" in Feb 2024, when a male Tory Chancellor was in post.
"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀
"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀
December 2, 2025 at 9:29 PM
This is how Chris Mason, like a child filled with wonder, described "the choreography and theatre that surrounds a Budget" in Feb 2024, when a male Tory Chancellor was in post.
"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀
"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀
Reposted
President Trump says that JD Vance is just as incompetent as Tim Walz
December 2, 2025 at 9:32 PM
President Trump says that JD Vance is just as incompetent as Tim Walz
Reposted
Mark Kelly, "When Trump was writing birthday greetings to Epstein, I was the first on the scene to recover the bodies of my fellow astronauts"
December 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Mark Kelly, "When Trump was writing birthday greetings to Epstein, I was the first on the scene to recover the bodies of my fellow astronauts"
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"Keir Starmer has vowed to go head to head with Farage in the run-up to the next election to save the soul of our nation – but is he walking the walk?"
The defining battle for the soul of our nation: how is Labour tackling Reform?
The battle for the soul of our nation has begun, but is Starmer too late to sway it?
northeastbylines.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 4:39 PM
"Keir Starmer has vowed to go head to head with Farage in the run-up to the next election to save the soul of our nation – but is he walking the walk?"
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I just spoke with President Gitanas Nausėda.
The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania’s airspace.
Such hybrid attack by the Lukashenka regime is completely unacceptable.
The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania’s airspace.
Such hybrid attack by the Lukashenka regime is completely unacceptable.
December 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I just spoke with President Gitanas Nausėda.
The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania’s airspace.
Such hybrid attack by the Lukashenka regime is completely unacceptable.
The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania’s airspace.
Such hybrid attack by the Lukashenka regime is completely unacceptable.
Reposted
Oh look, it’s Orwell Prize judge Michael Gove
December 1, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Oh look, it’s Orwell Prize judge Michael Gove
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I find it interesting that every single TV political journalist opened with an editorialising comment, while all the newspaper ones just asked questions. I suspect, because the latter know the question won't be in the write-up, while the former are trying to craft a clip that is all about them. ~AA
December 1, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I find it interesting that every single TV political journalist opened with an editorialising comment, while all the newspaper ones just asked questions. I suspect, because the latter know the question won't be in the write-up, while the former are trying to craft a clip that is all about them. ~AA
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UK Govt bends to Trump's imperialism. NHS to pay 25% more (3bn) for drugs after UK–US tariff deal.
Money will buy less, higher taxes or longer healthcare queues as Trump wants bigger profits for US companies.
Build your supply chains or be blackmailed. Whatever happened to 'take back control'?
Money will buy less, higher taxes or longer healthcare queues as Trump wants bigger profits for US companies.
Build your supply chains or be blackmailed. Whatever happened to 'take back control'?
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 PM
UK Govt bends to Trump's imperialism. NHS to pay 25% more (3bn) for drugs after UK–US tariff deal.
Money will buy less, higher taxes or longer healthcare queues as Trump wants bigger profits for US companies.
Build your supply chains or be blackmailed. Whatever happened to 'take back control'?
Money will buy less, higher taxes or longer healthcare queues as Trump wants bigger profits for US companies.
Build your supply chains or be blackmailed. Whatever happened to 'take back control'?
Reposted
🇺🇦President Zelenskyy: Russia started this war and Russia is the only country that can stop this war.
December 1, 2025 at 5:38 PM
🇺🇦President Zelenskyy: Russia started this war and Russia is the only country that can stop this war.
Reposted
Starmer's still throwing cups of water on the Brexit inferno.
Today was his big post-Budget reset speech. A real chance to go further faster.
And he fluffed it.
Today was his big post-Budget reset speech. A real chance to go further faster.
And he fluffed it.
December 1, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Starmer's still throwing cups of water on the Brexit inferno.
Today was his big post-Budget reset speech. A real chance to go further faster.
And he fluffed it.
Today was his big post-Budget reset speech. A real chance to go further faster.
And he fluffed it.
Reposted
Apparently the government trying to make the gilt market more in its favour is akin to insider trading, and the FCA should be involved, according to the tories and Dan Hodges. I mean, what the fuck are you people talking about?
The government attempted to move the gilt market to benefit…the government. Film at 11.
November 30, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Apparently the government trying to make the gilt market more in its favour is akin to insider trading, and the FCA should be involved, according to the tories and Dan Hodges. I mean, what the fuck are you people talking about?
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Honestly the completely weird Budget coverage is mostly a sign of how pretty much any attack can stick when you’re unpopular enough.
Of course Rachel Reeves didn’t brief the full Cabinet on Budget details weeks in advance! No chancellor ever does! It would immediately leak!
Of course Rachel Reeves didn’t brief the full Cabinet on Budget details weeks in advance! No chancellor ever does! It would immediately leak!
December 1, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Honestly the completely weird Budget coverage is mostly a sign of how pretty much any attack can stick when you’re unpopular enough.
Of course Rachel Reeves didn’t brief the full Cabinet on Budget details weeks in advance! No chancellor ever does! It would immediately leak!
Of course Rachel Reeves didn’t brief the full Cabinet on Budget details weeks in advance! No chancellor ever does! It would immediately leak!
Reposted
This story is starting to make me feel I’m going slightly mad - maybe RR overdid the gloom, but the tax rises are paying for a) the welfare U-turns b) the £10bn-plus increase in headroom c) scrapping the two child limit d) bits of other spending eg higher local gov costs 🤷🏻♀️
December 1, 2025 at 8:15 AM
This story is starting to make me feel I’m going slightly mad - maybe RR overdid the gloom, but the tax rises are paying for a) the welfare U-turns b) the £10bn-plus increase in headroom c) scrapping the two child limit d) bits of other spending eg higher local gov costs 🤷🏻♀️
Reposted
"There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad."
This story is starting to make me feel I’m going slightly mad - maybe RR overdid the gloom, but the tax rises are paying for a) the welfare U-turns b) the £10bn-plus increase in headroom c) scrapping the two child limit d) bits of other spending eg higher local gov costs 🤷🏻♀️
December 1, 2025 at 9:19 AM
"There was truth and there was untruth, and if you clung to the truth even against the whole world, you were not mad."
Reposted
V good thread
This OBR/Treasury row on who said what, when... is very muddy and complicated.
A few points:
• idea that the OBR said on Oct 31 Reeves was already meeting her target by £4b isn't really the full picture - fcast excluded the welfare u-turns since March (some media have pointed that out, others not)
A few points:
• idea that the OBR said on Oct 31 Reeves was already meeting her target by £4b isn't really the full picture - fcast excluded the welfare u-turns since March (some media have pointed that out, others not)
November 30, 2025 at 9:03 AM
V good thread
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No that's not *your* on *our behalf*. Your job is to report the story, presenting all sides fairly and then *we* call it. What Mason is saying here is fundamentally not what the bbc is for!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
December 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM
No that's not *your* on *our behalf*. Your job is to report the story, presenting all sides fairly and then *we* call it. What Mason is saying here is fundamentally not what the bbc is for!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted
Working my way back through a few weeks of reports.
I think this para from Bloomberg- on November 14th, when it was reported that the income tax hike had been dropped - is the key.
It is both true and also quite misleading, as that wage growth offset was also in the 1st to 3rd forecasts.
I think this para from Bloomberg- on November 14th, when it was reported that the income tax hike had been dropped - is the key.
It is both true and also quite misleading, as that wage growth offset was also in the 1st to 3rd forecasts.
December 1, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Working my way back through a few weeks of reports.
I think this para from Bloomberg- on November 14th, when it was reported that the income tax hike had been dropped - is the key.
It is both true and also quite misleading, as that wage growth offset was also in the 1st to 3rd forecasts.
I think this para from Bloomberg- on November 14th, when it was reported that the income tax hike had been dropped - is the key.
It is both true and also quite misleading, as that wage growth offset was also in the 1st to 3rd forecasts.
Reposted
Reeves is absolutely deserving of defence at the moment, given the total incoherence of the attacks against her.
However, to an extent, Labour are now reaping what they sow in terms of leaning into narratives about black holes, maxxed out credit cards and other such nonsense.
However, to an extent, Labour are now reaping what they sow in terms of leaning into narratives about black holes, maxxed out credit cards and other such nonsense.
December 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reeves is absolutely deserving of defence at the moment, given the total incoherence of the attacks against her.
However, to an extent, Labour are now reaping what they sow in terms of leaning into narratives about black holes, maxxed out credit cards and other such nonsense.
However, to an extent, Labour are now reaping what they sow in terms of leaning into narratives about black holes, maxxed out credit cards and other such nonsense.
Reposted
All this budget news, claims, counter claims is confusing, but two things of consequence.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
December 1, 2025 at 1:09 PM
All this budget news, claims, counter claims is confusing, but two things of consequence.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
Reposted
This sums up Badenoch's leadership to a T: against a failed and flailing government, cannot ever clear the bar of 'not sounding both insane and out of her depth'.
What is she even talking about? The OBR is, by design, not under the control of Rachel Reeves.
December 1, 2025 at 4:58 PM
This sums up Badenoch's leadership to a T: against a failed and flailing government, cannot ever clear the bar of 'not sounding both insane and out of her depth'.
Reposted
Swiss politicians filed a criminal complaint with the country’s top prosecutor over a Rolex table clock and an engraved gold bar presented to US President Donald Trump by business executives shortly before he agreed to cut tariffs on the country’s exports. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Rolex, Gold Gifts to Trump Spur Call for Swiss Investigation
Swiss politicians have urged the the country’s top prosecutor to open a criminal investigation into the gifting of a Rolex table clock and an engraved gold bar to US President Donald Trump by business...
www.bloomberg.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Swiss politicians filed a criminal complaint with the country’s top prosecutor over a Rolex table clock and an engraved gold bar presented to US President Donald Trump by business executives shortly before he agreed to cut tariffs on the country’s exports. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted
It’s just a crime against humanity. There’s no war. Hegseth is just out here ordering the killing of civilians.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) says Pete Hegseth should "resign immediately" if it's true he gave a directive to “kill everybody” in a strike on boats in the Caribbean, including a second strike to kill survivors of the first strike.
“If the reports are true, Pete Hegseth likely committed a war crime."
“If the reports are true, Pete Hegseth likely committed a war crime."
December 1, 2025 at 8:03 PM
It’s just a crime against humanity. There’s no war. Hegseth is just out here ordering the killing of civilians.
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Mark Kelly: "This president, when he says things like 'third world countries,' what is he really saying? I think what he's saying is he doesn't want brown people in our country. And that's disturbing. It's un-American."
November 30, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Mark Kelly: "This president, when he says things like 'third world countries,' what is he really saying? I think what he's saying is he doesn't want brown people in our country. And that's disturbing. It's un-American."
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Karoline Leavitt criticising journalists, "The fake news pumped out of this building daily, it Is overwhelming to keep up with it all"
December 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Karoline Leavitt criticising journalists, "The fake news pumped out of this building daily, it Is overwhelming to keep up with it all"
Reposted
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...