James
@jamese-b84.bsky.social
“I wasn’t going to before… but now I will after I frantically ring him in a minute”
January 15, 2026 at 12:22 PM
“I wasn’t going to before… but now I will after I frantically ring him in a minute”
surface of announcements often uncovers this. It unfortunately does nothing for trust across government and results in correspondence back that parrots the positive bits and ignores the negative. Very disappointing given the hope I had 18 months ago.
January 14, 2026 at 7:54 AM
surface of announcements often uncovers this. It unfortunately does nothing for trust across government and results in correspondence back that parrots the positive bits and ignores the negative. Very disappointing given the hope I had 18 months ago.
Believe me, we have. Unfortunately there is an approach for “bait and switch” policy at the moment, whereby a positive announcement (Brum to Manchester high speed rail) covers a negative (trans-pennine high speed rail cancelled) one. The same is happening across a number of depts. Digging under the
January 14, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Believe me, we have. Unfortunately there is an approach for “bait and switch” policy at the moment, whereby a positive announcement (Brum to Manchester high speed rail) covers a negative (trans-pennine high speed rail cancelled) one. The same is happening across a number of depts. Digging under the
People of all ages. Waiting times for EHCPs run to 3yrs in some areas with an automatic refusal until appeal. The answer is more funding for that, not to shift the goalposts on eligibility. It’s a regressive policy on that, dressed up as positive change elsewhere affecting minuscule group.
January 14, 2026 at 7:47 AM
People of all ages. Waiting times for EHCPs run to 3yrs in some areas with an automatic refusal until appeal. The answer is more funding for that, not to shift the goalposts on eligibility. It’s a regressive policy on that, dressed up as positive change elsewhere affecting minuscule group.
I’m afraid on this it is misleading and somewhat disingenuous. Whilst to a degree there is an information vacuum on what the policy changes look like, there is substantial empirical evidence of right to choose and shared care being drastically rolled back for extremely vulnerable neurodivergent
January 14, 2026 at 7:47 AM
I’m afraid on this it is misleading and somewhat disingenuous. Whilst to a degree there is an information vacuum on what the policy changes look like, there is substantial empirical evidence of right to choose and shared care being drastically rolled back for extremely vulnerable neurodivergent
Early neurodiversity support does not look like ending RTC and allowing ICBs to remove Shared Care. It doesn’t look like continuing to stigmatise neurodiversity. Nor does it look like reducing the circumstances when an EHCP is given because of “overdiagnosis”. There is much good, but this isn’t it.
January 14, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Early neurodiversity support does not look like ending RTC and allowing ICBs to remove Shared Care. It doesn’t look like continuing to stigmatise neurodiversity. Nor does it look like reducing the circumstances when an EHCP is given because of “overdiagnosis”. There is much good, but this isn’t it.
It’s unfortunately true. My mother-in-law (Daily Mail reader, 70yr old widow, lives in Cornwall, probably Reform voter) is constantly saying how I should be more careful when I go to London for work as “you never know what could happen up there”. She has never been to London herself…
January 11, 2026 at 1:15 PM
It’s unfortunately true. My mother-in-law (Daily Mail reader, 70yr old widow, lives in Cornwall, probably Reform voter) is constantly saying how I should be more careful when I go to London for work as “you never know what could happen up there”. She has never been to London herself…
The plots for the new series of Phoenix Nights have got way out of hand…
December 21, 2025 at 8:46 AM
The plots for the new series of Phoenix Nights have got way out of hand…
@garethdennis.uk - if a train runs, with crew and is pathed in the same way, then why can’t it run with revenue passengers? This feels deeply strange (or is it actually not running from MAN but from Longsight TMD)… any clues Mr D (as the only rail expert I know on here).
November 29, 2025 at 8:08 AM
@garethdennis.uk - if a train runs, with crew and is pathed in the same way, then why can’t it run with revenue passengers? This feels deeply strange (or is it actually not running from MAN but from Longsight TMD)… any clues Mr D (as the only rail expert I know on here).
Look forward to seeing Lance Stroll causing chaos from the front row next season rather than row 6-7!
November 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Look forward to seeing Lance Stroll causing chaos from the front row next season rather than row 6-7!
Fuck Labour. The gammons won’t vote for them and still they try and appeal to them. Fuck this shift of the Overton window too. Is there any country in the world where this sort of shit is still frowned upon?
November 15, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Fuck Labour. The gammons won’t vote for them and still they try and appeal to them. Fuck this shift of the Overton window too. Is there any country in the world where this sort of shit is still frowned upon?
I believe the local phrase is dreich. And that certainly looks a dreich day this morning up there.
November 1, 2025 at 8:05 AM
I believe the local phrase is dreich. And that certainly looks a dreich day this morning up there.
Oh. Lucky you getting them to do something… unlucky you getting whatever sensitively managed job that is.
October 31, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Oh. Lucky you getting them to do something… unlucky you getting whatever sensitively managed job that is.
I don’t think (in DCC’s defence) that this is something done by them. It’s usually a local farmer in our patch of Mid Devon that does this, only time DCC will commission tree works is if it obstructs the highway. Still a crap, flail trimmer job, when it should have been a bit more careful.
October 31, 2025 at 10:43 AM
I don’t think (in DCC’s defence) that this is something done by them. It’s usually a local farmer in our patch of Mid Devon that does this, only time DCC will commission tree works is if it obstructs the highway. Still a crap, flail trimmer job, when it should have been a bit more careful.
So they should do it then! I’d be happy to pay a bit more if it was going to improve society, rather than be lines on a spreadsheet to show “fiscal responsibility” that few understand and even fewer care about.
October 30, 2025 at 8:01 AM
So they should do it then! I’d be happy to pay a bit more if it was going to improve society, rather than be lines on a spreadsheet to show “fiscal responsibility” that few understand and even fewer care about.
That’s too easy an excuse though. Whilst it is undeniably true, Reeves and the Labour machine haven’t even tried! Probably because they know that few understand the “fiscal rules” but do understand that their tax won’t currently go into improving society overall.
October 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
That’s too easy an excuse though. Whilst it is undeniably true, Reeves and the Labour machine haven’t even tried! Probably because they know that few understand the “fiscal rules” but do understand that their tax won’t currently go into improving society overall.
Improved through sensible taxation and spending. Labour needs to start representing me, and showing its worth. Otherwise the door is wide open for populism from the right with quick answers, division and sniping (not for me, never for me, but plenty of others). 5/5
October 30, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Improved through sensible taxation and spending. Labour needs to start representing me, and showing its worth. Otherwise the door is wide open for populism from the right with quick answers, division and sniping (not for me, never for me, but plenty of others). 5/5
Seems to believe. I am a PAYE worker in the public sector who has no chance of offshoring assets or being paid via a Ltd company. I would be exempt from any sort of tax on wealth or assets. I am someone who labour should represent, and someone who would happily see others’ quality of life 4/5
October 30, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Seems to believe. I am a PAYE worker in the public sector who has no chance of offshoring assets or being paid via a Ltd company. I would be exempt from any sort of tax on wealth or assets. I am someone who labour should represent, and someone who would happily see others’ quality of life 4/5
However, as it stands my £240 a year will be thrown into a pot solely to keep some sort of perverted prudence in place. My tax increase benefits no-one, or at least that’s how it seems. I’m not a millionaire, so I’m not insulated from this. Nor do I have “the broadest shoulders” as Rachel Reeves 3/5
October 30, 2025 at 7:57 AM
However, as it stands my £240 a year will be thrown into a pot solely to keep some sort of perverted prudence in place. My tax increase benefits no-one, or at least that’s how it seems. I’m not a millionaire, so I’m not insulated from this. Nor do I have “the broadest shoulders” as Rachel Reeves 3/5
A month to my take-home salary) and if it were going to improve educational outcomes or create a fairer society overall, perhaps even dabbling in some overseas aid to counter the vacuum left by the US/UK withdrawal and to stop China from filling that gap, I would be happy to be paying it… 2/5
October 30, 2025 at 7:57 AM
A month to my take-home salary) and if it were going to improve educational outcomes or create a fairer society overall, perhaps even dabbling in some overseas aid to counter the vacuum left by the US/UK withdrawal and to stop China from filling that gap, I would be happy to be paying it… 2/5
This reflects my thinking at the moment; I voted LAB (and nearly - 63 votes short - ousted the shadow chancellor), am a higher rate tax payer, and left-leaning. I am, in short, the target demographic. I would generally be happier to pay more tax (the proposed 40p to 41p increase represents £12 1/5
October 30, 2025 at 7:57 AM
This reflects my thinking at the moment; I voted LAB (and nearly - 63 votes short - ousted the shadow chancellor), am a higher rate tax payer, and left-leaning. I am, in short, the target demographic. I would generally be happier to pay more tax (the proposed 40p to 41p increase represents £12 1/5
From a purely architectural critique, it just needs an eagle on the facade and it’s the Neue Reichskanzlei… someone has been studying Speer at McCrery Architects.
October 27, 2025 at 8:28 AM
From a purely architectural critique, it just needs an eagle on the facade and it’s the Neue Reichskanzlei… someone has been studying Speer at McCrery Architects.