Judith Freedman
@judithfreedman.bsky.social
Tax academic, writer and editor, grandmother of 5.
Reposted by Judith Freedman
And my other post from this week on the big risks lurking in the budget small print. (Several Treasury folk have got in touch to say they're worrying about similar things...)
Sign up for a trial to read both of them.
bsky.app/profile/samf...
Sign up for a trial to read both of them.
bsky.app/profile/samf...
New post out:
"Survival - for now"
The five big risks hidden in the budget. And why the government has missed an opportunity to take control of its own destiny.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/s...
"Survival - for now"
The five big risks hidden in the budget. And why the government has missed an opportunity to take control of its own destiny.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/s...
Survival - for now
Five big risks hidden in the budget
open.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM
And my other post from this week on the big risks lurking in the budget small print. (Several Treasury folk have got in touch to say they're worrying about similar things...)
Sign up for a trial to read both of them.
bsky.app/profile/samf...
Sign up for a trial to read both of them.
bsky.app/profile/samf...
I agree with higher taxes on expensive properties but why do it like this with these weird thresholds and cliff edges?
Another one from today’s @resolutionfoundation.org report.
If anyone is complaining about the mansion tax, show them this.
www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
If anyone is complaining about the mansion tax, show them this.
www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
November 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I agree with higher taxes on expensive properties but why do it like this with these weird thresholds and cliff edges?
Like Sam I am loving the way the newspapers are now advising us about devaluing our houses. Will we have glossy magazine articles on recluttering? Best excuse yet not to throw away all my papers.
As it happens I already do most of the tips on devaluing your house but just because I'm lazy and unaware of my surroundings. Not for tax avoidance purposes.
November 27, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Like Sam I am loving the way the newspapers are now advising us about devaluing our houses. Will we have glossy magazine articles on recluttering? Best excuse yet not to throw away all my papers.
Reposted by Judith Freedman
Good questions. Plus pay moves around a lot for about half of workers, plus pay rises are now chunky and (probably?) come around at the same time as any tax rise
How many people know precisely what rate of income tax and NICs combined they are paying now? Especially employees. With digitalisation, how many look at their ‘payslips’? #Just asking.
November 15, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Good questions. Plus pay moves around a lot for about half of workers, plus pay rises are now chunky and (probably?) come around at the same time as any tax rise
How many people know precisely what rate of income tax and NICs combined they are paying now? Especially employees. With digitalisation, how many look at their ‘payslips’? #Just asking.
November 15, 2025 at 10:22 AM
How many people know precisely what rate of income tax and NICs combined they are paying now? Especially employees. With digitalisation, how many look at their ‘payslips’? #Just asking.
Struggling through crowds at Paddington station and feeling fed up when a very small boy says to his grandmother- ‘this is fun’ and suddenly I am smiling. The amazing power of positivity ( and small children). Thank you, little boy!
November 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Struggling through crowds at Paddington station and feeling fed up when a very small boy says to his grandmother- ‘this is fun’ and suddenly I am smiling. The amazing power of positivity ( and small children). Thank you, little boy!
Just back from trip to Pompei where I learned about the Roman tax on urine. Seems like one of the very few ideas that has not been leaked over the past few weeks …
November 14, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Just back from trip to Pompei where I learned about the Roman tax on urine. Seems like one of the very few ideas that has not been leaked over the past few weeks …
Very much agree with this and intent to keep going as long as I can!
Good read by @the2minutes2.bsky.social
“Here’s what they don’t tell you about retirement: it’s designed for a world that no longer exists.”
open.substack.com/pub/theoldgr...
“Here’s what they don’t tell you about retirement: it’s designed for a world that no longer exists.”
open.substack.com/pub/theoldgr...
I’m 67 and Just Realized I’ve Been Lied To About Retirement
The brochure made it look simple.
open.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Very much agree with this and intent to keep going as long as I can!
Most tax specialists agree we need reform not fiddling, but easy to get dragged into detail and lose overview. Good that Martin Wolf in FT also writing about big tax reform. But it cannot be rushed or it will go wrong. Economists in particular-don’t forget the need to be able to implement
Spot on on how politicians think about tax. Unfortunately I agree likely we shall have minor fiddling again. But better options exist - eg Resolution Foundation suggestion. Since even small tweaks upset someone, why not be bolder and go for principled reform? Politics, that’s why.
New post just out:
"Staying alive vs taking control"
Labour's big choice at the budget is whether they just want to try and survive it or whether they're willing to take some bigger risks that would have future payoffs.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/s...
"Staying alive vs taking control"
Labour's big choice at the budget is whether they just want to try and survive it or whether they're willing to take some bigger risks that would have future payoffs.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/s...
October 29, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Most tax specialists agree we need reform not fiddling, but easy to get dragged into detail and lose overview. Good that Martin Wolf in FT also writing about big tax reform. But it cannot be rushed or it will go wrong. Economists in particular-don’t forget the need to be able to implement
Big Four accountants lobby against partnership tax changes in Budget . Of course they are! ‘A lot of firms will incorporate as a result of this…’ They would have done that in 2002 if they hadn’t had the LLP created for them- a vehicle that has done little but provide opportunities for tax saving.
October 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Big Four accountants lobby against partnership tax changes in Budget . Of course they are! ‘A lot of firms will incorporate as a result of this…’ They would have done that in 2002 if they hadn’t had the LLP created for them- a vehicle that has done little but provide opportunities for tax saving.
I did predict he would turn the experience into a substack. A lot of lessons to learn ( for Sam and the NHS!)
New post just out:
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
On the edge
My week in the NHS
open.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:43 AM
I did predict he would turn the experience into a substack. A lot of lessons to learn ( for Sam and the NHS!)
The South Bank area used to be a lovely place to walk and sit but now there is noise everywhere. Why are buskers allowed to be so loud?
October 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The South Bank area used to be a lovely place to walk and sit but now there is noise everywhere. Why are buskers allowed to be so loud?
Will the Maliks buy the farm? Or will it go to Archers of some description?
You don’t get to be any more of a silent character than Mulligan. #thearchers
October 14, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Will the Maliks buy the farm? Or will it go to Archers of some description?
Very interesting!
ICO orders DWP to
"disclose the list of all AI tools DWP plans to place on the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standards Hub"
I.e. publish details of all the AI they are using unless there is a valid reason to keep it secret
h/t @rightsnet.org.uk
"disclose the list of all AI tools DWP plans to place on the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standards Hub"
I.e. publish details of all the AI they are using unless there is a valid reason to keep it secret
h/t @rightsnet.org.uk
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
ico.org.uk
October 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Very interesting!
Reposted by Judith Freedman
This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.
I am not fearful — I am fearless.
We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..
I am not fearful — I am fearless.
We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..
October 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.
I am not fearful — I am fearless.
We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..
I am not fearful — I am fearless.
We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..
Reposted by Judith Freedman
Amazed this is still going ahead - basic and obvious problem is that essentially everything local government does now is for the poor. You can’t move it around without really hurting poor people somewhere!
Some of London’s poorest areas could see their share of the children’s services funding formula halved under Labour’s plans to reform local government grants.
By me, for Politics Home: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
By me, for Politics Home: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
London Councils Face Losing Half Their Share Of Children's Services Funding
Some of London’s poorest areas could see their share of funding for children’s services halved under Labour’s plans to reform local government gran...
www.politicshome.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Amazed this is still going ahead - basic and obvious problem is that essentially everything local government does now is for the poor. You can’t move it around without really hurting poor people somewhere!
Spot on on how politicians think about tax. Unfortunately I agree likely we shall have minor fiddling again. But better options exist - eg Resolution Foundation suggestion. Since even small tweaks upset someone, why not be bolder and go for principled reform? Politics, that’s why.
New post just out:
"Staying alive vs taking control"
Labour's big choice at the budget is whether they just want to try and survive it or whether they're willing to take some bigger risks that would have future payoffs.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/s...
"Staying alive vs taking control"
Labour's big choice at the budget is whether they just want to try and survive it or whether they're willing to take some bigger risks that would have future payoffs.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/s...
Staying alive vs taking control
Labour's budget choices
open.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Spot on on how politicians think about tax. Unfortunately I agree likely we shall have minor fiddling again. But better options exist - eg Resolution Foundation suggestion. Since even small tweaks upset someone, why not be bolder and go for principled reform? Politics, that’s why.
Covid vaccinations
open.substack.com/pub/timleuni... - this from the ever interesting @timleunig.bsky.social My surgery delivered 1000 flu jabs on Saturday and I don’t believe it would not have been cost effective to give COVID jabs at the same time but not available even to those eligible 🤷♀️
open.substack.com/pub/timleuni... - this from the ever interesting @timleunig.bsky.social My surgery delivered 1000 flu jabs on Saturday and I don’t believe it would not have been cost effective to give COVID jabs at the same time but not available even to those eligible 🤷♀️
Covid vaccinations
What next?
open.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Covid vaccinations
open.substack.com/pub/timleuni... - this from the ever interesting @timleunig.bsky.social My surgery delivered 1000 flu jabs on Saturday and I don’t believe it would not have been cost effective to give COVID jabs at the same time but not available even to those eligible 🤷♀️
open.substack.com/pub/timleuni... - this from the ever interesting @timleunig.bsky.social My surgery delivered 1000 flu jabs on Saturday and I don’t believe it would not have been cost effective to give COVID jabs at the same time but not available even to those eligible 🤷♀️
Worth reposting
Understanding why government officials blew past the warnings on Robodebt is important in understanding the risks civil servants and the public use tackle as they face pressure to use ‘AI’ in public service delivery.
Early View ✉️
This article seeks to understand how the Australian Government came to implement a scheme - Robodebt - that was in clear violation of social security law, focusing specifically on the role of legal advice.
Read more: academic.oup.com/policyandsoc...
This article seeks to understand how the Australian Government came to implement a scheme - Robodebt - that was in clear violation of social security law, focusing specifically on the role of legal advice.
Read more: academic.oup.com/policyandsoc...
September 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Worth reposting
Reposted by Judith Freedman
Very interesting on a bunch of things including reparations
New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social
On Russia's provocations in Poland, Romania, Denmark and elsewhere.
And what NATO and the EU can do to respond.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/r...
On Russia's provocations in Poland, Romania, Denmark and elsewhere.
And what NATO and the EU can do to respond.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/r...
Russian provocations
How should NATO and the EU react?
open.substack.com
September 27, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Very interesting on a bunch of things including reparations
9 year old kids know…
September 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
9 year old kids know…
Reposted by Judith Freedman
I think this is very correct from @ianleslie.bsky.social. They probably should have done this ages ago but right now there really is very little to lose...
September 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I think this is very correct from @ianleslie.bsky.social. They probably should have done this ages ago but right now there really is very little to lose...
I couldn't agree with this article more. We need to think about how we move from piecemeal ideas flying around to a proper method of tax reform. It seems politicians cannot deliver it on their own. They must always be in charge, but they must be persuaded to seek sensible help. on.ft.com/4muHY6n
Britain must break from the grip of dysfunctional policymaking
Speculation over what might be in November’s Budget has left me depressed about our capacity for rational policies
on.ft.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I couldn't agree with this article more. We need to think about how we move from piecemeal ideas flying around to a proper method of tax reform. It seems politicians cannot deliver it on their own. They must always be in charge, but they must be persuaded to seek sensible help. on.ft.com/4muHY6n