@keithrt.bsky.social
Reposted
Covid fraud under the Tories cost the UK taxpayer £10.9bn.
VIP lanes and crony contracts.
Lack of anti-fraud controls in Covid scheme.
Money handed out for non-existent employees
Newly formed companies got public money
No competitive tenders
Poor checks on quality.
How much would be recovered?
VIP lanes and crony contracts.
Lack of anti-fraud controls in Covid scheme.
Money handed out for non-existent employees
Newly formed companies got public money
No competitive tenders
Poor checks on quality.
How much would be recovered?
Covid fraud under the Tories cost the taxpayer £10.9 billion
The counter-fraud and error measures during the pandemic under the Conservative Government were accused of being 'so lax they may as well have left the door wide open'
www.mirror.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Covid fraud under the Tories cost the UK taxpayer £10.9bn.
VIP lanes and crony contracts.
Lack of anti-fraud controls in Covid scheme.
Money handed out for non-existent employees
Newly formed companies got public money
No competitive tenders
Poor checks on quality.
How much would be recovered?
VIP lanes and crony contracts.
Lack of anti-fraud controls in Covid scheme.
Money handed out for non-existent employees
Newly formed companies got public money
No competitive tenders
Poor checks on quality.
How much would be recovered?
Reposted
UK public has paid £200bn to shareholders of key industries since privatisation.
In public ownership that would have gone into infrastructure, lower bills.
Privatisation delivered low investment, high bills, no tax on dividends to foreign investors.
No end to nightmare without public ownership.
In public ownership that would have gone into infrastructure, lower bills.
Privatisation delivered low investment, high bills, no tax on dividends to foreign investors.
No end to nightmare without public ownership.
UK public has paid £200bn to shareholders of key industries since privatisation
Analysis reveals ‘privatisation premium’ of £250 per household per year paid to owners of water, rail, bus, energy and mail services since 2010
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:53 AM
UK public has paid £200bn to shareholders of key industries since privatisation.
In public ownership that would have gone into infrastructure, lower bills.
Privatisation delivered low investment, high bills, no tax on dividends to foreign investors.
No end to nightmare without public ownership.
In public ownership that would have gone into infrastructure, lower bills.
Privatisation delivered low investment, high bills, no tax on dividends to foreign investors.
No end to nightmare without public ownership.
Reposted
Reform accepted £9 million from a former Boris Johnson backer & crypto-multimillionaire.
Today, Nigel Farage postures as a righteous defender of the same democracy he actively undermines.
Democracy should never be for sale. It's time for a cap on political donations.
Today, Nigel Farage postures as a righteous defender of the same democracy he actively undermines.
Democracy should never be for sale. It's time for a cap on political donations.
December 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reform accepted £9 million from a former Boris Johnson backer & crypto-multimillionaire.
Today, Nigel Farage postures as a righteous defender of the same democracy he actively undermines.
Democracy should never be for sale. It's time for a cap on political donations.
Today, Nigel Farage postures as a righteous defender of the same democracy he actively undermines.
Democracy should never be for sale. It's time for a cap on political donations.
Reposted
Thames Water half-year profits leap to £386m after bills rose by nearly a third.
Leaks and sewage dumping will continue for years.
£20bn+debt. A third of the bill covers interest payments.
Captive customers have no choice.
End the scam. Nationalise water.
Leaks and sewage dumping will continue for years.
£20bn+debt. A third of the bill covers interest payments.
Captive customers have no choice.
End the scam. Nationalise water.
Thames Water half-year profit leaps to nearly £400m after it raises bills by third
Revenues jumped 40% to nearly £2bn after debt-ridden utility hiked water bills sharply in April
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Thames Water half-year profits leap to £386m after bills rose by nearly a third.
Leaks and sewage dumping will continue for years.
£20bn+debt. A third of the bill covers interest payments.
Captive customers have no choice.
End the scam. Nationalise water.
Leaks and sewage dumping will continue for years.
£20bn+debt. A third of the bill covers interest payments.
Captive customers have no choice.
End the scam. Nationalise water.
Reposted
Jury trials in England & Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than 3 years will be scrapped.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Jury trials scrapped for crimes with sentences of less than three years
The reforms are being brought in to tackle unprecedented delays in the Crown Court.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Jury trials in England & Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than 3 years will be scrapped.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Reposted
The budget didn't bother the powerful.
No windfall tax on banks. Govt subsidy of £23bn+ continues.
No windfall tax on energy companies, £125bn profit since 2020.
Corporate profiteering and subsidies continue. No curbs on corporate welfare.
85,500 have wealth of £2.8 trillion, hardly touched.
No windfall tax on banks. Govt subsidy of £23bn+ continues.
No windfall tax on energy companies, £125bn profit since 2020.
Corporate profiteering and subsidies continue. No curbs on corporate welfare.
85,500 have wealth of £2.8 trillion, hardly touched.
The government’s budget is simply managing decline
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth
leftfootforward.org
December 1, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The budget didn't bother the powerful.
No windfall tax on banks. Govt subsidy of £23bn+ continues.
No windfall tax on energy companies, £125bn profit since 2020.
Corporate profiteering and subsidies continue. No curbs on corporate welfare.
85,500 have wealth of £2.8 trillion, hardly touched.
No windfall tax on banks. Govt subsidy of £23bn+ continues.
No windfall tax on energy companies, £125bn profit since 2020.
Corporate profiteering and subsidies continue. No curbs on corporate welfare.
85,500 have wealth of £2.8 trillion, hardly touched.
Reposted
Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver, Starmer says.
Made difficult by poor policies.
Could have
Aligned taxation of dividends and capital gains with wages, lift personal allowance.
Nationalised energy/water, end profiteering, cut inflation, reduce business and household costs.
Made difficult by poor policies.
Could have
Aligned taxation of dividends and capital gains with wages, lift personal allowance.
Nationalised energy/water, end profiteering, cut inflation, reduce business and household costs.
Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver, Keir Starmer says
Exclusive: PM hits back at critics as he insists Rachel Reeves right to impose £26bn worth of tax rises at budget
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver, Starmer says.
Made difficult by poor policies.
Could have
Aligned taxation of dividends and capital gains with wages, lift personal allowance.
Nationalised energy/water, end profiteering, cut inflation, reduce business and household costs.
Made difficult by poor policies.
Could have
Aligned taxation of dividends and capital gains with wages, lift personal allowance.
Nationalised energy/water, end profiteering, cut inflation, reduce business and household costs.
Reposted
The UK government’s budget is simply managing decline.
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth.
Can't grow economy by hiking taxes on low/middle income families.
Whatever happened to taxing the rich?
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth.
Can't grow economy by hiking taxes on low/middle income families.
Whatever happened to taxing the rich?
The government’s budget is simply managing decline
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth
leftfootforward.org
November 28, 2025 at 12:29 PM
The UK government’s budget is simply managing decline.
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth.
Can't grow economy by hiking taxes on low/middle income families.
Whatever happened to taxing the rich?
The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth.
Can't grow economy by hiking taxes on low/middle income families.
Whatever happened to taxing the rich?
Reposted
Why do they want us to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)?
The Government moots leaving the ECHR as a pragmatic solution to an immigration “crisis”, but is there a more sinister motive behind the push?
The Government moots leaving the ECHR as a pragmatic solution to an immigration “crisis”, but is there a more sinister motive behind the push?
Why do they want us to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)?
The Government moots leaving the ECHR as a pragmatic solution to an immigration “crisis”, but is there a more sinister motive behind the push?
westenglandbylines.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Why do they want us to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)?
The Government moots leaving the ECHR as a pragmatic solution to an immigration “crisis”, but is there a more sinister motive behind the push?
The Government moots leaving the ECHR as a pragmatic solution to an immigration “crisis”, but is there a more sinister motive behind the push?
Reposted
China has brought millions out of poverty. The US has not – by choice.
The UK is following the US model. Wealth concentrated in fewer hands. 24m can't attain minimum standard of living, real average wage unchanged since 2008, public services eroded, profiteering is rife.
The UK is following the US model. Wealth concentrated in fewer hands. 24m can't attain minimum standard of living, real average wage unchanged since 2008, public services eroded, profiteering is rife.
China has brought millions out of poverty. The US has not – by choice
Despite the US’s economic success, income inequality remains breathtaking. But this is no glitch – it’s the system
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:50 AM
China has brought millions out of poverty. The US has not – by choice.
The UK is following the US model. Wealth concentrated in fewer hands. 24m can't attain minimum standard of living, real average wage unchanged since 2008, public services eroded, profiteering is rife.
The UK is following the US model. Wealth concentrated in fewer hands. 24m can't attain minimum standard of living, real average wage unchanged since 2008, public services eroded, profiteering is rife.
Reposted
These MPs have already committed to protecting our NHS from private finance.
Has yours? vist.ly/4fnk2
Has yours? vist.ly/4fnk2
November 23, 2025 at 8:26 AM
These MPs have already committed to protecting our NHS from private finance.
Has yours? vist.ly/4fnk2
Has yours? vist.ly/4fnk2
Reposted
Boris Johnson took 4 days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Boris Johnson took 4 days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Reposted
NEW: Important thread from @thenerve.news.
See key WhatsApp evidence & videos from Nathan Gill hearing now sentenced to 10 & half years in prison
👇
See key WhatsApp evidence & videos from Nathan Gill hearing now sentenced to 10 & half years in prison
👇
November 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM
NEW: Important thread from @thenerve.news.
See key WhatsApp evidence & videos from Nathan Gill hearing now sentenced to 10 & half years in prison
👇
See key WhatsApp evidence & videos from Nathan Gill hearing now sentenced to 10 & half years in prison
👇
Reposted
'Labour MPs urge Reeves to drop private finance plans for NHS buildings'
As the budget gets closer, the pressure on this government to drop new PFI just keeps building.
As the budget gets closer, the pressure on this government to drop new PFI just keeps building.
Labour MPs urge Reeves to drop private finance plans for NHS buildings
Chancellor told PFI-style schemes familiar from New Labour era are ‘fiscal illusion’ offering no value for money
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:29 PM
'Labour MPs urge Reeves to drop private finance plans for NHS buildings'
As the budget gets closer, the pressure on this government to drop new PFI just keeps building.
As the budget gets closer, the pressure on this government to drop new PFI just keeps building.
Reposted
Gill’s conviction is why our case matters. The European Court ruled states must protect citizens from foreign disinformation - but stopped short of forcing the UK to investigate.
That’s why we’re taking this fight to the Grand Chamber.
Subscribe to follow the campaign ⤵️
dispatch.the-citizens.com
That’s why we’re taking this fight to the Grand Chamber.
Subscribe to follow the campaign ⤵️
dispatch.the-citizens.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Gill’s conviction is why our case matters. The European Court ruled states must protect citizens from foreign disinformation - but stopped short of forcing the UK to investigate.
That’s why we’re taking this fight to the Grand Chamber.
Subscribe to follow the campaign ⤵️
dispatch.the-citizens.com
That’s why we’re taking this fight to the Grand Chamber.
Subscribe to follow the campaign ⤵️
dispatch.the-citizens.com
Reposted
NHS private finance diverts money away from healthcare, towards the pockets of private shareholders.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
November 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
NHS private finance diverts money away from healthcare, towards the pockets of private shareholders.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
Reposted
The Curse of Private Equity
Asda to raise £568m in sale and leaseback of stores.
Company loaded with debt, cut staffing, wages.
Already sold most of its warehouses and 25 supermarkets in sale and leaseback deals. Asset stripping continues.
Company losing market share.
What next?
Asda to raise £568m in sale and leaseback of stores.
Company loaded with debt, cut staffing, wages.
Already sold most of its warehouses and 25 supermarkets in sale and leaseback deals. Asset stripping continues.
Company losing market share.
What next?
Asda to raise £568m in store sell-off as sales continue to fall
Supermarket still losing market share despite effort under Allan Leighton to win over customers with price cuts
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:03 AM
The Curse of Private Equity
Asda to raise £568m in sale and leaseback of stores.
Company loaded with debt, cut staffing, wages.
Already sold most of its warehouses and 25 supermarkets in sale and leaseback deals. Asset stripping continues.
Company losing market share.
What next?
Asda to raise £568m in sale and leaseback of stores.
Company loaded with debt, cut staffing, wages.
Already sold most of its warehouses and 25 supermarkets in sale and leaseback deals. Asset stripping continues.
Company losing market share.
What next?
Reposted
Our NHS is precious, it wasn’t until I lived in Australia that I realised just how precious. $70 upfront to see a GP, $1000 for an ambulance to take me to hospital.
The NHS is the envy of the world and it’s OURS! It’s worth fighting for! Private shareholders should never be allowed to profit!!
The NHS is the envy of the world and it’s OURS! It’s worth fighting for! Private shareholders should never be allowed to profit!!
November 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Our NHS is precious, it wasn’t until I lived in Australia that I realised just how precious. $70 upfront to see a GP, $1000 for an ambulance to take me to hospital.
The NHS is the envy of the world and it’s OURS! It’s worth fighting for! Private shareholders should never be allowed to profit!!
The NHS is the envy of the world and it’s OURS! It’s worth fighting for! Private shareholders should never be allowed to profit!!
Reposted
Because PFI is so successful.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Repairs left unfinished as firm behind huge schools PFI contract goes into liquidation
The news heightens concerns that 88 schools in Stoke-on-Trent could be left with unfinished work.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Because PFI is so successful.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted
If Labour starts funnelling public money into the private sector, it’s not “governing”, it’s betraying the very people who saved them from electoral oblivion.
Keep this up, and those borrowed votes will evaporate, and deservedly so.
Keep this up, and those borrowed votes will evaporate, and deservedly so.
November 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
If Labour starts funnelling public money into the private sector, it’s not “governing”, it’s betraying the very people who saved them from electoral oblivion.
Keep this up, and those borrowed votes will evaporate, and deservedly so.
Keep this up, and those borrowed votes will evaporate, and deservedly so.
Reposted
The Govt announcement today risks taking us down a road of no return by jeopardising the legal framework that protects us all.
Undermining the ECHR or leaving as some propose, means dismantling a safety net that protects everyone.
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/libert...
Undermining the ECHR or leaving as some propose, means dismantling a safety net that protects everyone.
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/libert...
Liberty responds to government's planned asylum and returns policy - Liberty
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
The Govt announcement today risks taking us down a road of no return by jeopardising the legal framework that protects us all.
Undermining the ECHR or leaving as some propose, means dismantling a safety net that protects everyone.
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/libert...
Undermining the ECHR or leaving as some propose, means dismantling a safety net that protects everyone.
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/libert...
Reposted
Post Office Horizon IT contract extended for another year.
PO to pay £41m to Fujitsu.
Fujitsu was instrumental in persecution of innocent postmasters. £1.2bn compensation paid from public purse. More to follow. Fujitsu haven't paid a penny, no one has been charged.
Why is Fujitsu being rewarded?
PO to pay £41m to Fujitsu.
Fujitsu was instrumental in persecution of innocent postmasters. £1.2bn compensation paid from public purse. More to follow. Fujitsu haven't paid a penny, no one has been charged.
Why is Fujitsu being rewarded?
Post Office Horizon IT contract extended for another year
It is paying £41m to the Japanese-owned company Fujitsu to use the Horizon system until March 2027.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Post Office Horizon IT contract extended for another year.
PO to pay £41m to Fujitsu.
Fujitsu was instrumental in persecution of innocent postmasters. £1.2bn compensation paid from public purse. More to follow. Fujitsu haven't paid a penny, no one has been charged.
Why is Fujitsu being rewarded?
PO to pay £41m to Fujitsu.
Fujitsu was instrumental in persecution of innocent postmasters. £1.2bn compensation paid from public purse. More to follow. Fujitsu haven't paid a penny, no one has been charged.
Why is Fujitsu being rewarded?
Reposted
ITV in talks to sell television business to Sky.
Sky is owned by US-based Comcast, largest shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock.
CMA must block the takeover. No one must own more than one major media outlet. Need diversity and competition.
Sky is owned by US-based Comcast, largest shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock.
CMA must block the takeover. No one must own more than one major media outlet. Need diversity and competition.
ITV in talks to sell television business to Sky
The talks focus on ITV's Media and Entertainment division, which include its TV channels as well as its streaming service, ITV X.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 7:51 AM
ITV in talks to sell television business to Sky.
Sky is owned by US-based Comcast, largest shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock.
CMA must block the takeover. No one must own more than one major media outlet. Need diversity and competition.
Sky is owned by US-based Comcast, largest shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock.
CMA must block the takeover. No one must own more than one major media outlet. Need diversity and competition.
Reposted
2m UK pensioners live in poverty, 110,000 a year die in fuel poverty.
Neoliberals pushing to cut/freeze state pension.
Evidence: UK state pension is the worst among G7 nations, last on replacement rates, joint-last on state pension spending.
Britons receive pension for fewer years than most.
Neoliberals pushing to cut/freeze state pension.
Evidence: UK state pension is the worst among G7 nations, last on replacement rates, joint-last on state pension spending.
Britons receive pension for fewer years than most.
State pension generosity compared: how does the UK measure up? | Fidelity UK
Get all the latest news, views and opinions from Fidelity’s savings and investment experts on saving and investing for your retirement.
www.fidelity.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 7:04 AM
2m UK pensioners live in poverty, 110,000 a year die in fuel poverty.
Neoliberals pushing to cut/freeze state pension.
Evidence: UK state pension is the worst among G7 nations, last on replacement rates, joint-last on state pension spending.
Britons receive pension for fewer years than most.
Neoliberals pushing to cut/freeze state pension.
Evidence: UK state pension is the worst among G7 nations, last on replacement rates, joint-last on state pension spending.
Britons receive pension for fewer years than most.
Reposted
Oldest victim of Post Office scandal, 92, receives final compensation payout.
At last. But ruined lives can't be restored.
£1.2bn paid to 9,100 victims from public purse.
Not a penny from PO execs, Fujitsu, lawyers, accountants, advisers who benefited from persecution of the victims.
At last. But ruined lives can't be restored.
£1.2bn paid to 9,100 victims from public purse.
Not a penny from PO execs, Fujitsu, lawyers, accountants, advisers who benefited from persecution of the victims.
Oldest victim of Post Office scandal, 92, receives final payout
www.bbc.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Oldest victim of Post Office scandal, 92, receives final compensation payout.
At last. But ruined lives can't be restored.
£1.2bn paid to 9,100 victims from public purse.
Not a penny from PO execs, Fujitsu, lawyers, accountants, advisers who benefited from persecution of the victims.
At last. But ruined lives can't be restored.
£1.2bn paid to 9,100 victims from public purse.
Not a penny from PO execs, Fujitsu, lawyers, accountants, advisers who benefited from persecution of the victims.