Kenneth MacArthur
@kennethmac2000.bsky.social
Scottish European 🏴🇪🇺 ❤️ ☕️, 🇪🇺, 💶, fair votes, free speech, podcasts, SI, ☀️, travel 😡 Brexit, elision of 🏴🇬🇧, imperial units
It was a great event. Curious tho - why do you cover devolved HoGs almost as if they’re foreign leaders, while discussing UKG policy for England(/E&W/E&NI) as if it’s the default? (Eg, Inside Briefing.)
Why can’t you talk fluently about the policies of all 4 governments, and compare/contrast them?
Why can’t you talk fluently about the policies of all 4 governments, and compare/contrast them?
November 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
It was a great event. Curious tho - why do you cover devolved HoGs almost as if they’re foreign leaders, while discussing UKG policy for England(/E&W/E&NI) as if it’s the default? (Eg, Inside Briefing.)
Why can’t you talk fluently about the policies of all 4 governments, and compare/contrast them?
Why can’t you talk fluently about the policies of all 4 governments, and compare/contrast them?
It’s great that you mention England here, but why isn’t it mentioned in the title of the report, or indeed anywhere in the report other than oblique references in the small print?
Why do so many seem to feel uncomfortable explicitly name-checking England?
Why do so many seem to feel uncomfortable explicitly name-checking England?
November 21, 2025 at 6:05 PM
It’s great that you mention England here, but why isn’t it mentioned in the title of the report, or indeed anywhere in the report other than oblique references in the small print?
Why do so many seem to feel uncomfortable explicitly name-checking England?
Why do so many seem to feel uncomfortable explicitly name-checking England?
Great, but why didn’t you title the report “The opportunity gap facing boys from low-income families in England”, as you would have done had you written a similar report about boys from low-income families in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales?
November 21, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Great, but why didn’t you title the report “The opportunity gap facing boys from low-income families in England”, as you would have done had you written a similar report about boys from low-income families in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales?
*In England.
November 21, 2025 at 6:02 PM
*In England.
Didn’t it say that the Scottish government was the only government that did learn lessons?
November 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Didn’t it say that the Scottish government was the only government that did learn lessons?
This report is about boys from low-income families in England, but you don’t say that once. Why?
November 21, 2025 at 5:53 PM
This report is about boys from low-income families in England, but you don’t say that once. Why?
"Deprivation is measured differently in Wales, so Welsh forces have been excluded."
Deprivation is measured differently from England, but that doesn't mean it's not measured.
Why couldn't you simply have provided separate calculations for Wales?
Deprivation is measured differently from England, but that doesn't mean it's not measured.
Why couldn't you simply have provided separate calculations for Wales?
October 23, 2025 at 3:23 PM
"Deprivation is measured differently in Wales, so Welsh forces have been excluded."
Deprivation is measured differently from England, but that doesn't mean it's not measured.
Why couldn't you simply have provided separate calculations for Wales?
Deprivation is measured differently from England, but that doesn't mean it's not measured.
Why couldn't you simply have provided separate calculations for Wales?
It's not only the posts on here that don't mention England and Wales, but unbelievably the entire linked web page doesn't mention England and Wales anywhere.
October 23, 2025 at 3:16 PM
It's not only the posts on here that don't mention England and Wales, but unbelievably the entire linked web page doesn't mention England and Wales anywhere.
"_the_ criminal justice system".
Which jurisdiction's criminal justice system?
"Stop being pedantic. Obviously the UK's. We're a UK organization."
But there isn't a UK criminal justice system. There are three.
Which jurisdiction's criminal justice system?
"Stop being pedantic. Obviously the UK's. We're a UK organization."
But there isn't a UK criminal justice system. There are three.
October 23, 2025 at 3:10 PM
"_the_ criminal justice system".
Which jurisdiction's criminal justice system?
"Stop being pedantic. Obviously the UK's. We're a UK organization."
But there isn't a UK criminal justice system. There are three.
Which jurisdiction's criminal justice system?
"Stop being pedantic. Obviously the UK's. We're a UK organization."
But there isn't a UK criminal justice system. There are three.
Great that you actually mentioned England and Wales here (unlike many of your colleagues)!
Ideally the reference would have been in the first post in the thread though. The territorial extent is not some minor detail - it's crucial info to know which part(s) of the UK the material is about.
Ideally the reference would have been in the first post in the thread though. The territorial extent is not some minor detail - it's crucial info to know which part(s) of the UK the material is about.
October 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Great that you actually mentioned England and Wales here (unlike many of your colleagues)!
Ideally the reference would have been in the first post in the thread though. The territorial extent is not some minor detail - it's crucial info to know which part(s) of the UK the material is about.
Ideally the reference would have been in the first post in the thread though. The territorial extent is not some minor detail - it's crucial info to know which part(s) of the UK the material is about.
*The criminal courts in England and Wales.
The UK has three criminal justice systems.
The UK has three criminal justice systems.
October 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM
*The criminal courts in England and Wales.
The UK has three criminal justice systems.
The UK has three criminal justice systems.
It's about the criminal justice system in England and Wales, but you seem so incredibly reluctant to say that. Why?
If it was about the criminal justice systems in Northern Ireland or Scotland, you would say so.
Why not if it involves England?
If it was about the criminal justice systems in Northern Ireland or Scotland, you would say so.
Why not if it involves England?
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
It's about the criminal justice system in England and Wales, but you seem so incredibly reluctant to say that. Why?
If it was about the criminal justice systems in Northern Ireland or Scotland, you would say so.
Why not if it involves England?
If it was about the criminal justice systems in Northern Ireland or Scotland, you would say so.
Why not if it involves England?
And this one is about England and Wales.
Why couldn't that simply be stated explicitly, like you would if you were talking about the criminal justice systems in Northern Ireland or Scotland?
Why couldn't that simply be stated explicitly, like you would if you were talking about the criminal justice systems in Northern Ireland or Scotland?
October 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
And this one is about England and Wales.
Why couldn't that simply be stated explicitly, like you would if you were talking about the criminal justice systems in Northern Ireland or Scotland?
Why couldn't that simply be stated explicitly, like you would if you were talking about the criminal justice systems in Northern Ireland or Scotland?
On the other hand, the Welsh visitor levy isn't part of the devolution settlement - that's a policy that was legislated for by the Senedd like any other matter within its competence. /3
October 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
On the other hand, the Welsh visitor levy isn't part of the devolution settlement - that's a policy that was legislated for by the Senedd like any other matter within its competence. /3
It also feels a little weird that the article doesn't mention arguably the most significant change to Welsh devolution since 1999, which was the coming into force of the Wales Act 2017's reserved matters model of devolution on 1 April 2018. /2
October 23, 2025 at 2:57 PM
It also feels a little weird that the article doesn't mention arguably the most significant change to Welsh devolution since 1999, which was the coming into force of the Wales Act 2017's reserved matters model of devolution on 1 April 2018. /2
Senedd Cymru does not take a definite article in English.
"The Senedd Cymru (Welsh parliament)" should be... "Senedd Cymru (the Welsh parliament)"
The Senedd's laws are called Acts of Senedd Cymru, not Acts of the Senedd Cymru. Cf. Acts of the Scottish parliament. /1
"The Senedd Cymru (Welsh parliament)" should be... "Senedd Cymru (the Welsh parliament)"
The Senedd's laws are called Acts of Senedd Cymru, not Acts of the Senedd Cymru. Cf. Acts of the Scottish parliament. /1
October 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Senedd Cymru does not take a definite article in English.
"The Senedd Cymru (Welsh parliament)" should be... "Senedd Cymru (the Welsh parliament)"
The Senedd's laws are called Acts of Senedd Cymru, not Acts of the Senedd Cymru. Cf. Acts of the Scottish parliament. /1
"The Senedd Cymru (Welsh parliament)" should be... "Senedd Cymru (the Welsh parliament)"
The Senedd's laws are called Acts of Senedd Cymru, not Acts of the Senedd Cymru. Cf. Acts of the Scottish parliament. /1
“Oh, but there’s no way they’d add an extra band.”
Why not? The Scottish government did it. (Also, as it happens, in breach of the SNP’s manifesto, which was less tightly worded than UK Labour’s).
“No, but it wouldn’t be English to have four income tax bands.”
I mean, really? /3
Why not? The Scottish government did it. (Also, as it happens, in breach of the SNP’s manifesto, which was less tightly worded than UK Labour’s).
“No, but it wouldn’t be English to have four income tax bands.”
I mean, really? /3
October 18, 2025 at 9:25 AM
“Oh, but there’s no way they’d add an extra band.”
Why not? The Scottish government did it. (Also, as it happens, in breach of the SNP’s manifesto, which was less tightly worded than UK Labour’s).
“No, but it wouldn’t be English to have four income tax bands.”
I mean, really? /3
Why not? The Scottish government did it. (Also, as it happens, in breach of the SNP’s manifesto, which was less tightly worded than UK Labour’s).
“No, but it wouldn’t be English to have four income tax bands.”
I mean, really? /3
You flirt with the idea of the UK government increasing rUK income tax by 1 pp - a flagrant manifesto breach - but won’t even contemplate an extra band between higher and additional, which very clearly wouldn’t be a manifesto breach (even if some might argue it would be in spirit). /2
October 18, 2025 at 9:20 AM
You flirt with the idea of the UK government increasing rUK income tax by 1 pp - a flagrant manifesto breach - but won’t even contemplate an extra band between higher and additional, which very clearly wouldn’t be a manifesto breach (even if some might argue it would be in spirit). /2
The UK famously doesn’t have an entrenched constitution.
But you discuss rUK income tax as if the number of bands was constitutionally locked in. /1
But you discuss rUK income tax as if the number of bands was constitutionally locked in. /1
October 18, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The UK famously doesn’t have an entrenched constitution.
But you discuss rUK income tax as if the number of bands was constitutionally locked in. /1
But you discuss rUK income tax as if the number of bands was constitutionally locked in. /1
Why have you costed increases to the existing rUK income tax rates (which would be a prima facie breach of UK Labour’s manifesto), but have not considered a Scotland-style new rate between the higher and additional rates (which would not be)?
Why the assumption that there must be exactly 3 bands?
Why the assumption that there must be exactly 3 bands?
October 17, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Why have you costed increases to the existing rUK income tax rates (which would be a prima facie breach of UK Labour’s manifesto), but have not considered a Scotland-style new rate between the higher and additional rates (which would not be)?
Why the assumption that there must be exactly 3 bands?
Why the assumption that there must be exactly 3 bands?
To cover all of the main parties in GB would have required covering three more parties. Why didn't you feel it was worth doing this?
October 16, 2025 at 10:53 AM
To cover all of the main parties in GB would have required covering three more parties. Why didn't you feel it was worth doing this?
It's worth remembering that decisions to establish statutory public inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005 can also be made by Scottish Ministers and Welsh Ministers, and by a Northern Ireland Minister. The Cabinet Office is rightly not involved in those decisions.
October 16, 2025 at 10:51 AM
It's worth remembering that decisions to establish statutory public inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005 can also be made by Scottish Ministers and Welsh Ministers, and by a Northern Ireland Minister. The Cabinet Office is rightly not involved in those decisions.
If these reports were about Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, this fact would be made extremely clear and explicit. Why not for England? /2
October 16, 2025 at 10:48 AM
If these reports were about Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, this fact would be made extremely clear and explicit. Why not for England? /2
All of the reports relate to England, but the word England is not used in any of the report titles, or up-front and explicitly in any of the report intros. (The only references to England are oblique and later in the text.) /1
October 16, 2025 at 10:48 AM
All of the reports relate to England, but the word England is not used in any of the report titles, or up-front and explicitly in any of the report intros. (The only references to England are oblique and later in the text.) /1