Mr Benn
@markbenn.bsky.social
A middle-aged father of two who hasn't been able to get to the fancy dress shop recently.
Which can all be watched on iPlayer (which is not terrestrial TV).
December 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Which can all be watched on iPlayer (which is not terrestrial TV).
I'm writing this from Mike Tapp's constituency and I completely understand why he's saying this.
I think he's mistaken to do so and I don't think it will do him any favours at the next election, but I do understand it.
I think he's mistaken to do so and I don't think it will do him any favours at the next election, but I do understand it.
December 26, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I'm writing this from Mike Tapp's constituency and I completely understand why he's saying this.
I think he's mistaken to do so and I don't think it will do him any favours at the next election, but I do understand it.
I think he's mistaken to do so and I don't think it will do him any favours at the next election, but I do understand it.
But isn't this the problem regarding which voters they want to attract? How do you appeal to aspirational voters - with wants and values very different to those that were at the core of the party - without losing those who those voters would see as "left behind"?
December 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
But isn't this the problem regarding which voters they want to attract? How do you appeal to aspirational voters - with wants and values very different to those that were at the core of the party - without losing those who those voters would see as "left behind"?
Sorry, but, "phwooooaaaarrrrr!"
December 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Sorry, but, "phwooooaaaarrrrr!"
Probably/possibly. You'd expect some effect, but the surprise of Brexit is how Britain's economy continues to track those of other developed European countries - which may say more about the nature of developed Western economies than anything else.
December 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Probably/possibly. You'd expect some effect, but the surprise of Brexit is how Britain's economy continues to track those of other developed European countries - which may say more about the nature of developed Western economies than anything else.
But considering the 8% of missing growth would have meant the UK growing in line with the US, rather than any country in the EU, is that really a trustworthy figure?
December 24, 2025 at 8:51 AM
But considering the 8% of missing growth would have meant the UK growing in line with the US, rather than any country in the EU, is that really a trustworthy figure?
I think it's a difficult one because it's clearly also a IHT dodge.
Feels like a better policy could be drawn up to stop this happening.
Feels like a better policy could be drawn up to stop this happening.
December 24, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I think it's a difficult one because it's clearly also a IHT dodge.
Feels like a better policy could be drawn up to stop this happening.
Feels like a better policy could be drawn up to stop this happening.
A £2m estate after all is said and done.
Wish I were that poor.
Wish I were that poor.
December 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
A £2m estate after all is said and done.
Wish I were that poor.
Wish I were that poor.
Of course it's glib, it's social media!
I didn't know I had to offer a solution. What's yours?
I didn't know I had to offer a solution. What's yours?
December 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Of course it's glib, it's social media!
I didn't know I had to offer a solution. What's yours?
I didn't know I had to offer a solution. What's yours?
In fairness, relying on immigration to fill gaps in your workforce suggests a massive issue that you've been trying to deal with using sticking plasters.
December 22, 2025 at 10:52 AM
In fairness, relying on immigration to fill gaps in your workforce suggests a massive issue that you've been trying to deal with using sticking plasters.
I disagree. It's the contempt for modern Britain that sits at the heart of it and is popular.
And with "modern Britain" tied into other things (liberal democracy, the EU, etc) it's going to create issues with a group that's becoming more cynical and authoritarian.
And with "modern Britain" tied into other things (liberal democracy, the EU, etc) it's going to create issues with a group that's becoming more cynical and authoritarian.
December 17, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I disagree. It's the contempt for modern Britain that sits at the heart of it and is popular.
And with "modern Britain" tied into other things (liberal democracy, the EU, etc) it's going to create issues with a group that's becoming more cynical and authoritarian.
And with "modern Britain" tied into other things (liberal democracy, the EU, etc) it's going to create issues with a group that's becoming more cynical and authoritarian.
Don't knows are a key win sometimes. Moving policy towards opponents reduces their opponent's soft support and results in their voters staying at home.
It can be argued that Corbyn's presence in 17 and 19 got the Tory vote out. Something a more moderate opponent may not have done.
It can be argued that Corbyn's presence in 17 and 19 got the Tory vote out. Something a more moderate opponent may not have done.
December 17, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Don't knows are a key win sometimes. Moving policy towards opponents reduces their opponent's soft support and results in their voters staying at home.
It can be argued that Corbyn's presence in 17 and 19 got the Tory vote out. Something a more moderate opponent may not have done.
It can be argued that Corbyn's presence in 17 and 19 got the Tory vote out. Something a more moderate opponent may not have done.
An Erasmus here, a customs union there.
Back in the EU by 2032!
Back in the EU by 2032!
December 16, 2025 at 6:59 PM
An Erasmus here, a customs union there.
Back in the EU by 2032!
Back in the EU by 2032!
Not enough credit being given to those of us here just to dick around.
In it for the love of the game.
In it for the love of the game.
December 15, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Not enough credit being given to those of us here just to dick around.
In it for the love of the game.
In it for the love of the game.
An honest question, do you read the replies?
Wondered if you can just ignore them or you find them useful for work.
Wondered if you can just ignore them or you find them useful for work.
December 15, 2025 at 6:38 PM
An honest question, do you read the replies?
Wondered if you can just ignore them or you find them useful for work.
Wondered if you can just ignore them or you find them useful for work.
Nope. It's now just Russian bot farms giving Rupert Lowe 20k likes for saying something racist.
It's cooked.
It's cooked.
December 15, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Nope. It's now just Russian bot farms giving Rupert Lowe 20k likes for saying something racist.
It's cooked.
It's cooked.
Posted without comment.
December 14, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Posted without comment.
I think Reform have (which is why their numbers are so high) but I think there are still others they feel they can get.
Old MPs suggests that your party isn't as radical as the average centre-right voter may fear.
Old MPs suggests that your party isn't as radical as the average centre-right voter may fear.
December 11, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I think Reform have (which is why their numbers are so high) but I think there are still others they feel they can get.
Old MPs suggests that your party isn't as radical as the average centre-right voter may fear.
Old MPs suggests that your party isn't as radical as the average centre-right voter may fear.
Probably for the best. We all need the freedom to get on with our lives and do something constructive.
December 11, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Probably for the best. We all need the freedom to get on with our lives and do something constructive.
There's an argument that a lot of Tory support comes from people fearful of the left, i.e. it's anti-Labour rather than pro-Conservative.
If you can show you're the alternative, and suggest you represent a broader base, then you may get that anti-left vote.
If you can show you're the alternative, and suggest you represent a broader base, then you may get that anti-left vote.
December 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
There's an argument that a lot of Tory support comes from people fearful of the left, i.e. it's anti-Labour rather than pro-Conservative.
If you can show you're the alternative, and suggest you represent a broader base, then you may get that anti-left vote.
If you can show you're the alternative, and suggest you represent a broader base, then you may get that anti-left vote.
I honestly think it'll come, just no point declaring anything three years before an election.
Expect a soft launch in 2028 with a full declaration around the end of the year / start of 2029.
Expect a soft launch in 2028 with a full declaration around the end of the year / start of 2029.
December 11, 2025 at 11:08 AM
I honestly think it'll come, just no point declaring anything three years before an election.
Expect a soft launch in 2028 with a full declaration around the end of the year / start of 2029.
Expect a soft launch in 2028 with a full declaration around the end of the year / start of 2029.
It depends.
A lot on the right blame the likes of Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt for the failings of the last government - a sense that it was all undermined by "wets".
It's not that the Conservatives were at fault, it's that the wrong conservative MPs were in charge.
A lot on the right blame the likes of Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt for the failings of the last government - a sense that it was all undermined by "wets".
It's not that the Conservatives were at fault, it's that the wrong conservative MPs were in charge.
December 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
It depends.
A lot on the right blame the likes of Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt for the failings of the last government - a sense that it was all undermined by "wets".
It's not that the Conservatives were at fault, it's that the wrong conservative MPs were in charge.
A lot on the right blame the likes of Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt for the failings of the last government - a sense that it was all undermined by "wets".
It's not that the Conservatives were at fault, it's that the wrong conservative MPs were in charge.
The Conservative party minus the PMC.
It's the parts that shattered the red wall in 2019, keep East Anglian market towns, but lose Surrey and Buckinghamshire.
It's the parts that shattered the red wall in 2019, keep East Anglian market towns, but lose Surrey and Buckinghamshire.
December 11, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The Conservative party minus the PMC.
It's the parts that shattered the red wall in 2019, keep East Anglian market towns, but lose Surrey and Buckinghamshire.
It's the parts that shattered the red wall in 2019, keep East Anglian market towns, but lose Surrey and Buckinghamshire.
Exactly. It happend to my family as my father died before he could claim his pension, and therefore the amount transferred to my mother decreased.
She ended up getting something like 60% less than she would if he'd lived 5 years longer.
She ended up getting something like 60% less than she would if he'd lived 5 years longer.
December 11, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Exactly. It happend to my family as my father died before he could claim his pension, and therefore the amount transferred to my mother decreased.
She ended up getting something like 60% less than she would if he'd lived 5 years longer.
She ended up getting something like 60% less than she would if he'd lived 5 years longer.
All the opportunists seek opportunity in opportunist shock.
December 11, 2025 at 9:15 AM
All the opportunists seek opportunity in opportunist shock.