@mickrab.bsky.social
Europhile boomer who appreciates how lucky I am. London accent with Yorkshire twinges, but heart in Galway.
Savage cynic, a bit sweary, no prisoners. Tax is the price you pay for a civilised society.
Savage cynic, a bit sweary, no prisoners. Tax is the price you pay for a civilised society.
Pinned
mickrab.bsky.social
@mickrab.bsky.social
· Jan 13
The absence of a clear answer from a politician normally means the politically inconvenient answer is the truth.
Save this,it is a maxim for the ages.
Save this,it is a maxim for the ages.
You're not seriously trying to tell me McSweeney is some sort of Munster Machiavelli?
He's as fucking useless as the rest of them, unless he's some long term de Valera sleeper getting revenge for 1916.
He's as fucking useless as the rest of them, unless he's some long term de Valera sleeper getting revenge for 1916.
November 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted
Say what you like about their incompetence, but they show admirable skill at the long political suicide note.
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Say what you like about their incompetence, but they show admirable skill at the long political suicide note.
Reposted
No, I'd say it's racists and those pandering to them.
November 15, 2025 at 9:58 PM
No, I'd say it's racists and those pandering to them.
Feeding the crocodile....
Sunday Times Opinion piece today makes it very clear that this latest set of Reform-style proposals amounts to nothing more than a grubby negotiation for more favourable coverage from the right wing press. Who may…. or may not… grant it.
November 16, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Feeding the crocodile....
I haven't enjoyed a Scotland match so much since Frank Haffey was in goal.
Ask yer dad.
Ask yer dad.
November 15, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I haven't enjoyed a Scotland match so much since Frank Haffey was in goal.
Ask yer dad.
Ask yer dad.
Reposted
BBC
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
BBC
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Bias is often in the eye of the beholder
So let’s stick to measurable facts
During 10 yrs of debate about Brexit, BBC QuestionTime had Britain’s Members of the European Parliament on the show 50 times
Every single one was from the pro Brexit minority
47 were from UKIP/BP
23 times Farage
Do we still have the death penalty for treason?
Farage, Boris Johnson & Rees-Mogg apparently plotting assaults on UK democracy with Bannon, who was reporting back to Epstein. Nothing to see here, newspaper folk…
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Emails highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon relationship
New documents show the pair discussing travel arrangements and UK politics in messages from 2018.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Do we still have the death penalty for treason?
I don't mind showing patience if they seem to be going in the right direction and showing some balls. They could have taken the knife to useless OFWAT on 5th July, ffs! 6 months and all they've done is pussyfoot around the water companies.
As for HoL reform, they've just appointed 20 new peers!
As for HoL reform, they've just appointed 20 new peers!
November 14, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Elections aren't won. They are lost!
The Tories wouldn't have won the last election as long as Sunak has a hole in his arse. It was obvious they were going to lose from at least 2022.
That Labour didn't hit the ground running on 5th July tells how useless their planning was.
The Tories wouldn't have won the last election as long as Sunak has a hole in his arse. It was obvious they were going to lose from at least 2022.
That Labour didn't hit the ground running on 5th July tells how useless their planning was.
November 14, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted
Why the wealthy wouldn't leave the UK if a wealth tax is implemented, is the exact same as the real example below.
If quality of life is greater they won't leave for somewhere where their quality of life is reduced.
So... Wealth tax the super rich and let's stop with their fucking horseshit.
If quality of life is greater they won't leave for somewhere where their quality of life is reduced.
So... Wealth tax the super rich and let's stop with their fucking horseshit.
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Why the wealthy wouldn't leave the UK if a wealth tax is implemented, is the exact same as the real example below.
If quality of life is greater they won't leave for somewhere where their quality of life is reduced.
So... Wealth tax the super rich and let's stop with their fucking horseshit.
If quality of life is greater they won't leave for somewhere where their quality of life is reduced.
So... Wealth tax the super rich and let's stop with their fucking horseshit.
Best summary of Corbyn I've seen in a while.
Just join the @greenparty.org.uk - it's the way forward. Leave the egos to play their games. I was so, so, so inspired when @yourpartyuk.bsky.social was announced in the summer - now, it seems to be a playground for ageing Marxists to act out all their last-century fantasies. Let it go.
November 14, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Best summary of Corbyn I've seen in a while.
Spot on. Or, in fewer words, they're fucking useless.
Why all the talk about leadership challenges misses the point that the biggest problem facing this Government is not just a lack of leadership but a lack of clear ideas about what a Labour Government is actually for
Until that changes, the question of who sits in No 10 will remain a hollow one.
Until that changes, the question of who sits in No 10 will remain a hollow one.
Labour's Biggest Problem Is Not a Lack of Leadership but a Lack of Ideas
Until Keir Starmer's party decides what it really stands for, the question of who leads them will remain a hollow one, argues Adam Bienkov
bylinetimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Spot on. Or, in fewer words, they're fucking useless.
Has he just fucking woken up? It's at least 20 years past time for that debate.
🔴‘It’s Time for a Debate About Who Owns Our Media’ Says Leader of the UK’s Trade Union Movement
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak warns that tech and media billionaires are threatening our democracy, as they campaign to destroy the BBC
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/14/i...
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak warns that tech and media billionaires are threatening our democracy, as they campaign to destroy the BBC
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/14/i...
'It's Time for a Debate About Who Owns Our Media' Says Leader of the UK's Trade Union Movement
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak warns that tech and media billionaires are threatening our democracy, as they campaign to destroy the BBC
bylinetimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Has he just fucking woken up? It's at least 20 years past time for that debate.
@chrisgrey.bsky.social
You mentioned grievance. Coincidentally...
You mentioned grievance. Coincidentally...
@abbyinnes.bsky.social has come up with the wonderful phrase " the grievance factory".
It conjures up Farage as the factory manager, Robinson as the factory foreman, Lee Anderson as personnel manager, Reform voters on the production line, Elon as the Chairman and the Daily Mail running sales.
It conjures up Farage as the factory manager, Robinson as the factory foreman, Lee Anderson as personnel manager, Reform voters on the production line, Elon as the Chairman and the Daily Mail running sales.
November 14, 2025 at 9:32 AM
@chrisgrey.bsky.social
You mentioned grievance. Coincidentally...
You mentioned grievance. Coincidentally...
Reposted
Under the Tories we expected a 3 out of 10 government, but got a 1 out of 10. We expected a 7 out of 10 from Labour, but got a 2. Labour's not worse, but they're an even bigger disappointment.
November 14, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Under the Tories we expected a 3 out of 10 government, but got a 1 out of 10. We expected a 7 out of 10 from Labour, but got a 2. Labour's not worse, but they're an even bigger disappointment.
Where did this myth come from that McSweeney is some sort of electoral strategy genius?
The Tories had so imploded Worzel Gummidge could have led Labour to victory.
Elections are lost, not won.
The Tories had so imploded Worzel Gummidge could have led Labour to victory.
Elections are lost, not won.
November 13, 2025 at 10:30 AM
They do seem to have a strategy to lose the next election. McSweeney really must be a genius.
November 13, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Neither! Elections are usually lost, not won.
Labour would have won the last election with Paddington Bear as leader.
All this about McSweeney being some strategic genius is pure bullshit.
The Tories were always going to lose, like Major in 1997, Brown in 2010 and Corbyn in 2019.
Labour would have won the last election with Paddington Bear as leader.
All this about McSweeney being some strategic genius is pure bullshit.
The Tories were always going to lose, like Major in 1997, Brown in 2010 and Corbyn in 2019.
November 13, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted
Labour, Tories and Reform won’t entertain wealth taxes to help our country, because the wealthy own their parties
November 13, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Labour, Tories and Reform won’t entertain wealth taxes to help our country, because the wealthy own their parties
Reposted
@chrisbjohns.bsky.social
I've hit the ultimate accountability sink. I've been trying to speak to HMRC.
It's not good for one's mental health.
I've hit the ultimate accountability sink. I've been trying to speak to HMRC.
It's not good for one's mental health.
November 12, 2025 at 11:10 AM
@chrisbjohns.bsky.social
I've hit the ultimate accountability sink. I've been trying to speak to HMRC.
It's not good for one's mental health.
I've hit the ultimate accountability sink. I've been trying to speak to HMRC.
It's not good for one's mental health.
@peterjukes.bsky.social
Are you a member?
Where is it?
Where has it been for the last 10 years?
If it doesn't stand up for the BBC, what's the point of it?
Are you a member?
Where is it?
Where has it been for the last 10 years?
If it doesn't stand up for the BBC, what's the point of it?
November 11, 2025 at 9:14 AM
@peterjukes.bsky.social
Are you a member?
Where is it?
Where has it been for the last 10 years?
If it doesn't stand up for the BBC, what's the point of it?
Are you a member?
Where is it?
Where has it been for the last 10 years?
If it doesn't stand up for the BBC, what's the point of it?
Specialist subject? The bleeding obvious.
November 11, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Specialist subject? The bleeding obvious.
Reposted
The BBC has long pursued a strategy of appeasing its enemies and alienating its friends.
The result is an endless series of capitulations to those political forces most determined to destroy it
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-bbc-su...
The result is an endless series of capitulations to those political forces most determined to destroy it
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-bbc-su...
The BBC Surrenders to Trump
The capitulation of our national broadcaster to the political forces most determined to destroy it is a worrying sign of things to come
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
The BBC has long pursued a strategy of appeasing its enemies and alienating its friends.
The result is an endless series of capitulations to those political forces most determined to destroy it
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-bbc-su...
The result is an endless series of capitulations to those political forces most determined to destroy it
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-bbc-su...
Reposted
We are now seeing here the kind of attacks on institutions that have become the norm in the United States.
They will not be satisfied until they have burned down civil society. Cowardice in the face of these attacks will abet them. Starmer and Labour need to shit or get off the pot.
They will not be satisfied until they have burned down civil society. Cowardice in the face of these attacks will abet them. Starmer and Labour need to shit or get off the pot.
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
We are now seeing here the kind of attacks on institutions that have become the norm in the United States.
They will not be satisfied until they have burned down civil society. Cowardice in the face of these attacks will abet them. Starmer and Labour need to shit or get off the pot.
They will not be satisfied until they have burned down civil society. Cowardice in the face of these attacks will abet them. Starmer and Labour need to shit or get off the pot.