Michael G
@mineronce.bsky.social
Ex UK, South Africa, retired Miner, worked in Southern & East Africa over a +40 year career. Now politically homeless. Definitely not a neoliberal!
GB Railways Privatisation Failure.
I came across this article today about the failure of GB railways privatisation.
www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/5...
I came across this article today about the failure of GB railways privatisation.
www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/5...
Britain’s Railway Privatization Was an Abject Failure - Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung
Sold off in the 1990s, the UK’s railways are returning to public hands — but at what cost?
www.rosalux.de
November 16, 2025 at 6:12 AM
GB Railways Privatisation Failure.
I came across this article today about the failure of GB railways privatisation.
www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/5...
I came across this article today about the failure of GB railways privatisation.
www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/5...
Reposted by Michael G
More than half of all Premier League clubs are now sponsored by gambling / betting companies. Any advertisement for sports betting / gambling should be forbidden - not just on football jerseys but a flat out ban. It’s one of those random things that annoy me more than it should.
August 29, 2025 at 4:22 PM
More than half of all Premier League clubs are now sponsored by gambling / betting companies. Any advertisement for sports betting / gambling should be forbidden - not just on football jerseys but a flat out ban. It’s one of those random things that annoy me more than it should.
Reposted by Michael G
It absolutely is. They tell you the public service is a shocking waste of public money and if it was in private hands the costs would go down. Then somehow the investment would go up but the charge to the end user would go down. The sad thing is how many fall for this bullshit.
July 13, 2025 at 12:05 PM
It absolutely is. They tell you the public service is a shocking waste of public money and if it was in private hands the costs would go down. Then somehow the investment would go up but the charge to the end user would go down. The sad thing is how many fall for this bullshit.
Reposted by Michael G
9 years on & I still can't get over how fucking stupid the UK was to leave the EU (SM/CU). As a Leeds 14 lad, I grew up with it & its (business & personal) expanding choices, freedoms & opportunities, that my parents could only dream of..all reversed back to that, at best, early 1970s time
June 27, 2025 at 1:23 AM
9 years on & I still can't get over how fucking stupid the UK was to leave the EU (SM/CU). As a Leeds 14 lad, I grew up with it & its (business & personal) expanding choices, freedoms & opportunities, that my parents could only dream of..all reversed back to that, at best, early 1970s time
Reposted by Michael G
@goodlawproject.org
Please find out what taxes are for and what they’re not for. For all the great work you do, watching great defenders of people’s rights chasing their tails when it comes to the economics of govt spending and taxation is painful.
Start with this best seller.
Please find out what taxes are for and what they’re not for. For all the great work you do, watching great defenders of people’s rights chasing their tails when it comes to the economics of govt spending and taxation is painful.
Start with this best seller.
June 12, 2025 at 5:31 AM
@goodlawproject.org
Please find out what taxes are for and what they’re not for. For all the great work you do, watching great defenders of people’s rights chasing their tails when it comes to the economics of govt spending and taxation is painful.
Start with this best seller.
Please find out what taxes are for and what they’re not for. For all the great work you do, watching great defenders of people’s rights chasing their tails when it comes to the economics of govt spending and taxation is painful.
Start with this best seller.
Reposted by Michael G
The IEA, the dark money pressure group that inspired Truss’ mini budget, is (finally) under investigation by the Charity Commission
Institute of Economic Affairs Under Investigation by the Charity Commission
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) pressure group, which campaigns against clean energy policies, is being investigated by the charities regulator. The Good Law Project (GLP), a legal advocacy gr...
www.desmog.com
May 24, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The IEA, the dark money pressure group that inspired Truss’ mini budget, is (finally) under investigation by the Charity Commission
Reposted by Michael G
British parents of young adults: be prepared to lose them to living & working in the EU somewhere if they fall in love with young EU adults over here on the 'youth mobility scheme'..They will find it is impossible for the vast majority to meet UK immigration requirements to settle in the UK together
May 19, 2025 at 1:22 AM
British parents of young adults: be prepared to lose them to living & working in the EU somewhere if they fall in love with young EU adults over here on the 'youth mobility scheme'..They will find it is impossible for the vast majority to meet UK immigration requirements to settle in the UK together
Reposted by Michael G
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc... Today’s bulletin from a top US historian: the President doesn’t understand the constitution he’s sworn to defend but believes he can ignore it and the anti-vaxer he put in charge of health doesn’t believe in germ theory. Time for the UK to issue a travel advisory?
May 4, 2025
In an interview aired today on NBC News’s Meet the Press, reporter Kristen Welker asked President Donald J.
open.substack.com
May 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc... Today’s bulletin from a top US historian: the President doesn’t understand the constitution he’s sworn to defend but believes he can ignore it and the anti-vaxer he put in charge of health doesn’t believe in germ theory. Time for the UK to issue a travel advisory?
Reposted by Michael G
Yes, this is a real tweet.
April 29, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Yes, this is a real tweet.
Re: USA/UK Trade deal that Kid Starmer so badly wants.
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing a Biden-era rule requiring poultry companies to keep the levels of salmonella bacteria below a certain level in their meats to prevent illnesses commonly known as food poisoning."
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing a Biden-era rule requiring poultry companies to keep the levels of salmonella bacteria below a certain level in their meats to prevent illnesses commonly known as food poisoning."
April 28, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Re: USA/UK Trade deal that Kid Starmer so badly wants.
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing a Biden-era rule requiring poultry companies to keep the levels of salmonella bacteria below a certain level in their meats to prevent illnesses commonly known as food poisoning."
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing a Biden-era rule requiring poultry companies to keep the levels of salmonella bacteria below a certain level in their meats to prevent illnesses commonly known as food poisoning."
Reposted by Michael G
The legacy of Thatcher and the cult of privatisation to emulate her beloved Reaganism. Everything sold off to give tax cuts to the already wealthy.
April 20, 2025 at 9:31 AM
The legacy of Thatcher and the cult of privatisation to emulate her beloved Reaganism. Everything sold off to give tax cuts to the already wealthy.
Reposted by Michael G
The stupidity in Trump’s new tariffs is apparently limitless.
He has introduced a 10% tariff on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The only inhabited island there is Diego Garcia, home to US service personnel.
TRUMP HAS PUT A TARIFF ON A US MILITARY BASE
🤡
He has introduced a 10% tariff on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The only inhabited island there is Diego Garcia, home to US service personnel.
TRUMP HAS PUT A TARIFF ON A US MILITARY BASE
🤡
April 2, 2025 at 10:54 PM
The stupidity in Trump’s new tariffs is apparently limitless.
He has introduced a 10% tariff on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The only inhabited island there is Diego Garcia, home to US service personnel.
TRUMP HAS PUT A TARIFF ON A US MILITARY BASE
🤡
He has introduced a 10% tariff on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The only inhabited island there is Diego Garcia, home to US service personnel.
TRUMP HAS PUT A TARIFF ON A US MILITARY BASE
🤡
Reposted by Michael G
April 3, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Reposted by Michael G
Also, once again, this is THE LAW IN FRANCE. These penalties exist, in statutes passed by the National Assembly, for reasons judged important by the elected legislators of the Republic.
Fuck your "I'm so scared of right-wing extremism that I have to pander to it, unconditionally, all the time."
Fuck your "I'm so scared of right-wing extremism that I have to pander to it, unconditionally, all the time."
Surprised to see @economist.com on the ‘politicians should be allowed to do crimes without consequences’ team. www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
Why Marine Le Pen should be allowed to run for president
Punish the offender without also punishing French democracy
www.economist.com
April 2, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Also, once again, this is THE LAW IN FRANCE. These penalties exist, in statutes passed by the National Assembly, for reasons judged important by the elected legislators of the Republic.
Fuck your "I'm so scared of right-wing extremism that I have to pander to it, unconditionally, all the time."
Fuck your "I'm so scared of right-wing extremism that I have to pander to it, unconditionally, all the time."
Reposted by Michael G
"The power of the people is greater than the people in power." Wael Ghonim
Thank you, @booker.senate.gov
For your 25 hr 5 min record-breaking speech.
For your mental fortitude.
For your openness.
For being human.
For speaking 25 hrs of TRUTH to cut through the thick fog of gaslighting & LIES. ✊🏼
Thank you, @booker.senate.gov
For your 25 hr 5 min record-breaking speech.
For your mental fortitude.
For your openness.
For being human.
For speaking 25 hrs of TRUTH to cut through the thick fog of gaslighting & LIES. ✊🏼
April 2, 2025 at 12:17 AM
"The power of the people is greater than the people in power." Wael Ghonim
Thank you, @booker.senate.gov
For your 25 hr 5 min record-breaking speech.
For your mental fortitude.
For your openness.
For being human.
For speaking 25 hrs of TRUTH to cut through the thick fog of gaslighting & LIES. ✊🏼
Thank you, @booker.senate.gov
For your 25 hr 5 min record-breaking speech.
For your mental fortitude.
For your openness.
For being human.
For speaking 25 hrs of TRUTH to cut through the thick fog of gaslighting & LIES. ✊🏼
Reposted by Michael G
Reposted by Michael G
This is an important thread on how inaccessible Parliament is for too many. We need to let go of whatever romance or nostalgia that is holding people to the Palace of Westminster and build a parliament that is fit for purpose and people.
Fascinating committee event on access to parliament is hearing from Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, who is partially sighted, and says she struggles with poor lighting, a lack of signs, unmarked glass doors, & revolving doors. She says latter means she needs to ask for help just to get into parliament.
April 1, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This is an important thread on how inaccessible Parliament is for too many. We need to let go of whatever romance or nostalgia that is holding people to the Palace of Westminster and build a parliament that is fit for purpose and people.
Reposted by Michael G
📢 UPDATE: the Home Office has signed ANOTHER contract with Fujitsu Services, this time worth £3.7m over the next 5 years.
Sub-postmasters are still waiting for compensation and the government had a choice of 32 other suppliers. So why choose Fujitsu again?
goodlawproject.org/it-firm-behi...
Sub-postmasters are still waiting for compensation and the government had a choice of 32 other suppliers. So why choose Fujitsu again?
goodlawproject.org/it-firm-behi...
IT firm behind Post Office scandal bags government contracts for £24.6m | Good Law Project
Labour MPs called for a block on new contracts for Fujitsu Services while in opposition. But while sub-postmasters wait for compensation, a Labour home secretary has signed-off on multimillion-pound d...
goodlawproject.org
April 1, 2025 at 2:37 PM
📢 UPDATE: the Home Office has signed ANOTHER contract with Fujitsu Services, this time worth £3.7m over the next 5 years.
Sub-postmasters are still waiting for compensation and the government had a choice of 32 other suppliers. So why choose Fujitsu again?
goodlawproject.org/it-firm-behi...
Sub-postmasters are still waiting for compensation and the government had a choice of 32 other suppliers. So why choose Fujitsu again?
goodlawproject.org/it-firm-behi...
Reposted by Michael G
this is astonishing. These people are making cuts to benefits for people with disabilities and no one is even looking after MPs with disabilities.
Parliament should move to a new home in the middle of the country that is fit for purpose.
Parliament should move to a new home in the middle of the country that is fit for purpose.
April 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM
this is astonishing. These people are making cuts to benefits for people with disabilities and no one is even looking after MPs with disabilities.
Parliament should move to a new home in the middle of the country that is fit for purpose.
Parliament should move to a new home in the middle of the country that is fit for purpose.
Reposted by Michael G
Ah - “the markets” - the neoliberal monster-under-the-bed to scare us all into handing decisions over public policy to un-elected financiers. For decades, Japan has ignored the threat and set its own policy. Turns out there is no monster except in our heads.
Imagine what we could achieve… #MMT
Imagine what we could achieve… #MMT
April 1, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Ah - “the markets” - the neoliberal monster-under-the-bed to scare us all into handing decisions over public policy to un-elected financiers. For decades, Japan has ignored the threat and set its own policy. Turns out there is no monster except in our heads.
Imagine what we could achieve… #MMT
Imagine what we could achieve… #MMT
Reposted by Michael G
Our age of polarisation: too lazy to look up the law, too lazy to look at the facts, too lazy to read the judgment. But strong opinion that decision is political based on what we assume some will say (too lazy to identify the ‚some‘).
April 1, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Our age of polarisation: too lazy to look up the law, too lazy to look at the facts, too lazy to read the judgment. But strong opinion that decision is political based on what we assume some will say (too lazy to identify the ‚some‘).
Reposted by Michael G
🔴 “My Party Today Would Not Create the NHS”: Labour MP Condemns Government Refusal to Look at 'Who Owns Our Water'
“I’ve got a Government that has a computer for a political brain” says @labourlewis.bsky.social as Labour MPs line up to reject his Water Bill
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/31/m...
“I’ve got a Government that has a computer for a political brain” says @labourlewis.bsky.social as Labour MPs line up to reject his Water Bill
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/31/m...
“My Party Today Would Not Create the NHS”: Labour MP Condemns Goverment Refusal to Look at 'Who Owns Our Water'
“I've got a Government that has a computer for a political brain” says Clive Lewis after fellow Labour MPs line up to reject his Water Bill
bylinetimes.com
March 31, 2025 at 3:21 PM
🔴 “My Party Today Would Not Create the NHS”: Labour MP Condemns Government Refusal to Look at 'Who Owns Our Water'
“I’ve got a Government that has a computer for a political brain” says @labourlewis.bsky.social as Labour MPs line up to reject his Water Bill
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/31/m...
“I’ve got a Government that has a computer for a political brain” says @labourlewis.bsky.social as Labour MPs line up to reject his Water Bill
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/31/m...
Reposted by Michael G
Marine Le Pen is a criminal who stole millions in taxpayers money to facilitate the dismantling of the EU, she literally bit the hand that fed her to accelerate the rise of the far-right
Thread
Thread
March 31, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Marine Le Pen is a criminal who stole millions in taxpayers money to facilitate the dismantling of the EU, she literally bit the hand that fed her to accelerate the rise of the far-right
Thread
Thread
Reposted by Michael G
The desire to construct fancy spreadsheets that pretend subjective things are objective is normal. Quite another when that model becomes unchallengeable; worse still when it grows a consciousness and embeds itself within the highest level of government. Weird times.
March 26, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The desire to construct fancy spreadsheets that pretend subjective things are objective is normal. Quite another when that model becomes unchallengeable; worse still when it grows a consciousness and embeds itself within the highest level of government. Weird times.