Off Centre
@offcentre.bsky.social
Interested in experts in just about anything, but especially politics and government. Oh, and pretty photos.
But not to me scrolling through Bluesky. What are we talking about?
November 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
But not to me scrolling through Bluesky. What are we talking about?
Bravo Ireland! Some of our countries are still working okay.
In the UK, we recently had a minister resign for getting her tax wrong. She'd been told to get tax advice, but you could imagine reading that and thinking, oh, that doesn't sound necessary. But it was the wrong decision and she went.
In the UK, we recently had a minister resign for getting her tax wrong. She'd been told to get tax advice, but you could imagine reading that and thinking, oh, that doesn't sound necessary. But it was the wrong decision and she went.
October 6, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Bravo Ireland! Some of our countries are still working okay.
In the UK, we recently had a minister resign for getting her tax wrong. She'd been told to get tax advice, but you could imagine reading that and thinking, oh, that doesn't sound necessary. But it was the wrong decision and she went.
In the UK, we recently had a minister resign for getting her tax wrong. She'd been told to get tax advice, but you could imagine reading that and thinking, oh, that doesn't sound necessary. But it was the wrong decision and she went.
What about bedding plants?
October 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
What about bedding plants?
They're for making more penguins!
October 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
They're for making more penguins!
Excellent cause for a tantrum! 😀
October 6, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Excellent cause for a tantrum! 😀
Totally agree, there's very unlikely to be an early election in a landslide Parliament with an unpopular government.
I think mostly it reminds us that some Tory (and other) MPs are quite clueless.
I think mostly it reminds us that some Tory (and other) MPs are quite clueless.
October 6, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Totally agree, there's very unlikely to be an early election in a landslide Parliament with an unpopular government.
I think mostly it reminds us that some Tory (and other) MPs are quite clueless.
I think mostly it reminds us that some Tory (and other) MPs are quite clueless.
It's not just tactics. The right has more power over institutions through both its money, and it's consequently larger influence in the press.
October 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
It's not just tactics. The right has more power over institutions through both its money, and it's consequently larger influence in the press.
You can. You can just say you're bored of Camra and ease out. And then in the summer, you can say you feel like a Stella one day. And lo! You can drink beer you like again.
Why Stella, though? Aren't there better lagers? Asahi maybe?
Why Stella, though? Aren't there better lagers? Asahi maybe?
September 8, 2025 at 9:28 PM
You can. You can just say you're bored of Camra and ease out. And then in the summer, you can say you feel like a Stella one day. And lo! You can drink beer you like again.
Why Stella, though? Aren't there better lagers? Asahi maybe?
Why Stella, though? Aren't there better lagers? Asahi maybe?
S/he sounds like s/he's worth it, anyway.
August 6, 2025 at 3:27 PM
S/he sounds like s/he's worth it, anyway.
'You know what darling, I'm a bit bored of hiking.'
She might be, too.
She might be, too.
August 6, 2025 at 3:26 PM
'You know what darling, I'm a bit bored of hiking.'
She might be, too.
She might be, too.
Agreed, Ian. It should have happened a few months into the invasion.
July 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Agreed, Ian. It should have happened a few months into the invasion.
Anyway, money is always taxed lots of times. You buy a pint? You paid income tax and NICS. Now you're paying VAT and alcohol duties. The pub pays wages (more income tax and NICS), hopefully profits (corporation tax), plus business rates, and its suppliers, who pay more taxes ...
July 27, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Anyway, money is always taxed lots of times. You buy a pint? You paid income tax and NICS. Now you're paying VAT and alcohol duties. The pub pays wages (more income tax and NICS), hopefully profits (corporation tax), plus business rates, and its suppliers, who pay more taxes ...
Ooft! He really really didn't like the powers that were, did he? And that was before the revolution, too.
July 27, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Ooft! He really really didn't like the powers that were, did he? And that was before the revolution, too.
Anyone who doesn't believe in climate change is going to really struggle with the idea of using rising insurance premiums as evidence of rising risk, rather than bad behaviour by insurers.
July 24, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Anyone who doesn't believe in climate change is going to really struggle with the idea of using rising insurance premiums as evidence of rising risk, rather than bad behaviour by insurers.
I like the 'stepdad' bit - that's not quite how they put it at school.
July 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I like the 'stepdad' bit - that's not quite how they put it at school.
Ha!
Which swimming stroke is the normal one?
Which swimming stroke is the normal one?
July 18, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Ha!
Which swimming stroke is the normal one?
Which swimming stroke is the normal one?
What an amazing pithy tribute.
I hope it goes well tomorrow, H. What you're going through is maybe the worst thing most people ever experience. It will get better again.
I hope it goes well tomorrow, H. What you're going through is maybe the worst thing most people ever experience. It will get better again.
July 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
What an amazing pithy tribute.
I hope it goes well tomorrow, H. What you're going through is maybe the worst thing most people ever experience. It will get better again.
I hope it goes well tomorrow, H. What you're going through is maybe the worst thing most people ever experience. It will get better again.