@pamk2024.bsky.social
Reluctantly retired OD and business consultant interested in politics, economics, psychology, travel, food, tennis, and other sport.
Poor Local LibDem councillor left survey for me to fill out and ended up filling up all the boxes about what is going wrong and what the priorities should be at the next general election. Not sure he was expecting that!!😀
November 29, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Poor Local LibDem councillor left survey for me to fill out and ended up filling up all the boxes about what is going wrong and what the priorities should be at the next general election. Not sure he was expecting that!!😀
Reposted
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford
Such an important explainer as to what's gone wrong over successive governments but that it is fixable. It's clear that we have not been served well by our political masters. Shocking that even powerhouse London has not grown since fatal Brexit referendum. Do better govt. getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
Getting Britain out of the hole
A plan for the UK economy
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 17, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Such an important explainer as to what's gone wrong over successive governments but that it is fixable. It's clear that we have not been served well by our political masters. Shocking that even powerhouse London has not grown since fatal Brexit referendum. Do better govt. getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
I respect the Resolution Foundation but can't agree on these three as the top priorities. I think the major one priority must be stimulating productivity and growth by encouragining innovation, risk taking and business investment. Not against the other three but they won't lead to growth.
The Budget will be a pivotal moment for a Government looking to improve its mood music.
@jamessmithrf.bsky.social explains why the Chx should prioritise:
🏦 The public finances
👛 The cost of living
📃 Payslips
Read 'Black holes and consolidations' to learn more ⤵️ buff.ly/XPioKOp
@jamessmithrf.bsky.social explains why the Chx should prioritise:
🏦 The public finances
👛 The cost of living
📃 Payslips
Read 'Black holes and consolidations' to learn more ⤵️ buff.ly/XPioKOp
November 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM
I respect the Resolution Foundation but can't agree on these three as the top priorities. I think the major one priority must be stimulating productivity and growth by encouragining innovation, risk taking and business investment. Not against the other three but they won't lead to growth.
I'm not sure young people are listening to Farage are they? Greens seem to be getting their attention atm (solely based on my 22 yo son)
YOUNG PEOPLE. LISTEN UP.
Today Nigel Farage said the government should cut the minimum wage for young people
...to “raise aspiration” and “boost business"
It's £10ph FFS!
Lower your pay so you’ll dream bigger
DO YOU SEE IT NOW?
Spread far & wide.
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Today Nigel Farage said the government should cut the minimum wage for young people
...to “raise aspiration” and “boost business"
It's £10ph FFS!
Lower your pay so you’ll dream bigger
DO YOU SEE IT NOW?
Spread far & wide.
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Nigel Farage Says Minimum Wage Should Be Cut for Young People
The Reform leader said cutting the minimum wage for young people would boost business, as he attacked plans to raise taxes on the wealthy
bylinetimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I'm not sure young people are listening to Farage are they? Greens seem to be getting their attention atm (solely based on my 22 yo son)
Anecdotal only but I remember returning to Aus ten/15 years ago and they were so far behind UK and Europe on this, recycling, climate change discussions and now they're ahead. Go figure.... well done to Australia but WTF
Australian households in three states will be promised access to at least three hours a day of free solar power, regardless of whether they have rooftop panels 👏👏👏
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Australians to get at least three hours a day of free solar power - even if they don’t have solar panels
Labor announces ‘solar sharer’ program for households in NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Anecdotal only but I remember returning to Aus ten/15 years ago and they were so far behind UK and Europe on this, recycling, climate change discussions and now they're ahead. Go figure.... well done to Australia but WTF
Do we have to balance the books? Why don't we set out a vision & strategy for growth and borrow based on this? Just maybe voters and lenders will stomach it if the UK can grow it's way out of current mess. Productivity growth is the only way...changes to planning, taxes, service cuts etc won't help.
How on earth can Rachel Reeves balance the books? Well, maybe there is a bit of room for taxes to go up, given the vast majority of OECD countries have higher - and in some cases much much higher - taxes on average incomes www.oecd.org/content/dam/...
November 3, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Do we have to balance the books? Why don't we set out a vision & strategy for growth and borrow based on this? Just maybe voters and lenders will stomach it if the UK can grow it's way out of current mess. Productivity growth is the only way...changes to planning, taxes, service cuts etc won't help.
This is reclaimed land built from a municipal dump. We used to take our rubbish from our home in Essendon to this site. I have visited it as my mother used to live nearby. Amazing what can be done. Lots of homes and apartments now built around it too.
Valley Lake
Niddrie, Melbourne
Victoria, Australia
August 2025
#ValleyLake #Victoria #Australia #photography #Landscape #Cloudscape #Bluesky #photographyofbluesky
Niddrie, Melbourne
Victoria, Australia
August 2025
#ValleyLake #Victoria #Australia #photography #Landscape #Cloudscape #Bluesky #photographyofbluesky
August 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This is reclaimed land built from a municipal dump. We used to take our rubbish from our home in Essendon to this site. I have visited it as my mother used to live nearby. Amazing what can be done. Lots of homes and apartments now built around it too.
And we know from history what happens when you screw nations, humble their governments and make them feel small. Do we never learn?
This is all fantasy. There is no country giving us anything. These are all just goals and hopes just like the empty promises about private investment in the US he got from countries last term. Let us know the date the $550B & $750B checks from Japan and EU get here.
July 31, 2025 at 10:02 AM
And we know from history what happens when you screw nations, humble their governments and make them feel small. Do we never learn?
Trump's gonna hate that Carney is coming out as a leader with integrity who people can admire......😆#carney
July 31, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Trump's gonna hate that Carney is coming out as a leader with integrity who people can admire......😆#carney
Phew... what the world thinks of Trump... it's gotta impact the world's view on the US...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
June 11, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Phew... what the world thinks of Trump... it's gotta impact the world's view on the US...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Yep. The other one is 'very brave'.... scarey.
A very nice and very British person called my current project "very ambitious” three months ago. I still haven‘t got over this deeply unsettling statement. Clearly it was British English for “you are quite insane and bound to fail but good luck“?
June 4, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Yep. The other one is 'very brave'.... scarey.
We have a government afraid of Reform and losing voters to them so instead of doing the right and sometimes difficult things for the country, we are pandering to them. Can't tell you how disappointing it all is, part. with large mandate and years away from an election. So dispiriting.
There'll be lots of chats this week about how much the public want control of immigration, reduced numbers and integration. Fine. I don't think progressives have ever had the luxury of being blind to that. But that is not what this is about.
May 12, 2025 at 11:50 AM
We have a government afraid of Reform and losing voters to them so instead of doing the right and sometimes difficult things for the country, we are pandering to them. Can't tell you how disappointing it all is, part. with large mandate and years away from an election. So dispiriting.
Yes I keep trying to say we are not a high tax country. I think also everyone expects Scandinavian type levels of government infrastructure and services but paying US taxes so when they don't get same quality they feel cheated or that they're paying too much.
I sometimes wonder if it just *feels* like UK taxes are high because good houses are so unaffordable.
Others have long suggested that housing & planning are the root cause of so many of Britain's ills, and I wonder if they're right.
Others have long suggested that housing & planning are the root cause of so many of Britain's ills, and I wonder if they're right.
🧵 NEW: Is Britain really a high tax country?
Our collective tax bill is at its highest share of GDP since the 1940s
But actually, the tax and NI paid by the average worker are at their lowest in decades.
What’s going on?
1/7
@thetimes.com
Free link 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/25aa...
Our collective tax bill is at its highest share of GDP since the 1940s
But actually, the tax and NI paid by the average worker are at their lowest in decades.
What’s going on?
1/7
@thetimes.com
Free link 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/25aa...
March 30, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Yes I keep trying to say we are not a high tax country. I think also everyone expects Scandinavian type levels of government infrastructure and services but paying US taxes so when they don't get same quality they feel cheated or that they're paying too much.
Even more so if Reform gains ground.
March 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Even more so if Reform gains ground.
I've had two recent very credible phishing scams via booking.com being hacked. Please be very careful if you book anything via this website. And please booking.com get your security sorted. They seem to know everything about me including dates, bookings, email, phone number, booking reference...
booking.com
March 18, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I've had two recent very credible phishing scams via booking.com being hacked. Please be very careful if you book anything via this website. And please booking.com get your security sorted. They seem to know everything about me including dates, bookings, email, phone number, booking reference...
Interesting read on why Australians should recognise how good they've got it and not to be complacent. www.afr.com/policy/econo...
Amid global chaos, we are still the lucky country. Here’s why
Australians should step back and recognise the strength of the institutions that underpin our world-beating prosperity, writes Andrew Low.
www.afr.com
February 11, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Interesting read on why Australians should recognise how good they've got it and not to be complacent. www.afr.com/policy/econo...
Has Trump et al done irreparable damage to relationships with Canada & Mexico or will people just shrug it off? Contacts with two Canadians: one says they've had it with US, the other just pissed off as it's impacting business but will reengage at some point. What do people think? #trump #tariffs
February 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
This is what we can do.... stop buying, subscribing and feeding the beasts.
Tesla car sales are now plunging across Europe - down an astonishing 63% in France alone compared to this time last year.
www.msn.com/en-gb/money/...
www.msn.com/en-gb/money/...
February 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
This is what we can do.... stop buying, subscribing and feeding the beasts.
We also have to stroke her back whilst she takes her first few mouthfuls.
January 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
We also have to stroke her back whilst she takes her first few mouthfuls.
Yep and I'm pleased to see Starmer say something this am. More of this from him and the government.
I think it’s very clear now that Trump & Musk want to aggressively divide, dominate and rule the Western world, rather than work with anyone respectfully of sovereignty.
From Canada to UK, Germany and Greenland/Denmark, the rest of the West need to pull together to resist.
From Canada to UK, Germany and Greenland/Denmark, the rest of the West need to pull together to resist.
January 6, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Yep and I'm pleased to see Starmer say something this am. More of this from him and the government.
I've lived in the UK since 1987 and love it but every now and again I wish they'd learn from other countries such as as my birth county. They just do democracy better. tinyurl.com/ymytfmva
What UK politics can learn from Australia’s evolving democracy
British political arrangements helped shape the birth of Australian democracy in 1901. But modern Australia has evolved a far more sophisticated and advanced model of representative democracy. Patr…
tinyurl.com
January 6, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I've lived in the UK since 1987 and love it but every now and again I wish they'd learn from other countries such as as my birth county. They just do democracy better. tinyurl.com/ymytfmva
Good. Please more of this...
“I’m prepared to call out this for what it is. We’ve seen this playbook many times…when the poison of the far right leads to serious threats to Jess Phillips and others than in my book a line has been crossed”
Prime minister Keir Starmer
Prime minister Keir Starmer
January 6, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Good. Please more of this...
Thanks for post. Made me look up def of perfidious albion. I remember doing work with french defence company where non Brits were disaparaging about the techniques used in negotiations by Brits. It was rather shaming. Of course other countries do it but we believe we don't and are better than them.
I interrupt my day of idleness to ponder the question, what if neither the US or the EU want the UK to align with them? What if we're actually still perfidious albion, as indeed is still believed in many parts of the world?
December 27, 2024 at 1:26 PM
Thanks for post. Made me look up def of perfidious albion. I remember doing work with french defence company where non Brits were disaparaging about the techniques used in negotiations by Brits. It was rather shaming. Of course other countries do it but we believe we don't and are better than them.