Peter Belk
@peterbelk.bsky.social
Book hoarder, Wood whittler, amateur archivist
Reposted by Peter Belk
Budget 2025.
Household energy bills could be cut by £154, green levies shifted to general taxation.
No abolition of VAT on domestic fuel.
No curbs on energy company profiteering/dividends.
No change in the Ofgem pricing formula, which gives us one of the most expensive electricity in the world.
Household energy bills could be cut by £154, green levies shifted to general taxation.
No abolition of VAT on domestic fuel.
No curbs on energy company profiteering/dividends.
No change in the Ofgem pricing formula, which gives us one of the most expensive electricity in the world.
November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Budget 2025.
Household energy bills could be cut by £154, green levies shifted to general taxation.
No abolition of VAT on domestic fuel.
No curbs on energy company profiteering/dividends.
No change in the Ofgem pricing formula, which gives us one of the most expensive electricity in the world.
Household energy bills could be cut by £154, green levies shifted to general taxation.
No abolition of VAT on domestic fuel.
No curbs on energy company profiteering/dividends.
No change in the Ofgem pricing formula, which gives us one of the most expensive electricity in the world.
Reposted by Peter Belk
🔴‘Scrapping Jury Trials Is an Attempt to Fix a Broken Justice System by Smashing It to Pieces’
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
'Scrapping Jury Trials Is an Attempt to Fix a Broken Justice System by Smashing It to Pieces'
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer's Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM
🔴‘Scrapping Jury Trials Is an Attempt to Fix a Broken Justice System by Smashing It to Pieces’
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
Taking away the fundamental right to be tried by a jury of your peers would be a disastrous move by Keir Starmer’s Government, argues barrister Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/s...
Reposted by Peter Belk
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by Peter Belk
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
Reposted by Peter Belk
The actions of the Environment Agency in this case will (rightly) fill most ordinary people with incredulity.
A visit to "monitor" what is obviously colossal illegal activity. No attempt to block the site. To action to prevent further dumping. And so on it went.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A visit to "monitor" what is obviously colossal illegal activity. No attempt to block the site. To action to prevent further dumping. And so on it went.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Mountain of waste dumped in Oxfordshire field contains rubbish from councils
Evidence of waste from primary schools and local authorities in south-east England points to possible large-scale corruption, expert says
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:12 AM
The actions of the Environment Agency in this case will (rightly) fill most ordinary people with incredulity.
A visit to "monitor" what is obviously colossal illegal activity. No attempt to block the site. To action to prevent further dumping. And so on it went.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A visit to "monitor" what is obviously colossal illegal activity. No attempt to block the site. To action to prevent further dumping. And so on it went.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Peter Belk
A really interesting read. Here’s a couple of screenshots of the paper by E J Blane showing locations of poisoning incidents,
November 18, 2025 at 11:37 AM
A really interesting read. Here’s a couple of screenshots of the paper by E J Blane showing locations of poisoning incidents,
Reposted by Peter Belk
New independent report reveals locations of poisoned raptors in northern England, 2015-2023 - information that has been suppressed by government raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/17/n...
New independent report reveals locations of poisoned raptors in northern England, 2015-2023 – information that has been suppressed by government
Press release from independent group, Wildlife Poisoning Research UK, 15th November 2025. WHERE THE POISONED BODIES WERE FOUND! Many people probably imagine that the use of poisons to kill protecte…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
November 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
New independent report reveals locations of poisoned raptors in northern England, 2015-2023 - information that has been suppressed by government raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/17/n...
Reposted by Peter Belk
Thames Water bidder offering £1bn extra cash injection.
30%+ of the customer bill covers interest payments.
Any private owner would want profit, dividends, sewage dumping will continue, customers will be fleeced.
Must end the profit motive. Nationalise water industry.
30%+ of the customer bill covers interest payments.
Any private owner would want profit, dividends, sewage dumping will continue, customers will be fleeced.
Must end the profit motive. Nationalise water industry.
Thames Water bidder says it is offering £1bn extra cash injection
Castle Water says restructuring plans do not go far enough and extra funds will help resolve pollution crisis
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Thames Water bidder offering £1bn extra cash injection.
30%+ of the customer bill covers interest payments.
Any private owner would want profit, dividends, sewage dumping will continue, customers will be fleeced.
Must end the profit motive. Nationalise water industry.
30%+ of the customer bill covers interest payments.
Any private owner would want profit, dividends, sewage dumping will continue, customers will be fleeced.
Must end the profit motive. Nationalise water industry.
Reposted by Peter Belk
📊 NEW | As Labour announces fresh crackdown on refugees, their approval falls to an all-time low.
✅ Satisfied – 11% (-1)
❌ Dissatisfied – 82% (-)
Via @IpsosUK, 30 Oct - 5 Nov (+/- vs 11-17 Sep)
✅ Satisfied – 11% (-1)
❌ Dissatisfied – 82% (-)
Via @IpsosUK, 30 Oct - 5 Nov (+/- vs 11-17 Sep)
November 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
📊 NEW | As Labour announces fresh crackdown on refugees, their approval falls to an all-time low.
✅ Satisfied – 11% (-1)
❌ Dissatisfied – 82% (-)
Via @IpsosUK, 30 Oct - 5 Nov (+/- vs 11-17 Sep)
✅ Satisfied – 11% (-1)
❌ Dissatisfied – 82% (-)
Via @IpsosUK, 30 Oct - 5 Nov (+/- vs 11-17 Sep)
Reposted by Peter Belk
Single fault at Thames Water sewage works could imperil London’s supply, lead to mass evacuations, military on standby.
60-year-old pumping system not replaced.
TW ignored statutory duties, Customer bills hiked to boost exec pay and dividends.
removepaywalls.com/https://www....
60-year-old pumping system not replaced.
TW ignored statutory duties, Customer bills hiked to boost exec pay and dividends.
removepaywalls.com/https://www....
Single fault at Thames Water works could imperil London’s supply
Coppermills plant, which serves up to 4mn people, underscores scale of the challenge for troubled utility
www.ft.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Single fault at Thames Water sewage works could imperil London’s supply, lead to mass evacuations, military on standby.
60-year-old pumping system not replaced.
TW ignored statutory duties, Customer bills hiked to boost exec pay and dividends.
removepaywalls.com/https://www....
60-year-old pumping system not replaced.
TW ignored statutory duties, Customer bills hiked to boost exec pay and dividends.
removepaywalls.com/https://www....
Reposted by Peter Belk
PPE Medpro linked to Michelle Mone owes £39m in unpaid taxes.
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
Company linked to Michelle Mone owes £39m in unpaid taxes
Statement by administrators puts PPE Medpro’s total debts at £188m, including £39m said to be owed to HMRC
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 AM
PPE Medpro linked to Michelle Mone owes £39m in unpaid taxes.
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
The company also owes the public purse £148m for supplying unusable surgical gowns.
Company is bankrupt. HMRC ranks as unsecured creditor for taxes owed by the company.
Where has the money vanished to? Will anything be recovered?
Reposted by Peter Belk
Starmer was briefed on Mandelson’s Epstein links before appointing him US ambassador.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor stripped of privileges, but Mandelson's Labour whip not withdrawn.
Starmer withdrew whip from 7 MPs for opposing two-child benefit cap.
What is Mandelson's hold over Starmer?
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor stripped of privileges, but Mandelson's Labour whip not withdrawn.
Starmer withdrew whip from 7 MPs for opposing two-child benefit cap.
What is Mandelson's hold over Starmer?
Starmer was briefed on Mandelson’s Epstein links before appointing him, say civil servants
PM had been given ‘summary of reputational risks’ but did not know about contents of emails before PMQs, MPs told
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Starmer was briefed on Mandelson’s Epstein links before appointing him US ambassador.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor stripped of privileges, but Mandelson's Labour whip not withdrawn.
Starmer withdrew whip from 7 MPs for opposing two-child benefit cap.
What is Mandelson's hold over Starmer?
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor stripped of privileges, but Mandelson's Labour whip not withdrawn.
Starmer withdrew whip from 7 MPs for opposing two-child benefit cap.
What is Mandelson's hold over Starmer?
Reposted by Peter Belk
Ofwat letting England water firms charge twice to tackle sewage, court to hear
Companies billed people for sewage disposal, used cash to pay dividends and exec bonuses, dumped sewage in rivers.
Now charging again to fund promised investment, not raising capital from shareholders. Customers fleeced
Companies billed people for sewage disposal, used cash to pay dividends and exec bonuses, dumped sewage in rivers.
Now charging again to fund promised investment, not raising capital from shareholders. Customers fleeced
Ofwat letting water firms charge twice to tackle sewage, court to hear
River Action bringing legal action against water regulator over who should foot bill for firms’ past failures to invest
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Ofwat letting England water firms charge twice to tackle sewage, court to hear
Companies billed people for sewage disposal, used cash to pay dividends and exec bonuses, dumped sewage in rivers.
Now charging again to fund promised investment, not raising capital from shareholders. Customers fleeced
Companies billed people for sewage disposal, used cash to pay dividends and exec bonuses, dumped sewage in rivers.
Now charging again to fund promised investment, not raising capital from shareholders. Customers fleeced
Reposted by Peter Belk
💷 PFI = A profitable deal for business, a burden for the NHS
PFIs have proven lucrative, for hedge funds + insurance companies.
Our new blog breaks down why PFI was a disaster — and why new PPPs would repeat the same mistakes.
🔗 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
PFIs have proven lucrative, for hedge funds + insurance companies.
Our new blog breaks down why PFI was a disaster — and why new PPPs would repeat the same mistakes.
🔗 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
October 29, 2025 at 11:48 AM
💷 PFI = A profitable deal for business, a burden for the NHS
PFIs have proven lucrative, for hedge funds + insurance companies.
Our new blog breaks down why PFI was a disaster — and why new PPPs would repeat the same mistakes.
🔗 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
PFIs have proven lucrative, for hedge funds + insurance companies.
Our new blog breaks down why PFI was a disaster — and why new PPPs would repeat the same mistakes.
🔗 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...
Reposted by Peter Belk
UK Energy profits, 2025 - £130bn a year, 1979 - £0
Water profits, 2025 - £6bn, 1979 - £0bn
NHS profits, 2025 - £14bn, 1979 - £0bn
Landlord profits, 2025 - £80bn, 1979 - £15bn
All this money is stolen from you and from Public Services, this is why there is 'no money'.
Water profits, 2025 - £6bn, 1979 - £0bn
NHS profits, 2025 - £14bn, 1979 - £0bn
Landlord profits, 2025 - £80bn, 1979 - £15bn
All this money is stolen from you and from Public Services, this is why there is 'no money'.
November 3, 2025 at 12:48 PM
UK Energy profits, 2025 - £130bn a year, 1979 - £0
Water profits, 2025 - £6bn, 1979 - £0bn
NHS profits, 2025 - £14bn, 1979 - £0bn
Landlord profits, 2025 - £80bn, 1979 - £15bn
All this money is stolen from you and from Public Services, this is why there is 'no money'.
Water profits, 2025 - £6bn, 1979 - £0bn
NHS profits, 2025 - £14bn, 1979 - £0bn
Landlord profits, 2025 - £80bn, 1979 - £15bn
All this money is stolen from you and from Public Services, this is why there is 'no money'.
Reposted by Peter Belk
Last week the official line was that he was losing everything *but* Prince, which he can't forfeit due to being the son of the late Queen.
If they're booting him out of the royal family completely, Something Bad is coming. (Hint: Epstein files.)
If they're booting him out of the royal family completely, Something Bad is coming. (Hint: Epstein files.)
October 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Last week the official line was that he was losing everything *but* Prince, which he can't forfeit due to being the son of the late Queen.
If they're booting him out of the royal family completely, Something Bad is coming. (Hint: Epstein files.)
If they're booting him out of the royal family completely, Something Bad is coming. (Hint: Epstein files.)
Reposted by Peter Belk
#Inequality in the UK is at record levels and *it is accelerating* - that is the *only* thing Rachel Reeves' next budget should be addressing.
There are no tough decisions to make - they are all clear & obvious.
If they are not taken, it is political cowardice and/or corruption, nothing else.
There are no tough decisions to make - they are all clear & obvious.
If they are not taken, it is political cowardice and/or corruption, nothing else.
Wealth inequality risks triggering 'societal collapse' within next decade, report finds | King's College London
The warning comes from an expert roundtable led by researchers from King's and the Fairness Foundation
www.kcl.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 9:10 AM
#Inequality in the UK is at record levels and *it is accelerating* - that is the *only* thing Rachel Reeves' next budget should be addressing.
There are no tough decisions to make - they are all clear & obvious.
If they are not taken, it is political cowardice and/or corruption, nothing else.
There are no tough decisions to make - they are all clear & obvious.
If they are not taken, it is political cowardice and/or corruption, nothing else.
Reposted by Peter Belk
Thames Water paid £20m to cover the due diligence costs of KKR for abortive attempt to buy TW.
Rich pickings for advisers. Customers pick up the tab for management follies. Details never provided.
TW has £20bn debt, survives by dumping sewage in rivers, fleecing captive customers.
archive.ph/Ovj5V
Rich pickings for advisers. Customers pick up the tab for management follies. Details never provided.
TW has £20bn debt, survives by dumping sewage in rivers, fleecing captive customers.
archive.ph/Ovj5V
Thames Water paid £20mn to cover KKR’s due diligence for abortive bid
Cost adds to multimillion pound fees billed by advisers trying to secure utility’s future
www.ft.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Thames Water paid £20m to cover the due diligence costs of KKR for abortive attempt to buy TW.
Rich pickings for advisers. Customers pick up the tab for management follies. Details never provided.
TW has £20bn debt, survives by dumping sewage in rivers, fleecing captive customers.
archive.ph/Ovj5V
Rich pickings for advisers. Customers pick up the tab for management follies. Details never provided.
TW has £20bn debt, survives by dumping sewage in rivers, fleecing captive customers.
archive.ph/Ovj5V
Reposted by Peter Belk
Raise £12bn in budget by extending income tax thresholds freeze, says a Fabian Society.
The poorest 20% pay a higher proportion of income in taxes than the richest 20%.
Hitting low/middle income people won't aid growth.
Tax dividends and capital gains at the same rate as wages. Tax the rich
The poorest 20% pay a higher proportion of income in taxes than the richest 20%.
Hitting low/middle income people won't aid growth.
Tax dividends and capital gains at the same rate as wages. Tax the rich
Raise £12bn in budget by extending income tax thresholds freeze, says thinktank
Fabian Society says move ‘best available option’ for chancellor as she seeks to offset impact of weaker economic forecasts
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Raise £12bn in budget by extending income tax thresholds freeze, says a Fabian Society.
The poorest 20% pay a higher proportion of income in taxes than the richest 20%.
Hitting low/middle income people won't aid growth.
Tax dividends and capital gains at the same rate as wages. Tax the rich
The poorest 20% pay a higher proportion of income in taxes than the richest 20%.
Hitting low/middle income people won't aid growth.
Tax dividends and capital gains at the same rate as wages. Tax the rich
Reposted by Peter Belk
Zack Polanski,
"1 in 3 children are living in poverty, meanwhile, billionaire wealth goes up collectively by £35 million every day"
"It's about making sure we tax wealth, not work"
"1 in 3 children are living in poverty, meanwhile, billionaire wealth goes up collectively by £35 million every day"
"It's about making sure we tax wealth, not work"
October 20, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Zack Polanski,
"1 in 3 children are living in poverty, meanwhile, billionaire wealth goes up collectively by £35 million every day"
"It's about making sure we tax wealth, not work"
"1 in 3 children are living in poverty, meanwhile, billionaire wealth goes up collectively by £35 million every day"
"It's about making sure we tax wealth, not work"
Reposted by Peter Belk
“Let’s use the Welsh by-election result to slag off Labour for 10 minutes”
- BBC Radio 4 “Today”
I would have absolutely no problem with with this had “Today treated the Conservatives the same way over the past 14 years.
It didn’t.
- BBC Radio 4 “Today”
I would have absolutely no problem with with this had “Today treated the Conservatives the same way over the past 14 years.
It didn’t.
"Amazing result for Plaid Cymru, so here's a guest from Reform anyway..."
October 24, 2025 at 8:03 AM
“Let’s use the Welsh by-election result to slag off Labour for 10 minutes”
- BBC Radio 4 “Today”
I would have absolutely no problem with with this had “Today treated the Conservatives the same way over the past 14 years.
It didn’t.
- BBC Radio 4 “Today”
I would have absolutely no problem with with this had “Today treated the Conservatives the same way over the past 14 years.
It didn’t.
Reposted by Peter Belk
Today, England's water companies received their worst pollution ratings since records began.
Rising bills. Soaring profits. Sewage in our rivers and seas.
Enough is enough. Bring water back into public ownership, now.
Rising bills. Soaring profits. Sewage in our rivers and seas.
Enough is enough. Bring water back into public ownership, now.
October 23, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Today, England's water companies received their worst pollution ratings since records began.
Rising bills. Soaring profits. Sewage in our rivers and seas.
Enough is enough. Bring water back into public ownership, now.
Rising bills. Soaring profits. Sewage in our rivers and seas.
Enough is enough. Bring water back into public ownership, now.
Reposted by Peter Belk
A constant reminder that privatizing a vital public utility is never a good thing.
Thames Water ranked worst supplier in England as firms’ ratings hit record low
Environment Agency rates eight of nine companies as poor and needing improvement
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM
A constant reminder that privatizing a vital public utility is never a good thing.
Reposted by Peter Belk
A 5% tax increase on banks would raise £4bn a year, and it would be exactly the same amount of tax as they were paying from 2016-2023.
October 22, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A 5% tax increase on banks would raise £4bn a year, and it would be exactly the same amount of tax as they were paying from 2016-2023.
Reposted by Peter Belk
The Banks in the UK make £82,000,000,000 a year profit, they pay just 28% tax on that.
You pay 28% tax on £12,571+
And 42% on £50,270+
The rich do not pay tax.
You pay 28% tax on £12,571+
And 42% on £50,270+
The rich do not pay tax.
October 21, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The Banks in the UK make £82,000,000,000 a year profit, they pay just 28% tax on that.
You pay 28% tax on £12,571+
And 42% on £50,270+
The rich do not pay tax.
You pay 28% tax on £12,571+
And 42% on £50,270+
The rich do not pay tax.