Phil
@philparsons.bsky.social
This headline popped up on my phone earlier and I rolled my eyes, but it’s actually a good article.
Out of a job and on benefits: Why Britain isn't working
Out of a job and on benefits: Why Britain isn't working
Winter is closing in on the Bidston Rise housing estate in Birkenhead, but there's one front garden that hasn't given in yet.
news.sky.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This headline popped up on my phone earlier and I rolled my eyes, but it’s actually a good article.
This is the problem with the government relying on charity to do its job. Once people feel less well off the stop giving.
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2569419...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2569419...
Major blow as Southend Foodbank announces four sites to shut amid soaring costs
Southend Foodbank has announced four of its eight distribution centres across the city will close amid spiralling costs and tumbling donations.
www.echo-news.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
This is the problem with the government relying on charity to do its job. Once people feel less well off the stop giving.
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2569419...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2569419...
And the government wonders why parents are pulling their kids out of school in record numbers. This is ridiculous. I know the government think they need to push kids to catch up after covid (do they really?) but this is not working.
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2569376...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2569376...
Pupil 'put in isolation' after mum missed south Essex school's parents evening
A MOTHER has condemned a school’s “robotic regime” after she missed a parent’s evening - only for her daughter to be given detention as…
www.echo-news.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 7:22 AM
And the government wonders why parents are pulling their kids out of school in record numbers. This is ridiculous. I know the government think they need to push kids to catch up after covid (do they really?) but this is not working.
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2569376...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2569376...
Things I didn’t expect to see on the train this morning? A massive bumble bee.
December 12, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Things I didn’t expect to see on the train this morning? A massive bumble bee.
Super flu? Anything to do with Covid?
NHS facing 'worst case scenario' December amid 'super flu' surge
NHS facing 'worst case scenario' December amid 'super flu' surge
NHS England has warned the health service is facing a "worst case scenario" December with a surge of "super flu".
news.sky.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Super flu? Anything to do with Covid?
Messages with my eldest is just us choosing the funniest option on our watches to respond to each others accomplishments.
December 2, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Messages with my eldest is just us choosing the funniest option on our watches to respond to each others accomplishments.
It’s the 0711 this morning 🤷🏻♂️. Are they gradually going to sneak it back to the 0713 that it was for years?!
My train is back to being the 0710 this morning 🤷🏻♂️ (and was on time!)
That brings be to, why is my train the 0709 from Westcliff this week? It has been the 0710 for months. It’s not like it’s ever going to leave at 0709!
December 1, 2025 at 7:18 AM
It’s the 0711 this morning 🤷🏻♂️. Are they gradually going to sneak it back to the 0713 that it was for years?!
Reposted by Phil
Short thread, nailing the ridiculous, dishonest approach to migration.
If international migration is so bad for us, so deleterious to local communities, why are we so relaxed about migration from one part of the UK to another? Isn't that also stealing jobs, causing community change and disruption?
November 28, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Short thread, nailing the ridiculous, dishonest approach to migration.
My train is back to being the 0710 this morning 🤷🏻♂️ (and was on time!)
That brings be to, why is my train the 0709 from Westcliff this week? It has been the 0710 for months. It’s not like it’s ever going to leave at 0709!
November 24, 2025 at 7:12 AM
My train is back to being the 0710 this morning 🤷🏻♂️ (and was on time!)
Reposted by Phil
Its hilarious how the press were all "Corbyn is a Russian commie" and yet not a fucking dickybird about Boris being drunk at a KGB party and best friends with all the Russian oligarchs and Farage always siding with Russia over the EU and UK.
Not
A
Fucking
Dickybird!
Not
A
Fucking
Dickybird!
November 22, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Its hilarious how the press were all "Corbyn is a Russian commie" and yet not a fucking dickybird about Boris being drunk at a KGB party and best friends with all the Russian oligarchs and Farage always siding with Russia over the EU and UK.
Not
A
Fucking
Dickybird!
Not
A
Fucking
Dickybird!
Reposted by Phil
So the line is that he wasn't getting paid for any of this
November 22, 2025 at 5:33 PM
So the line is that he wasn't getting paid for any of this
No shit!
All four UK governments 'failed to appreciate' scale of COVID pandemic threat - inquiry finds
All four UK governments 'failed to appreciate' scale of COVID pandemic threat - inquiry finds
All four UK governments failed to appreciate the scale of the threat posed by COVID-19 or the urgency of the response the pandemic required, a damning report published on Thursday has claimed.
news.sky.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
No shit!
How long before Asda is no more? Classic private equity late stage capitalism. Extract all the money and then let it collapse.
Asda to sell 24 stores only to rent them back as it struggles with debt pile
Asda to sell 24 stores only to rent them back as it struggles with debt pile
Supermarket chain Asda is selling 24 of its stores and will rent them back as it struggles with its debt mound.
news.sky.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:06 PM
How long before Asda is no more? Classic private equity late stage capitalism. Extract all the money and then let it collapse.
I was glad I wore my big coat yesterday, but today I wish I wore a hat. The hair isn’t as thick as it used to be.
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 AM
I was glad I wore my big coat yesterday, but today I wish I wore a hat. The hair isn’t as thick as it used to be.
Has the 0703 train from Westcliff ever left on time? It is always delaying my train!
November 12, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Has the 0703 train from Westcliff ever left on time? It is always delaying my train!
The ex Tory MP still hanging around like a bad smell I see...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2560371...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2560371...
Illegal migrant 'stranded' in Southend despite Home Office plea to go home
A migrant in the UK illegally has been 'stranded' for months in Southend despite 'repeatedly' issuing pleas for the Home Office to send him home.
www.echo-news.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 PM
The ex Tory MP still hanging around like a bad smell I see...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2560371...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2560371...
Seems that Basildon and Southend hospitals have come off a lot worse than Broomfield since joining the 3 NHS trusts together.
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2559468...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2559468...
Leadership at south Essex hospitals rated 'inadequate' in damning CQC report
Leadership at Mid and South Essex NHS Trust has been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection.
www.echo-news.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Seems that Basildon and Southend hospitals have come off a lot worse than Broomfield since joining the 3 NHS trusts together.
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2559468...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2559468...
I'm sure it was only earlier this year that Southend was voted the worst seaside town in previous newspaper clickbait.
www.essexlive.news/news/essex-n...
www.essexlive.news/news/essex-n...
The once struggling Essex seaside town now considered 'best in Britain'
It's got blue flag beaches and hotels loved by celebs, too
www.essexlive.news
October 29, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I'm sure it was only earlier this year that Southend was voted the worst seaside town in previous newspaper clickbait.
www.essexlive.news/news/essex-n...
www.essexlive.news/news/essex-n...
I’ve been trying to find a list of Pizza Hut’s that are staying open, but have failed. Who will still have one, and why?! I haven’t been to a Pizza Hut restaurant in at least 20 years. Looks like our local delivery place is staying open…
Pizza Hut confirms 68 restaurants to close - here's the full list
Pizza Hut confirms 68 restaurants to close - here's the full list
Pizza Hut has confirmed the locations of 68 restaurants set to close after the company behind its UK venues fell into administration.
news.sky.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I’ve been trying to find a list of Pizza Hut’s that are staying open, but have failed. Who will still have one, and why?! I haven’t been to a Pizza Hut restaurant in at least 20 years. Looks like our local delivery place is staying open…
"Ms Subayeva, a member of the public" I've see loads of her posts on Facebook. Definitely a Tory!
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2555238...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2555238...
Council quizzed by resident over 'turbulent' bin roll-out across Southend
A meeting of Southend Council on Thursday saw the council leader quizzed over what a resident called the "turbulent" roll-out of new bins…
www.echo-news.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 11:42 AM
"Ms Subayeva, a member of the public" I've see loads of her posts on Facebook. Definitely a Tory!
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2555238...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2555238...
Got my photo done at work, so I’m just trying it out here. Calm down people!
October 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Got my photo done at work, so I’m just trying it out here. Calm down people!
Just saw the c2c train with the Great British Railways branding! The wording is followed by “coming soon” 🤷🏻♂️
October 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Just saw the c2c train with the Great British Railways branding! The wording is followed by “coming soon” 🤷🏻♂️
Two notifications came through on my phone at the same time from Sky and BBC News. Two very different takes on what the IMF says.
October 14, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Two notifications came through on my phone at the same time from Sky and BBC News. Two very different takes on what the IMF says.
An Echo story about delays on the Liverpool Street line! Shock! Oh, hang on! This line is being nationalised on Sunday, so they're just getting warmed up for more of this pointlessness.
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2552989...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2552989...
Train delays as lines blocked at Southend Victoria due to 'track defect'
Trains between Southend Victoria are delayed with only one platform in use at the station due to a fault on the track due to a "defect".
www.echo-news.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 11:17 AM
An Echo story about delays on the Liverpool Street line! Shock! Oh, hang on! This line is being nationalised on Sunday, so they're just getting warmed up for more of this pointlessness.
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2552989...
www.echo-news.co.uk/news/2552989...
Reposted by Phil
The BBC has been accused of “extraordinary” anti-Green bias, after the party says a long-promised conference interview with new leader Zack Polanski was cancelled by the Laura Kuenssberg show just days before going to air
Every major political party leader, aside from him, was interviewed recently.
Every major political party leader, aside from him, was interviewed recently.
BBC Laura Kuenssberg Show Accused of Anti-Green Bias After Cancelling Zack Polanski Interview
The new Green Party leader was the only major party leader not to have been granted a conference interview on the flagship BBC show
bylinetimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The BBC has been accused of “extraordinary” anti-Green bias, after the party says a long-promised conference interview with new leader Zack Polanski was cancelled by the Laura Kuenssberg show just days before going to air
Every major political party leader, aside from him, was interviewed recently.
Every major political party leader, aside from him, was interviewed recently.