Ross McBennett
@rossmcbennett.bsky.social
Historian, genealogist, Lusophile, retired tax inspector
Reposted by Ross McBennett
A result which both illustrates the magnitude of the Reform threat and the problems with Labour’s “Farage is right, don’t vote for him” response. 37 point Lab to Reform swing. Labour go from first to 4th as anti-Reform vote splits 3 ways. Combined Lab/LD/Grn vote larger than Reform vote.
Red Hall & Lingfield (Darlington) Council By-Election Result:
➡️ RFM: 37.7% (New)
🌳 CON: 17.3% (-22.5)
🔶 LDM: 17.3% (New)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-37.1)
🌍 GRN: 9.8% (+3.6)
🙋 Ind: 1.0% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
➡️ RFM: 37.7% (New)
🌳 CON: 17.3% (-22.5)
🔶 LDM: 17.3% (New)
🌹 LAB: 16.8% (-37.1)
🌍 GRN: 9.8% (+3.6)
🙋 Ind: 1.0% (New)
Reform GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2023.
December 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
A result which both illustrates the magnitude of the Reform threat and the problems with Labour’s “Farage is right, don’t vote for him” response. 37 point Lab to Reform swing. Labour go from first to 4th as anti-Reform vote splits 3 ways. Combined Lab/LD/Grn vote larger than Reform vote.
Reposted by Ross McBennett
Most discussions about “misinformation” treat the problem as if people simply don’t have good enough critical-thinking skills. It sounds intuitive, but it’s not entirely accurate. The problem isn’t just individual ignorance, it’s the structure of the information environment people are placed into.
Finland has emerged as a global leader in countering “fake news”. Here's how they've done it
Teaching when to trust
As fake news accelerates, we need to teach our children how to think critically. Finnish schools are leading the charge
newhumanist.org.uk
December 7, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Most discussions about “misinformation” treat the problem as if people simply don’t have good enough critical-thinking skills. It sounds intuitive, but it’s not entirely accurate. The problem isn’t just individual ignorance, it’s the structure of the information environment people are placed into.
Reposted by Ross McBennett
Last week the Express ran with the following front page.
So obviously I had to take a look!
Is it true?
How does it compare to other professions?
Because anyone familiar with British RW media discourse knows they reserve a special venom for civil servants…🤷🏼♀️
🧵
1/25 (1/1)
So obviously I had to take a look!
Is it true?
How does it compare to other professions?
Because anyone familiar with British RW media discourse knows they reserve a special venom for civil servants…🤷🏼♀️
🧵
1/25 (1/1)
September 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Last week the Express ran with the following front page.
So obviously I had to take a look!
Is it true?
How does it compare to other professions?
Because anyone familiar with British RW media discourse knows they reserve a special venom for civil servants…🤷🏼♀️
🧵
1/25 (1/1)
So obviously I had to take a look!
Is it true?
How does it compare to other professions?
Because anyone familiar with British RW media discourse knows they reserve a special venom for civil servants…🤷🏼♀️
🧵
1/25 (1/1)
Reposted by Ross McBennett
What a choice for those on the left. A hopelessly cowed Labour Party that can’t articulate what it wants & panders to the far right. A breakaway socialist party cosying up to some of the dodgiest politicians in the UK. Or Hypnoboobs.
Here’s a characteristically well sourced @siennarodgers.bsky.social feature on the founding of Corbyn’s new party www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Inside The Founding Of Jeremy Corbyn's New Party: 'End This Horrible Power Struggle'
The trials and tribulations of founding a new party on the left. Can they unite? What challenges lie ahead? Sienna Rodgers reports
www.politicshome.com
September 6, 2025 at 11:27 AM
What a choice for those on the left. A hopelessly cowed Labour Party that can’t articulate what it wants & panders to the far right. A breakaway socialist party cosying up to some of the dodgiest politicians in the UK. Or Hypnoboobs.
Reposted by Ross McBennett
A word on immigration. Don't prejudge this, just listen to the data, and then consider what the solution is.
The UK has a falling birth rate. This means that - unless things change - each generation will be 25% smaller than the one before.
The UK has a falling birth rate. This means that - unless things change - each generation will be 25% smaller than the one before.
August 25, 2025 at 5:48 PM
A word on immigration. Don't prejudge this, just listen to the data, and then consider what the solution is.
The UK has a falling birth rate. This means that - unless things change - each generation will be 25% smaller than the one before.
The UK has a falling birth rate. This means that - unless things change - each generation will be 25% smaller than the one before.
Reposted by Ross McBennett
On the subject of Britain being in a terrible crisis, which JG is right about: it's nonsense.
On the fiscal side, we are a 5p rise in VAT from having sustainable fiscal policies. Throw in some tidying up of bad SME subsidies and a social care precept, and we could have nice public services too 1/
On the fiscal side, we are a 5p rise in VAT from having sustainable fiscal policies. Throw in some tidying up of bad SME subsidies and a social care precept, and we could have nice public services too 1/
Janan's superlative intro made me chortle on.ft.com/4mkIlAD via @financialtimes.com
August 1, 2025 at 8:42 AM
On the subject of Britain being in a terrible crisis, which JG is right about: it's nonsense.
On the fiscal side, we are a 5p rise in VAT from having sustainable fiscal policies. Throw in some tidying up of bad SME subsidies and a social care precept, and we could have nice public services too 1/
On the fiscal side, we are a 5p rise in VAT from having sustainable fiscal policies. Throw in some tidying up of bad SME subsidies and a social care precept, and we could have nice public services too 1/
Reposted by Ross McBennett
Reposted by Ross McBennett
40% of all corporation tax owed by small businesses isn't paid. How has this happened, without anyone noticing or caring?
Because nobody wants to talk about it.
These reactions to the latest HMRC tax gap figures are typical:
Because nobody wants to talk about it.
These reactions to the latest HMRC tax gap figures are typical:
June 20, 2025 at 8:27 AM
40% of all corporation tax owed by small businesses isn't paid. How has this happened, without anyone noticing or caring?
Because nobody wants to talk about it.
These reactions to the latest HMRC tax gap figures are typical:
Because nobody wants to talk about it.
These reactions to the latest HMRC tax gap figures are typical:
Reposted by Ross McBennett
The world's biggest trade power is in retreat.
A businessman-politician claims his country is under attack.
He demands tariffs to secure the border & make his country great again.
Yes, it's the UK in 1903!
Find out more in this episode of @ppfideas.bsky.social. 🧵 www.ppfideas.com/episodes/ide...
A businessman-politician claims his country is under attack.
He demands tariffs to secure the border & make his country great again.
Yes, it's the UK in 1903!
Find out more in this episode of @ppfideas.bsky.social. 🧵 www.ppfideas.com/episodes/ide...
May 3, 2025 at 11:10 AM
The world's biggest trade power is in retreat.
A businessman-politician claims his country is under attack.
He demands tariffs to secure the border & make his country great again.
Yes, it's the UK in 1903!
Find out more in this episode of @ppfideas.bsky.social. 🧵 www.ppfideas.com/episodes/ide...
A businessman-politician claims his country is under attack.
He demands tariffs to secure the border & make his country great again.
Yes, it's the UK in 1903!
Find out more in this episode of @ppfideas.bsky.social. 🧵 www.ppfideas.com/episodes/ide...
Reposted by Ross McBennett
People, please give me some time to wake up before doing that thing where you agree with my post, & claim it confirms your opinion. An opinion that is dodgy at best, & wrong at worst.
Too many people are seeing fascism thru the lens of their own nation’s self-mythology. [1]
Too many people are seeing fascism thru the lens of their own nation’s self-mythology. [1]
March 29, 2025 at 11:40 AM
People, please give me some time to wake up before doing that thing where you agree with my post, & claim it confirms your opinion. An opinion that is dodgy at best, & wrong at worst.
Too many people are seeing fascism thru the lens of their own nation’s self-mythology. [1]
Too many people are seeing fascism thru the lens of their own nation’s self-mythology. [1]
Reposted by Ross McBennett
Everyone keeps saying "what can we do" and a big shout out to the team of Some More News who just released a massive collection of things from how to organize tenant unions to destroy Tesla from the inside. If you need a pick me up in a dark time this is fantastic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed-r...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed-r...
Resistance 2.0: How To Survive The Next Four Years - SOME MORE NEWS
YouTube video by Some More News
www.youtube.com
March 27, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Everyone keeps saying "what can we do" and a big shout out to the team of Some More News who just released a massive collection of things from how to organize tenant unions to destroy Tesla from the inside. If you need a pick me up in a dark time this is fantastic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed-r...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed-r...