sam maccallum
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samaccallum.bsky.social
sam maccallum
@samaccallum.bsky.social
24 followers 77 following 4 posts
education & policy type

recovering SU officer, now out standing in many fields (gardener)
Posts Replies Media Videos
samaccallum.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
In some UK woodlands, every young tree has died. What’s going wrong?
With forests under pressure from drought, heat, disease and deer, a study has found fewer trees across a range of species surviving to maturity. But scientists say there is still hope
www.theguardian.com
July 18, 2025 at 12:23 PM
samaccallum.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Toxic Pfas above proposed safety limits in almost all English waters tested
Exclusive: 110 of 117 bodies of water tested by Environment Agency would fail standards, with levels in fish 322 times the planned limit
www.theguardian.com
July 17, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by sam maccallum
vickyfoxcroftmp.bsky.social
(1/2) With a heavy heart, I have written to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as a whip.

Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits.
Screenshot of Vicky's letter to the Prime Minister (page 1) Screenshot of Vicky's letter to the Prime Minister (page 2)
June 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
samaccallum.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Government whip Vicky Foxcroft quits over disability benefit cuts
The Labour MP says she could not vote for the welfare bill published by the government earlier this week.
www.bbc.com
June 19, 2025 at 8:27 PM
samaccallum.bsky.social
"people will die" share.google/L2e1oIzNAFrw...
Labour's disability benefit cuts set to be a 'disaster on all fronts'
Disability benefits cuts will harm hundreds of thousands of people and cost some individuals almost £900 a month, MPs have warned.
share.google
June 18, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by sam maccallum
wtscotsocial.bsky.social
Fantastic news! The Minister has heeded our plea to hit pause on the controversial "Flamingoland" development at Loch Lomond. 👏

👉 buff.ly/RNwPX54

🧵 1/3
A Breaking News graphic from the BBC website, with the headline "Ministers stall plans for Loch Lomond Flamingo Land resort.
June 11, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by sam maccallum
fionamathews.bsky.social
Our latest research on microplastics in invertebrates. Contamination is worst in fields treated with sewage sludge. Did you know that using sewage as fertliser was a thing? Outlawed in most of EU. #microplastics #plastics #sewage @theriverstrust.bsky.social

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Scientists fear whole UK food chain contaminated as study finds microplastics in bugs
Researchers say study of insects in Sussex first to find plastics ‘consistently turning up across an entire community of land invertebrates’
www.independent.co.uk
May 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Reposted by sam maccallum
scotnational.bsky.social
NEW: Thousands of trans rights protesters have taken to the streets of Edinburgh following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman

🗣️ 'Trans rights are human rights'
Thousands of trans rights protesters rally in Scottish streets following court ruling
THOUSANDS of trans rights protesters have taken to the streets of Edinburgh following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a…
www.thenational.scot
April 19, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by sam maccallum
gbuttars.bsky.social
16 protests so far planned for this weekent in support of trans rights whatthetrans.com/compilation-...
Compilation of Protests Against the Supreme Court – What The Trans!?
whatthetrans.com
April 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by sam maccallum
shrinkatlarge.bsky.social
Excuse me for focusing on mental health claimants for a moment but 23% of PIP recipients with psychotic disorders as primary condition would lose eligibility if the evil 4+ rule goes through. This is incredibly dangerous.

Another important FOI, this time from Benefits & Work.
A partial screenshot of a table from benefitsandwork.co.uk showing the number of claimants for different health conditions. The table includes: 1. Back pain – 194,000 claimants, 154,000 (next column not labelled) 2. Arthritis – 279,000 claimants, 214,000 3. Other Regional Musculoskeletal Diseases – 136,000 claimants, 97,000 4. Chronic pain syndromes – 173,000 claimants, 118,000 5. Cardiovascular diseases – 61,000 claimants, 38,000 6. Respiratory diseases – 83,000 claimants, 45,000 7. Anxiety and depression – 587,000 claimants, 282,000 8. Multiple sclerosis and neuropathic diseases – 80,000 claimants, 38,000 The webpage header shows the time as 21:12 and the domain as benefitsandwork.co.uk. A privacy and terms notice is partly visible at the bottom.
April 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Reposted by sam maccallum
shrinkatlarge.bsky.social
Let me be clear: ramping up DWP assessments puts disabled people at immediate risk.

LCWRA exists to protect people from relentless scrutiny.

Shrinking that group just to make the stats look good? That will lead to preventable loss of life.

#WelfareNotWorkfare
1 "LCWRA: What Everyone Should Know" • LCWRA provides essential support when you're too unwell to work • It's not a luxury-it's survival for those facing serious illness or disability • Every f1 cut from LCWRA = real people facing impossible choices 2 "Understanding Universal Credit's Three Paths" Work group: Capable of working now Work prep group: Building toward employment X LCWRA: Unable to work due to health or disability • LCWRA isn't about avoiding work-it's about recognizing human dignity when work isn't possible and it is only given when health professionals think health would worsen seriously otherwise. ] "LCWRA: Beyond the Acronym" • It stands for Limited Capability for Work & Work-Related Activity It stands between thousands of people and destitution • It recognizes that sometimes health must come before work Anyone could need this support tomorrow-that's why we defend it today.
April 12, 2025 at 11:50 AM