Samuel Karlin
@samuelkarlin.bsky.social
Physicist, software developer, keen on photos of gorgeous landscapes, space and nature. 🏠 Oxford. 🌹 Leftie. He/him. Here for pretty pictures and a political conversation hopefully more civilised than Musk's Twitter.
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
Since we introduced free school meals for London’s state primary school children two years ago, an incredible 100 million have now been provided.
Thank you to everyone who has worked together to reach this historic milestone.
Thank you to everyone who has worked together to reach this historic milestone.
November 27, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Since we introduced free school meals for London’s state primary school children two years ago, an incredible 100 million have now been provided.
Thank you to everyone who has worked together to reach this historic milestone.
Thank you to everyone who has worked together to reach this historic milestone.
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
Lol congratulations to whoever briefed that the chancellor was going to axe Cycle to Work, then didn't. Whatever was going on behind the scenes, you've just done wonders for London's bike shops pre-Christmas.
If my group chats are anything to go by, Treasury briefing "we're going to end the cycle to work tax break that enables people to buy a large family-sized e-bike" has done more than any other advertising campaign to boost the uptake of family-sized e-bikes. Sales must be through the roof this week.
November 26, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Lol congratulations to whoever briefed that the chancellor was going to axe Cycle to Work, then didn't. Whatever was going on behind the scenes, you've just done wonders for London's bike shops pre-Christmas.
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
Big news, income tax is being charged this year.
(It has to be renewed each year or it ceases to apply. Because it's a temporary tax, introduced to fund the Napoleonic wars)
(It has to be renewed each year or it ceases to apply. Because it's a temporary tax, introduced to fund the Napoleonic wars)
November 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Big news, income tax is being charged this year.
(It has to be renewed each year or it ceases to apply. Because it's a temporary tax, introduced to fund the Napoleonic wars)
(It has to be renewed each year or it ceases to apply. Because it's a temporary tax, introduced to fund the Napoleonic wars)
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
A good day for Ed Miliband: mansion tax introduced, green levies moved off bills to taxation, ban on new North Sea oil and gas licences confirmed.
November 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
A good day for Ed Miliband: mansion tax introduced, green levies moved off bills to taxation, ban on new North Sea oil and gas licences confirmed.
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
I don't care if you think you're middle class or whatever. Your house is worth £2m? Lucky you. Shut up and pay up.
November 26, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I don't care if you think you're middle class or whatever. Your house is worth £2m? Lucky you. Shut up and pay up.
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
This is a common thread with issues to do with racism; it's only when the story can be reduced to an internal party dispute, that the media is comfortable talking about. That means if a party closes ranks behind a racist, like Reform will, the media will struggle to keep returning to the story
November 26, 2025 at 9:15 AM
This is a common thread with issues to do with racism; it's only when the story can be reduced to an internal party dispute, that the media is comfortable talking about. That means if a party closes ranks behind a racist, like Reform will, the media will struggle to keep returning to the story
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
And honestly I don't give a fuck if it's popular or not. It's going to make a lot of kids' lives better. That's the point of government. Not an opinion poll.
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
And honestly I don't give a fuck if it's popular or not. It's going to make a lot of kids' lives better. That's the point of government. Not an opinion poll.
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
"It's amazing what people get so angry about and on that side it's lifting children out of poverty," says Rachel Reeves as Conservative MPs try to shout down her announcement that she is scrapping the two child benefit cap which has pushed hundreds of thousands of children below the poverty line
November 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"It's amazing what people get so angry about and on that side it's lifting children out of poverty," says Rachel Reeves as Conservative MPs try to shout down her announcement that she is scrapping the two child benefit cap which has pushed hundreds of thousands of children below the poverty line
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
This is such important news. Hundreds of thousands of children taken out of poverty with the stroke of a pen.
Two-child benefit limit is officially scrapped in Budget 2025
Rachel Reeves confirms policy that restricts what benefits families can receive will be removed
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
This is such important news. Hundreds of thousands of children taken out of poverty with the stroke of a pen.
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
new allegation concerning Farage’s behaviour when he was 18 years old
November 26, 2025 at 7:59 AM
new allegation concerning Farage’s behaviour when he was 18 years old
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
On budget, Brexit and UK politics paddling in the shallow end of a problem that goes way deeper than just tax rises. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr
Brutal economic realities are prompting a shift in Labour’s tone on Europe. But will it dare tell the whole truth about Britain’s predicament, asks Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:15 AM
On budget, Brexit and UK politics paddling in the shallow end of a problem that goes way deeper than just tax rises. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
“It seems free speech only exists for people who agree with them.” Reform UK's legal threats against Welsh news service @nation.cymru hints at the party taking a more aggressive approach to the #UK media. Read Daniel Boffey's analysis:
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform’s ‘Trumpian’ legal threats hint at more aggressive approach to media
Ultimatums sent to publications appear to intensify as Nigel Farage’s party rises in polls
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:38 PM
“It seems free speech only exists for people who agree with them.” Reform UK's legal threats against Welsh news service @nation.cymru hints at the party taking a more aggressive approach to the #UK media. Read Daniel Boffey's analysis:
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
Friday: former Reform leader in Wales is jailed for accepting bribes to spout pro-Russia propaganda.
Sunday:
Sunday:
November 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Friday: former Reform leader in Wales is jailed for accepting bribes to spout pro-Russia propaganda.
Sunday:
Sunday:
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
This feels right.
The Lib Dems would have done better if they ditched Clegg and picked a new leader with a spine and some sincerity in beliefs, who the public didn't hold in solidified pure contempt.
Do Labour MPs have enough sense to ditch Keir Starmer?
The Lib Dems would have done better if they ditched Clegg and picked a new leader with a spine and some sincerity in beliefs, who the public didn't hold in solidified pure contempt.
Do Labour MPs have enough sense to ditch Keir Starmer?
Having been a lib dem in coalition the vibes are just exactly the same. Total public contempt for the leader. Trust gone. Big picture approach wrong. Activists desperately shouting about the few policy wins to a public that has made its mind up.
It's funny how much they talk like the Liberal Democrats in coalition, except instead of 'negotiating with the senior partner in a coalition', the coalition partner is 'the campaign people refuse to let go of the wheel or to sign off anything suggesting their campaign was anything but perfect'.
November 23, 2025 at 10:45 AM
This feels right.
The Lib Dems would have done better if they ditched Clegg and picked a new leader with a spine and some sincerity in beliefs, who the public didn't hold in solidified pure contempt.
Do Labour MPs have enough sense to ditch Keir Starmer?
The Lib Dems would have done better if they ditched Clegg and picked a new leader with a spine and some sincerity in beliefs, who the public didn't hold in solidified pure contempt.
Do Labour MPs have enough sense to ditch Keir Starmer?
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
The UK is a strongly pro-choice country with 86% of Britons wanting abortion to be legal in all or most cases. But the US anti-choice movement has been investing heavily into campaigns in Britain, and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party seems to be support the interference.
The worrying rise of US anti-abortion rhetoric is in full force - how deep is Reform UK's involvement?
Money is pouring into anti-abortion campaigns in Britain, and it seems Nigel Farage’s party isn’t pushing back…
www.cosmopolitan.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:11 AM
The UK is a strongly pro-choice country with 86% of Britons wanting abortion to be legal in all or most cases. But the US anti-choice movement has been investing heavily into campaigns in Britain, and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party seems to be support the interference.
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
Britain has set a new wind generation record.
"At 7:30pm on 11 November wind turbines...provided enough clean electricity to power more than 22 million homes"
"Wind was delivering 43.6% of all power on the system which means three quarters of Britain’s homes were effectively running on wind alone"
"At 7:30pm on 11 November wind turbines...provided enough clean electricity to power more than 22 million homes"
"Wind was delivering 43.6% of all power on the system which means three quarters of Britain’s homes were effectively running on wind alone"
Windpower sets new record for baseload - Energy Live News
Wind supplied 43% of all power last week setting a new record of 22.7 GW
www.energylivenews.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Britain has set a new wind generation record.
"At 7:30pm on 11 November wind turbines...provided enough clean electricity to power more than 22 million homes"
"Wind was delivering 43.6% of all power on the system which means three quarters of Britain’s homes were effectively running on wind alone"
"At 7:30pm on 11 November wind turbines...provided enough clean electricity to power more than 22 million homes"
"Wind was delivering 43.6% of all power on the system which means three quarters of Britain’s homes were effectively running on wind alone"
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
No 10 today: "Rivers, lakes and beaches will be cleaner and wildlife better protected as the government has signed into law a ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes, marking a major step forward in tackling plastic pollution which devastates our waterways."
November 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
No 10 today: "Rivers, lakes and beaches will be cleaner and wildlife better protected as the government has signed into law a ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes, marking a major step forward in tackling plastic pollution which devastates our waterways."
Good news 🙂 We have a housing crisis in this country - about bloody time we started acting like it.
New homes earmarked near train stations to get 'default yes' from planners
New homes earmarked near train stations to get 'default yes' from planners
The government has announced plans to make it almost impossible for new housing developments near train stations to be opposed.
news.sky.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Good news 🙂 We have a housing crisis in this country - about bloody time we started acting like it.
Jesus Christ, is ONE decent party in this country too much to ask?
Zack Polanski in September: The Green Party stands in solidarity with the TUC in saying there must be no watering down of Workers’ Rights,
Green Party peers tonight: voting with Tories and Lib Dems to water down measures to stop exploitative zero hours contracts.
votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...
Green Party peers tonight: voting with Tories and Lib Dems to water down measures to stop exploitative zero hours contracts.
votes.parliament.uk/votes/lords/...
Employment Rights Bill - Lords' votes in Parliament - UK Parliament
Employment Rights Bill
votes.parliament.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Jesus Christ, is ONE decent party in this country too much to ask?
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
I wrote about the lessons the Danish social democrats want to offer Labour last month, and noted a distinct uptick in Denmark Chat at conference. As I discuss in the piece, I am more convinced by the arguments for Spain-as-model.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/oc...
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/oc...
November 8, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I wrote about the lessons the Danish social democrats want to offer Labour last month, and noted a distinct uptick in Denmark Chat at conference. As I discuss in the piece, I am more convinced by the arguments for Spain-as-model.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/oc...
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/oc...
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
BBC 'determined to fight' any Trump legal action, chairman tells staff
BBC 'determined to fight' any Trump legal action, chairman tells staff
BBC chair Samir Shah has said there is "no basis for a defamation case and we are determined to fight this" - after Donald Trump said he would sue the corporation for between $1bn and $5bn.
news.sky.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:36 PM
BBC 'determined to fight' any Trump legal action, chairman tells staff
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Samuel Karlin
The 'I will vote Liberal Democrat if I am not scared of the Labour leader, otherwise I'll vote Tory' voter - hugely significant in our electoral system, both for direct Con to LD losses and indirect Con to Lab ones. What are they gonna do?
November 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The 'I will vote Liberal Democrat if I am not scared of the Labour leader, otherwise I'll vote Tory' voter - hugely significant in our electoral system, both for direct Con to LD losses and indirect Con to Lab ones. What are they gonna do?