Sean Byrne
@seanandmarge.bsky.social
BA (Hons) Social sciences (criminology/sociology), painter & decorator, social justice activist, 99% vegan and companion species to a Border Terrier 🐾 ☘️ 🌹
Reposted by Sean Byrne
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:59 AM
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
Social spaces lost forever. Libraries, community centres, school playgrounds, parks closed/sold as council funding cut in real terms to appease the rich.
Social vandalism.
Reposted by Sean Byrne
The case for taxing wealth has historically come from the political mainstream – so why is it so unpalatable now?
The UK’s wealth ‘timebomb’ – and how to defuse it
The case for taxing wealth has historically come from the political mainstream – so why is it so unpalatable now?
tcnv.link
November 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The case for taxing wealth has historically come from the political mainstream – so why is it so unpalatable now?
Reposted by Sean Byrne
@europeangroup.bsky.social @bschcnetwork.bsky.social @livunislsj.bsky.social @david-whyte.bsky.social
Please repost @ccse-ljmu.bsky.social Film Screening "The UK Is Not Innocent" An @inquest-org.bsky.social Documentary and Q&A, 80-98 Mt. Pleasant, Liverpool, 26 Nov., 5-8pm (event starts at 5.30). Free to enter but registration required @bjcsolicitors.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.com/e/ccse-film-...
www.eventbrite.com/e/ccse-film-...
CCSE Film Screening "The UK Is Not Innocent" An INQUEST Documentary and Q&A
Join us for a screening of The UK Is Not Innocent, a powerful documentary about INQUEST's grassroots history and deaths involving the state
www.eventbrite.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Sean Byrne
America’s super-rich destroying the planet’s safe climate spaces.
Wealthiest 0.1% of the US burn carbon at 4,000 times the rate of the world’s poorest 10%.
Corporations spend $277,000 a year on anti-climate lobbying.
Super rich control political system, strangling life. What's to be done
Wealthiest 0.1% of the US burn carbon at 4,000 times the rate of the world’s poorest 10%.
Corporations spend $277,000 a year on anti-climate lobbying.
Super rich control political system, strangling life. What's to be done
America’s super-rich are running down the planet’s safe climate spaces, says Oxfam
Data shows wealthiest 0.1% of the US burn carbon at 4,000 times the rate of the world’s poorest 10%
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:03 AM
America’s super-rich destroying the planet’s safe climate spaces.
Wealthiest 0.1% of the US burn carbon at 4,000 times the rate of the world’s poorest 10%.
Corporations spend $277,000 a year on anti-climate lobbying.
Super rich control political system, strangling life. What's to be done
Wealthiest 0.1% of the US burn carbon at 4,000 times the rate of the world’s poorest 10%.
Corporations spend $277,000 a year on anti-climate lobbying.
Super rich control political system, strangling life. What's to be done
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Nigel Farage could never be trusted to run Britain after getting Brexit so wrong'.
Brexit is the biggest self-harm. UK economy hasn't recovered.
Farage, the part-time MP, collects millions from 2nd/3rd jobs, full time MP pay+exps; often missing from the Commons.
Pushes hatred to grab power.
Brexit is the biggest self-harm. UK economy hasn't recovered.
Farage, the part-time MP, collects millions from 2nd/3rd jobs, full time MP pay+exps; often missing from the Commons.
Pushes hatred to grab power.
'Farage could never be trusted to run Britain after getting Brexit so wrong'
No Brexit champion, particularly Nigel Farage, is worthy of high office after proving so conclusively wrong on such a seismic issue, says Mirror Associate Editor Kevin Maguire
www.mirror.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Nigel Farage could never be trusted to run Britain after getting Brexit so wrong'.
Brexit is the biggest self-harm. UK economy hasn't recovered.
Farage, the part-time MP, collects millions from 2nd/3rd jobs, full time MP pay+exps; often missing from the Commons.
Pushes hatred to grab power.
Brexit is the biggest self-harm. UK economy hasn't recovered.
Farage, the part-time MP, collects millions from 2nd/3rd jobs, full time MP pay+exps; often missing from the Commons.
Pushes hatred to grab power.
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Top 65 banks, including UK banks, committed $869bn (£648bn) in financing fossil fuels in 2024.
$7,900,000,000,000
over 9 years, driving climate chaos, deadly health impacts, crop failures, migration.
Banks profit from destruction and no govt stops them.
$7,900,000,000,000
over 9 years, driving climate chaos, deadly health impacts, crop failures, migration.
Banks profit from destruction and no govt stops them.
Some of UK’s biggest banks ‘investing ever larger sums into fossil fuels’
Which’s analysis follows research finding that the world’s biggest banks significantly increased their fossil fuel finance in 2024.
www.independent.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Top 65 banks, including UK banks, committed $869bn (£648bn) in financing fossil fuels in 2024.
$7,900,000,000,000
over 9 years, driving climate chaos, deadly health impacts, crop failures, migration.
Banks profit from destruction and no govt stops them.
$7,900,000,000,000
over 9 years, driving climate chaos, deadly health impacts, crop failures, migration.
Banks profit from destruction and no govt stops them.
Reposted by Sean Byrne
London Heathrow airport owned by private/state investors from Australia, China, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain.
Similar to steel, auto, ports, shipbuilding, care homes, hospitals, GP surgeries, veterinary services.
Dividends not taxed in the UK. Govts have fewer economic levers.
Similar to steel, auto, ports, shipbuilding, care homes, hospitals, GP surgeries, veterinary services.
Dividends not taxed in the UK. Govts have fewer economic levers.
If the government wants economic growth it must bring essential industries into public ownership
Successive governments clobber households and small businesses by hiking interest rates to manage inflation, but don’t inconvenience corporations.
leftfootforward.org
October 3, 2025 at 8:13 AM
London Heathrow airport owned by private/state investors from Australia, China, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain.
Similar to steel, auto, ports, shipbuilding, care homes, hospitals, GP surgeries, veterinary services.
Dividends not taxed in the UK. Govts have fewer economic levers.
Similar to steel, auto, ports, shipbuilding, care homes, hospitals, GP surgeries, veterinary services.
Dividends not taxed in the UK. Govts have fewer economic levers.
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Researchers are exploring how VR and AI can teach empathy, helping children recognize emotions, regulate feelings and build deeper connections.
How VR and AI could help the next generation grow kinder and more connected
Virtual reality might seem like an unlikely way to help kids develop empathy, but the right VR environment can do just that.
buff.ly
October 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Researchers are exploring how VR and AI can teach empathy, helping children recognize emotions, regulate feelings and build deeper connections.
RIP Jane Goodall she never stopped reaching out to all animals in the hope of reducing harm to them. 🐖 🐅 🐑 🐘 🐄 🐕 🐓❤️
October 2, 2025 at 12:19 PM
RIP Jane Goodall she never stopped reaching out to all animals in the hope of reducing harm to them. 🐖 🐅 🐑 🐘 🐄 🐕 🐓❤️
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Political questions about the peerage of Michelle Mone.
PM David Cameron didn't follow proper protocols for her peerage, made her govt adviser.
The same David Cameron appointed Philip Green (BHS fame) as the Govt's efficiency Tsar, bugled the Brexit referendum.
Mone benefitted from Tory VIP lane.
PM David Cameron didn't follow proper protocols for her peerage, made her govt adviser.
The same David Cameron appointed Philip Green (BHS fame) as the Govt's efficiency Tsar, bugled the Brexit referendum.
Mone benefitted from Tory VIP lane.
October 1, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Political questions about the peerage of Michelle Mone.
PM David Cameron didn't follow proper protocols for her peerage, made her govt adviser.
The same David Cameron appointed Philip Green (BHS fame) as the Govt's efficiency Tsar, bugled the Brexit referendum.
Mone benefitted from Tory VIP lane.
PM David Cameron didn't follow proper protocols for her peerage, made her govt adviser.
The same David Cameron appointed Philip Green (BHS fame) as the Govt's efficiency Tsar, bugled the Brexit referendum.
Mone benefitted from Tory VIP lane.
Dame Jane Goodall remembered as a 'true hero for the planet'
October 2, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Dame Jane Goodall remembered as a 'true hero for the planet'
Reposted by Sean Byrne
New research shows that ocean acidification has now crossed the planetary boundary. That's 7 of 9 boundaries crossed. Capitalism is driving ecological catastrophe and will continue to do so until we align production to a new law of value.
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Scientists announce that 7 of 9 key 'planetary boundaries' have been crossed
A team of global scientists issued a new report on Wednesday, noting that seven out of nine of key "planetary boundaries" have been crossed. Carbon dioxide emissions have increased ocean acidification...
www.france24.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:25 PM
New research shows that ocean acidification has now crossed the planetary boundary. That's 7 of 9 boundaries crossed. Capitalism is driving ecological catastrophe and will continue to do so until we align production to a new law of value.
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Nigel Farage says his party is a break from the political establishment but it is funded by the super rich.
Reform has an unusually high number of overseas backers with links to tax havens.
Fossil fuel interests fund Reform, party will expand their trade.
Reform has an unusually high number of overseas backers with links to tax havens.
Fossil fuel interests fund Reform, party will expand their trade.
These are the wealthy funders who’ve given Reform £5m
Nigel Farage says his party is a break from the political establishment. That claim doesn’t match up with its donors
www.opendemocracy.net
September 17, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Nigel Farage says his party is a break from the political establishment but it is funded by the super rich.
Reform has an unusually high number of overseas backers with links to tax havens.
Fossil fuel interests fund Reform, party will expand their trade.
Reform has an unusually high number of overseas backers with links to tax havens.
Fossil fuel interests fund Reform, party will expand their trade.
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Well, better late than never. Now, how about UK government (and others) stop ALL - and other - exports, instead of wringing their hands about the terrible situation etc? @pscupdates.bsky.social @europeangroup.bsky.social
www.business-humanrights.org/en/from-us/u...
www.business-humanrights.org/en/from-us/u...
Weekly Update 3 September | $2tr decision: Norway fund divests from Caterpillar over OPT demolitions - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Check out this page via the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
www.business-humanrights.org
September 3, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Well, better late than never. Now, how about UK government (and others) stop ALL - and other - exports, instead of wringing their hands about the terrible situation etc? @pscupdates.bsky.social @europeangroup.bsky.social
www.business-humanrights.org/en/from-us/u...
www.business-humanrights.org/en/from-us/u...
Reposted by Sean Byrne
"an inconvenient truth: those countries with the lowest cumulative emissions are on the front lines of the climate disaster."
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
Drowning while Burning
The world's poorest countries are on the front lines of climate breakdown, and they're drowning in debt
open.substack.com
August 13, 2025 at 9:43 AM
"an inconvenient truth: those countries with the lowest cumulative emissions are on the front lines of the climate disaster."
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
Every economic crisis for capitalism is resolved by sowing the seeds for the next crisis and paid for by the working classes.
We have been there before.
Banks grant 5.5 times salary mortgages.
A couple with income of £75,000+£50,000 can borrow £687,500.
Can banks sustain this?
How will borrowers service debt?
What if house prices collapse?
What will deregulation cost? We haven't recovered from the last folly.
Banks grant 5.5 times salary mortgages.
A couple with income of £75,000+£50,000 can borrow £687,500.
Can banks sustain this?
How will borrowers service debt?
What if house prices collapse?
What will deregulation cost? We haven't recovered from the last folly.
Santander mortgage cap jumps by as much as 24% as bank eases lending rules
Some higher-earning couples with smaller deposits could borrow extra £130,000 as a result of overnight changes
www.theguardian.com
August 13, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Every economic crisis for capitalism is resolved by sowing the seeds for the next crisis and paid for by the working classes.
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Courts service in England & Wales 'covered up' IT bug that caused evidence to go missing.
Software had a long history of data loss.
Executives covered up flaws.
Judges made rulings with incomplete evidence.
Another Post Office type of scandal looms.
Software had a long history of data loss.
Executives covered up flaws.
Judges made rulings with incomplete evidence.
Another Post Office type of scandal looms.
Courts service accused of covering up IT bug that caused evidence to go missing
Sources say judges in courts and tribunals will have made rulings when evidence was incomplete.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 8, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Courts service in England & Wales 'covered up' IT bug that caused evidence to go missing.
Software had a long history of data loss.
Executives covered up flaws.
Judges made rulings with incomplete evidence.
Another Post Office type of scandal looms.
Software had a long history of data loss.
Executives covered up flaws.
Judges made rulings with incomplete evidence.
Another Post Office type of scandal looms.
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Former UK PM Gordon Brown urges Reeves to hike gambling taxes.
Quite right too.
Too many industries are free-riders, don't bear the cost of their pollution - gambling, processed food, tobacco, airlines, fossil fuels.
They expect public purse to bear the social cost, shareholders take profits.
Quite right too.
Too many industries are free-riders, don't bear the cost of their pollution - gambling, processed food, tobacco, airlines, fossil fuels.
They expect public purse to bear the social cost, shareholders take profits.
Gordon Brown urges Rachel Reeves to hike gambling taxes at Budget
The former Labour prime minister says hitting the
www.bbc.co.uk
August 7, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Former UK PM Gordon Brown urges Reeves to hike gambling taxes.
Quite right too.
Too many industries are free-riders, don't bear the cost of their pollution - gambling, processed food, tobacco, airlines, fossil fuels.
They expect public purse to bear the social cost, shareholders take profits.
Quite right too.
Too many industries are free-riders, don't bear the cost of their pollution - gambling, processed food, tobacco, airlines, fossil fuels.
They expect public purse to bear the social cost, shareholders take profits.
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Excellent letter from experts from the People's Commission contesting the Government's figures on bringing water back into public ownership.
The appropriate value would actually be closer to zero.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
The appropriate value would actually be closer to zero.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
A fair price to the public for water nationalisation | Letter
Letter: The government is wrong on the cost of bringing water back into public ownership, write Prof Becky Malby, Dr Kate Bayliss, Prof Frances Cleaver and Prof Ewan McGaughey
www.theguardian.com
August 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Excellent letter from experts from the People's Commission contesting the Government's figures on bringing water back into public ownership.
The appropriate value would actually be closer to zero.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
The appropriate value would actually be closer to zero.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Latest @inquest-org.bsky.social newsletter: mailchi.mp/inquest/inqu...
Hillsborough law, deaths in prisons, police & mental health settings, & families fighting back. Read and circulate!
@bschcnetwork.bsky.social @europeangroup.bsky.social @ccse-ljmu.bsky.social @hillsboroughlawnow.bsky.social
Hillsborough law, deaths in prisons, police & mental health settings, & families fighting back. Read and circulate!
@bschcnetwork.bsky.social @europeangroup.bsky.social @ccse-ljmu.bsky.social @hillsboroughlawnow.bsky.social
INQUEST News ⚖️ on challenging state violence & justice campaigns
mailchi.mp
August 4, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Latest @inquest-org.bsky.social newsletter: mailchi.mp/inquest/inqu...
Hillsborough law, deaths in prisons, police & mental health settings, & families fighting back. Read and circulate!
@bschcnetwork.bsky.social @europeangroup.bsky.social @ccse-ljmu.bsky.social @hillsboroughlawnow.bsky.social
Hillsborough law, deaths in prisons, police & mental health settings, & families fighting back. Read and circulate!
@bschcnetwork.bsky.social @europeangroup.bsky.social @ccse-ljmu.bsky.social @hillsboroughlawnow.bsky.social
Rise: From One Island To Another
YouTube video by Climate Vulnerable Forum
youtube.com
August 3, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Private equity and the crushing cost of UK vets’ bills.
60% of local vets taken over by corporates.
Usual story -price hikes, debt, profiteering.
Drugs prices up to eight times the online prices. Profit margins of up to 43%.
How many pets will suffer?
archive.ph/ikhpP
60% of local vets taken over by corporates.
Usual story -price hikes, debt, profiteering.
Drugs prices up to eight times the online prices. Profit margins of up to 43%.
How many pets will suffer?
archive.ph/ikhpP
Private equity and the crushing cost of UK vets’ bills
Charges have risen sharply since 2016 as more practices have been swallowed up by buyout groups
www.ft.com
July 29, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Private equity and the crushing cost of UK vets’ bills.
60% of local vets taken over by corporates.
Usual story -price hikes, debt, profiteering.
Drugs prices up to eight times the online prices. Profit margins of up to 43%.
How many pets will suffer?
archive.ph/ikhpP
60% of local vets taken over by corporates.
Usual story -price hikes, debt, profiteering.
Drugs prices up to eight times the online prices. Profit margins of up to 43%.
How many pets will suffer?
archive.ph/ikhpP
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Israel’s allies should look at what was done to isolate South Africa during the apartheid years.
Gaza is starving – how Israel’s allies can go beyond words and take meaningful action
Israel’s allies should look at what was done to isolate South Africa during the apartheid years.
tcnv.link
July 24, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Israel’s allies should look at what was done to isolate South Africa during the apartheid years.
Reposted by Sean Byrne
Lloyds boss warns Reeves against hiking taxes on banks as profits rise 17%.
Banks bailed out, given £895bn QE, sell dud products, rarely prosecuted, closing branches, making mega profits but resent paying taxes.
No one voted to be ruled by banks.
Banks bailed out, given £895bn QE, sell dud products, rarely prosecuted, closing branches, making mega profits but resent paying taxes.
No one voted to be ruled by banks.
Lloyds boss warns Reeves against hiking taxes on banks as profits rise 17%
Charlie Nunn says higher taxation would be inconsistent with chancellor’s drive for growth
www.theguardian.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Lloyds boss warns Reeves against hiking taxes on banks as profits rise 17%.
Banks bailed out, given £895bn QE, sell dud products, rarely prosecuted, closing branches, making mega profits but resent paying taxes.
No one voted to be ruled by banks.
Banks bailed out, given £895bn QE, sell dud products, rarely prosecuted, closing branches, making mega profits but resent paying taxes.
No one voted to be ruled by banks.