Sid Dipper
@siddipper.bsky.social
Former low grade HMRC worker, now taking time for Tiffin. Blog ("Excellent" Captain Swing 2023) at https://exofficerx.blogspot.com/
Reposted by Sid Dipper
When there's no access to NHS dentists, and 70% of the UK working population earn less than £30k pa (from HMRC stats)
This is awful. Levels of tooth decay among adults in England are now similar to those last seen more than 25 years ago, according to new figures
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
English teeth are worse than they have been for 25 years
Experts said the findings are ‘deeply alarming’
www.independent.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 11:18 AM
When there's no access to NHS dentists, and 70% of the UK working population earn less than £30k pa (from HMRC stats)
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Holding Govts to ransom
William Hill owner Evoke considers sale/breakup after budget tax rises.
Gambling companies do not bear the social cost of their operations. Society pays to deal with the mess.
William Hill owner holed up in Gibraltar to avoid UK taxes. No one forced it to borrow £1.82bn.
William Hill owner Evoke considers sale/breakup after budget tax rises.
Gambling companies do not bear the social cost of their operations. Society pays to deal with the mess.
William Hill owner holed up in Gibraltar to avoid UK taxes. No one forced it to borrow £1.82bn.
William Hill owner Evoke considers sale or breakup after budget tax rises
Value of heavily indebted company has plummeted more than 90% since it bought chain of 1,400 bookmakers
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Holding Govts to ransom
William Hill owner Evoke considers sale/breakup after budget tax rises.
Gambling companies do not bear the social cost of their operations. Society pays to deal with the mess.
William Hill owner holed up in Gibraltar to avoid UK taxes. No one forced it to borrow £1.82bn.
William Hill owner Evoke considers sale/breakup after budget tax rises.
Gambling companies do not bear the social cost of their operations. Society pays to deal with the mess.
William Hill owner holed up in Gibraltar to avoid UK taxes. No one forced it to borrow £1.82bn.
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Private hired guns
The secretive Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) – the anti-state, anti-climate pressure group – received £640,000+ from fossil fuel companies & Rupert Murdoch’s media conglomerate between 1957 and 2005.
The aim is to subvert public choices for the benefit of paymasters.
The secretive Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) – the anti-state, anti-climate pressure group – received £640,000+ from fossil fuel companies & Rupert Murdoch’s media conglomerate between 1957 and 2005.
The aim is to subvert public choices for the benefit of paymasters.
The Institute of Economic Affairs Banked £640,000 from Oil Giants and Murdoch
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) – the anti-state, anti-climate pressure group – received more than £640,000 from fossil fuel companies and Rupert Murdoch’s media conglomerate between 1957 and ...
www.desmog.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Private hired guns
The secretive Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) – the anti-state, anti-climate pressure group – received £640,000+ from fossil fuel companies & Rupert Murdoch’s media conglomerate between 1957 and 2005.
The aim is to subvert public choices for the benefit of paymasters.
The secretive Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) – the anti-state, anti-climate pressure group – received £640,000+ from fossil fuel companies & Rupert Murdoch’s media conglomerate between 1957 and 2005.
The aim is to subvert public choices for the benefit of paymasters.
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Corporate welfare is out of control.
One example - Drax produces electricity by burning trees, most expensive electricity, UK's biggest single polluter.
In 2024, Drax had £1.06bn operating profit, paid £100m dividend, £300m in share buyback.
Received billions in subsidies for decades. Why?
One example - Drax produces electricity by burning trees, most expensive electricity, UK's biggest single polluter.
In 2024, Drax had £1.06bn operating profit, paid £100m dividend, £300m in share buyback.
Received billions in subsidies for decades. Why?
December 11, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Corporate welfare is out of control.
One example - Drax produces electricity by burning trees, most expensive electricity, UK's biggest single polluter.
In 2024, Drax had £1.06bn operating profit, paid £100m dividend, £300m in share buyback.
Received billions in subsidies for decades. Why?
One example - Drax produces electricity by burning trees, most expensive electricity, UK's biggest single polluter.
In 2024, Drax had £1.06bn operating profit, paid £100m dividend, £300m in share buyback.
Received billions in subsidies for decades. Why?
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Morning! Next in my week of dusk shots from Exeter Quay is this classic view of the bridge over the Exe, reflected in the river. It combines two of my favourite things: blue hour light and reflections. Hope you like it as much as I enjoyed shooting it!
December 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Morning! Next in my week of dusk shots from Exeter Quay is this classic view of the bridge over the Exe, reflected in the river. It combines two of my favourite things: blue hour light and reflections. Hope you like it as much as I enjoyed shooting it!
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Morning! Finally on my week of photos from dusk at Exeter Quay is another bue hour reflection shot - this time looking down river from the Quay towards Topsham Brewery. It's my favourite photo of the week - I hope you agree!
December 12, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Morning! Finally on my week of photos from dusk at Exeter Quay is another bue hour reflection shot - this time looking down river from the Quay towards Topsham Brewery. It's my favourite photo of the week - I hope you agree!
Reposted by Sid Dipper
If every country is in debt, where's the money? youtu.be/Ki8QUa3oVF0?...
If every country is in debt, where's the money?
YouTube video by Richard J Murphy
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 7:08 AM
If every country is in debt, where's the money? youtu.be/Ki8QUa3oVF0?...
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Truly embarrassing
To the New York Times, a constitutional provision is just something that's "traditional."
December 12, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Truly embarrassing
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Terrific column by John Crace, filleting the complicity and cowardice of our political class who go into hiding whenever Donald Trump and his administration say or do something that needs to be called out in defence of our values and our democracy.
#r4today
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
#r4today
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Trump wants to destabilise European democracy. Where on earth is parliament? | John Crace
You’d think MPs would be lining up to decry the US president’s support for far-right nationalists. Instead, only backbenchers and a few junior ministers bothered to turn up
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Terrific column by John Crace, filleting the complicity and cowardice of our political class who go into hiding whenever Donald Trump and his administration say or do something that needs to be called out in defence of our values and our democracy.
#r4today
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
#r4today
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Sid Dipper
This is really incredible. The government's battle to deport Abrego Garcia has apparently been based on a lie from the start. Not even the "gang affiliation" lie or the "human smuggling" lie, but the more basic assertion that he was ordered to be deported in the first place.
🚨Judge Xinis finds that, incredibly, Mr. Abrego Garcia was never ordered deported in 2019. She notes that every since this saga began all the way back in March, the government has NEVER been able to produce any evidence that the immigration judge actually issued a removal order.
December 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This is really incredible. The government's battle to deport Abrego Garcia has apparently been based on a lie from the start. Not even the "gang affiliation" lie or the "human smuggling" lie, but the more basic assertion that he was ordered to be deported in the first place.
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Labour plans to take money away from our NHS and give it to US companies to boost their profits - and they are doing it all just to please Trump
Write to your MP and demand that they speak up against this
Write to your MP and demand that they speak up against this
The government say its deal to pay big pharma even higher prices won’t damage the NHS. But here's the reality 👇🏽
December 11, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Labour plans to take money away from our NHS and give it to US companies to boost their profits - and they are doing it all just to please Trump
Write to your MP and demand that they speak up against this
Write to your MP and demand that they speak up against this
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Ramirez to Noem: "You lied on the record and you lied to members of this committee. You violated court orders by not turning around deportation flights bound for El Salvador where we know that hundreds of people under your leadership reported they were raped, beaten, and nearly died."
December 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Ramirez to Noem: "You lied on the record and you lied to members of this committee. You violated court orders by not turning around deportation flights bound for El Salvador where we know that hundreds of people under your leadership reported they were raped, beaten, and nearly died."
Reposted by Sid Dipper
I am torn, as certainly it's something of a contributor to public society than pure tax dodging and it lasts longer in a sense. But it's also giving away something that was probably unwanted anyway, is very London-centric and invests little into our people
December 11, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I am torn, as certainly it's something of a contributor to public society than pure tax dodging and it lasts longer in a sense. But it's also giving away something that was probably unwanted anyway, is very London-centric and invests little into our people
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Former Tory MP Ben Bradley has now defected to Reform. They really are taking all the worst people from the Boris era.
December 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Former Tory MP Ben Bradley has now defected to Reform. They really are taking all the worst people from the Boris era.
Reposted by Sid Dipper
🔴Grenfell Fire: Up to a Million People Still Living in Tower Blocks With Flammable Cladding Eight Years Later
A damning report by peers blames failings by regulators and the building industry to live up to the promises made to grieving families
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/11/g...
A damning report by peers blames failings by regulators and the building industry to live up to the promises made to grieving families
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/11/g...
Grenfell Fire: Up to a Million People Still Living in Tower Blocks With Flammable Cladding Eight Years Later
A damning report by peers blames failings by regulators and the building industry to live up to the promises made to grieving families
bylinetimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
🔴Grenfell Fire: Up to a Million People Still Living in Tower Blocks With Flammable Cladding Eight Years Later
A damning report by peers blames failings by regulators and the building industry to live up to the promises made to grieving families
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/11/g...
A damning report by peers blames failings by regulators and the building industry to live up to the promises made to grieving families
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/11/g...
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Reposted by Sid Dipper
For friends in the U.S., this is about the same as if the EU decided to pull apart the United States by actively supporting every loon in California, Texas, and any other state with any interest of leaving the union. Both overtly and covertly.
It is what you do to enemies.
It is what you do to enemies.
Apparently it can always get worse. The full version of the new U.S. National Security Strategy, aptly named “NSC-1488” by the wags, calls for actively pulling Poland, Austria, Hungary and Italy from the #EU. And supporting far right.
US sides with Putin.
notesfrompoland.com/2025/12/10/f...
US sides with Putin.
notesfrompoland.com/2025/12/10/f...
Fuller version of Trump security strategy reportedly calls for "pulling Poland away from EU"
notesfrompoland.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:15 AM
For friends in the U.S., this is about the same as if the EU decided to pull apart the United States by actively supporting every loon in California, Texas, and any other state with any interest of leaving the union. Both overtly and covertly.
It is what you do to enemies.
It is what you do to enemies.
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Martin Parr, absolute mensch.
From Colin Wilkinson, founder of Bluecoat Press, on FB
From Colin Wilkinson, founder of Bluecoat Press, on FB
December 11, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Martin Parr, absolute mensch.
From Colin Wilkinson, founder of Bluecoat Press, on FB
From Colin Wilkinson, founder of Bluecoat Press, on FB
Reposted by Sid Dipper
The New York Times is an enemy of the people and "we should do something about it", says Trump, arguing that reporting his obvious decline may be treason.
He's not inciting violence against the NYT, just as he didn't incite an insurrection and didn't commit treason by referring to 'Sleepy Joe'.
He's not inciting violence against the NYT, just as he didn't incite an insurrection and didn't commit treason by referring to 'Sleepy Joe'.
December 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The New York Times is an enemy of the people and "we should do something about it", says Trump, arguing that reporting his obvious decline may be treason.
He's not inciting violence against the NYT, just as he didn't incite an insurrection and didn't commit treason by referring to 'Sleepy Joe'.
He's not inciting violence against the NYT, just as he didn't incite an insurrection and didn't commit treason by referring to 'Sleepy Joe'.
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Taliban takes dim view of peaky blinders: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Taliban warn Afghans who wore 'un-Islamic' Peaky Blinders outfits
The friends were warned their clothing was
www.bbc.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Taliban takes dim view of peaky blinders: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Amazon is making money off AI copies of books - and putting the onus on authors to prove they’ve been plagiarised.
Honestly, just stop buying books from Amazon. Get them from an actual bookshop or order them from a reputable book supplier like bookshop.org
www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Honestly, just stop buying books from Amazon. Get them from an actual bookshop or order them from a reputable book supplier like bookshop.org
www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Amazon Is the World's Biggest Online Book Marketplace. It's Filled With AI Knockoffs
Authors say Amazon's knockoff book problem is leaving them frustrated — and making the internet worse in the process.
www.rollingstone.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Amazon is making money off AI copies of books - and putting the onus on authors to prove they’ve been plagiarised.
Honestly, just stop buying books from Amazon. Get them from an actual bookshop or order them from a reputable book supplier like bookshop.org
www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Honestly, just stop buying books from Amazon. Get them from an actual bookshop or order them from a reputable book supplier like bookshop.org
www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Reposted by Sid Dipper
#SomeGoodNews A former Dyson engineer is rolling out a revolution for household chores in deprived communities after inventing an off-grid, flat-packable washing machine.
The Divya washing machine operates a 30-min wash cycle where it completes a 5kg load needing only a few minutes of manual turning
The Divya washing machine operates a 30-min wash cycle where it completes a 5kg load needing only a few minutes of manual turning
Flat-pack washing machine spins a fairer future
A former Dyson engineer is rolling out a revolution for household chores in deprived communities after inventing an off-grid washing machine
www.positive.news
December 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
#SomeGoodNews A former Dyson engineer is rolling out a revolution for household chores in deprived communities after inventing an off-grid, flat-packable washing machine.
The Divya washing machine operates a 30-min wash cycle where it completes a 5kg load needing only a few minutes of manual turning
The Divya washing machine operates a 30-min wash cycle where it completes a 5kg load needing only a few minutes of manual turning
Reposted by Sid Dipper
Remind me what the definition of hypocrisy is. It wouldn’t be Richard Tice by any chance would it?
December 10, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Remind me what the definition of hypocrisy is. It wouldn’t be Richard Tice by any chance would it?
Reposted by Sid Dipper
And no one is the least bit surprised.
'Earlier this year, the World Travel & Tourism Council said the US was the only one of 184 economies that it analysed that was expected to see a decline in international visitor spending in 2025.'
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'Earlier this year, the World Travel & Tourism Council said the US was the only one of 184 economies that it analysed that was expected to see a decline in international visitor spending in 2025.'
www.bbc.com/news/article...
US could ask tourists for five-year social media history before entry
The plan would affect people from countries, including the UK, which can fill out a form in lieu of a visa.
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
And no one is the least bit surprised.
'Earlier this year, the World Travel & Tourism Council said the US was the only one of 184 economies that it analysed that was expected to see a decline in international visitor spending in 2025.'
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'Earlier this year, the World Travel & Tourism Council said the US was the only one of 184 economies that it analysed that was expected to see a decline in international visitor spending in 2025.'
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Sid Dipper
It's the same denialism you see amongst the Brexiteers who pretended we could be buccaneering, global Britain, when that makes absolutely no sense in a world of Great Power conflict.
December 7, 2025 at 11:06 PM
It's the same denialism you see amongst the Brexiteers who pretended we could be buccaneering, global Britain, when that makes absolutely no sense in a world of Great Power conflict.