Space Yak
@spaceyak.bsky.social
Continuity Corbyn hipster analyst. He/him
I really don't get the obsession with not raising income tax, it's nowhere near as unpopular as they think it is.
November 14, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I really don't get the obsession with not raising income tax, it's nowhere near as unpopular as they think it is.
So, there were more strikes in the 70s but the press massively exaggerated the extent of them. Infrastructure was well maintained, industry was struggling but the decline didn't happen until the 80s.
Also the average working person was quite a lot better off (a side effect of those strikes).
Also the average working person was quite a lot better off (a side effect of those strikes).
Ah the 1970s.
Stagflation, three day weeks, collapsing infrastructure. Civil War in Northern Ireland. In yer face racism and bigotry everywhere. Bin strikes. Strikes in general. Blackouts. Industrial decline. Wage inequality. Dog crap everywhere. And households spent 25% of their income on food.
Stagflation, three day weeks, collapsing infrastructure. Civil War in Northern Ireland. In yer face racism and bigotry everywhere. Bin strikes. Strikes in general. Blackouts. Industrial decline. Wage inequality. Dog crap everywhere. And households spent 25% of their income on food.
November 14, 2025 at 9:32 AM
So, there were more strikes in the 70s but the press massively exaggerated the extent of them. Infrastructure was well maintained, industry was struggling but the decline didn't happen until the 80s.
Also the average working person was quite a lot better off (a side effect of those strikes).
Also the average working person was quite a lot better off (a side effect of those strikes).
Feel like everyone hates Streeting apart from a very small clique of people, all of whom have newspaper columns.
November 13, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Feel like everyone hates Streeting apart from a very small clique of people, all of whom have newspaper columns.
Definitely where I've come to on this. Stop worrying about rich people getting a few quid in benefits and just claw it back through the tax system.
This is basically the biggest thing I have changed my mind on in adult life. Having been raised in a Land Of Plenty soc dem, I was convinced of the 'insane subsidy to the rich' case for means testing until I came over here, saw the alternative, and I am now an Universal Coverage absolutist
The UK just has incredible attention to detail when it comes to making sure the people who pay all the taxes can’t have nice things. Child benefit? No. Free Child car? No. Cut price bike to cycle to work? No.
Functionally we are telling people they pay too much tax to get anything from the state.
Functionally we are telling people they pay too much tax to get anything from the state.
November 13, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Definitely where I've come to on this. Stop worrying about rich people getting a few quid in benefits and just claw it back through the tax system.
Reposted by Space Yak
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
My question here is why they mention an AI tool? Surely the bigger question is "What data are they looking at exactly?"
The British government admits it is now monitoring VPNs use by UK residents. Regulator Ofcom has contracted with an AI-powered surveillance service to detect the number of citizens using VPNs to evade the Online Safety Act.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
The UK tech minister has said a VPN ban is on the table.
Exclusive: Ofcom is monitoring VPNs following Online Safety Act. Here's how
Ignoring VPNs risks creating ineffective laws, but tracking them threatens people's privacy
www.techradar.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:44 AM
My question here is why they mention an AI tool? Surely the bigger question is "What data are they looking at exactly?"
Reposted by Space Yak
In Britain, it is now 100% acceptable to label Palestinian existence as "Jew Hate".
I thank my MP @stellacreasy.bsky.social and the Labour party for diligently working to completely invert racism into antiracism and to redefine Jewishness as a mandatory white supremacy that will lead to fascism.🎉
I thank my MP @stellacreasy.bsky.social and the Labour party for diligently working to completely invert racism into antiracism and to redefine Jewishness as a mandatory white supremacy that will lead to fascism.🎉
November 11, 2025 at 1:06 PM
In Britain, it is now 100% acceptable to label Palestinian existence as "Jew Hate".
I thank my MP @stellacreasy.bsky.social and the Labour party for diligently working to completely invert racism into antiracism and to redefine Jewishness as a mandatory white supremacy that will lead to fascism.🎉
I thank my MP @stellacreasy.bsky.social and the Labour party for diligently working to completely invert racism into antiracism and to redefine Jewishness as a mandatory white supremacy that will lead to fascism.🎉
Reposted by Space Yak
It’s not surprising that unemployment has risen - it’s the intended consequence of the Bank of England’s sustained high interest rates.
What’s important is that people who are out of work or who can’t work because of ill-health aren’t punished as a result. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What’s important is that people who are out of work or who can’t work because of ill-health aren’t punished as a result. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK unemployment rate rises to 5% as jobs market weakens
Latest official data ahead of the Budget later this month shows it is the highest rate since 2021.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 11:48 AM
It’s not surprising that unemployment has risen - it’s the intended consequence of the Bank of England’s sustained high interest rates.
What’s important is that people who are out of work or who can’t work because of ill-health aren’t punished as a result. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What’s important is that people who are out of work or who can’t work because of ill-health aren’t punished as a result. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Space Yak
A surprisingly bad set of labour market stats this morning. The story I was prepared for was "some weakening, but the shake out from the early part of the year is behind us". But it's worse than that - payroll jobs falling again, unemployment now up at 5%.
Here is our PN
Here is our PN
November 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
A surprisingly bad set of labour market stats this morning. The story I was prepared for was "some weakening, but the shake out from the early part of the year is behind us". But it's worse than that - payroll jobs falling again, unemployment now up at 5%.
Here is our PN
Here is our PN
The right realised long ago that engaging in a bad faith perma tantrum about the BBC being too left wing had absolutely zero drawbacks for them.
November 10, 2025 at 11:38 AM
The right realised long ago that engaging in a bad faith perma tantrum about the BBC being too left wing had absolutely zero drawbacks for them.
This government continues to make some incredibly bad decisions.
Govt scraps all electrification investment. Midland Main Line to stay forever diesel Leicester Nottingham Derby Sheffield. Hugely embarrassing and inexplicable
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’
Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2
www.ft.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:22 AM
This government continues to make some incredibly bad decisions.
One of the justifications for tax cuts for the rich is that it makes more money available for investment.
I'm amazed that we don't consider the effect endless tax cuts for the rich have played in creating the asset bubble bullshit economy we're now all stuck with.
I'm amazed that we don't consider the effect endless tax cuts for the rich have played in creating the asset bubble bullshit economy we're now all stuck with.
November 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM
One of the justifications for tax cuts for the rich is that it makes more money available for investment.
I'm amazed that we don't consider the effect endless tax cuts for the rich have played in creating the asset bubble bullshit economy we're now all stuck with.
I'm amazed that we don't consider the effect endless tax cuts for the rich have played in creating the asset bubble bullshit economy we're now all stuck with.
Your Party has evidently become a slow motion car crash, I didn't want it to be this way, but that's clearly how it turned out, and really the YP people have no one to blame but themselves.
November 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Your Party has evidently become a slow motion car crash, I didn't want it to be this way, but that's clearly how it turned out, and really the YP people have no one to blame but themselves.
I have this thing where when I instinctively think I can touch type but I can't. I always end up typing gibberish because I'm a few keys out in certain places.
November 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I have this thing where when I instinctively think I can touch type but I can't. I always end up typing gibberish because I'm a few keys out in certain places.
Reposted by Space Yak
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
He said that the agents would throw food at them to eat. The agents threatened to withhold food for a week and to beat him up if he didn't sign deportation papers. He said he saw others refuse and get beaten/receive no food. He signed because he was afraid.
November 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
Reposted by Space Yak
You're telling me that there's a black ichor under the earth, made from the ancient dead, whose burning can realize all the dreams of man but only at the price of slowly returning the earth to its primordial state?
November 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
You're telling me that there's a black ichor under the earth, made from the ancient dead, whose burning can realize all the dreams of man but only at the price of slowly returning the earth to its primordial state?
Have people seen what it costs at to charge at motorway charging stations? It's more expensive than petrol.
Reeves set to unveil plan for EV drivers to pay per mile charges at Budget on.ft.com/4qLCd7z
Reeves set to unveil plan for EV drivers to pay per mile charges at Budget
Chancellor looks to offset a forecast sharp drop in government revenue from fuel duty
on.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Have people seen what it costs at to charge at motorway charging stations? It's more expensive than petrol.
Reposted by Space Yak
i think i'm the only one who realizes THAT polanski is 92 years old
November 5, 2025 at 9:17 AM
i think i'm the only one who realizes THAT polanski is 92 years old
Reposted by Space Yak
this is an obvious overcorrection that misleads the polling data and will lead to disaster in the Heartland. the results of tonight show that the Democrats should moderate: adopting two or at most three of the five pillars of Islam
if democrats are serious about winning they need to learn from tonight and convert to islam
November 5, 2025 at 3:00 AM
this is an obvious overcorrection that misleads the polling data and will lead to disaster in the Heartland. the results of tonight show that the Democrats should moderate: adopting two or at most three of the five pillars of Islam
One thing I remember around this time is that then Prime Minister Gordon Brown wanted stimulus but was opposed by his Chancellor Alistair Darling.
Over the next few years Darling was lauded as the face of sensible economic policymaking. It's amazing how wrong that consensus was.
Over the next few years Darling was lauded as the face of sensible economic policymaking. It's amazing how wrong that consensus was.
The "consensus" in 2010 was that our economy was on the verge of collapse, we were at the mercy of "bond vigilantes", & it would be crazy to borrow money at 0 interest rates. Instead the "consensus" was that we needed austerity.
That "consensus" was wrong & no-one has been held accountable.
That "consensus" was wrong & no-one has been held accountable.
November 4, 2025 at 2:13 PM
One thing I remember around this time is that then Prime Minister Gordon Brown wanted stimulus but was opposed by his Chancellor Alistair Darling.
Over the next few years Darling was lauded as the face of sensible economic policymaking. It's amazing how wrong that consensus was.
Over the next few years Darling was lauded as the face of sensible economic policymaking. It's amazing how wrong that consensus was.
Youngest is at the "Crawling and grabbing anything interesting" stage. My glasses are a current favourite target.
October 31, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Youngest is at the "Crawling and grabbing anything interesting" stage. My glasses are a current favourite target.
So many good points in this thread. It's absolutely absurd that we're doing quantitative tightening right now.
Labour government preparing to hike income taxes - blaming bond markets.
not one adult in the room will say the obvious:
1. Britain's fiscal rules are shambles
2. Bank of England has too much power over fiscal decisions
3. ignore bond vigilantes
www.ft.com/content/5c8f...
not one adult in the room will say the obvious:
1. Britain's fiscal rules are shambles
2. Bank of England has too much power over fiscal decisions
3. ignore bond vigilantes
www.ft.com/content/5c8f...
Keir Starmer puts Labour MPs on notice for Budget tax rises
Prime minister declines to rule out higher income taxes as Treasury lays foundations for bigger fiscal buffer
www.ft.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:42 AM
So many good points in this thread. It's absolutely absurd that we're doing quantitative tightening right now.
Reposted by Space Yak
The BBC is absolutely riddled with small but cumulatively meaningful decisions like this, and once you notice them you can't stop, and it drives you insane.
Wikipedia says Shaheen is an academic. BBCQT implies you can’t trust what she says b/c she’s an ‘activist’. Someone who Wikipedia calls ‘a former academic’ who now campaigns for Reform & wants to be its first Home Secretary is an ‘academic & author’ who you can trust. Maybe they use Grokipedia now.
October 30, 2025 at 10:04 AM
The BBC is absolutely riddled with small but cumulatively meaningful decisions like this, and once you notice them you can't stop, and it drives you insane.