Tom Clark
@tom-clark.bsky.social
Contributing Editor at Prospect Magazine; Principal Editor at Resolution Foundation
Israel’s slide continues www.reuters.com/world/middle...
www.reuters.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Israel’s slide continues www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Must have missed the explosive row & resignations over the claim, wrongly made by many including here in the Telegraph last week, that this prematurely-released prisoner was an "asylum seeker"
uk.news.yahoo.com/prison-chief...
uk.news.yahoo.com/prison-chief...
Prison chiefs must face justice for such unbelievable ineptitude - Yahoo News UK
It’s happened again. A prisoner has been released by mistake. This time it’s understood to be Ibrahim Kaddour-Cherif, an Algerian asylum seeker with a record of committing sexual offences. He was rele...
uk.news.yahoo.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Must have missed the explosive row & resignations over the claim, wrongly made by many including here in the Telegraph last week, that this prematurely-released prisoner was an "asylum seeker"
uk.news.yahoo.com/prison-chief...
uk.news.yahoo.com/prison-chief...
Robbie Gibb wrote for @prospectmagazine.co.uk in 2020
He took on the cult of fact-checking
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/39780...
He took on the cult of fact-checking
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/39780...
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Robbie Gibb wrote for @prospectmagazine.co.uk in 2020
He took on the cult of fact-checking
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/39780...
He took on the cult of fact-checking
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/essays/39780...
Chancellor offers the first straightforward acknowledgement of the principled argument for abolishing the 2-child limit that we’ve had from Labour’s top brass since Starmer’s 2023 announcement that he wouldn’t change it
November 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Chancellor offers the first straightforward acknowledgement of the principled argument for abolishing the 2-child limit that we’ve had from Labour’s top brass since Starmer’s 2023 announcement that he wouldn’t change it
Last time: Took over a decade, between Hutton & Chilcot reports, for the big picture things the BBC was right about to be settled
This time: no need to wait. Trump already impeached for inciting J6. (Most US Senators voted to convict him, too, even if not quite the requisite majority)
This time: no need to wait. Trump already impeached for inciting J6. (Most US Senators voted to convict him, too, even if not quite the requisite majority)
Hutton report — The last time two BBC leaders resigned for warped editorialising on a point of detail in exposing a wider truth
After the Chilcot report some years later, it became tough to recall exactly which claim about “sexing up” the dossier had been wrong
After the Chilcot report some years later, it became tough to recall exactly which claim about “sexing up” the dossier had been wrong
November 10, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Last time: Took over a decade, between Hutton & Chilcot reports, for the big picture things the BBC was right about to be settled
This time: no need to wait. Trump already impeached for inciting J6. (Most US Senators voted to convict him, too, even if not quite the requisite majority)
This time: no need to wait. Trump already impeached for inciting J6. (Most US Senators voted to convict him, too, even if not quite the requisite majority)
Hutton report — The last time two BBC leaders resigned for warped editorialising on a point of detail in exposing a wider truth
After the Chilcot report some years later, it became tough to recall exactly which claim about “sexing up” the dossier had been wrong
After the Chilcot report some years later, it became tough to recall exactly which claim about “sexing up” the dossier had been wrong
November 10, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Hutton report — The last time two BBC leaders resigned for warped editorialising on a point of detail in exposing a wider truth
After the Chilcot report some years later, it became tough to recall exactly which claim about “sexing up” the dossier had been wrong
After the Chilcot report some years later, it became tough to recall exactly which claim about “sexing up” the dossier had been wrong
Unions down, wage share down
Thought-provoking chart from Sven Beckert’s monumental new history of Capitalism. (Calculated across multiple countries…)
Thought-provoking chart from Sven Beckert’s monumental new history of Capitalism. (Calculated across multiple countries…)
November 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Unions down, wage share down
Thought-provoking chart from Sven Beckert’s monumental new history of Capitalism. (Calculated across multiple countries…)
Thought-provoking chart from Sven Beckert’s monumental new history of Capitalism. (Calculated across multiple countries…)
Reposted by Tom Clark
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Seasonal colours come naturally to Violet the pet hen
November 8, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Seasonal colours come naturally to Violet the pet hen
So pleased someone’s written this piece
More tax on pricey property? Great!
But do it this crudely & could unravel
- Howls in plush provincial homes as bills DOUBLE while no rise for pricier places in London
- “my neighbour’s got one less room & suddenly I’m paying twice as much”
+ farmers?!
More tax on pricey property? Great!
But do it this crudely & could unravel
- Howls in plush provincial homes as bills DOUBLE while no rise for pricier places in London
- “my neighbour’s got one less room & suddenly I’m paying twice as much”
+ farmers?!
NEW: Reported plans to double tax rates on the top two council tax bands would cause huge distortions and unequal treatment between owners of expensive homes across England
One area where homes cost £500k would barely be touched
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
One area where homes cost £500k would barely be touched
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Why Council Tax Reform Is Fraught With Difficulty
New analysis shows why council tax reform is such a hard task for the government as it faces widespread calls for the system to be updated.
www.politicshome.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:52 AM
So pleased someone’s written this piece
More tax on pricey property? Great!
But do it this crudely & could unravel
- Howls in plush provincial homes as bills DOUBLE while no rise for pricier places in London
- “my neighbour’s got one less room & suddenly I’m paying twice as much”
+ farmers?!
More tax on pricey property? Great!
But do it this crudely & could unravel
- Howls in plush provincial homes as bills DOUBLE while no rise for pricier places in London
- “my neighbour’s got one less room & suddenly I’m paying twice as much”
+ farmers?!
“Message discipline” is liable to lapse into “thought indiscipline”
“Nobody thought a Labour government would have to raise taxes by more than £70bn,” claims one insider in this excellent piece. Shows the problem of the climate of fear in meetings created by some of Starmer’s aides, in that plenty of Labour insiders, did, in fact, think this!
The politics of breaking manifesto promises
The history of politicians who go back on their words has lessons for Rachel Reeves as she mulls raising taxes
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:43 AM
“Message discipline” is liable to lapse into “thought indiscipline”
As the Greens close in on Labour in the polls, the unprecedented Starmer experiment in dealing with the 'awkward Left' by outright banishment has been judged too dangerous to continue
Has the rethink come too late? Time will tell
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Has the rethink come too late? Time will tell
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Whip restored to Labour MPs who rebelled over welfare reforms
Chris Hinchliff says his focus remains on contributing to
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
As the Greens close in on Labour in the polls, the unprecedented Starmer experiment in dealing with the 'awkward Left' by outright banishment has been judged too dangerous to continue
Has the rethink come too late? Time will tell
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Has the rethink come too late? Time will tell
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
“Austerity” = the missing word in all the panic over failing prisons
November 6, 2025 at 7:16 AM
“Austerity” = the missing word in all the panic over failing prisons
A punchy (& for HMG chilling) riposte to suggestions that manifestos can be lightly shrugged off
But in a splintered politics - where “27% will do nicely” - there could yet be a narrow electoral case for persuading Lab’s bewildered public-sector base that it stands for something by raising tax
But in a splintered politics - where “27% will do nicely” - there could yet be a narrow electoral case for persuading Lab’s bewildered public-sector base that it stands for something by raising tax
There was a time Starmer/Reeves could made the argument to raise income taxes and VAT. There was even a moment they could have made the argument to break their manifesto pledge. It’s far too late. Now it would spell disaster for them and for politics. My latest👇
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Starmer and Reeves would destroy themselves with a manifesto break
There was a moment they could have broken their word. It's long gone.
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:16 AM
A punchy (& for HMG chilling) riposte to suggestions that manifestos can be lightly shrugged off
But in a splintered politics - where “27% will do nicely” - there could yet be a narrow electoral case for persuading Lab’s bewildered public-sector base that it stands for something by raising tax
But in a splintered politics - where “27% will do nicely” - there could yet be a narrow electoral case for persuading Lab’s bewildered public-sector base that it stands for something by raising tax
Reposted by Tom Clark
My first op-ed! What a day for it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I hope Rachel Reeves does raise income tax – there’s a way she can do it fairly | Ruth Curtice
The chancellor might need to break manifesto pledges and a 50-year taboo, but she has a chance to steer UK finances back on track, says Ruth Curtice of the Resolution Foundation
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:11 PM
My first op-ed! What a day for it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thread on the 4 looming Budget judgments
We start with the guessing game - what judgements will the Office for Budget Responsbility be making in their Economic and Fiscal Outlook?
November 4, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Thread on the 4 looming Budget judgments
A useful reality check on the culture wars c/o British Social Attitudes
(Immediately fed into the unreality machine…)
(Immediately fed into the unreality machine…)
Less than half of society sees diversity as a strength may imply a 49/51 split against.
Strengthens 49%
Weakens 28%
Little difference 23%
Strengthens 49%
Weakens 28%
Little difference 23%
November 3, 2025 at 7:42 PM
A useful reality check on the culture wars c/o British Social Attitudes
(Immediately fed into the unreality machine…)
(Immediately fed into the unreality machine…)
Amid many a silly “free speech” panic, here is a genuinely chilling case …
Sheffield Hallam professor accuses the institution of negotiating “directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sheffield Hallam professor accuses the institution of negotiating “directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show
Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Amid many a silly “free speech” panic, here is a genuinely chilling case …
Sheffield Hallam professor accuses the institution of negotiating “directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sheffield Hallam professor accuses the institution of negotiating “directly with a foreign intelligence service to trade my academic freedom for access to the Chinese student market”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Tom Clark
Local Housing Allowance rates have been realigned to market rents in just two of the last 13 years, and current Government policy is for these to remain frozen.
But this ongoing freeze means that the 'affordability gap' between LHA rates and local rents is set to reach record levels next year.
But this ongoing freeze means that the 'affordability gap' between LHA rates and local rents is set to reach record levels next year.
October 29, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Local Housing Allowance rates have been realigned to market rents in just two of the last 13 years, and current Government policy is for these to remain frozen.
But this ongoing freeze means that the 'affordability gap' between LHA rates and local rents is set to reach record levels next year.
But this ongoing freeze means that the 'affordability gap' between LHA rates and local rents is set to reach record levels next year.
Reposted by Tom Clark
Rare opportunity. We are currently recruiting for a member of our senior leadership team to take forward our work on productivity and growth. Do get in touch if interested. www.resolutionfoundation.org/about-us/opp...
Research Director • Resolution Foundation
The Resolution Foundation is looking for an exceptional candidate to help lead our research team. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Foundation’s senior leadership as we seek to turn around t...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
October 27, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Rare opportunity. We are currently recruiting for a member of our senior leadership team to take forward our work on productivity and growth. Do get in touch if interested. www.resolutionfoundation.org/about-us/opp...
Reposted by Tom Clark
Resolution Foundation and @adamcorlett.bsky.social doing excellent work here. More details in the FT story after. We've set up a system that creates an artificial bias against employment
Taxes on typical employees *aren’t* unusually high, on either a historical or international basis, but the bias against them is.
Read 🚨 new RF analysis 🚨 on the current state of personal taxation ⤵️ buff.ly/4ppe7Q8
Read 🚨 new RF analysis 🚨 on the current state of personal taxation ⤵️ buff.ly/4ppe7Q8
October 27, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Resolution Foundation and @adamcorlett.bsky.social doing excellent work here. More details in the FT story after. We've set up a system that creates an artificial bias against employment
Reposted by Tom Clark
Tom is correct. Turnout is always much lower among trade union levy-payers than party members - even electing their own general secretaries it can be 10% or less. I don't have the breakdown, but members had to join by 8 March to get a vote so current membership couldn't be derived even if I did.
October 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Tom is correct. Turnout is always much lower among trade union levy-payers than party members - even electing their own general secretaries it can be 10% or less. I don't have the breakdown, but members had to join by 8 March to get a vote so current membership couldn't be derived even if I did.
The reported “16% turnout” in Lab’s deputy leadership race is a % of a base dominated by members of affiliated unions
They generally don’t vote: in 2010 for the actual leadership affiliate turnout was 9%
web.archive.org/web/20170201...
They generally don’t vote: in 2010 for the actual leadership affiliate turnout was 9%
web.archive.org/web/20170201...
October 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
The reported “16% turnout” in Lab’s deputy leadership race is a % of a base dominated by members of affiliated unions
They generally don’t vote: in 2010 for the actual leadership affiliate turnout was 9%
web.archive.org/web/20170201...
They generally don’t vote: in 2010 for the actual leadership affiliate turnout was 9%
web.archive.org/web/20170201...
Reposted by Tom Clark
Creating whole new communities might just kindle the “ordinary hope” that Keir Starmer promised but has thus far failed to foster, writes @tom-clark.bsky.social.
Labour’s new towns and old dreams
Creating whole new communities might just kindle the “ordinary hope” that Keir Starmer promised but has thus far failed to foster
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
October 25, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Creating whole new communities might just kindle the “ordinary hope” that Keir Starmer promised but has thus far failed to foster, writes @tom-clark.bsky.social.