TPC
@tompc.bsky.social
Both are nominally obligated to join the eurozone, but they would first need to join ERM-II to satisfy euro area accession criteria, and there's no means of compelling them to do that. No-one's being forced to join the euro area any time soon.
December 3, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Both are nominally obligated to join the eurozone, but they would first need to join ERM-II to satisfy euro area accession criteria, and there's no means of compelling them to do that. No-one's being forced to join the euro area any time soon.
Hard to believe we'd join schengen while Ireland has its opt-out. Similarly, if Sweden, Poland etc haven't adopted the euro, by what mechanism would the UK have to?
December 3, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Hard to believe we'd join schengen while Ireland has its opt-out. Similarly, if Sweden, Poland etc haven't adopted the euro, by what mechanism would the UK have to?
This is like something out of the Klan. Awful.
November 4, 2025 at 6:53 PM
This is like something out of the Klan. Awful.
I've always wondered if it would make sense for universities themselves to publish their academics' research, and for journals to function as aggregators.
October 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I've always wondered if it would make sense for universities themselves to publish their academics' research, and for journals to function as aggregators.
Not if you read around for more than five minutes? Simply googling "stamp duty trust" gives you the right Gov article. I can't see how she has any reasonable excuse here, and doubt that you or I would've been caught out as she has.
September 5, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Not if you read around for more than five minutes? Simply googling "stamp duty trust" gives you the right Gov article. I can't see how she has any reasonable excuse here, and doubt that you or I would've been caught out as she has.
I've shared the relevant section of the Gov site below. On reflection, I don't know how the conveyancer managed to miss this given that it's there in black and white. www.gov.uk/guidance/sta...
gov.uk
September 5, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I've shared the relevant section of the Gov site below. On reflection, I don't know how the conveyancer managed to miss this given that it's there in black and white. www.gov.uk/guidance/sta...
As you say, it's clear that she's not set out to evade tax. She should however have known that as a minister in a government that was elected in part because of their focus on clean politics, that she would be held to the very highest standards of public life. She could've afforded expert advice.
September 5, 2025 at 2:51 PM
As you say, it's clear that she's not set out to evade tax. She should however have known that as a minister in a government that was elected in part because of their focus on clean politics, that she would be held to the very highest standards of public life. She could've afforded expert advice.
It's self-evident that she should've known, given that she has just resigned after the adviser on ministerial standards confirmed that her course of action broke the ministerial code. She is not an unsophisticated woman and is not without means; she could've afforded appropriate advice.
September 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
It's self-evident that she should've known, given that she has just resigned after the adviser on ministerial standards confirmed that her course of action broke the ministerial code. She is not an unsophisticated woman and is not without means; she could've afforded appropriate advice.
But that's exactly the point - she knew, or should have known, that her situation was really complicated, and was happy to just bob along with her conveyancer's non-advice.
September 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
But that's exactly the point - she knew, or should have known, that her situation was really complicated, and was happy to just bob along with her conveyancer's non-advice.
Most people don't have trust arrangements as complex as she knew hers to be. She plainly did not seek advice appropriate for her situation, and likely thought she'd take a chance based on the non-expert advice she got.
September 5, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Most people don't have trust arrangements as complex as she knew hers to be. She plainly did not seek advice appropriate for her situation, and likely thought she'd take a chance based on the non-expert advice she got.
Haneke is Austrian, but The White Ribbon is both remarkable and very German. Downfall also excellent. The Wave is also good, and I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned.
August 18, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Haneke is Austrian, but The White Ribbon is both remarkable and very German. Downfall also excellent. The Wave is also good, and I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned.
School achievement is much better amongst most non-white ethnic minorities. The very best universities will have a lot of input from private schools, which will skew white www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/education-sk...
GCSE results (Attainment 8)
In the 2022 to 2023 school year, pupils from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest Attainment 8 score out of all ethnic groups (65.5 out of 90.0).
www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk
July 16, 2025 at 8:21 PM
School achievement is much better amongst most non-white ethnic minorities. The very best universities will have a lot of input from private schools, which will skew white www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/education-sk...
Having both free movement with the EEA and low(ish) net migration would mean high barriers to RoW migration, which may not prove particularly popular.
May 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Having both free movement with the EEA and low(ish) net migration would mean high barriers to RoW migration, which may not prove particularly popular.
I can't believe joining the single market wouldn't polarise public opinion just as much as membership once it was understood that it would mean both the free movement of people and that we would not have seats in the European Parliament or the Council.
May 20, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I can't believe joining the single market wouldn't polarise public opinion just as much as membership once it was understood that it would mean both the free movement of people and that we would not have seats in the European Parliament or the Council.
What's wrong with Party List PR?
May 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
What's wrong with Party List PR?
It is an episode of Black Mirror! S1E2 - Fifteen Million Merits. This company may even be grimmer than fiction though.
May 2, 2025 at 9:52 AM
It is an episode of Black Mirror! S1E2 - Fifteen Million Merits. This company may even be grimmer than fiction though.
Your book looks really interesting; are there any plans for an audiobook version?
April 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Your book looks really interesting; are there any plans for an audiobook version?
We had also been looking forward to going from 15hrs to 30hrs in Sept 25, but our nursery have already said that they're unlikely to be able to afford to offer 30hrs cover under the latest statutory guidance.
March 1, 2025 at 7:39 PM
We had also been looking forward to going from 15hrs to 30hrs in Sept 25, but our nursery have already said that they're unlikely to be able to afford to offer 30hrs cover under the latest statutory guidance.
Indeed, but I don't think many trust chief execs would turn down the opportunity to run—diminished as it now may be—NHSE.
I've heard only good things about him myself. Odds the interim appointment becomes permanent?
I've heard only good things about him myself. Odds the interim appointment becomes permanent?
February 25, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Indeed, but I don't think many trust chief execs would turn down the opportunity to run—diminished as it now may be—NHSE.
I've heard only good things about him myself. Odds the interim appointment becomes permanent?
I've heard only good things about him myself. Odds the interim appointment becomes permanent?
What do you think of Big Jim?
February 25, 2025 at 10:37 PM
What do you think of Big Jim?
Not to mention those who failed it but nonetheless may now be resident docs in ST programmes.
February 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Not to mention those who failed it but nonetheless may now be resident docs in ST programmes.
Interesting! It does feel as if that whole area will develop quite nicely once the flats opposite are finished. Nice to see that there's a decent number of Dartfordians on here too!
January 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Interesting! It does feel as if that whole area will develop quite nicely once the flats opposite are finished. Nice to see that there's a decent number of Dartfordians on here too!
No worries :). I don't know about the one off the high street either - always feels a bit unoccupied to me
January 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
No worries :). I don't know about the one off the high street either - always feels a bit unoccupied to me
I know - I was just saying that the almshouse on the right is also indeed an almshouse
January 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I know - I was just saying that the almshouse on the right is also indeed an almshouse