The upshot of all this: people paying basic rate tax saw significant tax cuts 2010 to 2019, and a small (but real) tax increase since 2019. People paying higher rate (or drawn into the higher rate) saw a much more significant tax increase.

X is a radicalisation machine that pushes people into angry extremism, peddles disinformation and conspiracy theories and is run by an egomaniacal lunatic who threatens civil war on our streets and wants to trash our democracy. It does nothing but harm. So, yes. Government should stop using it.

A family court judge has expressed his concern after a council agreed to pay an "astronomical" £289,000 for one child to attend a specialist placement for 17 weeks.

To my Labour friends, let’s get on the front foot. Trump is about to be defenestrated. Farage will go down with him We need Alistair Campbell in our armoury, what we have currently is shite in comparison. Let’s get positive about our country.

Who's on Substack? I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already. Come join me: substack.com/@robwords

Latest @theguardian.com cartoon #COP30 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

People still claim Labour do nothing to help our armed forces & veterans. But that is not true. To mark the launch of the government's new Veterans Strategy, here is veterans minister Louise Sandher-Jones telling you what it is all about & how it's a joined up approach to helping veterans.

⚠️ BREAKING NEWS: After Tim Davies’ Departure - BBC Announces New Blueprint For Future. 👇🏻 Please share this vital update with the hashtag #BrokenNews youtu.be/1tFQmeyxH2s?...

I’m surprised Davie has resigned over that Panorama edit (seems like a bit of a nothingburger to me) but I’m glad he’s gone. On his watch the BBC simply gave up the ghost on factual documentary TV, and decided the best way to serve its audience was to patronise it. 1/2

A day mostly of remembrance and respect, but also having abuse screamed at me by people who apparently think using foul language at a remembrance service (and in front of small children) makes them the best patriots ever.

the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever

Well, well, well www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...

When I see a headline like this “UK military to help protect Belgium after drone incursions” My thought process is👇🏼 Russia ➡️ Reform ➡️ Former head of Wales prosecuted as Russian Stooge ➡️ Farage Putin fan defended invasion of Ukraine ➡️ Paid to appear on Russian TV & met Ambassador 🟰#ReformTraitors

Honoured to join the Houghton parade on Remembrance Sunday. Today we remember all who served and sacrificed for our freedom. We will remember them.

Alongside the British war dead, especially my own family members, this Remembrance Sunday I shall remember all American liberators but especially these African-American liberators.

A great thread from Emma, drivel-debunker extraordinaire

What I want to know about Polanski is who is funding him. He has no job. He’s not an MP. Where is his money coming from? www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/w...

The signs from Australia (their worst flu season on record), Japan (where they’ve had to close schools) and India indicate that this could be a long, drawn out flu season here with hospitals at capacity If you haven’t had your flu vax get it Covid as well if possible inews.co.uk/news/doctors...

Hah great imagery and close to the truth I reckon 👌🏼

How ever since Labour came to power, the British media has started to notice a whole series of problems they spent the previous 14 years completely ignoring www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...

Did you know that our Labour government are delivering the biggest boost to social housing in a generation? The sad thing is me and you did but its not cutting through. I've seen a poll with Labour in 4th. This is not good. A much better media strategy is required

Did you know that our Labour government are delivering the biggest boost to social housing in a generation? £39bn investment committed so far. Isn't that what you all wanted to see? It's the difference a Labour government makes!

Chris Mason is what happens when a Hospital Radio DJ, whose sole qualification appears to be a sort of soporific inoffensiveness, is somehow promoted to BBC Politics Editor - a position that demands unflinching insight, objectivity, and sharpness. It's like a puddle trying to be the ocean.

Good news bravo Labour 👏🏼👏🏼👌🏼 Govt recovers £74m from asylum hotel firms, of tax money the Tories let slip through their greasy hands to profiteers But it’s not long before the reporter disses the achievement highlighting any negative they can, ignoring the fact that the previous Govt recovered zero❗️

About 30% of the UK population at present if they called a radio station theexplodingheads.wordpress.com need to sign up here www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHKS...

I've just had a Green supporter suggest to me that this Government is worse than Reform, because Reform haven't "supported a genocide". This is exactly the sort of astronomically stupid take that contributed to Harris losing in the US. And one that many who've had their rights stripped away, regret.

This is what is happening. It is cynical. It is strategic. It is organised. It is well funded. And we need to pay attention. The far right - and their cheerleaders, mimics, tribute acts, and handmaidens have identified two presentational frameworks that give them cut-through and traction. 1/7

I respect her view, and understand her point about trust, but I really do not see how Reeves has any other choice. A wealth tax could work as a recognition of inequality, but won't fix the fiscal gap on its own. The choice is: broad based tax rises or spending cuts. inews.co.uk/news/politic...

❓ "In my experience, most people do not share overtly racist social media posts; they do not have criminal records for people smuggling or involvement in racist crimes." "Our reporters have found key flag raisers with these kinds of CVs." https://manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-raised-the-flags/

Not sure who will win out in the New York mayoralty, but I'm hearing some *very* confident noises from Susan Hall's team.

"He wasn’t even wearing a poppy!” <sprays tea everywhere>

NAZI HIPPIES!!!!! No really. George Monbiot is useless at economics but this is an eye opening article They grab Lefty Hippies with Vaccine Hesitancy and drag them to NAZI HIPPY. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

✋🏾 Five good things you may have missed that the Labour government delivered last week… 🌹

Godfrey is at again….now at Union Station in DC doing his Trump impression for the troops 🤣💀

The party who claim to be patriots literally had a Reform leadership member caught red handed taking bribes from Russia. This article details the speeches Nathan Gill gave that he was paid to give. How are Reform getting away with this? www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

This from @lewisgoodall.com

I would love to ask the new editor of Question Time how booking Goodwin, an extreme racist who openly fosters division and civil unrest, fits into his vision of “community and shared expression”

Well this is going to challenge a few people's narratives: forward.com/fast-forward...

The last 24 hours have shown us what Britain is truly up against: a small phalanx of hatemongers who despise Britain so much they want to drag it down into the same filth they live in.

The problem with diagnosing "the electorate have unreasonable expectations around tax and spend" is that those expectations did not develop in a vacuum. They are the product of decades of politicians and the media telling them they can have x services with y tax levels, or not contradicting it.

Carried out the largest crackdown on illegal workers in British history. That's national renewal.

Action not words. This week Labour have: Secured 20,000 jobs across our country through our deal with Türkiye. Strengthened renters’ rights through Awaab’s Law. Increased support for 6 million households by extending the Warm Home Discount.

@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social More lies and nonsense exposed www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Oh my god, he carried out his attacks in Sefton, but it seems he’s from Skem. Paedophile who filmed rape of two girls boasted about 'worst sex crimes imaginable' www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpo...

Nigel Farage's Halloween Horror 🎃

Ohhh this does get my goat up.. after it’s proven that Rachel Reeves is innocent of any wrongdoing, because her estate agent failed to do their job.. @skynewsrss.bsky.social picks at the scab and spins it calling her weak That’s not journalism it’s a proactive campaign to undermine the Govt❗️😡

Get it out there, cause a fuss and get people talking about the good things you're doing and the danger of them being undone by an extreme right-wing government