Hadn’t, in truth, really absorbed the scale of what the Conservatives are proposing on ILR and immigration more broadly until this week’s Sunday Times interviews. Some thoughts on that in today’s note:

Weekend read: @theleaduk.bsky.social have launched a campaign to end child poverty. Includes a bit from me on why the child poverty strategy should remove the 2 child limit and create a protected minimum floor in universal credit, as a step towards ensuring people can afford life’s essentials

We need an independent process to recommend a basic rate that reflects the real-world cost of a basket of essentials. Then we can start to move towards a system that protects people from hardship by ensuring they can afford life’s essentials when they fall on hard times.

Today’s inflation data, combined with Govt’s welcome decision to slightly increase the basic rate, will see it rise to £98pw for a single person next year This will still leave them around £1,000 per year short of what @jrf-uk.bsky.social & @trusselluk.bsky.social calculate is needed.

Me on @BBCBreakfast earlier talking about Universal Credit going up next year: "the starting point is already at a level where people can't afford the essentials" It's why we need an independent process to recommend a rate that reflects what people actually need to get by

Next year the basic rate of benefits will be £98pw for a single person. Logically you'd expect this rate to be linked to the cost of a basket of essentials. It is not. It's why we need an independent process to advise on a rate that enables people to cover life’s essentials

Wrote this on yesterday’s inflation figures and why universal credit should be based on the amount we actually need to get by ⬇️

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that universal credit will still fall short by around £1,000 a year per person

“Expanding clean energy is central to achieving energy security and reducing Iran’s reliance on fossil fuels.” Iran is the latest Global South country to go hard on solar capacity — not for climate, but geopolitics and energy security. It’s only possible because China brought down costs so much.

We need an independent process to advise on a standard allowance rate that reflects what people need to afford the essentials, and for rates to quickly move towards that level.

This means the standard allowance is set to rise from £92 to £98 per week for singles and from £145 to £154 per week for couples. However it will remain below the level needed to afford a basic basket of essentials.

We learnt today that annual CPI inflation was 3.8% in September 2025. The Universal Credit Act 2025 increases the rate of the standard allowance in Universal Credit by 2.3% after applying this inflation, meaning an increase of around 6.2% in April 2026.

The annual gap still likely to be more than £1,000 for singles and £2,500 for couples. Look at how little next year’s increase moves rates towards a level that enables people to afford the essentials.

Which corporate entities paid for the demolition of the White House as a bribe to the felon Donald Trump? We need names.

Dear @zackpolanski.bsky.social 👇

The Express printing positive articles about @zackpolanski.bsky.social wasn't on my bingo card... www.express.co.uk/news/politic... What's next? The Daily Mail saying we have too much inequality?!

youtu.be/6hv7yAAxSNk Zack Polanski Shuts Down Robert Peston In Israel Debate

The Greens are steering British politics right now. Those still referring to a "Polanski bounce" are underestimating it. The spike in attention after Zack became leader? A bounce. The sustained membership growth, media appearances, polling surge? That's a movement, just getting started.

Greens under Zack Polanski polling at "highest level ever" – YouGov www.thenational.scot/news/2556006...

Something extraordinary is happening. +6000 new members in ONE SINGLE day. @greenparty.org.uk just hit 130,000 members and rising!!! Join.greenparty.org.uk

Very quick update on Covid in England from latest UKHSA hospital data. Looks like current Covid wave *might* have peaked, and also that flu season is starting a little earlier than normal. If you can get vaxxed for either, I'd do it! christinapagel.substack.com/p/very-quick...

What happened this weekend in Trump's America? Quite a lot. I end with some wile conspiracy theories and blatant nepotism. youtu.be/MJBRG8Q6c8g

🇬🇧 🇬🇧Today AIR-BORNE comes out in the UK! 🇬🇧 🇬🇧 www.panmacmillan.com/authors/carl...

Pritzker: "You just heard a tidal wave of lies from the VP. It's a bit shocking. And you heard over & over him just making things up. There's a reason why the judge here in federal court said that they admin lacks credibility and why even the Nobel committee chair said the admin lacks integrity."

Sorry, took a while to look up original poster, she deserves the credit for the video

GOOD NEWS! Researchers have developed a cancer vaccine that has shown STUNNING results, PREVENTING up to 88% of MULTIPLE aggressive cancers by harnessing dual-pathway nanoparticles that train the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells. In some cases, it COMPLETELY prevented metastasis.

In a national cohort of veterans, the 2024–2025 Covid-19 vaccine was linked to reduced risks of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from Covid-19 across the overall cohort and in various subgroups. Full study results: nej.md/47anKdz #MedSky #IDSky

I'm not an economist but seems worrying that the whole US economy is seven companies in a trenchcoat, passing the same $20 up and down

what if I told you that taking accountability for your actions was traditionally considered a load-bearing feature of masculinity?

N.B. from a proper journal, not one of those ridiculous Great Barrington type 'journals'

Wiley retracts study stolen by reviewer, following Retraction Watch coverage retractionwatch.com/2025/10/03/w...

As #cdnpse institutions compete for domestic students after decades of funding cuts and new limits on int'l enrolment, I'm curious to see if we get recruitment campaigns based on pandemic safety: e.g., "Breathe Easier: We Know Your Health Matters to Your Success." theconversation.com/we-can-and-m...

MIT, as one of nine schools that were asked to agree to adopt conservative priorities and policies in exchange for funding perks, REJECTS the Trump administration deal. wapo.st/4niC09b (gift article) #AcademicSky

I so admire and am inspired by the @jewishcouncilau.bsky.social team, by their humanity and bravery - thankyou @sarahschwartz.bsky.social and colleagues. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Many thanks @clivecookson.bsky.social for the thoughtful review of our book in FT #ScienceUnderSiege @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social @publicaffairs1796.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/c4dc...

Based on a recent @thelancet.com paper. theconversation.com/child-famine...

👇

A powerful speech on the Nobel Peace Prize but I suspect it will send Trump into a frenzy today. Especially the pointed remarks about democracy and integrity.

This is what used to be called ‘testing into compliance’ and it would get your company fined, shut down, and in court when the FDA was run by competent people. pharmadigests.com/why-is-testi...

Excellent op Ed about the issues with single vaccines published in response to Trumps Statement about single shots for Measles, mumps and rubella as well as CDC call for single vaccine manufacturer 🧵🧪#HealthPolicy

Latest poll puts Greens just two points behind Labour. When I said we weren't here to be disappointed in Labour but to replace them, I meant it. Join us and let's make hope normal again. join.greenparty.org.uk

The first change we should make - and one that can't be easily undone - is a move to PR. Anything else would be legally simple, if procedurally slow, to change back if Reform do get a majority. But PR would deny them both that, and the ability to make sweeping changes.

We've seen how a Trump administration has taken over scientific bodies, so independent research is suppressed if its findings aren't what he wants, and outputs just become govt propaganda. Could the same thing happen here, if a future PM wanted to do the same? Important analysis ⬇️

🧵🚨 The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news. Today our report is published! www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n... 1/11

I really miss the days of Health Protection Agency when we were able to provide independent public health advice. Bringing the organisation ever closer to central government control has only had a net negative effect on so many aspects of the organisation.

Farage is adopting every dimension of the orange's culture wars in the US. That's an alarming prospect since Starmer then lurches further right in time.