yes!

Feeling aggrieved at having to wait five minutes for a train at Brixton tube station.

I’m receiving lots of posts on my timeline about both Traitors and Greenland. It’s difficult, initially at least, to know which is which.

The problem with a seasonal epidemic is that it's way too easy to write a sexy "flu numbers twice as bad as last year" headline, which is true but misleading, when you ought to be writing a "flu arrives a little earlier than last year" headline.

Good news for the supporters of CDC pensions with the nomination of David Pitt-Watson to the House of Lords. David has been one of the most active proponents of CDC and chair of the www.thersa.org/projects/col...

Very good report about joint Prospect and FDA letter to civil service pension scheme manager about closing the unacceptable gender pension gap in that scheme: www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article...

Big news. Report stage of Pension Schemes Bill, the Minister announces, in response to the “Byrne amendment” they will introduce legislation on how trustees should allow for structural factors such as climate risk and members’ standards of living when they are making investment decisions.

The announcement that the GLA will use the GLC coat of arms is great news, recognising the continuity of London local government and the importance of the GLC and its achievements. See www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...

Resolution Foundation does some great, informative stuff on policy/politics. Really welcome antidote to the breathless obsession of most of Westminster village with who-said-whattery-when and meaningless opinion poll speculation about the next election. @resolutionfoundation.org

The FT reports that the Chancellor said the government would make sure those only receiving the basic or new state pension “do not have to pay small amounts of tax through Simple Assessment from April 2027”. Easily said but harder to deliver. The problem is with the word “only”. 1/3

The problem posed by frozen tax thresholds being overtaken by index linked state pensions is to be tackled by the government via “Simple Assessment” from 2027-28 onwards. It will be “exploring the best way to achieve this”.

Strong welcome for indexation of pre-97 accrued benefits in PPF and FAS. Puts more pressure on other DB schemes to do likewise, with amendments to Pension Schemes Bill.

Is welfare spending ''out of control''? Total welfare spending in Britain in 2025-26 is estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP. That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u

I broadly support a cut in salary sacrifice for pension contributions. It’s never really made much sense. But it should be recognised that the loss of employers’ NI relief will be another problem for university finances, which are already rumoured to be facing a tough Budget.

I am grateful for @adamjkucharski.bsky.social. He takes such care to deconstruct a claim made by the director of National Institutes of Health on excess mortality during the pandemic. We need sober analyses more than ever right now, even amidst the madness. kucharski.substack.com/p/excess-mor...

It’s worth remembering that Labour received 560,335 fewer votes in GE 2024 compared to GE 2019. 

Ministerial statement “Pensions Update” on House of Commons Order Paper today. It’s been suggested that it’s about the PHSO report on 50’s women, but no sign of it yet.

A good example of where we have to find good journalism these days manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...

The New York Times continues the decades-old effort to divert anger against the rich into generational conflict. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/o... Insofar as young people have it hard today, it is because we rigged the economy to give the rich all the money, not because of baby boomers.

There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system. Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts Spending is controlled, not spiralling Worklessness is near record lows My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...

Money and mental health problems can trap people in a vicious cycle. Financial pressure harms wellbeing, and poor mental health makes earning and managing money harder. It’s common – but not inevitable. 💜 We’re working for fairer systems and practical support to break this vicious cycle.

Most welcome news that @johnmcdonnellmp.bsky.social and Apsana Begum MP have had the Labour whip restored. Let’s hope the olive branch is extended all the others who have had the whip removed for voting with their conscience.

Next year’s increase in the Basic State Pension and the New State Pension increase is nothing to do with the triple-lock. The increase is in line with average earnings, as required by law. It would be the same, with or without the triple-lock.

Sign our petition calling on government to end the gender pension gap for public sector women ✍️

🚨 Prospect research reveals women lose out on £7,600 a year in retirement. A 36.5% gender pension gap – that's double the gender pay gap. This inequality is unacceptable. Government must take real action now to close the gap.

Still looking forward.

So what happened to the second stage pensions review on adequacy? Despite clear hints that it was all ready to go and that we would find out on the 15th, nothing. Has someone lost their nerve?

We have now published in full our response to the government’s ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working’ Green Paper. You can read it in full here 👇 🔗 www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/policybriefi...

La Nonna menu,

Read the roadmap but watch out for the potholes! www.gov.uk/government/p... Workplace pensions: a roadmap - GOV.UK

A Pensions Bill to “Make provision about pension schemes; and for connected purposes”. 104 pages; 102 clauses and one schedule. Let’s hear ideas of what more should be included to make pensions better.

Looking forward to the forthcoming DWP research publication “Planning and Preparing for Later Life 2024”. Although it’s rather vaguely expected in “June, July or August 2025”.

Report in the FT that “UK considers taxing pensioners to claw back winter fuel payment”. But the report is unclear whether this just means including the WFP in taxable income, or if it means some sort of pensioner supertax. on.ft.com/4mwGDx4

“we should be ashamed” youtu.be/IW7WW0IF-I0?...

What & When? The one sentence detail free statement on the Winter Fuel Payment will make things worse, unless and until there is clarity from the government on what is proposed and when it will be paid. The problem is that there is no easy solution.

If a government mandates pension fund investments it is providing an implicit guarantee of returns/benefits. The fund becomes functionally equivalent to an unfunded pay-as-you-go scheme, but one with exceptionally high management costs.

Is it overly pedantic / nerdy of me to have an issue with the DWP describing AE like this: "the employer contributes at least 3% of their salary to the pot too"? (www.gov.uk/government/n...) It's not 3% and it won't be until the DWP brings in contributions from the first £!

Today we’ve published our new 2025-2030 strategy 🎉 We’re working for a world in which the vicious cycle of money and mental health problems is broken. 🎬 Watch our Chief Executive @helenundy.bsky.social explain and read more here 👇 🔗 www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/about-us/our...

Great to join @age-uk.bsky.social in Westminster yesterday for their Act Now Age Better launch. @independentage.bsky.social fully support the importance of upholding the rights of people as they age and the need for a Commissioner for Older People in England and Scotland

A longer bit on the LGPS after last week’s elections open.substack.com/pub/tompowdr...

The Lord Speaker, after consultation with Her Majesty’s Government, is satisfied that it is in the public interest to recall the House … at 12pm on Saturday 12 April to take forward legislative proposals to ensure the continued operation of British Steel blast furnaces is safeguarded.

Pensions Goth blog: Lord Davies on pensions inheritance tax - closing the loophole! pensionsresearch.co.uk/lord-davies-...

At just £3/hr, Statutory Sick Pay forces people to push on at work when ill or struggle to pay the bills, causing extra stress & anxiety at an already difficult time. Thank you @daviesofbrixton.bsky.social & @mindcharity.bsky.social for highlighting the mental health impact of low SSP on workers ⬇️

Making it clear, this time from someone who knows what they are talking about. www.rcpsych.ac.uk/news-and-fea...

Canada giving Marco Rubio the tiniest red carpet they could find in a thrift shop somewhere.

Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan: "There are choices that govts can make.. one of the choices that the govt could make is how to raise money from wealthy corporations & individuals" Spot on. Labour could target the super rich. Instead they're targeting people on benefits.

That's a full house on our amendments to the Bill - with the Minister committing to addressing all 3 in the code of practice or guidance. We'll be working closely on the next stages to make sure the change is delivered. Big thank you to Lord Davies of Brixton, & all the Peers who spoke in support.

We have another win in the Mental Health Bill! 💥 Last night the Minister commited that there will be an 'explicit requirement' to offer access to the Mental Health Breathing Space scheme - giving more people respite from debt fees, charges and collection activity. www.linkedin.com/videos/urn:l...

The idea that so-called “pension fund surpluses” provide a key to economic growth is nonsense. There is no reason to treat one part of global pension scheme assets any differently from the rest.