UK regulator asks X about reports its Grok AI makes "sexualised images of children" and undresses women. Sickening. X profits but not good at monitoring. Give everyone an enforceable copyright of their face, voice, body parts. Enable people to sue social platforms for violation of that right.

Happy new year all. Are we ready to start referring to the US gov as a regime?

Growing numbers of over-60s Britons facing homelessness. Low wages/benefits. State pension is low. No curbs on profiteering. Real cuts in council funding for years. Lack of social housing. 1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined. Misery and premature death is a political choice.

Charity warns of rise in 'clothing poverty'. Profiteering and cuts in real wages force people rely on charity. Charity provides food, clothing, air ambulance, hospices and more in the 6th largest economy. 1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined.

Influx of cheap Chinese imports could drive down UK inflation, economists say. Stupid strategy. UK Govts deindustrialised, increased foreign dependence; cut real wages, create job insecurity and poverty. Why not control inflation by removing cash from the rich through selective taxation?

The 51st state. Trump demands that the UK allows American chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated meat into its supermarkets. UK already agreed to pay more for US drugs, reduced tax on private equity managers, considering cutting tax on tech companies. 'Tacking back control', someone said.

Keeper of the Flame from 1942 terrifyingly outlining the Farage and Bannon playbook in 2 minutes.

What happened to the execs who ruined lives during the Post Office scandal? Fujitsu execs, accountants, lawyers also made millions from the scandal. All living in comfort. None fined, prosecuted. Even when that happens, litigation will last for years. The UK legal system doesn't deliver justice.

Just a reminder: you are NOT unusual, weird, or unlovable if you have: - no one to see on Christmas Day, - no presents, or - no contactable relatives. Very few people live the idealised version on TV. Those of us who live differently—whether by choice or trauma—matter as much.

"We have to have it", says Trump about Greenland. The felon has attacked Syria and Iran; threatened Nigeria and South Africa; wants to annex Venezuela, Panama, Canada, Gaza; started tariff wars Trump stupidity will erode US power, encourage more states to go nuclear & build alternative alliances.

Whichever of the two main parties you vote for you get the same old shit

Monaco based tax-exile Jim Ratcliffe businesses received up to £70m UK subsidy in last 4 years. More promised. Free cash, not repayable, no means-testing, no equity stake taken. Sunday Times Rich List estimated his wealth to be £17bn. Benefit cuts for the poor, free cash for corporations/Rich.

In the sixth largest economy, millions of Britons rely on food banks. No curbs on profiteering. Energy prices up 44% since 2021-22. Thousands of people can't afford heating, rely on community ‘warm spaces’. 1% have more wealth than 70% of the population combined. Govts appease the rich.

Typical short term thinking from business. If they don’t create entry level jobs who’s going to replace the more experienced workers.

Can she be stripped of her citizenship. It would only be fair.

I suspect the mistake they’re thinking of is getting caught 😡

This is disgusting

Former UK chancellor George Osborne joins OpenAI Lucrative appointments for failed ministers. They aren't hired for technical know-how but to exploit political links acquired with public money. What is the return to taxpayers for that investment? Remember former PM Cameron lobbying for Greensill.

UK Govt plan to reduce child poverty is welcome but that requires reduction in parental poverty. That can't be done without equitable distribution of income and wealth, stronger trade unions, progressive taxation, decent housing, education, healthcare, jobs and sound economy. Who will do that?

😡

US seizes oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, Trump says. Prelude to a full scale invasion. When dictators become unpopular they divert attention by starting wars. What will he seize next?

Elon Musk's X bans European Commission ads after €120m fine. An example of how corporations flaunt power to discipline govts. X was fined because it's blue tick system was deceptive. It was not "meaningfully verifying users". X lacked transparency, exposed users to scams, impersonation frauds.

I caught the football Peace prize award on the tele last night. The lunatics have truly taken over the asylum!!!

So the US is currently buying billions of $s worth of uranium, paladium and fertiliser from Russia. In doing so they’re breaking sanctions and their own law. Bloody hypocrites!!

Bank of England waking up? BOE to stress test private equity and private credit industries, can't compel firms to participate. Some will volunteer, only to impose their will on the outcomes. Industry is estimated to have assets of £8.23 trillion. Govt pushing for deregulation.

Nike, Superdry and Lacoste ads banned over misleading green claims. In the era of predatory capitalism lying, misinformation and fleecing have been normalised, to boost profits and exec pay. No exec fined. No incentive to stop.

Bank of England warns of AI bubble risk, "sharp correction" in the value of major tech companies. Repetition of dotcom mania, binge funded by banks. Govt response - deregulation and lower capital requirements for banks. Strategy for avoiding the crash?

Greenwash England’s water industry issued £10.5bn in ‘green bonds’ despite pollution record. Industry dumps tons of raw sewage in rivers, lakes and seas. Destroys marine life, biodiversity; creates health hazards. And spineless regulators call them green bonds. Travesty.

At last the BBC push back against the household budget theory of public finances. High time, I have been pushing back against this for almost 15 years now.

The stark difference in priorities between the Green Party and Labour has never been so clear. Vote Green Party. If you really want to send a clear message, then join the UK Green Party. It was one of my better decisions.

The UK government’s budget is simply managing decline. The budget does little to improve living standards or facilitate sustained economic growth. Can't grow economy by hiking taxes on low/middle income families. Whatever happened to taxing the rich?

Typical response of the government. Dicking around with energy prices by cutting insulation subsidy. A bold government would have restructured the market to stop energy from being priced at hi gas prices. Failing that use the Rising block approach www.jrf.org.uk/cost-of-livi...

UK govt wants jury trials scrapped except for rape, murder, manslaughter or cases passing a public interest test. What would toff judges do to protesters against bad laws, environmental and other issues. Bad choice by a govt led by a human rights lawyer.

FCA makes inquiries into WH Smith accounting error that wiped £600m off value. Company accounts are opaque and unfit for purpose, audited by firms hired/paid by companies. Financial Reporting Council, funded and dominated by big business makes the rules.

Budget 2025 One lesso: organise, inform, campaign, protest. UK Govt wasted 18 months, condemned millions of children to poverty. Today govt announced end of the two child benefit cap. 7 MPs had Labour whip withdrawn for opposing the cap. For 18 months Ministers defended the stupid policy.

Dividends are taxed at marginal rates of 8.75%, 33.75%, and 39.35%, no national insurance is levied. Wages taxed at 20%-45% +NIC. Aligning taxation of dividends with wages could raise £6bn a year. Even higher if national insurance is also charged.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves hints at welfare cuts. Why do govts not cut corporate welfare? Subsidies for auto, steel, oil, gas, biomass, internet, shipbuilding and others, without any equity stake. Profiteering by energy, water, phone, house builders, care home, dental care companies.

Curse of Private Equity. Four of UK's biggest dental firms have raked in £1.2bn gross profit over the past two years, Market controlled by My Dentist, PortmanDentex, Rodericks Dental, and Bupa Dental Services. Prices 3.5 times more than NHS dentist. No govt curbs profiteering.

UK Covid-19 Inquiry says govt response to the pandemic in March 2020 was "too little, too late" Imposing lockdown a week earlier could have saved 23,000 lives in England In 2016 govt knew the NHS couldn't cope with a flu epidemic but had no plan. What did austerity do?

The UK political system is corrupt. Political donations enable corporations/rich to buy parties, hand consultancies to legislators. Normal people are disillusioned, increasingly don't register to vote or vote. How will the govt cleanse the system? Watch the Minister's reply.

Well predictably the youth vote is likely to go to the #greens. Let's just hope they get off their arses and vote youtube.com/watch?v=80Zz...

NHS failing to cut waiting times as promised in recovery plan. Bad inheritance from 14 yrs of Tory rule. Not helped by another reorganization costing billions, low staff morale. Billions wasted through PFI, privatisations. Govt planning more of the same, leaves less for frontline services.

Profit at all costs

This is one of so many moments in time where things could have been so different. Sad 😔

Yes I think this is very likely. The closer he gets to losing the bigger the military conflict he will need to

Dismantling the myth that we live in a meritocracy is one of the most urgent changes needed". Poverty inflicted on the masses whilst wealth and power is concentrated in few hands. 50 families have more wealth than half of the UK population. Political system bought by the rich. Tax the rich.