Funding your own care? It’s a personal quagmire and a policy mess - my view in the always interesting Eyes & Ears Substack. open.substack.com/pub/eyesande...

55 yrs ago this week, 4/17/71, all 4 former Beatles had solo singles in the UK charts: Paul McCartney: "Another Day," Ringo Starr: "It Don’t Come Easy" John Lennon: "Power To The People" George Harrison: "My Sweet Lord" All 4 songs still sound great, 55 yrs later. Play 'em loud.

Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger.

Local government following the NHS into a vortex of disreorganisation. It won’t end well.

Here’s the social justice argument for reversing the trend for social care spending to come increasingly from council tax not general taxation.

Join our Smith Square Debate: Care where we live: what needs to change in local government for ASC reform? This high-profile debate brings people connected to #AdultSocialCare together to consider the role of #LocalGov in a future reformed system. Full details at: https://orlo.uk/3QwV1

Excellent customer service from @principalitybs.bsky.social yesterday, a person at the end of the phone. Quick, efficient, friendly. Thank you.

@channel4tv.bsky.social #crufts please can we see more of the dogs and less of certain celebrities (despite their impressive grooming)

Join our Smith Square Debate: Care where we live: what needs to change in local government for ASC reform? This high-profile debate brings people connected to #AdultSocialCare together to consider the role of #LocalGov in a future reformed system. Full details at: https://orlo.uk/8ZLwl

Just listened to Dame Louise Casey on #r4today. Its always been easier to describe what’s wrong with #socialcare than put it right. Hopefully she’ll say more this afternoon at the @nuffieldtrust.org.uk summit.

Superb, insightful series. I suspect those who most need to watch this will not.

At MHA, we’ve now made our views known to the Home Office on their consultation on the proposed changes to settlement, telling them that their proposals will have real consequences for adult social care. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Lost my phone in London, with four credit cards and £150 cash in the case. Returned to me within 21 minutes. This hellhole of a city eh.

Welcome but disappointing that for the 16th year in a row financial thresholds for publicly funded #socialcare remain frozen. The means test keeps getting meaner.

1/2 Care minister on #r4today proudly announcing uplift to minimum income guarantee for disabled people & disabled facilitates grant. Welcome, but

As ever, @sathnam.bsky.social nails it.

“the most disadvantaged councils have lost the most funding compared to the least” good analysis www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

Anas who?

“An absolute rag of a publication”. I shall not be cancelling my subscription.

Oh

❄️There's still time to get 50% off all our books in our January Sale!❄️ Simply use code BUP01 at checkout to unlock your discount.💫 Sale ends 31 January 2026.⏰ #JanuarySale #BookSale #HalfPriceBooks https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/subjects

My colleague Cathryn Taylor shares MHA's thoughts and concerns about the forthcoming Fair Pay Agreement Negotiating Body mha.org.uk/news-and-blo...

Good.

”The Commission on Adult Social Care wants to hear from you”:

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean has been elected the fifth Lord Speaker. Lord Forsyth will take office and preside from the woolsack for the first time as Lord Speaker on 2 February. Read more https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2026/jan-2026/lord-speaker-election-result/

A good man. How the world so needs more people like Jim Thomas.

Wishing friends & followers a happy new year

Why do people stay on X - the lemmings argument

Thoughtful post that goes to the heart of how to move towards a national care service in the context of wide local variations in spending and need. This is not straightforward.

Announced yesterday this is getting little media attention but has profound consequences for local services over the next 3 years & needs careful analysis

so great that Labour's adult care policy amounts to a Louise Casey report and an unspecified pay rise in about 2028 www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Indeed. What do you think @davidjbuck.bsky.social ?

Adult social care workers provide a vital public service, but this is not reflected in their pay and job conditions. So, it is welcome that the Government is creating the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body - our latest briefing note looks at how to ensure its success. ➡️ buff.ly/veEOJFN

"there's a new serif in town"

Excellent discussion on ageism in social care by @bsgageismsig.bsky.social Thanks to panel @melanie-henwood.bsky.social @richardhumphries.bsky.social @gerrynos.bsky.social & Steve Milsom. Underlines urgency for big reform of social care & key points for the Casey review.

At #NCASC25 listening to minister Stephen Kinnock describe, with earnest sincerity, his vision for adult #socialcare. Much of the content could have been delivered by any minister over the last 28 years I’ve attended this conference.

“Net migration has fallen to the lowest level seen since 2021” - though you’d never know from media coverage & political rhetoric

An obvious talking point for the annual gathering of the #socialcare clans this week - but ahead of tomorrow’s Budget is anyone at HM Treasury listening? #ncasc2025

Lost for words that the government - a Labour government - has chosen to do this 😩

What on earth has happened to us? #ashamed www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Another demography-defying example of policy rhetoric colliding with the real world #neighbourhoodcare

It will be intriguing to observe and evaluate the natural public health experiments of some of the proposed Mamdani policies such as universal free childcare, free and fast public transport and subsidised grocery stores. New York, New York, we’re watching! edition.cnn.com/2025/11/04/p...

Mamdani: "New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant."

The first thing Yaxley-Lennon did on leaving court was to thank Elon Musk for funding his legal costs. That's Elon Musk who has repeatedly called for civil war in the UK. As of typing this - all of the major politicians and platforms maintain a presence on X and it is time for them all to leave.

Call for Abstracts! Special Issue: Strengthening Research Practice Partnerships in Social Care: Evidence, Impact and Policy Learning Deadline: 3 Nov 2025 Full details: evidenceandpolicyblog.co.uk/2025/10/15/e... @bupjournals.bsky.social @annetteboaz.bsky.social @a-mtowers.bsky.social

In this new blog @richardhumphries.bsky.social​ looks back at the government’s record on social care after a year in power and forward to assess the prospects of reform. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/43uaOwT

Oh.

Great to see #applebyblue win the Stirling Prize. Visited it last year with @housinglin.bsky.social

“There is precious little truth in a picture of Britain as a country where hordes of shirkers collect benefits from the rest of us.” Thank you @chrisgiles.ft.com for this sane & evidence-based commentary