Philip Cullen

Strange to be accused of being a "grifter" by Michael Gove (speaking where I can't sue him), whose Cabinet Office administered the VIP lane. GLP pays me what I always said it would: the salary of a backbench MP. And I earn from it maybe 5-10% of what I would if I was still a tax KC.

a blue flag with yellow stars in a circle waving in the wind Alt: a blue flag with yellow stars in a circle waving in the wind

In this crazy, unstable and dangerous world it is utter madness to remain out of the EU.
#RejoinEU
#Rejoin

Wow! The number of @bsky.app users just passed 32 MILLION! 👏

LETS DO THIS!

UK lenders paid car dealers cash upfront that may have led to costlier loans Exclusive: ‘Advance commissions’ said to total millions of pounds allegedly pushed customers to certain providers

UK banks paid “advance commissions” to car dealers, encouraged them to push costlier loans to consumers.

Now banks face a possible compensation bill of £44bn, which govt is trying to obstruct.

Anything that banks have not mis-sold, as execs chase bonuses but bear no responsibility.

It is my duty to report that the Daily Mail, through its lawyers RPC, seems to have abandoned its hopeless attempt to bully us into submission with feeble defamation threats.

As Labour touts more brutal cuts to benefits, how is this different from life under the Tories? | Frances Ryan There may be no nasty impulse to punish ‘skivers’, but the end result – those who need help most hit hardest – is exactly the same, says columnist Frances Ryan

As Labour touts more brutal cuts to benefits, how is this different from life under the Tories?

Reeves tweaks non-dom tax law because of “concerns” but ignores the cries of disabled, old, sick, poor. Poor are expendable. Wealthy potential donors less so.

Govt must change direction.

Illegal meat on most UK High Streets, official says Post-Brexit checks are undermining efforts to keep out potentially disease-ridden meat, official says.

Lucy Manzano, head of the Dover Port Health Authority: "Defra have continually stated that there are robust controls in place. There are not. They don't exist."

The previous Tory government had 4 years to sort this out. The system they set up is shoddy at best. #Brexit
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The water industry shows how the state indulges corporations to the detriment of society Since 1989, water companies have been the subject of over 1,100 criminal convictions, but governments are content for them to control the industry.

When Fines are not Fines.

On 6 August 2024, Ofwat announced fines totalling £168m on three water companies – Thames Water £104m; Yorkshire Water £47m; Northumbrian Water, £17m.

Not a penny has been paid.

Companies with 400 criminal convictions are allowed to negotiate what and when they will pay.

Did you see the BBC's shocking Countryfile report on how post-Brexit food and plant checks at our border are driving up prices for everyday Brits? 👇

The fact that this exists around us but we got stuck on this stupid planet with a bunch of man babies trying to work out their grievances is just so annoying.

Just listened back to @sianberry.bsky.social on Nicky Campbell on BBC 5Live from yesterday.

Thank GOD for an MP who recognises that the UK needs people to protect our welfare state with an ageing population.

Whoever that Labour MP on with you was was a total disaster🤦‍♀️

🧪
If I were Canadian PM I would immediately:

1. Create a new $15B science fund

2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada

3. Immediate permanent residency

4. Citizenship after 2 years

Overnight a science superpower

He’s running out of time - the pool is shrinking fast.

hey question, is this bad?

YouTube video by Richard J Murphy People standing for parliament should have to prove they’re competent

Anyone can become an MP. No training is required, and then they set the rules for everyone else. That’s absurd. All prospective parliamentarians and councillors should have to take an exam to prove their competence. youtu.be/JhUcUt15eB8?...

Fisherman admits to GB News he regrets voting for Brexit Even some of the staunchest Brexiteers have changed their tune, and an increasing amount of people are admitting they regret voting to leave.

The London Economic: Fisherman admits to GB News he regrets voting for Brexit
www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/fisherm...

Pensioner poverty in the world’s sixth largest economy is a political choice The hardship inflicted on retirees now will surely visit future retirees unless steps are taken to alleviate misery.

In UK, the 6th largest economy.

1m retirees skip meals.

1 in 10 retirees malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

7m pensioners turning down heating.

2m have unmet needs for care/support.

In 2022, 110,000 pensioners died from fuel poverty.

What future?
leftfootforward.org/2025/01/pens...

Australia fights back against billionaires buying elections by limiting amount donors can spend on political parties Australia is set to introduce a new bill capping the amount billionaires can spend on political parties, proving it really is that simple.

Australia fights back against billionaires buying elections by limiting amount donors can spend on political parties

Now let’s do the same

www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/aus...

Thames Water confirm it WILL hike customers' prices by £19 a month Thames Water has announced plans to increase its prices by £19 a month in a move which it says is to invest in infrastructure over the next five years amid a spike in sewage pollution incidents.

Thames Water prices will be hiked by £19 a month from April.

Sewage will be dumped in rivers, leaks will go unplugged, dividends will be paid, cost of servicing,£17bn debt passed to customers, execs will be rewarded for fleecing people.

Predatory capitalism.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

No, Brexit could never work. It was a terrible lie missold to people who deserved better by crooks and chancers. Take some responsibility for goodness sake.

Water companies in England ‘use greenwashing playbook to hide environmental harm’ Researchers say companies have prolonged injustice and exaggerated cost of solving infrastructure problems

England water companies use disinformation tactics similar to fossil fuel & tobacco industries with the widespread use of greenwashing to downplay the environmental harm they cause.

They describe sewage overflows as “heavily diluted rainwater”.

Can't trust them.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

More economic folly from Rachel Reeves It is time for more gimmicks from our beloved Chancellor of the Exchequer this morning. According to a Downing Street press release issued today: Working people and businesses are set to benefit from ...

Rachel Reeves' big idea for pension fund investment only works if interest rates remain high, but they should not and will not. When they fall, her new pension proposal will fall with it. Is she really so clueless she can't see that? www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/01...

This guy stared at me the entire way from DC to LA and I was convinced he was going to follow me and kill me before I realized his sunglasses were just on the back of his head.

First train of the day (GWR)

Over priced, over crowded, tap not working in the loo, no soap, and the toilet squirts out when flushed.

Privitisation ladies and gentleman...

And you want to give these vultures our NHS?

Badenock tells BBC favourite Beatles song is Yellow Submarine

The only way this could have gone worse for her was if she'd said Maxwell's Silver Hammer

MRP Analysis: Prioritising the UK's trading relationships Best for Britain's massive new MRP poll reveals that every constituency in Great Britain thinks the Government should prioritise trade with the EU over the USA and other countries.

The results of our new megapoll with @yougov.co.uk blew our minds when we got them.

Voters in every single constituency in England, Scotland & Wales want the government to prioritise trade with the EU over the US.

Including in Clacton!

Full results 👇

These are the good guys supporting DEI. Reward them with your business.

Costco
Meijer
Kroger
Giant Grocery
Ben & Jerry’s
Ulta, Macy’s
Old Navy
Nordstrom’s
TJ Maxx
GoTo Foods ( Moe’s Southwest Grill, Mcalister’s, Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, Cinnabon…)
Dollar Tree
Walgreens
Wegmans

Word of the day is ‘matutolypea’: extreme grumpiness in the morning.

From the Latin ‘Matuta’, Roman goddess of the dawn, and the Greek ‘lype’, ‘grief’. Put them together and you get ‘morning grief’.

Nearly two-thirds of Britons say very rich have too much influence on politics Opinium survey of 2,000 adults found concern about the impact of growing wealth inequality in the UK

Nearly two-thirds of Britons say very rich have too much influence on politics.

They fund political parties, legislators; get access to policymakers to shape laws.

Capital gains, dividends taxed at lower rates than wages

We are voting fodder in a sham democracy
www.theguardian.com/inequality/2...

Tax the rich – do it now. Start with me | Dale Vince Across the Atlantic, we see more clearly than ever what happens when the extreme wealth of super-rich men becomes an attack on the public good, says green energy industrialist and campaigner Dale Vinc...

“I have joined more than 370 millionaires from 22 countries in signing a letter calling on our political leaders to tackle the cost of extreme wealth by taxing the super-rich – people like me” Dale Vince 👍

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...