Smiley Hil

Wrote about this photo, how extraordinary it was, and my realisation that women played virtually no part in big decisions taken before 1979.

open.substack.com/pub/rostaylo...

NHS cancer patients denied life-saving drugs due to Brexit costs, report finds Exclusive: Britons found to have ‘lost out’ while rest of Europe benefits from golden age of research and treatments

Brexit Curse.

NHS cancer patients denied life-saving drugs due to Brexit costs.

Cost of importing new cancer drugs quadrupled. Shipping costs up 10 times.

Brexit destroyed collaborative research.

That wasn't on the side of the red bus.

Save lives. Rejoin the EU.

Axing arts quangos risks ‘liberty of thought’ says Nicholas Serota Chair of Arts Council England says arm’s-length funding of theatre, music and museums helps prevent politicisation

"We see plenty of places — look at the US now — where direct funding can be withdrawn as a result of a change of government. I think it’s pretty self-evident that that doesn’t benefit the arts or debate and dialogue within a society." on.ft.com/3EsTuz2

French leading the way

We should be rolling this out everywhere. What’s not to like?

A light blue diagram depicting the sea, with the water's surface at the top, and just below it is an outline of the Mary Rose, with the depth (12m, 40ft or 6.7 fathoms). There is a line showing the seabed, which takes a rapid dive into the vertical...

On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,

"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"

Allow our scaled diagram to explain...

Children requiring educational support are not bankrupting councils I am very angry about this headline from the Guardian: Why my frustration? That’s because there is no way on earth that these councils have financial problems due to meeting the cost of providing ...

Children are not to blame for councils failing: a lack of government funding and the failure to reform council tax are responsible for that. www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/03...

Wherever does Nigel get his ideas from?

Nearly 20 councils in England ‘at risk of insolvency’ due to Send costs Exclusive: Councils say multibillion-pound debts caused by years of overspends on special educational needs support

A more accurate headline might be "councils face insolvency due to years of underfunding"

Councils have been given statutory duties to fulfil without the resources to meet them

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

How democracies die.

Such staggering fatalism and lack of ambition. And to know it’s been bought and paid for, is the most revolting thing of all. JUST when we got to a place of consensus, these populists popped out to say “don’t worry about floods and fires, just carry on as you were”.

Good point @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social (mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/03/curr...)

There is a great, possible apocryphal story about the fez

I’m sorry to add to our woes but my friend saw this

UK food and drink exports to the EU down 34% since Brexit Food and Drink Federation say businesses are struggling to deal with added ‘complexity and bureaucracy’

🚨🚨 Given horrible state of things in the world, it is easy to simply forget about the absolute shitshow of #brexit but new report by Food and Drink Federation is a stark reminder of those devasting implications. 🧵 www.theguardian.com/business/202...

1m people to have disability benefits cut by Labour Rachel Reeves vows to ‘get a grip’ on the burgeoning welfare bill but cabinet ministers express disquiet over £5 billion savings

1m people to have disability benefits cut by UK Labour govt.

This is wrong. There are numerous alternatives. But Chancellor refuses to inconvenience the rich.

Doesn't address causes - lack of healthcare, poverty, poor housing.

Must lead to rebellion in parliament.
archive.ph/46FfC

The news has been more than a bit grim of late, so hooray for @carbonbrief.org providing some genuine and really meaningful **good** news: the UK's carbon emissions in 2024 were the lowest since 1872, because demand for fossil fuels just keeps decreasing.

www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...

I see Chris Philp is now repeating Matt Goodwin's deliberate lie.

The correct figure is 17%, and most of those are long-standing residents (and in many cases will have British spouses/children).

🧵Our major new study looks at European attitudes on Ukraine, Trump, and defence

Net favourability of...
Donald Trump
UK: -65
Spain: -56
France: -53
Italy: -36

Volodymyr Zelenskyy
UK: +57
France: +17
Spain: +17
Italy: -15

Vladimir Putin
UK: -85
Spain: -83
France: -73
Italy: -63

Stand with Ukrainians as Trump prepares to sell them out
(Location: Russian embassy, London, Feb ‘23)

YouTube video by Saturday Night Live Elon Musk Cold Open - SNL

This helps. And I bet you it really upsets them.

youtu.be/CUpOMSJ1MdU?...

Come on, Keir – even right-wingers support the EU youth mobility scheme Post-Brexit plans that would let young Europeans live and work in the UK are such a no-brainer, even Reform voters back the idea – so when will this government come out in support, asks Mike Galsworth...

“Come on, Keir – even right-wingers support the EU youth mobility scheme

Post-Brexit plans that would let young Europeans live and work in the UK are such a no-brainer, even Reform voters back the idea – so when will this government come out in support, asks Mike Galsworthy”

This is Winston Churchill visiting the White House during World War II.

Funny how he isn’t wearing a suit either. Almost like he was a wartime leader defending his country from being slaughtered and wiped out by an authoritarian aggressor.

Today's university in crisis is Kingston, which is cutting all the departments and subjects below, a savage retrenchment that won't even make them half of the £20m savings they need. Every day will be like this until something is done.

Group selfie with Lib Dem MPs at a social care rally, signs in the background supporting social care.

Protest sign reading "Who Cares? Social Care Matters" held up outside the UK Parliament.

Crowd of carers and Lib Dem MPs at a social care protest at Westminster holding signs like “If we don’t care, who will?” and “Save social care.”

Liberal Democrat MPs stood with hardworking carers at Westminster today, calling on the government to scrap the jobs tax on care providers and complete the social care review within a year.

It’s time to give carers the support they need and deserve.

“If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

A classic quote from Malcolm X, who was assassinated 60 years ago today.

New: Starmer ready to offer Youth Mobility Scheme Keir Starmer's youth mobility proposal aims to strengthen UK-EU relations, addressing labour shortages and opportunities

🔥 Finally!! Starmer ready to offer Youth Mobility Scheme.

🙌🙌🙌

Sunset over St Ives harbour at low tide.

Sunset over St Ives harbour at low tide.

Have a great day #Bluesky friends.