Steve Hawkes

Are you addicted to shopping? On social media, it can be hard to resist the urge to splurge

Fascinating story in the Economist which puts problem shopping “oniomania” at 5%

www.economist.com/business/202...

Not sure I said that Rob (as you know) Every survey helps understanding. The GC noticed an 11% drop in problem gambling among women for instance which is really encouraging. It’s a shame it hasn’t done any work on understanding how much play is with black market operators in the GSGB

At the end of the day one person harmed is one too many. But it’s interesting that an anti gambling movement that swears by the NHS doesn’t when its figures are lower than they want them to be. Is the NHS now wrong? The GC also found millions enjoy gambling and find it “fun”

V strong argument Rob.

I wonder how many times anti gambling campaigners like Gordon Brown, mega Labour donor Derek Webb and the SMF have met Treasury (incl the guy running the tax consultation who wanted to double duty last year … when at the SMF)

Thumping tax hikes on sports betting and online bingo? A gift to an already out of control black market which doesn’t invest a penny in safer gambling. But the IPPR knows that.

Wonks Want Desperate Reeves to Double Bingo Taxes Multimillionaire Derek Webb has given Labour £1.3 million since the start of 2023 and he’s given £160,000 to the Social Market Foundation (SMF) - which

order-order.com/2025/05/30/w...

Your regular reminder that anti gambling kingpin Derek Webb has donated £1.3m to Labour since 23. And the guy demanding the Treasury double gaming duty last autumn has moved to the Treasury this year - as head of excise.
Both points left out of this piece

Doctors, teachers and junior bankers of the world, unite! The rise of middle-class consciousness

Superb again from Bagehot in @economist.com “Middle England feels about ISAs the same way rural America feels about guns.”

www.economist.com/britain/2025...

“People are fed up being told how to run their lives by people looking down their noses at them.” Searing op-ed by Labour MP Jo White t.co/DXwv0LTztU

Our full quote was: “As the Observer’s own investigation demonstrates, Flutter UKI has acted appropriately and gained consent at all times.” Because that’s what they found.

Hazmat crews tackle toxic waste left behind by LA's fires The fires have turned some electric car batteries and household items into "unexploded ordnances," says an EPA official tasked with the cleanup

The fires have turned some electric car batteries and household items into "unexploded ordnances," says an EPA official tasked with the cleanup.

First hostages close to freedom as Israeli cabinet backs deal

🔺 Update: Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is unable to move forward with the ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas hands over a list of the hostages they plan to release

Can Kemi Badenoch unite the right in Britain? After a brutal election defeat, the Conservatives are now fighting with Reform to defend their place as the UK’s main opposition party

Can Kemi Badenoch unite the right in Britain?

https://www.ft.com/content/6015c9f7-a815-47b1-b89c-6be52035a65e

Amazing and emotional day as Sir Chris Hoy joins Paddy Power’s Bigger 180 campaign with @prostatecanceruk.bsky.social to push for cancer screening and urge men to check out their risk .. let’s get 180,000 blokes to do just that this month

Steve Borthwick critics forget their history – young England are on the up To those who believe in a change of head coach, it’s worth considering Clive Woodward, under whom early performances were encouraging but results average

Great piece as usual by David Walsh. Incl great Ieuan Evans quote from 1999 www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

Well, here goes nothing ;)

Kris Jenner looking at a computer

me watching Bluesky's user count grow by another million in a day

hello and welcome to all 19M of you! 🥳