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Judith Freedman

@judithfreedman.bsky.social
3.1K followers 697 following 410 posts

Tax academic, writer and editor, grandmother of 5.

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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I had a very unpleasant encounter with a man who thought it was fine to come up right behind me, a 73 year old lady, on his Forest bike and ring his bell for me to get out of the way. Couldn’t Forest bikes detect if someone is on pavement and just stop after a couple of minutes?
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Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 04/09/2026
Many countries in the OECD raise more tax (as a proportion of GDP) than the UK did in 2025-26... ... but NONE achieved this with a lower 'tax wedge' for an average worker. Read 'Thin end of the wedge' here 👇️ 📉 buff.ly/UGrO4bY
chart showing Compulsory payment wedge for a single earner on that country’s wage for an average worker (horizontal axis) and tax revenues as a proportion of GDP (vertical axis): OECD, 2024 and 2025
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Does he refuse to sign contracts for his enterprises? Presumably not. Amazes me how people who don’t believe in marriage make such a big deal about what, for them, could be a simple admin process. Ricky Gervais: I may have to get married to avoid paying tax www.thetimes.com/article/7ba3...
thetimes.com
Ricky Gervais: I may have to get married to avoid paying tax
The Office creator, who has been with Jane Fallon for four decades, is considering tying the knot to dodge a bill from the government after he dies
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Emma Chamberlain, tax barrister, visiting professor of tax at the LSE and Oxford University, co-author of the Wealth Tax Report, has a guest post with Comment is Freed -‘The right way to tax wealth’. Clear, practical thinking from someone who understands and has thought deeply about all angles.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
It's written by Emma Chamberlain - a barrister specialising in tax and co-author of the 2020 Wealth Commission report. I can guarantee you'll learn a lot about wealth taxes...
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
How will we manage - only six?
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Grumpy-ish Brian🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺🇮🇪 @brian770.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I’m pleased if government is looking at a whole range of fundamental reforms. The fact they are looking at them doesn’t mean they will happen but I hope some do. It is right to say big changes take time but we have to start somewhere. So worth looking but media and commentators should stay calm!
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
This-( just a coincidence that this comes from my son 😉) When this kind of ‘budgeting’ is used to justify tax changes it show just what is wrong with our approach to tax design and reform. And the political and media fluff and speculation does not help sensible debate at all.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
“We need an Ozempic for cars. They are growing at a phenomenal rate, wreaking havoc on roads, squeezing out smaller vehicles and endangering pedestrians. Like ever-hungry teenagers, cars in Europe are growing on average a centimetre wider every year.” Don’t repeat North America’s mistake, Europe.
theguardian.com
Britain’s cars and SUVs are growing bigger – but there is a way to stop this deadly ‘carspreading’ | Christian Wolmar
Larger vehicles crowd our roads and are far more dangerous to pedestrians. Let’s curb them before they do even more damage, says says transport commentator Christian Wolmar
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Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Lot to be said for what we used to call a Unified Budget under Major (tax and spending plans together_) as per @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/abf4... But to start from scratch and complete by autumn would be very brave, prime minister..
ft.com
Andy Burnham explores holding expanded autumn Budget
UK’s incoming PM is considering combining fiscal statement with spending review to set out his political strategy
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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 10/07/2026
Two baby beaver kits have arrived at Ealing's Paradise Fields. Reintroduced in 2023 with Ealing Wildlife Group and Citizen Zoo, beavers are already stopping Greenford station from flooding and saving us money on infrastructure. Here’s what they’ve been up to 🦫
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Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
It's tragically appropriate that we spent a whole generation telling students that the humanities were moribund, and they should all study STEM, only for the greatest innovations in STEM to prove why the humanities were so essential all along.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
In 1991 I argued against removal of audit requirements for small companies but politicians equate ease of incorporation with entrepreneurship and growth (which is rubbish) and have continued to raise the audit threshold. Incorporation should not be cheap and easy.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
From The Times today -Michael Jack was the first chair of the Office of Tax Simplification - I also prefer the idea of an Office of Effective Taxation
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Owen Zidar @omzidar.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Our latest post open.substack.com/pub/everywhe...
open.substack.com
Another Reason the Labor Share Keeps Falling: Taxes!
When firms pay workers in promises rather than cash, the national accounts struggle to keep track.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
We need more revenue. We should just tax large multinational more- easy, isn’t it? ( Irony klaxon)
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Helen Barrett @helenbarrett.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Not for the first time I ask: how can a bag be an unexpected item in a bagging area?
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Eduin Latimer @eduinlatimer.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
This is most striking figure from Millburn Review. They estimate that around half of the 18-24 population who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) are not claiming any benefits. This limits how effective any reforms to the benefit system can be in reducing the NEET rate.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Confused by Home Farm partnership storyline. What does partnership own if not the land? Does Brian rent the land to the partnership? Have they thought about inheritance tax ? Why can’t partnership own the land? Same thing with Brookfield. Scriptwriters get some legal advice- please! #TheArchers
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
It is a pity (though inevitable) that politicians play politics and someone decided to call this a ‘wealth tax’ but alignment of income tax and capital gains tax rates is not a new idea. We have been there before. The very non radical Office of Tax Simplification raised it in 2020/21.
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Zamin Iqbal @zaminiqbal.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
This is a very interesting video. After a brief intro, the first 3 minutes are a monologue starting in the English of 600AD and transitioning to modern American. Where do you start understanding it? youtu.be/842OX2_vCic?...
youtu.be
From Old English to Modern American English in One Monologue
YouTube video by Simon Roper
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Yesterday I did not go to central London. For first time ever I was concerned about safety due to both marches. But today went to South Bank and felt London was reclaimed- people of all kinds walking along, children playing happily together at Jubilee Gardens play park. This is the real London.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
A bigger question on the relationship between people paying council tax and being on the electoral register is whether Councils are routinely checking this?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Iran war accelerates ‘Regrexit’ as wealthy UK expats weigh a return- FT article notes that wanting to be near your adult children may be a reason to wish to come back to the UK ( for women more than men?). If money can’t buy you freedom to live near your family, what use is it?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Not one article or report I have read defines poor health. Are they including people on statins as poor health for example?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
So we are running out of CO2 and at the same time spending money on storing it. Why don’t we spend that money instead on purifying industrial CO 2 so that we can use it for all the things it is needed for? Can anyone explain please?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Proud grandmother reposting.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Does no one else have this problem?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
The new Arterio trains going into Waterloo have such a large gap between the train and the platform that they are dangerous for the elderly, disabled and people with children. How did regulators permit this?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
In a miserable world here are some very early bluebells to lift spirits
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Carlin Moran nails it this week - Give Jim Ratcliffe a break. He’s just a billionaire www.thetimes.com/article/f387...
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Having finally caught up with the need to do a story about Inheritance Tax the scriptwriters are making a total mess of it! Don’t seem to have made any attempt to understand the issues. Disappointing #thearchers
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Very sad to see this. I knew Deborah as a colleague at Worcester College, where she was as sensible, no-nonsense and wise as in other roles described here. My sympathy to all her family and friends. Deborah Cameron obituary: linguist, feminist and firebrand www.thetimes.com/article/a042...
thetimes.com
Deborah Cameron obituary: linguist, feminist and firebrand
Linguist, feminist, firebrand and scholar known for her pithy and forensic dismantling of societal myths dies aged 67
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Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Once had privilege of listening to Ian McKellen perform at Oxford. Seemed timely then - even more so now.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
9 months later. First serious discussion of inheritance tax by farm owners on #TheArchers. But I thought Brookfield had a family company. Don’t Kenton, Shula and Elizabeth have some kind of interest? Why don’t the scriptwriters get some advice on this? And they need to consider succession anyway.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Apparently there is a curvy Barbie but she is a size 8! www.bbc.com/news/magazin...
bbc.com
How does 'Curvy Barbie' compare with an average woman? - BBC News
Three new types of Barbie have reached the UK. But how close do they come to representing the average young woman?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
I have to say this is exactly what I thought when I saw that there was a new autistic Barbie. It is great to have diverse Barbies but if they are aiming to reflect the true population a plump one and a flat breasted one are needed too. Do they have those?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Tried to watch Love Actually with family over Christmas and had to turn it off. Unwatchable on so many levels. Legally Blonde, however, really stands the test of time- excellent!
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Terrifying!
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
AI making up citations. This is happening and is really hard to check if it is not the editor or referee they are citing. Makes good editing more and more important and more and more time consuming.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Lovely legal discussion around #TheArchers but with all the talk about succession it is completely incredible that there has been no serious discussion of inheritance tax! Even if only to say ‘thank goodness we have arrangements in place to avoid it’ ( not convinced they all do though).
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Mark Pack @markpackuk.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Christmas carols, as written by Parliamentary lawyers
buff.ly
Christmas carols, as written by Parliamentary lawyers
The Parliamentary Counsel Office has been putting its skills to work drafting legislatively clear versions of Christmas carols. How many can you identify?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
The NHS must employ armies of people to constantly rearrange appointments they sent me in the first place. It is so inefficient. This has nothing to do with the strike. I have just had an April 2026 appointment moved to March 2026. OK with me but why?
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Great letter in The Times today!
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
observer.co.uk
‘Horrified but not surprised’: worldwide Jewish community mourns Bondi massacre | The Observer
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
I have just seen the play ‘Oh Mary’ and I shall never be able to sing ‘I’m a little teapot’ to my grandchildren again!
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Like Sam I am loving the way the newspapers are now advising us about devaluing our houses. Will we have glossy magazine articles on recluttering? Best excuse yet not to throw away all my papers.
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David KC @davidmuttering.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
This is splendid.
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Judith Freedman @judithfreedman.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Great idea and what could be better than an episode of In Our Time featuring my daughter in law? What a wonderful treasure trove this is.
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