iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Same, but The Times. Stupidly signed up to one of their free promo deals, fairly rapidly had an “oh God no” moment, but somehow allowed my subscription to carry on for about a year.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Well the Industrial Law Society conference is going well so far.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Because othering is far easier and more comfortable than engaging with, or even acknowledging, the myriad intractable difficulties of the human condition.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Following a discussion with local townspeople over municipal health and safety matters, a policeman goes boating, tries to catch a fish and then has a swim.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Shoesmith was the case that immediately sprang to my mind too.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Perhaps Binface isn’t the joke.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I didn’t stay up to watch the game. I have no regrets. Nothing is worth being more sleepless than I already am. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Weirdly, I think the reason many of us still prefer a constitutional monarchy is because of the relative downsides of a system in which that other man, and men like him, are able to come into absolute power.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

We used to apply every year. On the two occasions we got any, they were court 1 tickets for week 2, which by that stage was mainly doubles and veterans matches.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

For over 30 years and many re-watches I have heard this as “a kaftan and a bell” and only now does this scene make any sense.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

“It's sort of fashionable, actually. All the actors do it. Even Redgrave.”

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

It’s a matter for the party whether a vote is whipped. Governments have given MPs free votes on some govt bills in the past.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

The “rule” is a non-binding convention (the Salisbury convention). The manifesto had promised pre-legislative consultation (which would have addressed how probationary periods would work with day 1 unfair dismissal rights), but it never happened. So a compromise was reached.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

As someone who grew up in Oxfordshire in the 70s 80s and 90s, cars were not then (and are not now) the easiest way to get into Oxford. Congestion was terrible and we took the bus or used one of the cheap and convenient park and ride schemes.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Minor bugbear of mine when people call House of Lords “undemocratic” for holding up Commons legislation. It is the will of the Commons, as expressed in the Parliament Acts, that HoL has power to revise and delay but not prevent HoC legislation. That they use this power is part of our democracy.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

That’s a nice little arm you have there. It would be a shame if someone broke it.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

That’s not so much a “law” as an absence of law, from a bygone colonial era. These days international law is based on an underlying respect for sovereignty, and alliances between states for, among other things, mutual defence against aggressors.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Not just attacking the victim but proffering a narrative that the video evidence shows cannot possibly have even a grain of truth.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Even if this agent is ultimately hung out to dry for having acted contrary to his “training”, the deed is done, the fear of death is instilled, the populace is further subdued. A person with a bullet in their head can take no solace from being legally in the right.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Guessing wrong must now become an act of defiance, a moral imperative in the face of the madness that now prevails.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

I am convinced this is Roger’s attempt to give you just enough hope to suck you back in to his twisted game, ready for the sucker punch. I bet it’s not even going to be Jesus or even St Nick on the 24th, it’ll be a duck-billed platypus in a pudding basin or some such.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

This may look like a victory but in truth it shows Roger’s Machiavellian nature. You had a real moment of personal growth yesterday and I think I speak for all of us on this journey when I say we were proud of you. But this last minute switch to overtly Christmassy imagery risks undoing all of that.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Heartbreaking. I’m not sure any of us can survive another week of this.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

I ended up watching the debate on a few minutes delay by the end as my feed kept buffering! So I missed the actual climax.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

I’m not sure what that impact assessment is supposed to do though. It’s not the same as a consultation. And if it suggests removing the cap might be a bad idea, will they just not bring that bit into force? I very much doubt that’s the plan but I might be wrong

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Lord Sharpe withdrew his amendment based on government assurance of an impact assessment prior to commencement.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Well it looks like it’s all over. Bill has finally passed!

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Lord Fox also doesn’t want to derail the bill. Looks like Lib Dem support has switched to the government.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Lord Vaux (who previously was trenchantly against the gov in this) says he is now going to “respect the will of the elected chamber” even though he is unhappy.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Lord Pannick quoting from yesterday’s business letter saying “now is the time to pass the bill”.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Raises the spectre of “multimillion pound payouts” to failed water bosses among others.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Pulling no punches over accusing the government of acting “unconstitutionally” in introducing this new measure at ping pong, as well as “misrepresenting” to the House the extent of the roundtable agreement on the cap.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Lord Sharpe pushing his amendment to abolish 52 week cap and consult on the 118k cash cap.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Settling down to listen to the Lords pinging the Employment Rights pong again.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

And of course they can still get rid of the 52 weeks pay cap now, by statutory instrument, with the blessing of business leaders, which will mean far more for most ordinary workers than the overall cash cap.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

I can see why they felt the need to come out of the roundtable negotiations with a “win” but I think that getting this enormous bill passed with hardly any losses in terms of policy goals is a massive win in itself, without the complication of the cap, which could in any event be addressed later.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

We can go on all day, which just goes to show how much there is to consult about if the government would actually take that approach. It’s been good to engage with you on this and to try and understand the government position.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Bosses will continue to price in likely awards, because in most cases loss of earnings is small. Median UD awards are less than 7k. That won’t change.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Also worth remembering that consultation before legislating on employment rights was also a manifesto commitment.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Which is why proper consultation should be undertaken before legislating.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Point 1 is exactly why no cap is a niche benefit for mainly very highly paid workers. Point 2 ignores how senior terminations, esp board level, are done in practice (negotiated settlement based on contractual notice). Removing the cap will potentially change the landscape on exec termination.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

I was surprised the Lords didn’t observe the Salisbury convention over day one unfair dismissal but we are where we are. We can save the blame for later but I don’t think the government’s chosen way forward right now is the right one.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Also I agree that the whole contents of a bill do not need to be in a manifesto. That’s obvious. But neither should controversial new policy be introduced at ping pong.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

The government should drop it, pass the bill, consult on the cap, and bring in a new, short Bill for that. The only thing stopping them is a desire to save face.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

The gov is holding it up by insisting on a new and unpopular change at the last minute. This is not a Tory talking point, it’s bad parliamentarianism, and a betrayal of working people for the gov to imperil the bill for a measure which will mainly benefit senior executives.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

I’m a Labour supporter and want to see the rest of the Bill passed, but the government simply has no mandate for this change.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Much has been said of the Lords constitutional role but agreeing to such a major non-manifesto policy change, introduced during ping pong with no public consultation or impact assessment, or, it appears, consensus from both sides of industry, would be reckless.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Given the rest of the letter’s content, “Now is the time for Parliament to pass the Bill” is surely telling the minister to implement the agreement rather than hold up the Bill further.

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Mark Tarran @marktarran.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

There are lots of warm words in the letter about working together on the secondary legislation needed to implement the rest of the Bill. But nowhere is there any suggestion the Lords should roll over and accept the gov position on the cap. I think it’s telling the minister to drop it.

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