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Matthew Butcher

@matthew1butcher.bsky.social
903 followers 513 following 8 posts

I do Comms and read books, mostly

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Reposted by Matthew Butcher
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
I support Palestine Action in its judicial review of the government's ban.
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Matthew Butcher @matthew1butcher.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Super excited about the @neonuk.bsky.social Summer Gathering on Sat. I'm chairing a sesh on the future of Net Zero with @tessakhan.bsky.social, Hannah Martin and Mat Lawrence which should be great. Full programme is below and last few tickets available here: www.eventbrite.com/e/neon-summe...
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Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
I'm not sure "if you think about it, cuts to disabled people's benefits are basically the same kind of thing as minimum wage rises & free school meals" is a line that's really going to fly (from today's London Playbook)
The No. 10 source added … that the “broken welfare system is failing the most vulnerable,” there is “broad consensus” across Labour, and the reforms are “underpinned by the same Labour values” as minimum wage rises, free school meals for low-income families and renationalizing the railways. Now for the simple task of convincing rebels of that.
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Tax Justice Network @taxjustice.net · 10/06/2025
The UK govt softened tax reforms on the superrich because of a widely reported “exodus” of millionaires fleeing the UK. Our new study w/ @patmillsuk.bsky.social & @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social shows that the "exodus" was a complete fiction. #BogusExodus #TaxTheSuperRich taxjustice.net/press/millio...
taxjustice.net
Millionaire exodus did not occur, study reveals - Tax Justice Network
The number of millionaires widely reported in the news to be leaving countries in "exodus" represented near-0% of all millionaires.
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Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
As I was saying last night @lbc.co.uk, AUKUS is a project built on sand, "unachievable", as well as a really bad idea www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
theguardian.com
UK defence review says Aukus is on schedule but fears remain over possible capability gap for Australia
Starmer government’s own major projects agency says plan to power subs is ‘unachievable’
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The Autonomy Institute @autonomy-institute.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
Launching on WEDNESDAY in London: Forum 2029 🎉 A bold new initiative to build a progressive living standards policy platform for the UK — starting with a major event this Wednesday in London 📆 Over 40 speakers confirmed, across 7 events! Sign-up👇 buff.ly/dMcf4P5
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Cat Hobbs @cathobbs.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
I spoke to Julia Hartley-Brewer who found our arguments for public ownership of water "rather persuasive" !👇 3 out of 4 want public ownership of water in England, incl voters from ALL parties Water is a natural monopoly and we should be taking it back www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjir...
youtube.com
"Rather persuasive!" Julia Hartley-Brewer on our arguments for public ownership of water
YouTube video by We Own It
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Archie Bland @archiebland.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
I wrote for the Guardian’s Saturday magazine about my son Max, who changed how I see the world. Took ages. More jokes after the first bit. Thanks Merope Mills for being the most patient and generous editor. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
theguardian.com
The boy who came back: the near-death, and changed life, of my son Max
It was, we were told, a case of sudden infant death syndrome interrupted. What followed would transform my understanding of parenting, disability and the breadth of what makes a meaningful life
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Matthew Butcher @matthew1butcher.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
We are really excited to be hiring a Head of Media at @neonuk.bsky.social . If you are someone who knows how to land priogressive stories and spokespeople in the media and want to be part of a really great team, please check it out: www.neweconomyorganisers.org/about-jobs/h...
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Possible @wearepossible.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) work. The myths don’t. LTNs make streets safer, fairer, and greener. We can’t let misinformation block progress on clean air, climate, and health. It’s time to clear the air and cut through the noise 👇 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Just ignore all the myths about low traffic neighbourhoods: they’re popular, effective and here to stay | Izzy Romilly
After the high court ruled one high-profile scheme unlawful, it is important to make the case for LTNs. Luckily, there is a strong one to make, says Izzy Romilly of climate charity Possible
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The Autonomy Institute @autonomy-institute.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
📢 Announcing Forum 2029 🔋 LAUNCH EVENT (Weds 4th June, 18:30, London): Why we need a new progressive policy platform and the case for housing reform Speakers: Zack Polanski (Greens), Beth Stratford (IIPP), Neal Lawson (Compass), Danny Sriskandarajah (NEF) Details 👇
buff.ly
Forum 2029 – Food, Water, Energy: Ownership and the common good
Building a living standards policy platform for the UK. A first series of events bringing together leading progressive voices. Confirmed speakers: Clive Lewis MP (The Labour Party), Vicki Hird…
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Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
🧵To clearly understand how damaging winter fuel has been for the Government - this chart looks at key policies or political events so far by cut through and positivity. Winter Fuel has by far the highest cut through of any policy, and the highest negativity.
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Liberty @libertyhq.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
🚨BREAKING🚨 WE’VE WON OUR CASE TO #DefendDemocracy The Court of Appeal has ruled that anti-protest laws which completely ignored the will of Parliament are unlawful
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
And here's the other side of fragmentation - Labour losing to Greens in a London council by-election
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Doug Parr @dougparr.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
1/12 Tony Blair Institute have released a report which is getting a lot of coverage in UK today It says the drive for net zero emissions is flawed and some media outlets have gone to town However it’s a bit odd By odd, I mean there’s a lot of bollocks in it and shouldn't be taken seriously 🧵🧵
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Matthew Butcher @matthew1butcher.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
This is extremely interesting
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Steve Akehurst @steveakehurst.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
..but they're also just one part of the switcher picture. The ceiling on losses to Greens/Lib Dems is also higher. Lab seat loss if all Reform curious voters defect: 123. If all Green curious go: 250. *Of course not all will defect*, but it shows you govt has potential vulnerabilities both sides.
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
.@steveakehurst.bsky.social does some of the most interesting psephological research around, and this is an absolutely fascinating read. For instance, "if Labour lost every Reform curious Labour vote, it would lose 123 seats; if it lost every Green curious Labour voter it would lose 250 seats."
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Sian Berry MP @sianberry.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Politicians’ wilful misunderstanding of these guidelines will condemn women, parents, pregnant and young people to continued extreme and unjust punishments. These guidelines would have finally addressed the huge harm of being pregnant in prison but the Government has just blocked them outright.
Text reads: Green party claim Sentencing Council bill based on 'wilful misunderstanding' and will lead to more unjust punishments

The Green party has also criticised the government’s decision to introduce the sentencing guidelines (pre-sentence reports) bill. In a statement, the Green MP Siân Berry said:

It has been chilling to witness the government pile pressure on an independent body which has been nothing but clear about the importance of these guidelines for passing effective sentences.The new guidelines, which were publicly consulted on, would have helped create safer sentencing for many women, parents, pregnant and young people, for whom extreme custodial sentences can compound the harm that led to their offending in the first place. This delay will condemn too many people to unjust punishment while we wait for new plans.

Pre-sentencing reports offer judges information, they do not determine sentences. Politicians’ wilful misunderstanding of these processes is dangerous and will cause irrevocable harm for many if this bill is passed.
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Common Wealth @cmmonwealth.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Today’s Spring Statement failed to address the declining living standards behind Labour's drop in popularity. Welfare cuts bring marginal gains for government growth figures — but they imbue devastating personal financial loss for the most vulnerable in society. #SpringStatement
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New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
This government's attempt to justify cutting benefits has completely fallen apart. They're slashing support for ill and disabled people to meet their arbitrary fiscal rules. @pollardtom.bsky.social reacts to the cuts announced in the spring statement
Quote from Tom Pollard, head of social policy: Today’s assessment confirms that ill and disabled people will see cuts to benefits amounting to around £6.5bn a year by 2029-30. Yet the Department for Work and Pensions and the Office for Budget Responsibility between them have not yet been able to forecast any impact on employment outcomes. The government’s narrative to justify benefit cuts for ill and disabled people has completely fallen apart – it is clearer than ever that the real driver has been pressure to meet an arbitrary savings target.
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Tessa Khan @tessakhan.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Breaking: Uplift welcomes a very sensible decision from the Court of Session invalidating the decision to approve the Rosebank oil field. Rosebank is a disaster for the climate & will do next to nothing to create the prosperity & stability that the UK needs. 🧵 www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Rosebank oilfield decision ruled unlawful by Edinburgh court
Court of session said UK government go-ahead for Rosebank and Jackdaw permits did not take into account carbon emissions
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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 24/01/2025
Great reporting. The Israeli army said that most people killed in bombing a Beirut apartment block were Hezbollah. The BBC found that nearly all were in fact civilians, and a third were children. www.bbc.com/news/article...
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Rachel Shabi @rachelshabi.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
A British Jewish writer with a book out on how antisemitism became such a battleground issue, I was not invited to speak at Jewish Book Week. A wider point here (fortunately, I'm invited to speak at many other book events) about the political gatekeeping of this festival
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NEON @neonuk.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
We’re about to kick off our conversation with Gary Younge on the rise of the Far Right, identity politics and his book ‘Dispatches from the Diaspora’.  🧵Follow along and be apart of the conversation 👇
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George Dibb @georgedibb.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Inflation down in December, with Core CPI down 0.3% The UK economy continues on track for disinflation. Inflation is not an immediate cause for concern for the economy, but weaker-than-expected growth is To boost growth, investment and prosperity, interest rates must come down
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Alfie Stirling @alfie-stirling.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
The UK's big problem isn't bond market toddler tantrums, it's the growing risk of medium-term 'stagflation' - low growth, high inflation. (Incidentally that's also what's making the toddlers irritable in the first place.) 1/
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Guardian and Observer journalists have asked people not to share Guardian stories for 48 hours from midnight tonight (Tues), to respect their strike and the virtual picket line
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Matthew Butcher @matthew1butcher.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
We're really excited about recruiting a Head of Messaging in the NEON Comms Hub. You'll have a budget to commission messaging research, a training component, rapid response work and working with the Spokes Network & Worker-led Transition programmes. www.neweconomyorganisers.org/about-jobs/h...
neweconomyorganisers.org
| Work at NEON
The purpose of this role is to lead the messaging programme at NEON. That means developing messaging guidance, training and coaching support. You will be the go-to person for messaging work in the Com...
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NEON @neonuk.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Come and join the Comms team at NEON! It is a really special role in an amazing team - with a budget to commission messaging research, a training component, rapid response work and working with the Spokes Network & Worker-led Transition programmes. www.neweconomyorganisers.org/about-jobs/h...
neweconomyorganisers.org
| Work at NEON
The purpose of this role is to lead the messaging programme at NEON. That means developing messaging guidance, training and coaching support. You will be the go-to person for messaging work in the Com...
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George Dibb @georgedibb.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
🚙 How can we make sense of the Vauxhall/Stellantis factory closure? First must avoid mixing up cause and effect, just because this is happening at the same time as the ZEV mandate doesn't mean it's the cause It's clear IMO that this has nothing to do with net zero regulations
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Z2K (Zacchaeus 2000 Trust) @z2ktrust.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
"Without ensuring that our social security system properly protects people from poverty, the government runs the risk of allowing its promise to ‘Get Britain Working’ to become empty rhetoric" Read our full op-ed in the @bigissue.com 👇 www.bigissue.com/opinion/get-...
bigissue.com
'Get Britain Working' is empty rhetoric without DWP benefit reforms
Anela Anwar, chief executive of anti-poverty charity Z2K, reacts to the government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ white paper.
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Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
My first comment piece in @theguardian.com is on a topic very close to my heart; the threat that the #ClimateCrisis poses to my local community in South Wales. Here's a thread with a few extra thoughts from me 🧵
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Kevin Smith @kevinjgsmith.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
4th of Dec is the deadline for folks in SCOTLAND to apply for the next intake of our Spokesperson Network programme. We train people up to do great broadcast media interviews and then provide support and pitching to get them on TV and radio www.neweconomyorganisers.org/work/support...
neweconomyorganisers.org
Spokesperson Network | NEON
The Spokesperson Network trains and supports people to speak on television and radio. We are substantially boosting the number of progressive, diverse voices in this space to challenge pervasive narra...
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Gareth Redmond-King @gredmondking.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
My thoughts on where we got to in COP29, and what that means for what lies ahead. eciu.net/insights/202...
eciu.net
COP29: what was achieved and what next
After two tough weeks of negotiations, and a turbulent geopolitical backdrop, we take a look at what was achieved, and what lies ahead for Brazil and COP30.
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Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
I was on BBC News talking about the impact of #StormBert on my local community in South #Wales "It's so important that not only do we phase out fossil fuels, we must actually also massively now invest in climate adaptation... we need to see that from the government right now"
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Common Wealth @cmmonwealth.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
“Towns like Mansfield were not ‘left behind’ but actively remade through … enterprise zones, land sell-offs & financial perks for large businesses, most of which offered only low-paid, insecure work” “Two Towns” in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Chronic pain and ravaged mental health: this is the brutal reality of Britain’s new working class | Aditya Chakrabortty
The story of former Amazon worker Karolina Sobczak reveals much about the people who keep our society running – at huge personal cost, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
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Common Wealth @cmmonwealth.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
🚨 NEW: "Two Towns" — Sacha Hilhorst interviews 121 residents, civil servants & local leaders in two ex-industrial towns, Mansfield & Corby.   These towns haven't been “left behind” — but actively remade, fostering low-quality, insecure work. ⬇️ www.common-wealth.org/publications...
common-wealth.org
A Tale of Two Towns: Economic Disadvantage and Political Disempowerment in Ex-Industrial England | Report | Common Wealth
What do the stories of Mansfield and Corby tell us about the state of contemporary Britain?
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Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Interesting. New YouGov poll shows strong support for assisted dying across just about every demographic/political grouping.
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Molly Fleming @mollyfleming.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
👋 Using my first post to find some great Scotland-based spokespeople for our training in Jan! Are you a progressive voice working in Scotland? Do you want to use TV and radio to push for change and amplify your message? Apply for the SPN! More info↓ www.neweconomyorganisers.org/work/support...
neweconomyorganisers.org
Spokesperson Network | NEON
The Spokesperson Network trains and supports people to speak on television and radio. We are substantially boosting the number of progressive, diverse voices in this space to challenge pervasive narra...
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Efua Poku Amanfo @efuapokuamanfo.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
New analysis - primary school suspensions rate have doubled over the past decade. Unsurprisingly much of this data reiterates what we published in our Who is Losing Learning Report, in particular that children with SEND at higher risk of suspension. 👇🏾 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Primary school pupil suspensions in England double in a decade
Mum Jo says Jacob is very caring but sensory issues led to him being excluded for disruptive behaviour.
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Kevin Smith @kevinjgsmith.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
A bunch of folks we are lucky to work with from progressive UK movements who are up for doing broadcast media - work in progress go.bsky.app/VgTWQtN
go.bsky.app
Progressive voices doing UK broadcast media
Join the conversation
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 10/10/2024
🚨Employment Rights Bill: The RMT union "strongly welcomes the Labour Government’s pledge to rapidly introduce legislation aimed at restoring workers' rights, repairing industrial relations, & ensuring wage growth" Full statement from the RMT below (other comments from unions are similarly glowing)
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Matthew Butcher @matthew1butcher.bsky.social · 08/10/2024
good stuff
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 08/10/2024
Blimey. There were 16,300 more deaths than births across the UK in the year to mid-2023 - new ONS data out today. Britain's economy - and pension system - literally can't survive without immigrants.
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Minnie Rahman @minnierahman.bsky.social · 08/10/2024
This is pretty simple for the Govt. to resolve. Don't have a hard self-imposed deadline, allow flexibility in the documentation people show, and have a targeted communications plan which is not just "charities will tell people". www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
theguardian.com
People who have lived in UK for decades fear being ‘locked out’ by eVisas
Physical documents proving residence rights to be replaced by online visas at end of year despite functionality concerns
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Institute for Public Policy Research @ippr.org · 08/10/2024
💼| NEW REPORT: The current fiscal rules fail to promote growth or deliver fiscal sustainability. In this report, @carsjung.bsky.social sets out a new, more rigorous, framework that could generate more than £50bn additional headroom to borrow to invest. www.ippr.org/articles/bud...
ippr.org
Budgeting better: How the UK could start to improve its fiscal framework and boost growth | IPPR
But growth is low, and UK is at the bottom of the G7 for investment, and the plans inherited from the previous government have public investment on a sharp
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