Reposted by Paul MurphyGeneral Boles @generalboles.bsky.social · 53mWhat's the mood like at Tory conference? Well it's 10:30 in the morning and the party chair is drinking on stage #CPC26 138930
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 2hWhy focus on Inheritance tax paid? Because it’s paid by mostly Tory voters But because it’s unpopular, ‘most disliked tax in UK’ So please don’t be conned by BBC’s servile reports the Tories are moving beyond the populist culture wars #R4Today 173
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 3hPaying tax ‘more than once’ on income can be said of almost all taxes, especially to VAT & fuel duty You would do far more to boost the economy by cutting either of these taxes So why focus on a tax paid by less than 5% of the public who have more than enough to meet the threshold? #R4today 070
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 3hWow - Just WOW! A Chris Mason ‘précis’ of Tory plan to cut inheritance tax because it’s the most disliked tax in the UK No “& how will they pay for that?” moment from Chris Mason … of course not, merely a reference to it being ‘responsibly costed’ Well that’s fine then #R4today 4197
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 3h… So why was it ok for Tory reactions to be included in BBC radio4 reports on Labour announcements from Liverpool While Tory criticism of Labour policy is reported without contrast or criticism? #R4today 020
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 3hThis is a core principle of journalism Reports should always include a right to reply for anyone criticised in the report. Balancing comments & airtime between political parties is also an essential component of the BBC’s commitment to impartiality #R4today 100
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 3hWhat no right-of-reply from Labour on Badenoch’s sneering criticisms of Labour? Curious because #R4today & Radio4 news bulletins always managed to include a Tory response to Labour conference speech announcements (that btw mostly had nothing to say about the Tories) 162
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 4hJohn Crace: The ‘Britannia Shield’ announcement proves no one does comedy improv better than Kemi Badenoch #R4todaytheguardian.comDon’t mention the Iron Dome: comedy genius Kemi on warpath at Tory conference | John Crace‘It’s a Britannia Shield’ announcement proves no one does farcical improv better than the Conservative leader 183
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 4hSurely an obvious question is if Norway’s state owned Equinor ‘owns’ Jackdaw & Rosebank (It part owns the licence, with Shell) then it’ll be Norwegian employees & taxpayers who will benefit from expansion decision, not UK? #R4today 020
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 4h‘Expelleth the Turncoat’ Jenrick: Can well believe the ‘highlight of the Conservative conference’ is a 27m tapestry depicting Badenoch as a ‘glorious 11th-century conquering warrior’ If you needed further evidence the Tories are trapped in a history of their own making … #R4todaytheguardian.comTories delight as satirical tapestry pokes fun at ‘turncoat’ Robert JenrickReminders of banished Reform UK defector were all around the Conservative party conference in Birmingham 040
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 4hHope someone on #R4Today will be asking how Badenoch hopes to increase defence spending, policing, & prison expansion while delivering all those tax cuts? 1113
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 5hJeffrey Archer obit #r4today “Ordinary humans would be sunk by the allegations of lies, thefts, frauds, gussied-up CVs, expenses fiddles, charity swindles, plagiarisms, insider trading, funding illicit coups &, perhaps most unforgivable of all, unpleasantness to underlings that dogged his life”theguardian.comLord Archer of Weston-super-Mare obituaryBestselling author and Conservative politician whose scandal-ridden career ended with a prison sentence 121
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 14h… Which we should be making more of here. If UK committed to investment in manufacturing more turbines, batteries, heat exchangers, EVs, etc, then that’s the economic boost this country is crying out for 000
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 21hJust who is talking about ‘NetZero impoverishing our economy’ Mr Cleverly? NetZero (renewables batteries/ energy efficiency) is one of the top 5 global growth industries Energy security will never come from chasing fossil fuels #wato 172
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026And there’s always a ‘Tories sued for copyright infringement’ story from the conference season Typically the stolen artwork is used to accompany some snide attack on their opponents - which is probably why they do it #R4todaytheguardian.comArtist calls in lawyers after Tories use his Burnham portrait without consentStanley Chow’s cartoon was put on water bottles at party conference with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’ 011
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026The Conservatives blame their failures on abandoning their 1976 principles. Spending cuts & trickledown economics is 1980s thinking. It just won’t work in today’s economy #R4Todaytheguardian.comThe Guardian view on Tory economics: Britain’s future needs more than Thatcher’s past | EditorialEditorial: The Conservatives blame their failures on abandoning their 1976 principles. But the country needs investment and resilience rather than another round of spending cuts 120
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Blissfully unaware Bad-enoch had become ‘Bade-anoch’ Another Fashanu - Fashahnoo moment absolutely nobody outside the servile #r4today editorial team cares about 120
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Badenoch claiming she has a plan to grow the economy: It’s benefits cuts, tax cuts, & scrapping environmental regulations & spending on NetZero … which is just about the largest investment program we’ve seen in UK since 2008 How on earth is this taken seriously? #R4today 190
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Tory conference determined to grab votes from right across the political spectrum from the Right, far-Right, extreme-Right, … to ReformUK This one trotting out the “no-go zones for white people” trope #R4todaytheguardian.comTory shadow minister claims Luton has ‘no-go zones’ where ‘white people won’t go’Blake Stephenson tells fringe meeting at Tory conference that the town is ‘a very dangerous place’ with ‘ghettoes’ 100
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Would you ‘Adam & Eve’ this man? Jeffrey Archer - a Life in Pictures: #R4todaytheguardian.comJeffrey Archer, former Conservative politician and novelist, dies aged 86Publisher says author died peacefully at home ‘between writing sessions’ 000
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Apparently Andrew Mountbatten Windsor ‘has been warned not to use the king’s private money’ to fund his legal action against Thames Valley police Which can only mean the cash will flow conveniently from the Duchy of Lancaster (taxpayer funded part of course!!) #R4todaytheguardian.comBuckingham Palace says it will not fund Andrew’s legal action against policeFormer Duke of York is attempting to quash search warrants that led to his arrest in February 020
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Seriously, ANY half DECENT journalist would have put it to that deluded young Tory that ‘Aren’t the Conservatives are largely responsible for the mess this country is in?’ But no we get Justing Webb supping the Kool Aid & wishing he was 40years younger #Pathetic #R4today 051
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026If you don’t know about Jeffrey Archer’s compulsion to spin a good yarn & you can’t stand listening to the Conservative Broadcasting Corporation #R4today then just google ’Jeffrey Archer’ & ‘brown paper bag’ 010
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026The Jeffrey Archer obit you won’t get on #R4today The ‘fall’ being he brought a dodgy libel case to cover his arse. Convicted of perjury & perverting the course of justice - 4years in gaol But kept his peerage & allowed to return to the aristocratic care home (Lords) on release from prisontheguardian.comJeffrey Archer, former Conservative politician and novelist, dies aged 86Publisher says author died peacefully at home ‘between writing sessions’ 271
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Jeffrey Archer, overcompensating to the end #R4today 130
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026… But I’m sorry #R4today I just can’t listen to conference vox-pops & young Tories declaring the Conservatives are ‘the party to sort out the mess the country is in’ from 14years of austerity, Brexit, & trickledown tax breaks !! 020
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Got to laugh at the greatest obstacle to the shadow chancellor’s ‘vision’ of self-driving countryside care mobiles is the potholes, poor connectivity, & the all too familiar chronic lack of investment & maintenance of the state #R4today 110
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026UK threatens tit-for-tat expulsion of Israeli diplomats over planned East Jerusalem consulate closuretheguardian.comUK threatens to expel Israeli diplomats over planned East Jerusalem consulate closureTit-for-tat expulsions expected after relations deteriorate as a result of UK ban on goods from illegal settlements 000
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Greens facing international ostracism over ‘Zionism is racism’ vote EU Greens: motion goes against its policy German Greens co-leader: vote is ‘intolerable and unacceptable’theguardian.comGreen party of England and Wales facing international ostracism over ‘Zionism is racism’ voteEuropean Green party says motion goes against its policy, with German Green co-leader calling it ‘intolerable and unacceptable’ 020
Reposted by Paul MurphyPhil M 🦻🏼💚 🍉 🏳️⚧️ 🇵🇸 @phillm.bsky.social · 05/10/2026When they talk about reducing red tape, remember this image. 5127631069
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Try understanding a bit better what others are saying on this. I’m done! 100
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026PS by Jewish settlers I’m referring to the post world war lot who created the state of Israel. Obviously not to the illegal West Bank thugs who have stolen property-land from Palestinians. 100
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026The best hope for 2state is an international consensus to pressure the US to push for it. How will this vote, which to many seems extreme, antisemitic, hostile to Israel, possibly help achieve that? 200
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026The BEST hope for Palestinian liberation is a land of their own, separate & free from Israeli oppression - Two State to give it a name Israelis are too hardline for that after October7 & evidently believe they can ethnically cleanse enough of the West Bank to put 2state out of contention …. 200
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026You’re really sticking to the belief this calls out racism - sticking the word ‘racism’ into a conf vote isn’t doing anything It’s sectarianism because it’s choosing sides & hopes to take everything from the Jewish settlers & restore the land to Palestinians It is reckless & regressive …. 200
Reposted by Paul MurphyTony Iles @tonyeye.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Tories going full-on Trumpian. Heat pumps, insulation, etc. do not add £50k to house cost. Scrapping the EA extraordinary. I presume Tories want completely unregulated pollution of our air, water, & land? Or do we rely on the corporate responsibility demonstrated by the Water Cos? #r4today 2168
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Because it’s sectarian & so counterproductive Other reasons to consider - I have been a Green supporter & voted for them since 2010 I’m not Jewish. & utterly despise Israel’s prosecution of its (civil) war against Hamas This motion means I won’t I bother voting Green again #R4today 100
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026If the motion had stuck to the already internationally outlined accusations of genocide /ethnic cleansing, we’d be having a different conversation, possibly one about Labour & Tories failure … probably not But instead it’s Greens = antisemitism. They should’ve listened to Caroline Lucas #R4today 100
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Nothing - But declaring Israel should revert to Palestine doesn’t oppose racism, does it? It’s sectarianism for one: choosing sides always gets in the way of peace It plays into the hands of those who claim that support for Palestinians is antisemitism (an equally ludicrous claim) #R4Today 300
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026The economic argument is flimsy at best: allowing developers to skimp on standards won’t translate to more affordable homes, either in numbers or price But it’s the sheer climate vandalism of this that just floors me #r4todaytheguardian.comTories to pledge to scrap Environment Agency and Natural EnglandShadow chancellor will also promise to scrap affordable homes regulations as part of strategy to refocus on growth 030
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026I can’t listen to #R4today now so forgive the vicarious posting … But look at new builds today & its still gas boilers & radiators: no photovoltaics, no underfloor heating, etc Skimping on insulation & energy efficiency will cost dwellers more with higher energy bills More Tory shortsightedness 150
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026… & Badenoch to increase the chocolate ration for all #R4today 010
Reposted by Paul MurphyCaroline Slocock @carolineslocock.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Me, in the FT. He might hate her but she had leadership qualities he will need to reverse her legacy. But he also needs to bring the country together to deliver his vision in ways she never could. 4195
Reposted by Paul MurphyMr RobertBob @mrrobertbob.bsky.social · 05/10/2026It is important to remind ourselves that whilst these protestors are deeply divisive and repugnant there were only 100 or so of them. They represent the smallest of minorities. That they get so much prominent publicity is also not helpful. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...independent.co.ukAnti-migrant protesters chant ‘shame on you’ as dinghy arrivesThe dinghy was shadowed by French rescue vessels until it entered English waters, where it was met by RNLI boats 16215
Reposted by Paul MurphyJim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Robert Jenrick’s handling of donations to his failed 2024 Tory leadership campaign has come under fresh scrutiny, after the UK donor at the centre of the row claimed that the politician and his senior campaign staff knew about the involvement of an overseas donor. www.ft.com/content/38a5...ft.comReform UK’s Robert Jenrick faces fresh accusation from campaign donorBritish businessman Phillip Ullmann says the politician was aware of his relationship with potentially illicit US donor 20448211
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Love this foto of the US B1-Lancer, the cold war ‘secret’ bomber, withdrawn from RAF Fairford due to ‘security concerns’ #R4today Credited to Andrew Fox, Guardian 393
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Agree - But for once I can’t blame the media. This bizarre Zionism motion will dog the Greens for years & will guaranteed be used to distract from talking about green issues #R4Today 160
Reposted by Paul MurphyPrem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 05/10/2026England's water infrastructure at breaking point. Large part of water network installed 130-150 years ago. Thames Water infrastructure has average age of 79 years; industry average 56 yrs. 40% of TW assets are 100+ yrs old. Must end privatisation, remove profit motive.standard.co.ukMP says London water network is 'at breaking point' with two incidents in a weekLondon MP Paul Kohler said the two incidents highlighted the poor state of the region's water infrastructure 22553263
Reposted by Paul MurphyPeter Smith @redpeter99.bsky.social · 05/10/2026How BBC covers Labour policy announcements versus How BBC covers Tory policy announcements. #r4today 215927
