iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Not sure how the triple lock change will ultimately play politically. But trapping the Tories and Reform into defending a policy literally none of them support in private is potentially a neat move.

2151458

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 20h

“That, to me, was an implicit threat. It feels very Palantir. Very Big Brother”: MP @labourlewis.bsky.social reveals Tom Watson has warned him over criticising Palantir By @carolecadwalla.bsky.social www.thenerve.news/p/clive-lewi...

17226139

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 20h

Richest 1% of Britons owns more wealth than the bottom 70% of the population combined. 50 richest families hold more wealth than the poorest half of the population combined. The concentration of wealth in fewer hands has not provided the necessary economic stimulus. Need redistribution.

leftfootforward.org

This is how the Chancellor can increase the personal allowance and lift millions out of hardship

Sustained economic growth can’t be achieved without a major boost to the purchasing power of the bottom 50% of the population

951821679

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 20h

“Stop accusing us of spying! We’ve been watching you!”

9324112

Simon Edmonds @sjsedmonds.bsky.social · 17h

Oh dear, what will Kemi and Nigel now do?

151

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 20h

This is testament to No.10's frankly astonishing degree of political competence. A policy which was branded electoral suicide 48 hours ago now showing signs of robust popularity.

54796193

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

German at Portsmouth @germanatportsmouth.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

There's a good joke about local beer rivalries in NRW in the comments section beneath the Guardian article.

093

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Your regular reminder that the basic rate on income tax has not been raised since 1975, the last time a Healey was Chancellor.

49020

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This must be up there with the most misleading headlines of all time, it's about the abolition of VAT on domestic electricity bills which will cut the cost of charging an EV at home, whether or not you have a driveway, relative to what it would have been. View this as a public service on my part.

2136

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 22h

A very good start. The unions should make clear that there should be no retrospection - any changes to settlement should only apply to new arrivals. inews.co.uk/news/politic...

inews.co.uk

How migration reforms could be watered down - as Mahmood plans talks on concessions

The Home Secretary is weighing up how to soften indefinite leave to remain changes

810727

Simon Edmonds @sjsedmonds.bsky.social · 20h

I see all the right wing press are taking the Burnham speech very well this morning.

010

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 21h

Knee, meet Jerk.

1122531

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It's inconceivable to me how someone who lost in a free & fair election can incite an angry mob to attack his own government, (the very definition of treason) & be allowed to run for any office ever again.

849292488506

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I've been to a lot of party conferences. Burnham's speech was the best I've heard in a long time. It was emotive but with major policy announcements and a clear diagnosis of how he thinks the country has taken the wrong path. "Public control" is how he thinks it can be put right.

1122124

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

it might backfire horribly on him but if so, boy is Andy Burnham going out with a bang. Do wonder if that speech could only have been made by someone who was out of Westminster for the madness years & isn't as scared of the public - he's gambling on them still grudgingly respecting conviction

1624127

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Chris Bryant, "I have this warning for Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch. They say they'll bin the European Convention on Human Rights" "They've clearly never read the Good Friday Agreement, or maybe they don't even care about it" "I promise you this: we will not dump the ECHR, we will stand by it"

10700153

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Joël Reland @jreland.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

What's that Andy? You want to look at the different options for the UK's relationship with the EU? If only someone had set them out already... ukandeu.ac.uk/introducing-...

59941

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

As a matter of logic you cannot be “hard working” if you rely on the state pension. I hope ministers will keep (start?) explaining that the state pension isn’t paid out of an investment fund but by the contributions of those currently working.

3118334

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Gets better and better. Ratcliffe clearly not wishing to upset ministers too much given he relies on public funding for many of his projects Man Utd co-owner Jim Ratcliffe did not give permission for comments to be used in Reform UK video - The Athletic share.google/ZDfkk1nUyoJk...

share.google

Man Utd co-owner Jim Ratcliffe did not give permission for comments to be used in Reform UK video

The 73-year-old billionaire has been critical of UK immigration levels on multiple occasions.

33715

Simon Edmonds @sjsedmonds.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

He really has no original thinking, no policies, he’s just the “I told you so” politician, that’s all he has to offer “I told you so” He offers no solution.

200

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

as a satire on so-called late stage capitalism how could one beat investors pouring a trillion into a company offering to wipe out humankind

992118737

Simon Edmonds @sjsedmonds.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

There is no cheese, there has to be lots of cheese to be a real fridge.

000

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

It never stops

Robert Jenrick

The 5 RAF base terror suspects have been released on bail.

Meanwhile Danny Tommo has his bail denied.

It looks insane on the face of it. Are the police going to explain what's going on?

4118636

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A very good morning to you all. Even if AI doesn’t destroy humanity it might well lead to the greatest boom and bust cycle in history.

3144

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Good thing that this couldn’t have been predicted almost a year ago <runs bitter victory lap> and the government didn’t just blithely carry on doing the same thing. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/718...

15555208

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

"The one thing your viewers can know for sure is that we believe in controlling spending and reducing taxes, not increasing taxes," says Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, whose own government raised taxes to their highest level in more than 70 years, just two years ago.

75841268

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

My periodic reminder to ministers and commenters that silver bullets are used to kill vampires, werewolves and other supernatural beings, as well as by The Lone Ranger as a symbol of the high cost of taking a human life. Magic bullets are what you have in mind.

5469

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Liar. Small boat crossings peaked under Johnson in 2022 reaching 46,000 in 2022. In current year they are 18,565 and falling. Also prior to Boris Johnson's Brexit there were none.

It's a disaster, and it can all be traced to
Labour ideology. Burnham has no mandate
from the people. He has no real ideas, and
no plan,

Johnson on X

23132681202

Simon Edmonds @sjsedmonds.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Says former Science and Business Secretary who certainly didn't do enough to boost business growth. Burnham not doing enough to boost growth, says former business secretary www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Andy Burnham not doing enough to boost growth, says former business secretary

Ex-Business Secretary Peter Kyle calls for more urgency on the economy, as Labour members head to the party's annual conference.

020

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Labour's immigration/asylum policies are profoundly racist and xenophobic. They embolden far right, undermine international law and violate basic human rights, while being even more hostile than the previous government. They can't be tweaked. They need to be scrapped. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Angela Rayner criticises worker visa plans on eve of Labour conference

The housing secretary says the government's plans to change wait times for permanent residency are unfair because they "change the goalposts".

820166

Simon Edmonds @sjsedmonds.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Of course he did, and apparently will start hostilities and bombing again. He has no plan.

000

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Anti-Reform @antireform.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

'It's a mystery, isn't it' via Christopher Warner

17678274

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Only 10% of the richest 0.01% of the population paid close to the top 47% (45% income tax marginal rate + 2% NIC) rate on earnings. A quarter of that group paid an effective average tax rate of 20% or less. The tax system appears to be progressive for some but is frequently not so at the very top

bmmagazine.co.uk

Only one in ten top UK earners pay close to top tax rate, says CenTax

CenTax says equalising capital gains tax with income tax could raise £19.7bn by 2030, as HMRC data shows few top earners pay the 47 per cent top rate.

14295161

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

In 2021, income tax personal allowance was frozen at £12,570. If aligned with inflation, it would now be £16,070. A minimum wage earner in England will pay extra £980 in income tax & NIC in 2026-27. Govt can easily increase personal allowance by £3,000, worth £600 to basic rate taxpayer.

leftfootforward.org

This is how the Chancellor can increase the personal allowance and lift millions out of hardship

Sustained economic growth can’t be achieved without a major boost to the purchasing power of the bottom 50% of the population

21455205

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 25/09/2026

I have blamed The agents That hacked Your website And which You probably Reasonably thought I controlled Forgive me I am rich And unaccustomed To taking responsibility

5776142098

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

He was stupid then. And he is stupid now.

28624

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Rayner is correct: these proposals are economically damaging and politically counterproductive. Pretty clear that view is now almost universal in the Cabinet/Labour Party and the informed public. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

thetimes.com

Angela Rayner condemns Labour’s migrant visa crackdown

Speaking before the party conference, the housing secretary says Shabana Mahmood’s immigration plans would affect care workers

22675182

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Private Eye:

London Fascist
Week begins
YES, it's that time again when the Fascism scene returns to London and this year black is very much in vogue.
Our models are sporting trademark black shirts twinned with black shorts and the very latest in balaclava chic.
The models sashayed through
London to the Daily Mail offices where they showed off the best of British Fascism for the World to see. A leading Fascism designer says, "You'll see this great new totally unthreatening look everywhere - Portsmouth, Dover, London. It's coming to a town near you soon, and we know where you live!"

23422143

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A former staff member of Tony Blair Institute said they had serious concerns that this was “very much trading money for access”, but was instructed by a colleague not to describe it that way. ‘They were saying you have to be really careful not to make it seem as if they’re paying money for access’😬

25352177

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Here's Rupert Lowe MP's payments from X Corp over the past year. This man is making serious cash from Musk's platform. Payments surged over the summer, during UK 'unrest', and when Musk was frantically re-sharing Lowe's posts... Bleak, lucrative work if you can get it.

Line chart plotting 21 payments from X Corp to Rupert Lowe MP, as declared in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. The x-axis runs from 3 September 2025 to 16 September 2026; the y-axis shows the value of each fortnightly payment in pounds, from zero to £12,000.

Payments run between roughly £1,100 and £2,200 through late 2025, rise gradually through spring 2026 to around £3,000–£3,800, then jump sharply to £11,724.97 on 10 June 2026 and £10,265.50 in July. From there they fall in five consecutive steps — £4,412.76, £3,126.35, £2,885.36, £2,542.04 — to £2,413.89 on 16 September 2026, a fall of 79% from the June peak.

Two things worth carrying with the graphic whichever version you use.

The July point is marked with an asterisk because the register gives its received date as 7 August 2026 while recording it as registered on 15 July. Plotted it at the likelier 7 July.

8280124

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

John Bull @garius.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

will say it again: the most effective way to curb far right agitators like Lowe, "Tommo" et. al. would be to stop their ability to earn money for it from social media or live streaming. So much of it is grifting for revenue, not attention.

211134388

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Labour's Jonathan Reynolds slams Conservative Helen Whately on #BBCQT "Frankly there's no evidence to suggest that unemployed people spend all their money on fags and booze" "It's just a way of you saying you don't like poor people"

1828364

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Wear The Peace @wearthepeace.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Actress Susan Sarandon being arrested earlier today for protesting Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations. One is speaking out against genocide, one is committing it. One was arrested, one was not.

874286038240

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 24/09/2026

Last night I planted an olive tree at Gracie Mansion with Palestinian families from Gaza. May peace be our future.

179126822230

Reposted by Simon Edmonds

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

EXC - We *also* have an MRP out today - which has some very striking findings. Progressives who vote tactically to stop Nigel Farage’s Reform UK could push his party into FOURTH place. The poll also shows Burnham’s Labour is winning back left-leaning voters. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

3331192