Reposted by Will FordSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 26/11/2025And honestly I don't give a fuck if it's popular or not. It's going to make a lot of kids' lives better. That's the point of government. Not an opinion poll. 221303170
Reposted by Will FordSunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 17/11/2025The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world" That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims 41939482
Reposted by Will FordZoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · 18/10/2025When was the last time you heard a politician in the media asked anything like- -How will you make sure asylum seekers can reach the UK safely & refugees are protected? -How will you make sure people coming to this country to work or study are treated equally & with respect? I cannot remember. 21610208
Will Ford @willfordosblaw.bsky.social · 29/09/2025www.theguardian.com/politics/202...theguardian.comStop blaming migrants and tackle UK’s real problems, 100 charities tell home secretaryA letter warns Shabana Mahmood that ‘targeting refugees will do nothing to tackle’ problems with housing and the NHS 000
Reposted by Will FordSam Tims @sam-tims.bsky.social · 10/07/2025Over 1.6m children are now impacted by the Two-Child Limit - 11.6% of all children This is a cruel policy that unnecessarily drags children into deeper levels of hardship It needs to go, and the longer it is kept, the greater the scarring effects on children's health and education will be 03725
Reposted by Will FordPaul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 02/07/2025The real test of Starmer is how he reacts to this rebellion. Two options: listen to the rebels and decide to govern like a Labour PM, or go all-out Blue Labour Faragist. One wins. The other makes Farage PM in 2029. 98519
Reposted by Will FordDorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 30/06/2025I broke my phone (but not my brain), saw 27 acts, walked for about 40 miles and wrote about it all for the New Cue 36810
Will Ford @willfordosblaw.bsky.social · 25/06/2025www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...theguardian.comMamdani’s defeat of Cuomo offers Democrats a path out of the wildernessMamdani signifies a generational change and rebuke to a party establishment grown complacent and hypocritical 010
Reposted by Will FordSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 23/06/2025One reason the revolt on disability benefits is looking so substantial is the line being used to defend it lacks any integrity. To claim that the purpose of cutting PIP - a non-means tested benefit - is to help people back into work requires saying something untrue. 38870233
Reposted by Will FordTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 10/06/2025BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄inews.co.ukBBC warns Russia is taking over World Service radio frequenciesRussian propaganda is filling the void where the BBC has closed World Service radio services due to cuts 36730483
Reposted by Will FordJames Chalmers @jameschalmers.bsky.social · 01/06/2025I am constantly baffled by the inability of people making this argument to treat children as humans. Take a family. You think they shouldn’t have had a third child. Maybe they did, in fact, make a bad decision. You win. Now, what do you want the child to eat: is your scolding especially nutritious? 1927789
Reposted by Will FordEleanor Morton @eleanormorton.bsky.social · 29/05/2025Duolingo right now: youtube.com/shorts/hL9pl...youtube.comLiterally every company nowYouTube video by Eleanor Morton 382333847
Reposted by Will FordCharlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · 12/05/2025"We don't understand. We've tried everything; writing op-eds declaring the Far Right are bang on & repeating their slogans; giving speeches with all the Far Right buzz words & rhetoric; changing laws and policies to give effect to Far Right demands; and... STILL people want to vote Far Right??" 24216
Reposted by Will FordSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 06/05/2025A question that I haven't heard a good answer to: if cutting migration by a third in a year hasn't changed the narrative on it at all - what would make you think cutting it by another third (or half] would? 1141581470
Will Ford @willfordosblaw.bsky.social · 01/05/2025Today the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration)(Amendment) Regulations 2025 come into effect, restoring an escape fee for welfare benefits legal help cases. Fixed fee is £208 and the escape threshold is now £624. 000
Reposted by Will FordTom Baldwin @tombaldwin66.bsky.social · 15/04/2025What Farage says about where his votes are coming from is also horseshit, of course. Latest YouGov poll shows Tories have leaked 20% of the 2024 support to Reform, but Labour just 6%. Though that still matters, it’s just a third of what Labour’s losing to Lib Dems and Greens… 8353106
Reposted by Will FordAdam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 14/04/2025What we saw today was two jumped up thugs and their bootlicking sychophants laughing at the US Constitution, the supreme court, and the idea that anyone can stop them from doing anything they want www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...theatlantic.comThe Constitutional Crisis Is HereThe Supreme Court told the Trump administration to “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador’s infamous CECOT prison. So far, the administration is pretending to comply while re... 21377842913
Will Ford @willfordosblaw.bsky.social · 02/04/2025Amending regs to the legal aid Remuneration regs now out and take effect from 1 May 2025. Reintroduces an escape fee for Welfare Benefits legal aid casework. Very pleased to have played a role in bringing about this change. www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/41...legislation.gov.uk 011
Reposted by Will FordCory Booker @corybooker.com · 02/04/2025I may be tired and a little hoarse, but as I said again and again on the Senate floor, this is a moment where we cannot afford to be silent, when we must speak up. 1045913486819968
Reposted by Will FordJohn Harris @johnharris1969.bsky.social · 27/03/2025To mark publication day of Maybe I'm Amazed, I've done a long read for the New Statesman about one of the book's elements: the inhuman, cruel grind of the Special Needs system & how it's collapsing... one of the things that James's love of music got us through t.co/GZhqO6E13it.cohttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2025/03/the-special-needs-trap 34620
Reposted by Will FordNaomi Smith @pimlicat.bsky.social · 18/03/2025Today let's remember that austerity kills. 🧵 Researchers at the University of Glasgow, found that an additional 335,000 deaths occurred in Scotland, England, and Wales between 2012 and 2019 compared to what was expected based on previous trends. www.theguardian.com/business/202...theguardian.comOver 330,000 excess deaths in Great Britain linked to austerity, finds studyResearch comes as government signals fresh round of public spending cuts 10247141
Reposted by Will FordJonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 06/03/2025Yet again *another* Times columnist - this time Emma Duncan - makes a blatantly false claim about disability benefits "At present you can get signed off sick simply through a phone consultation with a GP." Just shockingly bad journalism, again and again and again. archive.ph/It3VS 42743240
Reposted by Will FordTanja Bueltmann @tanjabueltmann.net · 23/02/2025I know we all love a dose of hopium, especially now. But the take, which I see all across here, that the far right was defeated in Germany tonight because 80% of Germans voted for other parties is very misleading and unhelpful. Understanding this really matters. 🧵 11568247
Reposted by Will FordGarden Court Chambers @gardencourtlaw.bsky.social · 14/02/2025📣 Important High Court ruling paves way for legal aid for school exclusion appeals 📣 Our Stephanie Harrison KC & @olliepersey.bsky.social, instructed by Sabrina Simpson & Mital Raithatha of @cclcuk.bsky.social, represented the Claimant. Read on here 🔽 gardencourtchambers.co.uk/important-hi... 155
Reposted by Will FordStella Creasy MP @stellacreasy.bsky.social · 11/02/2025This should be changed asap. If we give someone refugee status, it can't be right to then refuse them route to become a British Citizen. To say they can have a home in our country, but never a place in our society and be forever second class. freemovement.org.uk/good-charact...freemovement.org.ukGood character guidance amended to block refugees from naturalisation - Free MovementThere have been some important additions to pages 50 and 51 of the Good Character guidance (a comparison of the new and old versions is here) that have the 1862013614
Reposted by Will FordIan Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 12/02/2025What you are seeing this morning over the refugee decision is Labour alienating and offending its remaining liberal supporters without bringing any new voters onside. 2333098681
Reposted by Will FordAnand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 12/02/2025“This is bad, full stop. It creates a class of person who are forever excluded from civic life no matter how long they live here. It’s also a clear breach of the refugee convention.” Damn straigt, @colinyeo.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/politics/202...theguardian.comUK to refuse citizenship to refugees who have ‘made a dangerous journey’Home Office accused of shutting out refugees, as new guidance says those applicants will ‘normally be refused’ 751804573
Reposted by Will FordDavid Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 11/02/2025My grandparents entered the UK illegally. 514925
Reposted by Will FordChaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 06/02/2025Disabled man self-harms in public and dies after losing PIP The Treasury: let's cut disability benefit www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disabled-man...disabilitynewsservice.comDisabled man self-harms in public and dies after losing PIP, but DWP silent on 30 years of safeguarding failuresA disabled man who was plunged into poverty after his disability benefits were removed died hours after self-harming in public, apparently in protest at his treatment by the Department for Work and… 24224
Reposted by Will FordTimothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 05/02/2025Of course it’s a coup. Miss the obvious, lose your republic. open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...open.substack.comOf course it’s a coupMiss the obvious, lose your republic 5822813210728
Reposted by Will FordNearly Legal @nearlylegal.co.uk · 05/02/2025Gosh. Council decision that a person who had obtained a secure tenancy by deception, and left when facing ground 5 possession proceedings, was intentionally homeless from that property was quashed on appeal as never had the right to occupy it. Case note will follow... www.bailii.org/ew/cases/Mis...bailii.orgMunemo v City of Wolverhampton Council [2025] EWCC 4 (31 January 2025) 152
Reposted by Will FordTim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 06/02/2025Wait, what? You're desperately worried about integration and then the first policy you come out with is to make citizenship, which has long been seen as a key element of integration, more difficult? Even leaving aside the administrative nightmare you'd probably create, that's odd - to say the least. 50645128
Will Ford @willfordosblaw.bsky.social · 04/02/2025Nice article in the Law Society Gazette regarding judicial review regarding legal aid for welfare benefits. Many thanks to @monidipafouzder.bsky.social www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/welfare...lawgazette.co.ukWelfare benefits decision prompts firm to drop legal aid JRLawyers will be able to claim total costs at hourly rates when costs exceed three times the £208 fixed fee. 132
Reposted by Will FordKatie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 29/01/2025Really good reporting from @channel4news.bsky.social on the uk’s shameful rate of child poverty. We need an ambitious child poverty strategy that starts to rebuild Universal Credit so it protects families when they fall on hard times www.channel4.com/news/child-p...channel4.comChild poverty will rise in parts of the UK, warns charityA leading charity has warned that economic growth alone won't tackle deep-seated levels of poverty. 17525
Reposted by Will FordJonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 29/01/2025Immigration doesn't increase crime (overall/average). But regularising unauthorised migrants does *reduce* crime. 211548
Will Ford @willfordosblaw.bsky.social · 28/01/2025Update on judicial review brought by Osbornes challenging legal aid rates for Welfare Benefits legal help work. We have been successful! 121
Reposted by Will FordChaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 16/01/2025NEW: Labour has given its strongest signal yet that it will *keep* the Tories' planned disability benefit cuts, as it said it would re-run the consultation that was earlier today judged to have been held unlawfully The cuts would hit c450,000 disabled people by 2029 www.bigissue.com/news/social-...bigissue.comLabour doubles down on slashing billions from DWP's disability benefits billLabour has indicated it will still cut disability benefits after the High Court ruled the Tories' consultation into the plans was unlawful. 208794
Reposted by Will FordChaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 16/01/2025Here's my story on the High Court's ruling against the DWP earlier today www.bigissue.com/news/social-...bigissue.comDWP's consultation on disability benefit reforms unlawful, High Court rulesThe DWP's consultation into plans to slash billions from disability benefits has been ruled unlawful in a damning High Court judgement. 3166
Will Ford @willfordosblaw.bsky.social · 20/01/2025Ah, that special feeling of a child's birthday when the other child loses their shit because it's not their birthday! Precious memories. 000
Reposted by Will FordLewis Goodall @lewisgoodall.com · 05/01/2025Farage making the astute (and only) move available to him here. Musk’s money would have been very useful. More useful still would be more moderate conservative voters (who Reform needs) to back him: which they won’t do if there’s any hint of association with Robinson. 5126427
Reposted by Will FordPookleblinky @pookleblinky.bsky.social · 23/12/2024Fun fact: reading silently is a recent invention in the West, Romans didn't know how to do it, it took until the late Middle Ages for Europeans to generally figure it out. 52753161
Reposted by Will FordZoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · 23/12/2024Sharing this again 😊 If you have relatives likely to spend Christmas dinner moaning about migrants, or praising Nigel Farage, this might be some useful info to bring to the table… Good luck! 2024286
Reposted by Will FordLaw Centres Network @lawcentres.bsky.social · 12/12/2024"Legal aid is the stone that successive governments have left unturned when looking at alleviating poverty." Last year, Law Centres saved the government an estimated £172 million. With sustainable funding, they could do a whole lot more. 👉 www.lawgazette.co.uk/features/law...lawgazette.co.ukLaw Centres: Poor relationsAt a time of historically high demand, law centres starved of funds have been closing their doors. Supply and demand are heading in opposite directions, reports Catherine Baksi. 074
Reposted by Will FordNearly Legal @nearlylegal.co.uk · 11/12/202414% increase in homelessness in a year. 1 in 47 people in London are homeless, 1 in 61 in Birmingham. There are dreadful, frightening figures. www.theguardian.com/society/2024...theguardian.comShelter condemns ‘shocking’ 14% rise in homelessness across EnglandCharity says soaring private rents, rising evictions and lack of affordable social housing are to blame 13245187
Will Ford @willfordosblaw.bsky.social · 11/12/2024Another day, another unlawful housing needs assessment and personal housing plan. One day I'll see a lawful one. One day. 000
Reposted by Will FordAnna Clarke @annaclarke.bsky.social · 09/12/2024We hear a lot about the costs of Temporary Accommodation crippling councils financially - but less about why this is. - Central Government is benefiting financially from households being in homeless accommodation rather than the PRS, because they pay just *90% of the LHA rate from 20211* 11310
Reposted by Will FordTom Calver @tomcalver.bsky.social · 01/12/2024NEW: Why do we always think crime is rising, even when it isn’t? This week I looked at one of the big data mysteries. Britain is 2/3 less violent than the 1990s; thefts were higher pre-lockdown Why, then, doesn’t it feel like it? 1/8 @thetimes.com 🔗 www.thetimes.com/article/b63d... 1901704555
Reposted by Will FordSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 30/11/2024New post just out: "The definition of madness" Why governments keep making the same incredibly expensive mistake over and over again. And what they should be doing instead. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...open.substack.comThe definition of madnessGovernments need to stop making the same incredibly expensive mistake over and over again 1820669
Reposted by Will FordMatt Dathan @mattdathan.bsky.social · 25/11/2024Excl: Ministers will announce millions in extra funding for lawyers to represent asylum seekers to help clear the backlog of appeals that is blocking efforts to move migrants out of hotels: www.thetimes.com/article/eddb...thetimes.comGovernment pledges millions in legal aid to clear asylum backlogThe justice secretary is to announce a major increase in funding for lawyers to represent migrants in asylum courts 27430