Freelance journalist covering British politics and public services - NHS, education, care, housing, disability, benefits. Not a tribalist. I like good things and I don't like bad things.
It's one of those things which undermines a lot of the far right narratives about grooming gangs, because ultimately until very recently no one was taking *any* child sex offences seriously.
BanjonYes. Until as late as 2000 the Chief inspector of schools in England was a guy who met his wife when he was her school teacher, and he gave a public speech- as chief inspector of schools joking(?) that teachers dating pupils 16-18 years old "could help their education"
1/ The UK’s approach to social media misinformation isn’t working. @cjayanetti.bsky.social lays out why, and what would actually help. The catch: misinfo is the hardest online harm to regulate without trampling free speech. 🧵
Private companies are opening homes where they can maximise profits, not where children need them. North west England has almost four times the number of homes as London.
The scale of the explosion in for-profit children’s homes in England is revealed in the latest Ofsted stats: the number of homes has risen by 20% in the last year and by 70% since 2022.
I am reminded of the (true) anecdote that the UK government was forced to confront the pending expiration of its claim to Hong Kong because banks giving 15-year mortgages began demanding to know circa 1980-1982 if the colony was really reverting to China in 1997. Turns out it was.
August J. PollakIt turns out insurance companies believe in climate change whether you do or not
The Farage drop is, I think, potentially more consequential medium term than the Burnham bounce (which will fade I'm sure). Reform are a one man band, built around Farage's brand. If he becomes toxic (a) he might quit politics (as he has before) (b) whether he does or not they have no plan B.
Luke TrylLatest leader approvals 🌹Burnham bumps up to +19, 8 higher than Keir’s high of 11. 🌳Badenoch down slightly to break even 🔶Davey drops back to -11 💚Polanski is at -24 ➡️Farage drops to another low, by far his lowest since the election at -32
I've discovered THE best hobby. Just pick a town, join all its local Facebook groups. Then drive there one night with a job lot of gnomes and drop them on a few doorsteps. Then sit back and watch the fireworks.
Bad quote, bad coverage, exploiting the equivocation between DWP data on disability, disability benefits themselves, and popular conceptions of disability to deliver a real mess.
Elizabeth TaylorDon’t piss me off please