Nostr notes by Dr Craig Dalȝell

Bear in mind that by the time the UK says to someone that they ...

2026-11-02T20:46:44Z

Bear in mind that by the time the UK says to someone that they have to wait 30 years before they will be allowed to live securely, they have already accepted that a) the person has a valid asylum claim and b) they arrived in the UK legally.

The 20 years wait and especially the plus 10 years for arriving on a small boat is just performative cruelty to play to a far-right who will never think this is enough.

It looks like the US's plan to bully, bribe and misinform the ...

2026-10-26T09:31:24Z

It looks like the US's plan to bully, bribe and misinform the world into joining their right-wing extremism is...not exactly going according to plan?

RE: https://mastodon.social/@Climatehistories/117500969952728353 ...

2026-10-25T12:43:46Z

RE: https://mastodon.social/@Climatehistories/117500969952728353

This cannot result in merely a "cost of doing business" fine.

There must be an order to restore the land to its pre-purchase state at Google's expense, revocation of planning permission on this site, a bar from similar permissions until restoration is complete, a restitution fine based on the environmental damage caused, a punitive fine based on a percentage of global revenue for true deterrence purposes and a charge of ecocide for those who gave or allowed the order to proceed.

Just as a reminder of how much money £1 billion actually is. If ...

2026-09-19T12:02:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…j9ej
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Just as a reminder of how much money £1 billion actually is.

If you had £1 billion (Ratcliffe has £15bn) and the state taxed 99.8% of it off of you in a one-off wealth tax, you'd have £2 million remaining.

If you stuck that £2 million in a savings account at 5% interest, you'd earn £100,000 every year.

This would STILL put you in the top 1% of earners in Scotland.

I, for one, have lost confidence in the state of Monaco. They ...

2026-09-19T11:58:17Z

I, for one, have lost confidence in the state of Monaco. They clearly aren't taxing their resident billionaire climate deniers enough.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm0463619r1no

Britain's national grid operator claims that they are now ...

2026-09-08T07:28:20Z

Britain's national grid operator claims that they are now "too reliant" on Palantir to stop using them.

That's Palantir's entire business model in a nutshell.

https://www.ft.com/content/f6a26a17-985f-4283-99c4-ba5d54e94e7f

Any UK-based Oldhammer fans out there? I was doing a clear out at ...

2026-09-07T09:44:41Z

Any UK-based Oldhammer fans out there?

I was doing a clear out at the weekend and rediscovered some old 40k models I picked up back in the '90s. I'm keeping a couple that have some sentimental value to me but would like to pass these to someone who can put them on the table or otherwise make use of them.

2 Tyranid Carnifexes
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/158260918189
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/158260920822

And 2 Tau XV15s
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/158260763153
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/158260791963

#Warhammer40k #Oldhammer #Tabletop

Reform UK is making it increasingly difficult for me - a UK ...

2026-08-17T10:02:33Z

Reform UK is making it increasingly difficult for me - a UK citizen born in Britain - to live in this country because I married someone they believe isn't worthy of the same rights as I am.

Of course, if my wife and I decide to "go back to where she came from", their allies in the AfD would treat me the same as Reform would treat her.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly555430nno

If you spend £1bn a year on solar though, you start generating ...

2026-06-30T08:20:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…qdhk
_________________________

If you spend £1bn a year on solar though, you start generating electricity from the moment the first panel is installed and by the end of the decade, you'll have twice as much generating capacity as the nuclear plant that only just turned on.

Solar has utterly changed the low carbon energy game. The geographic case for nuclear is irrelevant. Anyone who claims there's an economic case now is either way behind the curve...or they have an ulterior motive:

https://thecommongreen.scot/2025/05/01/the-lie-under-the-nuclear-promise/
nostr:note1x7uspf86n6yrwd03e9k0wm0t72pw0ntcxkn8d7kv2grk2xjqku9qsjn2h2

Let's say you have £10bn to spend, at £1bn per year. If you ...

2026-06-30T08:17:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…ev2v
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Let's say you have £10bn to spend, at £1bn per year.

If you spend it on nuclear - assuming it takes 10 years to get the plant from approval, through construction to generation, then you end up generating zero electricity for the entirety of those ten years, until it turns on.

(In the UK, you - the bill payer - have already started paying for this plant though: https://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/business-energy/a/the-nuclear-rab-levy-explained-what-it-means-for-your-business/)

This "potential" is based on geography, not cost or time ...

2026-06-30T08:14:07Z

This "potential" is based on geography, not cost or time of delivery.

New nuclear costs around £109/MWh, with costs likely to be stable or rising.

New solar costs around £41/MWh and costs are declining faster than even optimistic predictions.

Time of delivery is key though. >>

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26237848.scotland-high-potential-new-nuclear-uk-government-study-finds

Today's Common Weal Daily Briefing Is the Scottish Government ...

2026-06-08T08:47:19Z

Today's Common Weal Daily Briefing

Is the Scottish Government blocking a Land Tax because they can’t control it?

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-mtdrb

#ScotPol #ScottishPolitics #Land #Tax

Interesting story here. A coalition of African trade unions are ...

2026-06-03T08:58:24Z

Interesting story here. A coalition of African trade unions are challenging the World Bank's assumptions that energy should be private sector led, instead calling for public ownership and the demarketisation of the sector as well as ensuring that public subsidies are invested into public utilities rather than private ones.

In other words - everything we've been asking the Scottish Government to do here too.

https://www.tuedglobal.org/bulletins/b-171

#Energy #ScotPol #Africa #Nationalisation

I've added the recipe in the comments. Let me know if you try ...

2026-05-14T12:44:05Z

In reply to nevent1q…9pe6
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I've added the recipe in the comments. Let me know if you try it and how it goes!

A culinary experiment the other day that went far better than it ...

2026-05-14T10:33:08Z

A culinary experiment the other day that went far better than it should have. I just ate the last slice there.

French Onion Soup Bread.

The End State of Capitalism is Monopoly and then Failure. ...

2026-04-27T06:48:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…09l6
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The End State of Capitalism is Monopoly and then Failure.

https://thecommongreen.scot/2026/02/16/the-end-state-of-capitalism-is-monopoly-and-then-failure/

Capitalists: "Unlike in Communism, where workers control the ...

2026-04-27T06:47:15Z

Capitalists: "Unlike in Communism, where workers control the means of production, in Capitalism it is those who own a share of the company who should control how a company operates."

Also Capitalists: "No, not like that."

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/japan-tighten-rules-shareholder-proposals-amid-pushback-against-activism-2026-04-27

Looks like the SNP have ditched all reference to Circular Economy ...

2026-04-16T09:30:29Z

Looks like the SNP have ditched all reference to Circular Economy from their manifesto apart from a bicycle repair fund while Swinney is going even further all in on accelerating inwards investment and maximising "economic growth".

This is pretty much the economic equivalent of Flat Earth Theory and denying gravity.

Repost from The National (Originally published 9th April) Donald ...

2026-04-13T09:36:54Z

Repost from The National (Originally published 9th April)

Donald Trump’s threat to commit genocide in Iran should be taken seriously even after it appears to have been averted.

http://thecommongreen.scot/2026/04/10/threats-of-genocide-must-be-prosecuted/

Reminder that the UK's illegal occupation and ethnic ...

2026-01-20T09:07:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…upcn
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Reminder that the UK's illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Chagos Islands was done at the US's behest and bought the UK a discount on US nuclear weapons.

https://thecommongreen.scot/2024/10/04/the-sun-still-has-not-set/

The UK should announce that the US's military presence there ...

2026-01-20T09:07:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…etz7
_________________________

The UK should announce that the US's military presence there and elsewhere under UK control is contingent in them withdrawing the threat to invade Greenland and in complying with the UN Member's Charter.

Under the proposed plan - which Trump previously welcomed - it ...

2026-01-20T09:06:55Z

Under the proposed plan - which Trump previously welcomed - it would guarantee a US base there for over a century.

Under the previous plan, their lease runs out in about a decade.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp8yd7z4r24t?post=asset%3Ab5084442-334a-4568-9bc2-c655236069a9#post

My article in The National tonight. John Swinney won't meet ...

2026-01-15T21:43:33Z

My article in The National tonight.

John Swinney won't meet his ambition to end poverty unless he tackles the real problem: Inequality.

https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25769145.poverty-symptom-not-problem-snp-must-tackle/

I welcome all moves to grant Local Councils more autonomy and ...

2026-01-07T17:21:20Z

I welcome all moves to grant Local Councils more autonomy and while I personally prefer a Tourist Tax based on a % of room price, Councils should have the power to do as they like.

Just remember that if a Council proposes using this power to switch, say, a 5% tax to a £5 one, then what they're actually saying is that they're happy to give a tax cut to anyone who can afford a hotel that costs more than £100/night at the expense of a tax rise on everyone else.

https://www.gov.scot/news/visitor-levy-amendment-bill-published/

UK politicians. If you don't follow up your statement of ...

2026-01-04T09:42:56Z

UK politicians. If you don't follow up your statement of "we support international law" with actual, tangible consequences for breaches of international law, then you don't support international law. You support the US's invasion and are happy to defend it. Don't tell us otherwise.

We need a shake up of party and election funding. Suggestions to ...

2025-12-07T12:45:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…405d
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We need a shake up of party and election funding.

Suggestions to discuss:

1) A collectively agreed scale price for party memberships.

2) "No donation without representation" - You can't donate to an election/referendum campaign unless you're registered to vote in that election/referendum.

3) An election campaign voucher system - every voter gets a public-funded voucher that they can give to a single candidate in their election.

The thing is....that's less than the SNP charge as a cash for ...

2025-12-07T12:45:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…xkj7
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The thing is....that's less than the SNP charge as a cash for access fee at their conference.

https://issuu.com/hinksbrandwise/docs/2024-05-16_snp_2024_conference_engagement_opportun?fr=sYjVmZjYyODM5OTM

Reform UK are running a 'cash for access scheme in all but ...

2025-12-07T12:44:02Z

Reform UK are running a 'cash for access scheme in all but name', a senior SNP MP has alleged after they launched a £10,000-per-year membership.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/25677131.cash-access-row-reform-uk-open-10k-membership-club/

The graph that explains so much about the Scottish economy. Robin ...

2025-11-01T09:37:41Z

The graph that explains so much about the Scottish economy.

Robin McAlpine in The National.

https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25588386.graph-rocket-independence-movements-backside/

When Rightwards-radicalised Centrists try to do a Nationalism ...

2025-09-02T08:56:29Z

When Rightwards-radicalised Centrists try to do a Nationalism while still pretending to be Centrists while trying to outbid right-wing radicals.

Dear Jack Straw and Policy Exchange Which human rights currently ...

2025-09-01T09:09:49Z

Dear Jack Straw and Policy Exchange

Which human rights currently protected by ECHR do you wish would stop applying to you, personally?

https://www.commonweal.scot/articles/magazine-c3ktr

Tip for Starmer: When your political rival promises to send ...

2025-08-27T07:59:08Z

Tip for Starmer: When your political rival promises to send vulnerable people to a country they've fled from to face torture and execution - after they've been identified due to the UK's appalling data security - your response should not be "we'll do it better".

https://www.thenational.scot/news/25417270.keir-starmer-open-taliban-returns-deal-reform-set-plans/

Farage is all in with the very definition of Wilhoit's Law. ...

2025-08-26T08:48:55Z

Farage is all in with the very definition of Wilhoit's Law.

"Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect."

https://www.thenational.scot/news/25414326.nigel-farage-unveils-plans-opposite-human-rights-act/

Third principle, however: 3) The Minimum Promised Deliverable - ...

2025-07-29T16:23:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…jxqe
_________________________

Third principle, however:

3) The Minimum Promised Deliverable - This is the least action they can take that will enable them to say that the promise has been fulfilled.

Look at their caveats with caution. If necessary, return to Principle 1) and apply more pressure.

Two principles to follow when it comes to getting a politician to ...

2025-07-29T16:10:59Z

Two principles to follow when it comes to getting a politician to do something they don't want to do.

1) "Enough pressure" is the point at which doing the thing is less worse than continuing to not do it.

2) Everything is impossible until the moment that it becomes inevitable.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cdrkj810plvt

The easiest, faster, cheapest and most beneficial solution for ...

2025-07-24T11:34:11Z

The easiest, faster, cheapest and most beneficial solution for the problem of asylum seekers working illegally is to stop making it illegal for asylum seekers to work.

"People need to save more for retirement" Ok. Going to ...

2025-07-21T08:14:39Z

"People need to save more for retirement"

Ok. Going to pay us more?
No
Going to reduce utility bills to allow us to save more?
No
Going to reduce house prices to allow us to save more?
No
Going to bring the state pension up to EU norms so we're not at the mercy or predatory private pensions or inflating house prices?
No
A UBI so we can live decently regardless of our circumstances?
Nope.

So what should we do?
You need to save more.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgj84ejd9wo

I'd go further on this. No donation without representation. ...

2025-07-17T09:49:59Z

I'd go further on this. No donation without representation.

If you are not a registered voter in an election, referendum etc then you can't donate to any campaign involved in it.

Why yes, this does mean no corporate donations at all and no money from London to, say, a Scotland-only "local" referendum.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/17/mps-to-tighten-laws-allowing-foreign-donations-to-influence-uk-elections

Ahh. Feel the benevolence of the UK Government. Graciously ...

2025-07-11T08:23:51Z

Ahh. Feel the benevolence of the UK Government. Graciously allowing Scotland to continue to subsidise electricity bills in the south of England.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/zonal-pricing-uncertainty-would-hit-35534815

UN experts condemn attempts by the UK to proscribe Palestine ...

2025-07-01T18:01:00Z

UN experts condemn attempts by the UK to proscribe Palestine Action.

“According to international standards, acts of protest that damage property, but are not intended to kill or injure people, should not be treated as terrorism.”

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/07/un-experts-urge-united-kingdom-not-misuse-terrorism-laws-against-protest

If you have a £20 billion budget for energy upgrades in 2025, ...

2025-06-26T08:51:18Z

If you have a £20 billion budget for energy upgrades in 2025, then the fastest and most cost effective way to spend it right now isn't to throw it into a nuclear plant that'll take a decade to plan, another to build and will cost twice as much as you planned. Better would be to give one million households a £20,000 voucher for repairs, insulation, solar panels and batteries.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25256747.snps-dogmatic-out-dated-opposition-nuclear-waver/

#UKPolitics #Energy

Don't worry folks. If you're in Scotland and you're ...

2025-06-22T09:21:55Z

Don't worry folks. If you're in Scotland and you're worried about the direction the UK is going in and would like to consider something else, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office Douglas Alexander believes that you don't have the democratic right to seek independence.

So, we give it, what, fifteen years until the report is published ...

2025-06-22T05:25:08Z

So, we give it, what, fifteen years until the report is published that says "the legal pretext for the UK's entry into this war was lacking. Lessons should be learned."?

Common Weal Daily Briefing. The UK Spending Review is setting us ...

2025-06-12T13:08:09Z

Common Weal Daily Briefing.

The UK Spending Review is setting us up for future failure.
Increasing military spending while reducing the means to prevent war.
Increasing health spending while reducing the means to prevent ill health.

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-zkjf9

Today in "Carbon Capture Still Doesn't Work" The ...

2025-06-11T08:29:00Z

Today in "Carbon Capture Still Doesn't Work"

The flagship carbon capture project in Iceland is revealed to have not just missed its targets but has failed to capture enough carbon to offset its own emissions. They would have been better off doing nothing.

Something to think about as the UK and Scottish Governments pour money into the Acorn Project.

https://heimildin.is/grein/24581/

#Climate #Carbon #CCUS #Greenwashing #UKPolitics #ScottishPolitics

My article in the print edition of The National today. If the UK ...

2025-06-08T09:30:36Z

My article in the print edition of The National today. If the UK wants to use the excuse of "supporting jobs" to justify its increase in defence spending then it would be better off investing in just about anything else - including investing in peace.

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/seven-days/20250608/281732685434166

They actually came for the trade unionists. ...

2025-06-07T14:43:24Z

They actually came for the trade unionists.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/california-union-president-arrested-ice-raids-b2765547.html

Surprised by the Hamilton results? I am. But unlike any of the ...

2025-06-06T06:47:07Z

Surprised by the Hamilton results?

I am.

But unlike any of the pundits I've seen this morning, I can tell you /why/ we've been surprised.

Everyone forgets that the sofa is also a candidate.

The SNP lost 8,800 votes last night compared to 2021. Labour, the victors, lost only 3,600.

#ScottishPolitics

My challenge to every politician who wants to scrap human rights ...

2025-06-05T08:14:00Z

My challenge to every politician who wants to scrap human rights legislation remains:

Which rights in the ECHR do you, personally, no longer wish to be protected by?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgj8p2pv117o

#UKPolitics #HumanRights #Asylum

"The AI company I used to work for has already broken the law ...

2025-05-24T11:46:13Z

"The AI company I used to work for has already broken the law on such a level that you may as well make it legal" doesn't strike me as the most defensible argument.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/technology-uk/article/nick-clegg-work-train-ai-l6xl5djb7

This is typical of big business planning in Scotland. If you ...

2025-05-19T08:33:58Z

This is typical of big business planning in Scotland. If you can't grind a community into burnout through repeated failed applications till they* can't fight anymore or you get lucky once, just complain at a Minister till they override local democracy for you.

*"they" so often being the one or two individuals in the community who hold the whole campaign together.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wd8jznxq9o

There will be questions about US food not meeting UK minimum ...

2025-05-08T15:20:58Z

There will be questions about US food not meeting UK minimum standards, but there's another angle I don't see talked about enough too.

Will the customs "fast track" for American goods that Trump and Starmer have signed include goods produced using forced convict labour?

https://www.kark.com/news/state-news/hidden-prison-labor-in-us-including-arkansas-linked-to-foods-from-target-walmart/

Story: https://www.aibase.com/news/14337 The future of the Dead ...

2024-12-30T10:28:12Z

Story: https://www.aibase.com/news/14337

The future of the Dead Internet.

Bot profiles create content which is seen almost exclusively only by other bots, who comment voraciously without understanding a word.

You wish to advertise your product to the remaining humans on the platform but the Company insists that the adverts are presented everywhere. You pay to feed adverts to bots who won't, who can't, click through and buy your stuff. So long as ad revenue exceeds server costs, the Company wins.

Not citizens. Voters registered and eligible to vote in that ...

2024-12-26T09:27:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…yq88
_________________________

Not citizens. Voters registered and eligible to vote in that particular election/referendum. Remember that it's currently possible to vote and be elected to office or even become PM while being a British, Irish /or/ qualifying Commonwealth citizen and in Scotland and Wales there are no citizenship requirements, merely permanent residency.

Need to consider how a ban on corporate donations affects trade unions too. Group solidarity must be more powerful than lone billionaires.

Welp, once again we get a small tweak to Income Tax but no ...

2024-12-04T15:21:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…lw8w
_________________________

Welp, once again we get a small tweak to Income Tax but no announcement on Council Tax reform or more radical tax reform.

When discussing land reform, I've spent all year being told by ScotGov that it was pointless to discuss land taxes then because they could only do it at budget time.

It's now budget time. They haven't done it. It's clear that they don't actually want to tax the greatest store of untaxed wealth in Scotland.

A pledge of £4.9bn for climate, which exceeds the Greens' ...

2024-12-04T15:08:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…5jya
_________________________

A pledge of £4.9bn for climate, which exceeds the Greens' red line of not less than £4.7bn (I think I see which party they're courting to get the budget through...)

Robison has u-turned on the second raid of ScotWind funds (meagre ...

2024-12-04T14:56:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…dehy
_________________________

Robison has u-turned on the second raid of ScotWind funds (meagre though they are: https://commonweal.scot/policies/scotwind-one-year-on/)

No cookie for not doing the wrong thing though.

The Scottish Budget announcement is live now ...

2024-12-04T14:55:42Z

The Scottish Budget announcement is live now

https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meeting-of-the-parliament-december-4-2024

Today in "carbon capture still doesn't work" news. ...

2024-11-26T14:25:50Z

Today in "carbon capture still doesn't work" news.

Shell claimed millions in public subsidy and carbon credit income based on promises to capture emissions then just...didn't capture the emissions.

https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/05/07/false-promises-and-phantom-emissions-how-was-shell-able-to-double-its-carbon-credits-in-ca

#Climate #Greenwashing

Conservatives: "Why haven't you bought road grit in three ...

2024-11-26T09:38:51Z

Conservatives: "Why haven't you bought road grit in three years?"

Transport Scotland: "Because we have a huge stockpile and whenever we subcontract gritting, the contractor supplies their own"

Conservatives: "Outrageous"

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24749700.tories-snp-spent-nothing-road-grit-three-years/

Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgzp0kvegxo Short ...

2024-11-25T13:52:35Z

Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgzp0kvegxo

Short story - A number of years ago, someone I know was caught up in this. They (and every other homeowner in the street) were paying £15/year in "service fees" to cut a small patch of communal grass. The leaseholder increased it to more than £15/month.

I phoned up. Got them to confirm that the *only* service provided was the grass cutting. Then asked for itemisation of the bill and terms of the outsourced service contract. And the date of the next tender round.

The UK Government is doing everything it can to not say that it ...

2024-11-22T10:32:00Z

The UK Government is doing everything it can to not say that it would comply with the ICC arrest warrants issued yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9nbjYFkorI

So that was an absolute nothing of a Ministerial Statement on the ...

2024-11-21T14:50:48Z

So that was an absolute nothing of a Ministerial Statement on the National Care Service Bill. We had been led to believe that they were going to make substantial changes to the Bill but all they did was restate the previously announced indefinite pause holding the Bill back from Stage 2.

For what they could do to start tackling the care crisis now, see: https://commonweal.scot/policies/tackling-the-care-crisis-now/

My article in this week's Common Weal newsletter: ...

2024-11-15T08:44:38Z

My article in this week's Common Weal newsletter: https://commonweal.scot/power-for-people-not-parties/

Removing the hereditary peers from the House of Lords but handing their power to political parties won't fix the root of the problem and might even make it worse.

Rather than Lords, or even an elected Senate dominated by parties, we need a House of Citizens.

Breaking: UKGov admits that it granted the Rosebank licence ...

2024-11-13T18:44:03Z

Breaking: UKGov admits that it granted the Rosebank licence unlawfully because it didn't consider the climate impacts of burning the oil.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly2dxqd1pyo

#UkPolitics #Climate #COP29

Why are we still giving plaudits (and permission) to developers ...

2024-11-12T09:41:40Z

Why are we still giving plaudits (and permission) to developers who build houses like there's no climate emergency?

* Car-centric roadway.
* East-West roofs to minimise solar panel potential.
* No solar panels.
* Buildings designed to minimise solar thermal gain - maximising heating bills in the UK region with the highest utility bills.
* Described as "energy efficient" but will be made obsolete by PassivHaus building regs due next month.
* Minimal biodiversity.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24716759.housebuilder-completes-landmark-highland-homes-development/

World likely to breach the +1.5C limit set by the 2015 Paris ...

2024-11-07T09:26:33Z

World likely to breach the +1.5C limit set by the 2015 Paris Accords this year.

Every single politician who said "we must do something" and then didn't, this is on you.

Every single politician who still plans to not do something - either change your mind, step out of the way, or prepare your legal case for the inevitable ecocide trials.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dpnxnvv2go

It's still bizarre to me that an island nation runs its ...

2024-11-05T09:21:09Z

It's still bizarre to me that an island nation runs its coatal rescue as a charity rather than a core government-funded public service.

That said, Dispatches revealed that the royals get rent from the police, fire and prison services too.

Pure Feudal BS. Perhaps charities like this should cancel their royal patronage until rents are removed.

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/the-royal-family-is-charging-the-rnli-to-launch-their-boats-385225/

In terms of material use, ten "disposable" vapes are ...

2024-10-24T09:20:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…4dyl
_________________________

In terms of material use, ten "disposable" vapes are about the technological equivalent of a smartphone.

Imagine a phone you threw over your shoulder after making ten calls.

Now imagine the next "disposable" device that uses the same amount of materials.

We shouldn't be banning individual products. We need a comprehensive Circular Economy Bill that bans ALL products that don't fit strict criteria of sustainability, reuse, repair, remanufacture and compostability.

https://commonweal.scot/single-use-policy/

Bear in mind that the difference between a "disposable" ...

2024-10-24T09:16:23Z

Bear in mind that the difference between a "disposable" vape and a "technically rechargeable" one is basically just the addition of a USB port that had to be intentionally removed from the off-the-shelf electronics used to make it.

Selling "technically rechargeable" devices as cheaply as the "disposable" ones they replace won't fix the problem.

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-ban-disposable-vapes-next-year-crack-down-teen-use-2024-10-24

Holyrood continues to treat local government with a level of ...

2024-10-22T08:50:16Z

Holyrood continues to treat local government with a level of contempt they'd be the first to complain about if Westminster did it to them instead.

Give local authorities the power to introduce local taxes at will. Perth and Kinross, for example, could raise £33 million per year if Holyrood allowed them to adopt our Land Tax.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24668029.no-money-available-local-government-pay---shona-robison/?ref=rss

#ScottishPolitics #Tax #Budget

So the owners of Grangemouth are getting one last windfall when ...

2024-10-14T10:47:13Z

So the owners of Grangemouth are getting one last windfall when they close up because they get to sell the carbon credits they were given for free by the Government that they'll no longer have to spend for pollution they'll no longer emit.

https://theferret.scot/grangemouth-owners-set-for-6m-closure-windfall/

Once again, when it comes to social security I am FAR more ...

2024-10-07T13:20:28Z

Once again, when it comes to social security I am FAR more concerned about people who need help not getting it than I am about people getting something they don't "need".

Universal benefits reach everyone who need them. Means-testing never does.

https://archive.is/E0lmy

My article in The National - already online, in print tomorrow - ...

2024-10-05T08:36:50Z

My article in The National - already online, in print tomorrow - on why while Common Weal still supports the idea of a National Care Service, we do not believe we will receive one worthy of the name if the current Bill passes either unamended or even if the Scottish Government's currently proposed amendments all pass.

The NCS Bill either needs to be massively overhauled or scrapped and started again.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24628975.common-weal-wont-support-national-care-service/

£22bn would be enough to retrofit around 750,000 homes to ...

2024-10-04T08:04:20Z

£22bn would be enough to retrofit around 750,000 homes to passive standards - i.e. effectively zero heating and certainly zero carbon heating. That would reduce carbon footprint by around 6 million tonnes CO2_e per year and would eliminate fuel poverty for those households for as long as they stand.

£22bn invested in these carbon capture schemes will be used to prop up the profits of a dying fossil fuel industry that's doing its damndest to take us all with it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4301n3771o

An interesting article on the UK and US's illegal occupation ...

2024-09-29T12:00:22Z

An interesting article on the UK and US's illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Chagos Islands. I didn't know that one of the sweetners from the US to the UK on the deal that led to it was the US giving the UK a discount on the purchase of nukes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckdg7jjlx2go

Everyone should have the right and opportunity to work. No-one ...

2024-09-25T14:27:39Z

Everyone should have the right and opportunity to work.

No-one should have the obligation to work.

If your existence is predicated on that obligation, your labour is not freely traded.

We need a Universal Basic Income and a Job Guarantee, not the malicious persecution of the sick and vulnerable.

#UKPolitics

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y8g5z67lzo

Labour members have voted to scrap the winter fuel payment cuts. ...

2024-09-25T11:23:54Z

Labour members have voted to scrap the winter fuel payment cuts.

The Government will treat this vote as "non-binding" but it will mean going against their own members if they push the cuts through.

#UKPolitics #LabourConference

New Consultation Response We join a number of campaigners and ...

2024-09-25T10:29:38Z

New Consultation Response

We join a number of campaigners and energy companies like Octopus to call on the UK Government to insitute "zonal pricing" of electricity.

If you live near wind turbines etc, you should be able to directly benefit from cheaper tariffs and, on a broader scale, Scotland should be able to attract energy intensive industries to move closer to our supplies.

#ScottishPolitics #UKPolitics #Energy

https://commonweal.scot/policies/review-of-market-arrangements-second-consultation/

The amount of money lost to fraudulent claiming of means-tested ...

2024-09-24T14:15:52Z

The amount of money lost to fraudulent claiming of means-tested benefits is far less than the amount not given to people who do not or cannot claim for the benefits they are due.

Both could be fixed by bringing in more Universal benefits or a full Universal Basic Income but Starmer is actively against that and would prefer to see innocent people lose their homes when the DWP inevitably screws up and falsely accuses them.

#UKPolitics #LabourConference

Once again, failing to prosecute your own war crimes and those of ...

2024-09-23T18:53:28Z

Once again, failing to prosecute your own war crimes and those of your allies critically weakens your ability to prosecute those committed by your opponents.

#UKPolitics

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2l0vzrv25o

With the incoming languages act calling for parity of esteem ...

2024-09-19T14:07:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…j72r
_________________________

With the incoming languages act calling for parity of esteem between English, Scots and Gaelic we /might/ be able to demand public funding of translations. It's certainly a campaign worth mounting. The bill doesn't go nearly as far as the rights of official languages under the EU but it might still be worth a shot.

UK Economic Theory in brief: 1) Create a growth-based economy ...

2024-09-18T09:56:58Z

UK Economic Theory in brief:

1) Create a growth-based economy where growth is entirely dependent on consumer spending.
2) Cause a recession to reduce consumer spending.
3) Don't pay workers enough to live on to reduce consumer spending.
4) Cut social security to reduce consumer spending.
5) Pump up rents to suck remaining income into landlords' pockets.
6) Do not, under any circumstances, tax wealth or assets.
7) Blame migrants.

#UKPolitics

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g927qykywo

It turns out that debt-fueled land price speculation except this ...

2024-09-16T09:01:38Z

It turns out that debt-fueled land price speculation except this time with "Green Lairds" might /not/ be the solution to land reform after all?

#ScottishPolitics #LandReform #LandTax

https://scottishbusinessnews.net/rewilding-pioneer-in-race-against-time-to-replicate-unique-land-management-model/

Realise that this isn't a failure of policy or something ...

2024-09-16T06:35:21Z

Realise that this isn't a failure of policy or something "going wrong" in the immigration system. In 2019 an envoy from the UN determined that this result was intentional and that the UK enacted "systematic immiseration" and "destitution by design" on folk like this.

#UKPolitics #Immigration #Poverty

https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/westminster/24583556.hostile-uk-immigration-policies-leave-97-destitute/

I'm quoted here, reflecting on why we failed to convince ...

2024-09-15T11:35:55Z

I'm quoted here, reflecting on why we failed to convince enough folk to support independence ten years ago.

#ScottishPolitics #Independence #Currency

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/15/ten-years-after-the-no-vote-can-scotland-engineer-a-case-for-independence

Once again, these are people who by the UK Government's ...

2024-09-14T06:01:26Z

Once again, these are people who by the UK Government's revised criteria are due help this winter but will not get it because moving from universalism to means testing ALWAYS leads to people missing out who shouldn't.

This is not an accident. It is by design.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr54n3r0l50o

#UkPolitics #winterfuelallowance #universalism

The House of Lords still doesn't understand how national debt ...

2024-09-11T09:27:22Z

The House of Lords still doesn't understand how national debt works.

Richard Murphy (npub1j79…rc5v) covered their latest report well here: https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/09/10/the-house-of-lords-really-does-not-understand-what-they-call-the-national-debt/

But I'd pick up one additional point. The Lords are still wedded to the idea of the "Dependency Ratio" between workers and pensioners. As we pointed out in our book (https://commonweal.scot/shop/publications/all-of-our-futures-scotlands-ageing-population-and-what-to-do-about-it-in-2021-2045/) this is both completely untrue and corrosively dangerous. Workers are not, need not and should not be solely responsible for "paying for" pensioners.

My own MP voted against the attempt to keep winter fuel payments ...

2024-09-10T18:08:06Z

My own MP voted against the attempt to keep winter fuel payments universal.

There are thought to be around 5,000 pensioners in this Local Authority who qualify for but do not claim the Pension Credit that would allow them to also claim WFP.

That's 5,000 who, even by UK Labour Government criteria, qualify for but will no longer receive help to heat their home this winter.

It was never about giving payments to millionaires. It was about ensuring those 5,000 get what they need.

BBC reporting that Labour's "savings" budget is ...

2024-09-10T15:22:24Z

BBC reporting that Labour's "savings" budget is premised on people not claiming means-tested benefits that they qualify for. Which is entirely why they are pushing it on pensioners today.

See my rebuttal here: ...

2024-09-02T14:54:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…f7dv
_________________________

See my rebuttal here: https://www.thenational.scot/politics/24477307.metro-mayors-like-andy-burnham-not-support-scotland/

Doing this wouldn't "break the centralised system". ...

2024-09-02T14:54:05Z

Doing this wouldn't "break the centralised system". It would consolidate what's left of Scotland's local democracy in an area covering half of the country's population into the office of two people.

https://www.thetimes.com/article/cd8e97be-d51d-455d-80f3-c117923c09dc?shareToken=6642e9ea188db57d1b53e6ec9d4533dc

Thanks a lot to the Revive Coalition and to SNP members for ...

2024-09-02T10:11:53Z

Thanks a lot to the Revive Coalition and to SNP members for having me at the conference on Saturday, and for the positive comments received afterwards.

Our policy papers on Council Tax reform and on a Scottish Land Tax can be read here:

https://commonweal.scot/policies/a-property-tax-for-scotland/

https://commonweal.scot/policies/taxing-land-in-scotland/

Another day, another positive policy rolled back because they ...

2024-08-20T11:26:38Z

Another day, another positive policy rolled back because they compromised on its launch and didn't push it through to success.

The marginal saving grace is that they're keeping ScotRail in public ownership, at least for now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvge98qj0e5o

Many thanks. I'm glad it was helpful.

2024-08-07T13:12:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…yxgu
_________________________

Many thanks. I'm glad it was helpful.