Irish in London | works in communications | former columnist @thetimesIE @BelTel | tenor | aspiring writer | passionate about mental health
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Joined May 2010
- Tweets2K
- Following4.6K
- Followers1.9K
- Likes7.2K
This makes total sense. We should explore progressive revenue raising measures so those who can afford to pay a little more do so. This is one of the few levers at our disposal. Let’s get on with it.
Stormont’s Finance Minister has brought a proposal to the Executive to lift the rates cap, a measure which currently acts as a subsidy for the wealthiest homeowners. The level of the cap could be lifted in the next financial year if Executive agrees. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gp…
1
772
A good thread on the Assisted Dying proposals in the House of Commons 👇
Assisted Dying: some lessons and thoughts from abroad after spending some more time today reading further.
Firstly, it is nonsense to suggest that some form of assisted dying necessarily undermines our palliative care service. In fact, the opposite can be true.🧵
1
664
Interviews like this with the Archbishop on assisted dying on GMU makes me so grateful for the separation of church and state. Glad @csbuckler challenged what was ultimately a sermon, with many deeply questionable and contradictory assertions with no actual supporting evidence.
1
414
I’ve worked with politicians for nearly 20 years in different settings. The overwhelming majority of them are good people, motivated by a sense of public service. It takes real courage to put yourself forward for election. Wishing all candidates the very best for today #GE24
1
18
1,465
As usual, @CalumAM speaks for a nation
Really disappointed @Translink_NI - was getting my ticket for Glider at 18:08 from Cherryhill. Gestured politely to the driver that’d I’d only be one minute. Shrugged his shoulders and just drove on. Really disappointing customer service.
Further public service duty from @JP_Biz 👇
I'm begging people to understand the difference between the state pension & occupational pensions. The National Insurance Fund is not a pension fund.
2
827
.@williamcrawley - why don’t we scrap rates and introduce a local government income tax, with progressive thresholds and bands? We’d then have more policy options to sustainability revenue raise. The Scottish Govt has looked at this several times.
1
752
Genuine q - why don’t we scrap rates and introduce a local government income tax, with progressive thresholds and bands? We’d then have more policy options to sustainability revenue raise. The Scottish Govt has looked at this several times 👇 gov.scot/publications/consul…
2
414
Developing a proper, meaningful childcare policy in NI could be absolutely transformational in lots of different aspects of other economic and social policy - @HamiltonAoife is such an authoritative, expert voice on this 👇
"We are at a crisis point... Childcare is unaffordable. We need a long-term strategy & immediate supports."
@HamiltonAoife @EFCCG
#SundayPolitics | @MarkCarruthers7
1
3
776
Few people can really claim to have changed lives & made the world a better place - he wouldn’t say it, but @Cmacf76 is one of them. His talent, compassion, dedication & unrelenting grace never ceases to amaze me. I’m lucky to call him a friend & can’t wait to see what’s next.
Some personal news. After 12.5 years at Stonewall I’m going to be leaving in the summer. It has been the honour of my life to lead Stonewall Scotland, and then our work across Cymru and Northern Ireland….
1
647
I’m an Irish nationalist, but the idea that a successful unity vote (probs v close) & the subsequent process to leave the UK & form a new state, with a significant number of people not wanting either, would end division is just not credible. It’s a deeply unserious narrative.
How NI is actually funded has always been hugely important in shaping our political dynamic, but is often wildly misunderstood. How devolution is funded is inextricably linked to how it operates. Kudos to @JP_Biz for continuing to persevere & wading through treacle to explain 👇
124? 127? 150? Where should the ‘fiscal floor’ be set for public services funding in Northern Ireland bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-i…
4
823
A really important report from @CommonsNIAC which could transform political/public life in NI, if agreement on reform could be reached - a natural evolution of GFA to move to a political process from a peace process. One for @campbellclaret @RoryStewartUK @RestIsPolitics
Following a year-long inquiry, this morning...
committees.parliament.uk/com…
ALT Image shows the front facade of Parliament Buildings at Stormont, with the text: "We have published our report on the effectiveness of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement"
This is also not an especially new thought 👀 👇
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opi…
Govt structures matter because they dictate behaviour. When you have a built in veto over govt formation, there’s no incentive to compromise if it’s not in your electoral interest. Until we move closer to voluntary coalition model, with safeguards, we’ll be stuck in this cycle 👇
527
Govt structures matter because they dictate behaviour. When you have a built in veto over govt formation, there’s no incentive to compromise if it’s not in your electoral interest. Until we move closer to voluntary coalition model, with safeguards, we’ll be stuck in this cycle 👇
A Westminster committee recommends that Stormont's first and deputy first ministers should be renamed "joint first ministers"
✍️ @BBCJayneMcC
bbc.in/3T8F1NO
A really crucial consultation and piece of research from @soni_ltd - TES looks at our future energy needs and systems to support that - all in the context of our net zero goals 👇
We have published a consultation paper on Tomorrow’s Energy Scenarios 2023. To view the report and respond, visit: consult.soni.ltd.uk/consulta…
It says quite a lot that Fianna Fáil still doesn’t quite understand that the general public tend not to like their politicians having two incomes.
EXCLUSIVE: Fianna Fail's NI spokesman accuses the SDLP leadership of trying to "force out" MLA Justin McNulty from Stormont for taking a job as Laois football manager. He claims the SDLP has "lost its way" & is "a far cry from the party of Hume & Mallon".
belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
1
929
This clip demonstrates why I think @akmaciver is one of the best political commentators in UK politics - just well-informed, well-considered, non-partisan political analysis. It’s the way political commentary should be 👇
"Yes, you're going to lose seats."
@akmaciver analyses the SNP's electoral prospects - and the impact on the independence mandate - on our special with First Minister Humza Yousaf...
#HolyroodSourcesLive