Water firms could be let off pollution fines as part of government overhaul
Exclusive: Campaigners claim changes will let companies ‘off the hook’, as government prepares to unveil new white paper for water industry
Well said @feargalsharkey.bsky.social 👏
"No 10 is operating under paralysis of doing anything which might spook the bond markets. Ministers have failed to grasp the underlying issue - corporate greed. The people who will be paying for this are billpayers.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
20.01.2026 09:49
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📈 Big appetite for stronger regulation of social media companies in the UK.
Difficult to overstate the importance of this. Tech giants should not be making money by spoon feeding harmful content to our kids.
14.01.2026 11:32
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👏 Good to see *most* major UK political parties waking up to this widespread public opinion and promising concrete action to tackle the harm caused by unregulated tech 💪
* No prizes for guessing who the exception is...
13.01.2026 16:27
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Red-tape cutting has become a ‘terrible political spectacle,’ EU’s Ribera says
The European Commission’s No.2 official criticized a “Trumpist” approach to EU deregulation.
“Deregulation eliminates safeguards, it puts costs onto citizens and taxpayers, creates uncertainty, discourages investment.”
👏👏 Can't say truer than that
✅ Good to see some pushback on the deregulatory language coming from senior EU officials recently.
www.politico.eu/article/eu-r...
08.01.2026 12:52
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2025 Wrapped: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Our round-up of this year’s biggest wins, the challenges our movement faced, and lessons for 2026
🗓️ 2025 has been a mixed year for the Protections Movement
❌ We’ve seen consistent attacks on the regulatory state in the name of growth
But also some transformative legislation
✅ Employment Rights
✅ Renters' Rights
✅ Online Safety Laws
Our roundup and lessons from 2025 👇
shorturl.at/BLiWq
17.12.2025 12:39
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Spot on! @taxjusticeuk.bsky.social
Avoiding tax and watering down regulation is the number one priority for US tech giants. And it's the British public that will lose out.
We need to hold firm.
16.12.2025 13:25
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Global inequality has hit a new extreme. So how much wealth is too much?🤔
The extreme poverty line is used to define unacceptable levels of poverty. What if we also created an extreme wealth line? @patmillsuk.bsky.social 1/2
10.12.2025 09:49
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'Day one rights were promised – Labour must deliver them' - LabourList
Day one rights were promised. Working people expect them. Labour must deliver them—fully, and without qualification argues Andy McDonald MP.
❌ Disappointing to see 'day one rights' for workers scrapped by the government.
The UK already has some of the worst standards for worker protections in the OECD - now is not the time to water down the Employment Rights Bill.
labourlist.org/2025/11/day-...
02.12.2025 10:12
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Worker protections - including boosting the minimum wage 💰- is long overdue.
If we want to get people into work, we need to incentivise them with secure jobs and decent pay.
27.11.2025 16:02
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There is no good reason for the Chancellor not to #TaxTheBanks in tomorrow's Budget.
Banks are making record profits directly at the public's expense, whilst one in three children live in poverty in the UK.
This is the government's chance to show where its priorities lie.
25.11.2025 16:00
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Unions urge Reeves to prioritise living standards as CBI presses for shift on employment rights
TUC calls on chancellor to focus on child poverty and upping minimum wage
Pressure is mounting on the Chancellor to scrap the Employment Rights Bill this Wednesday.
📉 But research shows workers are just £12 a week better off compared with 2008.
The @tuc.org.uk is right - these reforms can't come soon enough.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
24.11.2025 13:18
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Reform UK has rediscovered its Thatcherite roots 💙
But what does this mean for their working class voters who want a strong state..? 💔
Could those votes be up for grabs..?
13.11.2025 16:31
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Who supports Reform and why? The charts that show who favours Farage’s party
Based on largest poll of supporters, these charts and maps show five distinct groups that could hand Reform a majority
Great research from @hopenothate.org.uk on Reform's broad coalition of voters.
'Working Right' 🆚 'Hardline Conservatives' very split on workers' rights agenda.
The Big Question: What will Reform's new Thatcherite economic vision do to this tension?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
13.11.2025 10:28
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3 key pieces of regulation that are not getting enough cut through:
✅ Employment Rights Bill
✅ Renters' Rights Act
✅ Online Safety Act
These landmark policies will change the game for renters, workers and young people online.
Why is Labour not making more of them?
www.ipsos.com/en-uk/discon...
12.11.2025 10:04
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New blueprint for AI regulation could speed up planning approvals, slash NHS waiting times, and drive growth and public trust
A new blueprint for AI regulation is being announced by the Technology Secretary today (Tuesday 21st October) to help drive innovation and growth.
"AI applications hold the potential to make the lives of citizens better, faster."
True. But to do so it must be deployed safely and in a way that serves the public interest.
Good to see the government is at least keen to have this conversation on responsible AI use.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
06.11.2025 15:24
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Pete Songi on Reform UK’s economic agenda – cartoon
Nigel Farage laid out his party’s policies on the economy on Monday morning – including stripping away regulations on British business
Stripping away key social and environmental laws to “grow the economy” has been tried and tested again and again.
When will we learn that trickle-down neoliberalism is a hiding to nothing..?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
04.11.2025 15:20
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Bank of England governor urges caution over financial deregulation for growth
The speech effectively argued that while growth is important, regulation is needed to prevent another banking crisis.
Good to see Andrew Bailey standing up to the 'growth at all costs' agenda which is underpinned by reckless deregulation.
Since 2008 we've created a host of new financial safeguards to make sure we don't repeat those mistakes.
We mustn't now tear those down.
uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/bank-of...
07.10.2025 15:06
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Reform UK, Big Tech, and the Future of Online Safety in Britain
The UK’s new tech deal with the US might feel risky – but under Farage, our ties to the big tech lobby will only deepen
What would a Reform UK gov. mean for the creep of Big Tech in Britain?
Spoiler: It's not good news for online safety or democracy -even if they do claim to represent 'the people'
👇 our take on the UK–US Tech Deal, the broligarchy, and what’s really at stake
open.substack.com/pub/unchecke...
06.10.2025 15:31
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Reform UK has hijacked the language of ‘protection’ – now progressives must reclaim it
Reform UK spent the summer hammering home the need for protection from immigrants, meanwhile they seek to dismantle the protections that really matter
Reform spent the summer hammering home the need for protection from immigrants - and it worked.
But while Farage talks of protecting women, his party is working to dismantle genuine protections that keep communities safe.
We need to reclaim 'protection'. Here's how we do it 👇
shorturl.at/zyJ6b
17.09.2025 09:59
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Starmer urged to make ‘populist case’ for workers’ rights reforms
Huge survey reveals employment rights policies are popular with public despite many not knowing about bill
'Delivery, delivery, delivery' is never going to be enough to hold off the threat from Reform.
@teamlabouruk.bsky.social needs a stronger message and a better narrative ✅ Worker protections is a key agenda they could be leaning into to do just this.
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/sep...
16.09.2025 12:33
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4/4 For progressives, the opening lies in recognising that although Reform voters are far from reliably left-wing, there is clear space to win support.
Especially if framed as upholding community interests > big corporate interests
Full report ⬇️
unchecked.uk/wp-content/u...
14.07.2025 14:33
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3/4 But, whilst 'Red' voters support a strong state...
✅ Pro redistribution
✅ Pro benefits
✅ Pro taxation (especially corp)
✅ Pro worker protections
...'Blue' voters want a stripped back state
❌ Public sector workers
❌ Powerful unions
❌ Private sector regulation
❌ Taxation and redistribution
14.07.2025 14:33
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2/4 Reform voters are often seen as small-state, libertarians, but they often support interventions to regulate big corps.
✅ 74% say big businesses take advantage of ordinary people
✅ 71% support nationalisation of key industries
✅ 68% support banning zero hours contracts
14.07.2025 14:33
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1/4 What unites Reform UK's coalition? And where do the cracks emerge..?
Part 2 of our analysis finds three main things unite Farage's coalition:
✅ Pessimism and disillusionment
✅ Cultural grievances
✅ Distrust of big (foreign) business
unchecked.substack.com/p/who-are-re...
14.07.2025 14:33
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Who are Reform UK's 'red' and 'blue' voters? (Part 1)
Reform UK is often painted as a party of older, small-state, Brexit voters — but our research suggests the reality is more complex
3/3 For all the insights 🤔, head over to our Substack - Populism Unpacked.
👏 It's a new initiative looking at the rise of the Populist Right.
⏰ Next week we're releasing Part 2. What unites these groups, and where the cracks in Reform's coalition emerge..?
unchecked.substack.com/p/who-are-re...
03.07.2025 09:11
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2/3 Our analysis suggests Reform can be split into two tribes:
🔹 'Blue' voters - often from petty bourgeoisie, favour a smaller state, anti income redistribution and benefits, 💙 Thatcher
♦️ 'Red' voters - more working class, want Gov to redistribute income, ⬆️ private sector regulation
03.07.2025 09:11
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