helenbarnard.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Odd dynamic: 1. Government announces a positive policy. 2. Campaigners welcome it. 3. Other people reply angrily 'But what about the 45 other policies we need to address X?!' As if 'I welcome this good thing' means 'Job done'. Even though you also said 'They must also do...'

submitted 42 minutes ago • 0 comments

"When it works, our social security system enables millions of people to work, manage health conditions and fulfil caring responsibilities when they otherwise wouldn’t be able to."

submitted 3 hours ago • 0 comments

Spoke to @GBNEWS about welcome extension of free school meals to all families on universal credit. And urgent need to lift two child limit & ensure UC covers essentials. Or government risks seeing hunger, hardship & child poverty rise on their watch. www.gbnews.com/politics/lab...

submitted 3 hours ago • 0 comments

Shock win by Labour in Hamilton by election. Take aways from John Curtice and others are saying first thing: - When you look at each party's trajectory since 2021 & compare to current polls: Reform slightly over performed expectations. Labour about what the polls would predict but...1/3

submitted 4 hours ago • 1 comment

@childrenssociety.bsky.social standing alongside the calls ⬇️⬇️

submitted 19 hours ago • 1 comment

- What’s for dinner Mum? - A little dish called ‘What we have left before shopping tomorrow’ - Meaning? - Rice, broccoli, 2 sausages, 1 piece of bacon & a chicken breast cubed & fried … - Okaaaay.

submitted 19 hours ago • 7 comments

Tune into @lbc.co.uk C now to hear me chat to @tomswarbrick.bsky.social about free school meals, universal credit & winter fuel allowance.

submitted 21 hours ago • 0 comments

Thanks @lbc.co.uk for publishing my article on Shadow Chancellor's speech calling for 'bolder reform' of welfare (usually= more cuts). There’s nothing fiscally prudent about deepening hunger & hardship, driving up costs these create in our public services and economy. www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...

submitted 22 hours ago • 1 comment

Highly recommend this. - Makes the case for efficiency & cost saving being central to progressive policymaking. - Shows why DOGE exemplifies every aspect of how not to do it. - And why UK's 2010s austerity drive also failed every test. - Proposes a framework to do it well.

submitted 23 hours ago • 0 comments

Such a positive move from @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social & Liz Kendall. Food banks see so many struggling families miss out on this support. Our research shows 135,000 fewer children will now face severe hardship. Great first step, hopefully signalling a more ambitious child poverty strategy to come.

submitted 1 day ago • 3 comments

Why on earth does the UK national news keep giving updates on a murder trial of an American woman in Australia? Yes, the mushroom thing is unusual but how does this case merit this kind coverage here??

submitted 1 day ago • 5 comments

Pleased @trusselluk.bsky.social could join @cpaguk.bsky.social @citizensadvice.bsky.social Save the Children and other and other leading charities to warn that Labour risks leaving a legacy of even higher child poverty unless they lift the two child limit. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Great piece from @politicshome.bsky.social on our new @trusselluk.bsky.social analysis showing how heavy the political cost of slashing disability support could be. (On top of the obvious human, social and economic costs of such misjudged cuts). www.politicshome.com/news/article...

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

And about the failure of politicians to be straight with the public about the reality of trade offs. Cf the unusually outspoken fury of the IFS during the last election campaign as they pointed out that every party was selling some version of 'You can have all the sweets without paying for them'

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

I respect Lord Blunkett but this article really doesn’t hang together. The 2 child limit doesn’t stop people having more children, there’s no reason to believe lifting it would boost fertility. It achieves absolutely nothing except higher poverty & preventing kids having a fair start in life.

submitted 4 days ago • 4 comments

A weekend of two drinks: - Excellent mocktail at Tattu before a very silly, but fun Pride & Prejudice at Leeds Grand Theatre - And celebrating family homecoming from Cornwall with gooseberry gin from St Ives!

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Putting up with Susan should definitely come with a special bonus for village shop staff & customers alike. #TheArchers

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

My inner researcher is disproportionately outraged by Jazzer & Jim reading Lillian’s anonymous questionnaire. #TheArchers

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

If I had the choice of: 1. A shop where there’s a good chance I’ll get judged & criticised by Susan or Jim Or 2. A shop where I just get to buy stuff & leave with no commentary from the staff. I’m pretty sure which I’d choose. #TheArchers

submitted 4 days ago • 3 comments

I once had to explain to someone that insomnia means you can’t sleep even when you’re absolutely exhausted. They thought it meant you just didn’t get tired.

submitted 5 days ago • 1 comment

That's a new one. Tesco shop being delivered tonight. Just seen the receipt stating that they couldn't find any broccoli and didn't have an suitable substitute. Which sounds frankly implausible.

submitted 7 days ago • 6 comments

We've called for years for @allymcgovern.bsky.social & Liz Kendall's reforms - jobcentres prioritising good work & real support over any job & punitive sanctions. But we need to stop Treasury cuts to disability support to give real reform a fighting chance. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

I’m SO delighted Clarrie’s working at the new Underwoods convenience store at the EV charging station. Susan will explode from the collision of resentment & guilt. 😊 #TheArchers

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

There really wasn’t any good reason for Alice & Chris to split up that I remember? It was Alice feeling that she couldn’t be in a relationship when she was battling the depths of addiction. Feels like they’re rekindling…? #TheArchers

submitted 8 days ago • 1 comment

Q. What do you dislike about the shopping experience at the village shop? A. When the staff tell me what I should buy and judge me for buying caff coffee or the wrong greeting card. Q. What could we improve? A. Remove Susan from customer facing roles. #TheArchers

submitted 8 days ago • 1 comment

The case for using "global majority" by institutions should be rejected unless + until it can be shown - most people understand what it means (most don't) - most people it is about would like it used (most don't) I find it a deeply incoherent fiction + a highly regressive term in some many ways

submitted 9 days ago • 24 comments

Just asked the teenager why he bought full-fat milk instead of skimmed or semi. He couldn't remember what the coloured caps meant and when it said 'full' on the bottle he assumed it meant 'full of milk' (unlike those other milk bottles where they chuck in some orange juice?!)

submitted 9 days ago • 4 comments

For all the recent focus on incentives in the benefits system, it's a lack of suitable & supportive jobs that prevents many disabled people moving into work This online @neweconomics.bsky.social event (June 19th 10am) will explore the changes needed to fix this www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/its-not-me...

submitted 9 days ago • 2 comments

Good piece by @stephenkb.bsky.social . Reversing the winter fuel allowance cut is pure politics but scrapping the two child benefit cap is actually about the merits of the policy on.ft.com/4kz4GJN

submitted 10 days ago • 7 comments

Tune into @lbc.co.uk about 8 am to hear me chat with @nickferrarilbc.bsky.social about Labour & Reform's welfare policies, the 2 child limit and disability cuts.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Thanks to @skynewsrss.bsky.social for including me in @robpowellnews.bsky.social’s piece on child poverty, and why @trusselluk.bsky.social believes it’s vital to lift the 2 child limit to protect children from hunger & hardship.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

After the maypole raising there’s the procession, starting with the garlands. Later today a brave fella will climb the 86ft maypole to hang them and spin the fox…

submitted 10 days ago • 2 comments