The select committee report on the asylum hotel shambles highlights a point I made repeatedly - the absurd gimicks pursued by the last govt like Rwanda took resources away from running the actual system properly.
Caerphilly Senedd By-Election Result:
🌼 PLC: 47.4% (+19.0)
➡️ REF: 36.0% (+34.2)
🌹 LAB: 11.0% (-34.9)
🌳 CON: 2.0% (-15.3)
🌍 GRN: 1.5% (New)
🔶 LDM: 1.5% (-1.2)
🐉 GWL: 0.3% (New)
💷 UKIP: 0.2% (New)
Plaid Cymru GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2021.
The Green Party's proposal for a wealth tax on 1% of assets above £10m and 2% on assets above £1bn comes top of our list of tax reforms that Britons would support, with 75% giving it their backing
yougov.co.uk/economy/arti...
… Studies show that more extreme wealth shrinks economies, pushes people into debt and shortens life expectancy. It took governments a while to act on the data on smoking, just like it's taking them a while to act on the data on extreme wealth today with wealth taxes.”
I particularly like the comment from @taxjustice.net: “We often say extreme wealth is a lot like smoking! We used to think it's good for us until the data showed its killing us. Governments thought letting the superrich get even richer would make us all richer - but the opposite happened….
I can’t recommend enough watching this It’s Complicated video speaking with @taxjustice.net on how the super rich avoid paying taxes - including debunking some of the common myths about wealth tax. A compelling case that I wish the current govt would take heed of. m.youtube.com/watch?v=vPZR...
What a a lovely tribute to a fantastic organisation to read on a Saturday morning - thank you Phin. Let’s hope Woodcraft Folk continues to thrive over its next 100 years. 5/5
We need more opportunities for children and young people to engage in spaces where they are able to think critically about the world they live in, engage in campaigns and protests, are empowered to lead, discuss complex issues, and come together in solidarity with others. 4/5
I hear so many stories like Phin’s about how Woodcraft Folk has changed their life. I don’t even know if I’d still be alive without it. And some of my closest friends now are those I met as a teenager (or younger!) on camps in the north east, nationally and overseas. 3/5
Growing up a in small village in North Tyneside, the Folk opened up a whole new world for me. At the centre was political education, a cooperative ethos, and putting independence and decision making in the hands of children and young people. 2/5
I have no doubt that if I hadn’t joined Woodcraft folk as a child, I would have never had the opportunities - or even thought - to work in democracy, participation, youth and social justice organisations, as I have for the last 15 years 🧵 1/5
When doing community engagement, it’s easy to say we’re all equals - but the reality is more complex.
Power and privilege shape every interaction. Going beyond tokenistic engagement requires us to address this.
✍ Read @carlywd.bsky.social's latest blog for the LPIP hub👇
🚀 Report launch day for the @sdruk.bsky.social and @sciencewise.bsky.social public dialogue findings!
🗣️ I’m looking forward to moderating a panel on the findings this afternoon at the Digital Footprints Conference #DF25 exploring smart data for public good
Map of London showing the many different languages spoken
The second most spoken language in each London borough.
The world is changing but one thing remains the same: regional inequality 📢
@zoebillingham.bsky.social reacts to today's Spring Statement 👇
And we've seen that what happens when science, tech and innovation fall out of step with public values - we need to anticipate future GM moments. The government needs to do more to involve the public in decision making. It is vital to making better decisions, improving outcomes and building trust
A big thing that has stuck with me was the current government's grand plans are reliant on AI to succeed. If the public don't accept AI, there's low adoption or backlash, then these plans will be impossible
3️⃣ When engaging the public on AI we need to consider inclusivity - literacy, digital exclusion, the methods we use to engage people. We need to start with curiosity and creativity and asking questions that matter to the people we’re speaking to
2️⃣ People want a seat at the table when it comes to AI, in development, regulation and governance - everyone needs a voice, but especially those negatively affected by it most (like those affected by facial recognition in policing)
Their findings:
1️⃣ People understand AI is not just a new programme but a societal shift and potentially disrupting force - people are expecting big changes but are uncertain what this means for them
I especially enjoyed hearing from 5 organisations funded by this project who have been doing invaluable work with less heard groups on public voice in AI - The Workers' Observatory, Migrants' Rights Network, UNJUST, The People Speak and Ada Lovelace Institute
Fab to join the Public Voices in AI launch in the House of Commons this week on behalf of @sciencewise.bsky.social - hosted by @digitalgoodnet.bsky.social plus lots of other incredible organisations. The project puts those most impacted and underrepresented by AI front and centre. My reflections 🧵
Public trust in AI is not stable and there is a gap in knowledge around minoritised and marginalised groups' perceptions and experience of AI. 'Inclusion washing' is happening, where research targets specific groups to suggest acceptance, while not being inclusive in design or analysis
Interested in how #public voices can shape #climate policy?
Join us this Thursday for a webinar discussing the findings from the Sciencewise and Climate Change Committee (CCC) Citizens’ Panel
Learn more about how #citizen input is influencing the path to affordable #netzero future!
Thoughtful research from Public First. Housebuilding is the only domain where the areas with the least need said it was a bigger issue. And the decline of the high streets and the lack of parking are great levellers - keenly felt regardless of need:
What I’ve found myself asking myself since yesterday is how long are we going to have to keep saying the system is broken at gatherings like these. When will we say instead that things are being fixed or, perhaps, rebuilt from the ground up? (8/8)
As part of the summit’s speed networking, I was asked what gives me hope. My answer was it’s people working together towards a common vision, even though there might be an infinite number of paths we take to reach that end goal. And events like this provide a platform for this (7/8)
There is not one solution to fixing democracy - we need it all. Especially right now. My daily work is dedicated to participatory and deliberative democratic processes. But I don’t think even these processes can fix democracy alone (although it would be a brilliant start) (6/8)
There was much discussion about bottom up regeneration, eg through community organising or
community-led initiatives to make democracy exciting again. This was in opposition to changing the system from within and working with power brokers. I don’t think these are in opposition - we need both (5/8)
So, solutions? Several dichotomies were presented. Should we be looking to make whole system change, or be making incremental change through things like limiting MPs’ second jobs or pushing for the Integrity and Ethics Commission to step up. We don’t need one or another - we need both (4/8)
