Ruth Tate

[Dan Walker @mrdanwalker]

I must confess to being a bit emotional this morning at the news of a knighthood for Kevin Sinfield.

I’ve always called him ‘Sir Kev’ and it’s hard to think of a man more deserving. He showed us all what it is to be a friend. What it means to step up when people need you and he did it all for his mate ❤️

After he carried Rob across the line in the Leeds marathon someone sent me this poem anonymously and I kept it on my phone. They called it ‘Arise Sir Kev’…

When shadows gathered, and hearts would break
Kev knew it was time to take…
One step, another, through wind and rain,
Carrying hope, despite the pain.

He never stopped, mile after mile,
Driven by loyalty, strength… a smile.
For Rob, his friend, he aim was true
Showing us all, what friendship can do.

Not measured in trophies, applause, or fame…
But turning up, again and again.
And in every mile he chose to run,
He showed us how friendship is truly done.

[Alexander Stafford @Alex_Stafford]

So, reduce VAT on theme parks, but add VAT on education. This Government's priorities are so warped

[Alison Moore @alijanemoore also on Bluesky @AliJaneMoore]

The collapse in recruitment of nurses from overseas laid bare.

[Seen and Unseen @seenunseenmag]

Paul Kalanithi’s memoir of dying sharpens how we see living

Read the full article 👇
https://t.co/pZSyRk2GGC

[Peter Hitchens @ClarkeMicah]

'Slamming VAT on fees was not aimed at hurting the rich, or even at raising money, and it did neither. The wealthy can always pay, and the Treasury will have swallowed up the money raised and spent it in a few seconds, . Its aim was to cut the number of people who could even dream of affording ­independent education.'

https://t.co/OTBqsnQPDQ via @DailyMail

[Sharron Davies HoL MBE @sharrond62]

Many private schools are not for the super elite or rich, they charge an affordable amount for an education that many parents make huge sacrifices or take second jobs to pay for. This saves the public sector for every child not having to be in the public s
Education, the same way private medicine helps to alleviate some of the pressure on the NHS. In countries like Australia they actively incentivise this, here we promote the politics of envy. The same way we’re chasing away the top 1% of our tax payers. It will backfire…

[Jericho Connected @JerichoConnect]

There can't be many people who disagree with this letter in today's Oxford Mail, describing the war on the sick who are struggling to get to the JR at what is often one of the worst times of their lives. Shame on our councils.

[Sophie Corcoran @sophielouisecc]

A worker on £35k a year will be £1,400 poorer because of the freeze in income tax

Yet a family with 5 kids on UC will be £10,000 better off.

This is the most unfair budget in my lifetime.

My latest for the express

https://t.co/smUFF3Ck7f

[Bella Wallersteiner 🇺🇦 @BellaWallerstei]

A single parent with three kids currently gets £20,978 in benefits. Without the two-child cap, it would jump to £24,491 well above what a full-time minimum wage worker takes home - £21,807 (@thetimes). Why work at all if benefits pay more?

[Reconnecting Oxford @ReconnectingOx]

Today, we're comparing where congestion in Oxford now builds up and the locations where new traffic filters / congestion charge pollution monitoring locations were installed, to help evaluate the scheme's impact.

Red roads=congestion.
Purple blob=pollution monitor.

[Ruth Tate @RTbjf]

@ReconnectingOx St Clements seems just as busy as always with cars around 5-6pm, even though there is a congestion charge camera there.

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

https://t.co/Mg0oHBVoxf

[Isabel Paterson @IsabelPat1886]

I don't always agree with Morgan.

But, unlike @IFS he is telling the truth on the impact of Education Tax.

And unlike @IFS he questions assumptions, takes account of the evidence from Greece, and talks about the impact on children and schools.

[Ruth Tate @RTbjf]

@AndrewGant3 Did you support LTNs in your own division or only in East Oxford?

[Cllr Liam Walker @_LiamWalker_]

The hypocrisy. Lib Dem Cllr Gant as highways cabinet member has imposed more road blocks and anti-motorist measures on Oxfordshire drivers than anyone before him. Now his residents might be impacted he suddenly cares about drivers. On your bike Cllr ArroGant. #GantsGridlock #OUFC

[Olly @oIIyjm]

The exodus from private schools following @UKLabour's education tax is 4x ⬆️ than suggested.

The private school closure rate has ⬆️ 67%.

The High Court found the tax inhibits the human rights of children with SEND.

Meanwhile, state schools receive no benefit.

It's lose-lose.

[Diane Abbott @HackneyAbbott]

There is no doubt that if this Bill is passed in its current form, people will lose their lives who do not need to.

They will be among the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society.

[Right To Life UK @RightToLifeUK]

Tom Tugendhat MP (@TomTugendhat): This debate needs more honesty. Assisted dying is what a hospice does. This is assisted suicide. Let's be absolutely clear about what we are choosing to do.

[Caroline Farrow @CF_Farrow]

This sign sums things up perfectly #assistedsuicide

[Diane Abbott @HackneyAbbott]

One thing I have learnt from some years in politics, victory or defeat are rarely final. So you keep on fighting.