TownCloseCate

she / her

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@reginalddhunter Not many people remember he was known as Muammar the Woke.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@nikki_goode19 @CllrAlexCatt @TheGreenParty @ZackPolanski Hi Nikki. I left the Labour Party in 2023 and have been sitting as an Independent councillor until yesterday. Thanks for your interest.

[Rachel Millward @rachelmillward]

Welcome Cate! Excellent choice. Thank you for joining us and for all the work you do.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@BeckettUnite That's me done with the Internet for today. Just had some kind of hallucination of a Thatcher reincarnation.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@SaulStaniforth @labourlewis Who looked the other way? It's been covered in the media for years. Complaints have been made to Labour directors that remain unanswered for years. The party played a numbers game to get into power. But it's not moral, nor is it sustainable. We deserve a better Labour Party.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@SocialistHealth @SaulStaniforth @labourlewis I'd suggest it was because of, not in spite of.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@Telegraph stop taking money out of my bank a/c. I agreed £5 a month online subscription and told that wouldn't increase. Yet you start taking £24.99 and are too busy to respond to my emails. That's 3 payments now. Please send £74.97 refund and immediately end my access.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@IMissHitchSlaps @SangitaMyska Where's the rest of the form that's cut off at the bottom of the pic, please?
Yes, it needs revising. But let's see it in its entirety first.

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

Some saying re yet another predicted energy price rise "why aren't you calling out corporate greed? " Well because it's irrelevant. An energy firms job isn't to keep our prices low, it's to make money for their shareholders (we as a nation sold them off in privatisation)

As it stands its the regulator Ofgem and government who's job is to protect consumers from overly high prices. And that's where the issues lie.

The price cap isn't set by firms, they aren't increasing it, its set by the regulator. It's a turgid system (that was pushed on the regulator by a past govt) and it's allowed firms to price to the max of the cap without pushing them hard enough to offer cheaper deals.

I've long campaigned for change both in public, through official submissions and in private (so much so I ended up losing my rag and publically apologised for swearing in a meet with ofgem).

We need a social tariff!

I've long also called out excessive standing charges. Long said the market stabilisation charge (now thankfully gone) should end, as should, temporarily, the ban on acquisition only tariffs. I've said the ombudsman is too weak to enforce. I've said what makes up the price lacks transparency... the direct debit system is abused by firms to sit on too much cash... smart meter roll out is mistargeted and more.

Yet of course my prime aim is to help consumers navigate this.

The real excess profits aren't made by energy retailers (the regulated ones who supply us as consumers) but by the generators who aren't regulated by Ofgem (though in some cases horizontal integration means they're the same firm but they aren't legally allowed to cross subsidise).

Our wholesale pricing structure has rewarded them by paying the highest price (eg gas) even when it's a far cheaper source (though that's outside my expertise area, so I don't comment much on it)

The whole consumer energy market is mostly broken. We have a model based on competition but then 80% of homes are on regulated pricing, possibly the worst of both worlds.

The issues are with the regulator and politicians (and govts of all colours have faded on this) to put the structures in place to protect consumers. It needs a fundamental rethink. Sadly, I don't see that happening no matter who is in govt. I won't stop pushing for change though

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@tamhauyu @Brenda_Dacres @SouthwarkCofE @lewishamlabour @UCKG @TheHelpCentre @_TheLondoner @AndrewKersley @Suukofficial @SthLondonPress Centring the needs of survivors is indeed the priority, firstly by sending a clear message that working for an institution that treats congregation members like this is in direct conflict with being a councillor. Keep speaking up for them @tamhauyu

[GET A GRIP @docrussjackson]

🚨 Professor Clive Webb & @reginalddhunter discuss with Matthew Parris the life of American socialist Eugene Debs, born 1855 in Indiana - a railway worker, trade unionist & five time candidate for the presidency, who was imprisoned during WWI for sedition.
https://t.co/oBQiA8zLPj

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@owenjonesjourno My dad's in hospital in the UK and I can't fathom how he would fare in this situation. I just can't understand how we can treat people like this when they are at their most vulnerable.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@Onebiskuit @jemmaforte @MarinaPurkiss @UKLabour @Keir_Starmer Sadly Paul I think that's over optimistic. Reform voters are not likely to be deterred by concerns about Musk's stroppy toddler mentality when they have Farage in charge peddling wilful ignorance. Don't underestimate him - he's largely responsible for tanking the economy.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@Loster @DrAllyLouks I can't speak to Tory vetting processes, personally, but any time there's some awful behaviour that's revealed, isn't it always the case that some people knew all along? Within political parties and other institutions too.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@Loster @DrAllyLouks I think we should expect better vetting of candidates at all levels tbh. Even if you are a paper candidate it confers status. Even if people don't like your politics or party you aren't just Mr X. For balance I've just been watching documentary on Jared O'Mara with horror!

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@Loster @DrAllyLouks Do you mean he stood as a Tory councillor? Because he would need to be selected by the Conservative Party to stand as a Tory cllr. Even if he wasn't elected. You don't just say you are a Tory candidate because you are a Conservative yourself. So if true, it's relevant.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@GilliganMg @narindertweets Me too! I hope the girl is OK too. Without knowing the situation given the charge i can't see how him being in prison for a year helps anyone in any way.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@owenjonesjourno Finally it is very similar to what happened to a relative with gallstones earlier this year. Am in no way a dr but maybe ask if that could be possible and keep an eye out for jaundice which is what gave a good indication, confirmed by blood tests and scan. Get well soon!

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@owenjonesjourno Presumably you won't be discharged until they find out why you are experiencing this? I find it always helpful to ask what could be causing it. And then asking what else it could be. Simple questions but it keeps everyone's minds on what's beyond the immediate situation.

[TownCloseCate @TownCate]

@owenjonesjourno Also it doesn't seem wise to eat anything given the effect of two grains of rice unless medical professionals advise it. Maybe in the longer term the suggestions on here might help.