Jon Mabbutt

Christian, homelessness & addiction charity worker. SDP London Secretary. All views expressed are my own.

[Social Democratic Party @SDPhq]

High energy prices have cost Britain £3 trillion since 2004.

That is more than the entire national debt.

It has come out of your wages, your public services, your community.

Every year this continues costs another £146 billion we should have had.

In 2024 alone, we lost £310 billion.
That is the price of doing nothing.

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

@WilliamClouston The government doesn't care about British businesses and there's no longer any way to sugar coat it.

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

@FtsyParliament Ah ok. I was thinking something unmoored from traditional left right ideas. What about making Manchester or Edinburgh the new second city in place of Birmingham?

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

@merf_sdp @CapelLofft I'm not aware of it happening in a a parliamentary election but it happened in 2017 and 2022 for council elections.

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

@merf_sdp @CapelLofft We've had a tie decided by drawing straws before.

[William Clouston SDP @WilliamClouston]

I would find Tony Blair’s intervention less nauseating if he’d practiced what he preaches.

New Labour ran down our industrial base, built no nuclear power stations, no new airports, not a single reservoir and far FEWER state homes than Thatcher!

He preferred illegal wars…

[Andrew Wood @Andrewwood17]

Aspire vote in the first Council meeting for a massive increase in their own pay
Cabinent members will get a 63% increase so will now earn £48,292 a year - this is much higher then the average income of residents for a part time role
Mayor 13% increase to £92k
Deputy Mayor 35% increase to £58k
Chair of Strategic Development Committee up 70% to £33k
Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee up 34% to £29k
Plus two new paid posts Deputy (junior) Cabinet Member £8k + Ambassadors £6k - see 2nd pic

Its likely that all of the 33 Aspire Cllrs will get some kind of extra pay so that none earn less then £20k

There are also big increases in pay for Committee chairs and opposition leaders - some of this is justified and I am not against some increase in allowances especially for C'ttee chairs BUT what do we as tax payers get in response - we are paying for this increase - do we think the Council will now be more productive?

A reminder being a Cllr is a part time role (its why all of the meetings are in the evening), a few will do extra work but whats the point of having an Executive Mayor if so many others are also paid more then many do for a full time job?

All Cllrs get £12,792 allowances + the Special Responsibility Allowance (except the Mayor himself) - so in the table below I add the 2 together so that you can see full pay

Also from 1st April all Cllrs in England will get pensions again (a good thing)

The justification given for this massive increase

That it would encourage a more diverse group of Cllrs - but we just had elections
That it brings pay into line with other Councils with Mayoral models in London - but does not explain why now and why needed - just because others do it does not mean its needed
But whats clear is that this is now a salary not a compensation for extra work - it allows a large group of Cllrs to be full time

I don't object to the Mayors increase - Mayors should be paid the same as MPs at least, as have a much more responsible job

See item 12 for backup
https://t.co/vBltSm5Fvt

The table is my own summary

[James | SDP @Jawhs8]

Copying us again?

At least give credit where it is due, Rupert.

[Social Democratic Party @SDPhq]

Today the SDP publishes 'The Investment State'. It is our latest Green Paper that sets out to make a strong argument for why the United Kingdom is poorer than it should be, and what a government serious about growth would do about it.

We are inviting you to have this conversation with us.

Read it at: https://t.co/pGjRW0g0TF

[Social Democratic Party @SDPhq]

William Clouston, Stephen Balogh, and Matthew Kirtley address journalists and supporters at today's launch of The Investment State, the SDP's new economic Green Paper.

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

@McsteaBilly @SDPhq @WilliamClouston Welcome Billy. Good to have you with us.

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

@WhetstoneSDP current confirmed SDP number is over 30 and there are still some missing. It's early still in the data gathering process.

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

@Mrbobo972407 @natehiggins I would predict~ 2 greens, 15-20 or so Labour and 1 Tory councillor in Tower Hamlets fyi. Aspire will get likely the rest.

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

I can't think of anyone I care to hear the opinion of less than Alistair Campbell when it comes to the legality of war. @campbellclaret

[The Rest Is Politics @RestIsPolitics]

🗣️"Where is the international law in this?"

@RoryStewartUK and @campbellclaret question the legality of Trump's attacks on Iran.

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

If you get a chance, take a look at this. This is what politics should be.

If you live in Gorton and Denton, then please vote for Sebastian Moore on 26th. There is no better candidate. @SDPhq

https://t.co/NE7HlwUnnW

[SDP North West @TheSDPNorthWest]

"This is a really common sight in 2020s Britain"

Sebastian Moore, our candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, thinks the neglect of our streets is reversible.

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

@SDPhq @RedActuary We've been very blessed to have you as deputy leader. Thank you for your contribution.

[Social Democratic Party @SDPhq]

Top ten things not in the Labour Party 2024 manifesto that they are now doing. Feel free to add more
1. Assisted Dying
2. Removing access to trial by jury
3. Increasing taxes on working people
4. Digital ID
5. Removing child benefit cap
6. Mansion Tax
7. Removing IHT relief on farms
8. Setting up new public bodies
9. Restricting salary sacrifice arrangements
10. Delaying elections

[Jon Mabbutt @jonmabbutt]

Samir Zitouni was heroic.

"In a moment of crisis, Sam did not hesitate as he stepped forward to protect those around him.

"His actions were incredibly brave, and we are so proud of him, and of all our colleagues who acted with such courage that evening.

https://t.co/YCc5J0WPof