The real welfare scandal.
The UK Ministry of Defence paid Palantir £186mn more in the decade ending March 2026 than the value of its publicly listed contracts with the controversial US software group, according to FT analysis of official documents.
www.ft.com/content/5c23...
www.ft.com/content/5c23...
UK defence ministry spent £186mn more on Palantir than value of public contracts
US software group has faced criticism for its links to Donald Trump’s administration and that country’s defence sector
www.ft.com
October 28, 2026 at 1:52 PM
The real welfare scandal.
Ethics aside, this take could use some contact with reality. Biden's expanded CTC didn't motivate recipients to vote to maintain it. Trump offered $5000 checks and it hurt him in the polls.
The empirical claim that welfare creates single issue voters just doesn't hold up.
The empirical claim that welfare creates single issue voters just doesn't hold up.
October 25, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Ethics aside, this take could use some contact with reality. Biden's expanded CTC didn't motivate recipients to vote to maintain it. Trump offered $5000 checks and it hurt him in the polls.
The empirical claim that welfare creates single issue voters just doesn't hold up.
The empirical claim that welfare creates single issue voters just doesn't hold up.
Andrew Griffith just told #r4today that "welfare spending is out of control", a straight up lie, that Nick Robinson ignored.
Welfare spending is just 1.1% of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen by 0.9% of GDP since 2012-13 (Resolution Foundation)
Welfare spending is just 1.1% of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen by 0.9% of GDP since 2012-13 (Resolution Foundation)
Has #r4today started it's (one sided) discussion about "out of control" welfare, yet?
You know, the one where they start from the position that welfare has exploded and is definitely unaffordable, but without noting that many of the facts do not support that view?
#Budget26
You know, the one where they start from the position that welfare has exploded and is definitely unaffordable, but without noting that many of the facts do not support that view?
#Budget26
The Resolution Foundation has recently updated its figures for this year.
Welfare is 11.1% of GDP just 1.1 percentage points higher than 20 years ago.
Have you ever heard #r4today mention this or invite @resolutionfoundation.org to join it's "exploding welfare" debate?
bsky.app/profile/reso...
Welfare is 11.1% of GDP just 1.1 percentage points higher than 20 years ago.
Have you ever heard #r4today mention this or invite @resolutionfoundation.org to join it's "exploding welfare" debate?
bsky.app/profile/reso...
October 29, 2026 at 7:44 AM
Andrew Griffith just told #r4today that "welfare spending is out of control", a straight up lie, that Nick Robinson ignored.
Welfare spending is just 1.1% of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen by 0.9% of GDP since 2012-13 (Resolution Foundation)
Welfare spending is just 1.1% of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen by 0.9% of GDP since 2012-13 (Resolution Foundation)
Madeley: "Do you think welfare spendings out of control?"
Maguire: "I don't think its out of control if you look at the total figure.. its only 10.6% of the economy, which is low by European standards"
Singh: "And over half of the welfare budget is pensions, the state pension"
Maguire: "I don't think its out of control if you look at the total figure.. its only 10.6% of the economy, which is low by European standards"
Singh: "And over half of the welfare budget is pensions, the state pension"
October 28, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Madeley: "Do you think welfare spendings out of control?"
Maguire: "I don't think its out of control if you look at the total figure.. its only 10.6% of the economy, which is low by European standards"
Singh: "And over half of the welfare budget is pensions, the state pension"
Maguire: "I don't think its out of control if you look at the total figure.. its only 10.6% of the economy, which is low by European standards"
Singh: "And over half of the welfare budget is pensions, the state pension"
Imagine being the party that significantly expanded and shaped the welfare state post-WW2 and then wanting to destroy that because “welfare bad”.
The welfare state is good. Labour should be proud of it (and be committed to improving and expanding it further) instead of this ridiculous nonsense.
The welfare state is good. Labour should be proud of it (and be committed to improving and expanding it further) instead of this ridiculous nonsense.
"I do support the Labour Party, not the benefits party, & Labour, the clue is in the name, its the party of work"
No, Labour was established to represent the interests of the working class, but its easy to understand why a multi millionaire company boss would rather it didn't.
No, Labour was established to represent the interests of the working class, but its easy to understand why a multi millionaire company boss would rather it didn't.
October 28, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Imagine being the party that significantly expanded and shaped the welfare state post-WW2 and then wanting to destroy that because “welfare bad”.
The welfare state is good. Labour should be proud of it (and be committed to improving and expanding it further) instead of this ridiculous nonsense.
The welfare state is good. Labour should be proud of it (and be committed to improving and expanding it further) instead of this ridiculous nonsense.
Labor’s job services system is getting less than 15% of participants into work, while social security payments remain below the poverty line and welfare recipients are dying at 10 TIMES THE RATE of people not on welfare.
I’ll leave you to guess what Labor is doing about this.
I’ll leave you to guess what Labor is doing about this.
October 29, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Labor’s job services system is getting less than 15% of participants into work, while social security payments remain below the poverty line and welfare recipients are dying at 10 TIMES THE RATE of people not on welfare.
I’ll leave you to guess what Labor is doing about this.
I’ll leave you to guess what Labor is doing about this.
Seriously? You're the goddam prime minister, presiding over a deliberately destroyed welfare system.
The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is bringing a little bit of joy to Australian families doing it tough.
And that’s something our whole Parliament can support.
And that’s something our whole Parliament can support.
October 26, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Seriously? You're the goddam prime minister, presiding over a deliberately destroyed welfare system.
This is just welfare queens all over again.
October 24, 2026 at 11:34 PM
This is just welfare queens all over again.
“It’s not welfare if I need it.” Is almost always the starting point of all treatler politics.
October 26, 2026 at 8:44 PM
“It’s not welfare if I need it.” Is almost always the starting point of all treatler politics.
he eliminated covid welfare and kicked millions off medicaid
October 28, 2026 at 6:34 PM
he eliminated covid welfare and kicked millions off medicaid
Reality check: Welfare spending in the U.K. ranks in the middle of OCED countries and is one of the lowest welfare spends versus EU countries at only 10.8% of GDP.
October 29, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Reality check: Welfare spending in the U.K. ranks in the middle of OCED countries and is one of the lowest welfare spends versus EU countries at only 10.8% of GDP.
To be clear, the DWP over the last 17 years, since Labour's introduction of ESA, & Tory/LibDem introduction of PIP and UC, has caused thousands of deaths. This will increase the rate of deaths.
deathsbywelfare.org
deathsbywelfare.org
October 25, 2026 at 1:28 PM
To be clear, the DWP over the last 17 years, since Labour's introduction of ESA, & Tory/LibDem introduction of PIP and UC, has caused thousands of deaths. This will increase the rate of deaths.
deathsbywelfare.org
deathsbywelfare.org
In the 1920s the DAR had a blacklist that included organizations like the National Catholic Welfare Council, the League of Jewish Women, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
October 25, 2026 at 12:44 PM
In the 1920s the DAR had a blacklist that included organizations like the National Catholic Welfare Council, the League of Jewish Women, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Someone call a preemptive welfare check on Ed Zitron
October 26, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Someone call a preemptive welfare check on Ed Zitron
Putting the boot to welfare recipients is highly valued work within the ALP
It's ridiculous that someone was paid nearly $900k for being fired, but even more outrageous that the Albanese government refuses to say why they abruptly terminated a Secretary when there were hundreds of thousands of unlawful payment cancellations.
October 28, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Putting the boot to welfare recipients is highly valued work within the ALP
Believe it or not, this is the same party that built the NHS, the welfare state and a million council homes from the rumble of World War 2.
Embarrassing.
Embarrassing.
Jon Kay to Jonathan Reynolds: "You're planning to remove import taxes from products like chocolate, gherkins, marmalade. Your own figures say that will save the average household 40p a week. At a time when [bills] are going up, do you really think people are going to notice 40p a week?"
October 27, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Believe it or not, this is the same party that built the NHS, the welfare state and a million council homes from the rumble of World War 2.
Embarrassing.
Embarrassing.
Labour clearly has a problem with young people.
Lower minimum wage for young people.
Nothing for renters. Banker shares soar.
Climate vandalism.
Lower minimum wage for young people.
Nothing for renters. Banker shares soar.
Climate vandalism.
October 29, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Labour clearly has a problem with young people.
Lower minimum wage for young people.
Nothing for renters. Banker shares soar.
Climate vandalism.
Lower minimum wage for young people.
Nothing for renters. Banker shares soar.
Climate vandalism.
Welfare Is the Last Bulwark Against Mass Poverty in Britain
Welfare not warfare
kalros2185.substack.com
October 26, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Great. Another welfare queen.
🇧🇷 *BOLSONARO EN ROUTE TO THE US, FOLHA REPORTS CITING ALLIES
October 27, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Great. Another welfare queen.
A whole bunch of welfare queens
October 28, 2026 at 5:32 AM
A whole bunch of welfare queens
I don't agree with this. Even though Elon Musk received over $38,000,000,000 in corporate welfare from the federal government, he should still be allowed to vote. Once.
What he should *not* be allowed to do is to interfere with *our* votes.
What he should *not* be allowed to do is to interfere with *our* votes.
October 25, 2026 at 10:49 PM
I don't agree with this. Even though Elon Musk received over $38,000,000,000 in corporate welfare from the federal government, he should still be allowed to vote. Once.
What he should *not* be allowed to do is to interfere with *our* votes.
What he should *not* be allowed to do is to interfere with *our* votes.
The “something” in question was the workers themselves deciding by 1966 that they no longer wanted New Dealer welfare capitalism if it meant black Americans would benefit from it while anti-war protesters were free to burn the flag
Something happened in the 70's that crystallized politics (and many other topics) into a new set of assumptions and priors. It gave rise to Reaganism and completely crushed New Deal Socialism; Dems that eventually reemerged were and still are centrists scared of their own shadows.
October 26, 2026 at 7:38 PM
The “something” in question was the workers themselves deciding by 1966 that they no longer wanted New Dealer welfare capitalism if it meant black Americans would benefit from it while anti-war protesters were free to burn the flag
Also the guy behind their cash welfare policy bolsa familia
October 26, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Also the guy behind their cash welfare policy bolsa familia
Interesting. No mug shot of this welfare fraudster. Wonder why that is? 🤔
A Rochester woman was charged after she allegedly received over $73,000 in government assistance she did not qualify for.
Rochester woman fraudulently received more than $73k in government assistance: Charges
A Rochester woman was charged after she allegedly received over $73,000 in government assistance she did not qualify for.
bit.ly
October 28, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Interesting. No mug shot of this welfare fraudster. Wonder why that is? 🤔
A prerequisite for federal subsidy should be no employees on welfare.
October 28, 2026 at 3:30 PM
A prerequisite for federal subsidy should be no employees on welfare.