Here’s a short story about who wins and loses from the status quo of our inheritance tax rules - and about, what you might politely call ‘sub-optimal’ journalism🧵

This seems pretty alarming: coroners will be unable to investigate assisted deaths under Leadbeater’s bill (h/t Kevin Yuill)

The extraordinary longevity of this particular incumbency is one of the oddest paradoxes of uk journalism. Private Eye are licensed fools.

Britain’s sanctions against Russia are almost potemkin sanctions …only one company fined despite fairly flagrant sanctions busting through 3rd countries. ⁦Ed Conway⁩ keeps following the story. youtu.be/nYjW6YMkR30

James Cleverly's point is troubling & interesting. If Assisted Dying is compassionate & morally good, then surely children should be front of the queue, rather than specifically excluded? I'd love to hear a substantive response to it.

As things stand, #AssistedDying will come in to force by the end of 2027. Many questions remain unanswered. Read my analysis of what it could look like in practice: thetimes.com/article/d1b9e7…

A tweet as cheap as it is nakedly sectarian. At best it displays no understanding of the trauma which the people of Fermanagh went through. At worst it is hateful. You could not make such a jibe about any other group on this island, yet this is considered fair game? Disturbing.

Saudi Arabia will host a World Cup …. Why? ⁦Rob Harris⁩ looks into it news.sky.com/story/saudi-ar…

This is an exceptionally stupid decision. A matter of huge public interest and - potentially - public safety significance is stonewalled. The only people who will benefit are propagandists. I refuse to believe this data could not be simply gathered. If the will existed.

It’s not just about inheritance tax. Fascinating thoughts on farming from ⁦Ed Conway⁩ news.sky.com/story/how-clim…

An almost perfect interaction.

Is Ed the best journalist currently at work in the U.K.?

The numbers in the water industry are boggling. I run through some of them below. One I’d love to add is the combined hourly rate of Court 15 as lawyers for Thames Water and various creditors prepare to make & oppose the case for a £3bn emergency loan news.sky.com/story/five-cha…

There’s a journalists’ expression: burying the lede. Admirably deliberate example here.

I have sympathy for WASPI women but their occupational pensions are rarely mentioned Eg this lady was a teacher, but this account implies she had to live off savings till getting state pension (plus in that generation occupational pensions better than now) mirror.co.uk/news/politics/…

What a wonderful memoir of Seamus Heaney this is, by @caitlinpacific “Seamus gave me the one thing I desperately needed growing up in that crazy family: my certificate of belonging.” theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…

In October, I had a v long chat with Alan Moore. On magick, sci-fi, the perils of eco-doomerism, the joy of occultist pranks, the psychogeography of Stoke Newington, the invention of the taser - and much more! As a Christmas treat here it is IN FULL. seamas.medium.com/its-a-rabbit-o…

Occasionally I think that the retreat (& in some cases collapse) of the social condition of the lower middle classes is the key feature of uk life since the crash. It’s discussed here by ⁦John Burn-Murdoch⁩ on.ft.com/3Poq5YC

I’ve never got into Walter Benjamin - only ever seen him adored by people I respect. This beautifully written article has finally made me commit to thoroughly doing so. ft.com/content/fe8d0d…

In June 2022, the government tried GPS tagging some asylum seekers to see if it improved compliance with immigration bail conditions. The pilot scheme ended in December 2023. Here's what it found...🧵