Stephen Murray

Stephen Murray

@stemurray.bsky.social

Three decades working in tech. Increasingly interested in the ethical, environmental and socio-economic impacts of technology. Often reading. Sometimes writing. Fledgling drummer. Dad of 5. Live in beautiful Cumbria.

165 followers344 following582 posts

Stephen Murray reposted

The Guardian joins the campaign to abolish the state pension triple-lock. Portrays it as a old v young, social security v defence spending issue. Silence on corporate welfare, tax perks of the rich, maldistribution of wealth, low govt spend on state pension, how future retirees will survive.

theguardian.comBritain needs cash and everyone knows we should break the pensions triple lock. Where is the courage? | Gaby HinsliffThe issue cannot be avoided any longer. Andy Burnham and his chancellor must face the fear of a pensioner backlash, and find a fair solution, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
Prem Sikka@premnsikka.bsky.social

Neoliberals want to end the triple-lock on state pension They inflict low wages, consign millions to poverty. Govt spending on state pension as % of GDP in G7 countries. Italy 12.8 France 12 Germany 9.8 Japan 8.9 USA 6.6 Canada 4.7 UK 4.7 UK has one of the least generous pensions in the G7.

Stephen Murray reposted

The government must know full well that many people have neither the space nor the money to store extra food in their homes. It is individuating responsibility for a collective problem. As usual, it is the poorest and most excluded who will suffer from it. 🧵 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.comMinister tells Brits to stock up on days of supplies after ‘supersize’ El Niño warningExclusive: Angela Eagle urges UK citizens to be ‘a bit more resilient’ as they plan for national emergencies

Using the UK national emergency warning system to effectively tell people to avoid using barbeques is the height of official idiocy. Must be run by the same people who control motorway variable speed signs. Overuse of the system will lead people to ignore it.

Stephen Murray reposted

At astonishing speed, our rights are being cancelled, worldwide. In the UK, the prosecution of Rajiv Menon KC is the latest example of blatant authoritarianism. Why? Because this is what billionaires and corporations demand. This week's column. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comThink our basic rights are safe? In the age of oligarchs and corporate lobbying, think again | George MonbiotThe global assault on our freedoms is coming ever closer to home. Just look at the sinister prosecution of UK lawyer Rajiv Menon, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Stephen Murray reposted

What George said.

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

This point needs to be made over and again: The main purpose of wealth taxes should not be to raise revenue. That's a small and secondary benefit. The main purpose should be to *reduce the fortunes of the ultrarich*. Why? Because those fortunes present a massive threat to democracy and public life.

Stephen Murray reposted

Reform have now lost six by-elections in a row in England, Scotland and Wales. Their national poll rating is 26% – below Labour in 1983 – and Farage’s approval rating is -37. They’re very far from the voice of the people and need to stop being treated as such.

Stephen Murray reposted

Sorry to re-up this, but the media silence on the massive, country-changing shift towards arbitrary justice and authoritarianism is almost the most astonishing aspect of the case. The new dispensation is being normalised even as it's happening. Please spread it far and wide. We need to know. Thanks

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

Both the government and the Court of Appeal now treat protesters as terrorists and terrorists as protesters. It's hard to accept that a "Labour" government is imposing rightwing authoritarianism on the UK, but please read this column to see what's happening.+🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

These choices are also available to a UK government

Robert Reich@rbreich.bsky.social

Poverty is a policy choice. Concentrated wealth is a policy choice. Inequality is a policy choice. None of it is natural or inevitable. Remember: We have the power to build a system that serves the many, not the powerful few.

This thread 👇 👏

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social

No one expected Keir Starmer to solve our pressing problems overnight. But what we did expect – and had every right to expect – was that he would lay out a clear vision and roadmap for doing so. Instead, we’ve had drift, appeasement and a startling absence of ideas, values and ambition. 🧵1/6

Great thread

Emily Bell@emilybell.bsky.social

Former UK PM Gordon Brown is providing - voluntarily and not for the first time - information to the police about abuses of power relating to the Epstein files. As PM Brown was briefed against by people such as Alistair Campbell and Peter Mandelson as being ‘psychologically flawed’ ….1/

Stephen Murray reposted

1. People struggle to reconcile Keir Starmer’s ruthless ambition, Machiavellian manoeuvres, breaking of promises, collaboration in genocide, bans on protest, aid cuts, benefit cuts and war on nature with his history as a human rights lawyer. But perhaps there is no contradiction. Read on.🧵

What I find really strange about some of the Epstein Files is how fawning a lot of these men were over him. It's really weird how many supposedly powerful men come across as simpering wimps. What was his hold over them?

Stephen Murray reposted

A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.

Stephen Murray reposted

This entire grift relies on convincing people that they don't know how to do the things they have always known how to do, and ironically, if it works, we will, in a very short amount of time, forget how to do all the things we have always known how to do.

More Perfect Union@moreperfectunion.bsky.social

Jimmy Fallon: "And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?" Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."

I wonder if Kier Starmer and the UK Home Secretary are listening to this.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Obama: "When you see an administration suggest that ordinary street crime is an insurrection or a terrorist act, that is a genuine effort to weaken how we have understood democracy."

The absence of even a semblance of self awareness is profoundly depressing.

Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social

"15 years ago, Polish workers came here to find opportunity. Now Poland is growing twice as fast as we are," says Kemi Badenoch. Any ideas what may have happened in the interim?

Stephen Murray reposted

Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.

Paul Haine@paulhaine.bsky.social

Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild

About to start watching All the President's Men with my wife, who hasn't seen it. We noticed it came out in the year she was born. I expect to be even more disillusioned with the inadequacy of our current news media in a couple of hours.

Stephen Murray reposted

High water bills, filthy rivers, now drought. England’s water crisis created by privatisation. 1989 - 2023: No shareholder investment. Investment funded by customers. 19% of water lost to leaks. £82.4bn cash extracted. Water bills up 360%. Govt opposes public ownership. Looting continues.

theguardian.comHigh water bills, filthy rivers – and now drought. This is England's great artificial water crisis of 2025 | George MonbiotIn its refusal to nationalise water, it’s clear the government operates in the interests of private capital and not of the country, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

Stephen Murray reposted

Cutting "red tape" (aka public protections), as Reeves is doing, does not save money. Instead, it transfers costs from the rich to the poor. Other people pay for financial recklessness, filthy rivers, air pollution, lax building standards and consumer rip-offs. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.comReeves says rules and red tape are ‘boot on the neck’ of businessAt the Mansion House dinner she calls for regulators to allow more risk to clear the way for economic growth

Stephen Murray reposted

Pockets picked Big pharma made £12bn excess profit from just 10 NHS drugs; profit mark-ups up to 23,000%. Energy companies £514bn operating profit since 2020. England Water companies £85bn in dividends, dump sewage in rivers. Govts subservient to corporations. Abuses continue. Wither democracy.

leftfootforward.orgTaming corporations is the key issue of our timesTo appease corporations, people may raze mountains, divert rivers, clear forests, cover countryside in tarmac and shower subsidies upon them, but they have no loyalty to any place, people or product.

Stephen Murray reposted

Trumpism HSBC becomes first UK bank to quit industry’s net zero alliance. Banks take bailouts, subsidies, sell dodgy financial products, launder money and abuse taxes, but never accept social responsibility. Voluntarism is a fig leaf. Change law. Impose public duties.

theguardian.comHSBC becomes first UK bank to quit industry’s net zero allianceCampaigners condemn ‘troubling’ move that follows departure of six of largest US banks after Trump’s election

Stephen Murray reposted

Welp. ATI had already narrowed its focus to health, sustainability and security, but are now being told that health and sustainability are no longer legitimate public priorities for AI research, and that this is consistent what ‘the British public expects.’

Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social

Alan Turing Institute told to focus on defence or lose funding Science secretary threatens to pull defence R&D funds, while reforms could see EPSRC grant revisited Big story www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...