VOOT

"We will always choose each other." Mission control has reacquired signal with the Artemis II crew after the mission’s planned loss of signal. Our astronauts are once again using the Deep Space Network to keep conversation and science data flowing between space and Earth.

72% of people still say they would prefer to call a business on a landline number for confidence that the business is established. But of course many SMEs just use mobiles. So keep those calls coming with POCKET LANDLINE. For more information visit us at pocketlandline.co.uk

Our data reveals what’s happening in the UK’s telecoms markets: 📈 SIM-only mobile plans are gaining in popularity 📶 28% of broadband customers are out of contract 📱 55% of pay-monthly mobile customers use 20% or less of their monthly data allowance ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-bro…

📢 Our rules to fuel the full-fibre rollout and support UK productivity. 🛜 Nearly 8 in 10 homes have access to full-fibre broadband 📈 That's up from less the 1 in 4 in 2021 👍 Upgrades bolster UK productivity, as AI transforms businesses More 🔗 ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-bro…

Radio 2 this morning, Gary Davies on the Breakfast Show playing Black Box 'Ride on Time'... Felt like I'd gone back in time 30 years... and it felt GOOD

Looking for work. Lost my job in the most ridiculous way possible Done abit of joinery before delivery collections but willing to put my hand to literally anything just want to get back working based in Sheffield Rt’s appreciated 👍🏻

@MatthewStadlen Have you ever been to New York?

The usual suspects talking London down, even on New Year’s Day. They can’t seem to cope with a diverse and multicultural metropolis being the greatest city on earth.

Oh this angle of the Barry Bannan goal is nice 😮‍💨 A reminder that he's 35. Hero.

📺 The full video that was shown on the big screen at Hillsborough ten minutes before kick-off between Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United… the day after the club went into administration #SWFC

To the @swfc fans and @SWFCTrust 💛💙🤝💙🤍 #footballfamily #swfc #tufc @WeAreTheFSA @FairGameUK

@PaulSchleifer @strickia How close is it to raising the £1.5bn a year then?

This is highly biased and inflates figures. Labour added 20% VAT to private school fees from January 2025, to raise about £1.5 billion yearly for state schools by ending their tax exemption (commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-brief…). Official ISC census data from January 2025 shows only 11,009 fewer pupils UK-wide, a 1.9% drop partly due to demographics, not just VAT (bbc.com/news/articles/…). A May 2025 analysis of 1,380 schools found a 2.4% decline, or around 13,000 pupils—far less than your 25,000 claim, which seems to exaggerate cumulative drops since Labour's election (schoolsweek.co.uk/private-school…). The Treasury forecasted 3-7% medium-term declines (18,000-43,000 pupils), with 37,000 by 2029-30, so current figures are within expectations, not eight times higher (bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…). English councils reported no major exodus to state schools in March 2025, with no effect on Year 7 applications and higher first-choice offers in some areas (theguardian.com/education/2025…). About 50 private schools closed in 2025, in line with the 50-77 average annual closures from 2013-2023 for various reasons, not exceeding norms (thetimes.com/uk/education/a…). Many schools absorbed VAT via fee cuts or more bursaries, reducing impact on families (schoolsweek.co.uk/private-school…). Your £300 million taxpayer cost assumes full state funding for 25,000 pupils plus lost VAT, but at verified 2-4% drops, net revenue stays positive vs. the 10-15% breakeven threshold (taxpayersalliance.com/analysis_vat_o…). Scotland saw a 5.6% decline (1,257 pupils), reflecting its smaller sector, but UK-wide impact is milder, not matching your extrapolation (telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/news…). The Biggar Economics report you cite is a pre-2025 forecast, not actual data, warning of net costs only above 13% drops in Scotland—a level not hit UK-wide (biggareconomics.co.uk/economic-impac…). Scotland's VAT timeline matches the UK's (no separate two-year rollout), with declines rising from 3.8% post-announcement to 6.7% post-imposition (taxadvisermagazine.com/article/privat…). Entry drops in Scotland (13.3% at age 5, 14.6% secondary) hit future cohorts but don't cause immediate UK fiscal losses (scotsman.com/news/scottish-…). Private schools' economic contributions (jobs, taxes) continue, and the policy factors in moderate shifts without harming state finances (biggareconomics.co.uk/economic-impac…). A very generous mark for this assignment would be a D-.

When Labour announced VAT on private school fees, they promised it would raise £1.7 billion for state schools. With 25,000 pupils already forced out, eight times more than predicted, the policy is on track to cost taxpayers money rather than raise it. A thread🧵

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢ć⁣ ⁣ I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Milan Mandarić.⁣ ⁣ I was lucky enough to know Milan quite well, and one memory in particular has stuck with me over the years. After an away match, I gave him a lift back, and what should have been a quiet drive turned into an unforgettable journey. Milan was in full storytelling mode, sharing tales about Paul Merson, Harry Redknapp, and the rollercoaster world of football management.⁣ ⁣ Somewhere between laughter and disbelief, he turned to me with that familiar glint in his eye and said:⁣ ⁣ “𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣.”⁣ ⁣ That was Milan, sharp, funny, passionate, and brutally honest about the game he loved.⁣ ⁣ He leaves behind a remarkable legacy across English football, from Portsmouth to Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday, and beyond, but more than that, he leaves behind countless stories and friendships like mine, all marked by his charisma and generosity.⁣ ⁣ Rest in peace, Milan. You’ll be missed by many and remembered by all who had the privilege to share your company. #swfc #milanmaderic

Our friends at @SWFCTrust are continuing their campaign to protest the mismanagement of their club. They have asked that all travelling #BristolCity fans show solidarity by not spending any money inside Hillsborough this Saturday, and buy food & drink elsewhere Link in replies

A ruinous owner can happen to any club. 20 years ago it was us under Petty, and now it’s Sheffield Wednesday. As part of @SWFCTrust’s protests against owner Dejphon Chansiri they are planning on throwing teddy bears onto the pitch during the 10th minute of the game. We encourage all Swans fans to show solidarity and support to this protest ✊ We also encourage Swans fans not to spend any money in the ground as requested by the Trust. Instead, there are plenty of local businesses and away pubs around the ground such as The Railway Hotel and many food kiosks. A unique set of circumstances to play a game under, but, as we say it could happen to any club. Chansiri Out 🦢

@swfcsc Fair play to our players also boycotting hope you guys get new owners soon, your kids did amazing tonight

There are 10k more gold shirts available. The profits from any gold shirt purchased between now and Monday will go to Sheffield Wednesday ST #upthetownS

#SWFC #EnoughisEnough

The #SWFC player statement in full:

£2.2m

@DesignsHeroic @AlanBiggs1 Not the players fault

@AlanBiggs1 Whilst they don't owe the club or fans anything for not getting paid, I couldn't care less about their farewell messages, don't walk away for nothing then tell me how much the club means to you. Missed income from transfer fees has killed us since the 90s - this just the latest

Significant, I reckon, that there was one notable omission from the messages of appreciation both players have issued.