Paul Connolly

You have to love Parliament’s petitions team 😂 Very classy response to this petition asking to relax COVID rules for Santa 👌

We want to hear from you 💬 Complete the survey to inform our investigation into the student loan regime 🔗 forms.office.com/Pages/Response…

Absolute howler in The Guardian’s blind dates this week. We’ve all had dates like this

@JAHeale Very credable

Column from November on why Kwarteng, Farage and other politicians are increasingly getting involved in digital currencies: spectator.com/article/which-…

@alysdenby @MalvernianKarl Peak SEO

Good deranged Daily Mail content

Reasonable contender for one of the greatest email subject lines in history in today’s Politico Influence newsletter @johnjohnstonmi

The first look 😍 @scuderiaferrari were out testing their new wheels, their Shell V-Power Fuel and Shell Helix Ultra Oil in Bahrain as the season edges closer! 😮‍💨 #ShellMotorsport #ScuderiaFerrari

@benrileysmith @Telegraph Double congrats Ben!

Some work news: After five years as @Telegraph political editor this month I’m going to be moving into a new role. Will be becoming the paper’s chief political commentator with a focus on deeper reporting and analysis. Less attached to the daily news agenda, with space for in depth coverage of the goings on in Westminster An exciting challenge which coincides with some personal news: becoming a father next month! And a new rhythm to life round the corner. Will be off a chunk in spring and summer on paternity. Many many congrats to @Tony_Diver who is becoming our new pol ed. A brilliant reporter and story-getter who will thrive in the role. So many fascinating contours in politics right now to get stuck into.

@PolitlcsUK *Announced by Reform UK’s treasury spokesperson

🚨 SUMMARY: Economic policies announced by Reform UK's Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick today Benefits: - Restore two child benefit cap in full - Clinical diagnosis required for those who claim to have mental health disorders in order to receive disability benefits - Reintroduce in-person assessments for those on benefits - Benefits to only be eligible to British citizens - A pledge to end "abuse" of the Motability scheme Tax: - Says the party will cut tax when fiscal headroom allows, and will cut spending and reduce waste - A simpler tax system, including fixing the "absurd" marginal tax rates - Intending to review the current tax code system Planning: - Reform the planning system to increase housebuilding, industrial sites, labs, data centres and major infrastructure - Committed to building in city centres, and building out East London and Cambridge - Cafes and bars allowed to put tables and chairs outside without filling in "endless forms" - Shops to be allowed to open late Regulation: - Expansion of North Sea oil and gas and large-scale nuclear power - Scrapping diversity targets on company boards - Reverse net zero targets - Lighter regulation on financial services - Reform bankruptcy laws to allow more to take risks and give second and third chances - Reform the Office for Budget Responsibility to have "diversity of opinions" - Bank of England to remain independent and "must perform better" to be a more "open" institution, and will refocus it to keeping inflation low

@LabourGrowth Maybe so, but at least she’s looking at solutions. Genuine question, are you?

The Tories tripled tuition fees, designed Plan 2 loans, and had over a decade to change them. Now she's in opposition, all of a sudden Kemi's discovered she cares and wants credit for it.

@Tony_Diver @Telegraph Congrats Tony, well deserved

Some news from me: I’m delighted and honoured to be made Political Editor @Telegraph from next month. Very exciting time to be taking the helm of the best lobby team on Fleet Street.

@John_Stepek @jb_simple Not necessarily!

@jb_simple 71% marginal tax, but at least they'll pay it off at that rate

I take some issue with the idea of student loans as progressive, because many of the very wealthiest have their fees paid for them - but I agree with Chris here inasmuchas I suspect it's student loans that have triggered the surge in support for tax cuts bloomberg.com/news/newslette…

Judicial independence is sacrosanct. Though we lack a written constitution or the sort of separation of powers firewalls that would defend against politicisation of the judiciary. Rightly or wrongly the fact is when the judiciary rejects an executive - or more importantly parliamentary - decision on a high profile case like this it’s inevitable that things get messier. Could a primary rather than secondary route to legislation have given a more conclusive decision from Parliament and answered the proportionality question at the heart of the current challenge?

This is disgraceful reporting about a senior member of the judiciary. We are in real danger of politicising our judges - which would be a horrendous development for our liberties and security.

This is misleading for the overwhelming majority of graduates. Even if you’re in the top 3% of earners in the UK, if your loan is circa 50k you stand to gain more by putting the equivalent sums into a stocks and shares isa than you do by overpaying your loan. Yes your capital is at risk but historical returns suggest a better return on the investment. And that’s not even considering the few positive aspects of the loan such as not having to pay if you’re not earning for any reason. For most, a stocks and shares isa can beat loan overpayments on both flexibility (liquidity) and risk

I started overpaying my student loan five years ago. Even then (when the interest rate was much lower) it was obvious that every marginal pound is best 'saved' in clearing the loan asap. It's dumb to save extra money in an ISA if you're facing high loan repayments. I knew I couldn't guarantee a return of ~6% on savings but I was adding 6% to my student debt, so the best form of 'saving' was paying off early. If you're saving money but facing a big interest rate on your student loan, you should put your savings into paying off the loan instead.

at some point in life you reach an age where you start hearing celebrities names and have no idea who they are and it just continues to happen for the rest of your life

@Keir_Starmer Neat video. A little unfortunate to make the soundtrack a song called “Ticket to Nowhere”…

Four days, two cities, countless conversations: billions in exports and investment deals for Britain.

@LBC @NatashaC Nobody is saying the loan is the problem - the issue is the interest charged - which effectively works as an additional tax on the ambition of working class graduates. So you now have some graduates paying a 72% rate of tax in the UK for most of their working life

'It's not right that people who don't go to university are bearing all the cost for others to do so.' Rachel Reeves tells @NatashaC that the student loan system is 'fair' following backlash over ballooning debts.

@TomHCalver In three years it’s likely that even more graduates will be on a marginal tax rate of 71% for public services they don’t use. Not sustainable

Good analysis. I'd add that plenty of plan 2 student loan payers – many of whom will be effectively paying 51% marginal tax rates for public services they don't use – will be in their mid-30s by the next election. They could easily become a Tory-curious cohort

@MerrynSW @John_Stepek It’s a tax on ambition. Nobody in this country should have a marginal tax rate of 71%

As @John_Stepek and o have been saying on the podcast for years. This isn't a loan system. It's a horrifically high graduate tax that destroys living standards - esp given how low U.K. incomes now are.

@EdConwaySky Great reporting on an issue that’s too often overlooked

🚨Our film is up We spent months making this👇 About how Britain shut down many of the factories we need to feed us and defend us. Will have more to say on it in due course but in the meantime - pls watch, share and let me know what you think youtube.com/watch?v=PQ3hT8…