Paul Corrigan

@AlanJLSmith Read something that stated Rayner wants to abolished them entirely! Burnham wants to roll back privatisation and the last 40 years. Welcome to the collective

The government forecast private school numbers would drop 6% after VAT was added to fees. Now, the data from Scotland shows secondary schools registrations have fallen 15% - numbers from the rest of the UK will be similar. Far from raising money, the policy looks like it will cost the taxpayer millions. Meantime in Europe, parents get a tax break for using private schools - as they’re saving the state the cost of funding. Another poorly thought through policy.

@DanielJHannan The premium is nor £110BN Dan - if its 150bps then it is £30bn. We are spending £110bn because we have accumulated so much and growth is so aneamic and theres no path to fixing deficit which runs above level of economic growth. So markets as you say take a dim view on trajectory

This bizarre Leftist tendency to anthropomorphise the markets, to treat them as if they had preferences and prejudices. The bond markets don’t care whether you are Left or Right. They don’t even care whether your spending is high or low. All they care about is whether it is in balance. If you want to borrow money, creditors will assess whether they will get it back, and will ask a premium to lend to risky prospects. That premium means that Britain is now spending £110 billion a year on servicing past debt – more than on education, and twice as much as on defence.

@RichardJMurphy Or, in order to maintain the confidence of the market, borrowing for the govt - as it does for everyone else should be sustainable. As it becomes or appears to become less so the risk premium rises and that is evident in current market movements.

UK gilt yields have hit an 18-year high. That's not because the economy collapsed. It's because bond markets fear Labour might elect a slightly more left-wing leader. When financial markets seek to constrain democratic choice, that is not economic discipline. It is political power, exercised without a ballot. cnbc.com/2026/05/13/gil…

@TheSecretAcct @Nike Having complained to them about a Xmas gift delivered incorrectly via multiple channels and received no response they clearly have cust service issues. My daughter just got On Cloud and if they last well despite being Nike for 30+ years may change for next purchase too.

One of the best brands in the world. Up there in the top 10? Its dividend yield is now 4%. Bargain or falling knife? @Nike

@AlanJLSmith The double taxation element is such a damping approach to policy. How much jeopardy is there in trying to take assets out to avoid the 7 year rule and gift when they dont know when the 7 years really starts. Or people stop saving in pensions as the tax relief isnt worth the risk.

New guidance on Inheritance Tax on Pensions: - Family members (beneficiaries) and personal representatives are jointly and severally liable for paying IHT from pension fund. - They have 6 months to pay. - Interest and late payment fees apply after that. - Property held in pensions will often have to be sold to pay the IHT. - The short timeline is likely to create ‘fire sale’ reduced valuations. - Yet IHT is payable on the gross property value pre death/property sale. - Pension providers, trustees, administrators, solicitors, personal representatives and family - all have to liaise and work through the admin - a logistical nightmare. - In a tight window whilst the family is grieving. - And then family beneficiaries pay income tax on income from the net fund - after deduction of inheritance tax. Double tax. - All this to possibly raise £1.5 billion - or about 48 hours of annual NHS spending. Thanks Rachel.

@brysondech my son (14) and daughter (10) love your content. This is my daughter going full Happy then chipping the garden before she starts trying to chip over the house! Good luck this week.

@AdamSandler Hi, my 10yo daughter wanted me to tweet a video of her doing Happy (it went 170yards over the hill) but also one of practising chipping. Happy Gilmore 2 has lit a fire!!!

@henrywinter Another year plus an option wouldn't have done either side any harm. However, it would have been at a reduced wage and with no fee required, he probably doesn't need to take the financial hit wherever he goes next. Fantastic effort getting fit again after a tough year in 24/25.

Always leave them wanting more. Casemiro will be missed at Manchester United for his contributions, personality, professionalism. He'll be missed because football is more than employment for him, it’s enjoyment, emotion, winning. He'll be missed as he has more to offer at 34. 1/2

@theesk @henrywinter - interesting piece on the dangers lurking for clubs in overly leveraged structures.

Anyone with a remote interest in how Chelsea are funded by Ares, please put aside 10 minutes to read this. Probably the most in depth analysis I have done. Frankly, it's scary... #Chelseafc #CFC theesk.org/2026/04/15/the…

@henrywinter Referee was reluctant and then VAR bottled it after Bournemouth scored because itn would be a 2 goal swing. No point saying some times we benefit, sometimes we lose as you'd be as well to go back to no VAR. The point of VAR was to eliminate such glaring inconsistencies.

Decisions, decisions. Amad Diallo was a penalty. That gets given as a free-kick anywhere else on the pitch. It’s even more a penalty than the Matheus Cunha penalty (which was a pen, however “soft”). Amad was just less theatrical. Penalty not given. Wrong decision. Harry Maguire was a penalty and red card. DOGSO. Penalty and red card given. Correct decision.  Understandable debate over the decisions and inevitable frustration for Manchester United. But United have benefited from decisions that go their way this season. All clubs have these issues, examples, frustrations. The main issue here is … 1) General standard of officiating in the Premier League. Amad decision was poor. Even more investment required in grass-roots refereeing, in fast-tracking talent, in training up academy graduates who don’t make it as pros, and in continued work to improve further the Select Group refs. PL has some good officials. Just need more. 2) Football belongs to fans, not officials. Fans deserve to know what is going on in real time. When decision/incident being discussed by officials, audio should be played live. The authorities don’t want to, feel it places too much pressure on officials so content themselves with brief explanation when announcing decision and clarification on PL Match Centre. Fans in the stadium and tuning in pay a lot for tickets and subscriptions, respectively, and shouldn’t be kept in the dark. Audio works well in rugby union and cricket (and acknowledging those sports have more pauses in play). l went to a VAR demonstration (not PL) earlier this week given by an elite official. Hearing the audio between officials gave insight into the process - and respect for what they are dealing with at speed, especially with players trying to con them.  You are never going to get complete consistency over decisions. There’s always going to be an element of subjectivity with so many incidents. But fans deserve more transparency and accountability. It might restore some trust. #BOUMUN

@AliceTalksFooty Gave the ball away cheaply in midfield far too much allowing Bournemouth to break and overpower. Was clear a goal would come. Majnoo not good at marking in open play or picking up runners to snuff out the dangers.

Full time review: - Robbed of a clear penalty on Amad before Bournemouth goal. VAR stinker. - Cunha and Lammens played very well. - Sesko needs to start over playing Mbeumo out of position. - Maguire stupid at the end. - We played some good football at times but not good enough across the 90, and the ref had a howler. - I will take a draw. - Off day for Casemiro today. - Need more from our fullbacks going forward. - Amad looks low on confidence when playing, need him back in form. - Where did 9 mins of extra time come from. Should of been 2-0 up if VAR did it's job. Robbery from VAR but a draw away at Bournemouth is not an awful result all in all. Just hope rivals drop points.

@simonmontefiore Bought it this week too, both for myself and my 14yo son. The world is different but some of the concepts will carry through as we note the current turmoil. If he enjoys then LeCarre to come he has done Ludlum and Clancy.

This is the best of X when a connoisseur writes about their favourite books films words places or characters with knowledge and care and passion. Or an expert on a subject. Or a witness of amazing events who can commentate them live or an OSINT analyst who can see the world in new ways...... And you learn about a new subject or writer or a world of which you had no idea. Like a conversation in one of those old fashioned libraries or cafes... Very different from the other poisonous X of imbeciles and witch-hunts. I bought Berlin Game. thanks for this @ShippersUnbound

@henrywinter Set the precedent for an independent panel to levy fines not points deductions for City.

At some point, senior Premier League execs have to offer a proper explanation in public for their leniency towards Chelsea. They owe an explanation to fans of clubs punished more harshly. They owe an explanation to those clubs who did abide by the rules. They have to offer some explanation as to why PSR breaches are deemed far more serious than acts of "deception and concealment". Yes, these are the offences of a previous regime at Chelsea. But inconsistencies run through the PL's defence and their reputation is damaged. They can’t hide from a controversy of this magnitude.

@henrywinter Carrick who keeps a box at United & takes his family against Scholes who complains with Butt about not getting comped tickets for big games when they want them. This squad needs significant change as you say but he has taken them from 6th to 3rd. His name should be in the debate

It’s Carrick, you know. Can’t believe the chippiness from Scholes. It’s Carrick who's helping out the club he loves, stepping into the breach after Amorim’s meltdown. You can question Carrick's subs against 10 men. Amad could have been earlier. Heaven can play left-back - Malacia's so off the pace. It’s not Carrick's squad. Areas need strengthening, full-back, central midfield, probably a winger. You can’t question Carrick’s commitment. Carrick’s only intention is to help out Manchester United. It’s not about him. It’s about the club. It’s about making the fans believe again, proud of their team again. It’s about starting the rebuilding. United’s board are being very sensible. Give Carrick until the end of the season, get them in the Champions League, and then make a decision on permanent head coach. There's far more chance of getting an elite manager if in the CL. Carrick’s not perfect but at least he’s chipping in, not being chippy. #MUFC

@themagic_tophat Is this an ownership payment for time spent running the club but looking to "blend" it in with a basket of other operating costs?

Arsenal 2024/25 accounts published today. They’re good results and the headline numbers correspond with what the Deloitte Money League Report published last month. However, there were a couple of surprises that hit cashflow which are a little troublesome to me. One was a £65m increased Working Cap requirement that I’m less worried about unless the trend continues next year (could be completely normal). The other was an increase in “Other Operating costs”. They have been growing rapidly in aggregate and as a percentage of the total cost base for a while. 2022 - 74.1m (17% of all op costs) 2023 - 112.6m (21.5%) 2024 - 146.8m (22.2%) 2025 - 200.8m (26.5%) The accounts attribute the increase from 2024 to 2025 as “increased staging costs, specific direct costs of delivering increased revenues, certain residual property matters and inflationary pressures”. The attributable revenue (Matchday and Merch) isn’t increasing faster than these costs though! And I don’t see what overheads could possibly be rising this fast. Whatever has been causing this rapid rise, I hope the club has got a handle on it because it’s having an outsized impact on performance and opportunity to reinvest in the club long term.

@henrywinter Even great managers need to win ugly sometimes and Wolves vs Arsenal showed last week there aren't many easy 3pts in PL. With a CB, FB and 2x MF (one a CDM) the team could be pretty useful. Comes across as thoughtful about game and his squad.

16 points from a possible 18, a system that suits the players, a style that reflects and respects club traditions, players enjoying their football, pride back in the shirt and in the work, a caretaker who really cares. It’s Carrick you know. Good man-management that keeps even high-profile subs happy and ready, team heading back to the Champions League, connection with academy, reconnection with fans, all in it together, Manchester United again. It’s Carrick, you know it makes sense. #MUFC

@GeorgeTrefgarne Are most of them not ultimately written off in any case as incomes do not reach the threshold to repay? If that's the case does a change of the framework potentially reduce balances written off longer term?

@only1tommo Fine them 200 points staggered over 5 years at 40 points a year then @themagic_tophat

Manchester City Insiders privately believe that the "115 Charges" verdict has been delayed due to potential consequences costing the Premier League £2.5bn consequently. The theory is that City holds a "kill switch": 1. If City gets kicked out, stars like Haaland and Guardiola leave. 2. Without them, TV channels allegedly have the right to cancel their contracts. 3. This would instantly cost the Premier League £2.5 billion. Clubs are getting fined and point deductions instantly but we are still waiting for Manchester City.

@Top100Rick Can't do it consistently but last summer, hit my 2004 Nike Sq2.0 driver 345 yards straight down the middle of a 390 yard Par 4. Attached the view back from where it landed. The tee box is in front of the purple(ish) tree. Normally hit 195 and wildly left but that isn't the club!

Testing a top of the line modern driver versus a 24 year old Titleist 975D on the Trackman. 24 years old. Every year we are told we are getting more distance and forgiveness. Gain an extra 10 yards! We hear it every single year… And more forgiveness! “Our most forgiving driver ever”. This is only 10 shots each. But at a very average swing speed around 95 mph, there is almost no difference. In fact the old club was more accurate. Longest drive was 260 versus 258. Almost identical. Gotta get outside to do some real testing!

@Steven_Swinford Can somebody really use a phrase from Little Britain and expect it to be taken seriously?

The row over Dame Antonia Romeo's forthcoming appointment as Cabinet Secretary is running *very* hot this morning Sir Simon McDonald, former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, issued a warning to Starmer that if she was appointed it would show “the due diligence still has some way to go” It's a pretty extraordinary intervention. Romeo faced allegations about bullying and her expenses while consul-general in New York between 2016 and 2017 but they were dismissed by the Cabinet Office. McDonald ran the Foreign Office when the allegations were made A Government source has hit back hard: 'This is a desperate attempt from a senior male official whose time has passed but spent their career getting Britain into the mess it finds itself in today. A computer says no culture, that cannot challenge the status quo. 'Antonia is a disrupter. She isn’t settled with the status quo. She is one of the few senior officials that has always fought against the computer says no culture embedded in the British state 'In light of the crisis we face as a country, Antonia is exactly the leadership the civil service need to embrace systemic reform to rewire the state, take on vested interest and deliver for the British people.'