Musk scorned “shady” loopholes, yet offshore tax tricks likely saved Tesla hundreds of millions When Tesla released its annual report for U.S. regulators in January, the Texas-based automaker, led by the world’s richest man, reported a federal tax bill of zero dollars for 2025.

After more than $250 billion in revenue and billions more in subsidies, Tesla has never paid taxes... that's thanks in part to tactics like pretending $18b in profits came from places like Singapore and the Netherlands

www.reuters.com/legal/transa...

Your response is very thorough,researched, thoughtful and based on the authenticity of many users. This is a great opportunity for inclusive mobility. DfT should be grateful which what I told them when endorsing it.

Campaigning for inclusive cycling, Wheels for Wellbeing Wheels for Wellbeing is an award-winning charity supporting disabled people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the benefits of cycling.

Your can find more detailed information and responses on our main mobility consultation campaign page:
wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/our-campaign...

#EveryJourneyEveryone

Graphic titled "mobility aid regulations are out of date. Disabled people need future-proofed laws that enable us to choose the mobility aids that work best for us." There are three mobility aids shown - a recumbent e-trike with one rider, an in-line tandem mobility scooter with two riders, and an invented robot dog based on a Boston Dynamics walking robot combined with a powerchair, with one rider. The people using these devices are saying: "My e-trike is my mobility aid" "Our tandem mobility scooter is our mobility aid" "My robo-dog is my mobility aid". A man standing on the left is holding a scroll which reads "Ye olde invalid carriage regulations 1988" and saying "Er..."

You don't have long now to complete the government's mobility aids consultation which closes tomorrow evening.

If you're not sure how to respond, look at our key asks document which we co-produced alongside other DPOs & campaigners to help us respond.
wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/our-campaign...

With the RMT Tube strike, it’s even busier than usual on London’s bike lanes.

Not all lines are impacted so check before you travel.

If you’re on a bike, take it easy & look out for others.

If you haven’t cycled for a bit, refresh your skills online:
tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/…

Nick Robinson on the Today programme this morning was quick to repeat a misleading line about why we should support new North Sea oil & gas extraction in the UK on the grounds that it's MUCH (4x) cleaner than importing LNG. It's incorrect on several grounds: 🧵

Black staff ‘hit harder by management cuts’ This article from Nick Kituno was in today’s Health Service Journal (April 21st 2006). I This is exactly what Claire Bennett and myself forecast six months ago.

This article from Nick Kituno was in today’s Health Service Journal (April 21st 2006).
This is exactly what Claire Bennett and myself forecast six months ago.
A very loud silence from NHS England's Board?
www.linkedin.com/pulse/black-...

Reform UK vows to deport hundreds of thousands of refugees Nigel Farage’s party has looked to Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown as a model

YESTERDAY: Farage pledged to deport hundreds of thousands of refugees including those who have been given asylum stays. & he did so on the anniversary -58 YRS AGO-that Enoch Powell delivered his infamous & highly divisive “rivers of blood” speech
www.ft.com/content/b9d9...

I have signed a letter to the Foreign Secretary about the escalation of deadly Israeli settler violence in the West Bank and Israel’s systematic demolition of Palestinian homes.

The letter urges the government to make diplomatic interventions and impose sanctions on Israeli settlements.

This Data Center Is Getting a $77 Million Tax Break to Create One Job No other project in the country has gotten such a large subsidy to create so few jobs, according to watchdogs.

In 2024 a Rockland Co agency held a “public hearing on a proposed subsidy for the expansion of a JPMorganChase data center. In return for nearly $77M in tax breaks, the project promised to create exactly one permanent job. No one showed up… Two weeks later, the subsidy deal was approved.”

The 2 new LTN areas in #Oxford have measurably reduced road casualties, including those on boundary roads.
By now, benefits are 100 fewer casualties and an economic benefit of over £7 million.
cohsat.org.uk/east-oxford-...

Long thread incoming on the Mandelson/ Ollie Robbins’ sacking. Please be patient. I think context and the timetable really matters and is being overlooked

Expect much Civil Service (CS) / Ministerial cross finger pointing

How Big Tech wrote secrecy into EU law to hide data centres’ environmental toll Environmental footprint of Europe's data centres kept secret after industry lobbying in a move legal experts warn could violate transparency rules.

New: Big Tech secures secrecy in EU data centre law, keeping critical environmental information out of reach.

Microsoft and DigitalEurope – a lobby representing Amazon, Google and Meta – successfully pushed for an amendment classifying information on individual facilities as confidential.

Amazon, which saved $4B in taxes under Trump's Big Ugly Bill, has cut 30,000 jobs since last October.

Verizon, which saved $2B, plans to cut 15,000 jobs this year.

Meta, which saved $3B, plans to lay off 20% or more of its workforce.

Trickle-down economics is a cruel joke.

Successive governments have failed to learn lessons of Grenfell Tragedy The conditions that facilitated the tragedy remain unchecked

Corporate capture of the state kills.

Inquiry into the Grenfell fire found dishonesty, false claims about safety of building materials, regulatory collusion.

72 people died. No one prosecuted. Companies still get public contracts.

Govts push deregulation.

Working class lives don't matter do they

Leitrim Cycling Festival returns for 10th year From the 8th to the 10th of May, the Leitrim Cycling Festival kicks off Bike Week 2026, returning for its 10th year in Cloone, Co Leitrim. The organisers said: "More than a cycling event, the Leitrim Cycling Festival is a celebration of community, connection and creativity. This year marks its 10th year of working with communities across Leitrim to create a weekend of free festival activities for all ages."

Leitrim Cycling Festival returns for 10th year

From the 8th to the 10th of May, the Leitrim Cycling Festival kicks off Bike Week 2026, returning for its 10th year in Cloone, Co Leitrim. The organisers said: "More than a cycling event, the Leitrim Cycling Festival is a celebration of community,…

One reason that we cannot have professional diplomats representing the interests of the United States is that it would disrupt a pattern of personal enrichment for the Presidents allies and families.

Boris Johnson failed vetting, yet Theresa May appointed him Foreign Secretary.

Dominic Cummings was never vetted, yet had free access to Government and Number 10.

The vetting process is self evidently farcical.

Extremely normal and fine for a company to put this in a public statement

Hegseth Says Climate Change Is ‘Crap.’ The Military Is Still Bracing for It Climate is now a verboten topic in the Pentagon, but the battle against storms, fires, floods and rising seas hasn’t stopped.

Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon wouldn’t do any “climate change crap.” It’s still fortifying bases against rising seas and stronger storms.

Leaders of EU member countries decide this Tuesday on suspending or continuing the EU Israel sweetheart trade deal.
A citizens' petition to suspend it has already comfortably smashed the 1 million signature threshold requirement.

Start of spokes article #Holyrood2026 : Travelling Backwards The Holyrood election on 7 May is critical to active travel and wider transport policies and budgets for the next 5 years. Is there a local project being planned that you’re looking forward to? – in Edinburgh, say Meadows to George Street, or Portobello to Musselburgh? When and if such projects will happen depends largely on the existence and size of the Scottish Government active travel budget. Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis this year’s manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. This article includes an analysis of the various party manifestos, and lots of other relevant info. We will add more as it becomes available.

Table comparing AT investment promises in 2021 and 2026 manifestos. Sorry, tables don't come out well in ALT text! Key to tables below++Very good and/or best+good=mixed, unclear, or less good than other parties-poor (or unrealistic) - -very disappointing NNot in manifesto [N is generally disappointing, but depends on the issue, so think!] Page numbers shown are to pages of each party’s 2026 manifesto 2026 v 2021 comparison of AT Investment manifesto commitments Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis the 2026 manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. Only the Greens, and to a lesser extent the Lib Dems, retain positive approaches. Whilst this applies to many policies and promises, the astonishing contrast is seen clearly in this comparative table on the top issue, active travel investment AT Investment Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP 2021 manifestos [AT funding then was approx £116m, roughly 3.5% of total transport] + 10% by 2026 ++ £320m immediately [approx 10%] rising further + 10% [unclear if soon or by 2026] = “aim” to double existing [this would be approx 7%] N/A = 10% of “capital” bgt by 2026 [BUT this is less of the total transport bgt] 2026 manifestos [AT funding is now approx £163m, roughly 3.9% of total transport] - - p35; p75 cut the AT budget; end ring-fenced cash to councils ++ p26 at least 10%; multi-year funding N = p66 “Invest in active travel for the first and last mile” - - p11 End ring-fenced cash to councils = p64 £2.5m for bike repair; new fund for outdoor recreation paths

Table of party manifesto comparisons (page 1) 2026 manifesto overall comparisons Note that the manifestos include more transport policies/promises than are shown here, particularly on walk, bus and rail. We hope this table includes most of the items directly relevant to cycling, as well as some relevant wider transport issues. Also, note that if something is not in a manifesto, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though it is less likely to. Issue Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP AT Investment [from above table] - - ++ N = - - = Extent of cycle/AT routes/networks ambition - - p36 “End the obsession with cycle lanes” Cycle lanes only ok if not using road or pavement space ++ p26 “national blueprint of walking, cycle and wheeling networks“; faster Council AT project delivery N + p66 “Investing in active travel for the first and last mile” = p23 Rural Scotland: “support outdoor recreation ... cycling … with accessible paths” = p64 outdoor recreation paths fund; no Roseburn tram; support Powderhall AT path [see note 3 below] Is AT recognised and supported as a public health measure - p57 Only considers leisure centres & sport + p163 “space to walk, run, play, wheel and cycle is a right not a privilege” N ++ p33 & p61 “Supporting wellbeing by making it easier for people to use active travel” N N Neighbourhoods / Car-free lifestyles N + p118 “Support local living and 20-minute nbd approaches” N + p52 New towns “prioritising features such as rail links.. and 20-minute nbds” N N Disincentivise car use/ Demand management - - p35 “End the war on drivers”; No targets; stop any Workplace Parking levies or congestion charging ++ p22 Seek road-user taxation powers for Scotland ++ p33 Levy on out-oftown retail, to support towns + p89 Business rates replaced by a new levy favouring town centre retail & hospitality = p73 “Moving all forms of transport away from fossil fuels” – But carrotsonly approach - - p21 “End the war on the car“ N 20mph - p36 20mph only ok where locals…

Table of party manifestos (page 2) Potholes - - p33 Fund pothole filling by cutting (scrapping?) the AT budget N + (or - -) p49 £350m fund [see note 1 below] + p64 “fair funding” for councils; use of new technology + p21 “Fix potholes” + p72 “up to £350m” for potholes & resurfacing Air pollution including Low Emission Zones - - p36 Halt more LEZs and reduce fines in existing ++ p118 expand LEZs, plus stronger monitoring N - - p21 Abolish LEZs N Transport integration, with respect to active travel = p38 Rail, bus & tram integration; no mention of walk/ bike + p22, p26 Better AT links to public transport; All new rail, bus, tram to carry bikes N N N N Road building - - p34 New law to fasttrack trunk road upgrades; dual A9 by 2031; many other trunk projects + p22 Future-proof roads like A83 vulnerable to climate change; no mention of expansion - - p49 Dual A9 by 2035, look into dualling A77 and A75, & create National Roads Plan - - p64 Dual A9 & A96; - - p21 “plan to upgrade major trunk roads” [see note 2 below] - - p71 Dual A9 by 2035, also parts of A96; and consider A75, A77 Air travel taxation ADT= Air departure tax - - p39 oppose any new taxes; reduce long-haul tax ++ p34 frequent flyer levy; private jet tax; more.. N + p66 Higher tax for private jet passengers N + p27 private jet tax; including for ‘ghost’ flights USP – unique selling points (good and bad!) picked out by Spokes - - p33 1. AT schemes are “ideological projects” 2. ban bikes in all pedestrian areas + p16, p156 Universal rail card; £2 max bus fares + p122 Council powers to enforce traffic contraventions + p55 “Crush illegal e-bikes, using drones to track & trace unlicensed bikes” + p64 ”Dangerous Roads Programme“ - - p21 “End the war on the car“ + p38 £2 bus fare cap [1] Labour £350m pothole fund. The manifesto does not say where the money would come from. In early campaign speeches Anas Sarwar had said it would be from cutting Active Travel funding. On our estimate this would mean a 40% cut on curre…

#Holyrood2026 #SP26

Our #manifesto analysis
--> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/04/holy...

We looked at #activetravel, mainly 🚲, and some related transport/environment, but not at 🚌🚆

1 Greens, excellent
2 LibDem, positive in a fairly modest way
3= Labour & SNP, poor
5 Reform, bad
6 Conservative, terrible

Google Starts Scanning All Your Photos As New Update Goes Live Google wants its AI to see all the photos of "you and your loved ones." Billions of users must now decide.

“Take a moment to think before you dive in. That’s the best advice for Google Photos users, as the company confirms its latest update can scan all your photos to “use actual images of you and your loved ones” in AI image generation.”

www.forbes.com/sites/zakdof...

“If you invite more cars, you get more cars. If you make more streets better for cars you get more traffic...If you invite people to walk more and use public spaces more, you get more life in the city. You get what you invite.” - Jan Gehl

Trump Is Ending An Almost 100
Year Ban On Mailing Handguns,
Calling It Unconstitutional. If We
All Kill Each Other,Trump's Job
Gets Much Easier......

I'm not joking when I say mRNA technology is more important than "AI" and it's a tragedy we're throwing billions into one while our government is aggressively defunding the other.

US tech firms successfully lobbied EU to keep datacentre emissions secret Legally questionable confidentiality clause adopted almost word for word from demands of Microsoft and trade groups

www.theguardian.com/technology/2... So what are they hiding? #datacentres #emissions

You won't hear about this in the Mail, Express, Telegraph or on many of the broadcast media channels where only bad news is permitted

Twitter/X post from Sky News international reporter Alex Crawford reading: Israeli military reporters say 55 towns and villages in south Lebanon will remain occupied by Israeli troops. The Lebanon ceasefire agreement will impose a ‘yellow line’ similar to Gaza. Those civilians will not be permitted to return to their homes cut off by the ‘yellow line’ - ‘and the IDF is authorized to continue destroying terror infrastructures in them even during the ceasefire’, according to the Israeli reporters who were briefed by the military Link: https://x.com/AlexCrawfordSky/status/2045171752351715426

Post from @alexcrawfreports.bsky.social on X says a "yellow line" will be created in southern Lebanon, cutting off 55 villages. Stated goal of destroying "terror infrastructure" likely means entire villages will be razed leaving people with no homes to return to. The same thing is happening in Gaza.

Strait of Iran!!