[davidjay]

If only they could see what a gift they're providing to the fash with their sectarian politics.... they still wouldn't be bothered.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Winter fuel: 780,000 UK pensioners entitled to payment will lose it
Government data shows most of those who do not claim their pension credit will miss out under means-testing

Not good fiigures, but they look too pessimistic to me. The figure before the announcements by Reeves and Kendall were 880,000. If they are anything like this bad, the Government and some poor pensioners have a problem. One thing I would do is extend the period for sign up (think there are three months of backdating possible under the previous plans, don't see why that shouldn't be extended).

[Tubby Isaacs]

Don't want to put her in the "hit with a haddock" thread because she's very good, but Antonia Bance doesn't come out of this exchange with a critical care specialist, Ben Morton, particularly well.

https://bsky.app/profile/antoniabance.b ... 2pcdw3hf2p

Not to say there aren't serious pitfalls to avoid, but the distinction between terminally ill and people with stable disabilities doesn't seem that difficult a concept, even if there will be difficult cases. Antonia calls that a "specious distinction", which must be news to Ben Morgan.

I am though happy to ignore what a "citizen jury" (in favour of assisted dying, as it hapens) says about anything. I don't pass any judgement on the personal capacity of its members, but if there were ever a subject for experts, this is it. I appreciate Ireland needed one for abortion because of the need for a referendum.