BRFR Cake Stop 'breaking news' miscellany

[Pblakeney]

The AI report BT posted was more or less the same as the FT article, which more or less tells me the source material is more or less the same (sorry to be all Tim Hartford about this).

But I still would like to know how this breaks down. I think it will include the costs to manage those placements in addition to the placements themselves, and so include a big chunk of local authority social work costs.

May as well go to the source then, although it doesn't give a cost breakdown.
"8 The cost of placing children in residential care has risen significantly in recent years. Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, local authority spending on looked-after children increased by 54% to £8.1 billion in 2023-24, £1.5 billion more than the annual budget. This contributed significantly to local authorities’ wider financial pressures. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of upper-tier councils identified spending across children’s services and education as the most substantial cause of short-term financial pressures in 2024. Most of the cost increase relates to residential care spend almost doubling to £3.1 billion, although the number of children in residential care increased by only 10% between March 2020 and March 2024. In 2023-24, local authorities spent an average of £318,400 per child in a children’s home, equivalent to £6,100 per week. The Local Government Association has identified placements costing up to £63,000 a week. DfE has described children’s social care as financially unsustainable (paragraphs 1.6, 1.12 and 1.14, and Figure 4)."

https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Managing-childrens-residential-care-summary.pdf

 

[TailWindHome]

Matt Goodwin/ Reform

Yikes

 

[briantrumpet]

Matt Goodwin/ Reform

Yikes

View attachment 15290

I'm assuming that's wrong in pretty much every aspect.

 

[Pross]

I'm assuming that's wrong in pretty much every aspect.

Yep, we're not bringing in Deliveroo drivers - they become Deliveroo drivers.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I'm assuming that's wrong in pretty much every aspect.

The actual numbers are correct but as you may have guessed, the presentation is designed to create a certain narrative. India and Pakistan are in the top 5 non EU nationals immigrating to the UK. It neglects to mention China, Nepal and Nigeria being the other three (no Afghanistan). Immigrants from Pakistan are overwhelmingly students, not workers.

It also neglects to highlight that immigration numbers are falling year on year and emigration numbers of brits are generally stable.

It is the basic racist framing, let's shift away from Asylum/boat crossings as we have banged that drum to death and start blaming all brown people from certain countries for all our woes. Now latest immigration stats have shown a large decline, the racist grifters have to change tack to earn their clicks!

 

[secretsqirrel]

The actual numbers are correct but as you may have guessed, the presentation is designed to create a certain narrative. India and Pakistan are in the top 5 non EU nationals immigrating to the UK. It neglects to mention China, Nepal and Nigeria being the other three (no Afghanistan). Immigrants from Pakistan are overwhelmingly students, not workers.

It also neglects to highlight that immigration numbers are falling year on year and emigration numbers of brits are generally stable.

It is the basic racist framing, let's shift away from Asylum/boat crossings as we have banged that drum to death and start blaming all brown people from certain countries for all our woes. Now latest immigration stats have shown a large decline, the racist grifters have to change tack to earn their clicks!

As midlandsgrimpeur above…

Just reading on ONS. The means of calculating the emigration stats was changed last November as the figures had always been underestimated.

“Are more young Brits leaving the UK?​

In November 2025 we also released data showing around two-thirds of British nationals who emigrated in the year ending March 2025 were aged between 16 and 34.

Because our new estimates for overall British emigration were higher than they had been before, some may have misinterpreted this to mean that a record number of young Brits were leaving the UK.

However, before November 2025, we had not produced an age breakdown for British emigration since 2019. Given this, and the fact our new estimates cannot be compared to these much older estimates, it would not be accurate to say the figures showed record emigration of young Brits.”

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

As midlandsgrimpeur above…

Just reading on ONS. The means of calculating the emigration stats was changed last November as the figures had always been underestimated.

“Are more young Brits leaving the UK?​

In November 2025 we also released data showing around two-thirds of British nationals who emigrated in the year ending March 2025 were aged between 16 and 34.

Because our new estimates for overall British emigration were higher than they had been before, some may have misinterpreted this to mean that a record number of young Brits were leaving the UK.

However, before November 2025, we had not produced an age breakdown for British emigration since 2019. Given this, and the fact our new estimates cannot be compared to these much older estimates, it would not be accurate to say the figures showed record emigration of young Brits.”

Matt Goodwin doesn't really like context, from what I have seen.

 

[briantrumpet]

Matt Goodwin doesn't really like context, from what I have seen.

He got very snarky when it was pointed out that his stats on foreign nationals living in social housing in London was wrong.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

He got very snarky when it was pointed out that his stats on foreign nationals living in social housing in London was wrong.

He is incredibly thin skinned, can't take any level of scrutiny or questioning. Same as Farage, Tice. Seems to be a trait of the Reform leadership!

 

[Beebo]

Matt Goodwin/ Reform

Yikes

View attachment 15290

Any NHS workers Matt?

 

[BoldonLad]

I'm assuming that the cost of paying the private sector to provide a home in Lancaster where they pretend to meet Ofsted's requirements is more than [20%] less than the cost of providing the same in London for an in house run solution. So with this model the council is happy because they save money and the private sector is happy because they make money. All very efficient except no one seems to consider the kids.

Of course, I'm the same as everyone else. I think more people should foster, but I don't do it, so it's obviously hypocritical to criticise anyone else for not doing it.

I don't have the solution.

I was just about to post, asking if anyone commenting actually had experience of being a foster parent.

 

[Pblakeney]

N

I was just about to post, asking if anyone commenting actually had experience of being a foster parent.

Not personally but I know one childless couple who chose to foster as an alternative.
Hard work but very rewarding. Not in a financial way

 

[briantrumpet]

N


Not personally but I know one childless couple who chose to foster as an alternative.
Hard work but very rewarding. Not in a financial way

One of the very few times (in 24 years of teaching) I was 'subjected' to an uninvited hug (for obvious reasons hugs are not encouraged in one-to-one lessons) was from a bit of a bruiser of a boy who was in difficulties at school and was getting free trumpet lessons (he was never ever a problem with me), and I happened to remember his foster mother's name. It obviously meant a lot to him, I guess because she was a meaningful bond in a difficult upbringing.