Ian Mean, Former Editor of Western Daily Press @WesternDaily - a fan of news, Arsenal, Gloucester Rugby and good cigars. Views on this account my own.
Gloucester
Joined January 2011
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Ian Mean retweeted
"BUDGET SET TO OFFER TAX REPRIEVE FOR PENSIONERS"
@Steven_Swinford for @TheTimes
Chancellor John Healey is set to shield low-income pensioners from paying income tax in this week's budget by raising the tax-free allowance.
#TheTimes
#TomorrowsPapersToday
Ian Mean retweeted
🚨 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒: Declan Rice has confirmed he is feeling good after Saturday’s victory over Everton, easing fears over a possible injury! 🙌
However, Rice might be rested against Fleetwood in the Carabao Cup next week so he can be FULLY fit for the Liverpool clash.
A 𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐄 relief for Arsenal! 💪🔴
Ian Mean retweeted
John Healey, the chancellor, is expected to announce a 3.9 per cent rise to the full state pension while protecting those on lower incomes from income tax thetimes.com/uk/politics/art…
Ian Mean retweeted
🚨🔴 MAN UNITED OWNERS’ PLANS TO SACK CARRICK REPORTEDLY HIT A TWIST! 😳
Manchester United’s hierarchy are reportedly considering sacking Michael Carrick, but the growing support he is receiving from fans could complicate their plans.
After the Bournemouth match, United players were reportedly booed by supporters, while fans sang Carrick’s name in a show of solidarity with the manager.
The reaction is said to have caught the club’s decision-makers off guard. Carrick was reportedly expected to face the sack immediately after the match, but the supporters’ response may have forced the hierarchy to reconsider the timing of any decision.
🔴 The biggest problem for United’s owners may be this: how do you sack a manager the fans are standing behind?
#MUFC #ManUnited #MichaelCarrick #PremierLeague
Ian Mean retweeted
Michael Carrick will doubtless pay the price with his job for this deserved defeat to an excellent Bournemouth side and another lifeless display by his Manchester United team. Some of his selections and tactics have been questionable, United were again so open in the centre. But Carrick was not responsible for recruiting Youri Tielemans, who lacks physicality and mobility (and Aston Villa haven’t missed him) and Andrey Santos, a Chelsea reserve.
Carrick was not responsible for the board’s damaging failure to strengthen at centre-back and left-back. Carrick was not responsible for his main striker Benjamin Sesko being injured and the board’s failure to provide him with cover. Carrick was not responsible for the club he loves being in the grip of co-owners like the Glazers whose priorities are focused more on business than the sport. The direction from the top has been negligible, arguably negligent. No real leadership. No expertise.
Carrick may be out of his depth but many United fans sang his name during the painful demise to Bournemouth because they know he cares and they know the problems lie elsewhere. The Stretford End again sang in protest at the wretched Glazers.
Noticeable that there were few songs in support of Bruno Fernandes. He is supposed to be captain, rallying the players, Footballer of the Year, Player of the Year, not arm-waver of the year, underachieving and complaining. Yet Bruno will be at United longer than Carrick.
Carrick was praised for United finishing third last season and getting in the Champions League. But he will doubtless go partly for his own failings and mainly the failings of others. And United will be trapped in this doom loop again. And again until the core problems are addressed in the boardroom - and the Glazers sell up - and flaws in the recruitment department. #MUFC #MUNBOU
Ian Mean retweeted
The BBC has agreed to pay £400,000 to an award-winning Jewish documentary-maker who alleged she was subjected to antisemitism and pushed out of the corporation after October 7.
Lucie Kon, 57, spent 22 years at the BBC and worked on programmes including Panorama, Today, BBC Breakfast and Storyville. Films she commissioned or helped produce won an Oscar, Emmy and Bafta.
Kon says her treatment changed dramatically after the Hamas attacks. She alleges colleagues described Zionists like her as “evil”, argued that Israel should be called terrorist if Hamas was, and told her to consider what had driven Hamas to carry out the massacre.
When she proposed a documentary about October 7, Kon says she was told she was “too partial” to oversee it because she was Jewish.
She subsequently filed a formal grievance, but a BBC investigation rejected her complaint. Kon says she was then kept away from work for months. During a restructuring, her position was made redundant and she failed to secure the similar role replacing it.
She launched unfair-dismissal proceedings.
The BBC has now agreed substantial compensation, reported as £400,000, without admitting liability or accepting that Kon suffered antisemitism.
Kon says Jewish employees still at the corporation continue to face hostility and feel unable to identify openly as Jewish or Zionist.
Ian Mean retweeted
New Substack: 10 Reasons Why Andy Burnham May Call a 10 December General Election
iaindale.substack.com/p/iain…
Ian Mean retweeted
Great news Alan! Why don’t you come and meet some of our young, brilliant and hard-working production staff and they can give you pointers on how to turn a plucky little start-up like yours into the number 1 news channel in just 5 years! Good luck with your endeavours!
Ian Mean retweeted
A third of post offices in TGJones stores to shut by early next year thesun.co.uk/money/40794324/…
Ian Mean retweeted
Just been told about the fascinating appearance of breakfast show star Mike Graham at the wedding reception of Richard Tice and his bride Isabel Oakshott.
Mike arrived late at The Shard at London Bridge and, according to fellow guests, was already over-refreshed.
On Tice beginning his speech Mike fell into a slumber. Tice does have that effect but not normally at the beginning of the oration.
Reform’s No.2 finished on a rousing note and this woke Mike up who then decided the guests should hear his glowing views on Tice and his bride.
So, he grabs the microphone and begins to speak in what some felt was a version of Latin. Very hard to decipher.
David Bull, Reform’s former chairman, thought Mike was lowering the tone of the event - how this was possible with a roomful of politicians, journalists and Rebekah Brooks is hard to divine- and tries to grab the microphone.
Mike fights him off, so in the middle of the room a wrestling match is now going on with Farage telling colleagues ; “Mike’s out of control.”
Difficult for Farage to be too censorious as on occasions he has been in the grip of the grape .
Anyway, a now irritable Mike beats off Mr Bull for the microphone but the effect of his exertions means he’s lost his thread and he lays down the mike.
On reverting to his chair Mike is accosted by another guest displeased by the Latin oration and another bout of physical unpleasantness breaks out.
Then it’s time to leave and for Mike, a matter of hours later, to prepare himself for his enormously successful breakfast show on UK Live.
How he does it all is quite beyond me.
Ian Mean retweeted
"I'm very happy"
Nicolas Jackson reflects on a performance in which his brace ended Man City’s perfect Premier League record ✅
🎙️ @jules_breach | 📺 Stream now on TNT Sports & HBO Max streamonm.ax/4ySzugq
Ian Mean retweeted
Jac Morgan’s stats from last night’s West Country derby between Gloucester and Bath at Kingsholm.
Tackles completed - 20 (2nd)
Carries - 12 (4th)
Metres carried - 79 (2nd)
Defenders beaten - 8 (2nd)
Line breaks - 2 (1st)
Turnovers won - 1 (Joint 3rd)
Ian Mean retweeted
What a lovely bloke. An underrated quality in 2026. Also, coming from Wales her thinks Gloucester is a nice spot.
Ian Mean retweeted
I’ll raise a glass to this tonight, Kelvin 🍾
I don’t often get pleasure from a company going bust but will make an exception for the lawyers Thomson Heath Jenkins who represented Prince Harry, Elton John, Baroness Lawrence etc in their failed claims for blagging and hacking against the Daily Mail.
The lawyers thought they would make a fortune so went all in on no win, no fee.
But the judge threw out the claim, basically saying it was all bollocks.
The judgment meant there were no fees to collect and the 17-year business went pop.
Cry me a river.
Ian Mean retweeted
What a game at Kingsholm tonight 😍
> George Barton is tough as nails and a class act.
> Jac Morgan, is he human?
> Defence was outstanding.
> Mentality to overcome the cards and penalties was unreal.
Well done everyone @gloucesterrugby - special night for a special player @LewisLudlow94 . #glawsfamily
Ian Mean retweeted
LISTEN: Head Coach, George Skivington after a 'Sold Out' Kingsholm celebrated a 23-5 @gloucesterrugby win over Bath. bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0pjc8…
