Barry Smith 🔶
@barrysw19.bsky.social
LibDem, Green LibDem, sometime hopeless musician and chess player. Will program computers for money. Following (back) 🔶 LibDems 🔶
Sometimes promoted by the Liberal Democrats, 1 Vincent Square, SW1P 2PN.
Sometimes promoted by the Liberal Democrats, 1 Vincent Square, SW1P 2PN.
Polanski is not a serious politician. Starmer is someone who is trying to do he believes is best for the country. He might not be very good at it, but anyone who wants what's best for the country should at least be willing to work with him.
Green leader says Starmer is ‘not a man I would be willing to work with’
Green leader says Starmer is ‘not a man I would be willing to work with’
Green leader says Starmer is ‘not a man I would be willing to work with’
www.independent.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Polanski is not a serious politician. Starmer is someone who is trying to do he believes is best for the country. He might not be very good at it, but anyone who wants what's best for the country should at least be willing to work with him.
Polls are vanity, elections are sanity.
The Greens can trumpet their poll numbers all they want, but it's the LibDems winning elections.
The Greens can trumpet their poll numbers all they want, but it's the LibDems winning elections.
November 9, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Polls are vanity, elections are sanity.
The Greens can trumpet their poll numbers all they want, but it's the LibDems winning elections.
The Greens can trumpet their poll numbers all they want, but it's the LibDems winning elections.
Fifteen Daily games now without a loss! Kramnik will be along to accuse me of cheating soon. #chesspunks
November 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Fifteen Daily games now without a loss! Kramnik will be along to accuse me of cheating soon. #chesspunks
We have to consider the possibility that the pro-natalist movement is exacerbating the problem of low birthrates by turning young men into jerks that young women don't want to go near.
November 7, 2025 at 12:45 PM
We have to consider the possibility that the pro-natalist movement is exacerbating the problem of low birthrates by turning young men into jerks that young women don't want to go near.
The public is more likely to vote for a party that breaks its promises but improves the country than one which presides over decline by sticking to its promises.
November 7, 2025 at 10:37 AM
The public is more likely to vote for a party that breaks its promises but improves the country than one which presides over decline by sticking to its promises.
Yesterday's by-elections results:
SNP GAIN from Labour
Reform UK GAIN from Conservatives
Independent GAINS from Labour
Reform UK GAIN from Independent
Liberal Democrats GAIN from the Green party
...but sure, let's all get excited about the Greens poll numbers.
SNP GAIN from Labour
Reform UK GAIN from Conservatives
Independent GAINS from Labour
Reform UK GAIN from Independent
Liberal Democrats GAIN from the Green party
...but sure, let's all get excited about the Greens poll numbers.
November 7, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Yesterday's by-elections results:
SNP GAIN from Labour
Reform UK GAIN from Conservatives
Independent GAINS from Labour
Reform UK GAIN from Independent
Liberal Democrats GAIN from the Green party
...but sure, let's all get excited about the Greens poll numbers.
SNP GAIN from Labour
Reform UK GAIN from Conservatives
Independent GAINS from Labour
Reform UK GAIN from Independent
Liberal Democrats GAIN from the Green party
...but sure, let's all get excited about the Greens poll numbers.
The solution to the country's problems is simple. A LibDem government which rejoins the EU and changes the voting system to PR so we never have to worry about Farage in No. 10.
Starmer told a closed-doors meeting of Labour MPs that the long-term impact of Tory austerity and a botched Brexit deal "is worse than even we feared".
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
PM issues Budget warning - Brexit and austerity impact 'worse than feared'
The Prime Minister told a behind-closed-doors meeting of Labour MPs the long-term impact of Tory austerity and a botched Brexit deal 'is worse than even we feared'
www.mirror.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 7:40 AM
The solution to the country's problems is simple. A LibDem government which rejoins the EU and changes the voting system to PR so we never have to worry about Farage in No. 10.
If only there was something we could do. 🙄
November 4, 2025 at 7:31 AM
If only there was something we could do. 🙄
Reposted by Barry Smith 🔶
TfL's own study on step-free access for the Northern Line rated South Wimbledon as the easiest to install a lift at, and recommended it be taken forward for a full feasibility study, yet they are not doing so.
Sign our petition asking them to reconsider. www.mertonlibdems.org.uk/our-campaign...
Sign our petition asking them to reconsider. www.mertonlibdems.org.uk/our-campaign...
October 30, 2025 at 2:16 PM
TfL's own study on step-free access for the Northern Line rated South Wimbledon as the easiest to install a lift at, and recommended it be taken forward for a full feasibility study, yet they are not doing so.
Sign our petition asking them to reconsider. www.mertonlibdems.org.uk/our-campaign...
Sign our petition asking them to reconsider. www.mertonlibdems.org.uk/our-campaign...
Hitler's rise to power in the 1930s would not have been possible without the tacit approval of the authorities. The police, military, judiciary and political establishment all tolerated the violence and lawbreaking of the NSDAP and affiliates.
Far-right law-breaking now must not be tolerated.
Far-right law-breaking now must not be tolerated.
October 30, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Hitler's rise to power in the 1930s would not have been possible without the tacit approval of the authorities. The police, military, judiciary and political establishment all tolerated the violence and lawbreaking of the NSDAP and affiliates.
Far-right law-breaking now must not be tolerated.
Far-right law-breaking now must not be tolerated.
Reposted by Barry Smith 🔶
So, we now have Reform and the Tories being overtly racist. And we have Labour happily tolerating racism rather than risk upsetting Reform supporters by opposing it.
How did it all change so quickly?
How did it all change so quickly?
October 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
So, we now have Reform and the Tories being overtly racist. And we have Labour happily tolerating racism rather than risk upsetting Reform supporters by opposing it.
How did it all change so quickly?
How did it all change so quickly?
This has to end - Belgium is fretting about every regulation whilst Russia flouts every law. Europe needs to start treating this as the war it is.
Belgium, where the majority of frozen funds is parked in the financial clearing house Euroclear, put the brakes on swift progress on the use of frozen Russian assets, warning that three of its key demands related to legal worries would first need to be met.
EU leaders delay Ukraine loan using Russian assets, task commission with working out legal route
BRUSSELS, Belgium — At a fraught EU summit on funding for Kyiv, leaders asked the European Commission to draw up legal options for a reparations loan backed by Russia's frozen assets, with a final pr...
kyivindependent.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:54 PM
This has to end - Belgium is fretting about every regulation whilst Russia flouts every law. Europe needs to start treating this as the war it is.
The problem in the chess world is that FIDE is more interested in punishing players for wearing jeans than for year long bullying and defamation campaigns. FIDE is not fit to govern chess and Kramnik is not fit to hold any chess title.
October 22, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The problem in the chess world is that FIDE is more interested in punishing players for wearing jeans than for year long bullying and defamation campaigns. FIDE is not fit to govern chess and Kramnik is not fit to hold any chess title.
I really can't understand why he didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize 🙄
"Several people familiar with internal administration deliberations said any initial land attack would probably be a targeted operation on alleged trafficker encampments or clandestine airstrips, rather than a direct attempt to unseat Maduro." www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Trump beats the drums of war for direct action in Venezuela
The Trump administration has surged warships, fighter jets and troops to the Caribbean for drug interdiction. Many see the ultimate goal as toppling Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I really can't understand why he didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize 🙄
Problem is, in Putin's Russia an anti-corruption agency is just someone else you need to bribe. Corruption is far too deep-rooted to be fixed with a quick purge.
1/ Russia is reportedly preparing to carry out a "sanitisation of the state" to purge "officials, military personnel, and members of the media and public" who are suspected of undermining the war against Ukraine. ⬇️
October 12, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Problem is, in Putin's Russia an anti-corruption agency is just someone else you need to bribe. Corruption is far too deep-rooted to be fixed with a quick purge.
People seem to be obsessed with what the polls say, but maybe they should look at what actual elections say instead.
Aggregate Result of the 122 Council By-Elections (for 125 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:
RFM: 47 (+40)
LDM: 32 (+10)
CON: 13 (-15)
LAB: 12 (-30)
GRN: 11 (+3)
Ind: 5 (-4)
Local: 3 (-3)
SNP: 1 (-1)
PLC: 1 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
RFM: 47 (+40)
LDM: 32 (+10)
CON: 13 (-15)
LAB: 12 (-30)
GRN: 11 (+3)
Ind: 5 (-4)
Local: 3 (-3)
SNP: 1 (-1)
PLC: 1 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
October 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
People seem to be obsessed with what the polls say, but maybe they should look at what actual elections say instead.
Reposted by Barry Smith 🔶
The ending of two party politics is looking rather like two party politics.
Aggregate Result of the 122 Council By-Elections (for 125 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:
RFM: 47 (+40)
LDM: 32 (+10)
CON: 13 (-15)
LAB: 12 (-30)
GRN: 11 (+3)
Ind: 5 (-4)
Local: 3 (-3)
SNP: 1 (-1)
PLC: 1 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
RFM: 47 (+40)
LDM: 32 (+10)
CON: 13 (-15)
LAB: 12 (-30)
GRN: 11 (+3)
Ind: 5 (-4)
Local: 3 (-3)
SNP: 1 (-1)
PLC: 1 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
October 10, 2025 at 11:46 AM
The ending of two party politics is looking rather like two party politics.
Happy Days writers desperately hoping Trump wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
October 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Happy Days writers desperately hoping Trump wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
How it started... How it's going
October 9, 2025 at 7:00 AM
How it started... How it's going
There's a shock - the Tesla Ponzi company won't be building the thousands of robots Musk promised at the start of the year. Yet again. See you next year for the repeat performance?
sherwood.news/tech/tesla-a...
sherwood.news/tech/tesla-a...
Tesla abandoned plans to make thousands of Optimus robots this year
Musk is also hoping a “dancing troupe of Optimus bots” will impress shareholders at the investor meeting next month....
sherwood.news
October 8, 2025 at 12:08 PM
There's a shock - the Tesla Ponzi company won't be building the thousands of robots Musk promised at the start of the year. Yet again. See you next year for the repeat performance?
sherwood.news/tech/tesla-a...
sherwood.news/tech/tesla-a...
The Green Party want to leave NATO, implement unilateral nuclear disarmament, legalise all drugs and scrap nuclear power which is essential for carbon reduction.
They are neither a serious political party nor an environmental one.
They are neither a serious political party nor an environmental one.
a person is cutting a watermelon with a knife in a bowl
ALT: a person is cutting a watermelon with a knife in a bowl
media.tenor.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The Green Party want to leave NATO, implement unilateral nuclear disarmament, legalise all drugs and scrap nuclear power which is essential for carbon reduction.
They are neither a serious political party nor an environmental one.
They are neither a serious political party nor an environmental one.
Thanks to Putin the world now has $2,000 anti-air drones capable of bringing down drones or, say, passenger planes if sited anywhere within few miles of an airport.
So, yeah, thanks for that Russia. 🙄
So, yeah, thanks for that Russia. 🙄
October 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Thanks to Putin the world now has $2,000 anti-air drones capable of bringing down drones or, say, passenger planes if sited anywhere within few miles of an airport.
So, yeah, thanks for that Russia. 🙄
So, yeah, thanks for that Russia. 🙄
Has nobody in NATO ever actually read a book about the Second World War? 🙄
October 3, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Has nobody in NATO ever actually read a book about the Second World War? 🙄
Ukraine currently seems to be destroying about 20% of Russia's oil refining capacity each month. At this rate Russia will cease to function before the end of the year.
October 3, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Ukraine currently seems to be destroying about 20% of Russia's oil refining capacity each month. At this rate Russia will cease to function before the end of the year.