Peter Holmes
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pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes
@pholmes8.bsky.social
4.5K followers 1.6K following 410 posts

Semi-retired trade economist, Emeritus @ UKTPO Sussex. Posts about Brexit, Freeports, WTO and anything else that catches my fancy. Migrating across from other place. Tweeted as @pholmes8. Blogs with others at https://blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/blog/ .. more

Videos
Economics 44%
Political science 25%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Peter Holmes, Mark Priestley

ottoenglish.bsky.social
Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 14h
If you've ever needed a reason to rally behind the BBC then this is it.

Reposted by Peter Holmes, Mary Corcoran

goodlawproject.org
Jolyon Maugham KC @goodlawproject.org · 14h
It would be funny, if it wasn't tragic, reading this from four years ago about the 'independent' expert who wrote the report into purported leftwing bias at the BBC. It's just embarrassingly amateur - but it works because the Government is awol. www.theguardian.com/media/2021/n...
Lobbyist at firm with close ties to Tories will help select Ofcom chair
Appointment of Michael Prescott as interviewer follows move to give Paul Dacre chance to reapply
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Ben H. Ansell, Steve Peers , and 8 more

robertshrimsley.bsky.social
Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 17h
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.

Reposted by Peter Holmes

ottoenglish.bsky.social
Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 21h
What IS shocking is the disinformation hellsite that is X and the frankly appalling GB News which for reasons known only to OFCOM is allowed to keep using "news" in its title.

Reposted by Tim Bale, Peter Holmes

robertsaunders.bsky.social
Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 1d
In 2020, Boris Johnson said that Trump "encouraged people to storm the Capitol ... I believe that that was completely wrong. ... I unreservedly condemn encouraging people to behave in the disgraceful way that they did in the Capitol".

Does he still think that?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgCi...
Boris Johnson condemns Trump after Capitol attack: 'Completely wrong'
YouTube video by Guardian News
www.youtube.com

Reposted by Peter Holmes, Michelle Everson, Mark Robinson , and 3 more

eddavey.libdems.org.uk
Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 1d
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it

We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.

pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 1d
BBC DG resigns for not being right-wing enough!
chadbourn.bsky.social Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 1d
Davie and Turness resign from the BBC, ironically after the Right whip up confected outrage about a Trump documentary.

Now there’s a chance to get someone sympathetic to the BBC into the top job.
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
Deborah Turness, the CEO of news, says “mistakes have been made”.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Peter Holmes, Jane Suiter, Nick Hubble

petergeoghegan.bsky.social
Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 1d
This is absolutely nuts

Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event

When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
Davie says
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Peter Holmes

chadbourn.bsky.social
Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 1d
Davie and Turness resign from the BBC, ironically after the Right whip up confected outrage about a Trump documentary.

Now there’s a chance to get someone sympathetic to the BBC into the top job.
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
Deborah Turness, the CEO of news, says “mistakes have been made”.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Peers, Peter Holmes

oldtrotter.bsky.social
David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 2d
Who are these people forcing Trump and his entourage to watch the BBC?

Reposted by Peter Holmes

mikedlondon.bsky.social
Mike D London @mikedlondon.bsky.social · 2d
Bad news for the right wing extremist 'London has fallen' crowd...

London just named Best City in the World for 2026 - making it 11 consecutive years it has had that accolade, including every year that Sadiq Khan has been Mayor.

Will that cheer up the saddos?

Reposted by Peter Holmes

mjfree.bsky.social
Morgan J Freeman @mjfree.bsky.social · 2d
🩸🩸🩸 I'm going to post this video every day so we never forget what the POS 34x convicted felon, DEADLY INSURRECTIONIST, adjudicated rapist & pedophile Donald Trump did 🩸🩸🩸

Reposted by Peter Holmes

robfordmancs.bsky.social
Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 2d
Meanwhile, if anyone thinks there are are many Reform voters who think "I have zero trust in Labour on immigration, the small boats are still arriving, but *this* latest gesture at hardline policy is the one that will make me look again" I have a bridge to sell you. So who is this policy for?

Reposted by Steve Peers, Peter Holmes

explaintrade.com
Dmitry Grozoubinski @explaintrade.com · 2d
"Seizing Brexit opportunities to deregulate" was mostly unspecified magic fairy pixie bullshit then, and it's not going to get any more realistic in the hands of a bunch of Reform clowns who don't know how anything works, don't care to learn and disdain anyone that might.

Reposted by Juliet Lodge, Peter Holmes

suewilson91.bsky.social
Sue Wilson MBE @suewilson91.bsky.social · 2d
Any concessions agreed as part of Starmer's so-called 'reset' will come at a price.
Surely it would be better to pay more & get much more back in return, not least our EU citizenship?
www.irishtimes.com/business/202...
EU demands UK pay into budget as part of relationship ‘reset’
Growing tension between London and Brussels just six months after summit set out to build stronger ties
www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Peter Holmes

profjacob.bsky.social
Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 3d
🚨🚨 Vg news: #NATO has now surpassed #Russia in ammunition production after a period when Moscow outpaced the entire alliance’s output according to NATO SG Mark Rutte. 🧵
kyivindependent.com/nato-has-rev...
NATO has reversed Russia’s edge in ammunition production, Rutte says
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged member states and their defense industries to "outgun, outproduce, and outsmart those that seek to harm or diminish us."
kyivindependent.com

Reposted by Steve Peers, Peter Holmes, James Cameron

jim.londoncentric.media
Jim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · 4d
I like how the caption on this photo reads as if he's making a claim that could not be independently verified.

Reposted by Peter Holmes

tomashirstecon.bsky.social
Tomas Hirst @tomashirstecon.bsky.social · 4d
If it’s right (and I don’t know anymore than anyone else here), it’s an obituary for the political project anyway so I guess…sure? It’s not really about the fiscal headroom. It’s that the manifesto red lines are themselves causing the market to doubt the capacity of the government to tax if required

Reposted by Will Jennings, Leigh Sparks, Ian Hall , and 3 more

profjacob.bsky.social
Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 4d
🚨🚨This is stellar investigative journalism by @kaitlintosh.bsky.social and @michelleinezsimon.bsky.social on how #elonmusk is boosting the #british right. 🧵 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Jan W. Mueller, Dorothy Bishop , and 27 more

iandunt.bsky.social
Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 4d
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.

news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com

Reposted by Peter Holmes

legalmusings.bsky.social
Alexander Horne @legalmusings.bsky.social · 6d
Disappointing to see this response by @chrisbryant1962.bsky.social on the question of scrutiny of trade agreements.

The U.K. system under CRaG is hopeless. Everyone knows it. Labour’s approach is exactly the same as the Conservatives. Shameful.

questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
questions-statements.parliament.uk

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Andrew Scott, Peter Holmes

lewisgoodall.com
Lewis Goodall @lewisgoodall.com · 6d
Train worker hero credited with saving lives in the Huntingdon knife attack named as Samir Zitouni.

Reposted by Peter Holmes

simonmarksfsn.bsky.social
Simon Marks @simonmarksfsn.bsky.social · 7d
More….via @financialtimes.com

Reposted by Peter Holmes

alexhh.bsky.social
Alex Hall Hall @alexhh.bsky.social · 9d
I had to read this several times to believe it - in 34 states, child marriage still legal; in 4 states, with NO minimum age- provided one parent and a judge consent. Usually girls. Often, for pseudo religious reasons, including to avoid an abortion after rape 😡😡😡. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/o...
Opinion | Why Do We Allow Child Marriage in America?
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Peter Holmes

paddyopatrick.bsky.social
Patrick - Here for the craic 👍🏼 @paddyopatrick.bsky.social · 9d
Reeves Estate Agent screwed up and apologised to her, end of❗️

But oh no not for BBC with today’s character assassination & scathing critique re Govt Determined to keep a non story alive

Yet they dropped Farage potentially dodging £44K stamp duty like a shot & never reported his OH’s alleged fraud🤷🏼‍♂️
How much trouble is Rachel Reeves in over rental rule break? - BBC News
The PM may have ruled out an investigation but key questions remain about the chancellor's housing rules admission.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Peers, Peter Holmes

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 10d
UK newspaper editor calls Bill de Blasio fake interview blunder ‘humiliating’
UK newspaper editor calls Bill de Blasio fake interview blunder ‘humiliating’
A Times associate editor reportedly addressed situation in an email to staff, saying: ‘We should have been on our guard’ It was “humiliating” for a Times reporter to have quoted someone the journalist erroneously believed was former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, an editor for the outlet reportedly said in an email to staff. “We should have been on our guard. We should have tried much harder to speak to the people concerned,” Times associate editor Ian Brunskill told the company, according to an email obtained by Deadline. He went on to acknowledge the “serious damage” done to the Rupert Murdoch-owned paper. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 10d
Have to confess I reposted this without checking data. Could be horribly wrong.
It's so tempting.

Reposted by Peter Holmes

chaillich.bsky.social
(Wee G ) Wake Up Scotland @chaillich.bsky.social · 10d
👇

Reposted by Peter Holmes, Juan Cole

karenattiah.bsky.social
Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 10d
New:

I sat down with @aljazeera.com to talk about my firing from the Washington Post, being the last Black staff columnist left at the Post.

And how I believe the right is not just engaging in “cancel culture”, but “annihilation culture”.

Full video here: youtu.be/89qMGkK3LBc?...

pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 10d
Interesting story by @pmdfoster.bsky.social .
US has paid $25m WTO overdue membership fees.

www.ft.com/content/e87a...
I was told recently that WTO & OECD were recently removed from list of organisations US was thinking of quitting. Is realism setting in? Is Trump's attention elsewhere - for now?