Ric Brackenbury
@ricmk.bsky.social
A random combination of political nerdery, faith, running and enjoying Milton Keynes life with a young family. Ex-city councillor, still interested in what makes MK tick.
Reposted by Ric Brackenbury
The only Super Bowl worthy of the name was the sweaty ten-pin bowling centre where I grew up. Half time entertainment was usually a fight #goodtimes
February 8, 2026 at 7:51 PM
The only Super Bowl worthy of the name was the sweaty ten-pin bowling centre where I grew up. Half time entertainment was usually a fight #goodtimes
Today's a great example of why Labour are struggling so much in Government. Manifesto was strong on dealing with Lords misconduct, but right now it's all about how they don't have power and they will support others to take action. Like with social media regulation - they seem impotent and passive.
February 2, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Today's a great example of why Labour are struggling so much in Government. Manifesto was strong on dealing with Lords misconduct, but right now it's all about how they don't have power and they will support others to take action. Like with social media regulation - they seem impotent and passive.
Worried about online radicalisation? Look at this guy www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
If you want to restrict social media, maybe it's not the under-16s you should be looking at?
If you want to restrict social media, maybe it's not the under-16s you should be looking at?
Sidcup man convicted aover explosive attack on Ulez camera
Kevin Rees's homemade bomb caused damage to vehicles and property including a child's bedroom.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Worried about online radicalisation? Look at this guy www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
If you want to restrict social media, maybe it's not the under-16s you should be looking at?
If you want to restrict social media, maybe it's not the under-16s you should be looking at?
If Nigel Farage gets ill and can't appear in person every time Donald Trump says something grossly offensive and obviously wrong, his doctor is not going to have a quiet life.
January 23, 2026 at 12:41 PM
If Nigel Farage gets ill and can't appear in person every time Donald Trump says something grossly offensive and obviously wrong, his doctor is not going to have a quiet life.
Reposted by Ric Brackenbury
This is one hell of a quote. European leaders really are running out of patience.
January 20, 2026 at 12:51 PM
This is one hell of a quote. European leaders really are running out of patience.
Jenrick sacked before quitting: If the Tories wanted any credibility, he should have gone for complaining about not seeing a white face on the streets of Birmingham last year. His conduct hasn't belonged in a mainstream party for some time. How supine that no-one called him out then. 1/3
January 15, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Jenrick sacked before quitting: If the Tories wanted any credibility, he should have gone for complaining about not seeing a white face on the streets of Birmingham last year. His conduct hasn't belonged in a mainstream party for some time. How supine that no-one called him out then. 1/3
Zero leadership - passing the buck to Ofcom, not even suggesting the Government / Labour will move away from X. It's incredibly frustrating how weak the Government appear, even to those who want them to succeed.
NEW: Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, says Ofcom would have the "full backing" of government if it opted to block access to X in the UK (but it's a decision for Ofcom)
January 9, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Zero leadership - passing the buck to Ofcom, not even suggesting the Government / Labour will move away from X. It's incredibly frustrating how weak the Government appear, even to those who want them to succeed.
Spot on. Great example of this in 2026 already with Twitter - Gov and Labour MPs expecting praise from "calling on Ofcom" to act when public expect them to lead and act themselves.
Great @economist.com piece by @matthewholehouse.bsky.social on state capacity. Am convinced next election winner will be who convinces people Government can actually just *do things* & politicians aren’t powerless to make good on promises. My reframe of Reagan maxim www.economist.com/britain/2026...
January 9, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Spot on. Great example of this in 2026 already with Twitter - Gov and Labour MPs expecting praise from "calling on Ofcom" to act when public expect them to lead and act themselves.
got there an hour early. Happy New Year from a snowy Germany. Gute Rutsche = a good slide into the new year. May your descent be smooth and your landing stable!
December 31, 2025 at 11:53 PM
got there an hour early. Happy New Year from a snowy Germany. Gute Rutsche = a good slide into the new year. May your descent be smooth and your landing stable!
Happy Christmas from an occasional poster but frequent reader. May you know the light that came in the darkness, when it’s not hard to spot darkness around us.
December 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Happy Christmas from an occasional poster but frequent reader. May you know the light that came in the darkness, when it’s not hard to spot darkness around us.
The political challenge of our generation is to restore the international links destroyed over the last decade. Erasmus+ news small but a good step-if the opposition is muted and beaten, it'll pave the way for much bigger steps to come. Not Erasmus but my 'year abroad' shaped my life - Bon voyage!
December 17, 2025 at 10:04 AM
The political challenge of our generation is to restore the international links destroyed over the last decade. Erasmus+ news small but a good step-if the opposition is muted and beaten, it'll pave the way for much bigger steps to come. Not Erasmus but my 'year abroad' shaped my life - Bon voyage!
Whoever failed to put the word "disgust" into this headline needs to take a long, hard look at themselves.
December 1, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Whoever failed to put the word "disgust" into this headline needs to take a long, hard look at themselves.
Reposted by Ric Brackenbury
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Nervous about the changes to Jury trials. Not that juries are magic bullets, or at all efficient, but I fear a future where the Government appoint judges (as in the US) and if you face a judge-only trial your fate would be in the sole hands of a political appointee. Scary.
November 26, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Nervous about the changes to Jury trials. Not that juries are magic bullets, or at all efficient, but I fear a future where the Government appoint judges (as in the US) and if you face a judge-only trial your fate would be in the sole hands of a political appointee. Scary.
Interesting on mansion tax / council tax bands. Oh for a Government with courage to just revalue Council tax bands. Imagine how daft relying on 1991 house prices feels in Milton Keynes, where whole estates were just fields then.
These reports the Government could revalue council tax bands F, G and H don't make sense to me. Here's what could actually be going on:
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Interesting on mansion tax / council tax bands. Oh for a Government with courage to just revalue Council tax bands. Imagine how daft relying on 1991 house prices feels in Milton Keynes, where whole estates were just fields then.
Lots of fun marshalling at Middleton fireworks this evening.
November 8, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Lots of fun marshalling at Middleton fireworks this evening.
If this is enacted, I'd urge you to make sure you never get sick, have children, become a pensioner, or take up a job paying less well but of greater benefit to our society. This is wrong on every level. Fair play to those calling it out.
Via @sundersays.bsky.social the Conservatives' draft legislation - absolutely clear that it applies to (and is intended to apply to) legal permanent residents claiming state pension (on the basis of their contributions) or child benefit for British kids.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbi...
October 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
If this is enacted, I'd urge you to make sure you never get sick, have children, become a pensioner, or take up a job paying less well but of greater benefit to our society. This is wrong on every level. Fair play to those calling it out.
Reposted by Ric Brackenbury
Ming Campbell was a dedicated public servant and a true Liberal giant.
His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom.
But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague.
We will miss him terribly.
His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom.
But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague.
We will miss him terribly.
September 26, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Ming Campbell was a dedicated public servant and a true Liberal giant.
His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom.
But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague.
We will miss him terribly.
His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom.
But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague.
We will miss him terribly.
Turns out that Mambo No 5 is the perfect length for a Channel 4 advert break. We checked twice. #taskmaster
September 25, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Turns out that Mambo No 5 is the perfect length for a Channel 4 advert break. We checked twice. #taskmaster
Reposted by Ric Brackenbury
Reform's ‘plan’ to revoke the legal status of millions of UK residents is morally abhorrent & economic madness
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
September 22, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reform's ‘plan’ to revoke the legal status of millions of UK residents is morally abhorrent & economic madness
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
This isn't mine but it could be. In COVID times, I appreciated the quiet final hour more than ever.
I like to do a supermarket shop in the evening. Tell my wife because it's quicker when it's quieter. It's actually for the joy of gliding down the aisles on the trolley without people in the way. I'm an accountant and company director in my 40s.
September 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This isn't mine but it could be. In COVID times, I appreciated the quiet final hour more than ever.
Enjoyed watching the cycling Tour of Britain starting in Milton Keynes on Thursday.
September 6, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Enjoyed watching the cycling Tour of Britain starting in Milton Keynes on Thursday.
A great day for Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru! No longer the holder of the UK's most embarrassing leadership election result as incumbent....
September 2, 2025 at 10:35 AM
A great day for Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru! No longer the holder of the UK's most embarrassing leadership election result as incumbent....