Mark Hoddell
@sparkyrobin.bsky.social
Vinyl record lover. Rugby 🏉 and Football ⚽ follower. Reposts are not endorsements and all views are my own. Based in Cheshire.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Busines and Trade Secretary, Peter Kyle: "When you win an election... you start off where the other lot left off, and the extent of challenges that Brexit left us, that some of the other periods of intense instability left us... you can't fix that in one month, in one budget, or in one year." ~AA
November 24, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Busines and Trade Secretary, Peter Kyle: "When you win an election... you start off where the other lot left off, and the extent of challenges that Brexit left us, that some of the other periods of intense instability left us... you can't fix that in one month, in one budget, or in one year." ~AA
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
The irony of Danny Kruger accusing the BBC of left-wing bias when Reform UK - with just 5 MPs - gets more airtime than the Liberal Democrats, who have 72 MPs.
The BBC doesn't have a left-wing bias.
The BBC doesn't have a left-wing bias.
November 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
The irony of Danny Kruger accusing the BBC of left-wing bias when Reform UK - with just 5 MPs - gets more airtime than the Liberal Democrats, who have 72 MPs.
The BBC doesn't have a left-wing bias.
The BBC doesn't have a left-wing bias.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
White House gloats over the resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness, posting a meme on social media implying Trump’s influence toppled the BBC executives
The Guardian: The BBC is facing a coordinated, politically motivated attack.
The Guardian: The BBC is facing a coordinated, politically motivated attack.
Daily Telegraph Disinformation Check
This blog challenges statements made by The Daily Telegraph by quoting other sources and giving our own editorial view.
westenglandbylines.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:35 AM
White House gloats over the resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness, posting a meme on social media implying Trump’s influence toppled the BBC executives
The Guardian: The BBC is facing a coordinated, politically motivated attack.
The Guardian: The BBC is facing a coordinated, politically motivated attack.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Sky News just had Kelvin Mackenzie on, former editor of The Sun, one of the people at the centre of probably the most disgraceful front page in newspaper history, complaining about BBC journalists not being objective and 'fake news'. Astonishing. ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Sky News just had Kelvin Mackenzie on, former editor of The Sun, one of the people at the centre of probably the most disgraceful front page in newspaper history, complaining about BBC journalists not being objective and 'fake news'. Astonishing. ~AA
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Is there a prominent Brexiter left who hasn’t torn off their mask to reveal the rancid racism beneath? Boris Johnson’s chief fluffer accusing anyone else of being over-promoted is peak process. The bitterness of insanely privileged men with empty souls knows no bounds.
For anyone still tempted to take Dominic Cummings at all seriously, he's now an advocate of Donald Trump-style open racism.
November 6, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Is there a prominent Brexiter left who hasn’t torn off their mask to reveal the rancid racism beneath? Boris Johnson’s chief fluffer accusing anyone else of being over-promoted is peak process. The bitterness of insanely privileged men with empty souls knows no bounds.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
I have always said that Reform are only interested in the wealthy and not in the poor. Today they are making that even more transparent. To all the working class people on low wages planning to vote them in the future, you are literally voting for your own demise. Open your eyes.
November 4, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I have always said that Reform are only interested in the wealthy and not in the poor. Today they are making that even more transparent. To all the working class people on low wages planning to vote them in the future, you are literally voting for your own demise. Open your eyes.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Late Night Final (Public Service Broadcasting's J. Willgoose) - A Wonderful Hope (Vinyl LP) £7.89 + extra 10% off £20 spend with code RWOCT10 rewarddeals.co.uk/deals/195411... #ad
A Wonderful Hope
As one of the many consequences of this year's pandemic and ensuing lockdown, Public Service Broadcasting's J. Willgoose found himself with some time on his hands. With the next Public Service Broadca...
rewarddeals.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Late Night Final (Public Service Broadcasting's J. Willgoose) - A Wonderful Hope (Vinyl LP) £7.89 + extra 10% off £20 spend with code RWOCT10 rewarddeals.co.uk/deals/195411... #ad
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
🚨 Dominic Cummings Lobbied Officials to Hand ‘Test and Trace’ Contracts to Palantir After Secret Meeting With Peter Thiel
+ New emails released to Byline reveal Cummings involvement in VIP Lane deals.
Read my latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social report here: bylinetimes.com/2025/10/31/d...
+ New emails released to Byline reveal Cummings involvement in VIP Lane deals.
Read my latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social report here: bylinetimes.com/2025/10/31/d...
Dominic Cummings Lobbied Officials to Hand 'Test and Trace' Contracts to Palantir After Secret Meeting With Peter Thiel
Exclusive: Boris Johnson's senior advisor pushed for Covid contracts to be handed to companies run by Trump-supporting tech billionaires Peter Thiel and Larry Ellison
bylinetimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:55 AM
🚨 Dominic Cummings Lobbied Officials to Hand ‘Test and Trace’ Contracts to Palantir After Secret Meeting With Peter Thiel
+ New emails released to Byline reveal Cummings involvement in VIP Lane deals.
Read my latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social report here: bylinetimes.com/2025/10/31/d...
+ New emails released to Byline reveal Cummings involvement in VIP Lane deals.
Read my latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social report here: bylinetimes.com/2025/10/31/d...
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Farage: epic grifter
October 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Farage: epic grifter
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Includes recent releases by Pulp, Wet Leg, Shame and more 👇
October 27, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Includes recent releases by Pulp, Wet Leg, Shame and more 👇
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
"I’m sure we can find a hedge fund to make the positive case."
October 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
"I’m sure we can find a hedge fund to make the positive case."
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
🇷🇺 Those links to the Kremlin just won't go away...
🕰️ Well, they are long founded!
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/08/revealed-leaveeu-campaign-met-russian-officials-as-many-as-11-times?CMP=share_btn_url
🕰️ Well, they are long founded!
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/08/revealed-leaveeu-campaign-met-russian-officials-as-many-as-11-times?CMP=share_btn_url
Revealed: Leave.EU campaign met Russian officials as many as 11 times
Founder Arron Banks was offered lucrative deals in talks with the ambassador
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:10 PM
🇷🇺 Those links to the Kremlin just won't go away...
🕰️ Well, they are long founded!
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/08/revealed-leaveeu-campaign-met-russian-officials-as-many-as-11-times?CMP=share_btn_url
🕰️ Well, they are long founded!
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/08/revealed-leaveeu-campaign-met-russian-officials-as-many-as-11-times?CMP=share_btn_url
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
An admirable article that is as insightful as the libel laws permit given present publicly available information.
New post just out:
The relationship between Russia and the European radical right goes well beyond Reform's Nathan Gill being bribed.
In this post I trace the history back to the 1990s and look at the threat it poses now.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/r...
The relationship between Russia and the European radical right goes well beyond Reform's Nathan Gill being bribed.
In this post I trace the history back to the 1990s and look at the threat it poses now.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/r...
Russia and the rise of the radical right
Marine Le Pen meets with Putin before the 2017 French Presidential election (Photo credit Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP via Getty Images)
open.substack.com
October 12, 2025 at 8:41 AM
An admirable article that is as insightful as the libel laws permit given present publicly available information.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Andrew Lewin has said ‘not a single tax’ would have had to increase if Britain stayed in the EU
Brexit to blame for Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes, Labour MP claims
Andrew Lewin has said ‘not a single tax’ would have had to increase if Britain stayed in the EU
www.independent.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Andrew Lewin has said ‘not a single tax’ would have had to increase if Britain stayed in the EU
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
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August 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
🏷️LOWEST RAREWAVES PRICE SEEN Gogol Bordello - SOLIDARITINE (Blue coloured vinyl) £7.17 rewarddeals.co.uk/deals/187148... #ad
💿🔥Trending Rarewaves deals bit.ly/TrendingRare... #ad
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Reposted by Mark Hoddell
❌ For UK food and drink exporters "red tape is still the number one issue, followed by logistics and supply chain hurdles" when it comes to trade with the EU.
😵 What was all that about cutting red tape Brexiteers?
😵 What was all that about cutting red tape Brexiteers?
5 Years on from Brexit: What’s working, what’s not, and what’s next?
Nicola Thomas, director of the Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA) outlines the findings from the FDEA’s 2025 member and EU distributor survey.
buff.ly
August 13, 2025 at 12:10 PM
❌ For UK food and drink exporters "red tape is still the number one issue, followed by logistics and supply chain hurdles" when it comes to trade with the EU.
😵 What was all that about cutting red tape Brexiteers?
😵 What was all that about cutting red tape Brexiteers?
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Don't know why this popped up on my X feed - maybe someone angry with Tesco liked it - but it was a real "madeleine" moment of recall.
We've smoothed out just how scared and prickly we got during the pandemic. It means we underestimate how big a contributor it was to the radicalisation we see now.
We've smoothed out just how scared and prickly we got during the pandemic. It means we underestimate how big a contributor it was to the radicalisation we see now.
August 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Don't know why this popped up on my X feed - maybe someone angry with Tesco liked it - but it was a real "madeleine" moment of recall.
We've smoothed out just how scared and prickly we got during the pandemic. It means we underestimate how big a contributor it was to the radicalisation we see now.
We've smoothed out just how scared and prickly we got during the pandemic. It means we underestimate how big a contributor it was to the radicalisation we see now.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Looking at her feed now, it bears the hallmarks of a lot of the reactionary, tear-it-all-down markers that just weren't there before.
Basically, I'm not sure that as a group we have processed the Covid-19 trauma, even a little.
Basically, I'm not sure that as a group we have processed the Covid-19 trauma, even a little.
August 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Looking at her feed now, it bears the hallmarks of a lot of the reactionary, tear-it-all-down markers that just weren't there before.
Basically, I'm not sure that as a group we have processed the Covid-19 trauma, even a little.
Basically, I'm not sure that as a group we have processed the Covid-19 trauma, even a little.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
This is a welcome policy.
I worked for Sure Start in the Midlands. It was fantastic and really did make a difference … until Tories trashed it & made me redundant in the process.
I worked for Sure Start in the Midlands. It was fantastic and really did make a difference … until Tories trashed it & made me redundant in the process.
In 2010 over 1400 Sure Start centres closed. One of Labour's most successful policies on inequality. Services fragmented and inequality deepened. Now we get Family Hubs. One of the most important social reforms of this decade?
Stephen McNair reports
Stephen McNair reports
Sure Start: Tackling inequality in the early years to transform lives
The government’s ‘Best Start Family Hubs’ are reviving one of the most successful initiatives of New Labour. But will it work this time?
eastangliabylines.co.uk
July 30, 2025 at 9:22 PM
This is a welcome policy.
I worked for Sure Start in the Midlands. It was fantastic and really did make a difference … until Tories trashed it & made me redundant in the process.
I worked for Sure Start in the Midlands. It was fantastic and really did make a difference … until Tories trashed it & made me redundant in the process.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
In the same way that Theoden was slowly driven mad with despair looking into the Palantir seeing what Sauron wanted him to see, our policymakers are looking into social media under hostile control and wrongly despairing.
New post just out:
"Britain isn't broken"
We have our problems but the doomerism is getting out of hand.
I look at the real picture on crime, migration, social cohesion and the economy - rather than the dsyoptian fantasies of the radical right.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...
"Britain isn't broken"
We have our problems but the doomerism is getting out of hand.
I look at the real picture on crime, migration, social cohesion and the economy - rather than the dsyoptian fantasies of the radical right.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...
Britain isn't broken
We have our problems but the doomerism is getting out of hand
open.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 8:37 AM
In the same way that Theoden was slowly driven mad with despair looking into the Palantir seeing what Sauron wanted him to see, our policymakers are looking into social media under hostile control and wrongly despairing.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Meanwhile, Farage has admitted he was "slightly inaccurate on the details" on GBeebies, but apparently "the gist" of what he was saying was right. Because, APPARENTLY, bussing people to a protest is fundamentally the same as maintaining the peace when a group that wants to protest turns up.
July 23, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Meanwhile, Farage has admitted he was "slightly inaccurate on the details" on GBeebies, but apparently "the gist" of what he was saying was right. Because, APPARENTLY, bussing people to a protest is fundamentally the same as maintaining the peace when a group that wants to protest turns up.
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
Very good to hear.
Incidentally, I am astounded that BBC News cut away from the most important quarterly bit of PM scrutiny 10m before it ended. Especially after showing the Farage inane gulag announcement live and in full.
Don't remember them ever doing that when Johnson - or any PM - was on. 🤨
Incidentally, I am astounded that BBC News cut away from the most important quarterly bit of PM scrutiny 10m before it ended. Especially after showing the Farage inane gulag announcement live and in full.
Don't remember them ever doing that when Johnson - or any PM - was on. 🤨
PM tells @emilythornberry.bsky.social at Liaison C'tee that the EU Summit is yearly "not just to monitor progress but to go further" each year. Hints that medicines and artists' touring visas are very much on the menu of "common sense changes... that have very little to do with the vote in 2016".~AA
July 21, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Very good to hear.
Incidentally, I am astounded that BBC News cut away from the most important quarterly bit of PM scrutiny 10m before it ended. Especially after showing the Farage inane gulag announcement live and in full.
Don't remember them ever doing that when Johnson - or any PM - was on. 🤨
Incidentally, I am astounded that BBC News cut away from the most important quarterly bit of PM scrutiny 10m before it ended. Especially after showing the Farage inane gulag announcement live and in full.
Don't remember them ever doing that when Johnson - or any PM - was on. 🤨
Reposted by Mark Hoddell
'Big tax hikes so that there is actually a serious prospect that UK will have started reducing its debt by 2029 + £18bn for local government + £3.5bn for two child as your shield against any other spending demands' - that's what I think gets the government into 2028-9 in the best shape.
Just imagine a world in which streets were cleaner, high streets better maintained, crime was a bit lower, there were more good jobs, public transport was a bit more frequent, council tax bills didn't go up 5% every year, some new libraries and leisure centres open. These are things people notice.
Increasingly convinced the cheapest way to address this is to reverse local government austerity. Returning English local authority budgets to 2010 levels would cost about £7bn. Factor in population and demographic change and you'd want maybe £15bn. Benefits could be seen quickly and felt widely.
July 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
'Big tax hikes so that there is actually a serious prospect that UK will have started reducing its debt by 2029 + £18bn for local government + £3.5bn for two child as your shield against any other spending demands' - that's what I think gets the government into 2028-9 in the best shape.