Tim
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timviles.bsky.social
Tim
@timviles.bsky.social
Human, mostly harmless
Reposted by Tim
When you’ve protected British people’s rights from the authoritarian regime Nigel Farage craves.
October 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Letter: For Reform UK councils, the penny has dropped

Gift article
September 15, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I just signed up to this: The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill has its second reading 2Sep, abolishing First Past The Post voting for Mayoral elections.

FPTP today is unstable and pulls the 2 parties to their flanks to guard against extremes

actionnetwork.org/letters/devo...
Email your MP about scrapping First Past The Post (FPTP) for Mayoral elections
On the 2nd of September, MPs will debate abolishing First Past the Post for Mayoral and PPC elections. Since the system was introduced, it has resulted in Mayors being elected on as little as 25% of t...
actionnetwork.org
August 24, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Good reading for muscular optimistic liberals. When people call for the blitz spirit, they forget how we do rise to the terrible occasion. Recognising this not only stops “nonsense” but deters those who think they only have to kick the door down
August 6, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by Tim
Former US ambassador to Hungary: "After years watching Hungary suffocate under the weight of its democratic collapse, I came to understand that the real danger of a strongman isn’t his tactics; it’s how others, especially those with power, justify their acquiescence." (h/t @bnovak.bsky.social)
Opinion | I Watched It Happen in Hungary. Now It’s Happening Here.
www.nytimes.com
July 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by Tim
This is an important leading article and a very disappointing state of affairs: Ukraine must not backslide into autocracy - not least, it would be a betrayal of those who have died for its democracy.
Last week, we warned of a coming anti-democratic backslide. Now, we see it happening.

A parliamentary vote, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s lawmakers, today took away the independence of Ukraine’s key anti-corruption bodies. Zelensky signed it into law the same day.
Editorial: Zelensky just betrayed Ukraine's democracy — and everyone fighting for it
Editor’s note: This editorial has been updated to reflect the fact Zelensky signed the bill into law on the evening of July 22, as shown on the Parliament's website. Last week, we warned of a coming ...
kyivindependent.com
July 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Reposted by Tim
🇩🇰 Denmark will push to suspend Hungary’s voting rights in the EU over its continued blocking of Ukraine’s accession talks, says European Affairs Minister Bjerre. Copenhagen plans to trigger Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which can strip a member state of its voting rights in the Council.
July 3, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Tim
Ukraine is not being prepared as it should in air defense, and instead of sucking up to Trump, the Europeans should be far more proactive. They even have cards to play, if they had self respect. How about saying Europe will only buy US weapons if the US sells Ukraine Patriots?
June 29, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Reposted by Tim
The UK government should long ago have exited X. The platform is not interested in appropriate moderation. It is a hotbed for extremism. This was clear nearly a year ago during the riots.
There are a good number of X accounts celebrating, encouraging and inciting violence in Nothern Ireland.

The platform, the regulators & the government are too casual about the weak response to the incitement of violence in every flashpoint situation
June 10, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Reposted by Tim
YOU TELL ME
June 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Friends of Ukraine in (SW) London are warmly invited to a panel discussion with Wandsworth Liberal Democrats

events.libdems.org.uk/events/85865...
Ukraine in Focus: A Conversation on War, Peace, and the Future
We have organised something very special for our next social event on the 2nd of July.When speaking to members and voters across Wandsworth, it’s clear that the suffering and courage of the Ukrainian ...
events.libdems.org.uk
June 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Tim
This is residents in San Diego telling Ice-Gestapo agents to get TF out of their neighborhood. More of this please. 💙👊
June 3, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Reposted by Tim
If nothing can be done in America to stop the US government from destroying America's leadership in science and technology then the EU and UK need to be pragmatic about seizing European strategic opportunities that emerge through American decline.
May 31, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Tim
🇷🇺📹 Russian sources have released footage showing the use of the Chinese Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS) to shoot down Ukrainian drones in the combat zone.

These appear to be the first documented visuals of the Chinese laser system in operational use in Ukraine.
May 31, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Reposted by Tim
Quite apart from anything else, this a major opportunity for UK higher education which we are currently doing our best to neutralise.
May 28, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Reposted by Tim
The EU Council will discuss suspending Hungary’s voting rights under Article 7 on May 27 over serious breaches of European values, including judicial independence and minority rights. This could stop Hungary from blocking aid to Ukraine and EU sanctions on Russia.
May 22, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Tim
Remember 4 days ago when France, UK, EU and the US promised devastating actions against Russia if Putin didn't ceasefire within 24 hours?

THIS is why Putin would be a fool not take as much of Europe as possible NOW - the weakness is astonishing.
May 14, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Tim
If you're worried about the rise of divisive populist politicians like Donald Trump and like Nigel Farage, it will be the Liberal Democrats standing up for true British values.
May 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Tim
🇪🇺💥 Twice the weapons, same budget: EU's new plan boosts support for Ukraine by buying directly from Ukrainian arms makers—cutting costs in half.

"If Trump can't bring peace, Europe will—with strength." — Andrius Kubilius, European Union Commissioner for Defense and Space said.
May 5, 2025 at 6:52 AM
on.ft.com/3ERZNMP The digital countermove to Trump tariffs
The digital countermove to Trump tariffs
America’s mid-air dismantling of the global system of trade represents a one-time chance to compete
on.ft.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Reposted by Tim
This is something I genuinely do not understand.
Why does Labour not do something about it now?
‘Reform is launching a drive to raise funds from wealthy offshore donors in low tax jurisdictions including Monaco, UAE and Switzerland.’

Britain’s election laws are broken - and, so far, Labour’s mooted fixes are completely insufficient

www.ft.com/content/b133...
Reform UK heads offshore to raise funds from world’s wealthy
Party treasurer Nick Candy says events will be held ‘in restaurants, people’s private homes and on yachts’
www.ft.com
April 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Tim
This is what we all feared. The United States and Russia bullying brave President Zelensky into a terrible deal.

Time for the United Kingdom and Europe to stand up to Trump and seize the Russian assets so we can go it alone.
April 23, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by Tim
Reform backers are importing the US’s ‘big money’ playbook to UK politics

Great British PAC hopes to Americanise UK politics with the help of donors like Elon Musk.

Please repost if you agree that big money donations subvert democracy and should be banned.
www.opendemocracy.net/en/gb-pac-uk...
‘Deeply alarming’ new group could change UK politics forever
Great British PAC wants to unite the right. To do so, it hopes to Americanise UK politics with help of donors like Elon Musk
www.opendemocracy.net
April 19, 2025 at 12:41 PM