Terry Rich Whitehead
@whitehtj.bsky.social
Lib Dem campaigner 🔶 CAD/CAM/IT Professional ▪ DAW Maestro ▪ Believer in equality and fair play ▪ Views my own ▪ RTs not endorsements
A serious issue particularly for the elderly. The telcos have been aware of the issue for years, but have done little. The is issue is not just in areas, it is also town and cities. Ofcom’s hollow statement "exploring further measures to improve the resilience of mobile services". Is pitiful.
Power cuts leave Goathland 'isolated and vulnerable' - residents
Villagers say the lack of a back-up battery on its mobile mast leaves them unable to make 999 calls.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 5, 2026 at 1:50 PM
A serious issue particularly for the elderly. The telcos have been aware of the issue for years, but have done little. The is issue is not just in areas, it is also town and cities. Ofcom’s hollow statement "exploring further measures to improve the resilience of mobile services". Is pitiful.
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
Europe is crying out for closer relations with Britain.
A customs union would boost growth, restore confidence in bond markets, and save billions in debt costs.
A customs union would boost growth, restore confidence in bond markets, and save billions in debt costs.
January 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Europe is crying out for closer relations with Britain.
A customs union would boost growth, restore confidence in bond markets, and save billions in debt costs.
A customs union would boost growth, restore confidence in bond markets, and save billions in debt costs.
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
It looks like the only one with any balls unlike Starmer is the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot who said the operation to capture Maduro “violates the principle of non-use of force that underpins international law”.
European leaders appear torn in face of new world order after Venezuela attack
Leaders try to focus on what comes next, as backing for ejection of Maduro mingles uncomfortably with voicing of support for international law
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 9:20 PM
It looks like the only one with any balls unlike Starmer is the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot who said the operation to capture Maduro “violates the principle of non-use of force that underpins international law”.
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
Mapped: Which areas face longer GP waiting times as figures grow under Labour
Mapped: Which areas face longer GP waiting times as figures grow under Labour
Labour has been accused of a ‘damning failure’ with new figures showing 7.6 million people had to wait over four weeks to see a GP
buff.ly
December 29, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Mapped: Which areas face longer GP waiting times as figures grow under Labour
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
Proud to have pushed in 2025 for a cap on political donations, and hugely proud of my Liberal Democrat colleagues for leading on important campaigns and changes for our country 👏🔸️⭐️
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This year, our MPs have pushed for real change in Parliament: backing Ukraine, protecting democracy, and creating new opportunities for young people.
December 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Proud to have pushed in 2025 for a cap on political donations, and hugely proud of my Liberal Democrat colleagues for leading on important campaigns and changes for our country 👏🔸️⭐️
👇
👇
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
Established pattern continues.
In British local council by-elections, the fight is all between Reform and Liberal Democrats.
In British local council by-elections, the fight is all between Reform and Liberal Democrats.
Aggregate Result of the 185 Council By-Elections (for 188 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:
RFM: 65 (+56)
LDM: 55 (+20)
CON: 20 (-23)
LAB: 14 (-43)
GRN: 14 (+2)
Ind: 9 (-6)
Local: 5 (-5)
SNP: 3 (-1)
PLC: 3 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
RFM: 65 (+56)
LDM: 55 (+20)
CON: 20 (-23)
LAB: 14 (-43)
GRN: 14 (+2)
Ind: 9 (-6)
Local: 5 (-5)
SNP: 3 (-1)
PLC: 3 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
December 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Established pattern continues.
In British local council by-elections, the fight is all between Reform and Liberal Democrats.
In British local council by-elections, the fight is all between Reform and Liberal Democrats.
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
What people think of their area buff.ly/lJW2Ufy
What people think of their area
Welcome to the 190th edition of The Week in Polls (TWIP), which dusts off some polling from the summer that is relevant to one of the government’s current priorities.
buff.ly
December 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
What people think of their area buff.ly/lJW2Ufy
Coming to a council near you if your authority goes Reform. 10 miles per day is a long distance for an 8-year-old. It's like walking from the centre of Solihull to Hockley Heath and back. On top of that is the dark evenings. Parents will be very concerned with this. Absolute madness.
Parents 'deeply worried' over calls for children to walk five miles to school
George Finch, Reform UK leader of Warwickshire County Council, made the suggestion to increase the distance children walk to school before becoming eligible for funded transport to cut spiralling cost...
www.coventrytelegraph.net
October 30, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Coming to a council near you if your authority goes Reform. 10 miles per day is a long distance for an 8-year-old. It's like walking from the centre of Solihull to Hockley Heath and back. On top of that is the dark evenings. Parents will be very concerned with this. Absolute madness.
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
Liberal Democrat MPs just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament to tear up people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
October 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Liberal Democrat MPs just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament to tear up people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
One could perhaps call this... two party politics?
Aggregate Result of the 139 Council By-Elections (for 142 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:
RFM: 49 (+42)
LDM: 43 (+16)
CON: 15 (-16)
LAB: 13 (-33)
GRN: 11 (+2)
Ind: 6 (-4)
Local: 3 (-5)
SNP: 1 (-1)
PLC: 1 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
RFM: 49 (+42)
LDM: 43 (+16)
CON: 15 (-16)
LAB: 13 (-33)
GRN: 11 (+2)
Ind: 6 (-4)
Local: 3 (-5)
SNP: 1 (-1)
PLC: 1 (=)
Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
October 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
One could perhaps call this... two party politics?
I would have thought that spending £75K on either Adult social care, Children's social care, Homelessness, Road maintenance, Libraries etc would have been better use of council funds.
Reform-led council slammed over plan to spend £75,000 on flags
The 164 flags are set to be displayed across 82 locations, costing Nottinghamshire council £475 each
www.independent.co.uk
October 25, 2025 at 8:59 AM
I would have thought that spending £75K on either Adult social care, Children's social care, Homelessness, Road maintenance, Libraries etc would have been better use of council funds.
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
Ed Davey agrees:
In a letter to Badenoch, the Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, called it “deeply concerning and unpatriotic. People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to ‘go home’. This is their home.”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
In a letter to Badenoch, the Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, called it “deeply concerning and unpatriotic. People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to ‘go home’. This is their home.”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
October 21, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Ed Davey agrees:
In a letter to Badenoch, the Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, called it “deeply concerning and unpatriotic. People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to ‘go home’. This is their home.”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
In a letter to Badenoch, the Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, called it “deeply concerning and unpatriotic. People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to ‘go home’. This is their home.”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Failed to stop this development, but the point’s raised regarding road safety look like they have been taken onboard.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...
www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...
New homes approved in Solihull village after much opposition
Solihull planners approve 'much-needed' 50 new Catherine-de-Barnes homes
www.birminghammail.co.uk
May 12, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Failed to stop this development, but the point’s raised regarding road safety look like they have been taken onboard.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...
www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midland...
Long overdue. Waste criminals and fly-tippers who blight our towns and villages have gone unpunished for too long.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fly-tippers’ vehicles to be crushed in bid to save England from ‘avalanche of rubbish’
The scheme, part of policy blitz for local elections, will encourage councils and police forces to work together
www.theguardian.com
April 30, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Long overdue. Waste criminals and fly-tippers who blight our towns and villages have gone unpunished for too long.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
Fly-tipping is out of control thanks to years of Conservative failure.
We’re calling for a Fly-Tipping Fighting Fund to help clean up our communities with tougher fines and stronger enforcement.
We’re calling for a Fly-Tipping Fighting Fund to help clean up our communities with tougher fines and stronger enforcement.
April 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Fly-tipping is out of control thanks to years of Conservative failure.
We’re calling for a Fly-Tipping Fighting Fund to help clean up our communities with tougher fines and stronger enforcement.
We’re calling for a Fly-Tipping Fighting Fund to help clean up our communities with tougher fines and stronger enforcement.
A while back I had a long conversation about not voting with a guy while out leafleting. The conversation was around why it was important to vote. I said 'I didn’t care who he voted for as long as he voted'. He responded 'I will vote and for your party'. Made my day.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Nuneaton woman doubts impact of her vote in Warwickshire election
Kiran Latusek says she will vote in Warwickshire's local election but doubts anything will change.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 26, 2025 at 7:21 AM
A while back I had a long conversation about not voting with a guy while out leafleting. The conversation was around why it was important to vote. I said 'I didn’t care who he voted for as long as he voted'. He responded 'I will vote and for your party'. Made my day.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Most of us do the right thing with their waste, but minority continue to spoil our environment. The map below shows just two months (206) of fly-tipping in Solihull.
It is sad that fly-tipping is going relatively unpunished. Fines need to be increased and reinvested to pursue the offenders.
It is sad that fly-tipping is going relatively unpunished. Fines need to be increased and reinvested to pursue the offenders.
April 23, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Most of us do the right thing with their waste, but minority continue to spoil our environment. The map below shows just two months (206) of fly-tipping in Solihull.
It is sad that fly-tipping is going relatively unpunished. Fines need to be increased and reinvested to pursue the offenders.
It is sad that fly-tipping is going relatively unpunished. Fines need to be increased and reinvested to pursue the offenders.
Solihull Planning Committee sit on Wednesday 2nd April to decide on building of 50 homes on Lugtrout Ln sitting in the Green Belt. There are concerns over increased traffic, demands on already stretched services etc. To register an objection reference application PL/2024/00037/PPOL
March 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Solihull Planning Committee sit on Wednesday 2nd April to decide on building of 50 homes on Lugtrout Ln sitting in the Green Belt. There are concerns over increased traffic, demands on already stretched services etc. To register an objection reference application PL/2024/00037/PPOL
Flytipping! It's disheartening to see litter like this along our roads in Solihull. However, it is good to see some potential contact details.
March 29, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Flytipping! It's disheartening to see litter like this along our roads in Solihull. However, it is good to see some potential contact details.
BBC R4 today talking about councils must show how they are improving roads and tackling the "pothole plague" or lose out on millions of pounds in funding.
The charity mySociety who run Fixmystreet gives some insight.
Below the number of potholes reported in Solihull via FixMyStreet this month.
The charity mySociety who run Fixmystreet gives some insight.
Below the number of potholes reported in Solihull via FixMyStreet this month.
March 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
BBC R4 today talking about councils must show how they are improving roads and tackling the "pothole plague" or lose out on millions of pounds in funding.
The charity mySociety who run Fixmystreet gives some insight.
Below the number of potholes reported in Solihull via FixMyStreet this month.
The charity mySociety who run Fixmystreet gives some insight.
Below the number of potholes reported in Solihull via FixMyStreet this month.
One of my pet hates is rubbish just dumped, fly tipping in particular. Below is a league table for the last few weeks for the area around Solihull.
March 6, 2025 at 12:24 PM
One of my pet hates is rubbish just dumped, fly tipping in particular. Below is a league table for the last few weeks for the area around Solihull.
“We come from Hong Kong. We are afraid that China will use this place to look over us, against us. In Hong Kong, we have many experience of China, the CPP, controlling the freedom and democracy and against the Hong Kong people. We all face this.”
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Hundreds protest against Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London
Demonstrators at the proposed site included Hongkongers who fear it could be used to illegally detain dissenters
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2025 at 8:23 AM
“We come from Hong Kong. We are afraid that China will use this place to look over us, against us. In Hong Kong, we have many experience of China, the CPP, controlling the freedom and democracy and against the Hong Kong people. We all face this.”
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
At a moment when we desperately need a fragile truce to hold, Trump’s ramblings on Gaza risk having the effect of a bull in a china shop.
The UK needs to make clear that these proposals must be rejected, and that we support international law and a two state solution based on 1967 borders.
The UK needs to make clear that these proposals must be rejected, and that we support international law and a two state solution based on 1967 borders.
February 5, 2025 at 8:42 AM
At a moment when we desperately need a fragile truce to hold, Trump’s ramblings on Gaza risk having the effect of a bull in a china shop.
The UK needs to make clear that these proposals must be rejected, and that we support international law and a two state solution based on 1967 borders.
The UK needs to make clear that these proposals must be rejected, and that we support international law and a two state solution based on 1967 borders.
Reposted by Terry Rich Whitehead
Trump has clearly not spoken to a single Palestinian about this plan. Gaza is our land. Palestine is our home. Peace cannot come at the cost of our country.
I urge the UK and the whole international community to resist him.
Recognise Palestine now, before it's too late.
I urge the UK and the whole international community to resist him.
Recognise Palestine now, before it's too late.
February 5, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Trump has clearly not spoken to a single Palestinian about this plan. Gaza is our land. Palestine is our home. Peace cannot come at the cost of our country.
I urge the UK and the whole international community to resist him.
Recognise Palestine now, before it's too late.
I urge the UK and the whole international community to resist him.
Recognise Palestine now, before it's too late.