Nick B 🔶
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aviarm.com
Nick B 🔶
@aviarm.com
Proud grandfather, lover of rum and pizza. Blogger and freelance writer covering aerospace & defence issues. Chair of Cheltenham Liberal Democrats. Has never shouted at a hotel.
https://www.aviarm.com
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I'm not a fan of Generative AI.....
Branding essential care workers employed on minimum wage as unworthy is a new low.
Home Secretary's huge "screw you!" to existing carers.

Imagine being told you're so worthless you'll have to wait 15 years for settlement. And then having to turn straight back around and help old people with a smile on your face.

Labour have managed to find a way to make me despise them more. 👏
November 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I wonder if this is out of concern for the privacy of the victims, or the perpetrators?
November 20, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
We cannot allow the insane, autocrat Trump to sue OUR BBC. We pay a license fee so in my opinion it belongs to us the people of the UK. Ergo he is attacking us!
November 19, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
As ever, Trump is desperate to give Putin what he wants.
Story here with exclusive new details: The Trump admin and Russian officials have drawn up a sweeping new proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine that envisions major concessions from Kyiv and urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept it...

via @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/2353...
US and Russian officials draft new peace plan for Ukraine
Sweeping 28-point proposal would include territorial concessions and rollback of American military assistance
www.ft.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
In today's bubble news.....
November 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
Two Wrongs make a Right with Keir and Kemi
November 19, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I'm retweeting Jeremy Corbyn for the first time ever. What a time to be alive....
Removing asylum support. Seizing belongings. Deporting entire families, including children.

Labour are not just paving the path to a Reform government. Reform may as well already be in power.

This government has no moral compass — and it should be ashamed of its inhumanity.
November 18, 2025 at 2:08 PM
And this is perhaps the worst part of all. To announce that the RW press, Tories and Reform are basically right about immigration, rather than challenging their narrative, then introducing measures that won't work (enough) must virtually guarantee that Labour will lose the next election.
Coverage of the refugee proposals demonstrates why we have such a broken political system. Endless focus on left-wing anger and right-wing support. Basically nothing on whether the reforms will work. They will not, which is why we'll still be here having the same debate in three years.
November 18, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
There’s been too much pre-budget speculation. That’s bad for business. I raised the concerns of Cheltenham businesses with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in Parliament.
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
So piss off a significant % of your own voters and MPs, tell the electorate that Reform are basically right about immigration, then introduce policies that won't reduce numbers enough to claim a win.

Farage is probably choosing wallpaper for No. 10 already.
The View from Westminster newsletter has gone out. Free sign-up here www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
November 17, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"

That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
If I understand this right, the cunning plan is that we really don't want foreigners coming here, but if they do we'll shake them down for valuables on arrival, keep them in poverty for a few years, then kick them out again as soon as we think we can get away with it? And keep the jewellery.
November 17, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
The idea of the Home Office selling off the confiscated jewellery of those who have fled war and persecution should, in an ideal world, be the death knell for this government.
November 17, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
At last some good news. I'm sure there'd be volunteers to drive them to the airport.
Donald Trump’s administration is considering offering political asylum to British “thought criminals”, The Telegraph understands.

Read more here ⬇️
www.telegraph.co.uk/bluesky-tmg/trump-thought-criminals/
November 16, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
The BBC is the biggest thump of soft power the UK has and its reach and influence to the benefit of the country is extraordinary. Destroy it, hugely damage the UK. The same people who helped weaken us over Brexit are seeking to do it again.
Interesting to see so many great British patriots right now begging an American president to bankrupt one of Britain’s last remaining truly national institutions.
November 16, 2025 at 4:14 PM
What more evidence do you need that Labour is getting this badly wrong?
Not everyone is unhappy about the Government's descent into anti-refugee politics
November 16, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
Illegal migration isn't tearing this country apart, but our obsession with it is. It's an obsession fuelled by our media and politicians. Both profit from blowing the problem out of all proportion. It's been happening for decades, but never more so than now
November 16, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
You can't get more Labour than compulsory voluntary work.
UK charities condemn ‘immoral’ plans to force asylum seekers to volunteer
Making volunteering compulsory for refugees slammed as exploitative, bureaucratic and un-British
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
Aggregate Result of the 160 Council By-Elections (for 163 Seats) since the 2025 Local Elections:

RFM: 55 (+47)
LDM: 48 (+18)
CON: 16 (-20)
LAB: 13 (-38)
GRN: 13 (+2)
Ind: 9 (-3)
Local: 4 (-6)
SNP: 3 (=)
PLC: 2 (=)

Explore: electionmaps.uk/byelections-...
November 14, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
A week of chaos, cowardice and negligence: Labour has managed to pack so many failures into a single five day period that it's becoming difficult to remember all the details iandunt.substack.com/p/a-week-of-...
A week of chaos, cowardice and negligence
Labour has managed to pack so much failure into a single week that it becomes hard to remember all the details.
iandunt.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
I enjoyed my visit to Art Union Cheltenham last weekend.

It was great to view all the artwork and gifts by local artists on sale and to hear more about owners Tracey and Tom’s experiences running a small business this past year.

I’ll be popping back for Christmas gifts very soon 🎄🎁
November 14, 2025 at 9:27 AM
It's quite the dead cat operation when you are prepared to kill a load of people in order to distract from having abused some others.
November 14, 2025 at 11:15 AM
I donated blood for years until prevented by a medical issue. But if YOU can - please do.

You'll never find an easier way to save another person's life, and you get free tea and biscuits.
They didn't want my blood, but they probably want yours! I went to give blood today, but due to a v minor medical issue they couldn't take it. Yet they told me they do need donors. As I couldn't help by giving, instead, I thought i'd publicise this... www.blood.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Digital ID Cards weren't in Labour's manifesto either, but that's not stopping them.....
Davey says his party would “work with government " to move away from current electoral system. Starmer supported electoral reform during his bid to become Labour leader in 2020 but has since dropped his pledge & did not include it in party's election manifesto
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ed Davey wants to 'work with government' on electoral reform
The Liberal Democrat leader backs replacing first-past-the-post with proportional representation.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Nick B 🔶
If you think our national broadcaster shouldn’t be pushed around by Trump, there’s a petition here you can sign: www.libdems.org.uk/bbc
Trump-proof the BBC
The BBC is our national broadcaster, we must defend it against those who want to destroy it.
www.libdems.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM