Blue
@bluey6.bsky.social
Lower-leg amputee. 🦿🇪🇺. History of Art degree, and am an art-lover.
Reposted by Blue
My article in The Times today, telling the tale of our family summer holiday to Kusadasi by train (includes a quote from Eurostar’s train manager Blake!):
www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
My two-week Tring to Turkey rail holiday — that even won over my teens
Mark Smith, the voice of rail travel website The Man in Seat 61, gathers his family and takes the scenic route to the Turquoise Coast via Prague, Budapest and more
www.thetimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:42 AM
My article in The Times today, telling the tale of our family summer holiday to Kusadasi by train (includes a quote from Eurostar’s train manager Blake!):
www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
Reposted by Blue
ReFuk Election vote catching: “We’ll make efficiency savings and cut your taxes”
ReFuk reality “No we aren’t. We lied”.
ReFuk reality “No we aren’t. We lied”.
Reform UK Councils
Council Tax increases
Durham: 4.9%
Worcestershire: 5-10%
Warwickshire: ~5%
Leicestershire: 3%
Kent: 5%
Lincolnshire: 2%+
Staffordshire: ~5%
West Northamptonshire: 5%
Derbyshire: 4.9%
North Northamptonshire: amount TBD
Nottinghamshire: amount TBD
Lancashire: amount TBD
Council Tax increases
Durham: 4.9%
Worcestershire: 5-10%
Warwickshire: ~5%
Leicestershire: 3%
Kent: 5%
Lincolnshire: 2%+
Staffordshire: ~5%
West Northamptonshire: 5%
Derbyshire: 4.9%
North Northamptonshire: amount TBD
Nottinghamshire: amount TBD
Lancashire: amount TBD
October 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
ReFuk Election vote catching: “We’ll make efficiency savings and cut your taxes”
ReFuk reality “No we aren’t. We lied”.
ReFuk reality “No we aren’t. We lied”.
Reposted by Blue
Nottinghamshire Reform led County Council is spaffing £75,000 on new flags and flag poles... even as council tax is set to rise by almost 5%
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
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 8:22 AM
Nottinghamshire Reform led County Council is spaffing £75,000 on new flags and flag poles... even as council tax is set to rise by almost 5%
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted by Blue
Despite the Ceasefire, Israel keeps demolishing Palestinian homes across Gaza’s “Yellow Zone”
(Sulaiman Ahmed)
(Sulaiman Ahmed)
October 25, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Despite the Ceasefire, Israel keeps demolishing Palestinian homes across Gaza’s “Yellow Zone”
(Sulaiman Ahmed)
(Sulaiman Ahmed)
Reposted by Blue
What percentage of yesterdays ‘Christian’ marchers will be in their local church this morning?
I’m guessing at a big fat ‘0’!
I’m guessing at a big fat ‘0’!
September 14, 2025 at 9:59 AM
What percentage of yesterdays ‘Christian’ marchers will be in their local church this morning?
I’m guessing at a big fat ‘0’!
I’m guessing at a big fat ‘0’!
Reposted by Blue
Bluesky isn’t perfect but at least its owner isn’t demanding violent insurrection in the UK from thousands of miles away
September 14, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Bluesky isn’t perfect but at least its owner isn’t demanding violent insurrection in the UK from thousands of miles away
Reposted by Blue
Sure, Conservatives are right to ask why Starmer tolerated a paedophile’s friend as US ambassador but why are they not concerned about the PM hosting another pal of Epstein, one who has repeatedly lied about their relationship? And why are BBC interviewers not asking them about this?
September 15, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Sure, Conservatives are right to ask why Starmer tolerated a paedophile’s friend as US ambassador but why are they not concerned about the PM hosting another pal of Epstein, one who has repeatedly lied about their relationship? And why are BBC interviewers not asking them about this?
Reposted by Blue
Starmer hiring a comms chief who greenlit “use gunships on migrants” headlines is peak Labour: morally confused, PR-obsessed, and permanently lost in its own hypocrisy. The left eats itself, but only after outsourcing dessert to Murdoch.
July 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Starmer hiring a comms chief who greenlit “use gunships on migrants” headlines is peak Labour: morally confused, PR-obsessed, and permanently lost in its own hypocrisy. The left eats itself, but only after outsourcing dessert to Murdoch.
Reposted by Blue
Starmer's got his kick-the-foreigners boots on early this morning.
This could have been word for word from Reform. Scary focus on "British people".
x.com/keir_starmer...
This could have been word for word from Reform. Scary focus on "British people".
x.com/keir_starmer...
July 23, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Starmer's got his kick-the-foreigners boots on early this morning.
This could have been word for word from Reform. Scary focus on "British people".
x.com/keir_starmer...
This could have been word for word from Reform. Scary focus on "British people".
x.com/keir_starmer...
Reposted by Blue
Say that to the sick and disabled, idiot
April 18, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Say that to the sick and disabled, idiot
Reposted by Blue
‘Disability, Illness and Impairment are the Norms of Human History – Living Through This Labour Government’s Benefits Cuts Is Brutal’
Cutting disability benefits will do nothing but heighten the scapegoating of disabled people once again – how can a Labour Government introduce such a punitive…
Cutting disability benefits will do nothing but heighten the scapegoating of disabled people once again – how can a Labour Government introduce such a punitive…
‘Disability, Illness and Impairment are the Norms of Human History – Living Through This Labour Government’s Benefits Cuts Is Brutal’
Cutting disability benefits will do nothing but heighten the scapegoating of disabled people once again – how can a Labour Government introduce such a punitive measure? Penny Pepper asks
bylinetimes.com
April 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM
‘Disability, Illness and Impairment are the Norms of Human History – Living Through This Labour Government’s Benefits Cuts Is Brutal’
Cutting disability benefits will do nothing but heighten the scapegoating of disabled people once again – how can a Labour Government introduce such a punitive…
Cutting disability benefits will do nothing but heighten the scapegoating of disabled people once again – how can a Labour Government introduce such a punitive…
Reposted by Blue
57% of Britons would rather have the EU as a close trading partner than the US, amid suggestion that closer alignment with Europe could endanger a trade deal with the US
EU: 57% (+4 from 21 Jan)
US: 16% (-5)
yougov.co.uk/topics/econo...
EU: 57% (+4 from 21 Jan)
US: 16% (-5)
yougov.co.uk/topics/econo...
April 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
57% of Britons would rather have the EU as a close trading partner than the US, amid suggestion that closer alignment with Europe could endanger a trade deal with the US
EU: 57% (+4 from 21 Jan)
US: 16% (-5)
yougov.co.uk/topics/econo...
EU: 57% (+4 from 21 Jan)
US: 16% (-5)
yougov.co.uk/topics/econo...
Reposted by Blue
But in Scotland where the Scottish Government is in power NHS staff just got an 8%deal over two years. Plus they don't pay for parking. Plus nurses and paramedics get a bursary to qualify and no University fees to pay.
April 10, 2025 at 7:45 AM
But in Scotland where the Scottish Government is in power NHS staff just got an 8%deal over two years. Plus they don't pay for parking. Plus nurses and paramedics get a bursary to qualify and no University fees to pay.
Reposted by Blue
Good day to bury bad news ⤵️
A major overhaul of the NHS pay structure to encourage better recruitment and retention of nursing staff has been stopped by the UK government.
"It is now clear that ministers and the government are not in fact ‘on the side of nurses’.
#SaveOurNHS
#FairPayForNursing
A major overhaul of the NHS pay structure to encourage better recruitment and retention of nursing staff has been stopped by the UK government.
"It is now clear that ministers and the government are not in fact ‘on the side of nurses’.
#SaveOurNHS
#FairPayForNursing
April 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Good day to bury bad news ⤵️
A major overhaul of the NHS pay structure to encourage better recruitment and retention of nursing staff has been stopped by the UK government.
"It is now clear that ministers and the government are not in fact ‘on the side of nurses’.
#SaveOurNHS
#FairPayForNursing
A major overhaul of the NHS pay structure to encourage better recruitment and retention of nursing staff has been stopped by the UK government.
"It is now clear that ministers and the government are not in fact ‘on the side of nurses’.
#SaveOurNHS
#FairPayForNursing
Reposted by Blue
Every time a Labour MP is asked about Brexit, they trot out the same line; “We are not rejoining the EU” and the journalist accepts the answer and moves on. I suggest they respond with “Why? The majority of people are now in favour of rejoining so what is the problem?” I genuinely want to know.
April 9, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Every time a Labour MP is asked about Brexit, they trot out the same line; “We are not rejoining the EU” and the journalist accepts the answer and moves on. I suggest they respond with “Why? The majority of people are now in favour of rejoining so what is the problem?” I genuinely want to know.
Reposted by Blue
The absolute callousness of announcing a 44% trade tariff against Myanmar this week, of all weeks.
April 3, 2025 at 11:42 AM
The absolute callousness of announcing a 44% trade tariff against Myanmar this week, of all weeks.
Reposted by Blue
Victorian diseases erysipelas and scabies return to the UK.
Poverty, malnutrition, poor housing are the main causes.
Govt response - benefit cuts for poor/disabled, two-child benefit cap, winter fuel payment cut, freeze tax thresholds.
NHS queues, can't see GPs.
Must redistribute.
Poverty, malnutrition, poor housing are the main causes.
Govt response - benefit cuts for poor/disabled, two-child benefit cap, winter fuel payment cut, freeze tax thresholds.
NHS queues, can't see GPs.
Must redistribute.
Doctors urge government to fight poverty after rise in patients with Victorian diseases
Survey finds vast majority of doctors are concerned at impact of health inequalities on their patients
www.theguardian.com
April 3, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Victorian diseases erysipelas and scabies return to the UK.
Poverty, malnutrition, poor housing are the main causes.
Govt response - benefit cuts for poor/disabled, two-child benefit cap, winter fuel payment cut, freeze tax thresholds.
NHS queues, can't see GPs.
Must redistribute.
Poverty, malnutrition, poor housing are the main causes.
Govt response - benefit cuts for poor/disabled, two-child benefit cap, winter fuel payment cut, freeze tax thresholds.
NHS queues, can't see GPs.
Must redistribute.
Reposted by Blue
BREAKING: “Europe has everything it needs to make it through the storm. We are in this together. If you take on one of us, you take on all of us”
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission 👏
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission 👏
April 3, 2025 at 6:04 AM
BREAKING: “Europe has everything it needs to make it through the storm. We are in this together. If you take on one of us, you take on all of us”
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission 👏
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission 👏
Reposted by Blue
This is how you fight back! Learn and repeat!
April 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This is how you fight back! Learn and repeat!
Reposted by Blue
Arguably their most talented politicians (whether you agree with them or not) are Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan, and they have wisely stayed out of Westminster.
April 1, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Arguably their most talented politicians (whether you agree with them or not) are Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan, and they have wisely stayed out of Westminster.
Reposted by Blue
If Labour lose GE 2029 so badly that they're not even in power as part of a coalition, they might as well shut the party down.
Nobody will forgive them for being midwives to an emboldened Tory/Reform axis.
Not when it was so eminently preventable with better choices.
medium.com/@edwinhaywar...
Nobody will forgive them for being midwives to an emboldened Tory/Reform axis.
Not when it was so eminently preventable with better choices.
medium.com/@edwinhaywar...
How Labour can avoid a one-term disaster: a Brexit and PR roadmap
Britain is at a crossroads. The next general election may determine the fate of the country for decades to come. But Labour face a daunting…
medium.com
April 1, 2025 at 8:24 AM
If Labour lose GE 2029 so badly that they're not even in power as part of a coalition, they might as well shut the party down.
Nobody will forgive them for being midwives to an emboldened Tory/Reform axis.
Not when it was so eminently preventable with better choices.
medium.com/@edwinhaywar...
Nobody will forgive them for being midwives to an emboldened Tory/Reform axis.
Not when it was so eminently preventable with better choices.
medium.com/@edwinhaywar...
Reposted by Blue
What might come next in the increasingly toxic immigration debate
Is Labour turning to the right in its approach to immigration?
www.independent.co.uk
April 1, 2025 at 8:15 AM
What might come next in the increasingly toxic immigration debate
Reposted by Blue
Reposted by Blue
Masatoshi Osaka, The Hare with Amber Eyes netsuke, c. 1880, ivory, amber buffalo horn, Collection of Edmund de Waal. Photo by Lostrobots
March 13, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Masatoshi Osaka, The Hare with Amber Eyes netsuke, c. 1880, ivory, amber buffalo horn, Collection of Edmund de Waal. Photo by Lostrobots