@globelimper.bsky.social
Reposted
Naïve understanding of the EU is far too generous; wilful ignorance is far more appropriate & accurate
December 24, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Naïve understanding of the EU is far too generous; wilful ignorance is far more appropriate & accurate
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Harsh but fair. (Source: www.ft.com/content/11a8...)
December 24, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Harsh but fair. (Source: www.ft.com/content/11a8...)
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Final paragraph here is brutally astute.
December 24, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Final paragraph here is brutally astute.
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He isn't "losing" this money. This is called "paying tax like a responsible citizen and not hiding your money offshore" and we need to start recognising and applauding it.
December 24, 2025 at 8:10 AM
He isn't "losing" this money. This is called "paying tax like a responsible citizen and not hiding your money offshore" and we need to start recognising and applauding it.
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Tomorrow evening it’ll be my annual duty to vaguely shepherd the activity on the #duvetknowitschristmas hashtag and urge people to give small sums to charity. 7.30pm? Something like that?
December 23, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Tomorrow evening it’ll be my annual duty to vaguely shepherd the activity on the #duvetknowitschristmas hashtag and urge people to give small sums to charity. 7.30pm? Something like that?
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Despite Labour's repeated public Brexit red lines, the official explainer for the recent UK-EU summit admits that Brexit has had a catastrophic impact on trade.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
December 23, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Despite Labour's repeated public Brexit red lines, the official explainer for the recent UK-EU summit admits that Brexit has had a catastrophic impact on trade.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Britain’s cities are desperate for better transport. Why is Westminster derailing our plans in Leeds? | Thomas Forth
Typo in 4th para but otherwise spot on
Typo in 4th para but otherwise spot on
December 23, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Britain’s cities are desperate for better transport. Why is Westminster derailing our plans in Leeds? | Thomas Forth
Typo in 4th para but otherwise spot on
Typo in 4th para but otherwise spot on
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Welcome To Decline. I constructed a historical dataset of economic growth in "The North" and "The South" of Britain and used it to show that Thatcher DID put The South on a course for convergence with the USA. 👍 And put The North on the opposite path. 👎 tomforth.co.uk/welcometodec...
Welcome to Decline.
The North has been declining since Thatcher. The South since Blair. It's good to be back together again I suppose.
tomforth.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Welcome To Decline. I constructed a historical dataset of economic growth in "The North" and "The South" of Britain and used it to show that Thatcher DID put The South on a course for convergence with the USA. 👍 And put The North on the opposite path. 👎 tomforth.co.uk/welcometodec...
a regular reminder that #applemusic is a shockingly bad piece of software that fails to do even the basics in a reliable manner.
December 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
a regular reminder that #applemusic is a shockingly bad piece of software that fails to do even the basics in a reliable manner.
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Canceling the northern leg of HS2 was an act of insane self-harm
Industry insiders are concerned that fewer, shorter non-tilting trains are on order for HS2 — and that journey times will return to those of the 1990s
Why HS2 may lead to smaller, slower trains on west coast main line
Industry insiders are concerned that fewer, shorter non-tilting trains are on order for HS2 — and that journey times will return to those of the 1990s
www.thetimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Canceling the northern leg of HS2 was an act of insane self-harm
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Also: Return to building northern leg *given* southern leg has been built and paid for were (still are) very much larger than those to building the whole thing from scratch.
Canceling the northern leg of HS2 was an act of insane self-harm
Industry insiders are concerned that fewer, shorter non-tilting trains are on order for HS2 — and that journey times will return to those of the 1990s
December 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Also: Return to building northern leg *given* southern leg has been built and paid for were (still are) very much larger than those to building the whole thing from scratch.
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Mone company liquidated and unlikely ever to repay money obtained for supply of defective surgical gowns sold during the pandemic
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Michelle Mone-linked PPE firm liquidated and unlikely to repay £148m
The firm led by Baroness Mone's husband Douglas Barrowman breached a contract to supply surgical gowns during the Covid pandemic.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 20, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Mone company liquidated and unlikely ever to repay money obtained for supply of defective surgical gowns sold during the pandemic
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted
The 20 Best Albums of 2025
The 20 Best Albums of 2025
20. Barker - Stochastic Drift 19. Emma Jane Thackeray - Weirdo 18. Brògeal – Tuesday Paper Club Read about it here. 17. The Tubs - Cotton Crown 16. Sam Akpro - Evenfall Read about it here. 15. Mac DeMarco - Guitar Read about it here. 14. Stereolab - Instant Holograms On Metal Film Read about it here…
arcticreviews.co.uk
December 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
The 20 Best Albums of 2025
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Victoria Derbyshire, "The Prime Minister Keir Starmer orders a probe into foreign interference in UK politics"
Nick Watt, "It's not about saying did Russia influence the Brexit referendum"
Only Labour could run an investigation into foreign interference and ignore Russia's influence on Brexit 🤷♂️
Nick Watt, "It's not about saying did Russia influence the Brexit referendum"
Only Labour could run an investigation into foreign interference and ignore Russia's influence on Brexit 🤷♂️
December 16, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Victoria Derbyshire, "The Prime Minister Keir Starmer orders a probe into foreign interference in UK politics"
Nick Watt, "It's not about saying did Russia influence the Brexit referendum"
Only Labour could run an investigation into foreign interference and ignore Russia's influence on Brexit 🤷♂️
Nick Watt, "It's not about saying did Russia influence the Brexit referendum"
Only Labour could run an investigation into foreign interference and ignore Russia's influence on Brexit 🤷♂️
as always, businesses set themselves up to fail...
@premierinn.bsky.social tells me to log into a web page that is forbidden, and dont allow customers to easily send a mesage through their website...
@premierinn.bsky.social tells me to log into a web page that is forbidden, and dont allow customers to easily send a mesage through their website...
December 16, 2025 at 10:19 PM
as always, businesses set themselves up to fail...
@premierinn.bsky.social tells me to log into a web page that is forbidden, and dont allow customers to easily send a mesage through their website...
@premierinn.bsky.social tells me to log into a web page that is forbidden, and dont allow customers to easily send a mesage through their website...
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Can I just shock you? I think public transport infrastructure is good and these people should fuck off.
‘We hate it. It’s desecration’: the real cost of HS2
‘We hate it. It’s desecration’: the real cost of HS2
The long read: Ten years after I first followed the proposed route, I retraced my steps to see what life was like along the world’s most expensive, heavily delayed railway line
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Can I just shock you? I think public transport infrastructure is good and these people should fuck off.
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It is indeed a better response than those we’ve heard elsewhere. But if the UK has managed being a multiethnic, multicultural society better than many others (and I agree it has), then why is Shabana going full steam ahead with shifting our approach towards the old West German Gastarbeiter model?
Shabana Mahmood dismisses White House’s ‘civilisational erasure’ claims
Shabana Mahmood dismisses White House’s ‘civilisational erasure’ claims
Home secretary says UK has managed the challenges of multiculturalism ‘very well’
*
UK politics live – latest updates
The US government’s claims that Europe faces “civilisational erasure” because of mass migration are an attempt to score political points against Muslims, the home secretary has suggested.
Shabana Mahmood dismissed the idea that European civilisation and national identities were under threat because of migration and said the UK had managed the challenges of multiculturalism “very well”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2025 at 12:53 PM
It is indeed a better response than those we’ve heard elsewhere. But if the UK has managed being a multiethnic, multicultural society better than many others (and I agree it has), then why is Shabana going full steam ahead with shifting our approach towards the old West German Gastarbeiter model?
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Daily Mail tragedy in 3 acts
22 June 2016 (day before referendum): Pro-Leave editorial. One reason: too many immigrants from Eastern Europe.
24 June 2016: Brexit vote outcome means many Poles will decide to return home
13 December 2025: Oh no, where have the Poles gone?
All the signs were there!
22 June 2016 (day before referendum): Pro-Leave editorial. One reason: too many immigrants from Eastern Europe.
24 June 2016: Brexit vote outcome means many Poles will decide to return home
13 December 2025: Oh no, where have the Poles gone?
All the signs were there!
December 14, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Daily Mail tragedy in 3 acts
22 June 2016 (day before referendum): Pro-Leave editorial. One reason: too many immigrants from Eastern Europe.
24 June 2016: Brexit vote outcome means many Poles will decide to return home
13 December 2025: Oh no, where have the Poles gone?
All the signs were there!
22 June 2016 (day before referendum): Pro-Leave editorial. One reason: too many immigrants from Eastern Europe.
24 June 2016: Brexit vote outcome means many Poles will decide to return home
13 December 2025: Oh no, where have the Poles gone?
All the signs were there!
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The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
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Hate to ask the question, but how much unhappiness about the modern world is simply a function of an ageing population?
More risk-averse. More expensive to care for. More nostalgic for their younger days. Higher expectations. Less tax paid.
More risk-averse. More expensive to care for. More nostalgic for their younger days. Higher expectations. Less tax paid.
December 12, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Hate to ask the question, but how much unhappiness about the modern world is simply a function of an ageing population?
More risk-averse. More expensive to care for. More nostalgic for their younger days. Higher expectations. Less tax paid.
More risk-averse. More expensive to care for. More nostalgic for their younger days. Higher expectations. Less tax paid.
Reposted
It has become received wisdom in Brussels and Washington that there is a new “euro-sclerosis”: that the EU economy is lagging the US
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
December 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It has become received wisdom in Brussels and Washington that there is a new “euro-sclerosis”: that the EU economy is lagging the US
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
This view is wrong
A little primer on the measurement of productivity – and why reports of the economic death of Europe are greatly exaggerated🧵
Reposted
PS
As Brian Bell (Chair of the MAC) is quoted as saying, the proposed new rules on settlement (apart from being xenophobic, mean-spirited, and contrary to what the vast majority of the public think is fair) are likely to do significant economic damage.
As Brian Bell (Chair of the MAC) is quoted as saying, the proposed new rules on settlement (apart from being xenophobic, mean-spirited, and contrary to what the vast majority of the public think is fair) are likely to do significant economic damage.
December 11, 2025 at 6:29 PM
PS
As Brian Bell (Chair of the MAC) is quoted as saying, the proposed new rules on settlement (apart from being xenophobic, mean-spirited, and contrary to what the vast majority of the public think is fair) are likely to do significant economic damage.
As Brian Bell (Chair of the MAC) is quoted as saying, the proposed new rules on settlement (apart from being xenophobic, mean-spirited, and contrary to what the vast majority of the public think is fair) are likely to do significant economic damage.
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Stopping immigration won’t return you to a wonderful past, but it might deprive you of a wonderful future.
December 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Stopping immigration won’t return you to a wonderful past, but it might deprive you of a wonderful future.
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Migration Advisory Committee report on fiscal impact of main work migration routes.
Key table: they estimate 2022/23 cohort (those arriving in 2022/23) will over lifetimes pay about £47 billion more in taxes than they "cost" in public spending.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693810...
Key table: they estimate 2022/23 cohort (those arriving in 2022/23) will over lifetimes pay about £47 billion more in taxes than they "cost" in public spending.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693810...
December 11, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Migration Advisory Committee report on fiscal impact of main work migration routes.
Key table: they estimate 2022/23 cohort (those arriving in 2022/23) will over lifetimes pay about £47 billion more in taxes than they "cost" in public spending.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693810...
Key table: they estimate 2022/23 cohort (those arriving in 2022/23) will over lifetimes pay about £47 billion more in taxes than they "cost" in public spending.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/693810...
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Pretty sure this tweet would have been career-ending not so long ago.
December 11, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Pretty sure this tweet would have been career-ending not so long ago.