Ian McKenzie
@ianalexmac.bsky.social
Occasional posts here on Shakespeare (esp. The Globe productions), football (Hibernian FC, Maidenhead United & Geneva Servette FC) and sundry topics. Delighted to have escaped X!
It is refreshing to come across a leader who does realise that the buck stops with him/her & takes responsibility rather than ‘initiate an inquiry’ that would take months at a cost to the taxpayer. Mr Hughes has put his hand up & shouldered the blame on behalf of the OBR - that’s good leadership.
December 1, 2025 at 4:45 PM
It is refreshing to come across a leader who does realise that the buck stops with him/her & takes responsibility rather than ‘initiate an inquiry’ that would take months at a cost to the taxpayer. Mr Hughes has put his hand up & shouldered the blame on behalf of the OBR - that’s good leadership.
Valerie by Steve Winwood & Valerie by the Zutons. That girl is responsible for two wonderfully different song treatments, both wonderfully listenable again & again - can I award a Spinal Tap 11/10 for this combination?
October 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Valerie by Steve Winwood & Valerie by the Zutons. That girl is responsible for two wonderfully different song treatments, both wonderfully listenable again & again - can I award a Spinal Tap 11/10 for this combination?
She may as well have included in her peroration ‘and beer at a penny a pint for all’ as that’s as credible as all her other fantasy economic promises. The joy of opposition 4 years before the next GE - promise the moon & the stars on the basis that the electorate will have the memory of a goldfish!
October 8, 2025 at 11:26 AM
She may as well have included in her peroration ‘and beer at a penny a pint for all’ as that’s as credible as all her other fantasy economic promises. The joy of opposition 4 years before the next GE - promise the moon & the stars on the basis that the electorate will have the memory of a goldfish!
And has anyone located his constituency office in Clacton? He’s probably claiming the expenses for one. Remember this man is so principled he has no qualms about taking the EU pension for his persistent non-attendance at the European Parliament & his party’s constant disruption of EP proceedings.
September 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
And has anyone located his constituency office in Clacton? He’s probably claiming the expenses for one. Remember this man is so principled he has no qualms about taking the EU pension for his persistent non-attendance at the European Parliament & his party’s constant disruption of EP proceedings.
Given Trump’s obsession with the Nobel Peace Prize, just because Obama got one no doubt 🤷♂️, it’s not hard to surmise that Putin has worked out that America will not get directly militarily involved in Europe under Trump who will leave it up to the other NATO members to take on Russia’s aggression.
September 10, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Given Trump’s obsession with the Nobel Peace Prize, just because Obama got one no doubt 🤷♂️, it’s not hard to surmise that Putin has worked out that America will not get directly militarily involved in Europe under Trump who will leave it up to the other NATO members to take on Russia’s aggression.
Why are so many politicians now just utter gobshites? No integrity, no principles, no basic decency - just constantly chasing the next sensationalist soundbite for clickbait. Farage is amongst the worst & yet the English media fawns over his every utterance as if he’s a seer…no, just a gobshite!
September 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Why are so many politicians now just utter gobshites? No integrity, no principles, no basic decency - just constantly chasing the next sensationalist soundbite for clickbait. Farage is amongst the worst & yet the English media fawns over his every utterance as if he’s a seer…no, just a gobshite!
Meanwhile (1) Russia continues to attack Ukraine with impunity; (2) Netanyahu continues to starve Palestinians in Gaza with impunity; (3) Trump continues to ride a coach & horses through the Constitution of the Founding Fathers. The BBC (Mason, Kuenssberg in particular)? Let’s feature Farage!
September 6, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Meanwhile (1) Russia continues to attack Ukraine with impunity; (2) Netanyahu continues to starve Palestinians in Gaza with impunity; (3) Trump continues to ride a coach & horses through the Constitution of the Founding Fathers. The BBC (Mason, Kuenssberg in particular)? Let’s feature Farage!
First of all, may I just ask if you are the retired ‘Irish Border’ Twitter account resurrected on BlueSky (take that as a compliment if you are!)? Been following your point of view for some time. Good stuff. It’s just fascinating how pertinent & persistent the ‘Irish Question’ remains to the UK.
September 6, 2025 at 8:30 PM
First of all, may I just ask if you are the retired ‘Irish Border’ Twitter account resurrected on BlueSky (take that as a compliment if you are!)? Been following your point of view for some time. Good stuff. It’s just fascinating how pertinent & persistent the ‘Irish Question’ remains to the UK.
…& nor has the € collapsed. More likelihood of the London Stock Exchange becoming increasingly irrelevant due to lack of listings & liquidity post-Brexit.
August 30, 2025 at 12:10 PM
…& nor has the € collapsed. More likelihood of the London Stock Exchange becoming increasingly irrelevant due to lack of listings & liquidity post-Brexit.
Is that Tice calling in from his constituency - Dubai?
August 27, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Is that Tice calling in from his constituency - Dubai?
Scored two excellent team goals but still a work-in-progress in midfield and defence. 1 point from the first two home games is a poor return and does not augur well for even reaching the divisional play-offs this season.
August 19, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Scored two excellent team goals but still a work-in-progress in midfield and defence. 1 point from the first two home games is a poor return and does not augur well for even reaching the divisional play-offs this season.
I believe HMG strategy with regard to boat migrants is to contact the Met Office in the hope of bad weather in The Channel coming soon!
August 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I believe HMG strategy with regard to boat migrants is to contact the Met Office in the hope of bad weather in The Channel coming soon!
The most lucid explanation of this deal was in Farming Today this morning. Clear, concise & explaining the benefit refreshingly without PR hyperbole.
August 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The most lucid explanation of this deal was in Farming Today this morning. Clear, concise & explaining the benefit refreshingly without PR hyperbole.
Aw diddums. You should have thought of that before riding on the backs of renters to pay for your speculative investment. A better idea would be to sell your investment property to someone who might just make it a home.
July 30, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Aw diddums. You should have thought of that before riding on the backs of renters to pay for your speculative investment. A better idea would be to sell your investment property to someone who might just make it a home.
The concept of ‘user-generated content’ (UGC) that the technology platforms can disown responsibility for is laughable. The platforms are actively feeding content into timelines via their algorithms thereby effectively acting as editors of content. Regulate them!
July 22, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The concept of ‘user-generated content’ (UGC) that the technology platforms can disown responsibility for is laughable. The platforms are actively feeding content into timelines via their algorithms thereby effectively acting as editors of content. Regulate them!
Point taken & I apologise for tarring the entire farming community with the Brexit brush. However, still awaiting the unequivocal declaration from the NFU on behalf of farmers that the way forward is to rejoin the EU single market & Customs Union (which will require full SPS alignment by default).
July 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Point taken & I apologise for tarring the entire farming community with the Brexit brush. However, still awaiting the unequivocal declaration from the NFU on behalf of farmers that the way forward is to rejoin the EU single market & Customs Union (which will require full SPS alignment by default).
It all comes back to the fact that farmers voted for Brexit. Now all I read is farmers complaining about the loss of taxpayer subsidies & unfair terms in non-EU trade agreements. The NFU needs to come out & unequivocally advocate for the UK to rejoin the EU single market and Customs Union.
July 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
It all comes back to the fact that farmers voted for Brexit. Now all I read is farmers complaining about the loss of taxpayer subsidies & unfair terms in non-EU trade agreements. The NFU needs to come out & unequivocally advocate for the UK to rejoin the EU single market and Customs Union.
Is there a specific category of performative trade agreement? By that I mean one that is driven by a press release with little/no substance behind the headlines? Seems to be the preferred ‘trade agreement’ category of successive UK governments & President Trump
July 19, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Is there a specific category of performative trade agreement? By that I mean one that is driven by a press release with little/no substance behind the headlines? Seems to be the preferred ‘trade agreement’ category of successive UK governments & President Trump
Awaiting with keeping interest for a commentator to confirm tonight’s venue for Spain v Italy as “the Wankdorf Stadium”…
July 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Awaiting with keeping interest for a commentator to confirm tonight’s venue for Spain v Italy as “the Wankdorf Stadium”…