Mary Brooks
@marygbrooks.bsky.social
Music and theatre lover, cats, Labour Councillor for Cheshire East (Macclesfield West & Ivy ) NHS admin worker abhors fascists loves the Beatles
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Nigel Farage said their flagship council in Kent would be a "shop window" for how they would run the country.
Just months after taking over they're now set to slash multiple council committees as they struggle to fill posts after sacking nine of their own councillors
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/12/r...
Just months after taking over they're now set to slash multiple council committees as they struggle to fill posts after sacking nine of their own councillors
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/12/r...
Reform Council in Chaos as It Prepares to Slash Scrutiny Committees Following Wave of Councillor Suspensions
EXCLUSIVE: Reform's flagship Kent administration is planning to shut down multiple council committees as it struggles to fill posts after suspending nine of its own councillors
bylinetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Nigel Farage said their flagship council in Kent would be a "shop window" for how they would run the country.
Just months after taking over they're now set to slash multiple council committees as they struggle to fill posts after sacking nine of their own councillors
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/12/r...
Just months after taking over they're now set to slash multiple council committees as they struggle to fill posts after sacking nine of their own councillors
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/12/r...
Great book forensically cataloguing all the Tories bad deeds in a humorous manner even though it’s not funny at all what they did
3 years ago today, I signed 3000 copies of my first book.
I'd been a bored software guy for 32 years, and never dreamed something like this would happen.
I owe so much to @johnmitchinson.bsky.social for taking a chance on me, and to all my followers for turning The Week In Tory into a phenomenon.
I'd been a bored software guy for 32 years, and never dreamed something like this would happen.
I owe so much to @johnmitchinson.bsky.social for taking a chance on me, and to all my followers for turning The Week In Tory into a phenomenon.
October 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Great book forensically cataloguing all the Tories bad deeds in a humorous manner even though it’s not funny at all what they did
The final volume in the horrific but superbly detailed trilogy from @russincheshire.bsky.social arrived in the post today from @bylinetimes.bsky.social signed copy too. Not sure what category it should go under horror, politics or black comedy ?
September 15, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The final volume in the horrific but superbly detailed trilogy from @russincheshire.bsky.social arrived in the post today from @bylinetimes.bsky.social signed copy too. Not sure what category it should go under horror, politics or black comedy ?
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell.
Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.
That, right there, is the problem.
Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.
That, right there, is the problem.
September 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell.
Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.
That, right there, is the problem.
Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.
That, right there, is the problem.
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Have the Tories finally destroyed themselves?
@russincheshire.bsky.social ‘s last part of his brilliant trilogy.
Get your signed copy before stocks go.
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/product/tori...
@russincheshire.bsky.social ‘s last part of his brilliant trilogy.
Get your signed copy before stocks go.
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/product/tori...
Tories: The End of an Error – Byline Times Shop
Tories: The End of Error is the final – please God, let it be final – volume in the satirical trilogy that has catalogued every fib and fatuity of fourteen years of Tory rule. SHIPPING END AUGUST Russ...
subscribe.bylinetimes.com
August 25, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Have the Tories finally destroyed themselves?
@russincheshire.bsky.social ‘s last part of his brilliant trilogy.
Get your signed copy before stocks go.
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/product/tori...
@russincheshire.bsky.social ‘s last part of his brilliant trilogy.
Get your signed copy before stocks go.
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/product/tori...
Reposted by Mary Brooks
"People who are 'too poor to pay tax' find a spare half billion quid to pay UPFRONT for something that's entirely voluntary."
There, I fixed it for you.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
There, I fixed it for you.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Parents beat VAT on private school fees raid by paying £500m up front
Large scale of advance payments could impact government plan to raise revenue, tax experts warned
www.thetimes.com
August 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
"People who are 'too poor to pay tax' find a spare half billion quid to pay UPFRONT for something that's entirely voluntary."
There, I fixed it for you.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
There, I fixed it for you.
www.thetimes.com/uk/education...
Reposted by Mary Brooks
"It’s not so much a track record as a skid-mark, so you’d expect the Tories to be ready for action whenever a story emerged about Mark Menzies, but you’d be wrong."
Excerpt from my forthcoming book about the Sunak years, "Tories: The End of an Error"
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/russell-jo...
Excerpt from my forthcoming book about the Sunak years, "Tories: The End of an Error"
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/russell-jo...
Russell Jones's Week Moment: Zero Days Since the Last Embarrassment
In an exclusive extract from his forthcoming book, 'Tories: The End of an Error', Russell Jones recalls a week in which dizzying levels of Conservative party chaos finally got out of control
www.bylinesupplement.com
August 1, 2025 at 8:36 PM
"It’s not so much a track record as a skid-mark, so you’d expect the Tories to be ready for action whenever a story emerged about Mark Menzies, but you’d be wrong."
Excerpt from my forthcoming book about the Sunak years, "Tories: The End of an Error"
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/russell-jo...
Excerpt from my forthcoming book about the Sunak years, "Tories: The End of an Error"
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/russell-jo...
Reposted by Mary Brooks
In a 2024 Telegraph bit, Badenoch wrote it is "naïve [to] assume immigrants abandon ancestral ethnic hostilities at the border ... their feet may be in the UK, but their heads and hearts are still back in their country of origin."
Except for her, or course
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Except for her, or course
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Kemi Badenoch says she no longer sees herself as Nigerian despite upbringing
Conservative party leader, who grew up in Nigeria and US, says she has not renewed her Nigerian passport in decades
www.theguardian.com
August 1, 2025 at 8:23 PM
In a 2024 Telegraph bit, Badenoch wrote it is "naïve [to] assume immigrants abandon ancestral ethnic hostilities at the border ... their feet may be in the UK, but their heads and hearts are still back in their country of origin."
Except for her, or course
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Except for her, or course
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Shocked and v sad about the premature death of fellow Cheshire East Councillor Chris Hilliard who was an Independent Cllr for Lacey Green. Chris was a truly decent person and the Council’s Active Travel Champion.
A great loss to the council and cycling world.
A great loss to the council and cycling world.
June 19, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Shocked and v sad about the premature death of fellow Cheshire East Councillor Chris Hilliard who was an Independent Cllr for Lacey Green. Chris was a truly decent person and the Council’s Active Travel Champion.
A great loss to the council and cycling world.
A great loss to the council and cycling world.
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Is there a violin small enough for this?
‘On paper, my husband and I have it all: two well-paid jobs, our own home and two of our three kids at private school but at the end of each month we're scrounging’
We earn £100k but can no longer afford private school - there's £1.68 in the bank
On paper, my husband and I have it all: two well-paid jobs, our own home and two of our three kids at private school but at the end of each month we're scrounging
inews.co.uk
May 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Is there a violin small enough for this?
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Plans to reform environmental regulations risk irreversible harm to nature.
My amendments to the Planning Bill would prevent this.
Safeguarding nature and building homes can go hand in hand - with an empowered, well-funded planning system.
www.politicshome.com...
My amendments to the Planning Bill would prevent this.
Safeguarding nature and building homes can go hand in hand - with an empowered, well-funded planning system.
www.politicshome.com...
Planning deregulation carries serious political risks for Labour
The origins of Britain’s planning system are as deeply rooted in the legacy of the great post-war Labour government as the National Health Service and welfare state.
www.politicshome.com
April 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Plans to reform environmental regulations risk irreversible harm to nature.
My amendments to the Planning Bill would prevent this.
Safeguarding nature and building homes can go hand in hand - with an empowered, well-funded planning system.
www.politicshome.com...
My amendments to the Planning Bill would prevent this.
Safeguarding nature and building homes can go hand in hand - with an empowered, well-funded planning system.
www.politicshome.com...
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Liverpool, May 1966, by Barry Feinstein. When Bob Dylan was playing the Odeon Theatre.
April 5, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Liverpool, May 1966, by Barry Feinstein. When Bob Dylan was playing the Odeon Theatre.
Reposted by Mary Brooks
We took over the giant screen at Farage’s big rally in Birmingham
March 28, 2025 at 9:50 PM
We took over the giant screen at Farage’s big rally in Birmingham
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Camilla Tominey humiliated on #BBCQT
Gary Stevenson explains how we have given away national assets to rich people, so we should tax rich people
Camilla Tominey dismisses the call to tax rich people by saying everyone pays taxes
Gary Stevenson explains to tax the rich on their wealth
Gary Stevenson explains how we have given away national assets to rich people, so we should tax rich people
Camilla Tominey dismisses the call to tax rich people by saying everyone pays taxes
Gary Stevenson explains to tax the rich on their wealth
March 28, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Camilla Tominey humiliated on #BBCQT
Gary Stevenson explains how we have given away national assets to rich people, so we should tax rich people
Camilla Tominey dismisses the call to tax rich people by saying everyone pays taxes
Gary Stevenson explains to tax the rich on their wealth
Gary Stevenson explains how we have given away national assets to rich people, so we should tax rich people
Camilla Tominey dismisses the call to tax rich people by saying everyone pays taxes
Gary Stevenson explains to tax the rich on their wealth
Reposted by Mary Brooks
youtu.be/pvT3aQjLxdE
Here's a 🎶 twist on Coldplay's thumping #VivaLaVida we're calling "Puppets on a Kremlin String?"
It reflects on the grotesque media spectacle hosted by #Trump & #Vance yesterday at the White House. In solidarity with Zelensky & Ukraine.
#SlavaUkraini
#Dontabandonthem
Here's a 🎶 twist on Coldplay's thumping #VivaLaVida we're calling "Puppets on a Kremlin String?"
It reflects on the grotesque media spectacle hosted by #Trump & #Vance yesterday at the White House. In solidarity with Zelensky & Ukraine.
#SlavaUkraini
#Dontabandonthem
"Puppets on a Kremlin String?" - Marsh Family adaptation of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" on Trump/Vance
YouTube video by Marsh Family
youtu.be
March 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
youtu.be/pvT3aQjLxdE
Here's a 🎶 twist on Coldplay's thumping #VivaLaVida we're calling "Puppets on a Kremlin String?"
It reflects on the grotesque media spectacle hosted by #Trump & #Vance yesterday at the White House. In solidarity with Zelensky & Ukraine.
#SlavaUkraini
#Dontabandonthem
Here's a 🎶 twist on Coldplay's thumping #VivaLaVida we're calling "Puppets on a Kremlin String?"
It reflects on the grotesque media spectacle hosted by #Trump & #Vance yesterday at the White House. In solidarity with Zelensky & Ukraine.
#SlavaUkraini
#Dontabandonthem
Who is the most insane Musk or Trump ? 🤔
February 20, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Who is the most insane Musk or Trump ? 🤔
Reposted by Mary Brooks
You wont find a better summation than this.
Nobody will ever sell Britain out quite like the Far Right will.
It's amazing how keen they were to "get our country back", only to gift wrap it and hand it over to dictators and bullies.
Traitors with itchy fists and very poor impulse control.
It's amazing how keen they were to "get our country back", only to gift wrap it and hand it over to dictators and bullies.
Traitors with itchy fists and very poor impulse control.
February 19, 2025 at 12:00 AM
You wont find a better summation than this.
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Reposted by Mary Brooks
Liz Truss believes that the Tories lost the General Election in 2024 due to paper straws.
The ultimate straw man you could say.
I will never stop loving watching her journey into irrelevance one tweet at a time.
The ultimate straw man you could say.
I will never stop loving watching her journey into irrelevance one tweet at a time.
February 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Liz Truss believes that the Tories lost the General Election in 2024 due to paper straws.
The ultimate straw man you could say.
I will never stop loving watching her journey into irrelevance one tweet at a time.
The ultimate straw man you could say.
I will never stop loving watching her journey into irrelevance one tweet at a time.
Reposted by Mary Brooks
NHS staff will write to MPs asking them to help kickstart pay talks to boost morale during the winter health crisis.
www.unison.org.uk/news/press-r...
NHS staff urge local MPs to kickstart talks as government stalls on pay promises, says UNISON | Article, Press release | News | UNISON National
A modern NHS needs modern pay practices to keep and recruit the staff required to deal with the multiple crises it currently faces
www.unison.org.uk
January 21, 2025 at 3:25 PM
NHS staff will write to MPs asking them to help kickstart pay talks to boost morale during the winter health crisis.
www.unison.org.uk/news/press-r...
Reposted by Mary Brooks
If UK news shows are going to give Nigel Farage a platform to spout this absolute boll**** about Brexit & the vaccine rollout (unchallenged) I’ll happily come back every week to correct it
We cannot allow them to rewrite history.
If you agree share this FACT CHECK widely
youtu.be/MUrf7addcTA?...
We cannot allow them to rewrite history.
If you agree share this FACT CHECK widely
youtu.be/MUrf7addcTA?...
NO Nigel Farage - the vaccine rollout was not helped by Brexit
YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic
youtu.be
February 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM
If UK news shows are going to give Nigel Farage a platform to spout this absolute boll**** about Brexit & the vaccine rollout (unchallenged) I’ll happily come back every week to correct it
We cannot allow them to rewrite history.
If you agree share this FACT CHECK widely
youtu.be/MUrf7addcTA?...
We cannot allow them to rewrite history.
If you agree share this FACT CHECK widely
youtu.be/MUrf7addcTA?...
Reposted by Mary Brooks
When something is a success, people like to associate themselves with it. So it's noticeable how quiet the Brexiters are.
inews.co.uk/opinion/brex...
inews.co.uk/opinion/brex...
Brexit cheerleaders have gone awfully quiet – so let me remind you what they did to Britain
If we do talk about it, we start to recognise the gulf between their words and reality
inews.co.uk
February 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
When something is a success, people like to associate themselves with it. So it's noticeable how quiet the Brexiters are.
inews.co.uk/opinion/brex...
inews.co.uk/opinion/brex...
I was pleased that Cheshire East Council borough wide carbon reduction plan was approved dismayed that 4 Tory councillors voted against it 😥. Credit to conservative Cllr Tony Dean though for his support. Note my comments against Heathrow expansion
www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/2490167...
www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/2490167...
Council must ‘get real’ over borough’s carbon ambitions if it can’t meet own target
A Knutsford councillor asked how Cheshire East expected businesses to get on board with being carbon-neutral if the council couldn’t even meet its…
www.northwichguardian.co.uk
January 31, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I was pleased that Cheshire East Council borough wide carbon reduction plan was approved dismayed that 4 Tory councillors voted against it 😥. Credit to conservative Cllr Tony Dean though for his support. Note my comments against Heathrow expansion
www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/2490167...
www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/2490167...