Matthew
@matthew-rcd.bsky.social
Recovering former Parish Councillor now living in Lincolnshire. Functioning #coffee addict, keen interest in public affairs, defence and heritage. 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Matthew
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
Reposted by Matthew
Jonathan Gullis defects to Reform saying his former party has "lost touch with the people it was meant to serve".
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
Conservatives Promote JCB's 'Revolutionary' Pothole Machine While Taking Millions of Pounds in Donations from the Company
Senior Conservatives have repeatedly promoted a pothole repair machine made by a company which has donated huge sums to the party and its MPs
bylinetimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Jonathan Gullis defects to Reform saying his former party has "lost touch with the people it was meant to serve".
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
Reposted by Matthew
Shame Jonathan Gullis joined Reform. He had a bright future in standing next to a pub fruit machine telling you what buttons to press.
December 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Shame Jonathan Gullis joined Reform. He had a bright future in standing next to a pub fruit machine telling you what buttons to press.
Reposted by Matthew
Reposted by Matthew
Breaking News: The last pending criminal prosecution against President Trump was dismissed by a judge in Georgia, effectively ending efforts to hold Trump criminally responsible for attempts to overturn the 2020 election. trib.al/EnJu57H
November 26, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Breaking News: The last pending criminal prosecution against President Trump was dismissed by a judge in Georgia, effectively ending efforts to hold Trump criminally responsible for attempts to overturn the 2020 election. trib.al/EnJu57H
Reposted by Matthew
Reposted by Matthew
Don’t forget, no matter how much Nigel Farage tries to shape Reform UK’s economic policy to win votes, at heart he’s a disaster capitalist.
#Budget2025
#Budget2025
November 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Don’t forget, no matter how much Nigel Farage tries to shape Reform UK’s economic policy to win votes, at heart he’s a disaster capitalist.
#Budget2025
#Budget2025
Reposted by Matthew
Reform slide to lowest polling since April
Reform slide to lowest polling since April
Reform UK have fallen to their lowest polling level in more than six months, as the party continues to be embroiled in controversy.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Reform slide to lowest polling since April
Reposted by Matthew
Northumberland Reform councillor ordered to pay £38,000 debt to his own council
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Northumberland Reform councillor ordered to pay £38,000 debt to his own council
Barry Elliott, a Reform councillor in the Blyth ward of Newsham, appeared in court on Tuesday in relation to more than £38,000 worth of council tax and business rates owed to Northumberland County Cou...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Northumberland Reform councillor ordered to pay £38,000 debt to his own council
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
It would take quite a lot of editing to make her look competent!!
Reform UK Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran has said she’s worried that a BBC documentary on Reform UK may be edited to “make her look bad”.
November 13, 2025 at 12:00 AM
It would take quite a lot of editing to make her look competent!!
Reposted by Matthew
The Royal Air Force’s transition to fifth-generation air power is built on the legacy of aircraft such as the Harrier and Tornado, according to Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, who says lessons from those platforms continue to shape modern tactics.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=63901
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=63901
RAF chief says legacy jets shaped today’s F-35 tactics
The Royal Air Force’s transition to fifth-generation air power is built on the legacy of aircraft such as the Harrier and Tornado, according to Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, who says lessons from those platforms continue to shape modern tactics.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 12:02 PM
The Royal Air Force’s transition to fifth-generation air power is built on the legacy of aircraft such as the Harrier and Tornado, according to Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, who says lessons from those platforms continue to shape modern tactics.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=63901
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=63901
Reposted by Matthew
Rules for MPs are that you cannot claim for daily travel. Does a nurse get to claim daily mileage? No. Does a road worker? No. Does a teacher? No.
Why does the Mayor? Especially with an £86k salary.
Pay back your travel expenses, Andrea! It’s the right thing to do.
Why does the Mayor? Especially with an £86k salary.
Pay back your travel expenses, Andrea! It’s the right thing to do.
November 12, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Rules for MPs are that you cannot claim for daily travel. Does a nurse get to claim daily mileage? No. Does a road worker? No. Does a teacher? No.
Why does the Mayor? Especially with an £86k salary.
Pay back your travel expenses, Andrea! It’s the right thing to do.
Why does the Mayor? Especially with an £86k salary.
Pay back your travel expenses, Andrea! It’s the right thing to do.
Reposted by Matthew
Pay back your travel expenses Jenkyns!
Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns is claiming travel expenses for her job as Mayor of Lincolnshire, why? Because she lives in Yorkshire (despite saying she lives in Lincolnshire on her nomination forms).
Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns is claiming travel expenses for her job as Mayor of Lincolnshire, why? Because she lives in Yorkshire (despite saying she lives in Lincolnshire on her nomination forms).
November 12, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Pay back your travel expenses Jenkyns!
Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns is claiming travel expenses for her job as Mayor of Lincolnshire, why? Because she lives in Yorkshire (despite saying she lives in Lincolnshire on her nomination forms).
Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns is claiming travel expenses for her job as Mayor of Lincolnshire, why? Because she lives in Yorkshire (despite saying she lives in Lincolnshire on her nomination forms).
Couldn’t be trusted to run a bath!
Leicestershire County Council has announced it is to pay consultants £30m to carry out a cost cutting review.
They said it would be £1.4m.
They lied.
They said Reform DOGE would do all this.
They lied.
You can’t trust Reform UK.
They said it would be £1.4m.
They lied.
They said Reform DOGE would do all this.
They lied.
You can’t trust Reform UK.
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Couldn’t be trusted to run a bath!
Reposted by Matthew
Oh look…
Derbyshire County Council's Reform UK administration is set to increase its portion of council tax by the maximum amount.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Derbyshire County Council's Reform UK administration is set to increase its portion of council tax by the maximum amount.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Derbyshire County Council could increase tax by maximum amount
Derbyshire County Council's Reform UK leader says the decision has been
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Oh look…
Derbyshire County Council's Reform UK administration is set to increase its portion of council tax by the maximum amount.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Derbyshire County Council's Reform UK administration is set to increase its portion of council tax by the maximum amount.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Love stories like this!!!
The 20 volunteers in Lincolnshire who are halfway through a 10 year project to restore a Lancaster bomber nicknamed Just Jane who are hoping it will become the 3rd Lancaster to return to the skies. 👇
BBC News - Will third Lancaster bomber return to the skies?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - Will third Lancaster bomber return to the skies?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Will third Lancaster bomber Just Jane return to the skies?
Andrew Panton is halfway through a 10-year project to make Just Jane airworthy.
www.bbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Love stories like this!!!
Reposted by Matthew
Nigel Farage 'to betray pensioners' with response to state pension triple lock
Fury as Nigel Farage 'to betray pensioners and unleash austerity'
Nigel Farage and Reform were branded 'vultures' who would betray pensioners and bring in a new era of austerity after a major speech in the City of London when previous tax plans were axed
www.mirror.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Nigel Farage 'to betray pensioners' with response to state pension triple lock
Reposted by Matthew
Reform UK Councillors Gone: Updated
➡️ Kicked Out
Brian Black
Oliver Bradshaw
Paul Thomas
Bob Ford
Bill Barratt
Ed Hill
James Regan
Mark Broadhurst
Paul Bean
Adam Smith
Daniel Taylor
John Allen
Nicole Brooke
Patrick Lambert
➡️ Defected
Amelia Randall
➡️ Suspended
Maxine Fothergill
➡️ Kicked Out
Brian Black
Oliver Bradshaw
Paul Thomas
Bob Ford
Bill Barratt
Ed Hill
James Regan
Mark Broadhurst
Paul Bean
Adam Smith
Daniel Taylor
John Allen
Nicole Brooke
Patrick Lambert
➡️ Defected
Amelia Randall
➡️ Suspended
Maxine Fothergill
October 28, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Reform UK Councillors Gone: Updated
➡️ Kicked Out
Brian Black
Oliver Bradshaw
Paul Thomas
Bob Ford
Bill Barratt
Ed Hill
James Regan
Mark Broadhurst
Paul Bean
Adam Smith
Daniel Taylor
John Allen
Nicole Brooke
Patrick Lambert
➡️ Defected
Amelia Randall
➡️ Suspended
Maxine Fothergill
➡️ Kicked Out
Brian Black
Oliver Bradshaw
Paul Thomas
Bob Ford
Bill Barratt
Ed Hill
James Regan
Mark Broadhurst
Paul Bean
Adam Smith
Daniel Taylor
John Allen
Nicole Brooke
Patrick Lambert
➡️ Defected
Amelia Randall
➡️ Suspended
Maxine Fothergill
Reposted by Matthew
➡️ Resigned
Mark Whittington
Gaynor Jean-Louis
Wayne Titley
Donna Edmunds
Luke Shingler
Desmond Clarke
Andrew Kilburn
John Bailey
Sam Booth
David Maclean
Robert Bloom
Mark Whittington
Gaynor Jean-Louis
Wayne Titley
Donna Edmunds
Luke Shingler
Desmond Clarke
Andrew Kilburn
John Bailey
Sam Booth
David Maclean
Robert Bloom
October 28, 2025 at 6:20 AM
➡️ Resigned
Mark Whittington
Gaynor Jean-Louis
Wayne Titley
Donna Edmunds
Luke Shingler
Desmond Clarke
Andrew Kilburn
John Bailey
Sam Booth
David Maclean
Robert Bloom
Mark Whittington
Gaynor Jean-Louis
Wayne Titley
Donna Edmunds
Luke Shingler
Desmond Clarke
Andrew Kilburn
John Bailey
Sam Booth
David Maclean
Robert Bloom
Reposted by Matthew
Rowland O’Connor
Rob Parsonage
Christine Parsonage
Karen Knight
Anna Thomason-Kenyon
Richard Everett
Jack Bradley
Christopher Marriott
Angie Nash
Rob Parsonage
Christine Parsonage
Karen Knight
Anna Thomason-Kenyon
Richard Everett
Jack Bradley
Christopher Marriott
Angie Nash
October 28, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Rowland O’Connor
Rob Parsonage
Christine Parsonage
Karen Knight
Anna Thomason-Kenyon
Richard Everett
Jack Bradley
Christopher Marriott
Angie Nash
Rob Parsonage
Christine Parsonage
Karen Knight
Anna Thomason-Kenyon
Richard Everett
Jack Bradley
Christopher Marriott
Angie Nash
Reposted by Matthew
Nigel Farage’s Flagship Kent Council is in trouble.
He will be considering Linden Kemkaran’s future.
Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party
He will be considering Linden Kemkaran’s future.
Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party
Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party in Kent
It comes after a damaging video leak of the Kent County Council leader shouting and swearing.
www.bbc.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Nigel Farage’s Flagship Kent Council is in trouble.
He will be considering Linden Kemkaran’s future.
Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party
He will be considering Linden Kemkaran’s future.
Five Reform UK councillors booted out of party
Reposted by Matthew
Reform’s Doge-style cost-cutting units ‘haven’t found any waste’, say councils
Reform’s Doge-style cost-cutting units ‘haven’t found any...
The party’s attempt to mimic Elon Musk’s efficiency department in the US has been branded ‘fantasy politics’ by critics
observer.co.uk
October 26, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reform’s Doge-style cost-cutting units ‘haven’t found any waste’, say councils
Reposted by Matthew
Reform MP says ads ‘full of black and Asian people’ drive her mad – and now faces calls to resign
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/who...
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/who...
Reform MP says ads ‘full of black and Asian people’ drive her mad - and now faces calls to resign
Of all the problems in this country. Of all the things that need addressing. Sarah Pochin of Reform has decided to focus on this nonsense.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Reform MP says ads ‘full of black and Asian people’ drive her mad – and now faces calls to resign
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/who...
www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/who...
Reposted by Matthew
I wonder about #warwickshire #reform and their child leader
"Reform is set to launch a major “savings” review in Leicestershire County Council. However, rather than using its DOGE unit (explicitly set up for this sort of job), it’s going to pay external consultants. Reform, ironically, repeatedly complained about the use of taxpayers’ money on consultants"
Zia Yusuf resigns as Reform’s DOGE chief with project in turmoil
New misery for Farage’s Musk-inspired project...
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I wonder about #warwickshire #reform and their child leader
Reposted by Matthew
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 7:31 AM
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