Phil Banting
@philbanting.bsky.social
Christian, married to Miriam, #LibDems, #Remain. Active in Christ Church Selly Park, #Stirchley and beyond. Twitter @philbanting Instagram @philbantingbrum https://www.banting-family.org.uk
I've only ever used Checkatrade once, and that was to find someone to remove a wasp nest. It was nice to meet a trader who was honest... enough to admit that he wanted payment in cash to avoid paying tax
Reform UK recently launched a new organisation within the party to boost small businesses. The first entrepreneur chosen to champion the cause is Kevin Byrne, founder of Checkatrade But Byrne is a rather interesting pick by Reform. 🤔
hopenothate.org.uk/2025/11/26/r...
hopenothate.org.uk/2025/11/26/r...
Reform UK's small business champion supports Tommy Robinson and peddles conspiracy theories – HOPE not hate
On 10 November, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage launched Small Business for Reform, an organisation within the party. During the launch, Farage declared that “we...
hopenothate.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I've only ever used Checkatrade once, and that was to find someone to remove a wasp nest. It was nice to meet a trader who was honest... enough to admit that he wanted payment in cash to avoid paying tax
The sun always shines when I visit my mother... well, usually. But there's a cloud nearer than the horizon: today 2 men turned up and spent hours digging at the edge of the empty ground in front of the metal fence. I'm always afraid that someone will put up a building and spoil the view #NIMBY
November 25, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The sun always shines when I visit my mother... well, usually. But there's a cloud nearer than the horizon: today 2 men turned up and spent hours digging at the edge of the empty ground in front of the metal fence. I'm always afraid that someone will put up a building and spoil the view #NIMBY
Reposted by Phil Banting
Reform MP Danny Kruger tells Shabana Mahmood that "I welcome [her] rhetoric" on asylum seekers, before telling her to "put in her application to join Reform UK"
November 17, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reform MP Danny Kruger tells Shabana Mahmood that "I welcome [her] rhetoric" on asylum seekers, before telling her to "put in her application to join Reform UK"
We'll happily swap them for academics/researchers who believe in actual, non-junk science
Donald Trump’s administration is considering offering political asylum to British “thought criminals”, The Telegraph understands.
Read more here ⬇️
www.telegraph.co.uk/bluesky-tmg/trump-thought-criminals/
Read more here ⬇️
www.telegraph.co.uk/bluesky-tmg/trump-thought-criminals/
November 16, 2025 at 6:14 PM
We'll happily swap them for academics/researchers who believe in actual, non-junk science
I did vote in the last Police and Crime Commissioner election, but spoiled my ballot paper (via my proxy) with the words “Abolish the post”. I feel vindicated
November 13, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I did vote in the last Police and Crime Commissioner election, but spoiled my ballot paper (via my proxy) with the words “Abolish the post”. I feel vindicated
I missed this anniversary which illustrates how much technology has advanced during my lifetime. When I was born, no human had gone into space. Now, if you're under 25 years old, there has never been a day in your life without a human in space www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Archive on 4 - Out of This World: 25 Years of the ISS - BBC Sounds
East and west collaborate to launch humanity’s first ever international space station.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I missed this anniversary which illustrates how much technology has advanced during my lifetime. When I was born, no human had gone into space. Now, if you're under 25 years old, there has never been a day in your life without a human in space www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Not wanting to get too philosophical about this, but non-existence is surely a guaranteed way of avoiding any kind of disease
November 7, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Not wanting to get too philosophical about this, but non-existence is surely a guaranteed way of avoiding any kind of disease
It was slightly humbling to have to ask for help to reach an item right at the back of a supermarket shelf. Fortunately there was a beanpole-sized member of staff nearby who could easily pick up the required box of teabags. I imagine this is an everyday experience for some people
November 6, 2025 at 8:11 PM
It was slightly humbling to have to ask for help to reach an item right at the back of a supermarket shelf. Fortunately there was a beanpole-sized member of staff nearby who could easily pick up the required box of teabags. I imagine this is an everyday experience for some people
Reposted by Phil Banting
The lesson is clear: we need brave Muslim immigrants to protect us from knife wielding British-born maniacs. 5pillarsuk.com/2025/11/04/m...
Muslim railway worker praised as ‘hero’ for saving passengers during stabbing attack
FacebookLikeShareTweetEmail An Algerian Muslim railway employee has been praised by police for his ‘bravery’ in saving multiple lives during a mass stabbing attack aboard a train in Cambridgeshire. Sa...
5pillarsuk.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The lesson is clear: we need brave Muslim immigrants to protect us from knife wielding British-born maniacs. 5pillarsuk.com/2025/11/04/m...
It's been creeping up steadily... bsky-users.theo.io
November 2, 2025 at 11:02 PM
It's been creeping up steadily... bsky-users.theo.io
A former friend, as a child, met Colonel Gaddafi. A school friend was the nephew of a former Chelsea player and claimed to have tried on Peter Bonetti's shirt. Also at school I drew a game of chess with a player who went on to become a grandmaster. How close do these connections have to be?
Off the top of my head, in terms of degrees of separation I managed to get from myself to *Jimi Hendrix* in "three hops," this is a WILD assertion to make
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
November 2, 2025 at 5:17 PM
A former friend, as a child, met Colonel Gaddafi. A school friend was the nephew of a former Chelsea player and claimed to have tried on Peter Bonetti's shirt. Also at school I drew a game of chess with a player who went on to become a grandmaster. How close do these connections have to be?
Reposted by Phil Banting
Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-men-who-...
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-men-who-...
The men who raised the flags
Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
November 1, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-men-who-...
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/the-men-who-...
Reposted by Phil Banting
Thank you for tagging me in this nonsense 🤣
October 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Thank you for tagging me in this nonsense 🤣
The clock is on GMT but the calendar is stuck on BST (British Stuart Time)
(The clock projects from the Guildhall above the High Street, Guildford)
(The clock projects from the Guildhall above the High Street, Guildford)
October 28, 2025 at 11:42 PM
The clock is on GMT but the calendar is stuck on BST (British Stuart Time)
(The clock projects from the Guildhall above the High Street, Guildford)
(The clock projects from the Guildhall above the High Street, Guildford)
"Begone!"
The angel apparently wants the scaffolding off its turf - the turf being the roof of Guildford Cathedral
The angel apparently wants the scaffolding off its turf - the turf being the roof of Guildford Cathedral
October 28, 2025 at 10:06 PM
"Begone!"
The angel apparently wants the scaffolding off its turf - the turf being the roof of Guildford Cathedral
The angel apparently wants the scaffolding off its turf - the turf being the roof of Guildford Cathedral
"What can we put in the window to help people forget that they can't afford any of our properties?"
October 28, 2025 at 9:10 PM
"What can we put in the window to help people forget that they can't afford any of our properties?"
Today, while we were both in a shopping centre (a very rare occurrence) Miriam bought a bag. She bag she already had wasn't big enough to put it in, but I had a bigger bag, so lent her that to put the new bag in. It's nice to feel that I've done my bit
October 28, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Today, while we were both in a shopping centre (a very rare occurrence) Miriam bought a bag. She bag she already had wasn't big enough to put it in, but I had a bigger bag, so lent her that to put the new bag in. It's nice to feel that I've done my bit
Crossing the Thames on the District Line. The bridge has parapets on each side, blocking the view of the river. Is this to avoid the driver being distracted by the view?
October 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Crossing the Thames on the District Line. The bridge has parapets on each side, blocking the view of the river. Is this to avoid the driver being distracted by the view?
At the Science Museum, we’re looking at a display about IVF and remembering the birth of Louise Brown - in its time, an absolute miracle. Then a woman standing nearby tells her 2 children that they were born by IVF. Miracles happen every day
October 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
At the Science Museum, we’re looking at a display about IVF and remembering the birth of Louise Brown - in its time, an absolute miracle. Then a woman standing nearby tells her 2 children that they were born by IVF. Miracles happen every day
Years ago I had an Irish work colleague who got rather miffed at her exclusion from some military-related work because Ireland is not a member of NATO. She had a moan to another colleague who replied, "But surely Ireland is part of the UK?" Puts ignorance of Irish presidents in perspective
And people say the British press doesn't know anything about Ireland. They got this scoop, didn't they.
October 26, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Years ago I had an Irish work colleague who got rather miffed at her exclusion from some military-related work because Ireland is not a member of NATO. She had a moan to another colleague who replied, "But surely Ireland is part of the UK?" Puts ignorance of Irish presidents in perspective
Let's go away, I said. Somewhere quiet, I said. Away from it all, I said. So we find ourselves in a rather dusky Trafalgar Square
October 26, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Let's go away, I said. Somewhere quiet, I said. Away from it all, I said. So we find ourselves in a rather dusky Trafalgar Square
I once came across a house whose name was marked, in Spanish-style tiles, "El Casa". Even though I didn't know any Spanish then I was sure it should be "La Casa". Clearly the owner just wanted something foreign-sounding but their concern did not extend to grammatical accuracy
That's as maybe. But would it have killed them to use the feminine definite article? (😄)
October 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I once came across a house whose name was marked, in Spanish-style tiles, "El Casa". Even though I didn't know any Spanish then I was sure it should be "La Casa". Clearly the owner just wanted something foreign-sounding but their concern did not extend to grammatical accuracy
If you're studying geography, it's cwmscrolling
If you're researching former Conservative prime ministers, it's Homescrolling.
If you're looking for a place to rent, it's roomscrolling.
October 21, 2025 at 6:23 PM
If you're studying geography, it's cwmscrolling
My son - collector of niche information - has discovered that his former head teacher, who now lives in the same apartment block as my late mother-in-law, has a page on Vietnamese Wikipedia
October 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
My son - collector of niche information - has discovered that his former head teacher, who now lives in the same apartment block as my late mother-in-law, has a page on Vietnamese Wikipedia
Reposted by Phil Banting
