Phil Biles
@philbiles.bsky.social
Moved over from that other place that was becoming a bit challenging
Reposted by Phil Biles
Jew in Amsterdam here. Please use Anne Frank as a comparison point to explain how state persecution of scapegoats impacts children, that is the point of her example, thanks
The Minnesota governor is getting widespread criticism for comparing children dealing with immigration enforcement to Holocaust victim Anne Frank.
Tim Walz condemned for comparing Minnesota children to Anne Frank
The Minnesota governor is getting widespread criticism for comparing children dealing with immigration enforcement to Holocaust victim Anne Frank.
bit.ly
January 28, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Jew in Amsterdam here. Please use Anne Frank as a comparison point to explain how state persecution of scapegoats impacts children, that is the point of her example, thanks
Reposted by Phil Biles
On the UK-US pharmaceutical deal I'm afraid this does look like two nasty trends coming together to make a very bad agreement for the UK - namely Whitehall power to make deals with no scrutiny, and companies working with countries to coerce others. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
What will be the cost of Keir Starmer’s new medicines deal with Donald Trump? British lives | Aditya Chakrabortty
More than £3bn that could have been used for UK patients will go to big pharma for its branded products, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:57 AM
On the UK-US pharmaceutical deal I'm afraid this does look like two nasty trends coming together to make a very bad agreement for the UK - namely Whitehall power to make deals with no scrutiny, and companies working with countries to coerce others. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Phil Biles
Farage: epic grifter
October 27, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Farage: epic grifter
Reposted by Phil Biles
This is what tolerance of anti-migrant political rhetoric leads to. A surge in racial abuse against nurses and care workers. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Racist incidents against UK nurses surge by 55%
Royal College of Nursing calls on government to stop using anti-migrant rhetoric, which it says emboldens racist behaviour
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:53 AM
This is what tolerance of anti-migrant political rhetoric leads to. A surge in racial abuse against nurses and care workers. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Phil Biles
Number of people who go bankrupt due to medical debt each year by country:
🇩🇪:0
🇫🇷:0
🇬🇧:0
🇦🇺:0
🇨🇦:0
🇯🇵:0
🇮🇪:0
🇪🇸:0
🇮🇹:0
🇵🇹:0
🇩🇰:0
🇸🇪:0
🇳🇱:0
🇮🇸:0
🇺🇸: 530,000
🇩🇪:0
🇫🇷:0
🇬🇧:0
🇦🇺:0
🇨🇦:0
🇯🇵:0
🇮🇪:0
🇪🇸:0
🇮🇹:0
🇵🇹:0
🇩🇰:0
🇸🇪:0
🇳🇱:0
🇮🇸:0
🇺🇸: 530,000
September 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Number of people who go bankrupt due to medical debt each year by country:
🇩🇪:0
🇫🇷:0
🇬🇧:0
🇦🇺:0
🇨🇦:0
🇯🇵:0
🇮🇪:0
🇪🇸:0
🇮🇹:0
🇵🇹:0
🇩🇰:0
🇸🇪:0
🇳🇱:0
🇮🇸:0
🇺🇸: 530,000
🇩🇪:0
🇫🇷:0
🇬🇧:0
🇦🇺:0
🇨🇦:0
🇯🇵:0
🇮🇪:0
🇪🇸:0
🇮🇹:0
🇵🇹:0
🇩🇰:0
🇸🇪:0
🇳🇱:0
🇮🇸:0
🇺🇸: 530,000
Consistently brilliant. Thankyou
From Brexit to Brexitism. New post starting the 10th year of my now retitled Brexit & Brexitism Blog, analysing the current politics of Brexit, this summer's confected crisis, and the new terrain of post-Brexit politics. Long read: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/09/from... 1/2
September 12, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Consistently brilliant. Thankyou
Reposted by Phil Biles
Cracking letter.
This one - from Gov Bob Ferguson to Pam Bondi- equally worthy of praise.
August 26, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Cracking letter.
Reposted by Phil Biles
1 in 3 doctors were born overseas.
1 in 2 builders were born overseas.
1 in 6 nurses were born overseas.
1 in 4 transport workers were born overseas.
1 in 7 UK business founders were born overseas.
1 in 5 university academics were born overseas.
The UK would be screwed without them.
1 in 2 builders were born overseas.
1 in 6 nurses were born overseas.
1 in 4 transport workers were born overseas.
1 in 7 UK business founders were born overseas.
1 in 5 university academics were born overseas.
The UK would be screwed without them.
August 1, 2025 at 8:40 AM
1 in 3 doctors were born overseas.
1 in 2 builders were born overseas.
1 in 6 nurses were born overseas.
1 in 4 transport workers were born overseas.
1 in 7 UK business founders were born overseas.
1 in 5 university academics were born overseas.
The UK would be screwed without them.
1 in 2 builders were born overseas.
1 in 6 nurses were born overseas.
1 in 4 transport workers were born overseas.
1 in 7 UK business founders were born overseas.
1 in 5 university academics were born overseas.
The UK would be screwed without them.
Only just got round to reading this, a brilliant article.
Pity politicians haven’t found the moral gumption to defend immigrants as they have with benefits changes this week
Pity politicians haven’t found the moral gumption to defend immigrants as they have with benefits changes this week
June 28, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Only just got round to reading this, a brilliant article.
Pity politicians haven’t found the moral gumption to defend immigrants as they have with benefits changes this week
Pity politicians haven’t found the moral gumption to defend immigrants as they have with benefits changes this week
Reposted by Phil Biles
Chart-heavy thread incoming. This is an attempt to survey the research to answer the question - were the forecasts predicting a lot of Brexit damage correct? 1/n.
The Constitution Society and Federal Trust asked me to do a survey of the evidence on the economics of Brexit, nine years on from the vote.
Hopefully it's a helpful reference. Short answer: the consensus was right - a large hit to GDP, trade and investment.
consoc.org.uk/publications...
Hopefully it's a helpful reference. Short answer: the consensus was right - a large hit to GDP, trade and investment.
consoc.org.uk/publications...
The Economic Impact of Brexit, Nine Years On: Was the Consensus Right? - The Constitution Society
John Springford analyses the economic consequences of Brexit and compares this predictions made at the time of the Leave vote.
consoc.org.uk
June 23, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Chart-heavy thread incoming. This is an attempt to survey the research to answer the question - were the forecasts predicting a lot of Brexit damage correct? 1/n.
Reposted by Phil Biles
Labour's immigration announcement today is a reflection of the paucity of honest debate by BOTH political parties over the last decade on this issue.
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n
May 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Labour's immigration announcement today is a reflection of the paucity of honest debate by BOTH political parties over the last decade on this issue.
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n
Labour has never made a counter-argument, or been honest about economic cost of immigration curbs, so it's stuck making Tory/Reform arguments 1/n
Reposted by Phil Biles
Striking stat from @kellycnbc.bsky.social on this:
The rise in treasury yields since Trump’s tariffs were announced leads to an increase in US debt interest payments that is larger than all the DOGE savings.
The rise in treasury yields since Trump’s tariffs were announced leads to an increase in US debt interest payments that is larger than all the DOGE savings.
April 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Striking stat from @kellycnbc.bsky.social on this:
The rise in treasury yields since Trump’s tariffs were announced leads to an increase in US debt interest payments that is larger than all the DOGE savings.
The rise in treasury yields since Trump’s tariffs were announced leads to an increase in US debt interest payments that is larger than all the DOGE savings.
Reposted by Phil Biles
This is really exciting. There'll be lots of objections, of course. But the ambition of it is thrilling. Basically using European rearmament to try and turn the euro into a global reserve currency.
"The EU should thus move to fund the entire cost of its planned rearmament with EU debt, similarly to NGEU." @smerler.bsky.social on the global role of the euro in light of American chaos. www.bruegel.org/first-glance...
More EU debt issuance would be the best response to Trump’s tariffs
The European Union should think strategically and seize the opportunity to fill the void created by Trump
www.bruegel.org
April 11, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This is really exciting. There'll be lots of objections, of course. But the ambition of it is thrilling. Basically using European rearmament to try and turn the euro into a global reserve currency.
Reposted by Phil Biles
Reposted by Phil Biles
Trump officials admitted to an “administrative error” when they deported Abrego Garcia — a legal resident with no criminal record.
A judge ordered Garcia be returned, but Trump is fighting it in court.
Garcia now sits in a prison in El Salvador.
The cruelty is staggering.
A judge ordered Garcia be returned, but Trump is fighting it in court.
Garcia now sits in a prison in El Salvador.
The cruelty is staggering.
April 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Trump officials admitted to an “administrative error” when they deported Abrego Garcia — a legal resident with no criminal record.
A judge ordered Garcia be returned, but Trump is fighting it in court.
Garcia now sits in a prison in El Salvador.
The cruelty is staggering.
A judge ordered Garcia be returned, but Trump is fighting it in court.
Garcia now sits in a prison in El Salvador.
The cruelty is staggering.
Reposted by Phil Biles
If you are going to report how "reciprocal" these tariffs are or how they quantify trade barriers and economic injustices...
... please keep in mind they're not, becuase that would have required work. Instead just did:
COUNTRY'S US SURPLUS
--------------------------- = Rate%
ITS EXPORTS TO US
... please keep in mind they're not, becuase that would have required work. Instead just did:
COUNTRY'S US SURPLUS
--------------------------- = Rate%
ITS EXPORTS TO US
April 2, 2025 at 10:49 PM
If you are going to report how "reciprocal" these tariffs are or how they quantify trade barriers and economic injustices...
... please keep in mind they're not, becuase that would have required work. Instead just did:
COUNTRY'S US SURPLUS
--------------------------- = Rate%
ITS EXPORTS TO US
... please keep in mind they're not, becuase that would have required work. Instead just did:
COUNTRY'S US SURPLUS
--------------------------- = Rate%
ITS EXPORTS TO US
Reposted by Phil Biles
In which @miafarrow.bsky.social is absolutely spot-on about law and policy.
To preserve democracy our Founders set up 3 separate branches of government – the Executive, the Legislature & the Judiciary.
Two are already corrupted. The last pillar standing is the Judiciary - the rule of Law. Trump is now intent on rendering it powerless so that he will have unfettered power
Two are already corrupted. The last pillar standing is the Judiciary - the rule of Law. Trump is now intent on rendering it powerless so that he will have unfettered power
March 23, 2025 at 2:20 PM
In which @miafarrow.bsky.social is absolutely spot-on about law and policy.
Reposted by Phil Biles
Almost like it is possible to reduce civil service headcount without crude distorting headcount targets
Clearly it’s too early to draw a strong inference, but Starmer, McFadden and Reeves have had more impact on staff numbers than the last govt’s “immediate headcount cap” of 2023
Clearly it’s too early to draw a strong inference, but Starmer, McFadden and Reeves have had more impact on staff numbers than the last govt’s “immediate headcount cap” of 2023
🚨Civil service shrinks for the first time in years
Stats out today showed civil service staff numbers fell at the end of last year - for the first time since 2022.
This is only the second quarter in which numbers have fallen since the EU referendum.
Stats out today showed civil service staff numbers fell at the end of last year - for the first time since 2022.
This is only the second quarter in which numbers have fallen since the EU referendum.
March 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Almost like it is possible to reduce civil service headcount without crude distorting headcount targets
Clearly it’s too early to draw a strong inference, but Starmer, McFadden and Reeves have had more impact on staff numbers than the last govt’s “immediate headcount cap” of 2023
Clearly it’s too early to draw a strong inference, but Starmer, McFadden and Reeves have had more impact on staff numbers than the last govt’s “immediate headcount cap” of 2023
Reposted by Phil Biles
Could not agree more. The Prez & VP are shameful, embarrassing Putin puppets & a disgrace to our country. 🤮
#SlavaUkraine 🇺🇦
#SlavaUkraine 🇺🇦
February 28, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Could not agree more. The Prez & VP are shameful, embarrassing Putin puppets & a disgrace to our country. 🤮
#SlavaUkraine 🇺🇦
#SlavaUkraine 🇺🇦
Reposted by Phil Biles
A reminder to the British press: Donald Trump just says stuff. Reporting what he says as though it’s fact will inevitably make you look like an idiot. There’s not going to be a US/UK trade deal imminently and Trump really doesn’t care about the UK, even if he likes being flattered.
February 28, 2025 at 8:29 AM
A reminder to the British press: Donald Trump just says stuff. Reporting what he says as though it’s fact will inevitably make you look like an idiot. There’s not going to be a US/UK trade deal imminently and Trump really doesn’t care about the UK, even if he likes being flattered.
Reposted by Phil Biles
Having served as a Moscow correspondent in the early days of Putin's reign, this reminds me of how the Kremlin took over its own press pool and made sure that only compliant journalists were given access.
February 25, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Having served as a Moscow correspondent in the early days of Putin's reign, this reminds me of how the Kremlin took over its own press pool and made sure that only compliant journalists were given access.
Reposted by Phil Biles
Latest from me: the Tory hollowing-out in the South of England is plain: Woking, Guildford, Tunbridge Wells, Horsham, scores more. So why is Badenoch going full Trump and further pushing those places away? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s the Kemi delusion: the more the Tories run towards Reform, the more their voters will run to the Lib Dems | John Harris
Part of the genius of UK Conservatism used to be how it responded to chaos using the balm of tradition. Second-hand Trumpism will only alienate its voters further, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
February 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Latest from me: the Tory hollowing-out in the South of England is plain: Woking, Guildford, Tunbridge Wells, Horsham, scores more. So why is Badenoch going full Trump and further pushing those places away? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Phil Biles
And again: the lesson from Musk is there is no lesson from Musk
His project is not government improvement or reform. Those of us actually interested in better government need to look elsewhere
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/trum...
His project is not government improvement or reform. Those of us actually interested in better government need to look elsewhere
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/trum...
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are showing how not to go about government reform | Institute for Government
Would-be government reformers would be wise to reject the Trump/Musk approach.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
February 23, 2025 at 7:25 AM
And again: the lesson from Musk is there is no lesson from Musk
His project is not government improvement or reform. Those of us actually interested in better government need to look elsewhere
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/trum...
His project is not government improvement or reform. Those of us actually interested in better government need to look elsewhere
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/trum...
Reposted by Phil Biles
"I always hesitate to bring my political beliefs into this space. I don’t think my listeners would expect that from me and some of you will find it disappointing: not what you were looking for... "
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February 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
"I always hesitate to bring my political beliefs into this space. I don’t think my listeners would expect that from me and some of you will find it disappointing: not what you were looking for... "
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