Phil Biles
@philbiles.bsky.social
Moved over from that other place that was becoming a bit challenging
I remember going up to the local bike/toy shop just after decimalization buying an Airfix model for 50p and thinking that’s 10 bob that’s a hell of a lot of money.
Certainly wouldn’t want to go back to it.
Certainly wouldn’t want to go back to it.
February 16, 2026 at 10:35 PM
I remember going up to the local bike/toy shop just after decimalization buying an Airfix model for 50p and thinking that’s 10 bob that’s a hell of a lot of money.
Certainly wouldn’t want to go back to it.
Certainly wouldn’t want to go back to it.
Reasons to be Cheerful Part 3 (Ian Dury & the Blockheads)
February 5, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Reasons to be Cheerful Part 3 (Ian Dury & the Blockheads)
See also 👇🏻
The elephant in the room
The elephant in the room
February 3, 2026 at 12:45 PM
See also 👇🏻
The elephant in the room
The elephant in the room
Thought exactly the same. Awful journalism
January 20, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Thought exactly the same. Awful journalism
This sounds like a great idea as well 🤷🏻♂️
bsky.app/profile/sirj...
bsky.app/profile/sirj...
‘adjudicators without legal training will be making legal findings.’
Must be a risk of more appeals to the Upper Tribunal, and more of them succeeding. Thus a greater burden on the UT
Must be a risk of more appeals to the Upper Tribunal, and more of them succeeding. Thus a greater burden on the UT
The courts minister Sarah Sackman gave a less-than-enthusiastic welcome to an announcement by the home secretary yesterday that immigration appeals will no longer be decided by legally-qualified judges.
rozenberg.substack.com/p/courts-wit...
rozenberg.substack.com/p/courts-wit...
January 14, 2026 at 8:31 AM
This sounds like a great idea as well 🤷🏻♂️
bsky.app/profile/sirj...
bsky.app/profile/sirj...
Who would have guessed that a knee jerk policy decision in an attempt to placate a portion of the population that will never be placated would be cancelled 🤷🏻♂️
And all it does is provide more ammunition to those who can’t be placated and seek to divide. Depressing
And all it does is provide more ammunition to those who can’t be placated and seek to divide. Depressing
January 14, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Who would have guessed that a knee jerk policy decision in an attempt to placate a portion of the population that will never be placated would be cancelled 🤷🏻♂️
And all it does is provide more ammunition to those who can’t be placated and seek to divide. Depressing
And all it does is provide more ammunition to those who can’t be placated and seek to divide. Depressing
Don’t forget the cycleway 😀
Our personal favourites are Deans Court Cafe and Rosemary.
Cycled down there one sunny Saturday last summer and it was buzzing, lots of young families about and a general feel good vibe
Our personal favourites are Deans Court Cafe and Rosemary.
Cycled down there one sunny Saturday last summer and it was buzzing, lots of young families about and a general feel good vibe
January 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Don’t forget the cycleway 😀
Our personal favourites are Deans Court Cafe and Rosemary.
Cycled down there one sunny Saturday last summer and it was buzzing, lots of young families about and a general feel good vibe
Our personal favourites are Deans Court Cafe and Rosemary.
Cycled down there one sunny Saturday last summer and it was buzzing, lots of young families about and a general feel good vibe
In theory that would be great but the power balance is such that it’s not likely to happen.
Similar to Brexit the bigger trading bloc was always going to call the shots however much we might have wished otherwise.
Similar to Brexit the bigger trading bloc was always going to call the shots however much we might have wished otherwise.
January 6, 2026 at 10:24 PM
In theory that would be great but the power balance is such that it’s not likely to happen.
Similar to Brexit the bigger trading bloc was always going to call the shots however much we might have wished otherwise.
Similar to Brexit the bigger trading bloc was always going to call the shots however much we might have wished otherwise.
Customs union not a silver bullet, if we want greater economic prosperity seriously need FOM & budgetary contributions. Could also help shortfalls in NHS & care sector.
Are any politicians brave enough to acknowledge this and with Reform on the ascendancy how would this approach play out with EU?
Are any politicians brave enough to acknowledge this and with Reform on the ascendancy how would this approach play out with EU?
January 6, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Customs union not a silver bullet, if we want greater economic prosperity seriously need FOM & budgetary contributions. Could also help shortfalls in NHS & care sector.
Are any politicians brave enough to acknowledge this and with Reform on the ascendancy how would this approach play out with EU?
Are any politicians brave enough to acknowledge this and with Reform on the ascendancy how would this approach play out with EU?
I’m sure you’re aware of these guys work at UK in Changing Europe
ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
New year, same old Brexit trade-offs - UK in a changing Europe
Joël Reland argues that while the UK has indicated that it is keen to align more closely with the EU, the inherent tradeoffs remain the same as the EU will not allow the UK to 'cherry pick' further ac...
ukandeu.ac.uk
January 6, 2026 at 10:09 PM
I’m sure you’re aware of these guys work at UK in Changing Europe
ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
ukandeu.ac.uk/new-year-sam...
Now that care workers can no longer bring families really can’t see incentive for people to come. Research showing economy & welfare services going to be severely impacted by our current obsession with immigration.
Time to highlight the benefits of immigration
Time to highlight the benefits of immigration
January 6, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Now that care workers can no longer bring families really can’t see incentive for people to come. Research showing economy & welfare services going to be severely impacted by our current obsession with immigration.
Time to highlight the benefits of immigration
Time to highlight the benefits of immigration
No apology or recompense and service charge still applied to bill.
Sadly not on our pubs of the year or places to return to.
Sadly not on our pubs of the year or places to return to.
December 22, 2025 at 9:03 PM
No apology or recompense and service charge still applied to bill.
Sadly not on our pubs of the year or places to return to.
Sadly not on our pubs of the year or places to return to.
Know it’s subjective & depends on your own experience but had very poor service here after Santa visit at Stewart’s last year.
Vegetarian festive option not available, then waited hour for meal to arrive of which one was forgotten and arrived after rest had finished.
Vegetarian festive option not available, then waited hour for meal to arrive of which one was forgotten and arrived after rest had finished.
December 22, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Know it’s subjective & depends on your own experience but had very poor service here after Santa visit at Stewart’s last year.
Vegetarian festive option not available, then waited hour for meal to arrive of which one was forgotten and arrived after rest had finished.
Vegetarian festive option not available, then waited hour for meal to arrive of which one was forgotten and arrived after rest had finished.
The author talks of business needing regulatory alignment but fails to mention the absurdity of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 🤷🏻♂️
Why are no politicians highlighting the stupidity of this legislation in terms of lack of parliamentary scrutiny & the UK becoming a rule taker?
Why are no politicians highlighting the stupidity of this legislation in terms of lack of parliamentary scrutiny & the UK becoming a rule taker?
December 17, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The author talks of business needing regulatory alignment but fails to mention the absurdity of the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 🤷🏻♂️
Why are no politicians highlighting the stupidity of this legislation in terms of lack of parliamentary scrutiny & the UK becoming a rule taker?
Why are no politicians highlighting the stupidity of this legislation in terms of lack of parliamentary scrutiny & the UK becoming a rule taker?
You really need to watch ‘Married to the Game’ on Amazon.
December 13, 2025 at 12:40 PM
You really need to watch ‘Married to the Game’ on Amazon.
Here’s a good explainer
iandunt.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
iandunt.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
The hidden-away bill charting a course back to Europe
No-one wants you to look at the product safety and metrology bill. And there's a really good reason for that.
iandunt.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Here’s a good explainer
iandunt.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
iandunt.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
Also without being a member of the EU we have no say in how those regulations are set.
So much for taking back control 🤷🏻♂️
The Single Market is really where we need to be.
So much for taking back control 🤷🏻♂️
The Single Market is really where we need to be.
December 11, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Also without being a member of the EU we have no say in how those regulations are set.
So much for taking back control 🤷🏻♂️
The Single Market is really where we need to be.
So much for taking back control 🤷🏻♂️
The Single Market is really where we need to be.
I think the LibDems would be better placed pointing out the absurdity of say the Product Regulation & Metrology Act. Here ministers, without parliamentary scrutiny, will be passing regulation to align with EU. This is because business want to produce to standards for their largest market.
December 11, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I think the LibDems would be better placed pointing out the absurdity of say the Product Regulation & Metrology Act. Here ministers, without parliamentary scrutiny, will be passing regulation to align with EU. This is because business want to produce to standards for their largest market.
Whilst it’s a move in the right direction having read the article it doesn’t appear to offer the huge benefits that the LibDems are claiming.
Besides being a 10 minute bill it’s unlikely to be adopted.
Besides being a 10 minute bill it’s unlikely to be adopted.
December 11, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Whilst it’s a move in the right direction having read the article it doesn’t appear to offer the huge benefits that the LibDems are claiming.
Besides being a 10 minute bill it’s unlikely to be adopted.
Besides being a 10 minute bill it’s unlikely to be adopted.
I know it’s the ultimate goal but where we really need to be is the Single Market. How we were ever persuaded to vote to give up rights is still beyond me
ukandeu.ac.uk/is-a-customs...
ukandeu.ac.uk/is-a-customs...
Is a customs union worth it? - UK in a changing Europe
With debates about whether the UK should enter into a customs union with the EU resurfacing, Joël Reland explains what a customs union actually is and how one would, or wouldn't, benefit the UK.
ukandeu.ac.uk
December 11, 2025 at 6:39 AM
I know it’s the ultimate goal but where we really need to be is the Single Market. How we were ever persuaded to vote to give up rights is still beyond me
ukandeu.ac.uk/is-a-customs...
ukandeu.ac.uk/is-a-customs...
Seems increasingly likely that US has no interest in defending Ukraine & is increasingly aligned with Russia.
Europe must be prepared to go it alone, in the long term. We have to defend Ukraine to defend ourselves. Relying on US can no longer be a feasible policy.
Europe must be prepared to go it alone, in the long term. We have to defend Ukraine to defend ourselves. Relying on US can no longer be a feasible policy.
December 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Seems increasingly likely that US has no interest in defending Ukraine & is increasingly aligned with Russia.
Europe must be prepared to go it alone, in the long term. We have to defend Ukraine to defend ourselves. Relying on US can no longer be a feasible policy.
Europe must be prepared to go it alone, in the long term. We have to defend Ukraine to defend ourselves. Relying on US can no longer be a feasible policy.
Not convinced there’s ever been a ‘special relationship’ between UK & US although many UK politicians at the highest level have talked it up.
There certainly isn’t one with the current admin and they treat Europe with contempt & disregard for the rules based system.
There certainly isn’t one with the current admin and they treat Europe with contempt & disregard for the rules based system.
December 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Not convinced there’s ever been a ‘special relationship’ between UK & US although many UK politicians at the highest level have talked it up.
There certainly isn’t one with the current admin and they treat Europe with contempt & disregard for the rules based system.
There certainly isn’t one with the current admin and they treat Europe with contempt & disregard for the rules based system.