Rodney Bates
@rodneybates.bsky.social
Charity manager and former Councillor . Try to help people & make them smile. Tweets are personal view. #poverty #interfaith #community #charity
I can remember watching Celebrity Big Brother in the year of Michael Barrymore, Pete Burns, Rula Lenska, Jodie Marsh, Dennis Rodman and George Galloway. This year, most people will be working out how many "celebrities" they recognise - so far Chesney Hawkes & Trisha Goddard are not the same level..
April 7, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I can remember watching Celebrity Big Brother in the year of Michael Barrymore, Pete Burns, Rula Lenska, Jodie Marsh, Dennis Rodman and George Galloway. This year, most people will be working out how many "celebrities" they recognise - so far Chesney Hawkes & Trisha Goddard are not the same level..
Pleased to say that I genuinely picked the winner of the Grand National because I thought it had good form and had won their last 2 races..33/1 😊
April 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Pleased to say that I genuinely picked the winner of the Grand National because I thought it had good form and had won their last 2 races..33/1 😊
Personally, I think this case on VAT is on weak grounds... I can see a potentially good legal argument for equality of SEND pupils unable to access free education but I can't see how the imposition of VAT to any charge already paid would be relevant to that argument.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Legal action begins over private school VAT changes
Families argue that the policy
www.bbc.co.uk
April 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Personally, I think this case on VAT is on weak grounds... I can see a potentially good legal argument for equality of SEND pupils unable to access free education but I can't see how the imposition of VAT to any charge already paid would be relevant to that argument.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Still think Heather Knight should have remained in place but to train up her successor over next 12 months. One name not mentioned much is Danni Wyatt-Hodge who is best fielder by some distance & a good T20 bat if England are wanting to try new approach. Tammy Beaumont is probably the right choice
March 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Still think Heather Knight should have remained in place but to train up her successor over next 12 months. One name not mentioned much is Danni Wyatt-Hodge who is best fielder by some distance & a good T20 bat if England are wanting to try new approach. Tammy Beaumont is probably the right choice
Worst @LFC performance by a million miles this season...no energy, no drive, no obvious passion, dreadful passing. Lost almost every tackle in the entire match. Newcastle turned up today with a plan & performance whereas Liverpool looked clueless. Perhaps the extra time & pens v PSG took their toll
March 16, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Worst @LFC performance by a million miles this season...no energy, no drive, no obvious passion, dreadful passing. Lost almost every tackle in the entire match. Newcastle turned up today with a plan & performance whereas Liverpool looked clueless. Perhaps the extra time & pens v PSG took their toll
Good - this should be dropped. There is a massive difference between rightfully ensuring those capable of work should do so but also ensuring that those unable to do so through disability have dignity and respect and an ability to have a basic life. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Plan to freeze PIP disability benefits may be dropped
Many usually loyal Labour MPs had voiced strong opposition to the idea, with the government expected to cut billions from the welfare bill.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 15, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Good - this should be dropped. There is a massive difference between rightfully ensuring those capable of work should do so but also ensuring that those unable to do so through disability have dignity and respect and an ability to have a basic life. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Let's be clear - New Zealand were the ethical winners of Champions Trophy. The tournament was completely demeaned by ridiculous advantages given to India using the same ground set up for their team & not having to travel. In contrast, New Zealand played on different surfaces & several 3 hr flights.
March 9, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Let's be clear - New Zealand were the ethical winners of Champions Trophy. The tournament was completely demeaned by ridiculous advantages given to India using the same ground set up for their team & not having to travel. In contrast, New Zealand played on different surfaces & several 3 hr flights.
Lot of news reports today about senior civil servant performance concerns. However, the civil service (as with local govt) already has capability policies to address under-performance. These start with development plans & go up to dismissal. Sounds like rhetoric rather than meaningful policy.
March 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Lot of news reports today about senior civil servant performance concerns. However, the civil service (as with local govt) already has capability policies to address under-performance. These start with development plans & go up to dismissal. Sounds like rhetoric rather than meaningful policy.
I would be interested to see the expected goals for PSG compared with the expected goals for Liverpool...
March 5, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I would be interested to see the expected goals for PSG compared with the expected goals for Liverpool...
That has got to be one of the biggest "smash and grab" in Champions League football from @lfcr.bsky.social - probably the best keeping I have seen for many years, a surprising substitution and then how on earth did we win that.....
March 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
That has got to be one of the biggest "smash and grab" in Champions League football from @lfcr.bsky.social - probably the best keeping I have seen for many years, a surprising substitution and then how on earth did we win that.....
This situation should never be allowed in international sport. If India did not want to visit Pakistan then they should have either forfeited matches or been replaced with Sri Lanka. This gives a ridiculous & unfair advantage to India rendering the tournament a farce. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Champions Trophy 2025: Australia and South Africa will travel to Dubai ahead of potential semi-final
Australia and South Africa will travel to Dubai before the Champions Trophy semi-finals, despite not knowing if they will play there or in Pakistan.
www.bbc.co.uk
March 2, 2025 at 3:50 PM
This situation should never be allowed in international sport. If India did not want to visit Pakistan then they should have either forfeited matches or been replaced with Sri Lanka. This gives a ridiculous & unfair advantage to India rendering the tournament a farce. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
If Ukraine situation is not resolved by Monday (which seems very unlikely after tonight) then there is going to be a huge amount of internal party and UK pressure to cancel the Trump State Visit. It was definitely worth a try as a way of massaging egos to avoid tariffs but Ukraine is more important
February 28, 2025 at 8:33 PM
If Ukraine situation is not resolved by Monday (which seems very unlikely after tonight) then there is going to be a huge amount of internal party and UK pressure to cancel the Trump State Visit. It was definitely worth a try as a way of massaging egos to avoid tariffs but Ukraine is more important
It would be highly provocative but the morally correct decision would be for the King to immediately cancel the State Visit to Donald Trump & instead offer it to President Zelensky instead....
February 28, 2025 at 8:03 PM
It would be highly provocative but the morally correct decision would be for the King to immediately cancel the State Visit to Donald Trump & instead offer it to President Zelensky instead....
Following the events of tonight, we should now immediately withdraw the invitation for the second Trump state visit & make clear our solidarity with Ukraine against Russian aggression. It was worth a try to massage Trump's ego but sadly it is clear that he has prioritised Russia above the UK.
February 28, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Following the events of tonight, we should now immediately withdraw the invitation for the second Trump state visit & make clear our solidarity with Ukraine against Russian aggression. It was worth a try to massage Trump's ego but sadly it is clear that he has prioritised Russia above the UK.
My England ODI team for next match... Jacks, Duckett, Root, S Curran, Brook, Buttler, Smith (wkt), Dawson/Overton, Rashid, Archer, Mahmood/Topley....more importantly, it needs a proper knockout one day comp in England at start of season not an 2nd XI style afterthought.
February 26, 2025 at 6:16 PM
My England ODI team for next match... Jacks, Duckett, Root, S Curran, Brook, Buttler, Smith (wkt), Dawson/Overton, Rashid, Archer, Mahmood/Topley....more importantly, it needs a proper knockout one day comp in England at start of season not an 2nd XI style afterthought.
Really poor from England - wrong team & wrong tactics. 1)Bowling 3 right arm quicks along with another 10 overs of part-time right arm spin is nonsense. 2) Salt is T20 only, Smith can't keep & bat at 3 & Livingstone too inconsistent. 3) Buttler is too passive as Capt. Why was Sam Curran dropped?
February 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Really poor from England - wrong team & wrong tactics. 1)Bowling 3 right arm quicks along with another 10 overs of part-time right arm spin is nonsense. 2) Salt is T20 only, Smith can't keep & bat at 3 & Livingstone too inconsistent. 3) Buttler is too passive as Capt. Why was Sam Curran dropped?
Nothing better than very late night penalties to see some high class goalkeeping housery in blatant time wasting & putting people off....#EXEvNOT
February 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Nothing better than very late night penalties to see some high class goalkeeping housery in blatant time wasting & putting people off....#EXEvNOT
A really good article about populism - the best response to populism is use positive emotion & vision. "Why do you want to get rid of British heroes like Sir Mo Farah?" for example...the reality is that you address the feelings of emotion with positive hope www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pop...
How to defeat populism
The core message should be that populist policies are stupid and won’t work. But that argument is only credible from people voters respect
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
February 11, 2025 at 10:57 PM
A really good article about populism - the best response to populism is use positive emotion & vision. "Why do you want to get rid of British heroes like Sir Mo Farah?" for example...the reality is that you address the feelings of emotion with positive hope www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pop...
No idea how the Forest fans will go home tonight with this very late finish....unless times have changed, the last trains out of Exeter going north would have left about 8pm...
February 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
No idea how the Forest fans will go home tonight with this very late finish....unless times have changed, the last trains out of Exeter going north would have left about 8pm...
What a fantastic game of football at St James Park, Exeter...used to watch from the terraces as it was my uni team and the first match I watched was a 6-4 defeat....there might be a problem though with the timing as it's in residential area, already 10.20pm & it is at least 30 mins of Extra time...
February 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
What a fantastic game of football at St James Park, Exeter...used to watch from the terraces as it was my uni team and the first match I watched was a 6-4 defeat....there might be a problem though with the timing as it's in residential area, already 10.20pm & it is at least 30 mins of Extra time...
There's an third interesting case working through the court involving nurses at a Scottish hospital. It is currently live at the courts but I will comment afterwards on some of the legal aspects raised.
February 11, 2025 at 6:51 PM
There's an third interesting case working through the court involving nurses at a Scottish hospital. It is currently live at the courts but I will comment afterwards on some of the legal aspects raised.
Second interesting legal case was footballer Sam Kerr & allegations of racial harassment. Again the legal position here is key. Prosecution were always on weak grounds when alleged upset of specific comment was only raised 11 months later & the CCTV recording of incident showed no obvious distress.
February 11, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Second interesting legal case was footballer Sam Kerr & allegations of racial harassment. Again the legal position here is key. Prosecution were always on weak grounds when alleged upset of specific comment was only raised 11 months later & the CCTV recording of incident showed no obvious distress.
Two interesting court cases ended today. On the case of vetting Met Police officers, the Judge is correct on current regs but the answer would be to have a formal dismissal process & hearing for "frustration of contract" for officers that fail vetting. Officer can then test the reasons at hearing.
February 11, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Two interesting court cases ended today. On the case of vetting Met Police officers, the Judge is correct on current regs but the answer would be to have a formal dismissal process & hearing for "frustration of contract" for officers that fail vetting. Officer can then test the reasons at hearing.
If any Premier League team decides to play their reserves & youth players in the FA Cup then they deserve to go out. The @LFC team changed every outfield player & arguably only one player (Jota) would be in a regular first XI. FA Cup was clearly lowest priority & it showed today...
February 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
If any Premier League team decides to play their reserves & youth players in the FA Cup then they deserve to go out. The @LFC team changed every outfield player & arguably only one player (Jota) would be in a regular first XI. FA Cup was clearly lowest priority & it showed today...
Seems ridiculous for a FA Cup match to be won due to a clearly offside goal when VAR was available and used every week by both sides...#MNULEI
February 7, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Seems ridiculous for a FA Cup match to be won due to a clearly offside goal when VAR was available and used every week by both sides...#MNULEI