Simon Pease
@simonpease.bsky.social
Former UK diplomat. Neglectful gardener, baker, and maker. There is one planet. We pass through and are supposed to take care of it. Politics, as well as random observations on other stuff. No unsolicited DMs.
Pinned
Simon Pease
@simonpease.bsky.social
· Dec 2
Human beings are capable of believing two things which are mutually contradictory at the same time, without realising it.
Reposted by Simon Pease
Reposted by Simon Pease
Just went on Radio 4 to talk about Hitler’s genitals. So glad I trained as a historian for this
November 13, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Just went on Radio 4 to talk about Hitler’s genitals. So glad I trained as a historian for this
Reposted by Simon Pease
Apparently, the only thing these people are more desperate to see cut than the interest rate is the age of consent.
Megyn Kelly: "I know somebody very close to this case…Jeffrey Epstein, in this person's view, was not a pedophile…He was into the barely legal type, like he liked 15 year old girls…He wasn't into like 8 year olds…There's a difference between a 15 year old and a 5 year old."
November 13, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Apparently, the only thing these people are more desperate to see cut than the interest rate is the age of consent.
Reposted by Simon Pease
X is a radicalisation machine that pushes people into angry extremism, peddles disinformation and conspiracy theories and is run by an egomaniacal lunatic who threatens civil war on our streets and wants to trash our democracy.
It does nothing but harm.
So, yes. Government should stop using it.
It does nothing but harm.
So, yes. Government should stop using it.
🔉What dangers does X pose to our democracy? And should the government stop using it?
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
November 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM
X is a radicalisation machine that pushes people into angry extremism, peddles disinformation and conspiracy theories and is run by an egomaniacal lunatic who threatens civil war on our streets and wants to trash our democracy.
It does nothing but harm.
So, yes. Government should stop using it.
It does nothing but harm.
So, yes. Government should stop using it.
Reposted by Simon Pease
Have written for the New Statesman about why, if he will not accept an apology, the BBC should welcome a Trump lawsuit. They should show guts and fight it because impartially matters and if they don't, they will have tacitly accepted a rewritten history.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
Trump's attack can rescue the BBC
The BBC should use the threat of legal action to strike a blow for press freedom
www.newstatesman.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Have written for the New Statesman about why, if he will not accept an apology, the BBC should welcome a Trump lawsuit. They should show guts and fight it because impartially matters and if they don't, they will have tacitly accepted a rewritten history.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/med...
Reposted by Simon Pease
Yesterday in Parliament I said that the government should leave X.
🔉What dangers does X pose to our democracy? And should the government stop using it?
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
Good to hear yesterday from @sundersays.bsky.social and @petergeoghegan.bsky.social on the immense risk of X as it ignores legal obligations and its owner tries to influence UK politics.
@commonswec.parliament.uk
November 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Yesterday in Parliament I said that the government should leave X.
Reposted by Simon Pease
On continued EU discussions about the UK - the crux remains as per this quote - “We made an agreement in May — that should be the foundation for our conversation” - whether the EU is going to breach the common understanding 6 months on. www.politico.eu/article/uk-p...
Brussels deadlocked over how to handle Brexit Britain
Talks will continue into Wednesday as member states remain divided over the question of U.K. payments into EU budget funds.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM
On continued EU discussions about the UK - the crux remains as per this quote - “We made an agreement in May — that should be the foundation for our conversation” - whether the EU is going to breach the common understanding 6 months on. www.politico.eu/article/uk-p...
Reposted by Simon Pease
Why supply chains and globalisation are here to stay. Not least when the cost of living in Europe and North America is such an issue. But they will be constantly under review. And this advantages the largest companies. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
November 13, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Why supply chains and globalisation are here to stay. Not least when the cost of living in Europe and North America is such an issue. But they will be constantly under review. And this advantages the largest companies. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
Reposted by Simon Pease
UK trade figures. Not a happy picture.
The immediate post-Brexit policy was a failure. Despite protests otherwise it seems this year's trade strategy will be only half-heartedly implemented.
The immediate post-Brexit policy was a failure. Despite protests otherwise it seems this year's trade strategy will be only half-heartedly implemented.
Quarterly trade data out this morning. Goods exports were down 0.7% compared to Q2, with weak USA exports certainly contributing. In addition, services trade growth seems to have slowed, with growth of just 0.2%.
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
UK trade figures. Not a happy picture.
The immediate post-Brexit policy was a failure. Despite protests otherwise it seems this year's trade strategy will be only half-heartedly implemented.
The immediate post-Brexit policy was a failure. Despite protests otherwise it seems this year's trade strategy will be only half-heartedly implemented.
1/2 A lot of interesting and informative reporting on the state of UK/EU negotiations, and current UK/EU relations. Both were always going to be difficult, and opinions in the EU divided. But it depends what your timeframe and your expectations are. There have been even more apparently intractable…
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
1/2 A lot of interesting and informative reporting on the state of UK/EU negotiations, and current UK/EU relations. Both were always going to be difficult, and opinions in the EU divided. But it depends what your timeframe and your expectations are. There have been even more apparently intractable…
Trump/Epstein. One can only watch, of course. But pleased to see signs that whatever he does, Trump is rightly damned. If the files aren’t released speculation and conspiracy pointing at him grows. If they are released…
November 13, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Trump/Epstein. One can only watch, of course. But pleased to see signs that whatever he does, Trump is rightly damned. If the files aren’t released speculation and conspiracy pointing at him grows. If they are released…
Reposted by Simon Pease
Well at least he was never political
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Well at least he was never political
Reposted by Simon Pease
Apropos of nothing, let's remember, for a moment, all those high profile and very powerful people... who threatened legal action left right and centre and yet who.... when they were dead and could no longer sue... were deserted completely by all their fawning acolytes
November 12, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Apropos of nothing, let's remember, for a moment, all those high profile and very powerful people... who threatened legal action left right and centre and yet who.... when they were dead and could no longer sue... were deserted completely by all their fawning acolytes
Reposted by Simon Pease
"These emails are cherry-picked."
"Ok, but you get that it's a problem that your tree has ANY cherries that are emails conspiring with a paedophilic sex trafficker?"
"Ok, but you get that it's a problem that your tree has ANY cherries that are emails conspiring with a paedophilic sex trafficker?"
November 13, 2025 at 7:16 AM
"These emails are cherry-picked."
"Ok, but you get that it's a problem that your tree has ANY cherries that are emails conspiring with a paedophilic sex trafficker?"
"Ok, but you get that it's a problem that your tree has ANY cherries that are emails conspiring with a paedophilic sex trafficker?"
Reposted by Simon Pease
The Telegraph sides with Trump against the BBC and, so, the country.
Private Eye sums up its feeble-minded, fawning betrayal beautifully.
Private Eye sums up its feeble-minded, fawning betrayal beautifully.
November 13, 2025 at 7:30 AM
The Telegraph sides with Trump against the BBC and, so, the country.
Private Eye sums up its feeble-minded, fawning betrayal beautifully.
Private Eye sums up its feeble-minded, fawning betrayal beautifully.
I am getting very tired of hearing that MPs, of any stripe, “fear for their jobs”. Their jobs are a privilege entrusted to them by voters who have a right to throw them out. At least they can wait until an election. They might think about those who can be thrown out of work at any time.
November 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM
I am getting very tired of hearing that MPs, of any stripe, “fear for their jobs”. Their jobs are a privilege entrusted to them by voters who have a right to throw them out. At least they can wait until an election. They might think about those who can be thrown out of work at any time.
Reposted by Simon Pease
On another point, it’s unbelievable that the EU are asking for €6.5bn as an entry fee to access SAFE. Remember: this is a loan scheme. The Gov’t are willing to contribute to the costs of running it. But a €6.5 bn fee is so off the scale that it suggests some EU members don’t want UK in the scheme.
Thanks to the FT for quoting me on the Lords European Affairs Cttee report. But as I understand the outcome of the Brussels debate on money, a UK contribution to EU cohesion funds w’d only be sought for future access to the Internal Market, not for SPS/ETS deals. This is good news. t.co/8UqLZ7bGn4
https://www.ft.com/content/acf92b43-8c9e-4c6f-9029-60ad4fb16b4b
t.co
November 12, 2025 at 10:40 PM
On another point, it’s unbelievable that the EU are asking for €6.5bn as an entry fee to access SAFE. Remember: this is a loan scheme. The Gov’t are willing to contribute to the costs of running it. But a €6.5 bn fee is so off the scale that it suggests some EU members don’t want UK in the scheme.
Reposted by Simon Pease
Thanks to the FT for quoting me on the Lords European Affairs Cttee report. But as I understand the outcome of the Brussels debate on money, a UK contribution to EU cohesion funds w’d only be sought for future access to the Internal Market, not for SPS/ETS deals. This is good news. t.co/8UqLZ7bGn4
https://www.ft.com/content/acf92b43-8c9e-4c6f-9029-60ad4fb16b4b
t.co
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Thanks to the FT for quoting me on the Lords European Affairs Cttee report. But as I understand the outcome of the Brussels debate on money, a UK contribution to EU cohesion funds w’d only be sought for future access to the Internal Market, not for SPS/ETS deals. This is good news. t.co/8UqLZ7bGn4
Reposted by Simon Pease
Just think - a mere 24 hours ago Farage was savaging the BBC for offending the ‘leader of the free world’ and Tory MP Nigel Huddleston was saying the BBC should grovel to him.
November 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Just think - a mere 24 hours ago Farage was savaging the BBC for offending the ‘leader of the free world’ and Tory MP Nigel Huddleston was saying the BBC should grovel to him.
Reposted by Simon Pease
Wait till he hears about the Electoral College..
November 12, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Wait till he hears about the Electoral College..
Reposted by Simon Pease
Yeah, but no. It’s not about agreement or disagreement. It’s not about opinion. It’s about evidence and proof.
JD Vance: "Science as practiced in its best form is that if you disagree with it, then you ought to criticize it and you ought to argue against it."
November 12, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Yeah, but no. It’s not about agreement or disagreement. It’s not about opinion. It’s about evidence and proof.
Reposted by Simon Pease
Reform UK Ltd gets 92% of its funding from climate change deniers and fossil fuel corporate interests, provoking negative reactions.
A new survey reveals negative attitudes to Reform UK Ltd
Reform UK Ltd gets 92% of its funding from climate change deniers and fossil fuel corporate interests, provoking negative reactions
centralbylines.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reform UK Ltd gets 92% of its funding from climate change deniers and fossil fuel corporate interests, provoking negative reactions.
Reposted by Simon Pease
Given that the far right hates Black and Brown people, hates women, hates immigrants, hates liberals, leftists and greens, hates students and universities, hates civil servants, hates disabled people, hates gay and trans people and hates Jews and Muslims, what is this country it claims to love?
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Given that the far right hates Black and Brown people, hates women, hates immigrants, hates liberals, leftists and greens, hates students and universities, hates civil servants, hates disabled people, hates gay and trans people and hates Jews and Muslims, what is this country it claims to love?
Reposted by Simon Pease
"The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy"
Defend the BBC before it’s gone – an open letter
The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:25 PM
"The BBC isn’t perfect – but it’s ours. If we don’t defend it now, we may lose a cornerstone of British democracy"
Reposted by Simon Pease
I did not have insider knowledge. I have just been around Brussels negotiations for a long time...
EU agrees a mandate for UK negotiations as I predicted. With the bonus that the future path becomes clearer - if you pay you can have more. www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
EU agrees a mandate for UK negotiations as I predicted. With the bonus that the future path becomes clearer - if you pay you can have more. www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
November 12, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I did not have insider knowledge. I have just been around Brussels negotiations for a long time...
EU agrees a mandate for UK negotiations as I predicted. With the bonus that the future path becomes clearer - if you pay you can have more. www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...
EU agrees a mandate for UK negotiations as I predicted. With the bonus that the future path becomes clearer - if you pay you can have more. www.politico.eu/article/uk-s...