Simon Spoerer
@simonspoerer.bsky.social
Retired ex social worker, social care regulator and policy manager. Now enjoying myself with classic motorcycles, running, heritage railway volunteering and morris dancing.
Still passionately European and pro PR.
Still passionately European and pro PR.
This!!!
Voting reform has never been more important. Everyone needs to feel able to first preference vote for the party of their choice, but also to have representatives that reflect the values of the people in their constituencies.
Voting reform has never been more important. Everyone needs to feel able to first preference vote for the party of their choice, but also to have representatives that reflect the values of the people in their constituencies.
The story about Reform's successes in the elections overlooked the fact that the left actually did better than the right. So that'll be media bias again.
Welcome to this week's Pecksniff's Diary from @pecksniffsdiary.bsky.social
Welcome to this week's Pecksniff's Diary from @pecksniffsdiary.bsky.social
Pecksniff: The election results swing not to Reform, but to the left
In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life
eastangliabylines.co.uk
May 10, 2025 at 6:47 AM
This!!!
Voting reform has never been more important. Everyone needs to feel able to first preference vote for the party of their choice, but also to have representatives that reflect the values of the people in their constituencies.
Voting reform has never been more important. Everyone needs to feel able to first preference vote for the party of their choice, but also to have representatives that reflect the values of the people in their constituencies.
Given wealth inequality and crumbling public services I so want to tax the rich. But they have all sorts of ways of avoiding that. If wealth was distributed more equitably the tax take would also rise.
Would campaigning against obscene wealth inequality be a better use of energy?
Would campaigning against obscene wealth inequality be a better use of energy?
May 10, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Given wealth inequality and crumbling public services I so want to tax the rich. But they have all sorts of ways of avoiding that. If wealth was distributed more equitably the tax take would also rise.
Would campaigning against obscene wealth inequality be a better use of energy?
Would campaigning against obscene wealth inequality be a better use of energy?
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
#WealthTax works: Norway’s wealthiest have faced a wealth tax since 1892, and over the generations, no nation has taken taxing wealth as seriously. If we want less inequality, tax policies must be distributive. This is the fairest way and provides a better foundation for the country to create value.
For the Rich, One Nation Isn’t Rolling Out the Red Carpet - Inequality.org
Norway, maybe more than any other nation, is really working to share the wealth.
inequality.org
November 16, 2024 at 5:06 PM
#WealthTax works: Norway’s wealthiest have faced a wealth tax since 1892, and over the generations, no nation has taken taxing wealth as seriously. If we want less inequality, tax policies must be distributive. This is the fairest way and provides a better foundation for the country to create value.
I got drunk with John Prescott once. A long time ago, when he was in the political wilderness in the early days of New Labour. Such a great guy, I really liked him.
A very sad loss.
A very sad loss.
November 21, 2024 at 8:12 AM
I got drunk with John Prescott once. A long time ago, when he was in the political wilderness in the early days of New Labour. Such a great guy, I really liked him.
A very sad loss.
A very sad loss.
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
1. The difference so far (and for god's sake let's keep it that way) between X and Bluesky is not between right and left but between abuse and respect.
A good society is built on mutual respect. But what does this mean?
A short thread.🧵
A good society is built on mutual respect. But what does this mean?
A short thread.🧵
November 21, 2024 at 7:54 AM
1. The difference so far (and for god's sake let's keep it that way) between X and Bluesky is not between right and left but between abuse and respect.
A good society is built on mutual respect. But what does this mean?
A short thread.🧵
A good society is built on mutual respect. But what does this mean?
A short thread.🧵
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
Ronald Reagan turned millionaires into billionaires on the backs of the working class.
Now Trump is going to turn billionaires into trillionaires on the necks of the working class.
Wealth inequality is a scourge on society which will ultimately destroy us all.
Tax the rich.
A lot.
Now Trump is going to turn billionaires into trillionaires on the necks of the working class.
Wealth inequality is a scourge on society which will ultimately destroy us all.
Tax the rich.
A lot.
November 19, 2024 at 12:41 PM
Ronald Reagan turned millionaires into billionaires on the backs of the working class.
Now Trump is going to turn billionaires into trillionaires on the necks of the working class.
Wealth inequality is a scourge on society which will ultimately destroy us all.
Tax the rich.
A lot.
Now Trump is going to turn billionaires into trillionaires on the necks of the working class.
Wealth inequality is a scourge on society which will ultimately destroy us all.
Tax the rich.
A lot.
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
🔥 OK, let’s REALLY test out the power of this new Bluesky community.
All of you #Rejoin folk out there… You saw that we just appointed Dominic Grieve & Caroline Lucas as co-Presidents…
And you know our 23,000 membership is now growing fast…
So - are we doing this? Are you IN?
Then join! 👇👇
All of you #Rejoin folk out there… You saw that we just appointed Dominic Grieve & Caroline Lucas as co-Presidents…
And you know our 23,000 membership is now growing fast…
So - are we doing this? Are you IN?
Then join! 👇👇
European Movement
We're the UK's largest pro-European movement. Our goal is to reverse the calamity of Brexit and restore relations with our European neighbours.
www.europeanmovement.co.uk
November 18, 2024 at 4:45 PM
🔥 OK, let’s REALLY test out the power of this new Bluesky community.
All of you #Rejoin folk out there… You saw that we just appointed Dominic Grieve & Caroline Lucas as co-Presidents…
And you know our 23,000 membership is now growing fast…
So - are we doing this? Are you IN?
Then join! 👇👇
All of you #Rejoin folk out there… You saw that we just appointed Dominic Grieve & Caroline Lucas as co-Presidents…
And you know our 23,000 membership is now growing fast…
So - are we doing this? Are you IN?
Then join! 👇👇
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
Okay, let’s get down to business.
Wes Streeting’s planning a centralised system for our health data & doctors’ notes. That could bring great benefits.
But we can’t risk handing them over to a rogue operator like Palantir.
Write to him to demand he rules out their involvement:
goodlaw.social/ss1q
Wes Streeting’s planning a centralised system for our health data & doctors’ notes. That could bring great benefits.
But we can’t risk handing them over to a rogue operator like Palantir.
Write to him to demand he rules out their involvement:
goodlaw.social/ss1q
Ask Wes Streeting to rule Palantir out of his NHS technology revolution
Wes Streeting has announced plans to launch care records – a central store of all our health data and doctors’ notes. But we haven’t heard him address the elephant in the room: Palantir. Palantir’s tr...
goodlaw.social
November 14, 2024 at 12:27 PM
Okay, let’s get down to business.
Wes Streeting’s planning a centralised system for our health data & doctors’ notes. That could bring great benefits.
But we can’t risk handing them over to a rogue operator like Palantir.
Write to him to demand he rules out their involvement:
goodlaw.social/ss1q
Wes Streeting’s planning a centralised system for our health data & doctors’ notes. That could bring great benefits.
But we can’t risk handing them over to a rogue operator like Palantir.
Write to him to demand he rules out their involvement:
goodlaw.social/ss1q
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
As the Trump reality hardens into something world-threateningly grim with a cabinet chock full of dangerously vindictive inadequates; including power-abusing billionaires, sex pests, conspiracy theorists, Russian assets, racists and climate deniers…
Never forget who cheered this nightmare on…
Never forget who cheered this nightmare on…
List of UK politicians/political figures who have declared support for Trump:
• Boris Johnson
• Liz Truss
• Suella Braverman
• Andrea Jenkyns
• Jacob Rees-Mogg
• Nigel Farage
• Lord Frost
• John Hayes
• Robert Jenrick
• Sammy Wilson
• Ian Paisley
• Jake Berry
• Kwasi Kwarteng
• Tim Montgomerie
• Boris Johnson
• Liz Truss
• Suella Braverman
• Andrea Jenkyns
• Jacob Rees-Mogg
• Nigel Farage
• Lord Frost
• John Hayes
• Robert Jenrick
• Sammy Wilson
• Ian Paisley
• Jake Berry
• Kwasi Kwarteng
• Tim Montgomerie
November 17, 2024 at 8:46 AM
As the Trump reality hardens into something world-threateningly grim with a cabinet chock full of dangerously vindictive inadequates; including power-abusing billionaires, sex pests, conspiracy theorists, Russian assets, racists and climate deniers…
Never forget who cheered this nightmare on…
Never forget who cheered this nightmare on…
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
We met floor-crossing Tory then Labour MP @rosieisaholt.bsky.social
And she’s still defending Brexit…
And she’s still defending Brexit…
November 13, 2024 at 5:56 PM
We met floor-crossing Tory then Labour MP @rosieisaholt.bsky.social
And she’s still defending Brexit…
And she’s still defending Brexit…
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
BBC News, "What's your reaction to RFK junior as Health Secretary?"
Kim Darroch, "This is the wildest of the Trump cabinet appointments.. This guy is an anti-vaxer who believes vaccines cause autism, and he's a conspiracy theorist.. It's going to be a bumpy ride"
Kim Darroch, "This is the wildest of the Trump cabinet appointments.. This guy is an anti-vaxer who believes vaccines cause autism, and he's a conspiracy theorist.. It's going to be a bumpy ride"
November 15, 2024 at 5:23 PM
BBC News, "What's your reaction to RFK junior as Health Secretary?"
Kim Darroch, "This is the wildest of the Trump cabinet appointments.. This guy is an anti-vaxer who believes vaccines cause autism, and he's a conspiracy theorist.. It's going to be a bumpy ride"
Kim Darroch, "This is the wildest of the Trump cabinet appointments.. This guy is an anti-vaxer who believes vaccines cause autism, and he's a conspiracy theorist.. It's going to be a bumpy ride"
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
Imagine sitting down for a drink or a meal with people whose company you enjoyed & being told by management that half of the table would be now occupied by people who just wanted to shout ‘C**t’ at you. The exodus has absolutely nothing to do with ‘opinions’. Media reports must reflect this more.
November 15, 2024 at 5:44 PM
Imagine sitting down for a drink or a meal with people whose company you enjoyed & being told by management that half of the table would be now occupied by people who just wanted to shout ‘C**t’ at you. The exodus has absolutely nothing to do with ‘opinions’. Media reports must reflect this more.
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
I really don’t understand this whole ‘stay on Twitter and fight’ thing. You’re jousting with bots and reply guys and wading through ads it’s not Waterloo.
November 16, 2024 at 1:44 PM
I really don’t understand this whole ‘stay on Twitter and fight’ thing. You’re jousting with bots and reply guys and wading through ads it’s not Waterloo.
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
“There are five areas that authoritarians want to control when they attempt to decapitate a democratic state, authoritarian expert Timothy Snyder writes: health, law, administration, defense & intelligence... each of these arenas, the goal is to create chaos — and yes, even death.”
bit.ly/3ABgZEm
bit.ly/3ABgZEm
Is Trump trying to kill us? Authoritarian expert says yes. Here’s how
It sounds hyperbolic, but it's not
bit.ly
November 16, 2024 at 6:12 PM
“There are five areas that authoritarians want to control when they attempt to decapitate a democratic state, authoritarian expert Timothy Snyder writes: health, law, administration, defense & intelligence... each of these arenas, the goal is to create chaos — and yes, even death.”
bit.ly/3ABgZEm
bit.ly/3ABgZEm
Reposted by Simon Spoerer
Medical historian here to remind you of the benefits of #vaccines!
This is the final stage of tetanus when nerves fire continuously & body contorts into agonizing posture known as opisthotonus. The mastication muscles clamp down to form the hallmark lockjaw.
A vaccine didn't appear until 1924.
.
This is the final stage of tetanus when nerves fire continuously & body contorts into agonizing posture known as opisthotonus. The mastication muscles clamp down to form the hallmark lockjaw.
A vaccine didn't appear until 1924.
.
November 14, 2024 at 2:06 PM
Medical historian here to remind you of the benefits of #vaccines!
This is the final stage of tetanus when nerves fire continuously & body contorts into agonizing posture known as opisthotonus. The mastication muscles clamp down to form the hallmark lockjaw.
A vaccine didn't appear until 1924.
.
This is the final stage of tetanus when nerves fire continuously & body contorts into agonizing posture known as opisthotonus. The mastication muscles clamp down to form the hallmark lockjaw.
A vaccine didn't appear until 1924.
.