Mark Smith
@smithy0364.bsky.social
Chislehurst councillor (it matters!) in London Borough of Bromley. Knows that the year consists of 2 seasons - rugby and cricket, with blues, jazz and cask beer all year round!
If it’s not Wes Streeting, Labour lose the next election.
November 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
If it’s not Wes Streeting, Labour lose the next election.
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly to the past, but then six uniformed police officers hailed us from their launch…”
November 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly to the past, but then six uniformed police officers hailed us from their launch…”
Reminds me of the Ray Lowry cartoon in NME. Someone asks a library worker where they can find revolutionary socialism. “Where it’s always been, just around the corner…”
November 19, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reminds me of the Ray Lowry cartoon in NME. Someone asks a library worker where they can find revolutionary socialism. “Where it’s always been, just around the corner…”
But why are they putting out ideas and modifying policies in the run up to a Budget? Anyone could have predicted what the response to putting taxes up would have been. Likewise the response to this U turn.
November 14, 2025 at 7:34 AM
But why are they putting out ideas and modifying policies in the run up to a Budget? Anyone could have predicted what the response to putting taxes up would have been. Likewise the response to this U turn.
It’s not good. Reeves just seems inept at strategy and comms - and isn’t being helped by her advisers.
Can I suggest Pat McFadden has chancellor? Smart politician, incredibly clever, can spot a potential landmine from miles away, and a good communicator.
Can I suggest Pat McFadden has chancellor? Smart politician, incredibly clever, can spot a potential landmine from miles away, and a good communicator.
November 14, 2025 at 7:31 AM
It’s not good. Reeves just seems inept at strategy and comms - and isn’t being helped by her advisers.
Can I suggest Pat McFadden has chancellor? Smart politician, incredibly clever, can spot a potential landmine from miles away, and a good communicator.
Can I suggest Pat McFadden has chancellor? Smart politician, incredibly clever, can spot a potential landmine from miles away, and a good communicator.
West Wing cosplayers with no experience of the real world at all.
University, then a research job with the party, an MP, or think tank.
University, then a research job with the party, an MP, or think tank.
November 12, 2025 at 11:04 AM
West Wing cosplayers with no experience of the real world at all.
University, then a research job with the party, an MP, or think tank.
University, then a research job with the party, an MP, or think tank.
I do take your point, Pam.
But there’s strong evidence to suggest that the change was widely known, and there surely has to be some obligation on individuals to be aware of changes that could affect them.
There is a case for helping those in real need - especially if SP is their only income.
But there’s strong evidence to suggest that the change was widely known, and there surely has to be some obligation on individuals to be aware of changes that could affect them.
There is a case for helping those in real need - especially if SP is their only income.
November 11, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I do take your point, Pam.
But there’s strong evidence to suggest that the change was widely known, and there surely has to be some obligation on individuals to be aware of changes that could affect them.
There is a case for helping those in real need - especially if SP is their only income.
But there’s strong evidence to suggest that the change was widely known, and there surely has to be some obligation on individuals to be aware of changes that could affect them.
There is a case for helping those in real need - especially if SP is their only income.
My local Labour Party had a debate about it soon after Clarke’s Budget, and the pension company I worked for featured it in newsletters to advisers and clients regularly - before and after it became law in 1995
November 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM
My local Labour Party had a debate about it soon after Clarke’s Budget, and the pension company I worked for featured it in newsletters to advisers and clients regularly - before and after it became law in 1995
Oh no, that’s ridiculous.
Women had AT LEAST 15 years notice of their SPA going up from 60 to 65. It was all over the news in 1993 when it was in the Budget, and again in 1995 when Act was passed.
There may be some struggling financially, but WASPI campaigners refuse to consider prioritisation.
Women had AT LEAST 15 years notice of their SPA going up from 60 to 65. It was all over the news in 1993 when it was in the Budget, and again in 1995 when Act was passed.
There may be some struggling financially, but WASPI campaigners refuse to consider prioritisation.
November 11, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Oh no, that’s ridiculous.
Women had AT LEAST 15 years notice of their SPA going up from 60 to 65. It was all over the news in 1993 when it was in the Budget, and again in 1995 when Act was passed.
There may be some struggling financially, but WASPI campaigners refuse to consider prioritisation.
Women had AT LEAST 15 years notice of their SPA going up from 60 to 65. It was all over the news in 1993 when it was in the Budget, and again in 1995 when Act was passed.
There may be some struggling financially, but WASPI campaigners refuse to consider prioritisation.
Here’s a picture of him with one…
November 11, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Here’s a picture of him with one…
It’ll lift 400,000 children out of poverty. Hard to paint that as a bad outcome.
November 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
It’ll lift 400,000 children out of poverty. Hard to paint that as a bad outcome.
Maybe he thinks he can hypnotise Putin into giving up his nuclear arsenal….
November 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Maybe he thinks he can hypnotise Putin into giving up his nuclear arsenal….
It’s a minor point, but the lack of civility and basic human decency has become a hallmark of the Republican Party. A process that started, like a lot of bad things, with Newt Gingrich.
November 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM
It’s a minor point, but the lack of civility and basic human decency has become a hallmark of the Republican Party. A process that started, like a lot of bad things, with Newt Gingrich.
Like George Roper in Man About the House after changing a light- bulb - “tricky little repair job that”!
November 5, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Like George Roper in Man About the House after changing a light- bulb - “tricky little repair job that”!
But probably best for the Dems not to start thinking that selecting Democratic socialists is the route to electoral victory everywhere in the US. Or to assume that other candidates are going to be as lucky with the flawed opponents they get to face as Mamdani was!
Spanberger a better role model.
Spanberger a better role model.
November 5, 2025 at 8:04 AM
But probably best for the Dems not to start thinking that selecting Democratic socialists is the route to electoral victory everywhere in the US. Or to assume that other candidates are going to be as lucky with the flawed opponents they get to face as Mamdani was!
Spanberger a better role model.
Spanberger a better role model.
Mr Smith Goes to Washington
November 4, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Mr Smith Goes to Washington
If England win 1-0 with Jude Bellingham scoring the winning goal, Goodwin seems the type who will say it was a 0-0 draw….
Likewise Maro Itoje is an incredibly impressive individual and a great role model, yet Goodwin believes he shouldn’t be in the UK.
Likewise Maro Itoje is an incredibly impressive individual and a great role model, yet Goodwin believes he shouldn’t be in the UK.
November 3, 2025 at 9:23 AM
If England win 1-0 with Jude Bellingham scoring the winning goal, Goodwin seems the type who will say it was a 0-0 draw….
Likewise Maro Itoje is an incredibly impressive individual and a great role model, yet Goodwin believes he shouldn’t be in the UK.
Likewise Maro Itoje is an incredibly impressive individual and a great role model, yet Goodwin believes he shouldn’t be in the UK.
Journalists asks the treasury “Are you thinking of an exit tax?”
Treasury refuse to comment on speculation.
Headline - “Reeves refuses to rule out an exit tax”
Treasury refuse to comment on speculation.
Headline - “Reeves refuses to rule out an exit tax”
November 2, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Journalists asks the treasury “Are you thinking of an exit tax?”
Treasury refuse to comment on speculation.
Headline - “Reeves refuses to rule out an exit tax”
Treasury refuse to comment on speculation.
Headline - “Reeves refuses to rule out an exit tax”
It’s the “Hurst” that’s always intrigued me. Is it three of something, as a tribute to his World Cup final hat trick? Had Sir Geoff made an unexpected entry into New Jersey hot rod racer vernacular?
November 2, 2025 at 8:35 AM
It’s the “Hurst” that’s always intrigued me. Is it three of something, as a tribute to his World Cup final hat trick? Had Sir Geoff made an unexpected entry into New Jersey hot rod racer vernacular?
First world problems….
November 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
First world problems….
Reposted by Mark Smith
They were careless people, Don and Elon—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.
November 1, 2025 at 4:58 AM
They were careless people, Don and Elon—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.