Martin Leyland
@strategicthinking.bsky.social
Don’t hate. Debate.
Neurodivergent, Kirkby Lonsdale and Peebles loving, development consultant
Neurodivergent, Kirkby Lonsdale and Peebles loving, development consultant
Travelling violation….
😁
😁
December 16, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Travelling violation….
😁
😁
‘What is best for their children?’
Incredible hardly describes it.
Incredible hardly describes it.
December 16, 2025 at 10:28 AM
‘What is best for their children?’
Incredible hardly describes it.
Incredible hardly describes it.
OK, this is a bit radical, I guess.
But is a smaller population with a smaller GDP in a tiny tertiary-status UK currently unable to feed itself without massive food imports and unable to adequately serve and house its burgeoning demography a bad outcome?
But is a smaller population with a smaller GDP in a tiny tertiary-status UK currently unable to feed itself without massive food imports and unable to adequately serve and house its burgeoning demography a bad outcome?
December 14, 2025 at 7:56 PM
OK, this is a bit radical, I guess.
But is a smaller population with a smaller GDP in a tiny tertiary-status UK currently unable to feed itself without massive food imports and unable to adequately serve and house its burgeoning demography a bad outcome?
But is a smaller population with a smaller GDP in a tiny tertiary-status UK currently unable to feed itself without massive food imports and unable to adequately serve and house its burgeoning demography a bad outcome?
They were awful times that I experienced too. Wherever it comes from - and I do not on occasion exclude the actions of our own government - oppressive violence and terrorism should be rejected by anyone with a shred of humanity. It does what it says on the tin. Terrorizes.
December 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
They were awful times that I experienced too. Wherever it comes from - and I do not on occasion exclude the actions of our own government - oppressive violence and terrorism should be rejected by anyone with a shred of humanity. It does what it says on the tin. Terrorizes.
Whilst you are correct in what you say about Palestine, the worldwide nature of antisemitism is frankly unique. And we know it comes not just from one group but from a range of different threats, some religious, some ideological, some state sponsored.
December 14, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Whilst you are correct in what you say about Palestine, the worldwide nature of antisemitism is frankly unique. And we know it comes not just from one group but from a range of different threats, some religious, some ideological, some state sponsored.
Whatever your views of the actions of the Israeli government spare a thought for the lives of the Jewish people around the world who wake each day to the fear that there is an existential threat to their personal lives. Wherever they are. The members of no other comparable religious group face that.
December 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Whatever your views of the actions of the Israeli government spare a thought for the lives of the Jewish people around the world who wake each day to the fear that there is an existential threat to their personal lives. Wherever they are. The members of no other comparable religious group face that.
Whatever your views of the actions of the Israeli government spare a thought for the lives of the Jewish people around the world who wake each day to the fear that there is an existential threat to their personal lives. Wherever they are. The members of no other comparable religious group face that.
December 14, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Whatever your views of the actions of the Israeli government spare a thought for the lives of the Jewish people around the world who wake each day to the fear that there is an existential threat to their personal lives. Wherever they are. The members of no other comparable religious group face that.
Whatever your views of the actions of the Israeli government spare a thought for the lives of the Jewish people around the world who wake each day to the fear that there is an existential threat to their personal lives. Wherever they are. The members of no other comparable religious group face that.
December 14, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Whatever your views of the actions of the Israeli government spare a thought for the lives of the Jewish people around the world who wake each day to the fear that there is an existential threat to their personal lives. Wherever they are. The members of no other comparable religious group face that.
Whatever your views of the actions of the Israeli government spare a thought for the lives of the Jewish people around the world who wake each day to the fear that there is an existential threat to their personal lives. Wherever they are. The members of no other comparable religious group face that.
December 14, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Whatever your views of the actions of the Israeli government spare a thought for the lives of the Jewish people around the world who wake each day to the fear that there is an existential threat to their personal lives. Wherever they are. The members of no other comparable religious group face that.
Great hypothesis. Wonderful thinking. Logical, you may think. But sadly not a shred of evidence.
December 13, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Great hypothesis. Wonderful thinking. Logical, you may think. But sadly not a shred of evidence.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
December 13, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
Richard Branson is not a member of the Royal Family. He was awarded a Knighthood for services to entrepreneurship by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.
A Knighthood can be removed in rare circumstances, including serious criminality.
Facts matter.
A Knighthood can be removed in rare circumstances, including serious criminality.
Facts matter.
December 13, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Richard Branson is not a member of the Royal Family. He was awarded a Knighthood for services to entrepreneurship by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.
A Knighthood can be removed in rare circumstances, including serious criminality.
Facts matter.
A Knighthood can be removed in rare circumstances, including serious criminality.
Facts matter.
Reform win their first Councillor position in Scotland…
This has got a long way to go I suspect before the momentum slows. Lib Dems hardly moved in support, massive drops for all three Scottish main parties.
This has got a long way to go I suspect before the momentum slows. Lib Dems hardly moved in support, massive drops for all three Scottish main parties.
December 12, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reform win their first Councillor position in Scotland…
This has got a long way to go I suspect before the momentum slows. Lib Dems hardly moved in support, massive drops for all three Scottish main parties.
This has got a long way to go I suspect before the momentum slows. Lib Dems hardly moved in support, massive drops for all three Scottish main parties.
I have a dreadful feeling none of this money will end up directly benefitting the defence of Ukraine.
Let’s hope it’s not needed to defend the eastern countries of NATO that will find themselves next in the crosshairs….
Let’s hope it’s not needed to defend the eastern countries of NATO that will find themselves next in the crosshairs….
December 12, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I have a dreadful feeling none of this money will end up directly benefitting the defence of Ukraine.
Let’s hope it’s not needed to defend the eastern countries of NATO that will find themselves next in the crosshairs….
Let’s hope it’s not needed to defend the eastern countries of NATO that will find themselves next in the crosshairs….
A bit of relief on hearing that. You could argue that the ‘burn it all down - change everything’ mindset constituents were more likely to cast their votes. More worryingly… what do the remaining 70.1% think…?
December 12, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A bit of relief on hearing that. You could argue that the ‘burn it all down - change everything’ mindset constituents were more likely to cast their votes. More worryingly… what do the remaining 70.1% think…?
Great article.
Until the Thatcher era ended the UK spent a steady 4-5% of gdp on defence. It’s a struggle now it seems to commit to a paltry 2.6%
Where do progressive policies sit in the reality of, at best, a new Cold War? If not a real one.
Until the Thatcher era ended the UK spent a steady 4-5% of gdp on defence. It’s a struggle now it seems to commit to a paltry 2.6%
Where do progressive policies sit in the reality of, at best, a new Cold War? If not a real one.
December 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Great article.
Until the Thatcher era ended the UK spent a steady 4-5% of gdp on defence. It’s a struggle now it seems to commit to a paltry 2.6%
Where do progressive policies sit in the reality of, at best, a new Cold War? If not a real one.
Until the Thatcher era ended the UK spent a steady 4-5% of gdp on defence. It’s a struggle now it seems to commit to a paltry 2.6%
Where do progressive policies sit in the reality of, at best, a new Cold War? If not a real one.
By-elections notoriously don’t translate to general elections but boy, is this a wake up call. There is a big change coming…
There’s a lot of malcontents out there who are determined to see through change - anything but what has been. But what was the turn out?
There’s a lot of malcontents out there who are determined to see through change - anything but what has been. But what was the turn out?
December 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
By-elections notoriously don’t translate to general elections but boy, is this a wake up call. There is a big change coming…
There’s a lot of malcontents out there who are determined to see through change - anything but what has been. But what was the turn out?
There’s a lot of malcontents out there who are determined to see through change - anything but what has been. But what was the turn out?
I’m revising my opinion. Having seen the ridiculous prices that the US intend to charge loyal fans of visiting nations just to watch a simple game of football, I suspect many may not make the journey at all. Cheapest ticket for the final? $2030. For a game largely watched by working people.
December 11, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I’m revising my opinion. Having seen the ridiculous prices that the US intend to charge loyal fans of visiting nations just to watch a simple game of football, I suspect many may not make the journey at all. Cheapest ticket for the final? $2030. For a game largely watched by working people.
But… I thought Lib Dem policy was for a reversal of Brexit? Why the pussy-footing around with Customs Treaties?
Unless of course the Lib Dem’s are as fearful of Reform as Labour are of US relations.
No matter what party are involved, honesty is never at the top of the priority list.
Unless of course the Lib Dem’s are as fearful of Reform as Labour are of US relations.
No matter what party are involved, honesty is never at the top of the priority list.
December 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
But… I thought Lib Dem policy was for a reversal of Brexit? Why the pussy-footing around with Customs Treaties?
Unless of course the Lib Dem’s are as fearful of Reform as Labour are of US relations.
No matter what party are involved, honesty is never at the top of the priority list.
Unless of course the Lib Dem’s are as fearful of Reform as Labour are of US relations.
No matter what party are involved, honesty is never at the top of the priority list.
At least he’s not waving a chainsaw around. Who’d vote for someone who did that sort of thing?
December 11, 2025 at 1:27 PM
At least he’s not waving a chainsaw around. Who’d vote for someone who did that sort of thing?
A lot did go to Cornwall and West Wales. 4% of the population, 26% of UK EU development fund. It was EU eligibility factors in play. The UK government didn’t appear to replace the development fund after Brexit in quite the same way, however. But… Statistics, eh?
December 11, 2025 at 12:54 PM
A lot did go to Cornwall and West Wales. 4% of the population, 26% of UK EU development fund. It was EU eligibility factors in play. The UK government didn’t appear to replace the development fund after Brexit in quite the same way, however. But… Statistics, eh?