Author | Lightnews

Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 20h

Are things REALLY bad in the UK?

Or is it just a popular narrative cultivated by right-wing media owners, influencers & politicians?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 21h

The move to EVs has created another tax black hole.

Fuel duty revenues will fall by £9 billion a year by the end of this parliament.

So, is it fair that EV owners should have to pay a 3p tax for every mile they drive?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 2d

Aren't you glad to have a Chancellor taking longer-term perspectives rather than looking for quick, political fixes?

Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 2d

Is Rachel Reeves a frank, straightforward Chancellor who is taking a longer term perspective & will "do the right thing" to address the UK's economic problems inherited from the Conservatives?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 8d

Brilliant - as always!

Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 8d

Minority representation on TV causes outrage

From the new Private Eye, in shops now.

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 8d

Are you banging on about illegal immigrants?
If you voted for Brexit, you got what you wanted.
Get over it.
And, yes, we told you so.

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 8d

Strange how the Brexiters have changed their tune, isn't it?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 15d

Are things about to get even worse?
The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, warns that recent events in US private credit markets have worrying echoes of the sub-prime mortgage crisis that kicked off the global financial crash of 2008...

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 15d

The top UN court rules today on whether Israel has been blocking humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described this case as "part of a systematic persecution & delegitimisation of Israel".

Is he right?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 27d

'Populist' politicians are more accurately described as 'exploitative'.

Why? They whip up anger & feed simple solutions to naive, ill-informed voters.

The solutions (eg Brexit) don't work, but the leaders win power - and that's all they want!

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 27d

It's great that hostages are coming home, but while eyes are on Gaza, Smotrich is pushing to annex 82% of the West Bank & revive the E1 plan, thereby cutting it in half.

This is what keeps the conflict alive. If the world ignores the West Bank settlers, this “peace” won’t last.

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · 27d

Let's all be glad for the Gaza ceasefire & congratulate the US for (finally) threatening economic pressure on Israel to stop the genocide.

Let's hope for
● Rapid aid deliveries
● Rebuilding of Gaza
● Two state solution
● Settlers are expelled from West Bank
● All the war criminals face justice

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Oct 6

The UK government banned Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organisation from 5 July 2025, following the security breach at RAF Brize Norton & vandalism of a plane.

Wasn't that rather excessive?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Oct 6

The Conservatives
● Undertook the disastrous Referendum to settle an internal dispute
● Agreed a disastrous Brexit deal that increased immigration
● Demolished the NHS & social care systems
● Wrecked the UK economy
● Had many hopeless leaders

How can they hope to ever form a future government?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Oct 3

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Oct 1

Russia is engaged in a hybrid war with many European nations.
One of its tactics is to cultivate social & political unrest.
Russia is funding Reform & Nigel Farage in its war on the UK.
The ultimate irony? Reform supporters believe they're 'patriots'!

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Sep 30

It's not just the Labour Party that's in "the fight of it life" against Reform, is it?

It's the entire country.

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Sep 30

Is it important for a national leader to be 'charismatic' and 'inspirational'?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Sep 28

I don't play golf & have little interest in it. But the 2025 RyderCup is great to watch.
It's a shame about all those drunken, boorish American louts masquerading as sports fans, though, isn't it?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Sep 27

Every other country in Europe uses ID cards, (apart from Ireland & Denmark) without significant difficulties.

So what's the problem with introducing them in the UK?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Sep 11

According to Wikipedia, "Some psychiatrists and reporters have speculated that Trump may have mental health impairments, such as dementia (which runs in his family) or narcissistic personality disorder".

Do you think they're right?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Sep 4

Is Proportional Representation coming soon?
As yet another UK government disappoints, are voters finally recognising that fundamental reform of the electoral system is essential?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Sep 4

Is Proportional Represention coming soon?
As yet another UK government disappoints, are voters finally recognising that fundamental reform of the electoral system is essential?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Sep 2

While the US smashes its existing alliances, China strengthens its global links.

Has Trump accelerated a change in the world order?

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Dave Sumner Smith @davesumnersmith.bsky.social · Aug 26

Oh dear! A new survey reveals that 41% of Americans believe humans once coexisted with dinosaurs — despite clear scientific evidence that dinosaurs disappeared 65 million years before humans emerged.

What do you take from this?

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