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Laurence Braithwaite

@laurencepb.bsky.social

210 followers 220 following 540 posts

Communications professional, road safety campaigner and a seeker of truth and justice. No pasaran!

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · Mar 7

It is astounding that we've let our pavements turn into roads.

There is literally nowhere to go now with police currently powerless to enforce without legislation in place.

This is also a major public health issue as a lot of people either don't go out or drive everywhere.

#PavementsR4People

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Reposted by Laurence Braithwaite

The Wynter in Black 🎃🐈‍⬛ @rebeccawynter.bsky.social · 5h

These Brummies are working to challenge the likes of Jenrick and Yaxley-Lennon. They've a fundraiser - consider donating if you haven't already gofund.me/f5ccdf61e

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 5h

Community ownership through cooperatives supported by favourable rating is the only way we will reverse this decline 🤲🏻🤲🏽🤲🏿

Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 5h

🧵Our local shopping centre in Cotteridge is on its last legs.

Traditional landlords are now pulling out as there are no tenants willing to take leases on.

All that remains are money launderers with the few genuine traders left going increasingly into the red.

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 5h

Private equity wrecked UK high street, says Iceland Foods boss

PE model - low wages, cut staff/investment, high debt, profiteering, tax abuse.

PE devoured Debenhams, Maplin, Byron Burger, Cath Kidson, Comet, Flybe, Poundworld, Toys R Us.

Controls care homes, vets, supermarkets.
archive.ph/tJVkV

Private equity has wrecked the high street, says Iceland boss

Richard Walker says private buyers take out costs and fail to invest then sell to the highest bidder in a cycle that makes retailers steadily worse

www.thetimes.com

Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 2d

What's becoming more obvious as each week goes by is that Reform 'politicians' are generally dangerous & stupid.

People will rue the day they put a cross in their box as they see their local services reduced or cancelled www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Cambridgeshire councillor to be investigated over 'evil' remark

Reform UK councillor Andy Osborn is heard describing some children in care as

www.bbc.co.uk

Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 2d

@pcsunion.bsky.social have been at the heart of campaigns that I care about supported by our political fund - a powerful campaigning voice for justice & equality ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿

I urge all members to vote 'Yes' in the PCS Political Fund Ballot that closes on the 5 November ❎

Public and Commercial Services Union flags catching the morning light at the Unite mega picket in Tyseley in July 2025

Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 2d

Correction - 'informing' not 'complaining'.

Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 2d

"70% of people attending accident & emergency (A&E) departments at the weekend have alcohol-related issues (40% during the week), & alcohol-related admissions to hospital account for 78% of NHS expenditure on alcohol misuse."

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 2d

the Armed Forces.

These far right s**t stirrers are doing all of their reputations harm, especially with regard to serving black and Asian members of our armed forces.

They also betray the memory of many nations' peoples who helped us fight the Nazis in WW2.

Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 2d

🧵We've also had them back in Cotteridge for a third time putting up 'Lest we forget' flags...

They look absolutely s***e again & are an insult to our forces.

I will be complaining to Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and our local MP Al Carns who also happens to be our Minister for

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you 🙏🏻 They're painting this racist fraudster as some kind of patriotic saint. Nothing could be further from the truth www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/red-flags-th...

Red flags: The non-existent company behind Brum's Union Jacks

'It's 100% legitimate'

www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk

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Reposted by Laurence Braithwaite

The Lever @levernews.com · 3d

Private-equity nursing homes: 10% higher death rates. 20,000 extra deaths. Where care goes to die.

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 2d

I'm going to complain to the BBC & I'd recommend you all do to. 60 'journalists' in their 'Verify' unit & they can't carry out basic due journalistic diligence. Pathetic www.bbc.co.uk/contact/comp... www.facebook.com/share/17VPYU...

Make A Complaint | Contact the BBC

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Laurence Braithwaite

Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn.bsky.social · 2d

Real patriotism isn’t about bashing migrants or minorities. It’s about caring enough to ensure nobody is homeless, hungry or left behind.

My piece for @thelondonstandard.bsky.social.

www.standard.co.uk/comment/jere...

Keir Starmer is a plastic patriot just like Nigel Farage

Reform and Labour can wrap themselves in as many union jacks as they want — this is what my country means to me, by Jeremy Corbyn

www.standard.co.uk

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 3d

Another relatively new building falling apart while some of our most valuable heritage buildings are left to rot.

With permanent scaffolding around the re-clad rotunda to prevent windows dropping on people below you've got to ask what our authorities are up to? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Unstable high-rise block forces Birmingham city centre road closure - BBC News

Structural engineers are being brought in to secure the wall on the eighth floor.

www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

Reposted by Laurence Braithwaite

Kings Heath United Against Racism @khuar.bsky.social · 3d

Birmingham City Council recruits night staff to remove 'unauthorised flags'

What was once hailed as a show of patriotism has morphed into something more sinister, pitting pro and anti flaggers against each other. Birmingham City Council is now stepping in.

www.birminghammail.co.uk

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Reposted by Laurence Braithwaite

Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 4d

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 4d

Whatever your opinion of hanging Union or St George's flags on lampposts, you've got to admit that they look s***e.

This is a derogation of our national pride - it devalues our country.

Well done lads...

Union flag limply hanging from a lamppost at night time.

Reposted by Laurence Braithwaite

Only in Birmingham podcast @onlyinbirmingham.bsky.social · 5d

#Handsworth could teach @RobertJenrick how to live in a global society. #BenjaminZephaniah - spirit of #Birmingham - said "Handsworth for me is...where I learnt all my skills, my communication skills, my hustling skills, my poetic skills, everything."

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 5d

Attending the 6-8 @betterstreetsforbirmingham.org meeting tonight after a bit of a break reminded me, if I needed reminding, that you need to surround yourself with people who believe the world can be a better place, &, most importantly, are prepared to do something to make the 🌍🌎🌏 a better place

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 5d

Felt very 'Philadelphia' walking through Brum earlier this evening.

A guy lying motionless on his front in the number 50 bus shelter by the Bullring shopping centre while people stepped around him.

Reposted by Laurence Braithwaite

Liam J. Liburd @liamliburd.bsky.social · 5d

There’s a good line reminiscent of this in his 1939 novel Coming Up for Air.

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Reposted by Laurence Braithwaite

John Paddington @padders123.bsky.social · 6d

This is the problem with train ticketing nowadays. We're trying to bury the complexity on the websites instead of fundamental reform of ticketing.

Carla Francome @carlafrancome.bsky.social · 6d

I can confirm once again that it would probably be easier to have a conversation with a sheep in Latin than buy the correct train ticket for a journey in the UK. 🐑

Today I’m travelling to Leeds for work, and given my past troubles in this area, my boss, the ticket guru, … 1/10

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Reposted by Laurence Braithwaite

Davenant 📸 @marcdavenant.bsky.social · 8d

One of the most useful apps for planning outdoor photo shoots is TPE. Shows the direction of the sun and moon at any location, date and time. This is how the sun will fall on Wandsworth Prison today, for a photo I’m doing for the ‘Rebellion!’ exhibition.

Map showing the direction of sunrise, sunset and moonrise with timings

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 7d

We have the names & addresses of many of the criminals who attached the flags so all associated costs billed directly to them with action escalated to debt collectors for non-payment after 28 days.

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Laurence Braithwaite @laurencepb.bsky.social · 7d

🧵 Thanks for clarifying.

It's police forces & local authority highways services that now need to enforce the law.

Immediate removal of all illegally placed flags - especially the ones above high speed roads where the potential danger is far greater.

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