Peter Holmes
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pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes
@pholmes8.bsky.social
4.5K followers 1.6K following 420 posts

Semi-retired trade economist, Emeritus @ UKTPO Sussex. Posts about Brexit, Freeports, WTO and anything else that catches my fancy. Migrating across from other place. Tweeted as @pholmes8. Blogs with others at https://blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/blog/ .. more

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Economics 44%
Political science 25%
Posts Replies Media Videos

pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 3h
For sure he's not in Clacton!

Reposted by Rebecca Solnit, Simon L. Lewis, Stephan Lewandowsky , and 10 more

carolecadwalla.bsky.social
Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 4h
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.

Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise

bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com

pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 7h
You touched on this very briefly. I searched & found “Compromise” once in text “Pragmatism” twice - on immigration.
What if BBC had said to you:
“Trump is threatening us with lethal Lawfare. We think we could placate him by dropping that phrase. Would you agree?”
*Might* you have wavered?

pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 7h
Your lecture was brilliant (likewise “Humankind”).
BBC Censorship was deeply cowardly.
But I did think you made your point about Trump pretty forcefully.

Meanwhile BBC censorship raised a question in my mind: how far must liberals be willing to compromise today?

Reposted by Peter Holmes

philipstephens.bsky.social
Philip Stephens @philipstephens.bsky.social · 10h
So now we know. Nigel Farage says his youthful admiration for the Nazis and embrace of "Gas 'em all" anti-semitism was just a bit of "banter". Nothing there to apologise for.

Reposted by Peter Holmes

davidheniguk.bsky.social
David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 10h
A very detailed assessment of UK trade policy published today by @thecitp.bsky.social. Lack of coherence, scrutiny and reporting are prominent contributors to the absence of any suggestion of success. So, in line with other assessments.

citp.ac.uk/uktpr/uk-tra...
UK Trade Policy: An Independent Review | CITP
citp.ac.uk

Reposted by Peter Holmes

bestforbritain.org
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 11h
New analysis by the House of Commons library estimates that Brexit is costing the Treasury up to £90bn a year in lost tax revenue.

To fix our nations finances we must get closer to Europe and fix the problems caused by Brexit...

https://bit.ly/4pobLzs
Brexit costing UK up to £90bn in lost tax revenue , new analysis shows
Exclusive: Britons also up to £3,700 worse off, leading to calls for the Labour government to improve relations with the EU
www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by Steve Peers, Peter Holmes

rutgerbregman.com
Rutger Bregman @rutgerbregman.com · 12h
Here's the transcript. When I say ‘we had a convicted reality star’, you can add ‘who now rules as the most openly corrupt president in American history’ in your head.

downloads.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith...

Reposted by Peter Holmes

stevepeers.bsky.social
Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 13h
Reform Party threatened legal action for critical news stories
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform’s ‘Trumpian’ legal threats hint at more aggressive approach to media
Ultimatums sent to publications appear to intensify as Nigel Farage’s party rises in polls
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Peter Holmes

secretman11.bsky.social
secretman11.bsky.social @secretman11.bsky.social · 17h
"Secretly financing Hamas" would probably be more of a scandal in the US political class if Netanyahu himself wasn't already on record openly financing Hamas

www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-ne...
For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it’s blown up in our faces
The premier's policy of treating the terror group as a partner, at the expense of Abbas and Palestinian statehood, has resulted in wounds that will take Israel years to heal from
www.timesofisrael.com

Reposted by Kori Schake, David Dunning, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 6 more

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 19h
Mark Kelly: "My wife, Gabby Giffords, meeting with her constituents, shot in the head. Six people killed around her, a horrific thing. She spent six months in the hospital. We know what political violence is and we know what causes it too, The statements that Donald Trump made incites others."

Reposted by Steve Peers, Albert Weale, Peter Holmes , and 4 more

barackobama.bsky.social
Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 21h
As a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Ford Fletcher bravely shared her story so that we’d never forget this painful part of our history. Michelle and I are grateful for her lifelong work to advance civil rights, and send our love to her family.
Viola Fletcher, Oldest Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Peter Holmes

jaimi.bsky.social
jaimi.bsky.social @jaimi.bsky.social · 1d
Here’s the plaque at West Point with the relevant text highlighted

Reposted by Leigh Sparks, Peter Holmes, Jonathan Hopkin , and 2 more

yougov.co.uk
YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 1d
With Rachel Reeves reportedly set to apply a new tax on tuition fees paid by overseas students, most Britons support such a move at the previously mooted level of 6%

Support: 57%
Oppose: 18%

yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Peter Holmes

bennettschool.cam.ac.uk
Bennett School of Public Policy, University of Cambridge @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk · 1d
🧰Two days ahead of the 2025 Autumn Budget, Dimitri Zenghelis calls for a credible, growth-focused strategy—centred on better investment & a coherent, less distortionary tax system—to restore confidence & reduce the premium the UK pays on its debt.

Read his blog: bit.ly/4ije1p7

pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 1d
P.Kyle on R4 Today this morning saying that the "Brexit Deal" had cost the UK massively. The Brexiteer fantasy that there was a magical Brexit deal if only they'd looked at the end of the Rainbow as he plans to do.
davidheniguk.bsky.social David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d
Trade folk (including myself) are unconvinced there is much of a growth dividend for Rachel Reeves from agreements with India, EU, and US. Just as there's no evidence of positive impact from independent UK trade policy since 2021. www.politico.eu/article/rach...
Rachel Reeves hopes trade deals can save Britain’s budget. Economists aren’t convinced.
With a difficult budget looming, the chancellor has increasingly turned her gaze overseas.
www.politico.eu

pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 1d
"After publication, UK government officials told the Financial Times the announcement had been made in error and there was no plan to open five new freeports. "
www.ft.com/content/ff58...
Chancellor to announce five new UK freeports in the Budget
Labour to expand tax-free import scheme in a bid to boost economic growth across the country
www.ft.com

pholmes8.bsky.social
Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 1d
I am old enough to remember when the big leak (from Starmer's team in Samoa) before last year's budget was "5 new Freeports". Consternation then sheepish confession that they didn't know what "Freeport" meant and they were not doing this.
@pmdfoster.bsky.social

Reposted by Peter Holmes, Robert Wolfe

policyatkings.bsky.social
The Policy Institute @policyatkings.bsky.social · 1d
🎓 With news that a tax on tuition fees from international students is set to be included in Wednesday's Budget, it's worth revisiting our study from last year which looked at public attitudes towards these students 🧵 ⬇️
Majority say international students bring significant economic benefits, study finds | King's College London
Only one in 10 disagree with this view
www.kcl.ac.uk

Reposted by Peter Holmes

stuartbudd.bsky.social
Stuart Budd @stuartbudd.bsky.social · 1d
There was an agreement between both the Conservative and Labour parties in 2023 that Brexit will continue because both parties find it too difficult to deal with.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Revealed: secret cross-party summit held to confront failings of Brexit
Leading Brexiters and remainers, including Michael Gove and David Lammy, met for two-day ‘private discussion’ with diplomats and business leaders
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Steve Peers, Peter Holmes , and 2 more

davidheniguk.bsky.social
David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d
Trade folk (including myself) are unconvinced there is much of a growth dividend for Rachel Reeves from agreements with India, EU, and US. Just as there's no evidence of positive impact from independent UK trade policy since 2021. www.politico.eu/article/rach...
Rachel Reeves hopes trade deals can save Britain’s budget. Economists aren’t convinced.
With a difficult budget looming, the chancellor has increasingly turned her gaze overseas.
www.politico.eu

Reposted by Peter Holmes

oldtrotter.bsky.social
David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 1d
I thought all this kite flying was meant to have stopped? I've no idea what she thinks this enhances her credibility, rather than looking like she's scrabbling for ideas that won't offend too many voters.

Reposted by Peter Holmes, Joni Lovenduski

stephenkb.bsky.social
Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 2d
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.

Reposted by Peter Holmes

mjfree.bsky.social
Morgan J Freeman @mjfree.bsky.social · 2d
I'm going to post this video every day so we never forget what the 34x convicted felon & adjudicated rapist Trump did.

Reposted by Peter Holmes

2primates.bsky.social
Andy King @2primates.bsky.social · 3d
Farage reminds me of the sort of British journalist satirised by Humbert Wolfe:
“You cannot hope to bribe or twist
(thank God!) the British journalist.
But, seeing what the man will do
unbribed, there's no occasion to.”

Reposted by Simon Hix, Ben H. Ansell, Jan Rath , and 11 more

tabouchadi.bsky.social
Tarik Abou-Chadi @tabouchadi.bsky.social · 3d
Cas Mudde spells out what has become largely the consensus among researchers: moving right on immigration will not weaken the far right nor strengthen social democracy. If your reaction is "but in Denmark" please at least familiarize yourself with Danish politics

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, Steve Peers, Colin Murray , and 2 more

colinyeo.bsky.social
Colin Yeo @colinyeo.bsky.social · 4d
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social

Reposted by Peter Holmes

senseidai.bsky.social
Senseidai2547 @senseidai.bsky.social · 4d
Keep speaking out against the evil Convicted Felon Donald Trump regime. They hear us. And they are scared.

#DemVoice1 #ProudBlue #Pinks #TrumpIsACriminal #TrumpIsAPiggy

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
In reversal, Coast Guard again classifies swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The new order came hours after The Post reported the service would instead classify such symbols as “potentially divisive” under guidelines set for release next month.
www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Christian Odendahl, Will Jennings, Richard Betts , and 16 more

bloomberg.com
Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 4d
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg

Reposted by Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Steve Peers , and 5 more

mmasnick.bsky.social
Mike Masnick @mmasnick.bsky.social · 4d
If you're trying to convince your friends to spend time on Bluesky rather than X, maybe show them this. X is not "the public town square" or about "free speech." It's "just what Elon Musk wants you to see." If you see stuff he doesn't like he'll step in to make sure you don't see it for long.
zamosta.bsky.social Aaron Zamost @zamosta.bsky.social · 4d
If you scroll on X, you are only being shown what Elon wants you to see. If you create content on X, no one will see it unless Elon wants them to.