Andy Brown
@andybrown1951.bsky.social
6.1K followers 12K following 970 posts
North Yorkshire Councillor for Aire Valley. Green Party. Columnist for Yorkshire Post. Write for Yorkshire bylines. Former Head of Young People's Learning for Yorkshire and the Humber
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andybrown1951.bsky.social
My latest article for @yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Terrorism is not just morally wrong it is utterly counterproductive
andybrown1951.bsky.social
Perhaps the bbc will report on the green surge with the same enthusiasm with which they promoted farage?
electionmaps.uk
Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 32% (-3)
LAB: 17% (-2)
CON: 17% (+3)
GRN: 15% (+4)
LDM: 12% (=)
SNP: 3% (=)

Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 8 Oct.
Changes w/ 1 Oct.
andybrown1951.bsky.social
Yorkshire Water prices are rising fast. At privatisation the bill was not a major household expense. Now it is brutal, the money has gone and the overseas registered owners say we must pay more to invest. You are right on inappropriate link
andybrown1951.bsky.social
Yorkshire water's cynical act was to make hidden tax free payments to their Chief Executive via the offshore shell company that owns it. Apologies for sloppy wording but they are all at it.
Reposted by Andy Brown
honestdrjohn.bsky.social
*customers and taxpayers.

Privatise the profits, nationalise the losses: it's the Tory way.
Unfortunately, it also seems to be the Labour way.
Reposted by Andy Brown
yorkshiredales.org.uk
Located near Keld, Wainwath Falls is a wide, scenic waterfall on the River Swale. Though modest in height (just 1.5–3 metres), its charm lies in its tranquil setting beneath the limestone cliffs of Cotterby Scar.

📸 Wendy McDonnell | #YorkshireDales #Swaledale #StepIntoNature
andybrown1951.bsky.social
Abolishing stamp duty simply puts up the price of houses whilst making government finances worse. Utterly stupid and irresponsible policy. So almost certain Reform will adopt it and serious risk of Starmer's Labour doing the same.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Conservatives would scrap stamp duty, Kemi Badenoch announces
The Tory leader says the move would help millions buy a home, in her annual conference speech.
www.bbc.co.uk
andybrown1951.bsky.social
The cheek of it. Companies like Yorkshire Water took billions out of Britain without investing. Now they expect customers to pay up for the debts they acquired by paying themselves excessive profits.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Water bills to rise further for millions after appeal
Five water companies win permission for higher bills as they seek more investment to fix outdated infrastructure.
www.bbc.co.uk
andybrown1951.bsky.social
If you vote tactically for what you don't want you end up getting it - as Starmer has proved again and again.
Reposted by Andy Brown
silklink.bsky.social
Do you notice, or is my imagination, a short while ago, supermarkets were trying to outdo each other in reducing cardboard &plastic packaging. Today, they seem to be as bad as ever in their packaging, or even worse! I have never remembered discarding so much packaging every week from my groceries.
andybrown1951.bsky.social
In other news leaving the EU is now about to crush our steel industry because we left our main export market after Farage told us it would be wonderful for British industry.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
EU steel tariff hike threatens 'biggest crisis' for UK industry
The EU is the destination for 78% of steel products made in the UK for overseas markets.
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by Andy Brown
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
'Trump has targeted the courts, the universities, civil servants of the federal government... One key bulwark has crumbled under this assault: the media. Trump... said major US networks gave him... "only bad press. I mean they’re getting a license...maybe their licenses should be taken away."'
Praise me or shut up! – Trump’s threats to silence opponents break US first amendment
A press free to criticise its government and leaders is essential to any democracy – in America it is crumbling before our eyes
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
Reposted by Andy Brown
zackpolanski.bsky.social
Nearly 3000 new members in the 24 hours since the Party Political Broadcast.

Extraordinary.

Hope is returning. 💚🚀

Join.greenparty.org.uk
Reposted by Andy Brown
urocklive1.bsky.social
Worldwide solar and wind power generation has outpaced electricity demand this year, and for the first time on record, renewable energies combined generated more power than coal, according to a new analysis.

apnews.com/article/clim...
Solar and wind power has grown faster than electricity demand this year, report says
A new analysis of solar and wind power shows its generation worldwide has outpaced electricity demand this year.
apnews.com
andybrown1951.bsky.social
The problem is not that there are more radical parties than Labour. The problem is first past the post bullies people into voting for what they don't want
andybrown1951.bsky.social
So Lib Dems and Greens between them higher in opinion polls than Reform, many more MPs and councillors, more votes in last elections. Yet between them get much lighter coverage. Wonder why?
electionmaps.uk
Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 27% (-2)
LAB: 20% (-2)
CON: 17% (+1)
LDM: 17% (+2)
GRN: 12% (+1)
SNP: 4% (+1)

Via @yougov.co.uk, 5-6 Oct.
Changes w/ 28-29 Sep.
andybrown1951.bsky.social
I posted about the mistreatment in custody of British citizens by the Israeli government not being covered by the BBC. Their website about the original detention had nothing about that
Reposted by Andy Brown
bylinetimes.bsky.social
🔴 The Great X-Tinction: Why My Time's Up On Twitter

"Media companies, governments and public figures are pretending to themselves that it will all get better. It won't. The Twitter many of us joined is dead and, while X is not yet, it should be" @ottoenglish.bsky.social
The Great X-Tinction: Why My Time's Up On Twitter
Otto English explains why, after 15 years, he has left the social media platform now disseminating disinformation worldwide under the control of Elon Musk
bylinetimes.com
andybrown1951.bsky.social
Honeybee worker enjoying the ivy which gives a great energy boost late in the year. You can see bright yellow pollen in her leg baskets.