Michael Sykes
@mjs63.bsky.social
Yorkshireman living in Leicestershire, UK. European.
Retired Commercial Manager, Project Manager, Sales & Marketing professional.
Interests: Politics, healthcare, science, business, travel, geography & trains (real and model).
Retired Commercial Manager, Project Manager, Sales & Marketing professional.
Interests: Politics, healthcare, science, business, travel, geography & trains (real and model).
Reposted by Michael Sykes
That‘s the spirit.
February 5, 2026 at 10:46 AM
That‘s the spirit.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Tory MP Simon Hoare has given a very vivid quote about Donald Trump's comments on Nato allies, which could actually be used in many contexts about the US president:
"Frankly Trump makes my flesh creep and my stomach turn. Where are his advisors? Where is his nurse? Where is his sense of shame?"
"Frankly Trump makes my flesh creep and my stomach turn. Where are his advisors? Where is his nurse? Where is his sense of shame?"
January 23, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Tory MP Simon Hoare has given a very vivid quote about Donald Trump's comments on Nato allies, which could actually be used in many contexts about the US president:
"Frankly Trump makes my flesh creep and my stomach turn. Where are his advisors? Where is his nurse? Where is his sense of shame?"
"Frankly Trump makes my flesh creep and my stomach turn. Where are his advisors? Where is his nurse? Where is his sense of shame?"
Reposted by Michael Sykes
🔥
The only U.S. heavy icebreaker turns 50. That's an interesting landmark given recent U.S. criticism of other countries for not taking Arctic security seriously.
USCGC Polar Star, the U.S. Coast Guard’s only heavy icebreaker, turns 50. All U.S. military icebreakers are part of the Coast Guard; the Navy does not operate any vessels of this type.
militarnyi.com/en/news/u-s-...
militarnyi.com/en/news/u-s-...
January 19, 2026 at 10:21 PM
🔥
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Amazingly, Zahawi only got round to deleting the below after the press conference announcing his defection to Reform.
January 12, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Amazingly, Zahawi only got round to deleting the below after the press conference announcing his defection to Reform.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Totally agree. I have been saying for a long time that Ukraine has been buying time, at a terrible cost, for the rest of Europe to wake up and respond effectively to the Russian threat. Most Western European leaders still seem to be sleeping.
“So, no longer speak about “aiding” Ukraine. The Ukrainians are aiding Europeans and Americans by fighting for their survival. We owe them our gratitude, not the other way around.”
By @phillipspobrien.bsky.social
phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/weekend-up...
By @phillipspobrien.bsky.social
phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/weekend-up...
January 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Totally agree. I have been saying for a long time that Ukraine has been buying time, at a terrible cost, for the rest of Europe to wake up and respond effectively to the Russian threat. Most Western European leaders still seem to be sleeping.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Basic stuff here. If Ukraine ceases fighting, they’re over.
If Russia ceases fighting, the war is over
If Russia ceases fighting, the war is over
December 28, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Basic stuff here. If Ukraine ceases fighting, they’re over.
If Russia ceases fighting, the war is over
If Russia ceases fighting, the war is over
Reposted by Michael Sykes
This is Kyiv this morning. Russia yet again demonstrates its aspirations for peace by bombing apartment buildings and civilian infrastructure.
December 27, 2025 at 11:49 AM
This is Kyiv this morning. Russia yet again demonstrates its aspirations for peace by bombing apartment buildings and civilian infrastructure.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Met Police chief Mark Rowley: ‘How anybody in America can suggest the UK is violent is completely ridiculous. The homicide rate in London is lower than every single US state. It’s lower than all their big cities.’
December 12, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Met Police chief Mark Rowley: ‘How anybody in America can suggest the UK is violent is completely ridiculous. The homicide rate in London is lower than every single US state. It’s lower than all their big cities.’
Reposted by Michael Sykes
this is insane
New Home Office impact assessment finds that cutting skilled and social care visas will cost the UK up to £10 billion with a central estimate of -£5.4 billion.
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
It would be good if this got even a fraction of the coverage devoted to the endless debate about boats, flags and Turkish barber shops
December 9, 2025 at 6:24 PM
this is insane
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Future historians might want to reconstruct when NATO ceased to exist IN ITS TRANSATLANTIC FORM.
Here’s a hint. Look at this passage of the Ukraine „peace plan“. The US will act as a „mediator“ between NATO and Russia.
As if they were no longer the lead nation.
Here’s a hint. Look at this passage of the Ukraine „peace plan“. The US will act as a „mediator“ between NATO and Russia.
As if they were no longer the lead nation.
November 21, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Future historians might want to reconstruct when NATO ceased to exist IN ITS TRANSATLANTIC FORM.
Here’s a hint. Look at this passage of the Ukraine „peace plan“. The US will act as a „mediator“ between NATO and Russia.
As if they were no longer the lead nation.
Here’s a hint. Look at this passage of the Ukraine „peace plan“. The US will act as a „mediator“ between NATO and Russia.
As if they were no longer the lead nation.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
I hear a lot of “he did his best” commentary on Johnson, mixed with “it was a difficult decision”.
It was, but that rather comes with the territory of being Prime Minister. It is a job that comes with perhaps more complexity and responsibility than any other. He had a try doesn’t cut it. /1
It was, but that rather comes with the territory of being Prime Minister. It is a job that comes with perhaps more complexity and responsibility than any other. He had a try doesn’t cut it. /1
I’m not sure how I would deal with being found to have been responsible for 23k deaths, but I think it would likely involve removing myself from public life and finding some way to help save lives.
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I hear a lot of “he did his best” commentary on Johnson, mixed with “it was a difficult decision”.
It was, but that rather comes with the territory of being Prime Minister. It is a job that comes with perhaps more complexity and responsibility than any other. He had a try doesn’t cut it. /1
It was, but that rather comes with the territory of being Prime Minister. It is a job that comes with perhaps more complexity and responsibility than any other. He had a try doesn’t cut it. /1
Reposted by Michael Sykes
BBC has a case against Trump. WhiteHouse Chief Press Officer called the BBC ‘100% fake news.’ Which is defamatory and untrue.
Trump says he will sue BBC for between $1 billion and $5 billion despite apology www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit
The US president told reporters on Air Force One that he will take legal action against the broadcaster and will call Sir Keir Starmer over the weekend.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 8:45 AM
BBC has a case against Trump. WhiteHouse Chief Press Officer called the BBC ‘100% fake news.’ Which is defamatory and untrue.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
The new Tylenol ad just dropped. Sound up!
September 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The new Tylenol ad just dropped. Sound up!
Reposted by Michael Sykes
This morning, again, it's just endless coverage of the president's "change of tone" on Russia. Which, if the past is any guide, will change again tomorrow and the day after.
We might as well analyse an angry toddler's "change of tone" towards bedtime, bathtime and whether he likes the colour green.
We might as well analyse an angry toddler's "change of tone" towards bedtime, bathtime and whether he likes the colour green.
September 24, 2025 at 8:42 AM
This morning, again, it's just endless coverage of the president's "change of tone" on Russia. Which, if the past is any guide, will change again tomorrow and the day after.
We might as well analyse an angry toddler's "change of tone" towards bedtime, bathtime and whether he likes the colour green.
We might as well analyse an angry toddler's "change of tone" towards bedtime, bathtime and whether he likes the colour green.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Labour, anyone ?
Our democracy is too precious to be a plaything for foreign tech barons.
Elon Musk doesn’t care about the British people or our rights. He only cares about himself and his ego.
Elon Musk doesn’t care about the British people or our rights. He only cares about himself and his ego.
September 13, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Labour, anyone ?
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Donald Trump promised to Make America Great Again. Instead, he is wrecking the US economy. Job creation has collapsed, farmers can’t sell their crops, foreign investors are leaving, and tariffs are pushing up prices for ordinary Americans.
youtu.be/DjRdmXHCVxQ?...
youtu.be/DjRdmXHCVxQ?...
Is Trump breaking the US economy?
YouTube video by Richard J Murphy
youtu.be
September 13, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Donald Trump promised to Make America Great Again. Instead, he is wrecking the US economy. Job creation has collapsed, farmers can’t sell their crops, foreign investors are leaving, and tariffs are pushing up prices for ordinary Americans.
youtu.be/DjRdmXHCVxQ?...
youtu.be/DjRdmXHCVxQ?...
Reposted by Michael Sykes
The ECHR is essential to the Belfast Agreement.
@pimlicat: “The radical right is playing on fears around immigration to remove protections from all UK citizens and Northern Ireland’s historic agreement may only be the first casualty if the UK Government doesn’t hold firm.”
@pimlicat: “The radical right is playing on fears around immigration to remove protections from all UK citizens and Northern Ireland’s historic agreement may only be the first casualty if the UK Government doesn’t hold firm.”
September 1, 2025 at 9:30 AM
The ECHR is essential to the Belfast Agreement.
@pimlicat: “The radical right is playing on fears around immigration to remove protections from all UK citizens and Northern Ireland’s historic agreement may only be the first casualty if the UK Government doesn’t hold firm.”
@pimlicat: “The radical right is playing on fears around immigration to remove protections from all UK citizens and Northern Ireland’s historic agreement may only be the first casualty if the UK Government doesn’t hold firm.”
Reposted by Michael Sykes
"Asylum seekers should not be allowed to work!"
"Asylum workers should not be subsidised at the public expense!"
- and loop.
"Asylum workers should not be subsidised at the public expense!"
- and loop.
August 21, 2025 at 7:03 AM
"Asylum seekers should not be allowed to work!"
"Asylum workers should not be subsidised at the public expense!"
- and loop.
"Asylum workers should not be subsidised at the public expense!"
- and loop.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
I’ve often wondered why Nigel Farage, who as godfather of the Brexit fiasco engineered the biggest British foreign policy disaster since Suez is continually offered so much space in some newspapers and broadcast media. Serious question. Thoughts welcome.
August 27, 2025 at 10:46 AM
I’ve often wondered why Nigel Farage, who as godfather of the Brexit fiasco engineered the biggest British foreign policy disaster since Suez is continually offered so much space in some newspapers and broadcast media. Serious question. Thoughts welcome.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Reposted by Michael Sykes
Trump has not guaranteed that he will put sanctions on Russia in 50 days, he has offered Putin protection against additional sanctions for 50 days. And he can always extend beyond that.
July 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Trump has not guaranteed that he will put sanctions on Russia in 50 days, he has offered Putin protection against additional sanctions for 50 days. And he can always extend beyond that.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
He rubs nearly everyone up the wrong way - including, rather importantly, the French - but I think he's simply marvellous.
President Macron speaking at Guildhall,
"The European Union was stronger with the UK, and the UK was stronger with the European Union"
"We want to write our future and not be the story written by another continent.. The only way to chose our future is to do it together"
"The European Union was stronger with the UK, and the UK was stronger with the European Union"
"We want to write our future and not be the story written by another continent.. The only way to chose our future is to do it together"
July 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
He rubs nearly everyone up the wrong way - including, rather importantly, the French - but I think he's simply marvellous.
Reposted by Michael Sykes
General Eisenhower ordered Nazi death camps to remain standing for a reason.
July 6, 2025 at 9:51 PM
General Eisenhower ordered Nazi death camps to remain standing for a reason.