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Peter Holmes

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

Economics 44%

Political science 25%

more

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Peter Holmes

Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 4h

We have been calling for an end to the two-child limit since it was introduced in 2017.

Scrapping it is the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty, and a welcome step from this Chancellor.

A few weeks ago, we outlined three key reasons why it had to go ⤵️

Reposted by Peter Holmes

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 4h

"Witkoff is telling his counterpart Ushakov how to do something he is surely very familiar with: he is telling him how to manage someone ruling like an autocrat."
inews.co.uk/news/world/l...

Leaked recordings prove Putin is making Trump his puppet

The Witkoff tape reveals how much the game has changed - US diplomacy now appears to centre around flattering and stroking the ego of Donald Trump

Reposted by Peter Holmes

European Movement UK @europeanmovement.co.uk · 5h

The Chancellor wants to "boost trade, increase investment, and champion innovation", but is failing to fix one of the principal causes of the economic crisis: Brexit. The Government must urgently repair our relationship with Europe, or else forthcoming Budgets will continue to bear the brunt.

Reposted by Peter Holmes

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 6h

£26 billion tax rise announced today in Labour's budget

£90 billon, how much tax revenue is lost because of Brexit EVERY Year

The reason taxes are going up and spending is being cut is because we can't afford stuff because of Brexit!

Reposted by Peter Holmes

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 18h

How to get rid of Citizens United?

We can do away with it without a new Supreme Court. Nor do we need a constitutional amendment.

There’s a far simpler way. Let me explain: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/how-to-get-rid-of-citizens-united

How to Get Rid of "Citizens United"

We can do away with it without a new Supreme Court. Nor do we need a constitutional amendment. There’s a far simpler way

robertreich.substack.com

Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 1d

For sure he's not in Clacton!

Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 1d

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

Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 1d

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?

Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 1d

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

Philip Stephens @philipstephens.bsky.social · 1d

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

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 1d

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

Reposted by Peter Holmes

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 1d

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

Rutger Bregman @rutgerbregman.com · 1d

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

Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 1d

"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 7 more Kori Schake, David Dunning, Rosemary A. Joyce, David Rothschild, Peter Holmes, David R. Miller, W. Andy Knight, Tom Griffin, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Timothy D. McBride

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

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 Steve Peers, Albert Weale, Peter Holmes, Robert C. Richards, Gerald Friedman, Daryl Adair, Dunlap

Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 2d

Here’s the plaque at West Point with the relevant text highlighted

Reposted by Leigh Sparks, Peter Holmes, Jonathan Hopkin , and 2 more Leigh Sparks, Peter Holmes, Jonathan Hopkin, Margot C. Finn, Adrian Streete

YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 2d

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

Bennett School of Public Policy, University of Cambridge @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk · 2d

🧰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

Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 2d

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.

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 2d

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

Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 2d

"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

Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 2d

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

The Policy Institute @policyatkings.bsky.social · 2d

🎓 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

Reposted by Peter Holmes

Stuart Budd @stuartbudd.bsky.social · 2d

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 Jonathan Portes, Steve Peers, Peter Holmes, Tom Griffin, Nicolai von Ondarza

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 2d

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

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 2d

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

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 3d

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

Morgan J Freeman @mjfree.bsky.social · 3d

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

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.”