Rob Blackie
@robblackie.bsky.social
Helping innovators tell the right story at the right time. Former Lib Dem London Mayoral candidate. Breaking Putin's censorship
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robblackie/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robblackie/
The Mayor of New York accidentally explains why you should start a business in London: NY has insane rules while London doesn't.
Soon small businesses won’t have to wait for Small Business Saturday to get attention from their Mayor.
Some changes that they can look forward to:
Some changes that they can look forward to:
November 30, 2025 at 12:37 AM
The Mayor of New York accidentally explains why you should start a business in London: NY has insane rules while London doesn't.
Reposted by Rob Blackie
The latest casualty stands at 128 with over a hundred more missing. And 2000 families have lost their homes. We're very attached to public housing estates. It's a successful public policy before right-to-buy was frozen years after the HK's sovereignty handover.
www.libdemshk.org.uk/news/article...
www.libdemshk.org.uk/news/article...
Pray for our friends in Hong Kong
Our thoughts are with the families at Tai Po.
www.libdemshk.org.uk
November 29, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The latest casualty stands at 128 with over a hundred more missing. And 2000 families have lost their homes. We're very attached to public housing estates. It's a successful public policy before right-to-buy was frozen years after the HK's sovereignty handover.
www.libdemshk.org.uk/news/article...
www.libdemshk.org.uk/news/article...
One third of ALL council housing building started in London this year has been by Lib Dem Sutton council.
A great achievement from the Lib Dem team - but also a reflection that Labour have failed on housing - contributing to our terrible levels of homelessness.
A great achievement from the Lib Dem team - but also a reflection that Labour have failed on housing - contributing to our terrible levels of homelessness.
November 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
One third of ALL council housing building started in London this year has been by Lib Dem Sutton council.
A great achievement from the Lib Dem team - but also a reflection that Labour have failed on housing - contributing to our terrible levels of homelessness.
A great achievement from the Lib Dem team - but also a reflection that Labour have failed on housing - contributing to our terrible levels of homelessness.
This is a joke but also a good policy idea.
Idea: whining about your taxes in the press comes with a *free* wallet inspection from HMRC just to make sure you're not over paying
November 29, 2025 at 1:14 PM
This is a joke but also a good policy idea.
Reposted by Rob Blackie
Saw person with 2" fingernails use chopsticks and type on phone tonight, as fast as anyone. Human brain consumes 20W total. Bet she didn't use 1kWh to learn either skill. Humanoid companies using big learning on big data to learn dexterity, eat your hearts out. You got it wrong. Humans are gooder.
November 29, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Saw person with 2" fingernails use chopsticks and type on phone tonight, as fast as anyone. Human brain consumes 20W total. Bet she didn't use 1kWh to learn either skill. Humanoid companies using big learning on big data to learn dexterity, eat your hearts out. You got it wrong. Humans are gooder.
"if there's any wine, send"
Nice to see that humans haven't changed in 2,500 years.
Nice to see that humans haven't changed in 2,500 years.
A 2500 year old letter from a soldier named Hananyahu, deciphered through super-modern multispectral imaging, begins with “If there is any wine, send” journals.plos.org/plosone/arti... #grunts #invinoveritas #dogsofwar #pluscachange
November 28, 2025 at 10:36 PM
"if there's any wine, send"
Nice to see that humans haven't changed in 2,500 years.
Nice to see that humans haven't changed in 2,500 years.
Campaign report: Stockwell, Lambeth
Lots of support for the brilliant local Lib Dem team last night - with people raising the woeful state of Lambeth council, the budget and Labour's pandering to Reform.
As usual now, very few people are happy with Labour.
Lots of support for the brilliant local Lib Dem team last night - with people raising the woeful state of Lambeth council, the budget and Labour's pandering to Reform.
As usual now, very few people are happy with Labour.
November 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Campaign report: Stockwell, Lambeth
Lots of support for the brilliant local Lib Dem team last night - with people raising the woeful state of Lambeth council, the budget and Labour's pandering to Reform.
As usual now, very few people are happy with Labour.
Lots of support for the brilliant local Lib Dem team last night - with people raising the woeful state of Lambeth council, the budget and Labour's pandering to Reform.
As usual now, very few people are happy with Labour.
This story about the mansion tax is weird.
People are trying to avoid a £2.5k tax - fine - but do they realise they are about to pay £153,000 in stamp duty?
Homeowners rush to price properties just under ‘mansion tax’ thresholds - on.ft.com/3M2Tj0V via @FT
People are trying to avoid a £2.5k tax - fine - but do they realise they are about to pay £153,000 in stamp duty?
Homeowners rush to price properties just under ‘mansion tax’ thresholds - on.ft.com/3M2Tj0V via @FT
Homeowners rush to price properties just under ‘mansion tax’ thresholds
Estate agents say ‘bunching’ practice likely to pick up pace ahead of start of surcharge in April 2028
on.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:32 PM
This story about the mansion tax is weird.
People are trying to avoid a £2.5k tax - fine - but do they realise they are about to pay £153,000 in stamp duty?
Homeowners rush to price properties just under ‘mansion tax’ thresholds - on.ft.com/3M2Tj0V via @FT
People are trying to avoid a £2.5k tax - fine - but do they realise they are about to pay £153,000 in stamp duty?
Homeowners rush to price properties just under ‘mansion tax’ thresholds - on.ft.com/3M2Tj0V via @FT
Labour should be ashamed of this - truly appalling to stop a girl being able to join her parents after being left homeless and destitute.
This is utterly wrong.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
This is utterly wrong.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK rejects visa for girl left destitute in Jamaica by Hurricane Melissa
Lati-Yana Brown’s parents had asked for application to be expedited so she could join them in UK after house ruined
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Labour should be ashamed of this - truly appalling to stop a girl being able to join her parents after being left homeless and destitute.
This is utterly wrong.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
This is utterly wrong.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Only the Lib Dems beat Reform every week.
This is for a simple reason: most people dislike Reform and know that the Lib Dems represent everybody in society, not just one group.
This is for a simple reason: most people dislike Reform and know that the Lib Dems represent everybody in society, not just one group.
Barnoldswick- Pendle Borough Council
LIB DEMS HOLD ANOTHER COUNCIL SEAT!
LD🔶- 1008- 59.8% (+1.5)
RFM➡️- 441- 26.2% (New)
CON🔵- 170- 10.1% (-11.7)
LAB🔴- 66- 3.9% (-11.1)
Congratulations to Cllr Bryony Hartley and the Pendle team for a fantastic campaign!
LIB DEMS HOLD ANOTHER COUNCIL SEAT!
LD🔶- 1008- 59.8% (+1.5)
RFM➡️- 441- 26.2% (New)
CON🔵- 170- 10.1% (-11.7)
LAB🔴- 66- 3.9% (-11.1)
Congratulations to Cllr Bryony Hartley and the Pendle team for a fantastic campaign!
November 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Only the Lib Dems beat Reform every week.
This is for a simple reason: most people dislike Reform and know that the Lib Dems represent everybody in society, not just one group.
This is for a simple reason: most people dislike Reform and know that the Lib Dems represent everybody in society, not just one group.
Reposted by Rob Blackie
Nice dataviz from the ONS showing median wealth split by category at different points of the distribution: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
November 27, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Nice dataviz from the ONS showing median wealth split by category at different points of the distribution: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Reposted by Rob Blackie
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
November 27, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Thanks to the brilliant Stockwell team out tonight... Now enjoying a meal together afterwards.
Lots of people unhappy about the budget and Labour generally, including their plan to restrict indefinite leave to remain.
Lots of people unhappy about the budget and Labour generally, including their plan to restrict indefinite leave to remain.
November 27, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Thanks to the brilliant Stockwell team out tonight... Now enjoying a meal together afterwards.
Lots of people unhappy about the budget and Labour generally, including their plan to restrict indefinite leave to remain.
Lots of people unhappy about the budget and Labour generally, including their plan to restrict indefinite leave to remain.
Today's immigration figures suggest that the government may achieve the OBR's low immigration scenario.
Which makes an average family roughly £400 a year worse off by 2029.
Which makes an average family roughly £400 a year worse off by 2029.
November 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Today's immigration figures suggest that the government may achieve the OBR's low immigration scenario.
Which makes an average family roughly £400 a year worse off by 2029.
Which makes an average family roughly £400 a year worse off by 2029.
Reposted by Rob Blackie
Nigel Farage has spent £1m taking out adverts in the papers to distract from the Nathan Gill Russian bribe scandal.
We can't let him buy himself out of this. We need an investigation into Russian influence in our politics.
We can't let him buy himself out of this. We need an investigation into Russian influence in our politics.
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Nigel Farage has spent £1m taking out adverts in the papers to distract from the Nathan Gill Russian bribe scandal.
We can't let him buy himself out of this. We need an investigation into Russian influence in our politics.
We can't let him buy himself out of this. We need an investigation into Russian influence in our politics.
Reposted by Rob Blackie
Like all too many children in the UK today, I grew up poor. I am no longer poor, and I am delighted to pay higher taxes to reduce - or ideally eliminate - child poverty. 1/3
November 27, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Like all too many children in the UK today, I grew up poor. I am no longer poor, and I am delighted to pay higher taxes to reduce - or ideally eliminate - child poverty. 1/3
Labour's plan appears to be:
1. Hope economy gets better.
2. Hope that they don't have to spend on special needs, defence or ID cards - all of which cost money but haven't been budgeted for.
3. Hope that nobody successfully lobbies against their backloaded tax increases.
This isn't serious.
1. Hope economy gets better.
2. Hope that they don't have to spend on special needs, defence or ID cards - all of which cost money but haven't been budgeted for.
3. Hope that nobody successfully lobbies against their backloaded tax increases.
This isn't serious.
The tax rises in this Budget’s are backloaded.
They're largely kick in in what is likely to be a pre-election year, somewhat implausibly.
They're largely kick in in what is likely to be a pre-election year, somewhat implausibly.
November 27, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Labour's plan appears to be:
1. Hope economy gets better.
2. Hope that they don't have to spend on special needs, defence or ID cards - all of which cost money but haven't been budgeted for.
3. Hope that nobody successfully lobbies against their backloaded tax increases.
This isn't serious.
1. Hope economy gets better.
2. Hope that they don't have to spend on special needs, defence or ID cards - all of which cost money but haven't been budgeted for.
3. Hope that nobody successfully lobbies against their backloaded tax increases.
This isn't serious.
Nigel Farage is a Russian asset in the sense that he consistently does what Putin would like.
‘Is Nigel Farage a Russian asset?’
‘Are you seriously asking me that?’
@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social refuses to back down while questioning Reform’s Zia Yusuf.
‘Are you seriously asking me that?’
@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social refuses to back down while questioning Reform’s Zia Yusuf.
November 27, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Nigel Farage is a Russian asset in the sense that he consistently does what Putin would like.
Reposted by Rob Blackie
A brief note on polling on tax. It can be really good. But it's actually the issue which is hardest to get right. There's no issue where Tony Blair's description of the difference between a three-second conversation, a 30-second conversation and a three-minute conversation is starker.
November 27, 2025 at 9:50 AM
A brief note on polling on tax. It can be really good. But it's actually the issue which is hardest to get right. There's no issue where Tony Blair's description of the difference between a three-second conversation, a 30-second conversation and a three-minute conversation is starker.
The world's largest distribution engine is censoring LGBTQ+ content in Russia - helping Putin to enforce censorship.
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/how-steam-...
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/how-steam-...
How Steam censors LGBTQ+ content on behalf of the Russian Government, 27/11/2025
When Roskomnadzor calls, Valve answers
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:19 AM
The world's largest distribution engine is censoring LGBTQ+ content in Russia - helping Putin to enforce censorship.
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/how-steam-...
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/how-steam-...
Fascinating to hear people's views in Brent tonight.
In a traditionally very Labour area, not one person was sticking with them, and everybody was open to voting Lib Dem.
Issues raised included the budget and the mess caused by Brexit.
In a traditionally very Labour area, not one person was sticking with them, and everybody was open to voting Lib Dem.
Issues raised included the budget and the mess caused by Brexit.
November 26, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Fascinating to hear people's views in Brent tonight.
In a traditionally very Labour area, not one person was sticking with them, and everybody was open to voting Lib Dem.
Issues raised included the budget and the mess caused by Brexit.
In a traditionally very Labour area, not one person was sticking with them, and everybody was open to voting Lib Dem.
Issues raised included the budget and the mess caused by Brexit.
Here's a bombshell in the budget:
Billions of unbudgeted commitments that the government is going to need to fund:
£6bn SEND
NHS pharma costs up due to US trade deal
£1.1bn if asylum plan doesn't work
£0.6 ID cards
£32 bn defence increase (not all needed in next few years)
Billions of unbudgeted commitments that the government is going to need to fund:
£6bn SEND
NHS pharma costs up due to US trade deal
£1.1bn if asylum plan doesn't work
£0.6 ID cards
£32 bn defence increase (not all needed in next few years)
November 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Here's a bombshell in the budget:
Billions of unbudgeted commitments that the government is going to need to fund:
£6bn SEND
NHS pharma costs up due to US trade deal
£1.1bn if asylum plan doesn't work
£0.6 ID cards
£32 bn defence increase (not all needed in next few years)
Billions of unbudgeted commitments that the government is going to need to fund:
£6bn SEND
NHS pharma costs up due to US trade deal
£1.1bn if asylum plan doesn't work
£0.6 ID cards
£32 bn defence increase (not all needed in next few years)
Odd that Labour think that increasing income tax on graduates by 9% won't be noticed, but a broad based 1% is unthinkable.
Would love some in-depth numbers on what the majority of 20-30 somethings basically paying a 9% higher marginal tax rate has actually done to economic behaviour. Feels very under-discussed bsky.app/profile/igma...
Student loan repayment thresholds frozen for a further three years.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
More debt burden falling on graduates.
And even more reason to cut university places by 20-30%.
November 26, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Odd that Labour think that increasing income tax on graduates by 9% won't be noticed, but a broad based 1% is unthinkable.
Reposted by Rob Blackie
The Prime Minister just told me any party leader should want to get to the bottom of this Russian bribery scandal with Reform.
He is the Prime Minister and a party leader. Why isn't he launching a national investigation himself?
He is the Prime Minister and a party leader. Why isn't he launching a national investigation himself?
November 26, 2025 at 12:53 PM
The Prime Minister just told me any party leader should want to get to the bottom of this Russian bribery scandal with Reform.
He is the Prime Minister and a party leader. Why isn't he launching a national investigation himself?
He is the Prime Minister and a party leader. Why isn't he launching a national investigation himself?
Reposted by Rob Blackie
Labour will betray Londoners if the Chancellor does not lay out measures to tackle our city's punishing combination of a housing and cost of living crisis & red tape around our businesses.
There is no path to growth without a stronger London.
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
There is no path to growth without a stronger London.
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Budget 2025: Reeves to hammer London in tax grab on wealthy homeowners and workers
The Chancellor’s plans will also see 260,000 children in the capital benefit from the lifting of the two-child welfare cap
www.standard.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Labour will betray Londoners if the Chancellor does not lay out measures to tackle our city's punishing combination of a housing and cost of living crisis & red tape around our businesses.
There is no path to growth without a stronger London.
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
There is no path to growth without a stronger London.
www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...