Graham Evans
@mars164.bsky.social
Retired HR manager who's followed, and often participated in, party politics since my early teenage years.
I had my doubts about her as Home Secretary but my opinion of her has distinctly improved.
December 10, 2025 at 7:48 AM
I had my doubts about her as Home Secretary but my opinion of her has distinctly improved.
Why on earth did Vicky Young continue with the interview when it became clear the Trump spokesman wasn't interested in a civilised debate? Presumably, the BBC is running scared of Trump's legal threats.
December 10, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Why on earth did Vicky Young continue with the interview when it became clear the Trump spokesman wasn't interested in a civilised debate? Presumably, the BBC is running scared of Trump's legal threats.
They're the result of Mahmood leaning into Reform UK policies rather than challenging them.
December 10, 2025 at 7:29 AM
They're the result of Mahmood leaning into Reform UK policies rather than challenging them.
The govt had an opportunity to introduce a defence levy to fund increased expenditure when first elected but instead decided to cut the aid budget, weakening the UK's soft power.
December 10, 2025 at 7:27 AM
The govt had an opportunity to introduce a defence levy to fund increased expenditure when first elected but instead decided to cut the aid budget, weakening the UK's soft power.
Absolutely. Leaders of big businesses who know that Brexit was a big mistake continue to keep their heads down for fear of offending the government, while organisations representing SMEs badly hit by Brexit are still led by hardline Brexiters.
December 10, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Absolutely. Leaders of big businesses who know that Brexit was a big mistake continue to keep their heads down for fear of offending the government, while organisations representing SMEs badly hit by Brexit are still led by hardline Brexiters.
Opinion polling in Germany shows Merz is on the skids. He's in the job he long coveted but is making a complete hash of it. Does that remind us of someone in the UK?
December 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Opinion polling in Germany shows Merz is on the skids. He's in the job he long coveted but is making a complete hash of it. Does that remind us of someone in the UK?
because there is no other way of earning the money you need to support yourself and your family.
December 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
because there is no other way of earning the money you need to support yourself and your family.
I think it showed a degree of honesty that few of us would admit to in public. This is the sort of activity you might do for a loved one, or out of duty towards a close relative, but to do it for a complete stranger needs a special level of compassion that few of us possess, or ....
December 9, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I think it showed a degree of honesty that few of us would admit to in public. This is the sort of activity you might do for a loved one, or out of duty towards a close relative, but to do it for a complete stranger needs a special level of compassion that few of us possess, or ....
As the response of the UK and Eurozone govts showed during the Covid pandemic, when the Fed is increasing its balance sheet so can the BoE and ECB, because the arbitrage opportunities are limited. The tragedy of the UK and the Eurozone is that they didn't follow the same example in 2010. 2/
December 9, 2025 at 9:07 AM
As the response of the UK and Eurozone govts showed during the Covid pandemic, when the Fed is increasing its balance sheet so can the BoE and ECB, because the arbitrage opportunities are limited. The tragedy of the UK and the Eurozone is that they didn't follow the same example in 2010. 2/
And what has Labour done, or proposes to do, to address these issues, other than tinkering with cash ISAs and asking pension funds to invest more in equities, with no incentives to do so? 1/
December 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM
And what has Labour done, or proposes to do, to address these issues, other than tinkering with cash ISAs and asking pension funds to invest more in equities, with no incentives to do so? 1/
If you think Reeves' tax plans so far, and her plans for the coming years, make economic sense, I have a bridge to sell you. Blue Labour's pot calling the Greens' kettle black won't wash with voters.
December 9, 2025 at 8:27 AM
If you think Reeves' tax plans so far, and her plans for the coming years, make economic sense, I have a bridge to sell you. Blue Labour's pot calling the Greens' kettle black won't wash with voters.
Many years ago when campaign spending was much tighter than now the campaign of Norman St John-Stevas overspent but it was his agent who took the rap (sentenced to 3 months suspended) and the election result stood, even though St John-Stevas had signed the accounts as accurate.
December 9, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Many years ago when campaign spending was much tighter than now the campaign of Norman St John-Stevas overspent but it was his agent who took the rap (sentenced to 3 months suspended) and the election result stood, even though St John-Stevas had signed the accounts as accurate.
The US managed it, because US administrations, both Republican and Democrat, stopped worrying about govt deficits.
December 8, 2025 at 10:54 PM
The US managed it, because US administrations, both Republican and Democrat, stopped worrying about govt deficits.
Asked why he wanted to become PM Cameron replied: "because I think I'd be rather good at it". This sums up Starmer to a T.
December 8, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Asked why he wanted to become PM Cameron replied: "because I think I'd be rather good at it". This sums up Starmer to a T.
Democrat, rejected this approach and considered the budget deficit as no big deal.
December 8, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Democrat, rejected this approach and considered the budget deficit as no big deal.
I imagine you're a supporter of the orthodox fiscal and monetary conservatism that has done so much damage to the UK economy and fabric of society since 2010. For all its other problems, the US economy has vastly outperformed European economies because US administrations, both Republican and ....
December 8, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I imagine you're a supporter of the orthodox fiscal and monetary conservatism that has done so much damage to the UK economy and fabric of society since 2010. For all its other problems, the US economy has vastly outperformed European economies because US administrations, both Republican and ....
This, coming from a party that dropped its commitment to investing £28bn on an environmental programme, is a bit rich, particularly bearing in mind ever since Miliband was appointed Energy Secretary McSweeney has been working to undermine his position.
December 8, 2025 at 10:17 PM
This, coming from a party that dropped its commitment to investing £28bn on an environmental programme, is a bit rich, particularly bearing in mind ever since Miliband was appointed Energy Secretary McSweeney has been working to undermine his position.
That's the one policy on which the Greens are most vulnerable to attacks from political policy geeks, but I doubt it will damage their attraction much among most voters. They may even decide to dump this as a policy before the next election.
December 8, 2025 at 10:11 PM
That's the one policy on which the Greens are most vulnerable to attacks from political policy geeks, but I doubt it will damage their attraction much among most voters. They may even decide to dump this as a policy before the next election.
It's a pity Lab itself made such a hash of preparing for power before the last GE.
Incidentally, I wouldn't rule out the Greens playing a significant role in the formation of the govt after the 2029 GE.
Incidentally, I wouldn't rule out the Greens playing a significant role in the formation of the govt after the 2029 GE.
December 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM
It's a pity Lab itself made such a hash of preparing for power before the last GE.
Incidentally, I wouldn't rule out the Greens playing a significant role in the formation of the govt after the 2029 GE.
Incidentally, I wouldn't rule out the Greens playing a significant role in the formation of the govt after the 2029 GE.
The list relating to the Greens covers issues far wider than what is covered in the budget. It might also be worthwhile seeing what policies the Lab Party Conference has agreed (such as PR) that Starmer has blocked.
December 8, 2025 at 9:03 AM
The list relating to the Greens covers issues far wider than what is covered in the budget. It might also be worthwhile seeing what policies the Lab Party Conference has agreed (such as PR) that Starmer has blocked.
No they're not. They're simply wanting to reduce the extreme version of Brexit encapsulated in the CTA.
December 8, 2025 at 8:27 AM
No they're not. They're simply wanting to reduce the extreme version of Brexit encapsulated in the CTA.