Simon Roche
@simonroche.bsky.social
Pro-European, Cricket loving, Broxtowe Liberal Democrat 🔶️ and candidate for Stapleford South East, who likes a bit of science and history.
Sorry I couldn't bring it home for the Lib Dems. Thanks to everybody who has helped over the last few weeks. I take solace in the fact a worthy candidate won, and Reform's bandwagon has been halted for now.
December 5, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Sorry I couldn't bring it home for the Lib Dems. Thanks to everybody who has helped over the last few weeks. I take solace in the fact a worthy candidate won, and Reform's bandwagon has been halted for now.
Between May and October, Reform has won 41 By-elections and Lib Dems 26. When you look at Labour's 9, you can see it is us and Reform winning most of them.
December 4, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Between May and October, Reform has won 41 By-elections and Lib Dems 26. When you look at Labour's 9, you can see it is us and Reform winning most of them.
Ed is backing democracy. Labour seems to be keen to put it off.
December 4, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Ed is backing democracy. Labour seems to be keen to put it off.
One correct! Hope your next 5 are.
December 3, 2025 at 7:58 AM
One correct! Hope your next 5 are.
I hope you are right on Stapleford South East.
December 2, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I hope you are right on Stapleford South East.
Gullis was a man promoted well above his ability by Liz Truss. Though, those heady 50 days in as Under-Secretary of State for School Standards, make him one of Reform's most accomplished members.
December 1, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Gullis was a man promoted well above his ability by Liz Truss. Though, those heady 50 days in as Under-Secretary of State for School Standards, make him one of Reform's most accomplished members.
The BBC has never really found a good, impartial replacement for John Cole as political editor.
December 1, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The BBC has never really found a good, impartial replacement for John Cole as political editor.
I agree that the death of Ross Bofinger was sad news. The seat may have been held by a Broxtowe Alliance member, but it was won by a Labour member. As we came so close to beating Labour in 2023, we owe it to our voters to offer a choice. Fair play to them if they choose to vote Broxtowe Alliance.
Alliance.it
December 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM
I agree that the death of Ross Bofinger was sad news. The seat may have been held by a Broxtowe Alliance member, but it was won by a Labour member. As we came so close to beating Labour in 2023, we owe it to our voters to offer a choice. Fair play to them if they choose to vote Broxtowe Alliance.
The governing party also recently paid the price for their failures in local elections.
November 30, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The governing party also recently paid the price for their failures in local elections.
It seems to have always been a problem with the left. They tend to squabble over the smaller nuances that the average voter doesn't really care about. They need to focus on the things that unite them. The far-right does this successfully, albeit in a different way by uniting around common hatreds.
November 28, 2025 at 8:13 AM
It seems to have always been a problem with the left. They tend to squabble over the smaller nuances that the average voter doesn't really care about. They need to focus on the things that unite them. The far-right does this successfully, albeit in a different way by uniting around common hatreds.
Great to see us take action to improve things rather ignoring Brexit as the biggest cause of our current woes like Labour and the Tories are.
November 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Great to see us take action to improve things rather ignoring Brexit as the biggest cause of our current woes like Labour and the Tories are.
I think you would have to be madder to have Reform as your second preference than to actually vote Reform in the first place.
November 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I think you would have to be madder to have Reform as your second preference than to actually vote Reform in the first place.
Who can not be happy when there's cricket on? Like a ray of summer sunshine on a cold winter's day.
November 21, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Who can not be happy when there's cricket on? Like a ray of summer sunshine on a cold winter's day.
Last year, I wasn't worried when Labour won. I thought we had stopped the rise of the right and things would slowly get better. I am upset with the way we are heading. Even the upcoming budget doesn't bode well. It looks like it will be a mishmash of tax increases here and there, annoying everyone.
November 17, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Last year, I wasn't worried when Labour won. I thought we had stopped the rise of the right and things would slowly get better. I am upset with the way we are heading. Even the upcoming budget doesn't bode well. It looks like it will be a mishmash of tax increases here and there, annoying everyone.
Exactly. I know quite a few people who lent their vote to Labour to get the Tories out and keep Reform out. I am not sure they will be doing that next time given Labour's current direction of travel. I think if Starmer and Labour want any part at all in the next government, they need to bring in PR.
November 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Exactly. I know quite a few people who lent their vote to Labour to get the Tories out and keep Reform out. I am not sure they will be doing that next time given Labour's current direction of travel. I think if Starmer and Labour want any part at all in the next government, they need to bring in PR.
He won't be forgiven by many British people if he allows the BBC to be thrown to the wolves and our money given to Trump. It will be the end of him if he allows destroys our institutions, whatever flaws people perceive they have.
November 15, 2025 at 10:02 AM
He won't be forgiven by many British people if he allows the BBC to be thrown to the wolves and our money given to Trump. It will be the end of him if he allows destroys our institutions, whatever flaws people perceive they have.
Congratulations on a fantastic result!
November 6, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Congratulations on a fantastic result!
Why else would they have given the World Cup to countries with governments who have terrible human rights records like Russia in 2018, Qatar in 2022, Saudi Arabia in 2034 and USA in 2026?
November 6, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Why else would they have given the World Cup to countries with governments who have terrible human rights records like Russia in 2018, Qatar in 2022, Saudi Arabia in 2034 and USA in 2026?
Where from? That's a bargain.....if it's from Edinburgh.
November 5, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Where from? That's a bargain.....if it's from Edinburgh.
Stewart Lee described Chris Philp well on 'Strong Message Here' on R4 last week. Like a dog with a firework tied to his tail, amongst other descriptions.
November 3, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Stewart Lee described Chris Philp well on 'Strong Message Here' on R4 last week. Like a dog with a firework tied to his tail, amongst other descriptions.
It shows that the direction Badenoch is taking the Conservatives in by abandoning their centre-right voters. She isn't picking up new voters, as why would anyone be inclined to vote for a Poundshop version of Reform, when they can vote for the real thing.
November 2, 2025 at 7:31 AM
It shows that the direction Badenoch is taking the Conservatives in by abandoning their centre-right voters. She isn't picking up new voters, as why would anyone be inclined to vote for a Poundshop version of Reform, when they can vote for the real thing.
Granted I didn't go the Leeds, but at University in the 1990's I would have got involved in politics, but being fairly centrist (even back then), there wasn't much on offer. The active groups on campus were on the far-left or some young Conservatives that still had a strange fetish for Thatcherism.
October 26, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Granted I didn't go the Leeds, but at University in the 1990's I would have got involved in politics, but being fairly centrist (even back then), there wasn't much on offer. The active groups on campus were on the far-left or some young Conservatives that still had a strange fetish for Thatcherism.
Reform are having a bad night! 4 Lib Dem wins so far, which is fantastic. Pleased to see Plaid hold off Reform in Caerphilly too.
The progressive parties have proved the can hold off the march of the far right.
The progressive parties have proved the can hold off the march of the far right.
October 24, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Reform are having a bad night! 4 Lib Dem wins so far, which is fantastic. Pleased to see Plaid hold off Reform in Caerphilly too.
The progressive parties have proved the can hold off the march of the far right.
The progressive parties have proved the can hold off the march of the far right.