Andrew Smith
@smiggs.bsky.social
Sometimes Photography, Technology, and Culture but mostly Liberalism. he/him
Sheffield, England
Sheffield, England
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Said this a lot before, but there is no politician conveying any sense of what they think the country should look in 2040 or 2050, so no sense they are taking steps to get there.
Good test of how UK politics at least is failing, there isn't a single frontline politician with a convincing big picture view of the country. Nostalgia, simplism, and warm words will have to do instead.
November 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Said this a lot before, but there is no politician conveying any sense of what they think the country should look in 2040 or 2050, so no sense they are taking steps to get there.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
New IPSOS Westminster polling:
RFM: 33% (-1)
LAB: 18% (-4)
CON: 16% (+2)
GRN: 15% (+3)
LDM: 12% (=)
RFM: 33% (-1)
LAB: 18% (-4)
CON: 16% (+2)
GRN: 15% (+3)
LDM: 12% (=)
November 16, 2025 at 10:36 AM
New IPSOS Westminster polling:
RFM: 33% (-1)
LAB: 18% (-4)
CON: 16% (+2)
GRN: 15% (+3)
LDM: 12% (=)
RFM: 33% (-1)
LAB: 18% (-4)
CON: 16% (+2)
GRN: 15% (+3)
LDM: 12% (=)
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Labour have lost the plot.
November 16, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Labour have lost the plot.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Mo Farah, trafficked to UK aged 9 in 1992. Teacher Alan Watkinson secures citizenship after 8 years here, 2000 (aged 17) so he could travel abroad as GB athlete
Under future rules
Renew status? 1995, 98 x6
Eligible settlement after 20 years (2012)
Citizenship 2013
news.sky.com/story/sir-mo...
Under future rules
Renew status? 1995, 98 x6
Eligible settlement after 20 years (2012)
Citizenship 2013
news.sky.com/story/sir-mo...
Sir Mo Farah reveals 'the truth' about how he came to the UK
The Olympic star was warned speaking out could put his British citizenship at "real risk" - but it is understood the Home Office is taking no action against him.
news.sky.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Mo Farah, trafficked to UK aged 9 in 1992. Teacher Alan Watkinson secures citizenship after 8 years here, 2000 (aged 17) so he could travel abroad as GB athlete
Under future rules
Renew status? 1995, 98 x6
Eligible settlement after 20 years (2012)
Citizenship 2013
news.sky.com/story/sir-mo...
Under future rules
Renew status? 1995, 98 x6
Eligible settlement after 20 years (2012)
Citizenship 2013
news.sky.com/story/sir-mo...
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Daft idea now abandoned. What a waste of everyone's time.
BREAKING Home Office is about to announce that police and crime commissioners are to be scrapped..
Established in 2012 by Theresa May, Labour has never been a fan of the PCC system…they’ll be replaced in 2028 by policing mayors & local policing boards ..
Established in 2012 by Theresa May, Labour has never been a fan of the PCC system…they’ll be replaced in 2028 by policing mayors & local policing boards ..
November 13, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Daft idea now abandoned. What a waste of everyone's time.
Gary Lineker should replace Robbie Gibb on the BBC Board.
Gary Lineker: "This is the mistake the BBC makes. The BBC tries to appease the people that hate the BBC, rather than worrying about the people that love the BBC."
November 12, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Gary Lineker should replace Robbie Gibb on the BBC Board.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Dear Britain:
Your polls look very "European" and NOW would be a really really really really really really really good time to switch to PR.
➡️ RFM: 26% | 170 (+74)
🟥 LAB: 19% | 124 (-110)
🟦 CON: 18% | 118 (-38)
🟩 GRN: 15% | 98 (+55)
🟧 LDM: 14% | 91 (+10)
🟨 SNP: 3% | 19 (+2)
🔲 PLC: 2% | 12 (+7)
Your polls look very "European" and NOW would be a really really really really really really really good time to switch to PR.
➡️ RFM: 26% | 170 (+74)
🟥 LAB: 19% | 124 (-110)
🟦 CON: 18% | 118 (-38)
🟩 GRN: 15% | 98 (+55)
🟧 LDM: 14% | 91 (+10)
🟨 SNP: 3% | 19 (+2)
🔲 PLC: 2% | 12 (+7)
November 11, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Dear Britain:
Your polls look very "European" and NOW would be a really really really really really really really good time to switch to PR.
➡️ RFM: 26% | 170 (+74)
🟥 LAB: 19% | 124 (-110)
🟦 CON: 18% | 118 (-38)
🟩 GRN: 15% | 98 (+55)
🟧 LDM: 14% | 91 (+10)
🟨 SNP: 3% | 19 (+2)
🔲 PLC: 2% | 12 (+7)
Your polls look very "European" and NOW would be a really really really really really really really good time to switch to PR.
➡️ RFM: 26% | 170 (+74)
🟥 LAB: 19% | 124 (-110)
🟦 CON: 18% | 118 (-38)
🟩 GRN: 15% | 98 (+55)
🟧 LDM: 14% | 91 (+10)
🟨 SNP: 3% | 19 (+2)
🔲 PLC: 2% | 12 (+7)
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Boris Johnson says the idea that criticism of the BBC is being organised by the right is ‘complete and utter bollocks’, which makes me think there might be something in it.
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Boris Johnson says the idea that criticism of the BBC is being organised by the right is ‘complete and utter bollocks’, which makes me think there might be something in it.
Time for a purdah on reporting around the budget. Media speculation has become so intense that it's starting to impact people's financial decisions, the Telegraph even reports that after rumours in right wing papers tax free limits would be reduced that lump sum withdrawals are up 36%.
November 11, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Time for a purdah on reporting around the budget. Media speculation has become so intense that it's starting to impact people's financial decisions, the Telegraph even reports that after rumours in right wing papers tax free limits would be reduced that lump sum withdrawals are up 36%.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Interesting nugget from BBC staff call this morning: Tim Davie said the biggest number of complaints the BBC is handling right now concern the corporation giving Nigel Farage's Reform too much airtime. bsky.app/profile/jake...
New: BBC employees in open revolt about Robbie Gibb on all-staff call this morning. BBC chair Samir Shah said attacks on board members are "disrespectful" and shut down talk of a Conservative coup as "fanciful." deadline.com/2025/11/bbc-...
BBC Chair Shuts Down “Disrespectful” Attacks On Board Amid Staff Anger Over Robbie Gibb’s Role In Trump Scandal
BBC chair Samir Shah dismisses talk of Conservative coup on staff call, during which unrest over a Donald Trump-shaped crisis was on display.
deadline.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Interesting nugget from BBC staff call this morning: Tim Davie said the biggest number of complaints the BBC is handling right now concern the corporation giving Nigel Farage's Reform too much airtime. bsky.app/profile/jake...
I've said it before but I'll say it again, join Reddit, while it's dominated by liberals there's enough of the other that the most impactful Twitter and right wing political trends reach the UK Politics subreddit long before Blue Sky.
I'm guessing the BBC 'scandal' has been big on X this week as this was the first I had heard of it...
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 AM
I've said it before but I'll say it again, join Reddit, while it's dominated by liberals there's enough of the other that the most impactful Twitter and right wing political trends reach the UK Politics subreddit long before Blue Sky.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
(But bluntly my read is as much “if you’re a former Conservative councillor who has gone to war with Gary Lineker, and whose current affairs operation has been criticised by the Liberal Democrats, and the Telegraph is gunning for you…wouldn’t *you* go “screw it” and qui?)
November 9, 2025 at 10:57 PM
(But bluntly my read is as much “if you’re a former Conservative councillor who has gone to war with Gary Lineker, and whose current affairs operation has been criticised by the Liberal Democrats, and the Telegraph is gunning for you…wouldn’t *you* go “screw it” and qui?)
Can't help but think we need to start getting the DG campaign banners made up.
November 9, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Can't help but think we need to start getting the DG campaign banners made up.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Davie's resignation statement suggests he'd just had enough rather than feeling he had to resign over this particular issue.
November 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Davie's resignation statement suggests he'd just had enough rather than feeling he had to resign over this particular issue.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
November 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Reposted by Andrew Smith
The irony of these two clowns finally resigning over something that’s actually ostensibly true is grimly poetic
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
Davie says
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The irony of these two clowns finally resigning over something that’s actually ostensibly true is grimly poetic
Donald Trump's outriders handing Keir Starmer an early opportunity to Defarage BBC News coverage was not on my bingo card for 2025.
November 9, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Donald Trump's outriders handing Keir Starmer an early opportunity to Defarage BBC News coverage was not on my bingo card for 2025.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Reposted by Andrew Smith
November 6, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights.
He thinks we should leave the ECHR to reduce migration.
But not only do just a tiny number of immigration cases rely on human rights, leaving the ECHR would be an unmitigated disaster ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
He thinks we should leave the ECHR to reduce migration.
But not only do just a tiny number of immigration cases rely on human rights, leaving the ECHR would be an unmitigated disaster ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights | Good Law Project
The Reform leader is unveiling legislation to leave the ECHR. His arguments are wrong – and that move would be a disaster.
goodlaw.social
November 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Nigel Farage is wrong about the European Convention on Human Rights.
He thinks we should leave the ECHR to reduce migration.
But not only do just a tiny number of immigration cases rely on human rights, leaving the ECHR would be an unmitigated disaster ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
He thinks we should leave the ECHR to reduce migration.
But not only do just a tiny number of immigration cases rely on human rights, leaving the ECHR would be an unmitigated disaster ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/ngjm
Reposted by Andrew Smith
No one quite deserves to be made to look such a fool as Matt Goodwin. This is truly heartening.
My goodness Matt Goodwin comes across as an obnoxious hateful one-trick pony. Glad much of the #bbcqt audience saw through his schtick and agree.
October 31, 2025 at 12:27 PM
No one quite deserves to be made to look such a fool as Matt Goodwin. This is truly heartening.