Jean-Luc Picard
@voiceofpericles.bsky.social
Proctor ergo, proctor hoc - after this, therefore because of this.
Philosophy, economics, politics, football, Wales, UK, climate change, gaming, LOTR, Dinosaurs and the stars.
Philosophy, economics, politics, football, Wales, UK, climate change, gaming, LOTR, Dinosaurs and the stars.
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
Is Farage still facing scrutiny over his partner’s £885k Frinton home.
Is it aggressive tax avoidance? Has he misled voters? Where’s the transparency? What’s happening?
Just asking questions.
#FrintonGate
Is it aggressive tax avoidance? Has he misled voters? Where’s the transparency? What’s happening?
Just asking questions.
#FrintonGate
December 2, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Is Farage still facing scrutiny over his partner’s £885k Frinton home.
Is it aggressive tax avoidance? Has he misled voters? Where’s the transparency? What’s happening?
Just asking questions.
#FrintonGate
Is it aggressive tax avoidance? Has he misled voters? Where’s the transparency? What’s happening?
Just asking questions.
#FrintonGate
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Watched BBC 6 o clock news. Just a completely unserious broadcast. Chris Mason, acting like a children's entertainer, giving a prolonged impenetrable editorial. Not a whiff of informative content about the Budget or what it means for the country. Just playschool blah blah bollocks.
December 1, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Hang on a sec, if the OBR had not downgraded productivity by £16bn Rachel Reeves would have had £20bn fiscal headroom based on last years budget.
The exact amount most commentators said she should have budgeted for.
So.. she was right and everyone else was actually wrong?
@bestforbritain.org
The exact amount most commentators said she should have budgeted for.
So.. she was right and everyone else was actually wrong?
@bestforbritain.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Hang on a sec, if the OBR had not downgraded productivity by £16bn Rachel Reeves would have had £20bn fiscal headroom based on last years budget.
The exact amount most commentators said she should have budgeted for.
So.. she was right and everyone else was actually wrong?
@bestforbritain.org
The exact amount most commentators said she should have budgeted for.
So.. she was right and everyone else was actually wrong?
@bestforbritain.org
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
Another good episode this week.
I think I agree with @sturdyalex.bsky.social re 2028 election.
Interest rates will be about 3%, Govt borrowing costs down giving more headroom and allowing them to cancel the tax freeze. Masses of renewables due online by 2028, will be Net Zero on grid at times.
I think I agree with @sturdyalex.bsky.social re 2028 election.
Interest rates will be about 3%, Govt borrowing costs down giving more headroom and allowing them to cancel the tax freeze. Masses of renewables due online by 2028, will be Net Zero on grid at times.
🆕 SPOILER ALERT - Unpicking the Budget 📈
The good stuff
The less good stuff
The economic rationale
The political consequences
Balance, humour, @pimlicat.bsky.social , @sturdyalex.bsky.social & top economist Vicky Pryce.
🍊 open.spotify.com/episode/05mP...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
The good stuff
The less good stuff
The economic rationale
The political consequences
Balance, humour, @pimlicat.bsky.social , @sturdyalex.bsky.social & top economist Vicky Pryce.
🍊 open.spotify.com/episode/05mP...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
Unpicking the most-leaked Budget in history, with Vicky Pryce
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 26/11/2025 · 1h 18m
podcasts.apple.com
November 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Another good episode this week.
I think I agree with @sturdyalex.bsky.social re 2028 election.
Interest rates will be about 3%, Govt borrowing costs down giving more headroom and allowing them to cancel the tax freeze. Masses of renewables due online by 2028, will be Net Zero on grid at times.
I think I agree with @sturdyalex.bsky.social re 2028 election.
Interest rates will be about 3%, Govt borrowing costs down giving more headroom and allowing them to cancel the tax freeze. Masses of renewables due online by 2028, will be Net Zero on grid at times.
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
“Speaking outside his chateau in France, former Brexit Party and UKIP MEP Coburn…”
Former Brexit Party MEP denies taking payment from pro-Russian campaign
A prominent former MEP for Nigel Farage's old party denies taking bribes in a pro-Russian campaign.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 8:56 AM
“Speaking outside his chateau in France, former Brexit Party and UKIP MEP Coburn…”
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
And here's David Coburn again in the European Parliament accusing the EU of "unwarranted imperialism in the Ukraine"
Coburn denies taking any money from Russia to make these statements www.youtube.com/watch?v=52W7...
Coburn denies taking any money from Russia to make these statements www.youtube.com/watch?v=52W7...
EU edges us closer to war with Russia while dictating to the Greek people - UKIP MEP David Coburn
YouTube video by UKIP MEPs
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:43 AM
And here's David Coburn again in the European Parliament accusing the EU of "unwarranted imperialism in the Ukraine"
Coburn denies taking any money from Russia to make these statements www.youtube.com/watch?v=52W7...
Coburn denies taking any money from Russia to make these statements www.youtube.com/watch?v=52W7...
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
And Here's David Coburn on Russian state television accusing the EU of "interfering in the Russian sphere of influence" on Ukraine www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrJS...
Russia today - David Coburn on Russia/Ukraine, March 2014
YouTube video by Liberty media
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:40 AM
And Here's David Coburn on Russian state television accusing the EU of "interfering in the Russian sphere of influence" on Ukraine www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrJS...
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
Here's UKIP's former Scottish leader David Coburn, who has denied taking Russian bribes after being named in Whatsapp messages between Nathan Gill and a pawn of the Putin administration, being applauded by Gill for arguing against Ukraine's entry to the EU
November 28, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Here's UKIP's former Scottish leader David Coburn, who has denied taking Russian bribes after being named in Whatsapp messages between Nathan Gill and a pawn of the Putin administration, being applauded by Gill for arguing against Ukraine's entry to the EU
A question for the Sunday supplement.
Why did Reeves get such bad press about her relatively small fiscal headroom but Hunt didn't?
Despite Hunt cutting NI and leaving himself even less fiscal headroom.
@bestforbritain.org
Why did Reeves get such bad press about her relatively small fiscal headroom but Hunt didn't?
Despite Hunt cutting NI and leaving himself even less fiscal headroom.
@bestforbritain.org
Despite a fiscal tightening, the Government only has plans to run a modest surplus in future.
Read 'Stairway to headroom' now ⤵️ buff.ly/U9ZeozU
Read 'Stairway to headroom' now ⤵️ buff.ly/U9ZeozU
November 27, 2025 at 4:03 PM
A question for the Sunday supplement.
Why did Reeves get such bad press about her relatively small fiscal headroom but Hunt didn't?
Despite Hunt cutting NI and leaving himself even less fiscal headroom.
@bestforbritain.org
Why did Reeves get such bad press about her relatively small fiscal headroom but Hunt didn't?
Despite Hunt cutting NI and leaving himself even less fiscal headroom.
@bestforbritain.org
Interesting that Reeves has been hounded by critics over the relatively low fiscal headroom and yet I don't remember the same happening to Hunt, even when he cut NI despite it being unfeasible.
Why is that?
Why is that?
November 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Interesting that Reeves has been hounded by critics over the relatively low fiscal headroom and yet I don't remember the same happening to Hunt, even when he cut NI despite it being unfeasible.
Why is that?
Why is that?
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
Woman to woman, I can tell Kemi she’s coming across as that really nasty cow at school who spends her time bitching and bullying other girls and ends up sitting on her own at lunch.
November 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Woman to woman, I can tell Kemi she’s coming across as that really nasty cow at school who spends her time bitching and bullying other girls and ends up sitting on her own at lunch.
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
🔥 Highly recommended that you all sign and share.
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM
🔥 Highly recommended that you all sign and share.
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Link to the petition—> petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
It was Kaja Kallas with the pistol in the library
EU: OK, show of hands, how can we sabotage this deal in 48h?
One Bloomberg journo: it's OK I got this fam
One Bloomberg journo: it's OK I got this fam
November 25, 2025 at 8:49 PM
It was Kaja Kallas with the pistol in the library
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has already passed 40,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has already passed 40,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
Woah.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Woah.
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
The UK is losing up to £250m a day in lost tax revenue due to the economic impact of Brexit, House of Commons Library analysis for the Lib Dems suggests.
Brexit has blown a "black hole of [up to] £90 billion a year in the public finances" the party says. Even under lower estimates the hit is ~£65bn
Brexit has blown a "black hole of [up to] £90 billion a year in the public finances" the party says. Even under lower estimates the hit is ~£65bn
November 25, 2025 at 10:33 AM
The UK is losing up to £250m a day in lost tax revenue due to the economic impact of Brexit, House of Commons Library analysis for the Lib Dems suggests.
Brexit has blown a "black hole of [up to] £90 billion a year in the public finances" the party says. Even under lower estimates the hit is ~£65bn
Brexit has blown a "black hole of [up to] £90 billion a year in the public finances" the party says. Even under lower estimates the hit is ~£65bn
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
Tusk slips the knife in right at the end.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Tusk slips the knife in right at the end.
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
So the line is that he wasn't getting paid for any of this
November 22, 2025 at 5:33 PM
So the line is that he wasn't getting paid for any of this
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
No shock here: The Guardian notes several phrases in the U.S. peace proposal to Ukraine appear to be directly translated from Russian.
One standout is the line “It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries,” a clunky English phrasing mirroring the Russian “ожидается.”
One standout is the line “It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries,” a clunky English phrasing mirroring the Russian “ожидается.”
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
No shock here: The Guardian notes several phrases in the U.S. peace proposal to Ukraine appear to be directly translated from Russian.
One standout is the line “It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries,” a clunky English phrasing mirroring the Russian “ожидается.”
One standout is the line “It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries,” a clunky English phrasing mirroring the Russian “ожидается.”
It is insane that I have not had a single push notification from BBC, FT, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian or Sky News about Trump calling for the execution of his political enemies.
UK Media is utterly failing us.
@bestforbritain.org
UK Media is utterly failing us.
@bestforbritain.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
It is insane that I have not had a single push notification from BBC, FT, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian or Sky News about Trump calling for the execution of his political enemies.
UK Media is utterly failing us.
@bestforbritain.org
UK Media is utterly failing us.
@bestforbritain.org
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
our BBC analysis:
“Insiders admit the BBC has often been at fault. But the scandals have been amplified by a hostile cohort of rightwing politicians and media allies”
www.ft.com/content/28b4...
“Insiders admit the BBC has often been at fault. But the scandals have been amplified by a hostile cohort of rightwing politicians and media allies”
www.ft.com/content/28b4...
BBC faces ‘existential’ threat after exit of top executives
Broadcaster’s deepest crisis in recent history comes amid fresh questions over its future role in British society
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
our BBC analysis:
“Insiders admit the BBC has often been at fault. But the scandals have been amplified by a hostile cohort of rightwing politicians and media allies”
www.ft.com/content/28b4...
“Insiders admit the BBC has often been at fault. But the scandals have been amplified by a hostile cohort of rightwing politicians and media allies”
www.ft.com/content/28b4...
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
Reposted by Jean-Luc Picard
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?