@richardbarfield.bsky.social
Management consultant. Adviser on governance, risk and regulation in financial services. Developing skills in semi-retired activities and caretaker of https://BrexitFactBase.com London-based.
PR cannot do much to help poor policy decisions.
10.08.2025 18:26 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
As reported by El Pais:
‘British police arrest at least 365 people in London for supporting the Palestinian Action group
The Starmer government describes its members and those who express support for the organisation as terrorists.’
elpais.com/internaciona...
Yvette Cooper’s credibility diminishes with each arrest.
10.08.2025 06:48 — 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 1
As reported by El Pais:
‘British police arrest at least 365 people in London for supporting the Palestinian Action group
The Starmer government describes its members and those who express support for the organisation as terrorists.’
elpais.com/internaciona...
Two more chances to see my @camdenfringe.bsky.social this week - tonight and tomorrow at Aces and Eights next to Tufnell Park tube. Lovely air conditioned room. New jokes. Good pizza available too (not included in the ticket price...) See you there? camdenfringe.com/events/matt-...
08.08.2025 15:49 — 👍 22 🔁 18 💬 0 📌 1It takes time for the right shed to come along, but when it does you just know.
08.08.2025 10:00 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Correlation with tax changes doesn’t necessarily mean causation.
Articles about ‘millionaires’ exodus’ never seem to consider the long-run consequences of #Brexit which include reduced UK business investment, and better growth opportunities overseas and within the EU Single Market.
on.ft.com/46NnEcg
2,600 forgotten prisoners left to rot indefinitely under 'inhumane' sentences outlawed 12 years ago
Twelve years after IPP sentences were outlawed, data suggests 10 times as many prisoners serving these sentences have taken their own
This has to end
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Day 3 of my @camdenfringe.bsky.social work in progress run today. First two shows have been fun and I’m working on a few new ideas for tonight. Tickets available here (or on the door): camdenfringe.com/events/matt-...
07.08.2025 09:41 — 👍 33 🔁 22 💬 0 📌 0
Correlation with tax changes doesn’t necessarily mean causation.
Articles about ‘millionaires’ exodus’ never seem to consider the long-run consequences of #Brexit which include reduced UK business investment, and better growth opportunities overseas and within the EU Single Market.
on.ft.com/46NnEcg
I am generally a big fan of the BBC - but this is a truly terrible 'both sides' *push notification* to send out to people in this country about this news event
06.08.2025 23:16 — 👍 190 🔁 34 💬 14 📌 3Absolutely mind-boggling that the UK Govt has *still* not reviewed its use of X
06.08.2025 09:59 — 👍 217 🔁 71 💬 10 📌 3Memorable fact of the day.
It’s a credit crunch but not as we know it.
Lisa Nandy, the UK culture secretary, claims that #PalestineAction "wishes harm on the British people."
That is simply false. It is yet another retrospective justification by this government for its unjustifiable ban on the group.
Great new word: ‘megadividendo’ spotted in El Pais today:
“Los accionistas del Banco Sabadell aprueban masivamente la venta de TSB y un megadividendo de 2.500 millones”
For the avoidance of doubt, the UK economy will get a ‘megadividendo’ annually after rejoining the EU.
elpais.com/economia/202...
I'm sad to say that since leaving Twitter/X my sales for live shows have dropped quite a lot - it turns out that even though it's a dreadful place it was still useful for getting the word out about events. So any shares / RTs of my posts about live shows are hugely appreciated!
06.08.2025 11:13 — 👍 703 🔁 560 💬 50 📌 18
Reminder that the application of new thresholds affecting settled skilled migrants already resident in the UK was a Tory policy enacted by James Cleverly.
Labour has had opportunities to revert this, i.e. new policies should only affect new migrants, but have rejected the possibility of doing so.
Ed Davey:
“With a more ambitious approach to Europe, we could get rid of that ridiculous red tape…. We could free British businesses to get on with their work, create jobs and grow our economy. That is the real change people across the country are crying out for”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This is true. I live in Italy. The UK media has been whipped into a hysterical disinformation frenzy by Farage and this, in turn, has led half the population (polls are clear) to lose the plot. For anyone who lives abroad and follows British news, it is quite evident, striking and disturbing.
06.08.2025 04:56 — 👍 523 🔁 242 💬 37 📌 2
Insightful observations and clear explanations from @philmoorhouse.bsky.social on #Brexregret
#Brexit
#RejoinEU
m.youtube.com/watch?v=yRKM...
The Guardian opinion headline reads: “Brexit has been a resounding disaster. Starmer must find the courage to change course” by Ed Davey.
Brexit isn’t working, and the British people know it. They're fed up with the damage caused by the deal forced on us by Conservative party.
Keir Starmer must show some courage and set Britain on a clear path to a new customs union with the EU by 2030.
Ed Davey:
“With a more ambitious approach to Europe, we could get rid of that ridiculous red tape…. We could free British businesses to get on with their work, create jobs and grow our economy. That is the real change people across the country are crying out for”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump showed how not to fire a statistics chief...
... but if you think the immediate departure of the UK's statistics chief ahead of a very critical report was any better, think again
My newsletter
www.ft.com/content/6eb3...
As for what the public currently thinks: It’s no surprise the “social fabric” is in the state it’s in, given what this new YouGov polling shows about public attitudes and awareness of immigration. Almost half of Brits (47 percent) believe immigration to the U.K. is primarily illegal rather than legal, when the reality is that irregular or illegal migration accounted for just 4 percent of overall immigration in the year to March. Forty-five percent support ending all immigration and forcing recent migrants to leave. Then again: The scale might be overestimated — but the reality remains that Brits (and now even some officials at the OBR, of all places) think legal and illegal migration is too high. And no politician is going to be bold enough to tell voters they’re wrong in “small boats week.”
Large parts of our media and politicians bear responsibility for the misconceptions voters have about migration. Via Politico
05.08.2025 07:48 — 👍 165 🔁 59 💬 11 📌 3Not sure this is completely right - the EUs most important trade agreements are the EU Customs Union and the single Market.
05.08.2025 06:47 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Sounds worryingly familiar…
Https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/05/poland-populism-democrats-donald-tusk?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
A great search engine made better …
03.08.2025 07:23 — 👍 102 🔁 32 💬 0 📌 4It’s clickbait. It relates to only 8 councils.
www.msn.com/en-gb/news/u...
And now for something a bit different...
😂🤣 (Be sure to read the whole sign 😉☺️)
