Ian Middleton
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ianmiddleton.bsky.social
Ian Middleton
@ianmiddleton.bsky.social
490 followers 330 following 6.6K posts
Oxon County & Cherwell District Green Councillor and Group Leader. Business analyst & writer specialising in ethical retail. Lapsed psychologist. Occasional musician. Outdoor enthusiast. Beer lover who should read more books #TopRetailExpert #FRS
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Lovely to meet and sing with the legendary Peggy Seager this afternoon with fellow Greens at the Oxfordshire Badger Group AGM
Reality bites. This is what happens when you have a party (that isn't really a party) sticking up candidates who think it will be an easy ride to populist nirvana. Setting budgets is hard, especially against a background of funding cuts and tone deaf government policies. Careful what you wish for!
In May, after winning control of ten councils, Reform’s then-chair Zia Yusuf told the BBC what voters expect from their local authorities: they want bins collected, potholes fixed, and council waste cut.

“They don’t want their council tax going up,” he said. "Reform will deliver on those things.”
Reform UK Councils
Council Tax increases

Durham: 4.9%
Worcestershire: 5-10%
Warwickshire: ~5%
Leicestershire: 3%
Kent: 5%
Lincolnshire: 2%+
Staffordshire: ~5%
West Northamptonshire: 5%
Derbyshire: 4.9%
North Northamptonshire: amount TBD
Nottinghamshire: amount TBD
Lancashire: amount TBD
Reposted by Ian Middleton
We don't need the government to spend billions on big fancy new roads.

We need them to build lots more protected bike lanes.

A 13-year study found that protected bike lanes led to a drastic decline in fatalities for all road users.

ALL ROAD USERS.

It makes roads safer for everyone.

#nzpol
Separated Bike Lanes Means Safer Streets, Study Says — Streetsblog USA
Cities that build protected lanes for cyclists end up with safer roads for people on bikes and people in cars and on foot, a new study of 12 large metropolises revealed Wednesday.
usa.streetsblog.org
Reposted by Ian Middleton
We’re gonna need a bigger room!

350 people pack Central Hall in #Darlington

Celebrating @darlingtongreens.bsky.social 10th anniversary

Hearing @zackpolanski.bsky.social deliver his message of bold politics and making hope normal again.
Reposted by Ian Middleton
Once those who don’t know are excluded, almost two-thirds (64%) don't agree with Ofcom’s rules that allow serving politicians to present current affairs programming on TV and radio.
🔴 The Public Wants to Ban ‘Politician Presenters’ Like Nigel Farage But Ofcom Isn’t Listening

The broadcasting watchdog is refusing to act despite research suggesting a majority of viewers oppose politicians like the Reform leader being allowed to host current affairs shows
The Public Wants to Ban ‘Politician Presenters’ Like Nigel Farage But Ofcom Isn't Listening
The broadcasting watchdog is refusing to act despite research suggesting a majority of viewers oppose politicians like the Reform leader being allowed to host current affairs shows
bylinetimes.com
Reposted by Ian Middleton
This is excellent! 😄💚
Pundit panic: activated 😂

@zackpolanski.bsky.social has them rattled ✊️

Bring it on ⬇️
Reposted by Ian Middleton
Frogs in slowly heating water is a popular allegory for being unaware that you are being destroyed in an incrementally worsening situation.

But I'm drawing hope from the past week that we frogs may be a bit more aware of our situation than those allegorical frogs. #Hop
YouTube really needs to get its algorithm sorted. Firstly I'm served an ad for hair conditioner aimed at women. I'm a bald man. Then I'm served an add for wago beef. I'm a vegan. A fairly high profile vegan. Is this really the best that re-targeting can do in these days of ultra-AI profiling?
Reposted by Ian Middleton
Update: 128,000.

Accept this is slightly wild now.

Join.greenparty.org.uk
Sorry you've been a victim of fake news.

I said this morning to @vicderbyshire.bsky.social that the Green Party had passed 123,000 members.

A couple of hours later it's out of date. @greenparty.org.uk have 126,000! 🎉🚀

Join.greenparty.org.uk
Join the Green Party
Join the Green Party from just £6 a year. Become a member today - join the only party standing up for people and planet.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Even if it only raises a couple of billion, its still a couple of billion more than we get now!
Never realised Oliver Postgate also originally created Basil Brush
Today I discovered the magical Canterbury Museum with its iconic childhood artifacts from Oliver Postgate, including Bagpuss, The Clangers and Ivor. I learned Rupert the bear was also a Canterbury lad. It's always been closed when I've try to visit before. Glad we made it this time and I'll be back!
Is it wrong to still enjoy watching Father Ted now that we know one of the writers is an arsehole?
Coastal runs are the best!
Lovely to catch up with @danthompson33.bsky.social at the Marine Studios in Margate and to meet all the other artists, poets and creatives working there. Part of the East Kent Open Houses project
Fantastic to take a tour around the currently delapidated Dreamland cinema in Margate to see some of the sets from the movie Empire of Light. I remember seeing films there when it still operated. It's an iconic building that really deserves to be brought back into use.
Does that mean local parties can expect capitations to be paid soon then?
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. A ceasefire is not an end to the war, no matter how much Trump would like to claim it is
Great to meet with the UK Ambassador to EU at Blenheim Palace on Monday and to hear from many Oxfordshire business leaders workng on sustainability and clean green energy
I understand that @owenjones.bsky.social was excluded from the @teamlabouruk.bsky.social conference for challenging @luke-akehurstmp.bsky.social over war crimes in #Gaza. Luke said he doesn't believe Israel is commiting war crimes. Your 'beliefs' are irrelevant Luke. This is the reality.