Dr Andrew Smith
@56degreesnorth.bsky.social
Looking at life from 56 degrees north
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Lying in politics is wrong and should never be rewarded, says newspaper which pays Boris Johnson £1 million a year to be its star columnist
November 29, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Lying in politics is wrong and should never be rewarded, says newspaper which pays Boris Johnson £1 million a year to be its star columnist
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
UKTBC Chair Andrew Lewin MP:
"The Brexit deal put up barriers with our closest and largest trading partners. We have 16,000 fewer businesses in the UK exporting to the EU."
"A surge in food prices, bureaucracy at the border and a hit to our economy of at least £100 billion."
"The Brexit deal put up barriers with our closest and largest trading partners. We have 16,000 fewer businesses in the UK exporting to the EU."
"A surge in food prices, bureaucracy at the border and a hit to our economy of at least £100 billion."
November 27, 2025 at 4:41 PM
UKTBC Chair Andrew Lewin MP:
"The Brexit deal put up barriers with our closest and largest trading partners. We have 16,000 fewer businesses in the UK exporting to the EU."
"A surge in food prices, bureaucracy at the border and a hit to our economy of at least £100 billion."
"The Brexit deal put up barriers with our closest and largest trading partners. We have 16,000 fewer businesses in the UK exporting to the EU."
"A surge in food prices, bureaucracy at the border and a hit to our economy of at least £100 billion."
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
🇺🇸"The BBC removed part of Rutger Bregman's Reith lecture, where he alleged Donald Trump was the most openly corrupt president in US history"
🔇"If the national broadcaster can't air defensible claims, what hope is there for any of our free press to effectively challenge power?"
🔇"If the national broadcaster can't air defensible claims, what hope is there for any of our free press to effectively challenge power?"
November 27, 2025 at 5:16 PM
🇺🇸"The BBC removed part of Rutger Bregman's Reith lecture, where he alleged Donald Trump was the most openly corrupt president in US history"
🔇"If the national broadcaster can't air defensible claims, what hope is there for any of our free press to effectively challenge power?"
🔇"If the national broadcaster can't air defensible claims, what hope is there for any of our free press to effectively challenge power?"
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Nigel Farage on Russia Today before the 2014 European Elections talking about the European Union:
"They are fanatical and, and I believe the most dangerous people we've seen in Europe for 70 years."
Make of this what you will.
"They are fanatical and, and I believe the most dangerous people we've seen in Europe for 70 years."
Make of this what you will.
November 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Nigel Farage on Russia Today before the 2014 European Elections talking about the European Union:
"They are fanatical and, and I believe the most dangerous people we've seen in Europe for 70 years."
Make of this what you will.
"They are fanatical and, and I believe the most dangerous people we've seen in Europe for 70 years."
Make of this what you will.
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
⬇️ Since Brexit, mussel production has collapsed from about 10,000 tonnes annually to just five tonnes in 2022, just 0.05% of the previous total.
💷 An SPS Agreement will make it easier for British farmers and fishermen to sell their produce to Europe.
https://bit.ly/48geuE4
💷 An SPS Agreement will make it easier for British farmers and fishermen to sell their produce to Europe.
https://bit.ly/48geuE4
‘The customers are still there’: Welsh mussel farmers hope post-Brexit reset can revive business
Shellfish exports to the EU from the Menai Strait have all but collapsed, but fishers are looking to the future
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:09 AM
⬇️ Since Brexit, mussel production has collapsed from about 10,000 tonnes annually to just five tonnes in 2022, just 0.05% of the previous total.
💷 An SPS Agreement will make it easier for British farmers and fishermen to sell their produce to Europe.
https://bit.ly/48geuE4
💷 An SPS Agreement will make it easier for British farmers and fishermen to sell their produce to Europe.
https://bit.ly/48geuE4
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Perhaps a good time to launch an investigation...
November 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Perhaps a good time to launch an investigation...
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Nigel Farage, who has made more than £200,000 from second jobs, thinks we should cut the minimum wage for younger workers? You can't make this up.
https://leftfootforward.org/2025/11/nigel-farage-rakes-in-another-200000-from-second-jobs/
https://leftfootforward.org/2025/11/nigel-farage-rakes-in-another-200000-from-second-jobs/
Nigel Farage rakes in another £200,000 from second jobs
The Reform leader has made over £1.3 million from second jobs since he was elected as an MP in July 2024
leftfootforward.org
November 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Nigel Farage, who has made more than £200,000 from second jobs, thinks we should cut the minimum wage for younger workers? You can't make this up.
https://leftfootforward.org/2025/11/nigel-farage-rakes-in-another-200000-from-second-jobs/
https://leftfootforward.org/2025/11/nigel-farage-rakes-in-another-200000-from-second-jobs/
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
🎯 @zackpolanski.bsky.social: "We can judge Farage not just by the words he, allegedly, shouted as a child, but by the words and actions he has chosen to broadcast as an adult..."
"But will he ever take any responsibility for anything he says? I seriously doubt it."
"But will he ever take any responsibility for anything he says? I seriously doubt it."
November 28, 2025 at 7:15 PM
🎯 @zackpolanski.bsky.social: "We can judge Farage not just by the words he, allegedly, shouted as a child, but by the words and actions he has chosen to broadcast as an adult..."
"But will he ever take any responsibility for anything he says? I seriously doubt it."
"But will he ever take any responsibility for anything he says? I seriously doubt it."
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
"What message does it send when the EU can’t even agree to a mutually beneficial partnership with the UK?", writes @pimlicat.bsky.social following talks for UK to join EU defence fund collapsing.
Read here: https://bestforbritain.substack.com/p/europe-must-get-its-act-together
Read here: https://bestforbritain.substack.com/p/europe-must-get-its-act-together
November 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
"What message does it send when the EU can’t even agree to a mutually beneficial partnership with the UK?", writes @pimlicat.bsky.social following talks for UK to join EU defence fund collapsing.
Read here: https://bestforbritain.substack.com/p/europe-must-get-its-act-together
Read here: https://bestforbritain.substack.com/p/europe-must-get-its-act-together
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
"Britain’s political elites are focusing the public’s attention on migration in ways that are not always accurate."
"That is helping to create a gap between how people perceive immigration in Britain and the facts."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/world/europe/uk-immigration-statistics.html
"That is helping to create a gap between how people perceive immigration in Britain and the facts."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/world/europe/uk-immigration-statistics.html
The British Public Thinks Immigration Is Up. It’s Actually Down, Sharply.
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
"Britain’s political elites are focusing the public’s attention on migration in ways that are not always accurate."
"That is helping to create a gap between how people perceive immigration in Britain and the facts."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/world/europe/uk-immigration-statistics.html
"That is helping to create a gap between how people perceive immigration in Britain and the facts."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/world/europe/uk-immigration-statistics.html
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
"Just like in Kent, Reform are finding out that making big pledges about cutting wasteful spending is the easy part. When you actually get to the governing, it all becomes a lot more difficult."
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/reform-durham-county-council-darren-grimes-400775/
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/reform-durham-county-council-darren-grimes-400775/
Darren Grimes' Reform council sees financial black hole grow by £11m
The financial black hole of Reform-controlled Durham County Council - where Darren Grimes is deputy leader - has grown by £11.1m in two months.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM
"Just like in Kent, Reform are finding out that making big pledges about cutting wasteful spending is the easy part. When you actually get to the governing, it all becomes a lot more difficult."
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/reform-durham-county-council-darren-grimes-400775/
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/reform-durham-county-council-darren-grimes-400775/
Superb as always from @chrisgrey.bsky.social following the threads linking Brexit to: the UK’s particularly dire Covid pandemic, enemy (Russian) influence in UK politics, economic weakness (hence higher taxes and/or lower spending) and anti-immigration obsession devoid of compassion or common sense
Brexit reminders. New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Brexit may not be in the headlines, but many current news stories carry reminders of it, including the Hallett Inquiry report, the Gill scandal, the Budget & the latest net migration figures: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/brex...
November 29, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Superb as always from @chrisgrey.bsky.social following the threads linking Brexit to: the UK’s particularly dire Covid pandemic, enemy (Russian) influence in UK politics, economic weakness (hence higher taxes and/or lower spending) and anti-immigration obsession devoid of compassion or common sense
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Since the Nathan Gill conviction, a lot of people seem to be waking up to Putin's meddling in British politics
Here's a handy primer from me and @goldbergradio.bsky.social
A Beginner's Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Here's a handy primer from me and @goldbergradio.bsky.social
A Beginner's Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
A Beginners Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
Podcast Episode · Byline Podcast · 29/11/2025 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Since the Nathan Gill conviction, a lot of people seem to be waking up to Putin's meddling in British politics
Here's a handy primer from me and @goldbergradio.bsky.social
A Beginner's Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Here's a handy primer from me and @goldbergradio.bsky.social
A Beginner's Guide to Russian Influence: Brexit and Beyond
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
The tide is turning. Even the Telegraph is now admitting the damage the Brexit deal has done to the economy.
November 29, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The tide is turning. Even the Telegraph is now admitting the damage the Brexit deal has done to the economy.
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
How is this a shock to anyone who's been paying even the most minimal attention to what Trump has been saying and his admin have been doing all year? I posted this in February, for example. Officials who simply chose not to believe it because it's all too difficult might want to rethink their career
November 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
How is this a shock to anyone who's been paying even the most minimal attention to what Trump has been saying and his admin have been doing all year? I posted this in February, for example. Officials who simply chose not to believe it because it's all too difficult might want to rethink their career
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
As Farage leads in the polls, this piece from last year sets out five big questions about his network’s links to a hostile foreign power – going beyond friendly words about Putin into meetings, money and data operations that most interviewers never touch. 2/10 bylinetimes.com/2024/06/19/t...
The Five Questions Nigel Farage is Never Asked About Brexit, Trump and Russia
As the media provides the Reform Leader with a prominent platform, Peter Jukes considers all the concerning lines of enquiry that journalists never confront him with
bylinetimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:14 PM
As Farage leads in the polls, this piece from last year sets out five big questions about his network’s links to a hostile foreign power – going beyond friendly words about Putin into meetings, money and data operations that most interviewers never touch. 2/10 bylinetimes.com/2024/06/19/t...
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Now Nigel Farage has finally answered questions about his close aide Nathan Gill, sentenced to 10.5 years for working for Putin's interests, what about his other close associates? Or indeed himself? bylinetimes.com/2024/06/19/t... 🧵 1/10
The Five Questions Nigel Farage is Never Asked About Brexit, Trump and Russia
As the media provides the Reform Leader with a prominent platform, Peter Jukes considers all the concerning lines of enquiry that journalists never confront him with
bylinetimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Now Nigel Farage has finally answered questions about his close aide Nathan Gill, sentenced to 10.5 years for working for Putin's interests, what about his other close associates? Or indeed himself? bylinetimes.com/2024/06/19/t... 🧵 1/10
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Another fine piece on defending democracy from @fromtga.bsky.social (I would add to the mix freely accessible libraries and archives of course) www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My guide to populist-proofing your democracy – before it’s too late | Timothy Garton Ash
From public service broadcasting to an independent judiciary, these are the things that we must fight to keep, says Guardian columnist Timothy Garton Ash
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Another fine piece on defending democracy from @fromtga.bsky.social (I would add to the mix freely accessible libraries and archives of course) www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Sad, sad news. As was his early onset of Alzheimer’s a few years ago. He was a hero for our generation in Stoke-on-Trent, a local lad with a global talent.
Imran Sherwani, one of Great Britain’s heroes in the 1988 men’s Olympic hockey final, has died aged 63. I wrote about that final, and the journey there, for @sport.theguardian.com prior to the 2012 Games. Link below. If you don’t read it, well, frankly who cares.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/j...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/j...
50 stunning Olympic moments No46: GB win hockey gold at Seoul 1988
How an eight-year dream turned into glorious reality
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Sad, sad news. As was his early onset of Alzheimer’s a few years ago. He was a hero for our generation in Stoke-on-Trent, a local lad with a global talent.
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
Populist Right: 'We're not racist, we just want immigrants to integrate & contribute.'
Immigrant gains BA, MA, works for charities, marries a 'Brit', becomes Brexit-supporting, lockdown-sceptic Tory MP, then Deputy Speaker of HoC.
Populist Right: 'People born abroad shouldn't be allowed to do this.'
Immigrant gains BA, MA, works for charities, marries a 'Brit', becomes Brexit-supporting, lockdown-sceptic Tory MP, then Deputy Speaker of HoC.
Populist Right: 'People born abroad shouldn't be allowed to do this.'
November 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Populist Right: 'We're not racist, we just want immigrants to integrate & contribute.'
Immigrant gains BA, MA, works for charities, marries a 'Brit', becomes Brexit-supporting, lockdown-sceptic Tory MP, then Deputy Speaker of HoC.
Populist Right: 'People born abroad shouldn't be allowed to do this.'
Immigrant gains BA, MA, works for charities, marries a 'Brit', becomes Brexit-supporting, lockdown-sceptic Tory MP, then Deputy Speaker of HoC.
Populist Right: 'People born abroad shouldn't be allowed to do this.'
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
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 Dr Andrew Smith
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 Dr Andrew Smith
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
Reposted by Dr Andrew Smith
'Conversion therapy' still hasn't been banned in the UK, despite subsequent governments promising to do so | Ilias Trispiotis
‘Conversion therapy’: UK government kicks ban down the road – and there’s a major problem with what’s been proposed so far
'Conversion therapy' still hasn't been banned in the UK, despite subsequent governments promising to do so
northwestbylines.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 7:42 PM
'Conversion therapy' still hasn't been banned in the UK, despite subsequent governments promising to do so | Ilias Trispiotis