Annie Holland
@annierholland.bsky.social
Dual national(European/Aus). SRN/LLB, spent a lot of time on my feet in both jobs. Wanna die an European, try to keep up to date, always looking for hope in things. FFP3s always. Flags in my window = 🇦🇺🇪🇺 + St. Piran’s
“Tedious and depressing” hell yes and as thick as a brick. Cannot understand why Streeting et al don’t understand…….deep sigh
Streeting seems to have ended up, 10+ years later, at exactly the same misunderstanding as Cameron's pre-referendum 'renegotiation'. Tedious and depressing. (Extract is from my Blogpost of February 2017: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2017/02/even...)
December 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
“Tedious and depressing” hell yes and as thick as a brick. Cannot understand why Streeting et al don’t understand…….deep sigh
Many posts on Bluesky I definitely don’t “heart” but I am informed, saddened, maddened, grateful to those for posting…..think I’d prefer a 👍🏻or a 🙏🏼………
December 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Many posts on Bluesky I definitely don’t “heart” but I am informed, saddened, maddened, grateful to those for posting…..think I’d prefer a 👍🏻or a 🙏🏼………
Reposted by Annie Holland
"We're gonna need a bigger boat"
Cartoons by
"Wizard Lark" - @bodycartoon.bsky.social, New Zealand
"Sharks" - Marian Kamensky, Germany
"Bigger Boat" - Pete Rowe (peteroweillustrator), Melborne, Australia
"British Bulldog" - Martin Shooty Šútovec (shootysutovec). Slovakia
"Wizard Lark" - @bodycartoon.bsky.social, New Zealand
"Sharks" - Marian Kamensky, Germany
"Bigger Boat" - Pete Rowe (peteroweillustrator), Melborne, Australia
"British Bulldog" - Martin Shooty Šútovec (shootysutovec). Slovakia
December 18, 2025 at 7:04 AM
"We're gonna need a bigger boat"
Agreed and I suggest it’s not too late
Our first and clearest policy towards Trump should have been to disentangle ourselves from the U.S. as much as possible. Cut the dependency. Align ourselves with Europe.
December 16, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Agreed and I suggest it’s not too late
Reposted by Annie Holland
You can no more damage Trump’s "reputation" than you can ride in an invisible gravy ship to a planet made entirely of turkey. Because none of those things exist.
December 16, 2025 at 8:22 AM
You can no more damage Trump’s "reputation" than you can ride in an invisible gravy ship to a planet made entirely of turkey. Because none of those things exist.
I’m a day late but here is your “must read”……..
In case you missed it
Is the tide turning? New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Renewed talk of a customs union may well come to nothing, but rapidly changing geo-politics mean the UK needs urgently to face up to the failure of the entire Brexit ‘strategy’: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
December 13, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I’m a day late but here is your “must read”……..
Reposted by Annie Holland
Sobering but acute analysis.
"The US can no longer be relied on... Rather any US involvement will be transactional, and the UK needs to rapidly unpick 80 years of defence integration with, and dependence on, the US."
✍️ Andrew Dorman on Starmer's defence dilemma & the US National Security Strategy
ukandeu.ac.uk/starmers-def...
✍️ Andrew Dorman on Starmer's defence dilemma & the US National Security Strategy
ukandeu.ac.uk/starmers-def...
Starmer’s defence dilemma - UK in a changing Europe
Andrew M Dorman reflects on UK defence policy and argues that while the UK must deintegrate its defence capabilities from the US and implement the recommendations of this year's Strategic Defence Revi...
ukandeu.ac.uk
December 12, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Sobering but acute analysis.
Reposted by Annie Holland
Good lord, you guys really are very keen on seeing me trudge my way through debunking 75 chapters of delusions pretending to be “Brexit Benefits.”
I suppose that’s me committed now.
🐻
I suppose that’s me committed now.
🐻
December 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Good lord, you guys really are very keen on seeing me trudge my way through debunking 75 chapters of delusions pretending to be “Brexit Benefits.”
I suppose that’s me committed now.
🐻
I suppose that’s me committed now.
🐻
Reposted by Annie Holland
Too many campaigners talk about what’s wrong, but never explain what must change or how it could happen.
Real campaigning means finding solutions: identifying causes, proposing reforms, and then doing the maths on the finances to show how they would work in practice.
youtu.be/uF40KyuRp8Q?...
Real campaigning means finding solutions: identifying causes, proposing reforms, and then doing the maths on the finances to show how they would work in practice.
youtu.be/uF40KyuRp8Q?...
Why moaning isn’t campaigning, and how we could really change the world
YouTube video by Richard J Murphy
youtu.be
December 9, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Too many campaigners talk about what’s wrong, but never explain what must change or how it could happen.
Real campaigning means finding solutions: identifying causes, proposing reforms, and then doing the maths on the finances to show how they would work in practice.
youtu.be/uF40KyuRp8Q?...
Real campaigning means finding solutions: identifying causes, proposing reforms, and then doing the maths on the finances to show how they would work in practice.
youtu.be/uF40KyuRp8Q?...
Reposted by Annie Holland
What I always hear: “We can’t afford to pay our workers more than $15 an hour.”
What I never hear: “We can’t afford to pay our CEO millions of dollars a year.”
Funny how that works.
What I never hear: “We can’t afford to pay our CEO millions of dollars a year.”
Funny how that works.
December 7, 2025 at 10:01 PM
What I always hear: “We can’t afford to pay our workers more than $15 an hour.”
What I never hear: “We can’t afford to pay our CEO millions of dollars a year.”
Funny how that works.
What I never hear: “We can’t afford to pay our CEO millions of dollars a year.”
Funny how that works.
Reposted by Annie Holland
New analysis shows:
That there are now more people alive in the UK that voted Remain in 2016 than those who voted Leave in 2016.
The "will of the people" expressed by direct vote in 2016... has changed.
That there are now more people alive in the UK that voted Remain in 2016 than those who voted Leave in 2016.
The "will of the people" expressed by direct vote in 2016... has changed.
The majority opposed to Brexit has reached eight million
Ministers need courage to keep it that way
kellnerp.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:53 AM
New analysis shows:
That there are now more people alive in the UK that voted Remain in 2016 than those who voted Leave in 2016.
The "will of the people" expressed by direct vote in 2016... has changed.
That there are now more people alive in the UK that voted Remain in 2016 than those who voted Leave in 2016.
The "will of the people" expressed by direct vote in 2016... has changed.
Reposted by Annie Holland
“Farage has suggested that it’s inconceivable that anyone could recall such events of more than four decades ago. I would simply ask: can a victim of such abuse ever forget?…I recognise his walk every time I see it on TV as that same walk that used to approach me”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
I’ll never forget the look of hatred Nigel Farage had for me at school, simply for existing
The Reform UK leader doubts people can recall their abuse from years ago. I’ve never forgotten his – it felt malicious
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:52 AM
“Farage has suggested that it’s inconceivable that anyone could recall such events of more than four decades ago. I would simply ask: can a victim of such abuse ever forget?…I recognise his walk every time I see it on TV as that same walk that used to approach me”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thoughts on the drip feed of economic fun ahead of the budget. Afa I’m concerned each leak a tear for the destruction of the country by so few thru brexit.
Thoughts on the drip feed of economic fun ahead of the budget. Afa I’m concerned each leak a tear for the destruction of the country by so few thru brexit.
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr
Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:42 AM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thoughts on the drip feed of economic fun ahead of the budget. Afa I’m concerned each leak a tear for the destruction of the country by so few thru brexit.
Thoughts on the drip feed of economic fun ahead of the budget. Afa I’m concerned each leak a tear for the destruction of the country by so few thru brexit.
Reposted by Annie Holland
Judging by the report, the Reform Party official in question is quite a charmer, even by the standards of that party.
“'Peter Morgan shouldn’t be anywhere near politics regardless of the level. He is dangerous,' was the firm opinion of one Reform member ...
“'Peter Morgan shouldn’t be anywhere near politics regardless of the level. He is dangerous,' was the firm opinion of one Reform member ...
Reform party official wants to scrap vital New Addington trams insidecroydon.com/2025/11/21/r... #Croydon #Reform #Trams @christianwolmar.bsky.social @ldntravelwatch.bsky.social
Reform party official wants to scrap vital New Addington trams
EXCLUSIVE: As Nigel Farage’s company-cum-party struggles with a constant credibility crisis, here in Croydon, one member has a policy idea which could damage their election chances. By STEVEN…
insidecroydon.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Judging by the report, the Reform Party official in question is quite a charmer, even by the standards of that party.
“'Peter Morgan shouldn’t be anywhere near politics regardless of the level. He is dangerous,' was the firm opinion of one Reform member ...
“'Peter Morgan shouldn’t be anywhere near politics regardless of the level. He is dangerous,' was the firm opinion of one Reform member ...
Reposted by Annie Holland
Something I omitted in my post below is that there is a leader that has been focused on social care in parliament, @eddavey.libdems.org.uk - and I have seriously appreciated his input.
The NHS won’t survive this winter with one of the reasons being that social care has fallen off a cliff - but Shabana Mahmood got to punch down on the migrants propping it up as “low-qualified” and “never expected to be net economic contributors”, so… I guess there’s that.
The Punishment Model of Government
League tables, political cruelty and the quiet fear spreading through the NHS this winter.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Something I omitted in my post below is that there is a leader that has been focused on social care in parliament, @eddavey.libdems.org.uk - and I have seriously appreciated his input.
Reposted by Annie Holland
Farage et al really mustn't be allowed to walk away from this scandal, and its wider implications:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Former Reform in Wales leader Nathan Gill jailed for pro-Russian bribery
Nathan Gill, 52, is sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after admitting taking bribes while an MEP.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Farage et al really mustn't be allowed to walk away from this scandal, and its wider implications:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Annie Holland
Always, always, always read @zacheverson.com (who threads his stories here as well as publishing them).
New: Alt5 Sigma, one of Trump's key business partners, told the SEC that it suspended its CEO in mid-October.
An internal email, though, says he was placed on “temporary leave” more than a month earlier.
me, for @forbes.com
1/
An internal email, though, says he was placed on “temporary leave” more than a month earlier.
me, for @forbes.com
1/
Trump Crypto Partner Alt5 Sigma May Have Violated SEC Rules With Filing On CEO
One of Trump's key business partners told the SEC it suspended its CEO in mid-October. Internal records suggest he was on “temporary leave” more than a month earlier.
www.forbes.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Always, always, always read @zacheverson.com (who threads his stories here as well as publishing them).
Reposted by Annie Holland
November 19, 2025
November 19, 2025
Yesterday the House of Representatives passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:06 AM
November 19, 2025
Reposted by Annie Holland
The evidence from Farage and the people that surround him screams that there is really no two sides to this story or slipper definitions - not that you’d be able to tell with just how much smoke is being blown around this.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk/p/deep-dive-...
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk/p/deep-dive-...
DEEP DIVE: How Does Reform Show Its Racism? Let Me Count the Ways
From “target practice” on refugees to burqa bans in Parliament, the tally tells the story better than Farage ever could.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 7:45 AM
The evidence from Farage and the people that surround him screams that there is really no two sides to this story or slipper definitions - not that you’d be able to tell with just how much smoke is being blown around this.
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk/p/deep-dive-...
www.bearlypolitics.co.uk/p/deep-dive-...
Reposted by Annie Holland
"Quiet, piggy!" should become the instant response to anything he says. Let's make it happen.
November 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
"Quiet, piggy!" should become the instant response to anything he says. Let's make it happen.
Reposted by Annie Holland
Rachel Reeves has already made a complete mess of her Budget, so I thought I should offer an alternative. This is the first part. There are several more to come. When the country's economy is failing, it's time to be radical. Nothing less will do. www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
The Alternative Budget 2025 – The Background
Rachel Reeves will be presenting her Budget on November 26, if the Labour government of which she is a part lasts that long.
I will be commenting on that Budget on the day on BBC Radio 2, and elsewh...
www.taxresearch.org.uk
November 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Rachel Reeves has already made a complete mess of her Budget, so I thought I should offer an alternative. This is the first part. There are several more to come. When the country's economy is failing, it's time to be radical. Nothing less will do. www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
Alien Labour - it’s like living on another planet………actually, that’s not a bad idea. Perhaps they can go to Mars and I’ll stay here…..
A terrible, regressive compared to what they've ditched, change in tax policy. And the bond markets hate it too, tending to make the deficit even larger. And all for political reasons. If Starmer and Reeves can't govern in the national interest perhaps they shouldn't govern at all.
Quite depressing, this. Super high earners already pay higher rates on ~ all of their income. Freezing or cutting thresholds, Labour's alternative, is all but irrelevant to them but will disproportionately whack the take home pay of the squeezed middle. on.ft.com/4o1gfLf
November 14, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Alien Labour - it’s like living on another planet………actually, that’s not a bad idea. Perhaps they can go to Mars and I’ll stay here…..
Reposted by Annie Holland
Very interesting and informative
NEW
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)
(Non-Substack link to follow.)
A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC
The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak
emptycity.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Very interesting and informative