Simon Pease
@simonpease.bsky.social
Former UK diplomat. Neglectful gardener, baker, and maker. There is one planet. We pass through and are supposed to take care of it. Politics, as well as random observations on other stuff. No unsolicited DMs.
Pinned
Simon Pease
@simonpease.bsky.social
· Dec 2
Human beings are capable of believing two things which are mutually contradictory at the same time, without realising it.
Reposted by Simon Pease
That most voters don't seem to care is a significant indicator of the growing divergence between the wider public's image of the UK's place in the world and the continuing aspirations of UK media and political elites to retain some final vestige of great power status
November 27, 2025 at 9:10 PM
That most voters don't seem to care is a significant indicator of the growing divergence between the wider public's image of the UK's place in the world and the continuing aspirations of UK media and political elites to retain some final vestige of great power status
Reposted by Simon Pease
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
Reposted by Simon Pease
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK net migration falls sharply with drop in arrivals for work and study
Provisional figures for net migration to the UK show levels dropped to 204,000 in the year to June 2025.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Simon Pease
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
November 27, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Reposted by Simon Pease
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
November 27, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
Reposted by Simon Pease
Listening to a podcast suggesting Starmer wants to go for an election before mid 2028
Which is *crazy*
Why?
Because it’s before a US election that will likely be incredibly dark, and will see Farage’s US friends and allies doing things will go down very badly w/UK voters
Which is *crazy*
Why?
Because it’s before a US election that will likely be incredibly dark, and will see Farage’s US friends and allies doing things will go down very badly w/UK voters
November 27, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Listening to a podcast suggesting Starmer wants to go for an election before mid 2028
Which is *crazy*
Why?
Because it’s before a US election that will likely be incredibly dark, and will see Farage’s US friends and allies doing things will go down very badly w/UK voters
Which is *crazy*
Why?
Because it’s before a US election that will likely be incredibly dark, and will see Farage’s US friends and allies doing things will go down very badly w/UK voters
Reposted by Simon Pease
I honestly can’t believe how nobody in the Westminster bubble seems to be thinking about/pricing in a Trump/MAGA power grab in 2028
They literally tried it already, and are far, far more capable now
If this happens will have serious blow back for radical right outside US
They literally tried it already, and are far, far more capable now
If this happens will have serious blow back for radical right outside US
November 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I honestly can’t believe how nobody in the Westminster bubble seems to be thinking about/pricing in a Trump/MAGA power grab in 2028
They literally tried it already, and are far, far more capable now
If this happens will have serious blow back for radical right outside US
They literally tried it already, and are far, far more capable now
If this happens will have serious blow back for radical right outside US
Reposted by Simon Pease
🚨WOW! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 75,000 signatures! 🙏
LET’S KEEP GOING!
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
LET’S KEEP GOING!
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 27, 2025 at 9:38 PM
🚨WOW! The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 75,000 signatures! 🙏
LET’S KEEP GOING!
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
LET’S KEEP GOING!
If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Simon Pease
You just cannot take the iPaper seriously when it wheels out Kwasi ‘mini budget’ Kwarteng to comment on the budget.
We don’t *ever* want to hear from this arrogant clown again.
“No prudence”
FML.
We don’t *ever* want to hear from this arrogant clown again.
“No prudence”
FML.
November 27, 2025 at 8:05 AM
You just cannot take the iPaper seriously when it wheels out Kwasi ‘mini budget’ Kwarteng to comment on the budget.
We don’t *ever* want to hear from this arrogant clown again.
“No prudence”
FML.
We don’t *ever* want to hear from this arrogant clown again.
“No prudence”
FML.
Reposted by Simon Pease
🚨🚨"Whatever the reason Witkoff is prolonging the conflict. He is not promoting peace. If this were a normal American administration, he would be fired immediately. But nothing about this negotiation, or this administration, is normal at all." @anneapplebaum.bsky.social's damning verdict on #witkoff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:50 AM
🚨🚨"Whatever the reason Witkoff is prolonging the conflict. He is not promoting peace. If this were a normal American administration, he would be fired immediately. But nothing about this negotiation, or this administration, is normal at all." @anneapplebaum.bsky.social's damning verdict on #witkoff.
Reposted by Simon Pease
With Jimmy Kimmel, James Comey, Letitia James and now the Democrats giving correct statements on unlawful orders, Trump and his cronies are picking fights which they are almost instantly losing.
Odd to watch in real time.
Odd to watch in real time.
November 26, 2025 at 11:54 PM
With Jimmy Kimmel, James Comey, Letitia James and now the Democrats giving correct statements on unlawful orders, Trump and his cronies are picking fights which they are almost instantly losing.
Odd to watch in real time.
Odd to watch in real time.
After long and careful consideration, here is my exhaustive comment on the budget.
We desperately need investment in services provided by govt. We have to be prepared to pay for that through tax. I am and I will.
There will be no questions.
We desperately need investment in services provided by govt. We have to be prepared to pay for that through tax. I am and I will.
There will be no questions.
November 27, 2025 at 7:58 AM
After long and careful consideration, here is my exhaustive comment on the budget.
We desperately need investment in services provided by govt. We have to be prepared to pay for that through tax. I am and I will.
There will be no questions.
We desperately need investment in services provided by govt. We have to be prepared to pay for that through tax. I am and I will.
There will be no questions.
Reposted by Simon Pease
That was not the only time in June 2024 that Nigel Farage made the racist statement that British born and British educated former PM Rishi Sunak doesn't care about "our history" and "our culture".
October 1, 2025 at 1:08 PM
That was not the only time in June 2024 that Nigel Farage made the racist statement that British born and British educated former PM Rishi Sunak doesn't care about "our history" and "our culture".
Reposted by Simon Pease
In 2014 Nigel Farage said people wouldn’t want Romanian neighbours. Confronted by James O’Brien about whether the same applies to German children, he says “you know what the difference is”. This and his comment about the “quality” of immigrants, are clearly racist.
www.youtube.com/shorts/a2Mkp...
www.youtube.com/shorts/a2Mkp...
James O'Brien's only interview with Nigel Farage ever | LBC from the Vault
YouTube video by LBC
www.youtube.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:54 PM
In 2014 Nigel Farage said people wouldn’t want Romanian neighbours. Confronted by James O’Brien about whether the same applies to German children, he says “you know what the difference is”. This and his comment about the “quality” of immigrants, are clearly racist.
www.youtube.com/shorts/a2Mkp...
www.youtube.com/shorts/a2Mkp...
Reposted by Simon Pease
The only gutter here is the one the Daily Mail has lowered itself into - again. Not called a member of the "gutter press" for nothing.
October 1, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The only gutter here is the one the Daily Mail has lowered itself into - again. Not called a member of the "gutter press" for nothing.
Reposted by Simon Pease
Reform love free speech while being perpetually offended any time someone asks them a very basic question.
It's a curious paradox.
Why doesn't he just laugh and say, "Of course he isn't" instead of getting so cross.
It's a curious paradox.
Why doesn't he just laugh and say, "Of course he isn't" instead of getting so cross.
‘Is Nigel Farage a Russian asset?’
‘Are you seriously asking me that?’
@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social refuses to back down while questioning Reform’s Zia Yusuf.
‘Are you seriously asking me that?’
@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social refuses to back down while questioning Reform’s Zia Yusuf.
November 26, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Reform love free speech while being perpetually offended any time someone asks them a very basic question.
It's a curious paradox.
Why doesn't he just laugh and say, "Of course he isn't" instead of getting so cross.
It's a curious paradox.
Why doesn't he just laugh and say, "Of course he isn't" instead of getting so cross.
Reposted by Simon Pease
The founder of an investment company who bought an £8.5 million London flat after supplying 50 million faulty PPE masks during the pandemic has had a criminal restraint order imposed on the property.
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
Financier’s £8.5m flat frozen amid tax investigation over PPE deal
Tim Horlick bought the Pimlico property shortly after his company was awarded the now-contentious £255m contract by the government
www.thetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The founder of an investment company who bought an £8.5 million London flat after supplying 50 million faulty PPE masks during the pandemic has had a criminal restraint order imposed on the property.
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
Reposted by Simon Pease
Seems to be going well…
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Seems to be going well…
If we could tax speculation about budgets…
November 26, 2025 at 8:08 AM
If we could tax speculation about budgets…
Reposted by Simon Pease
What an extraordinarily stupid thing to believe (if, in fact, he actually believes it) - unless by 'peace deal', he simply means Ukraine surrendering
“I told the president that the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal. That’s my belief. [...] And I believe the issue is is that we have two nations that are having a hard time coming to a compromise,” Witkoff told Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
November 25, 2025 at 11:46 PM
What an extraordinarily stupid thing to believe (if, in fact, he actually believes it) - unless by 'peace deal', he simply means Ukraine surrendering
Reposted by Simon Pease
Couple of thought-provoking but worrying pieces in the FT today. First, does China want to buy anything from anyone? Not really, no different then to the US or many others. The lure of self-sufficiency. Most worrying, why is this thought a surprise? www.ft.com/content/f294...
China is making trade impossible
Europe has nothing to offer and difficult decisions to make
www.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Couple of thought-provoking but worrying pieces in the FT today. First, does China want to buy anything from anyone? Not really, no different then to the US or many others. The lure of self-sufficiency. Most worrying, why is this thought a surprise? www.ft.com/content/f294...
Reposted by Simon Pease
My Budget Day opinion:
Budget Day should be abolished. Performative nonsense that (by accident) leans into 'politics as entertainment'.
Measures should instead be announced when they are individually ready to be announced – at any time in the parliamentary calendar.
Budget Day should be abolished. Performative nonsense that (by accident) leans into 'politics as entertainment'.
Measures should instead be announced when they are individually ready to be announced – at any time in the parliamentary calendar.
November 26, 2025 at 6:28 AM
My Budget Day opinion:
Budget Day should be abolished. Performative nonsense that (by accident) leans into 'politics as entertainment'.
Measures should instead be announced when they are individually ready to be announced – at any time in the parliamentary calendar.
Budget Day should be abolished. Performative nonsense that (by accident) leans into 'politics as entertainment'.
Measures should instead be announced when they are individually ready to be announced – at any time in the parliamentary calendar.
Reposted by Simon Pease
Viewers are complaining about GMB.
But wait, they're complaining because GMB spent time talking about the '50 year-old story' of Farage's bigotry, which these viewers saw as ancient, irrelevant news (about their hero).
Goes to show that GMB is 'GB News-lite'.
www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/g...
But wait, they're complaining because GMB spent time talking about the '50 year-old story' of Farage's bigotry, which these viewers saw as ancient, irrelevant news (about their hero).
Goes to show that GMB is 'GB News-lite'.
www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/g...
Good Morning Britain reaches a 'new low' as ITV show flooded with complaints
Good Morning Britain viewers were left feeling frustrated on Tuesday
www.mirror.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Viewers are complaining about GMB.
But wait, they're complaining because GMB spent time talking about the '50 year-old story' of Farage's bigotry, which these viewers saw as ancient, irrelevant news (about their hero).
Goes to show that GMB is 'GB News-lite'.
www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/g...
But wait, they're complaining because GMB spent time talking about the '50 year-old story' of Farage's bigotry, which these viewers saw as ancient, irrelevant news (about their hero).
Goes to show that GMB is 'GB News-lite'.
www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/g...
Reposted by Simon Pease
