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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith
@smithtonyd.bsky.social
650 followers 1.5K following 800 posts
#Networks with #government, #thinktanks etc for #Birmingham, one of the UK's great but dis-empowered #cities. I own my views but they are socially constructed.
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 2d
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Apache Indian could teach Jenrick a thing or two about in...
Growing up in diverse Birmingham defined my world view. What other city could have inspired Apache Indian’s mash-up?
observer.co.uk
smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 2d
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

- @andrewrawnsley.bsky.social
The Conservatives must reclaim competence – and stop imit...
Years of blunders have wrecked the Tory brand. Mimicking Nigel Farage won’t rebuild it – owning their failures might
observer.co.uk
smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 2d
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
Art isn’t too complex for the working class – that’s elitism
The myth that culture has not been for the masses is debunked in a new book
observer.co.uk
smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 4d
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

- @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social
Trump wants a prize for the Gaza deal. But the real question is, why didn't he do it earlier? | Jonathan Freedland
The ceasefire in Gaza happened when the US president lost patience, but how much horror occurred, how many people were killed because he delayed, asks Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 4d
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
High street slot machine shops pay staff bonuses linked to how much gamblers lose
Exclusive: MPs and campaigners condemn ‘appalling’ reward scheme for Merkur venue managers
www.theguardian.com
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 4d
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

The short answer in this corrupt country is “no”…
Will UK taxpayers get their £122m back from PPE Medpro?
The high court told the company linked to Michelle Mone to pay up over the supply of defective gowns, but there appears no clear route to reclaim the funds
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by Tony Smith
algingersmith.bsky.social
Alan C. Smith @algingersmith.bsky.social · 4d
Ending landbanking by builders would be a start. 1.5 million possible new homes right there with permission ready to go.

#bbcaq
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 4d
Abolishing stamp duty on its own is a massive gift to the well off - both directly and in raising house prices (and the govt can just raise thresholds to nullify it). We need a proper review of property/land taxes, including business rates and council tax to make them fairer and boost growth. #bbcaq
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 4d
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Flag alert! Gary Neville may not be Orwell but he is a very English type of patriot | Barney Ronay
An easy target for accusations of luxury hypocrisy, Neville has at least tried to address an issue that has everything to do with aggressively flag-draped and militarised modern sport
www.theguardian.com
smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 4d
No Alex, you don’t ask for a Nobel prize, you show some class and express gratitude and humility if you’re lucky enough to win one. 🙄

And Trump is not a peaceful man - look at what he’s doing at home and the violent rhetoric he uses whilst abusing the legal system. #newsnight
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 6d
Even if one accepts that Trump is appropriately motivated to receive this award, surely any sensible judge would say Friday is way too soon to know if real peace has been achieved. Right now it’s just an unimplemented cease fire. #r4today
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 6d
What has the Competition and Markets Authority got to do with the water industry? There is no competition and no market. It’s a privatised set of regional monopolies screwing its customers. #r4today 😡🙄
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 9d
#c4news
smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 9d
The French constitution (at least they have one!) is nuts. The president should challenge the parties to form a voting coalition and nominate a PM (as would happen in any sane country). It is not Macron’s fault that the parties won’t compromise! #bbcpm
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 9d
The French constitution (at least they have one!) is nuts. The president should challenge the parties to form a voting coalition and nominate a PM (as would happen in any sane country). It is not Macron’s fault that the parties won’t compromise! #bbcpm
smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 10d
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
Liberalism has betrayed the working class, but illiberali...
If we fail to uphold equality and democracy, where will our society be?
observer.co.uk
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 18d
Convenience and security. Simple.
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 18d
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
‘Don’t trust Trump’: how UK health experts are fighting back against a war on medicine
Ministers and medical groups have acted quickly to limit fallout after US president made unproven link between paracetamol and autism
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by Tony Smith
callumparrish.bsky.social
Callum Parrish @callumparrish.bsky.social · 19d
For some reason , #Newsnight appears to be having Tom Harwood of GB News on panel tonight.

If people wanted to watch that channel, they would do.
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 18d
What a load of nonsense about ID cards. The government proposal is just common sense and there is no suggestion of compulsory cards. 🙄 #newsnight
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · 29d
If this is the replacement for Netanyahu then God help us… 😞🙄

#c4news
smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · Sep 15
observer.co.uk/news/interna...

- @kenanmalik.bsky.social
Charlie Kirk killing puts America to the test over the fr...
There’s a risk that political violence becomes a weapon in the culture wars
observer.co.uk
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · Sep 14
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

- @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social
The US is on the brink of another era of political violence – and Donald Trump ‘couldn’t care less’ | Jonathan Freedland
In their humane responses to the killing of Charlie Kirk, Democrats are observing the old norms. Things are different now: anger and division rule, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · Sep 12
I really think Nick is getting carried away with these attack lines on Starmer. Rayner went as soon as the ethics advisor reported and if he’d sacked Mandelson any quicker he would have been acting in what was already known when he was appointed! Stop fitting facts to your narrative. #r4today
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · Sep 12
Why are the media not challenging the contradictory and self serving words of Republicans and right wing US commentators? And where is the challenge from the so called left? Most sane people would regard Kirk as a racist religious nutter and not someone to be taken so seriously. #r4today
eddwilson.bsky.social
Ed Wilson @eddwilson.bsky.social · Sep 12
The call for government to "restore order" in one sentence, and lauding Kirk's calm debating in the next, then "today isn't the time to both-sides it" in the next answer is the mechanism.

#r4today
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smithtonyd.bsky.social
Tony Smith @smithtonyd.bsky.social · Sep 9
Probably not, but who knows?
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