David Ford
@david-ford.bsky.social
Was: Alliance Councillor, Antrim 1993-2010; MLA, South Antrim 1998-2018; Party Leader, 2001-16; Minister of Justice for NI 2010-2016, President, Alliance Party 2019-2022.
Now: grandfather, p/t farmer, Alliance footsoldier, Rathlin CIC, Jubilee Farm, NFFN.
Now: grandfather, p/t farmer, Alliance footsoldier, Rathlin CIC, Jubilee Farm, NFFN.
I know from my time in DOJ that this will have taken a lot of work by @naomilong.bsky.social and the @justice-ni.bsky.social team.
Well done.
Well done.
December 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I know from my time in DOJ that this will have taken a lot of work by @naomilong.bsky.social and the @justice-ni.bsky.social team.
Well done.
Well done.
Much needed upgrade of Enterprise rolling stock, but track extension and electrification is also needed on Dublin-Belfast and across the island, N and S.
Electro-diesel Stadler Flirts selected to replace Dublin – Belfast Enterprise trains www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and....
Electro-diesel Stadler Flirt trains selected to renew Dublin – Belfast Enterprise fleet
EUROPE: Ireland's national railway Iarnród Éireann and North Ireland's Translink have jointly selected Stadler Flirt trainsets to replace locomotive-hauled rolling stock on the cross-border Dublin - B...
www.railwaygazette.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Much needed upgrade of Enterprise rolling stock, but track extension and electrification is also needed on Dublin-Belfast and across the island, N and S.
Tales from Stormont, part 999.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
Executive ‘gridlock’ so bad a spreadsheet is needed to track ‘blocked’ papers
A Stormont minister has claimed “gridlock” within the Executive has got so bad that a spreadsheet has been created to keep track of all the policy proposals being blocked by the DUP.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Tales from Stormont, part 999.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
Reposted by David Ford
What’s the point of Keir Starmer employing an economics advisor if he ignores her on the biggest economic issue of the day?
December 1, 2025 at 5:02 PM
What’s the point of Keir Starmer employing an economics advisor if he ignores her on the biggest economic issue of the day?
Reposted by David Ford
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 David Ford
Ryan Bourne, a member of the Economists for Brexit* cabal that the Leave camp depended on to make their economic case for leaving, has written a long article in the Times admitting to the damage that Brexit has caused.
(*Other familiar names include Patrick Minford.)
archive.ph/2025.11.26-1...
(*Other familiar names include Patrick Minford.)
archive.ph/2025.11.26-1...
November 28, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Ryan Bourne, a member of the Economists for Brexit* cabal that the Leave camp depended on to make their economic case for leaving, has written a long article in the Times admitting to the damage that Brexit has caused.
(*Other familiar names include Patrick Minford.)
archive.ph/2025.11.26-1...
(*Other familiar names include Patrick Minford.)
archive.ph/2025.11.26-1...
Presumably temperate forests have a similar, if smaller, effect. Any data available, Eoghan @irishrainforest.bsky.social?
Tropical forests cool the earth by 1° degrees.
Trees do not only bind CO2.
The strength of the cooling effect through biophysical effects of forests has been underestimated so far. 💚🌿🌱☘️🌳🌲🍀💚
Trees do not only bind CO2.
The strength of the cooling effect through biophysical effects of forests has been underestimated so far. 💚🌿🌱☘️🌳🌲🍀💚
November 28, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Presumably temperate forests have a similar, if smaller, effect. Any data available, Eoghan @irishrainforest.bsky.social?
Naomi is absolutely right. Public servants deserve the support of everyone in society.
x.com/naomi_long/s...
x.com/naomi_long/s...
x.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Naomi is absolutely right. Public servants deserve the support of everyone in society.
x.com/naomi_long/s...
x.com/naomi_long/s...
Reposted by David Ford
🇷🇺🇬🇧 🇷🇺🇬🇧
The petition: ‘Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy’ has now passed 70,000 signatures.
Let’s get it to over 100,O00 by the weekend!
Please sign and share widely.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
The petition: ‘Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy’ has now passed 70,000 signatures.
Let’s get it to over 100,O00 by the weekend!
Please sign and share widely.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 27, 2025 at 11:23 AM
🇷🇺🇬🇧 🇷🇺🇬🇧
The petition: ‘Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy’ has now passed 70,000 signatures.
Let’s get it to over 100,O00 by the weekend!
Please sign and share widely.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
The petition: ‘Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy’ has now passed 70,000 signatures.
Let’s get it to over 100,O00 by the weekend!
Please sign and share widely.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
This from a Republican Congressman who was a Naval Officer.
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
This from a Republican Congressman who was a Naval Officer.
Reposted by David Ford
BBC removes description of Donald Trump as "the most openly corrupt president in American history" from the broadcast today of Rutger Bregman's Reith Lecture. I was among the several hundred people to hear the original at the lecture theatre
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
BBC removes description of Donald Trump as "the most openly corrupt president in American history" from the broadcast today of Rutger Bregman's Reith Lecture. I was among the several hundred people to hear the original at the lecture theatre
In simple terms: the SF-DUP duopoly will say all the right things but take no action to deal with the Lough Neagh crisis.
This article is now out in @bjpir.bsky.social! In it, we explain why government action to tackle the ecological crisis at Lough Neagh has lagged behind the apparent rhetorical consensus about its importance. Has Muir been set up to fail? #LoughNeagh #openaccess journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The environment as a second policy dimension in a deeply divided society: The politics of Northern Ireland’s Lough Neagh crisis - Timofey Agarin, Laurence Cooley, Elliott Hill, 2025
Environmental concerns are often marginalised in post-conflict societies. Especially under power-sharing, political parties tend to prioritise their ethno-natio...
journals.sagepub.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:05 AM
In simple terms: the SF-DUP duopoly will say all the right things but take no action to deal with the Lough Neagh crisis.
Reposted by David Ford
"Regrettably, some political leaders in Northern Ireland were not always able, in this time of extraordinary crisis, to set aside political and sectarian divisions and to govern jointly and effectively in the interests of the whole of Northern Ireland."
(Hallett Covid Inquiry)
Who knew?
(Hallett Covid Inquiry)
Who knew?
November 20, 2025 at 10:23 PM
"Regrettably, some political leaders in Northern Ireland were not always able, in this time of extraordinary crisis, to set aside political and sectarian divisions and to govern jointly and effectively in the interests of the whole of Northern Ireland."
(Hallett Covid Inquiry)
Who knew?
(Hallett Covid Inquiry)
Who knew?
Reposted by David Ford
A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) shows that estimates about the damage done by Brexit have underestimated its impact over the course of a decade. Data now suggests that Brexit has reduced UK GDP by 6%–8%, reduced investment 12%–18%, and reduced productivity by 3%–4%.
🇬🇧🇪🇺
🇬🇧🇪🇺
November 14, 2025 at 11:46 PM
A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) shows that estimates about the damage done by Brexit have underestimated its impact over the course of a decade. Data now suggests that Brexit has reduced UK GDP by 6%–8%, reduced investment 12%–18%, and reduced productivity by 3%–4%.
🇬🇧🇪🇺
🇬🇧🇪🇺
Starmer and co know how much damage Brexit has caused. When will they actually do something to redress it?
Guy Verhofstadt, President of European Movement International:
In this new Age of Empires, why UK must choose Europe over isolation
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
In this new Age of Empires, why UK must choose Europe over isolation
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
In this new Age of Empires, why UK must choose Europe over isolation
Most of the UK’s economic problems since Brexit would have been avoided if it had stayed in the European Single Market and Customs Union and it’s time to move closer to the EU, writes former Belgian P...
www.scotsman.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Starmer and co know how much damage Brexit has caused. When will they actually do something to redress it?
@leonardconsultancy.bsky.social - thanks for your wise balanced words on Talkback today, Marcella.
November 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
@leonardconsultancy.bsky.social - thanks for your wise balanced words on Talkback today, Marcella.
The PPE Medpro saga continues.
Can it really be true that the company failed to pay tax on its profits from supplying unfit PPE to the NHS?
Can it really be true that the company failed to pay tax on its profits from supplying unfit PPE to the NHS?
Douglas Barrowman and Michelle Mone made £65m selling faulty PPE to the Government.
HMRC now wants £39m in unpaid tax — and we think we know why: Barrowman and Mone may have avoided tax on their £65m profit.
HMRC now wants £39m in unpaid tax — and we think we know why: Barrowman and Mone may have avoided tax on their £65m profit.
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The PPE Medpro saga continues.
Can it really be true that the company failed to pay tax on its profits from supplying unfit PPE to the NHS?
Can it really be true that the company failed to pay tax on its profits from supplying unfit PPE to the NHS?
@irishrainforest.bsky.social Are you listening to Today on @rteradio1.bsky.social from about 11.15?
November 6, 2025 at 11:23 AM
@irishrainforest.bsky.social Are you listening to Today on @rteradio1.bsky.social from about 11.15?
One moment an ordinary citizen doing an ordinary, routine job.
The next, a life-saving hero.
The next, a life-saving hero.
This is the hero, the railway worker who saved countless lives during the stabbing attack in Cambridgeshire. His name is Samir Zitouni.
Remember him and will him through. 🙏
Remember him and will him through. 🙏
November 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
One moment an ordinary citizen doing an ordinary, routine job.
The next, a life-saving hero.
The next, a life-saving hero.
I'm a member of the UFU and a small farmer in the Lough Neagh catchment.
It's hard to disagree with Newton. It also appears, yet again, that the UFU Executive is following, not leading.
It's hard to disagree with Newton. It also appears, yet again, that the UFU Executive is following, not leading.
October 30, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I'm a member of the UFU and a small farmer in the Lough Neagh catchment.
It's hard to disagree with Newton. It also appears, yet again, that the UFU Executive is following, not leading.
It's hard to disagree with Newton. It also appears, yet again, that the UFU Executive is following, not leading.
What an unusual division. Most Tories voted with Farage, with DUP & TUV.
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk made the speech against Farage, supported in the vote by Lib Dems, @sorchaeastwood.bsky.social, UUP, most of SNP, Plaid, Green, SDLP & Ind Left.
And some Labour, but clearly not whipped.
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk made the speech against Farage, supported in the vote by Lib Dems, @sorchaeastwood.bsky.social, UUP, most of SNP, Plaid, Green, SDLP & Ind Left.
And some Labour, but clearly not whipped.
Fair Political Coverage - we want to hear from ALL our parties
@fairpoliticsnow.bsky.social
· Oct 29
LibDems defeated Farage’s 10 minute rule bill to take us out of the European Convention on Human Rights earlier. Frontbench Labour abstained. Tories voted with Reform. This was the make up of the house for the debate. Only really the LD benches bothered! Will this get any coverage I wonder ?
October 29, 2025 at 10:50 PM
What an unusual division. Most Tories voted with Farage, with DUP & TUV.
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk made the speech against Farage, supported in the vote by Lib Dems, @sorchaeastwood.bsky.social, UUP, most of SNP, Plaid, Green, SDLP & Ind Left.
And some Labour, but clearly not whipped.
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk made the speech against Farage, supported in the vote by Lib Dems, @sorchaeastwood.bsky.social, UUP, most of SNP, Plaid, Green, SDLP & Ind Left.
And some Labour, but clearly not whipped.
I agree with @timfarron.bsky.social.
It's hard to know which is worse: a Government which denied the problems caused by Brexit or one which acknowledges the mess but does nothing to deal with it.
It's hard to know which is worse: a Government which denied the problems caused by Brexit or one which acknowledges the mess but does nothing to deal with it.
The Chancellor is blaming Brexit for the mess we're in but not making the changes needed to fix it, can you really call that a strategy?
October 28, 2025 at 8:06 PM
I agree with @timfarron.bsky.social.
It's hard to know which is worse: a Government which denied the problems caused by Brexit or one which acknowledges the mess but does nothing to deal with it.
It's hard to know which is worse: a Government which denied the problems caused by Brexit or one which acknowledges the mess but does nothing to deal with it.
Reposted by David Ford
Too late, my darlings. www.ft.com/content/d6c8...
Badenoch is warned against turning Tories into rightwing populist party
Former premiers John Major and Theresa May tell Conservative leader not to seek to mimic Reform UK
www.ft.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Too late, my darlings. www.ft.com/content/d6c8...
Next task for the IfG: compare and contrast Prison Service in E&W with those in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
That chart from the prisons chapter of the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's Public Services Performance Tracker www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...
Performance Tracker 2025: Prisons | Institute for Government
Conditions in prisons are appalling and getting worse, while planned sentencing reforms may not be enough to avoid a further capacity crisis
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 27, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Next task for the IfG: compare and contrast Prison Service in E&W with those in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Yet another reason why so many who were glad to see the Tories removed from Government at GE24 now despair of the current crowd.
Today, the Planning Bill returns to the Lords. And the future of nature in England’s planning system is on the line. 🌳⚠️
Peers must back the amendments* that protect wildlife, ensure accountability, and build nature back into our homes & communities.
*130, 140 & 245, 114, 148
Peers must back the amendments* that protect wildlife, ensure accountability, and build nature back into our homes & communities.
*130, 140 & 245, 114, 148
October 27, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Yet another reason why so many who were glad to see the Tories removed from Government at GE24 now despair of the current crowd.