Peter Maxson
@petermaxson.bsky.social
Director of Linxs Consultancy, football referee, MCFC fan and Lib Dem. But all views here are purely my own.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Why the Greenland crisis is an opportunity for Starmer: pursue a far more ambitious reset with Europe + remake fiscal policy for a new era of self-reliance. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
The Greenland crisis is an opportunity for Starmer
Donald Trump’s threats have given the Prime Minister a chance to reset his government
www.newstatesman.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Why the Greenland crisis is an opportunity for Starmer: pursue a far more ambitious reset with Europe + remake fiscal policy for a new era of self-reliance. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...
Reposted by Peter Maxson
The UK was better off in the EU and Europe was better off with the UK in it.
All of this Trump driven chaos underlines that and you can practically hear Putin rubbing his hands in Moscow.
WE have deliberately weakened ourselves, our security and our region for absolutely no good purpose at all.
All of this Trump driven chaos underlines that and you can practically hear Putin rubbing his hands in Moscow.
WE have deliberately weakened ourselves, our security and our region for absolutely no good purpose at all.
January 19, 2026 at 10:05 AM
The UK was better off in the EU and Europe was better off with the UK in it.
All of this Trump driven chaos underlines that and you can practically hear Putin rubbing his hands in Moscow.
WE have deliberately weakened ourselves, our security and our region for absolutely no good purpose at all.
All of this Trump driven chaos underlines that and you can practically hear Putin rubbing his hands in Moscow.
WE have deliberately weakened ourselves, our security and our region for absolutely no good purpose at all.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Russia says President Putin has been invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza.
Astonishing to invite one of history’s most egregious warmongers on to a peace board. The international rules are already in the bin.
Astonishing to invite one of history’s most egregious warmongers on to a peace board. The international rules are already in the bin.
January 19, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Russia says President Putin has been invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza.
Astonishing to invite one of history’s most egregious warmongers on to a peace board. The international rules are already in the bin.
Astonishing to invite one of history’s most egregious warmongers on to a peace board. The international rules are already in the bin.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Keep watching - Trump and his circle almost have their precious goal: invoking the Insurrection Act.
As per said before: a great deal of what is being done is simply Trump and his circle working backwards from this objective.
As per said before: a great deal of what is being done is simply Trump and his circle working backwards from this objective.
January 15, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Keep watching - Trump and his circle almost have their precious goal: invoking the Insurrection Act.
As per said before: a great deal of what is being done is simply Trump and his circle working backwards from this objective.
As per said before: a great deal of what is being done is simply Trump and his circle working backwards from this objective.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
This "open borders" line is *infuriating* - these people came here to study or work, because they had a uni place or a job to come to. They paid visa fees, student fees, NHS surcharge - and many of them are doing challenging and important work - staffing our care homes, for example, including Mum's.
Starmer keeps using this line, & it's bonkers.
Most importantly, it's untrue: the party that ended Free Movement, ran the "hostile environment" & made Suella Braverman Home Sec did not run "an experiment in open borders".
It's also politically mad. Voters who believe this will not vote for Starmer
Most importantly, it's untrue: the party that ended Free Movement, ran the "hostile environment" & made Suella Braverman Home Sec did not run "an experiment in open borders".
It's also politically mad. Voters who believe this will not vote for Starmer
!["And this is what Keir Starmer’s press secretary has said about Robert Jenrick at the lobby briefing this morning.
[Highlighted] Robert Jenrick was the immigration minister in a government that presided over an open borders experiment [Highlighted], a health minister who left people stuck on waiting lists, and a Treasury minister during the worst decline in living standards on record.”
While Reform continues to welcome failed Tory retreads, this Labor government is putting the country back on track."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cixgmtrg7nzy4gkmyfeosaox/bafkreibe3jczrmbmzfnhj2adl4qe432lbpmcbn6m6qrentwih7vxj4fu7y@jpeg)
January 15, 2026 at 2:29 PM
This "open borders" line is *infuriating* - these people came here to study or work, because they had a uni place or a job to come to. They paid visa fees, student fees, NHS surcharge - and many of them are doing challenging and important work - staffing our care homes, for example, including Mum's.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham tells Faisal Islam that Reform are “anti-North” over its plan to scrap the £45bn northern corridor rail link & “breathtakingly arrogant” to tell investors to shun the North of England.
“Look at them… There’s nothing northern about them,” he said
“Look at them… There’s nothing northern about them,” he said
January 14, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham tells Faisal Islam that Reform are “anti-North” over its plan to scrap the £45bn northern corridor rail link & “breathtakingly arrogant” to tell investors to shun the North of England.
“Look at them… There’s nothing northern about them,” he said
“Look at them… There’s nothing northern about them,” he said
Reposted by Peter Maxson
I don’t know about you, but Richard Tice and I think it's absolutely hilarious that we defend a billionaire who enables abuse by weaponising images of women and children.
#PMQs
#PMQs
January 14, 2026 at 4:01 PM
I don’t know about you, but Richard Tice and I think it's absolutely hilarious that we defend a billionaire who enables abuse by weaponising images of women and children.
#PMQs
#PMQs
Since we were in Oz only just finished catching up with Celebrity MasterChef and Christmas specials. If he said what enquiry, without his response, said then was vile. But John and Grace did work really well together
January 14, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Since we were in Oz only just finished catching up with Celebrity MasterChef and Christmas specials. If he said what enquiry, without his response, said then was vile. But John and Grace did work really well together
Reposted by Peter Maxson
I was 20 when HS2 was announced. Great to know i’ll probably be in my late 60s when the Birmingham-Manchester section starts work let alone finishes. Seems like a country doing things the right way!
January 14, 2026 at 7:55 AM
I was 20 when HS2 was announced. Great to know i’ll probably be in my late 60s when the Birmingham-Manchester section starts work let alone finishes. Seems like a country doing things the right way!
Reposted by Peter Maxson
in other news apparently you can now get shot for being smug
Fox News' Will Cain: “There's a weird kind of smugness... in the way that some of these liberal white women interact with authority”
January 14, 2026 at 9:42 AM
in other news apparently you can now get shot for being smug
Reposted by Peter Maxson
12 Hour A&E waits aren't normal. A culture of corridor care isn't normal.
Our A&E crisis is a scandal and we have a plan to fix it. 👇
Our A&E crisis is a scandal and we have a plan to fix it. 👇
January 13, 2026 at 10:15 AM
12 Hour A&E waits aren't normal. A culture of corridor care isn't normal.
Our A&E crisis is a scandal and we have a plan to fix it. 👇
Our A&E crisis is a scandal and we have a plan to fix it. 👇
Reposted by Peter Maxson
a decade is a long time in politics
January 12, 2026 at 11:55 AM
a decade is a long time in politics
Reposted by Peter Maxson
"More and more, Reform UK looks simply as if the Tories ran off stage, then came back on two minutes lates, wearing a comedy moustache-and-glasses disguise."
A rebranding exercise of the most established party masquerading as anti-establishment that shows total contempt for voters. ~AA
A rebranding exercise of the most established party masquerading as anti-establishment that shows total contempt for voters. ~AA
January 12, 2026 at 11:32 AM
"More and more, Reform UK looks simply as if the Tories ran off stage, then came back on two minutes lates, wearing a comedy moustache-and-glasses disguise."
A rebranding exercise of the most established party masquerading as anti-establishment that shows total contempt for voters. ~AA
A rebranding exercise of the most established party masquerading as anti-establishment that shows total contempt for voters. ~AA
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform. He came to Britain as an 11 year old without a word of English.
A decade ago, Zahawi was advocating (as Boris Johnson was too) for an "amnesty" to give regularise those without legal status in the UK
www.theguardian.com/books/articl...
A decade ago, Zahawi was advocating (as Boris Johnson was too) for an "amnesty" to give regularise those without legal status in the UK
www.theguardian.com/books/articl...
The Boy from Baghdad: From Waziriyah to Westminster by Nadhim Zahawi review – an unlikely journey
The disgraced ex-chancellor’s bullish memoir makes much of the obstacles he overcame to hold a number of ministerial posts, but how does he square his support for migrants with his presence in cabinet...
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform. He came to Britain as an 11 year old without a word of English.
A decade ago, Zahawi was advocating (as Boris Johnson was too) for an "amnesty" to give regularise those without legal status in the UK
www.theguardian.com/books/articl...
A decade ago, Zahawi was advocating (as Boris Johnson was too) for an "amnesty" to give regularise those without legal status in the UK
www.theguardian.com/books/articl...
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Zahawi can lead Reform's crackdown on tax avoidance. Plenty of experience.
January 12, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Zahawi can lead Reform's crackdown on tax avoidance. Plenty of experience.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
💯
Trump does not value allies or loyalty.
He *requires* a loyal electoral base (for now).
He *values* strength and displays of it.
The only way to rein him in is by strength, as China has demonstrated.
Europe needs to get a move on. The UK has hard choices to make.
Trump does not value allies or loyalty.
He *requires* a loyal electoral base (for now).
He *values* strength and displays of it.
The only way to rein him in is by strength, as China has demonstrated.
Europe needs to get a move on. The UK has hard choices to make.
January 9, 2026 at 6:07 PM
💯
Trump does not value allies or loyalty.
He *requires* a loyal electoral base (for now).
He *values* strength and displays of it.
The only way to rein him in is by strength, as China has demonstrated.
Europe needs to get a move on. The UK has hard choices to make.
Trump does not value allies or loyalty.
He *requires* a loyal electoral base (for now).
He *values* strength and displays of it.
The only way to rein him in is by strength, as China has demonstrated.
Europe needs to get a move on. The UK has hard choices to make.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
1% of Reform UK voters have a favourable opinion of the Labour Party, compared to 98% seeing it unfavourably, including 89% who view the party *very* unfavourably.
Conservative voters are more sympathetic.
Conservative voters are more sympathetic.
Only Reform voters can save Labour
By Luke Akehurst
By Luke Akehurst
Only Reform voters can save Labour
A progressive coalition simply doesn't have the vote share
www.newstatesman.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:29 PM
1% of Reform UK voters have a favourable opinion of the Labour Party, compared to 98% seeing it unfavourably, including 89% who view the party *very* unfavourably.
Conservative voters are more sympathetic.
Conservative voters are more sympathetic.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Banning X would have loads of upsides and really not many downsides for the government. The argument for shutting it down (distribution of CSAM) is incontrovertible, the people who are its most avid users hate the government anyway, and it would address threats to social cohesion and public order.
January 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Banning X would have loads of upsides and really not many downsides for the government. The argument for shutting it down (distribution of CSAM) is incontrovertible, the people who are its most avid users hate the government anyway, and it would address threats to social cohesion and public order.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Sky News on Renee Nicole Good murder: "There are deeply conflicting accounts of what happened."
REALLY? Gonna both-sides this? One "account" can be seen on video and is confirmed by a dozen eye-witnesses. The other is a social media post by history's most notorious pathological liar.
Grow a spine.
REALLY? Gonna both-sides this? One "account" can be seen on video and is confirmed by a dozen eye-witnesses. The other is a social media post by history's most notorious pathological liar.
Grow a spine.
January 8, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Sky News on Renee Nicole Good murder: "There are deeply conflicting accounts of what happened."
REALLY? Gonna both-sides this? One "account" can be seen on video and is confirmed by a dozen eye-witnesses. The other is a social media post by history's most notorious pathological liar.
Grow a spine.
REALLY? Gonna both-sides this? One "account" can be seen on video and is confirmed by a dozen eye-witnesses. The other is a social media post by history's most notorious pathological liar.
Grow a spine.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
No sleep last night…
Can’t get that video out of my head
Can believe the lies being told to betray her even in death
Can’t believe the mindless lemmings that swallow them up
America is lost.
Can’t get that video out of my head
Can believe the lies being told to betray her even in death
Can’t believe the mindless lemmings that swallow them up
America is lost.
January 8, 2026 at 11:27 AM
No sleep last night…
Can’t get that video out of my head
Can believe the lies being told to betray her even in death
Can’t believe the mindless lemmings that swallow them up
America is lost.
Can’t get that video out of my head
Can believe the lies being told to betray her even in death
Can’t believe the mindless lemmings that swallow them up
America is lost.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Horrifying to see an American woman shot dead by an ICE agent on a Minneapolis street, and Donald Trump’s ghoulish response is truly chilling.
Britain mustn’t follow America down this dark path.
Britain mustn’t follow America down this dark path.
January 8, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Horrifying to see an American woman shot dead by an ICE agent on a Minneapolis street, and Donald Trump’s ghoulish response is truly chilling.
Britain mustn’t follow America down this dark path.
Britain mustn’t follow America down this dark path.
Reposted by Peter Maxson
Imagine if the police took the same approach in Britain...
"Would you mind stepping out of the car please, Sir."
"No."
[Bang!] "He was asking for it. Now he's dead."
"Would you mind stepping out of the car please, Sir."
"No."
[Bang!] "He was asking for it. Now he's dead."
Rep. Wesley Hunt: "The bottom line is this: when a federal officer gives you instructions, you abide by them and then you get to keep you life"
January 8, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Imagine if the police took the same approach in Britain...
"Would you mind stepping out of the car please, Sir."
"No."
[Bang!] "He was asking for it. Now he's dead."
"Would you mind stepping out of the car please, Sir."
"No."
[Bang!] "He was asking for it. Now he's dead."
Reposted by Peter Maxson
The most generous explanation for this is that he's an idiot who just hasn't even bothered to look at how vaccines work.
The worst is that he's deliberately spreading misinformation that will put actual lives at risk, in order to please his conspiracy-theory loving base
The worst is that he's deliberately spreading misinformation that will put actual lives at risk, in order to please his conspiracy-theory loving base
Farage: "I believe in vaccinations when they're vaccinations. I don't think what happened with Covid were vaccinations. You have to keep having them every 6 months."
Conspiratorial nonsense.
Some vaccinations like Covid shots require multiple/seasonal doses because immunity fades & viruses change.
Conspiratorial nonsense.
Some vaccinations like Covid shots require multiple/seasonal doses because immunity fades & viruses change.
January 8, 2026 at 11:21 AM
The most generous explanation for this is that he's an idiot who just hasn't even bothered to look at how vaccines work.
The worst is that he's deliberately spreading misinformation that will put actual lives at risk, in order to please his conspiracy-theory loving base
The worst is that he's deliberately spreading misinformation that will put actual lives at risk, in order to please his conspiracy-theory loving base
Reposted by Peter Maxson
The idea that London has become less safe in recent years is quite strange - just look at how once "dangerous" areas have been transformed in recent years. Gentrification comes with its own issues but streets are packed with visitors and city far more welcoming than when I moved here a decade ago.
January 7, 2026 at 10:29 AM
The idea that London has become less safe in recent years is quite strange - just look at how once "dangerous" areas have been transformed in recent years. Gentrification comes with its own issues but streets are packed with visitors and city far more welcoming than when I moved here a decade ago.