Andy Squibb
@squibbmeisteruk.bsky.social
Nothing profound to write – just try to point out reality. Hate Brexit – no time for its proponents.
Blighted by OCD. Prone to sarcasm.
If occasional profanity offends, you're in the wrong place.
Blighted by OCD. Prone to sarcasm.
If occasional profanity offends, you're in the wrong place.
Watching the newspapers preview on the dreaded @news.sky.com, when discussing the Lib Dems 10- Minute Rule motion re the Customs Union, I was interested to note how much Salma Shah emphasised that the vote (which was successful) was *non-binding*.
Rather like the Brexit referendum then.
Rather like the Brexit referendum then.
December 10, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Watching the newspapers preview on the dreaded @news.sky.com, when discussing the Lib Dems 10- Minute Rule motion re the Customs Union, I was interested to note how much Salma Shah emphasised that the vote (which was successful) was *non-binding*.
Rather like the Brexit referendum then.
Rather like the Brexit referendum then.
Reposted by Andy Squibb
JUST IN: The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the benchmark rate target range to 3.5%-3.75%
December 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
JUST IN: The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the benchmark rate target range to 3.5%-3.75%
Reposted by Andy Squibb
The Fed just cut rates by a quarter of a percentage point.
The revised statement is remarkably buttoned down, probably due to the shutdown-inflicted data blackout.
And we are now up to three dissents - one for lower rates, and two for no change. But the committee is more deeply divided than that.
The revised statement is remarkably buttoned down, probably due to the shutdown-inflicted data blackout.
And we are now up to three dissents - one for lower rates, and two for no change. But the committee is more deeply divided than that.
December 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The Fed just cut rates by a quarter of a percentage point.
The revised statement is remarkably buttoned down, probably due to the shutdown-inflicted data blackout.
And we are now up to three dissents - one for lower rates, and two for no change. But the committee is more deeply divided than that.
The revised statement is remarkably buttoned down, probably due to the shutdown-inflicted data blackout.
And we are now up to three dissents - one for lower rates, and two for no change. But the committee is more deeply divided than that.
Reposted by Andy Squibb
Q: "I do want to look at President Trump set to start his economic sales pitch in Pennsylvania in the coming hours -- going to coal country with a message that affordability is a hoax and his economy is doing well. How's that message likely to land?"
Me: "Good luck, mate."
Me: "Good luck, mate."
December 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Q: "I do want to look at President Trump set to start his economic sales pitch in Pennsylvania in the coming hours -- going to coal country with a message that affordability is a hoax and his economy is doing well. How's that message likely to land?"
Me: "Good luck, mate."
Me: "Good luck, mate."
FFS!
December 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
FFS!
This shouldn't be too much of a surprise given the strategy set out in Project 2025 from (I think) the Heritage Foundation.
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/has-trump-...
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/has-trump-...
Has Trump Just Declared War on Europe?
Byline Times' Head of Investigations Nafeez Ahmed talks to Adrian Goldberg and the Byline Podcast about what really lies behind the new Kremlin-aligned US National Security Strategy
www.bylinesupplement.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This shouldn't be too much of a surprise given the strategy set out in Project 2025 from (I think) the Heritage Foundation.
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/has-trump-...
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/has-trump-...
Reposted by Andy Squibb
Is Trump going to have as big an impact on trade in 2026 as he did in 2025? Possibly ... but it's going to look a bit different.
New @flint-global.com piece with colleagues:
flint-global.com/blog/the-tru...
New @flint-global.com piece with colleagues:
flint-global.com/blog/the-tru...
December 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Is Trump going to have as big an impact on trade in 2026 as he did in 2025? Possibly ... but it's going to look a bit different.
New @flint-global.com piece with colleagues:
flint-global.com/blog/the-tru...
New @flint-global.com piece with colleagues:
flint-global.com/blog/the-tru...
Reposted by Andy Squibb
Starmer is a useless twat
Ed Davey asks to stand up to Trump's threats to Europe and to strengthen the UK with a Customs Union with the EU
Stramer dodges the Trump comment, and says post Brexit trade deals outside the EU are better than a Customs Union with the EU
Labour under Starmer makes us smaller and poorer
Stramer dodges the Trump comment, and says post Brexit trade deals outside the EU are better than a Customs Union with the EU
Labour under Starmer makes us smaller and poorer
December 10, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Starmer is a useless twat
Reposted by Andy Squibb
Are you suffering from a problem with your housing?
Well, now you can solve the problem with the patented Private Eye method of dealing with the housing crisis…
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
Well, now you can solve the problem with the patented Private Eye method of dealing with the housing crisis…
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
December 10, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Are you suffering from a problem with your housing?
Well, now you can solve the problem with the patented Private Eye method of dealing with the housing crisis…
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
Well, now you can solve the problem with the patented Private Eye method of dealing with the housing crisis…
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
Reposted by Andy Squibb
Reposted by Andy Squibb
A short lexicon of politics
A brief guide to understanding political terms.
open.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Too bad that the country is in too thick with or too deep (e.g. militarily) to be able to do anything about it.
Lisa Nandy says the government rejects Trump's description of Europe as 'decaying' and 'weak'
'We've been really clear that we disagree with that characterisation'
'This is an amazing country with great strength,' she said
'We've been really clear that we disagree with that characterisation'
'This is an amazing country with great strength,' she said
December 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Too bad that the country is in too thick with or too deep (e.g. militarily) to be able to do anything about it.
Reposted by Andy Squibb
We despair that the rightwing keep shifting the Overton Window further right. They never suggest that leaving the ECHR is impossible or not the right time. They just demand it. And we end up discussing it.
It’s time the left pushed back.
Not put up ‘can’t do’ barriers to our own hopes and aims.
👏
It’s time the left pushed back.
Not put up ‘can’t do’ barriers to our own hopes and aims.
👏
🚨BREAKING🚨
MPs have voted to PASS our bill to establish a UK-EU customs union.
The Prime Minister must now listen to his own MPs, drop his self-imposed red lines and finally go for proper growth through an ambitious trade deal with the EU.
MPs have voted to PASS our bill to establish a UK-EU customs union.
The Prime Minister must now listen to his own MPs, drop his self-imposed red lines and finally go for proper growth through an ambitious trade deal with the EU.
December 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM
We despair that the rightwing keep shifting the Overton Window further right. They never suggest that leaving the ECHR is impossible or not the right time. They just demand it. And we end up discussing it.
It’s time the left pushed back.
Not put up ‘can’t do’ barriers to our own hopes and aims.
👏
It’s time the left pushed back.
Not put up ‘can’t do’ barriers to our own hopes and aims.
👏
USR… United States of Russia.
December 9, 2025 at 2:28 PM
USR… United States of Russia.
Reposted by Andy Squibb
December 9, 2025 at 12:58 PM
FFS! What is it with politicians and fucking flags?
Deutsche Bundesban doesn't emblazen its locos with the German tricolour, nor do France, Italy and the Netherlands with theirs.
Deutsche Bundesban doesn't emblazen its locos with the German tricolour, nor do France, Italy and the Netherlands with theirs.
'This is so much more than a paint job'
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander spoke to #BBCBreakfast as she unveiled branding for Great British Railways as part of plans to renationalise the railways
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander spoke to #BBCBreakfast as she unveiled branding for Great British Railways as part of plans to renationalise the railways
December 9, 2025 at 8:26 AM
FFS! What is it with politicians and fucking flags?
Deutsche Bundesban doesn't emblazen its locos with the German tricolour, nor do France, Italy and the Netherlands with theirs.
Deutsche Bundesban doesn't emblazen its locos with the German tricolour, nor do France, Italy and the Netherlands with theirs.
Why is it that I have to read this level of detail about UK investment etc, in a Market Intelligence bulletin from NZ? Why isn't the UKG shouting this stuff across social media as well as regular lame street media?
Oh, I remember… it doesn't do comm's, does it?
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/mfa...
Oh, I remember… it doesn't do comm's, does it?
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/mfa...
Opportunities in the UK’s fast growing AI market
The UK is the third-largest AI market globally, valued at over £72 billion in 2024.
www.mfat.govt.nz
December 9, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Why is it that I have to read this level of detail about UK investment etc, in a Market Intelligence bulletin from NZ? Why isn't the UKG shouting this stuff across social media as well as regular lame street media?
Oh, I remember… it doesn't do comm's, does it?
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/mfa...
Oh, I remember… it doesn't do comm's, does it?
www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/mfa...
Reposted by Andy Squibb
They are allowing attack and attack on the EU from guest after guest after guest.
Fuck the BBC.
Fuck the BBC.
Why is the @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social giving airtime to Jacob Rees Mogg?
We need to be united on Europe.
There is no time to waste with haters of Europe like Rees Mogg
BBC should do better, FFS!
We need to be united on Europe.
There is no time to waste with haters of Europe like Rees Mogg
BBC should do better, FFS!
December 8, 2025 at 11:04 PM
They are allowing attack and attack on the EU from guest after guest after guest.
Fuck the BBC.
Fuck the BBC.
Reposted by Andy Squibb
Why is the @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social giving airtime to Jacob Rees Mogg?
We need to be united on Europe.
There is no time to waste with haters of Europe like Rees Mogg
BBC should do better, FFS!
We need to be united on Europe.
There is no time to waste with haters of Europe like Rees Mogg
BBC should do better, FFS!
December 8, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Why is the @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social giving airtime to Jacob Rees Mogg?
We need to be united on Europe.
There is no time to waste with haters of Europe like Rees Mogg
BBC should do better, FFS!
We need to be united on Europe.
There is no time to waste with haters of Europe like Rees Mogg
BBC should do better, FFS!
Reposted by Andy Squibb
Then they invited a Trump leading suporter. FFS.
Why is the @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social giving airtime to Jacob Rees Mogg?
We need to be united on Europe.
There is no time to waste with haters of Europe like Rees Mogg
BBC should do better, FFS!
We need to be united on Europe.
There is no time to waste with haters of Europe like Rees Mogg
BBC should do better, FFS!
December 8, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Then they invited a Trump leading suporter. FFS.
There is a special relationship with the UK after all.
We’re looking at the rebirth of the Know Nothings. Trump has only regressed to the McKinley era of the 1890s. Johnson has retreated to the 1850s.
Ignorance is BS: speaker’s stock answer on Trump’s misdeeds is ‘I don’t know’
Mike Johnson’s denials of knowledge of presidential scandals strain credulity – but may be an effective tactic
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
There is a special relationship with the UK after all.
Reposted by Andy Squibb
Top trolling. 😜
It’s time to chainsaw the Brexit red tape and end the cost of living crisis. Labour MPs should back our plan for a new customs union.
December 8, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Top trolling. 😜
Meh! Y'ur man needs some sidies like Javier Milei.
It’s time to chainsaw the Brexit red tape and end the cost of living crisis. Labour MPs should back our plan for a new customs union.
December 8, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Meh! Y'ur man needs some sidies like Javier Milei.
I can't believe the rigmarole I had to go through at Tesco pharmacy.
I asked for some paracetamol, but the herbert asked me:
• are you on any other medication?
• have you used these before?
• do you have any underlying conditions?
• allergies?
He wrote down all my responses… 1/n
I asked for some paracetamol, but the herbert asked me:
• are you on any other medication?
• have you used these before?
• do you have any underlying conditions?
• allergies?
He wrote down all my responses… 1/n
December 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I can't believe the rigmarole I had to go through at Tesco pharmacy.
I asked for some paracetamol, but the herbert asked me:
• are you on any other medication?
• have you used these before?
• do you have any underlying conditions?
• allergies?
He wrote down all my responses… 1/n
I asked for some paracetamol, but the herbert asked me:
• are you on any other medication?
• have you used these before?
• do you have any underlying conditions?
• allergies?
He wrote down all my responses… 1/n
When I heard the name of the latest storm to hit the UK, I thought that the Met Office (of whichever country that named it) obviously think it would pass through quite quickly/easily.
Then I discovered it was Storm Bram… not ending with an 'n'. 😬
Then I discovered it was Storm Bram… not ending with an 'n'. 😬
December 8, 2025 at 7:27 PM
When I heard the name of the latest storm to hit the UK, I thought that the Met Office (of whichever country that named it) obviously think it would pass through quite quickly/easily.
Then I discovered it was Storm Bram… not ending with an 'n'. 😬
Then I discovered it was Storm Bram… not ending with an 'n'. 😬