Stephen Knowles
@stephenknowles.bsky.social
#FBPE
Retired from an engineering role in military aviation. Was active in military airworthiness regulation across many nations including EU MS. Live in the NW of England. NO DMs, instamute
Retired from an engineering role in military aviation. Was active in military airworthiness regulation across many nations including EU MS. Live in the NW of England. NO DMs, instamute
Fun fact, membership of the EU gave access to funds for helping areas requiring development. Towns around me voted for brexit cutting off access while also hobbling the UK's ability to generate replacement funding. Caveat emptor
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-poli...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-poli...
EU referendum: All 14 Lancashire districts back Brexit
All 14 districts in Lancashire vote to leave the European Union - with Blackpool returning the largest majority in the North West of England.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Fun fact, membership of the EU gave access to funds for helping areas requiring development. Towns around me voted for brexit cutting off access while also hobbling the UK's ability to generate replacement funding. Caveat emptor
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-poli...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-poli...
Indeed, Preston: on major road arteries, on the West Coast main line, has thriving modern industries with well paid jobs.
I live in a town nearby and it suffers as Fleetwood does, I hear a lot of similar complaints. How much should the UK 'invest' to rescue such places?
I live in a town nearby and it suffers as Fleetwood does, I hear a lot of similar complaints. How much should the UK 'invest' to rescue such places?
November 27, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Indeed, Preston: on major road arteries, on the West Coast main line, has thriving modern industries with well paid jobs.
I live in a town nearby and it suffers as Fleetwood does, I hear a lot of similar complaints. How much should the UK 'invest' to rescue such places?
I live in a town nearby and it suffers as Fleetwood does, I hear a lot of similar complaints. How much should the UK 'invest' to rescue such places?
Playing devil's advocate, the police investigate crimes, they don't generally engage in fishing expeditions. I wouldn't expect announcements either way.
The police/security have been quietly active against RU operations recently, see below from Phil Moorhouse:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1vq...
The police/security have been quietly active against RU operations recently, see below from Phil Moorhouse:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1vq...
Secret Investigation Into RUSSIAN Interference Revealed!
YouTube video by A Different Bias
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Playing devil's advocate, the police investigate crimes, they don't generally engage in fishing expeditions. I wouldn't expect announcements either way.
The police/security have been quietly active against RU operations recently, see below from Phil Moorhouse:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1vq...
The police/security have been quietly active against RU operations recently, see below from Phil Moorhouse:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1vq...
I'm thinking of the practicalities. Absent a manifesto/consent, it would be open season in the Lords.
Either option, now or then, between the media and the HoL, it would be hard work which is why the planning needs to be robust. I think this parliament doesn't need any distractions.
Either option, now or then, between the media and the HoL, it would be hard work which is why the planning needs to be robust. I think this parliament doesn't need any distractions.
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I'm thinking of the practicalities. Absent a manifesto/consent, it would be open season in the Lords.
Either option, now or then, between the media and the HoL, it would be hard work which is why the planning needs to be robust. I think this parliament doesn't need any distractions.
Either option, now or then, between the media and the HoL, it would be hard work which is why the planning needs to be robust. I think this parliament doesn't need any distractions.
thoughts and prayers
November 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
thoughts and prayers
Agree if valuations were the only issue. Dan issued a paper a while ago, "if we plot property values vs council tax, we see a tax that hits lower-value properties the most", see below:
Fixing CT and taxes overall needs a manifesto commitment with voter consent.
taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/10/18/h...
Fixing CT and taxes overall needs a manifesto commitment with voter consent.
taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/10/18/h...
How to reform property tax
Property taxes are probably more in need of reform than any other area of UK tax. We have three taxes on property: stamp duty (SDLT), council tax and business rates. They’re bad taxes: they’re…
taxpolicy.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Agree if valuations were the only issue. Dan issued a paper a while ago, "if we plot property values vs council tax, we see a tax that hits lower-value properties the most", see below:
Fixing CT and taxes overall needs a manifesto commitment with voter consent.
taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/10/18/h...
Fixing CT and taxes overall needs a manifesto commitment with voter consent.
taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/10/18/h...
They will have. Evidence is probably the issue. The evidence for Gill started with messages on his phone when examined at the border. Story gets out, all phones purged. Funds are probably well laundered anyway.
Gill pleaded guilty to limit the damage, convince me I'm wrong.
Gill pleaded guilty to limit the damage, convince me I'm wrong.
November 26, 2025 at 3:07 PM
They will have. Evidence is probably the issue. The evidence for Gill started with messages on his phone when examined at the border. Story gets out, all phones purged. Funds are probably well laundered anyway.
Gill pleaded guilty to limit the damage, convince me I'm wrong.
Gill pleaded guilty to limit the damage, convince me I'm wrong.
Interesting that the council tax surcharge goes to the Treasury albeit to support funding for local services.
From the govt's perspective, it also defers the pain of fixing the CT. Start the studies now for the next manifesto?
From the govt's perspective, it also defers the pain of fixing the CT. Start the studies now for the next manifesto?
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Interesting that the council tax surcharge goes to the Treasury albeit to support funding for local services.
From the govt's perspective, it also defers the pain of fixing the CT. Start the studies now for the next manifesto?
From the govt's perspective, it also defers the pain of fixing the CT. Start the studies now for the next manifesto?
I read earlier that its based on Egypt's approach.
I've only visited so not seen it in action. I'd expect Oman's to be fair too.
I've only visited so not seen it in action. I'd expect Oman's to be fair too.
November 26, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I read earlier that its based on Egypt's approach.
I've only visited so not seen it in action. I'd expect Oman's to be fair too.
I've only visited so not seen it in action. I'd expect Oman's to be fair too.
It would be interesting if BlueSky provided a way of identifying the poster's location like the other place. R&B
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
It would be interesting if BlueSky provided a way of identifying the poster's location like the other place. R&B
Fair enough (it was slightly tongue in cheek hence the spelling of "pedent").
Apparently Bahrain has a Sharia basis for the criminal law. I just wondered how they deal with keyloggers etc.
Apparently Bahrain has a Sharia basis for the criminal law. I just wondered how they deal with keyloggers etc.
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Fair enough (it was slightly tongue in cheek hence the spelling of "pedent").
Apparently Bahrain has a Sharia basis for the criminal law. I just wondered how they deal with keyloggers etc.
Apparently Bahrain has a Sharia basis for the criminal law. I just wondered how they deal with keyloggers etc.
Not sure about the discovery issue. The basis comes from a US DoJ report (I know but it dates from 2008), specifically the abstract below:
It seems to be common across many UK/GE statements.
www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtua...
It seems to be common across many UK/GE statements.
www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtua...
Comparative Analysis of Prosecution in Germany and the United Kingdom: Searching for Truth or Getting a Conviction? (From Wrongful Conviction: International Perspectives on Miscarriages of Justice, P ...
www.ojp.gov
November 26, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Not sure about the discovery issue. The basis comes from a US DoJ report (I know but it dates from 2008), specifically the abstract below:
It seems to be common across many UK/GE statements.
www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtua...
It seems to be common across many UK/GE statements.
www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtua...
Its a bit "if you build it, they will come".
Fleetwood is economically out of the way (like a lot of depressed areas) and has few commercial drivers. Why prioritise over other candidates for investment?
PS I like Fleetwood, in 1985 I spent 4 hours stranded in the Wyre on a sand bar. Long story.
Fleetwood is economically out of the way (like a lot of depressed areas) and has few commercial drivers. Why prioritise over other candidates for investment?
PS I like Fleetwood, in 1985 I spent 4 hours stranded in the Wyre on a sand bar. Long story.
November 26, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Its a bit "if you build it, they will come".
Fleetwood is economically out of the way (like a lot of depressed areas) and has few commercial drivers. Why prioritise over other candidates for investment?
PS I like Fleetwood, in 1985 I spent 4 hours stranded in the Wyre on a sand bar. Long story.
Fleetwood is economically out of the way (like a lot of depressed areas) and has few commercial drivers. Why prioritise over other candidates for investment?
PS I like Fleetwood, in 1985 I spent 4 hours stranded in the Wyre on a sand bar. Long story.
Maybe its not about the size of the town, rather the absence of a deep-sea fishing fleet since 1982? Is there a commercial case to reopen?
November 26, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe its not about the size of the town, rather the absence of a deep-sea fishing fleet since 1982? Is there a commercial case to reopen?
Reposted by Stephen Knowles
Pedents corner: maybe State immunity rather than Sovereign since this is about Bahrain in a UK court.
I wonder how far this argument would fly if it was the UK in a Bahrain court?
I wonder how far this argument would fly if it was the UK in a Bahrain court?
November 26, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Pedents corner: maybe State immunity rather than Sovereign since this is about Bahrain in a UK court.
I wonder how far this argument would fly if it was the UK in a Bahrain court?
I wonder how far this argument would fly if it was the UK in a Bahrain court?
and the media is free and unbiased.
Good one!
Good one!
November 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM
and the media is free and unbiased.
Good one!
Good one!
Perhaps Jolyon should consider an inquisitorial approach rather than adversarial?
bsky.app/profile/step...
bsky.app/profile/step...
Germany hasn't had jury trials since 1924. A comparison worth making?
Germany uses an inquisitorial approach (UK is adversarial) which seems to deliver fewer miscarriages.
Germany uses an inquisitorial approach (UK is adversarial) which seems to deliver fewer miscarriages.
November 26, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Perhaps Jolyon should consider an inquisitorial approach rather than adversarial?
bsky.app/profile/step...
bsky.app/profile/step...
Germany hasn't had jury trials since 1924. A comparison worth making?
Germany uses an inquisitorial approach (UK is adversarial) which seems to deliver fewer miscarriages.
Germany uses an inquisitorial approach (UK is adversarial) which seems to deliver fewer miscarriages.
November 26, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Germany hasn't had jury trials since 1924. A comparison worth making?
Germany uses an inquisitorial approach (UK is adversarial) which seems to deliver fewer miscarriages.
Germany uses an inquisitorial approach (UK is adversarial) which seems to deliver fewer miscarriages.
We should ask those 'stuck' in the system
November 25, 2025 at 11:20 PM
We should ask those 'stuck' in the system
I found this helpful in appreciating the situation even though its wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preside...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preside...
Presidential immunity in the United States - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:18 PM
I found this helpful in appreciating the situation even though its wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preside...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preside...