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Dave A

@davea79.bsky.social
760 followers 729 following 1.2K posts

Copywriter, ex journo, news/politics follower, travel lover, real ale/craft beer drinker, world TV/cinema fan. Among other things. Left of centre, increasingly bewildered. Birmingham, UK.

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Reposted by Dave A
Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Feels like this is our last chance to do this. Cross-parry consensus would be great but no chance with the current RefCon leadership. So we have to hope the country sees through their hysterical dishonesty. #socialcare #labourconference
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Feels like this is our last chance to do this. Cross-parry consensus would be great but no chance with the current RefCon leadership. So we have to hope the country sees through their hysterical dishonesty. #socialcare #labourconference
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I like Ed Davey and then now and again he comes up with populist nonsense like this. Funding tax cuts with future 'growth' is only storing up problems for the future if it doesn't happen. *If* we're allowed to rejoin and *if* that gives the growth we want, let's see where we are then. #LibDems
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Torsten Bell @torstenbell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
So much of the right these days have a massive patriotism problem. This guy: - is a tax exile (left long before this govt) - hates his own country while complaining he doesn’t get big enough subsidies from it - laments the manufacturing hit from a Brexit he supported www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK
Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
A welcome show of solidarity among journalists. Trump will hate this as much as he doesn't understand it.
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Farage was - once again - lying when he said counter terrorism police had delayed his speech because of threats. West Midlands police confirm they gave no such advice.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Some rare good news among this year's environmental worries. #rewilding #drought www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Rewilded land remains green amid drought-stricken English countryside, images show
National Trust’s Holnicote estate says restored wetlands and rivers offer proof of resilience to drought, wildfires and flooding
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Good news in the West Midlands today - National Express is a dreadful company which knows most customers have few alternative options. Following London, Manchester and others with greater local control and accountability can only be a good thing. #buses #publictransport www.itv.com/news/central...
itv.com
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The heat has finally eased off and it's my last couple of days before returning to work, so a good time to visit this great little place - not the easiest to get to, but worth the effort! #Ironbridge #Telford #Shropshire
The Iron BridgeIronbridge village Ironbridge construction date 1779Ironbridge riverside
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Gerry Hassan @gerryhassan.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
The right-wing media hounding of Jason Arday: 188 articles in the space of a few days. 158 articles in The Daily Mail, Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express & Spectator. Maybe like cigarettes the r/w media should carry a health warning: these papers can kill.
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
A hugely embarrassing win for Farage in the Clacton by-election. Reform had been touting a 79% victory. Instead he got 63% against Count Binface who pulled in nearly 27%. Petulantly Farage didn’t turn up for the count to give a speech. The investigation into his finances begins again.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
So, I came up with a little story. Well, they say write about what you know... #beersky #booksky #newfiction #belgianbeer www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HDJQ29TX/
Belgian Beer Bar Mysteries front cover
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Bad news for anyone heading from Birmingham to Reading.... apparently the train crew has been "misplaced".
Departure board at Birmingham New St saying "train crew misplaced"
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
From LinkedIn: The UCU has proposed that if the VC at Exeter had her salary capped to match that of the UK Prime Minister and 16 key managers had salaries reduced to be equivalent to a UK Secretary of State the University would save £1.134m - approximately 15 jobs. www.change.org/p/stop-redun...
change.org
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Behind the bewildering transformation of British universities, are management consultants being paid millions Really proud to have this vital piece on our unis are being gutted from the inside by @jheathershaw.bsky.social on Democracy for Sale. Do read democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-bri...
democracyforsale.substack.com
Inside Britain's university crisis
As teaching staff face job loss, their bosses have netted pay rises and bought advice from a “vampiric” management consultancy, writes Prof. John Heathershaw of the University of Exeter
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I Am Incorrigible @imincorrigible.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
In 1979, Thatcher cut the top rate of income tax from 83% to 60%, then to 40%. She funded this not through economic growth but through a one-off windfall: N Sea oil taxes generated £52.4 billion in six years, revenue that had been virtually non-existent before. @mrjameskay.bsky.social @lbc.co.uk
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Kirsty Besty @k1rsty.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
It needs some influential bossy granny to realise Reform Are Not Our Friends and educate her friend’s & neighbours accordingly
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Hmm. As a former employee many years ago, I hope this works out but "a company that has been created to buy the brand" is a bit of a worry in light of other recent retail deals. #Argos www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Sainsbury's agrees to sell Argos for £120m
Under the terms of the deal, Argos will still operate in Sainsbury's shops, sell Habitat products, and offer Nectar points.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Andy Burnham challenging the media to report fairly and factually on the options for social care. Obviously we all know the usual suspects won't, but imagine how much better political discourse in this country would be if they did? #socialcare
Quote taken from The Guardian: 

And I do ask colleagues in the media again, can we not let the country look at this in a quite clear-eyed way without all of the the hype and the overwriting of some of these issues?

On this issue, please can we have a factual debate. Can we allow people to weigh up the different options that Louise might put forward, and then just come to a considered view based on those facts.

Is that too much to ask? I don’t think it should be too much to ask, because I think the public will give us their view. They’ll make it really clear what they feel they can accept and what they can’t.

We won’t get to that point if there’s all of this stuff swirling around, and everyone frightened about everything. That just won’t get us there.
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Paul Brand @paulbrand.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Burnham announces: 1. Casey will bring forward her review by a year to summer 2027. He wants it to focus on creating a National Care Service that is ‘highly integrated’ with the NHS. 2. He will look at improving pay and progression of social care workforce. 3. Cross party talks to begin today.
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The Bear @bearlypolitics.co.uk · 22/07/2026
This could very well be the most important story in politics for the last decade and a half. Please read and share this equally harrowing and illuminating account by @carolecadwalla.bsky.social of just how dark the money in politics pit really goes. Absolutely mind blowing.
thenerve.news
Farage, the money launderer and me: a decade of denial
The Reform leader’s relationship with the UK media has enabled him to operate with impunity for years. This past fortnight, that impunity finally appeared to be coming to an end. Carole Cadwalladr, wh...
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I mean this is all pretty good, but Number 11 is definitely something I can get behind.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
This has got to happen and Burnham hopefully realises he won't have a better opportunity to level with the public than now. Cross-party support would be great but the Tories are again demonstrating they're no longer a serious party so if it's just Labour and the Lib Dems, so be it. #socialcare
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Cromford Food Festival and Love Belper Town Festival. Today was a two festival kind of day. #Derbyshire
Cromford Railway StationCromford Food Festival at Cromford MillsLove Belper Town Festival Love Belper Pale Ale
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
There is water falling from the sky in #Birmingham. I repeat, there is water falling from the sky. What witchcraft is this?
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
That is... quite the juxtaposition.
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Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Seen a few people saying rough sleeping policy isn’t aimed at median public concern. Quite apart from any policy/moral imperative it really is - rough sleeping comes up time again in focus groups as one of the most visible signs of Broken Britain and community decline!
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Back in #Hull, always a pleasure.
Hull white telephone boxesHull waterfront Hull city council building Hull old town
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Racists: "Why can't Muslims integrate and be more like us?" *Muslim man gets pet dog* Racists: "No, not like that!"
Facebook post re Sadiq Khan's pet dog
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
This is a very good article, acknowledging the progress Starmer/Reeves have made while also highlighting what still needs to be done.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
How is the world supposed to function with this lunatic changing his mind every five minutes? #TACOTuesday
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
These are superb. Newspaper ad boards are a sadly dying art nowadays.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Fair point.
Facebook post: ‘How dare they celebrate her death! They’re sick!’ Mike, 63, who ‘haha’ reacts on Facebook every time there’s a story about a child or adult drowning in The Channel after falling out of a small boat.
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thechaosladder13.bsky.social @thechaosladder13.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
As a constituent of the Count of Dodgy-Crypto in #Clacton, I have laid out my main grievance with my wayward MP #NigelFarage and confirmed I will 100% be backing @countbinface.bsky.social
I am a Clacton resident and I will tell you the thing that is at the top of my fairly extensive list of grievances with my wayward MP. It is his total lack of constituency work.

Not one surgery.

He says it is because of security, but then you find out his security is funded by billionaire friends of his, so even with his gaggle of goons that follow him around. He still feels he can’t face his constituents.

Ok, fair enough, the political environment is  fraught and divisive (a situation he has helped curate I would argue) so there is a credible threat of violence, or “pure cold rage”. So why not do online surgeries? Can’t he do them on Teams?

He manages to record endless £80 a pop cameos, probably in the “studio” he has been paying himself rent for, but he can’t FaceTime one single constituent in the whole two years he has been my MP?

FYI  I’ll be voting for Count Binface, and not the Count of Dodgy-Crypto.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
We may want to frame this one....no wonder Reform are floundering.
GB News tweet acknowledging boat crossings are down and government targeting of gangs is having an effect.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
If only he hadn't enabled it by backing austerity and setting his party on fire. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
independent.co.uk
Nick Clegg: Brexit was a ‘punch in the face’ for Britain
The former deputy prime minister compared Brexit to a ‘massive cardiac arrest’ – and warned Britain now needs Europe more than ever
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Well, Great Yarmouth can do one #TownofCulture Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, Stockton Town Centre Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
Shortlist for UK Town of Culture revealed
Fifteen towns shortlisted for the first UK Town of Culture competition
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Ann Widdicombe was a generally awful person but she does gain one point for that brutal skewering of Michael Howard.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Not a reader of the publication concerned, but spotted this absolute filth in my local Morrisons earlier. #pelletwaggler
Angling Times front page. headline "Fine tune your pellet waggler!"
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
That hideous bauble is, incredibly, looking even more ridiculous now than it did at the time. #FIFAPeacePrize
FIFA Peace Prize trophy
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Strong "last day of term" vibes from Reeves here.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Wondering how long it will be until Farage tries to claim Binface is part of the establishment elite. #clactonbyelection #binfarage
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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 07/07/2026
The question for Nigel Farage now is whether it's less embarrassing to un-resign and claim that was an establishment stitchup, or to spend a month competing with a bin. Neither is exactly a *great* option. Neither solves his ongoing scandals. And it's a mess entirely of his own making.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Finally. Humiliation for Farage whatever happens now.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Oh.... Hahaha. I hoped this would happen but didn't think it would.
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
It's worth stressing that we have rules around political funding to protect our entire democracy. The voters of one constituency might be fine with their MP breaking those rules. But they can't release their MP from them, because a single MP on the take is a danger to the whole system.
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Dave A @davea79.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
If he was MP for anywhere else I don't think #Farage would have risked this but he probably suspects Clacton will loyally vote him back in anyway despite his nonexistence as an MP there for the last two years.
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Gareth Davies @garethtbij.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
The level of insight is astonishing
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Parody Nigel Farage @parodypm.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Two years ago today the people of Clacton elected me as their MP. Since then I have held no constituency surgeries, hardly visited the place and earned more than twenty times as much as my MP salary in outside grifts.
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