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garethd.bsky.social

@garethd.bsky.social
2.9K followers 1.8K following 4.2K posts

Rugby, dog lover, 💚, #FBPE, Tory hater,🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿,solicitor advocate (r’td), Councillor, Garden of England these days. No profile from you = no follow

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Reposted by @garethd.bsky.social
Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 9h
Kemi Badenoch on Kemi Badenoch: “I never make gaffes or need to apologize or clarify my statements, as I think carefully about what I say.” Kemi Badenoch on her ‘Britannia Shield’ ‘plan’….
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 20h
Voters loathed the Tory party when they booted them out in 2024.They really needed to shake off their disgrace with humility and better ideas. They haven’t. They’ve doubled down. More Brexit, more austerity, more anti-immigration ugliness, more tedious arrogance… and no good reason to vote for them.
Party seems to have learnt nothing from 2024 defeat
John Oxley

The Conservative Party is keen to show it is now ready to return to government, two and a half years after a
historic defeat.Their self-soothing explanation posits that defeat came from not being able to do what they wanted 

No such pivot is happening at the current conference. The Tories have come to Birmingham calling for a return to orthodoxy, with similar lines about cutting benefits and regulation. Even so, they seem trapped by the same contradictions
- pledging to cut benefits, but not the winter fuel payments and triple lock on pensions that go to their voters.
There is no "hug-a-hoodie" moment in Birmingham. The Conservative Party is not indicating that it has changed or seeking to broaden its appeal. It is doing the opposite: it is a party returning to its core, restating all the old ideas voters have rejected but louder.
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Snowy. @snowy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Who is orchestrating this shit? How do these people all know where and when to arrive? apple.news/AnODYi-_ERjm...
apple.news
Anti-migrant protesters clash with police as dinghy arrives in UK seaside town — The Independent
The dinghy was shadowed by French rescue vessels until it entered English waters, where it was met by RNLI boats
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Max B 💙 🔶 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 @maxbrockbank.com · 05/10/2026
Standing up to the balaclava nonces. Inspiring.
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Hugely dishonest to pass off a sentence for setting off a bomb as "destroying a camera"
Misleading statement by "journalist" Andrew Pierce
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Anti-Reform @antireform.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
More lying-by-omission right-wing outrage exposed meme via FascinatingAvocados
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
England's water infrastructure at breaking point. Large part of water network installed 130-150 years ago. Thames Water infrastructure has average age of 79 years; industry average 56 yrs. 40% of TW assets are 100+ yrs old. Must end privatisation, remove profit motive.
standard.co.uk
MP says London water network is 'at breaking point' with two incidents in a week
London MP Paul Kohler said the two incidents highlighted the poor state of the region's water infrastructure
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
As long as the Tories are threatening to leave the ECHR, they aren’t a serious party. Consider it the ultimate red flag. Any party who’d take this entirely unnecessary and ruinous risk with our rights and our country’s security and wellbeing should never get its hands on power. (Letter, Times)
Value of the
ECHR
Sir, In dangerous times, serious countries do not retreat into splendid isolation. They build alliances, multiply their influence and strengthen institutions. Key among those is the 46-member Council of Europe, at its heart the European Convention on Human Rights.As former independent reviewers of terrorism legislation we have seen at close quarters that the ECHR is not just a human rights instrument. It is a national security asset. Terrorist networks, hostile states, organised crime gangs and people smugglers do not respect borders. Tackling them requires arrangements for the closest possible co-operation with our neighbours, including through joint investigations and police access to European passenger, fingerprint, DNA and vehicle data.These arrangements expressly depend on internationally agreed human rights standards, applied by a supranational court. We detect no political willingness to excuse the UK from compliance with standards to which the rest of Europe already subscribes. As authoritarian powers grow more aggressive and democratic institutions face mounting pressure, Britain should not be abandoning one of its greatest postwar achievements.
The question is not whether we can afford to remain within the ECHR. It is whether, in an increasingly perilous world, we can afford not to.
Lord Carlile of Berriew, Lord Anderson of Ipswich, Sir Max Hill
Independent reviewers of terrorism legislation, 2001-18
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The Tory party has killed itself with Brexit. It’s lost its mind chasing Farage into the gutter, saying unserious things, promoting unserious people who stand around in suits, arms folded, talking utter dribble to get a headline. It’s pathetic. We deserve a better opposition. This lot are shite.
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
So, Tories would cancel Erasmus and youth mobility, scrap the SPS deal that reduces red tape, lowers costs and eases backlogs for goods trade and renege on our new energy, defence and security arrangements… Ridiculous threat, ridiculous party, ridiculous people…
Tories would reverse steps to undo Brexit
Alex Burghart, the deputy leader, also says his party is wedded' to triple lock and electoral reform is doomed
Ben Riley-Smith - Political Editor

Photo of Burghart, arms folded, looking absurdly self important
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Peter Smith @redpeter99.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The radicalisation of the middle aged and elderly needs addressing. Many believe every single word on Facebook and X.
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
There are many challenges; a different UK&EU to 2016, a rogue US, 🇫🇷elections, the demands that could be made of us, our own fear of Brexit wars, Farage weakening our negotiating position BUT… At least Burnham “has created the political space to have a conversation” giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Does the EU want Britain back?
Burnham has reopened the Brexit debate. That doesn’t mean the UK will be welcomed back on its own terms
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#BlueStormComin1🌪️🦋🇺🇸 #Resistance 🦋🙌🏻 #Blues @bluestormcomin1.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Elon is returning to Trump Administration to? Meddle with midterms? Advise on Iran War? Help bankrupt America? All of the above Repost #Blues #Democracy #Politics
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Braverman blathering on about who can be English, Farage starting his me-me-me tour of the country telling audiences he’ll fix the country in 100 days or they’ll all sack themselves… apart from him… and Yusuf fanboying that racist thug who got refused bail… A moron festival. Come on, UK. Enough now.
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garethd.bsky.social @garethd.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
@paulette7.bsky.social awful game of golf this morning. Couldn’t do anything right. Didn’t lose a single ball though.
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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“Brexit was a huge loss both for the British people and for the European project as a whole. If the United Kingdom were to make such a decision, Spain would welcome it with open arms and once again embrace our friends in Britain.” - President Sánchez
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Gerri McGerriface @messmonstergigi.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
bestforbritain.org/petition/far...
bestforbritain.org
Farage on GB News: Demand that Ofcom takes immediate action - Best for Britain
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mimij9.bsky.social @mimij9.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Farage says Brexit was a disaster because of Boris Johnson’s deal? Please MEDIA point out that at the time Farage supported his Brexit deal.
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Patrick - Here for the craic❗️🤷🏼‍♂️😉 @paddyopatrick.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The reality behind the BS of Reform in power👇 Family's fears as autistic son with severe learning disabilities loses college place because Reform Kent County Council cut funding KCC plans to cut adult care funding for 18,804 But spent £600,000 on just 8 parking spaces for Reform Councillors 🤬🤬
bbc.co.uk
Kent family fears SEND son will lose skills without college
Family says autistic son's progress is at risk after specialist college funding ended.
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
South West Water pleaded guilty to sewage dumping, fined £8m, a decade after the events. Yet govt introduced more deregulation. England's water industry controlled by organisations with criminal convictions. None has licence revoked. No exec prosecuted. Customers fleeced.
bbc.co.uk
South West Water fined almost £8m for sewage spills
South West Water previously entered guilty pleas to pollution offences spanning six years.
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Gary Gilligan @garygilligan.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Long overdue www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Met Police submits Grenfell Tower fire investigation files to CPS
The force is seeking charges against 54 individuals and 20 companies over the 2017 tower block fire that killed 72 people.
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
French President Emmanuel Macron on the UK rejoining the EU: “If the British want to take a first step in this direction, I think it is very good news both for their country and for Europeans.”
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Naomi Smith @pimlicat.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The good news keeps coming 5pillarsuk.com/2026/09/24/r...
5pillarsuk.com
Rupert Lowe MP referred to Prevent and parliamentary watchdog over anti-Muslim rhetoric
FacebookLikeShareTweetEmail 5Pillars has learned that formal complaints have been submitted against Rupert Lowe MP to counter-terrorism police and Parliament’s standards watchdog over his repeated rhe...
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victoria1921.bsky.social @victoria1921.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Honesty really is the best policy. Greedy liars broke Britain. Why not give Burnham's optimism and his pledges to rebuild a fairer, healthier place, a chance? Hope not hate. Unity not division.
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BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Is it time Nigel Farage was banned from the BBC? Like if it is. RT if it should be today.
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BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
Should Nigel Farage's dodgy tax dealings be investigated for criminal behaviour? Please RP if you think so.
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BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
Are you deporting the immigrants who will save your life? Or are you deporting Nigel Farage? RT if it's Farage
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Putin’s reward for bombing hospitals, schools, apartment buildings, public parks and museums and killing children is to get invited to the G20 Summit by Marco Rubio.
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Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
So let’s see practical steps to rejoin asap. As global insecurity grows, anything less simply won’t do
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
🔴 Andy Burnham’s Pledge for Electoral Reform: What We Know So Far After years of pressure from campaigners, a Labour Prime Minister has now committed to overhauling Westminster’s First Past the Post voting system bylinetimes.com/2026/09/29/a...
bylinetimes.com
Andy Burnham's Pledge for Electoral Reform: What We Know So Far
After years of pressure from campaigners, a Labour Prime Minister has now finally committed to overhauling Westminster's First Past the Post voting system, reports Josiah Mortimer
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AshfromEnfield @ashfromenfield.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Nigelski Faragovic being buried on Daily Basis a Glorious Sight to Behold 🤣👇🏽
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Sean Jones KC @seanjones.org · 29/09/2026
The rush to speculate that asylum seekers are responsible for every crime in the news is a sort of opportunistic informational terrorism. Until it’s disproved it stokes fear and hatred. When it is disproved there are no adverse consequences and they know that they only have to be lucky once.
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garethd.bsky.social @garethd.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Why do dogs play bitey-face? Why can’t they be friends?
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Sunderland Lollipops @sunderlandlolly.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Did you know that a Farage Reform govt intends to scrap the NHS? The private health care system he wants to introduce would cost you £10,000s, like the US, where getting ill can bankrupt you. #ReformUK #Labour #GreenParty #Newcastle #SAFC� #NUFC
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M Meerkat @kackbro.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
EXACTLY 👇 THIS.......
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Sean Jones KC @seanjones.org · 27/09/2026
Millionaires who breathlessly announce that they are leaving the country because a social policy subject risks mildly inconveniencing them should never be allowed back over the border.
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Esheru @esherukweku.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
What really gets me is, the numbers are actually down overall and media was quiet about arrivals. Instead of reporting about the success of the numbers dropping, they ran with a bullshit story about a village in Oxfordshire, to get this story back on top of the news agenda.
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Anti-Reform @antireform.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"... In Worcestershire, they even sought permission for an almost 9% rise before losing control of the council Then there are the services being cut Care homes targeted for closure in Lancashire And now all 10 council-run nurseries being closed in South Tyneside ..." via Reform Are Not Your Friends
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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
One of the best accounts to follow on Bluesky: @premnsikka.bsky.social On point analysis and commentary on British politics 👍
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Sure. Brexit meant we huffed out of our agreements on managing the flow of asylum seekers. The boats symbolise “taking back control” by going it alone. But it’s only a “crisis” because politicians and media choose to blame immigrants for their own failures. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
independent.co.uk
Burnham blames Brexit for small boats crisis - but rules out early general election
Burnham lamented a ‘loss of collaboration with neighbours’ following Brexit but has ‘knocked dead’ the idea of an early election before 2029
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
“Between 2019 and 2025, export volumes slumped 31 per cent as Brexit added border checks and trade complexity, pushing up costs for businesses” … and threatening our food security. Why TF would *anyone* want this for our businesses and our country? giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Brexit and Donald Trump’s tariffs push UK’s food and drink trade deficit to £21bn
In the first half of 2026, the sector’s export volumes fell 11.7% to hit their third-lowest level on record
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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, "The Bank of England was set up by Tony Blair" My view: The Bank of England was founded in 1694, during the reign of William III and Mary II.
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garethd.bsky.social @garethd.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
@mrsbadcrumble1975.bsky.social Afternoon Cat. Can they successfully chase that many runs?
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 24/09/2026
New mega poll by YouGov with Best for Britain 📊 "Andy Burnham’s best hope of winning the next election and stopping Nigel Farage from reaching No 10 is by committing to reversing Brexit and getting Britain to rejoin the European Union." Link to article in the comments ⬇️
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Where do Farage’s loyalties lie? Let’s ask Nathan Gill. Farage needs misinformation for power. He distorts, pays for biased polling, works for crypto billionaires/foreign money… He wants chaos and rage. This is a sulky footstamp at having his toys taken away. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/nigel-...
huffingtonpost.co.uk
Nigel Farage Has Attacked The Government's Plans For A New Russia Misinformation Unit
The Reform UK leader claimed it is “targeted directly” at his party.
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 23/09/2026
⚠️ Brexit has left us poorer and more isolated on the world stage. 💪 Burnham must go for EU membership. Not only will it deliver £92bn to our economy but will restore our standing in the world.
independent.co.uk
Brexit has left Britain ‘impotent – a bobbing cork in the sea,’ says David Miliband
Exclusive: Former foreign secretary adds to mounting pressure for a new UK deal with EU to repair Brexit damage
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Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I'm not a lawyer, but if you intentionally attempt to sink a boat with humans on board, how is that not attempted murder? www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Far-right activist Daniel Thomas slashes dinghy in Channel with blade while rescue worker onboard
Thomas called followers to protest against arrival of asylum seekers in Gosport, but Border Force instead transported them to Dover
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
That thug sabotaging rescue efforts, racist riots, flags on lampposts, pink ladies wanting to burn down hotels, doxxing charity workers, ICE-style deportation plans, threats to scrap the Equality Act and leave the ECHR… “legitimate concerns” No. A tornado of hate and prejudice set off by Farage.
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Duchess Gemma 🐠🕷️🇪🇺 @gemmagould.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
ALL OF THIS ! 👇
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Justin @justified.eurosky.social · 22/09/2026
Also... Criminal damage with intent to endanger life. policing.uk/offences/agg...
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