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Geoff Smith

@geoffsmith57.bsky.social
42 followers 88 following 95 posts

Former university administrator & Sheffield Labour councillor. Also into the Blades, test cricket, cats, swifts, The Archers, folk & classical music, art exhibitions, TV & book detectives, litter picking, Orwell, Trollope.

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Reposted by Geoff Smith
Torsten Bell @torstenbell.bsky.social · 6h
New IMF forecasts tell you 2 things about UK economy. Firstly, the British economy has proved resilient in face of the Iran conflict: IMF have UK growth as joint second fastest in G7 this year (forget forecasts, in hard data we’ve seen the fastest growth in G7 so far this year)
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 3h
Take your point although the need for additional funding is an important part of both those, and other issues, and that comes up against competing priorities.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 3h
The reason is an inbox which includes: international crises, extreme weather, food & energy security, AI dangers, cost of living rises, stagnating productivity, funding public services, EU relations, failing public utilities, social care costs, special education demand, criminal justice crisis etc
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Reposted by Geoff Smith
Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 22h
For a short time, Trump's Iran war distracted him from his efforts to undermine Ukraine/support Putin. But now he has stumbled across the idea of blaming Ukraine for the effects of his war with Iran, he has redoubled his efforts in support of Putin.
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
10 ideas for a radical budget, from the likes of @ruthcurtice.bsky.social, @helenmiller.bsky.social, @pollycurtis.bsky.social and me, at @arguablymag.bsky.social www.arguably.uk/p/10-ideas-f...
arguably.uk
10 ideas for a radical Budget
Policy experts on why John Healey can’t afford to play it safe
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Martin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Fascinating story illustrating, yet again, that some of the most dubious things that wealthy people get away with rely on respectable law and professional services firms - in respectable places - knowingly assisting their dubious behaviour. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...
theguardian.com
Roman Abramovich aides falsified paperwork to disguise assets and dodge tax, records suggest
Accountancy firm Deloitte Cyprus among those that appear to have backdated records outlining the Russian billionaire’s assets
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Your view? @danneidle.bsky.social
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Reposted by Geoff Smith
Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Tl;dr - it is predictable right now that the Chancellor, certainly next year and perhaps this year too, will have to spend less and tax more than currently being forecast because the government's immigration outcomes and policy goals directly contradict the assumptions of OBR forecasts
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The Mirror @mirror.co.uk · 11/10/2026
On Monday, I will be honoured to walk into Parliament as the first woman in the UK to do so as a British-Somali MP.
mirror.co.uk
'After fleeing Somalia I want to repay kindness to place that gave me a home'
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Reposted by Geoff Smith
Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
One of the complications of studying conspiracy beliefs is that sometimes there are actually conspiracies...
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Have enjoyed living in Crookes for 38 years and don't want to move. But have never thought of myself as cool, so being told I live in one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the country is disturbing.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
General rule of thumb. Unlikely that it is only the things you know about that they get wrong.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Most single statistics quoted on their own without context or other relevant statistics are at best misleading and more often just wrong. True for whichever part of the political spectrum they come from.
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Reposted by Geoff Smith
Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Labour, as a mid-term government, can be pretty satisfied with losing just four points, although the Greens moving up 22 points after the week they've had should help Burnham and co. avoid complacency.
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Alexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
That substantial portions of the European and US Left struggle with the idea that it is possible to condemn criminal actions by the Israeli government while also condemning the vicious brutality of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iranian regime continues to baffle me.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
He was clearly an unpleasant, self obsessed charlatan from the outset. Don't understand how anyone was taken in by him.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Need to look at Northern Ireland.
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Reposted by Geoff Smith
Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Very important work here to inform the electoral reform debate
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Sheffield Events @sheff.events · 06/10/2026
98 Sheffield jobs and volunteer roles, all in one place: charities, the universities, hospices, community centres and more. Free to browse, free to list your own. jobs.sheff.events
jobs.sheff.events
Sheffield Jobs: Local Vacancies and Opportunities - Sheffield Events
Current Sheffield jobs and local vacancies, including teaching, charity and part-time roles, with salary, closing date and a link to apply at the source.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Actually I think there is a threshold of badness when it is fine to comment on how bad they were.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Not good. Bolsonaro now clear favourite to win.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Politicians are like generals. Worth following the lucky ones.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Dogs are subservient subjects and cats free loading anarchists
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Music in the Round @musicintheround.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
🏆 We’ve been shortlisted for the Sky Arts Classical Music Award 2026! Recognising our work w/ the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival & Ensemble 360 - bringing people closer to extraordinary music. Incredibly proud to be representing Sheffield on the national stage 🤞 skyartsawards.sky/nominees/cla...
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Emma Wilkinson @emmajourno.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Wonder where we'd be now if Sure Start was never disbanded in the first place... (vaccine uptake, child mental health, obesity, etc, etc) www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
theguardian.com
Healthy Babies programme to be expanded across England
Scheme will follow principles of Sure Start, helping families with infant feeding, mental health and bonding with babies
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Two basic rules that often get ignored. No point in regulation without enforcement. No point in renovation of public spaces without ongoing maintenance.
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Luke Raikes @lukeraikes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Great to hear the Business Secretary announce a consultation looking at bogus self-employment. This is a real priority. If they get it right, it will improve working conditions of some of the most vulnerable workers, while protecting businesses who play by the rules.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In my experience it's only some parts of Yorkshire where people go on endlessly about Yorkshire, largely in West Yorkshire.
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 28/09/2026
👏 Sadiq Khan: “We talk about productivity, we talk about growth, we talk about jobs, we talk about wealth. The single best way to get that is by joining the European Union.”
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
It is truly pathetic. They are beneath contempt.
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Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
This artwork was created over the past year by a local Birmingham artist collective who wanted to bring unty from discord by repurposing the divisive Nationalist flags into a massive Brummie Reunion Jack. Suffice it to say, the inspiration for Goldship's magnificent work has not taken it well.
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Gerry Hassan @gerryhassan.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Israel is NOT a European nation-state. Simple geography, history and facts. It should not be in #UEFA full stop and it should be suspended from UEFA & FIFA for its genocidal actions.
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Miaganga @miaganga.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Pope Innocent III,who died in 1216, spoke of a certain kind of older man, who is "easily provoked", "will believe anything and question nothing", is "stingy and greedy" and "praises the good old days and hates the present." Reform UK's voter base has been knocking around for a very long time.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I was with you until you mentioned dogs.
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Peter Smith @redpeter99.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Guinness Book of Records has just confirmed yesterday's White House State Dinner broke the existing World Record for the number of loathsome people in one room at the same time.
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The petition for an independent commission on electoral reform has just received an official response from Govt. It's pretty supportive. “The PM has been clear about his commitment to electoral reform & welcomes a national debate about how our democratic system can best serve voters across the UK."
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform to review the electoral system
I ask the Government to set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform, as advocated by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections. It should be an independent, time limited, expert led re...
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
No 10: "The government will [today] announce more than £90 million for low-carbon heat networks across England and Wales, supporting cleaner and more secure heating. The investment will fund new projects and upgrades to existing networks, improving efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels."
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
‘We’ll eradicate the state pension’ would be quite the proposal for Reform www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Thinktank linked to Reform UK calls for abolition of state pension
‘Radical’ report likely to influence party’s platform also proposes abolishing inheritance and capital gains taxes
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Richard Corbett CBE @richardcorbett.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Just 4 months after the local elections, Reform UK (RefUK) have lost 158 of their local councillors: -55 resigned -42 went Independent -28 defected -24 were kicked out -5 lost their seats -2 disqualified -2 suspended. Appalling record - and a waste of taxpayers’ money!
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Ren Zelen @renzelen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I still pay my license fee because I want to support the departments which produce Drama, arts, music, natural history, comedy, science & documentaries. The news & politics department has been hi-jacked by far right-wing agents & is dragging the whole corporation into disrepute.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
It's all about expectations. Tories were alarmed that they were in free fall. She has stabilised support at around 20% and they have won a few council by-elections. Relief all round. Reality might hit in later.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Always enjoy it when @ldfreedman.bsky.social quotes Russian military bloggers panicking.
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ilpenseroso.bsky.social @ilpenseroso.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Why are we knighting these people? How about this - the minute you leave to be a tax exile, you forfeit any honours.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
And, as many others have pointed out, sacked many long serving backroom staff at Manchester United to save what, for him, was a small sum.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Football mirrors society. A symptom of the growing north/ south divide. Brighton and Bournemouth established premiership clubs and Worthing beat Hartlepool which would have been 'giant killing' in a cup match thirty years ago.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Although the Lib Dems might find that the electoral system does them a favour and enables them to keep and perhaps increase their hold on former Tory remainer seats in the south.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
No, yes, no.
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Crazy bureaucracy. I was referred for a hearing test by my GP to the hospital hearing service. I go for the test but they can't do it because of impacted ear wax. I get it cleared & tell the service, expecting to be given a new test date. No, I have to start again & be re-referred by my GP. Barmy!
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Geoff Smith @geoffsmith57.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
If the BBC wants to air a programme about Spencer's allegation then I don't have to watch it. But I object to having the issue foisted on me as the main item on the news.
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