iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The more fractured the political landscape and the more extreme the potential coalition partners, the more I feel that bloc hygiene is a consideration.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I wonder where the line is for Ramsey and Chowns?

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I have never once heard tuition fees or prescription charges being described as a "Postcode Lottery" despite it being exactly that, and a result of devolution Scotland and Wales. If regional devolution doesn't come with the same fiscal and policy freedom then what is the point?

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

It has come to the point where the only reliable sources of information on local government are the Local Government Chronicle and Private Eye. This doesn't seem like the landscape that we want for devolution.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

The couple of LDRs I know are fantastic, but there is an issue of being wildly overstretched. They also need the infrastructure around them from independent outfits to truly work. My frustration during the local elections that the conversation was always national was immeasurable.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Not to join the "Nandy Bashing Train", but democratic scrutiny from the local journalistic body is as important and the BBC should be empowered to engage with this. We know far more about Khan's local issues because of strong journalistic institutions. How do we replicate this elsewhere?

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Anyone who speaks of a strong desire for devolution shouldn't complain about "Postcode Lotteries". Devolution, by definition, generates postcode lotteries. People elect politicians based on different priorities and desires, so it isn't surprising that different areas have different outcomes

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Burnham's biggest red flag on what he considers devolution was the £2 bus cap announcement when he became PM. This should be devolved so why is he making a central proclamation about it? Give local authorities the money to do it, but let them decide if that is what they spend it on!

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

My strongest belief is that if you are going to devolve decision making you should also be fine with the concept of devolving the ability to elect idiots who make stupid decisions. Devolution that doesn't allow idiocy is not devolution.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Why does "Synthetic AI Focus Group" feel like something that would get you a bollocking from Malcolm Tucker?

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Nothing has summed Kemi up better than Dead Ringers portraying her as a "Low Energy Weirdo"

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

He was useful for the stability, detoxification and connections needed post coalition/Brexit, but it was clear that he wasn't built for the modern political world. I feel that he is similar to Starmer, perfect for turning a party around, but not to lead one once there.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I was fully expecting that this would be his last Autumn conference as leader. As you said, he has the plausible excuse of his caring responsibilities and has given the new intake enough time to find their feet and build a profile. It also gives 3 years for them to make their own mark.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

"Its amazing what 72 MPs and a cooperative approach to politics can do. A lot of these things have been promised by Labour parties of yesteryear and never been realised so whilst we will work with him, we won't shy away from holding his feet to the fire on detail or timeline"

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

"Manchesterism" is just capitalism with Oasis characteristics.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Given that he cut his teeth in Newcastle and Wakefield, his opinion of the Labour party doesn't really suggest that he is open to defection...

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Reposted by R

Tom Gordon MP @tomgordonld.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I listened to Ed Davey on the Today programme this morning, and frankly, I think he missed the point. The idea that we're keeping the triple lock to help millennials is at best for the birds, and at worst downright insulting. I say that as a millennial.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Lets take a look at the bond markets... Yikes

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Sorry, but I genuinely don't believe that this is a real person

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Had someone describe Burnham's speech as "More Lib Dem than the one Ed Davey gave". Probably not a good sign for the Lib Dems then.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Even on the policy, he isn't bad. As I understand it, it is his dislike of being disliked, having to say no or being hit by something outside of his control.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Please say that you are doing this for a joke...

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Increasing it by the average of inflation and earnings feels like the happy medium. Means that there is no decline in living standards when linked to inflation, nor an issue when earnings lag behind inflation. Pensioners don't have the ability to upskill or move jobs to try and grow income

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The irritation seemingly stems from the fact that the answer is so clearly that Burnham doesn't like/want it but it hasn't been formally announced so she has to look like a fool spouting a word salad to get around it. She is the transport secretary, she should be better than this.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Putting stuff like this in a manifesto is so likely to be suicide that I am pretty sure that it won't happen. Do it now whilst you have the majority on it. The solid facts of implementation are far less electorally damaging than the scaremongering over hypotheticals.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

So Burnham has stated that both social care reform and triple lock reform will feature in the next manifesto. Has he not learnt from Theresa May circa 2017, or does he think that he has the skills to style it out?

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

When you say "good ones" you are clearly not talking about her interview skills. If you are talking about her as a politician, her perceived quality should not act as a defense of a weasely and irritating deflection of a question that is quite important.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Starmer's personal and policy gaffs in the run up to the GE were easy targets and Burnham has done little to encourage the desire for free hits, bar maybe the London bashing.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

There will still be a "free hit" factor, but it reads as if the Greens haven't quite keyed in an attack on Burnham so are fighting the previous battle, consciously or not.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

On the second point, I have no idea why. It just feels like a "nudge nudge" line. I know Jewish families that have had three generations in the same rural town. Its the inclusion of the fact that he is Jewish when it doesn't really add anything.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

1) Admitting that Labour will still have a huge majority whilst stating that voting Green will influence them feels a tad "inside baseball" on party positioning for the average. 2) The phrasing of "being Jewish" and "moved around" making it seem like a causal link makes my eyes narrow slightly.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Like, this is just a toss-up as to which one of these incredibly generic men has this incredibly generic name!

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

"Generic White Man" is the most common cause of failure in this.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

He will play the martyr card for fundraising regardless of whether he is arrested. So the simple answer is to just arrest him.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I am sure this is the headline that the London commuter belt Lib Dems wanted to see in the FT this morning. Fantastic work by their HQ. No notes.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

@luketryl.bsky.social, a very intelligent and well spoken Lib Dem member asked at one of your fringe events about whether the Lib Dem policy platform is gimmicky and incoherent. Would be interesting to see numbers and focus groups on whether people connect "Lib Dem" and "Tax Cutting"

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The leader of the Lib Dems is a second order contributor to their success, in my opinion. An enthused and engaged membership who can push through a strong campaign can make all the difference in those marginals, or in getting us those crucial council seats that will lay the foundations.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It's mornings like this where I deeply wish for privs on here. I need to scream into the void.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

It is mightily depressing when there is no desire to be sensible because your competitors will be more eyecatching when mad. Then, when in government, have no need to adhere as the news and landscape changes so frequently that nobody remembers what you actually said.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

There is a need to break down the voter's natural scepticism about politics and politicians. Anything can be written on a leaflet so, to a natural sceptic, it will be largely disregarded. Once even a small bit of trust gained by a conversation can make a leaflet message far more effective.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The Greens have certainly picked up the Lib Dems tactic of heavy leafletting. The issue being that there is increasing anecdotal evidence that leaflets only really work if the voter is primed with an interaction with an actual person from a party.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

What the hell is this logo‽

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

"2031 however, that is when we should really start worrying."

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Reposted by R

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The usual moral “I’ll support anything as long as the rosette is red” voids in the replies to this. The reality is that Sunak did take real political damage in sacking Braverman and taking the whip from Anderson. Starmer and Burnham both useless on this.

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Gravekeeper Failure 🪦 @ptrtlrwrts.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I think at this point I need convincing to remain a Lib Dem member because the number of reasons to do so are dwindling. I want to be in a party where there is a long-term aspiration to be the senior members of a left bloc UK government with double liberalism at its core.

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I can see their motive, grind out those few extra Tory voters in Dorset, Wiltshire and Surrey. Though, they need to ask themselves, if they didn't vote Lib Dem in the GE or subsequent LEs then will this policy actually change that?

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

If I am an educated, climate conscious 18-40 year old in the London commuter belt this announcement would put me off if seen in isolation or would make the party seem less trustworthy if I knew other policies and positions. How can anyone think that this is a good idea?

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R @liburghal.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Then you get onto the logistics of it, who is actually going to check that places actually pass it on? How many places would reduce it by 5p, say that prices have risen again and pocket the profit? It's just Grade A stupidity all round. Politically, environmentally and economically thick.

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