mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 29/09/2026The Orange Book is often misquoted on BlueSky as an economic Liberal trope. Actually, its authors included several Social Liberal writers. It did not present a single view, nor indeed a single philosophy. Those using it to trash LibDems ought perhaps to read it, not rely on the views of others. 013
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 13/09/2026This issue, along with abortion, capital punishment, divorce and many others is one where MPs and Peers vote as their conscience dictates, not as per a party whip. Surely you accept that people can have differing views on issues of conscience, even if they don’t agree with you? 101
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Slightly misquoting. There shall be more rejoicing over one sinner that repenteth than over nine and ninety just people. 110
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 03/09/2026I see the LibDems have held a seat in Stroud. Their vote went down to just 64%! 010
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 16/08/2026I am disgusted by the comments about Prof Arday by people who should know better than to speak in ignorance. Prof Simon Baron-Cohen spoke on TV about how he went with Arday to Liverpool John Moores University for a review of the alleged plagiarism. The PHD was upheld. So no plagiarism 020
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 03/08/2026Prostate artery embolisation is a procedure for benign swelling of the prostate by inserting very small plastic pellets into the prostrate artery to reduce blood flow. I think it should be widely available as it is done with local anaesthetic and has minimal side effects. It certainly worked for me 010
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 31/07/2026I doubt he ever was. He made a couple of PPBs for the Liberals on PR, but that was a long time ago. We wouldn’t want him now 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 26/07/2026Of course it wouldn’t be a problem if we hadn’t left the EU or if we were in the customs union. It isn’t a problem if you have an EU passport. Find a suitable ancestor and get one if you can 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 25/07/2026A pity you haven’t read the Orange book, because if you had you would know it contains contributions from a wide section of Liberal Democrat opinion and not just its economic liberal right wing. But don’t let the facts spoil a good rant 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 14/07/2026No. They sometimes vote against the government, not with the Tories. There is only for and against in Parliament. They can’t choose who will be in the same lobby. 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 12/07/2026Maybe because there isn’t one! Go Count Binface 110
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 22/06/2026The LibDems and the Greens fielded candidates and campaigned, if not very hard. Their voters decided to vote tactically to stop Reform. That is the only way possible with FPTP. Bring on PR 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 22/04/2026LibDems on the county council have increased the roads budget. They cannot spend more without cutting education and/or social care spending. Is that what the Greens want? Voting Green will achieve nothing to improve roads because neither Cambridge nor S Cams are responsible for maintaining roads 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 16/02/2026Many, even most, MPs don’t have their main home in their constituency or at least not when they’re selected to stand. If elected most will live mainly in London and most will have a place in the constituency as well. That’s the reality of being an MP. 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 13/02/2026Both the people in the picture are deceased and no LibDem current MPs were in parliament with either of them. 021
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 28/01/2026The Greek government will post a 2025 €10 billion budget surplus. A few years ago Greece was seen as an economic basket case. Greece will gain Developed Market status too. A more efficient public sector, tackling tax evasion and tighter control of spending all contribute. Eat your heart out Rachel! 021
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 24/01/2026No. Standing down denies choice. Voters can decide for themselves. In 2024, parties that knew they had little chance of winning informally advised voters to vote tactically. 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 22/01/2026There has been much praise for Mark Carney, but Canadians have also stopped buying USA goods and stores have taken them off their shelves. Is it not time to start similar moves in the UK? Direct action by people and businesses can start to reduce our over dependence on the US as a trading partner 041
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 18/01/2026The difference between the Tories and the LibDems is 46 seats, so 47 defections to Reform would be needed to put the Tories below the LibDems. If there were 24 Tory defections to the LibDems then that would achieve the same thing, but that seems unlikely. 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 17/01/2026That would require 47 Tories to defect to reform, unless some Tory MPs also defected to the LibDems, when it would be less 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 15/01/2026I thought this Christmas card from Ed Davey was both must and apt 022
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 03/01/2026There are only for and against lobbies. If you are against a bill or amendment you vote in the noe lobby. That doesn’t mean you are voting with another party, who may be voting for completely different reasons. 010
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 29/12/2025Someone you disagree with should lose UK citizenship and be deported. Some whose views I detest gets a seat in the House of Lords. Bit of a disconnect in my view 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 27/12/2025In 3 local election contests this year the Greens helped reform to gain LibDem seats by pretending they could win. In all 3 cases the Green vote was bigger than the Reform majority and they were nowhere near winning. 120
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 26/12/2025Actually, targeted tactical voting can see reform off in most places. This means agreeing which party has the best chance of doing so and giving voters the option of beating reform. Not campaigning as if you can win, when you can’t. Also not stopping voter choice via pacts or standing down 110
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 25/12/2025The orange book contained contributions from all across the party and so the term ‘orange booker’ is meaningless if you use it to refer to a particular ideology. Only 1 of the contributors is in any position of note in the LibDems and Ed Davey is not an orange booker as you mean it. Move on 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 25/12/2025In parliament you can vote aye and nay , when for or against a motion. You can choose where you vote, not who else does the same. Voting against the government is just that, not voting with anyone else. In the last parliament voting against the (Tory) government was not voting with Labour either.motion.you 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 24/12/2025LibDems believe that the state has to regulate the free market to ensure it operates fairly. They oppose monopoly. They believe the state has a major role in providing public services. They want the state to play a much bigger role in reducing inequality. Hardly middle of the road 010
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 24/12/2025Wrong. There is a continuous Liberal history going back to the 1850s, when the Liberal Party was formed by the coming together of the whigs and the Peelites. The LibDems were created by the coming together of the Liberal Party and the SDP. 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 23/12/2025No chance of LD/Con. The party wouldn’t stand for it. No chance of LD in any coalition without STV 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 14/12/2025Er, tactical voting won’t work as Wales has abandoned FPTP for a proportional voting system. Seats will be won according to actual votes not by a distorted system that’s lets seats be won with as little as 20% of the vote 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 14/12/2025EVRI suddenly have problems? They have always been crap. They tell porkie pies all the time. I am still waiting for my granddaughter’s Christmas present from last year! Customer service, don’t make me laugh 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 12/12/2025The sort of men who want to harm women wouldn’t be seen dead dressed as a woman. 020
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 11/12/2025Goodness me. At least she has changed her mind and thinks differently now. That’s so rare in politics. Give the woman a break 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 26/11/2025Council tax confusion. Council tax bands F-H are to be revalued to decide which properties are worth over £2 million and thus liable for the mansion tax. Is this new banding to be used to assess council tax as well? This would mean a huge increase in council tax for bands F-H. 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 10/11/2025Labour have been privatising the NHS for years. See NHS plc by Prof. Allyson Pollock and Michael Mandelstam Betraying the NHS for details 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 05/11/2025LibDems favour maximum devolution not just to Scotland but all over the UK. I am personally against referenda on principle, but if parliament decides to have another then we shall have to fight against independence again. If Scotland were to vote to leave the UK we would accept democracy. 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 05/11/2025Actually, we were offered much advice by Labour, the party which introduced student fees and top up fees having promised not to and who have just increased them again. I accept that we were wrong in 2010 on this issue, but why is our mistake more egregious than Labour’s? 100
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 05/11/2025I have never said the issue shouldn’t be revisited. I personally think referenda are the tools of populists and dictators, but I accept that in this case a binding referendum would be needed. Oh, and by the way, I want the whole of the UK to join the EU, not just Scotland. 000
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 05/11/2025Actually no. Even Adam Smith didn’t have faith in an unfettered free market. LibDems believe in a regulated free market where as Smith put it ‘the government holds the ring’. Neo liberals want no controls at all. That’s way different. 110
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 01/11/2025When the government didn't turn up to oppose Farage's bill to leave the ECHR, the LibDems led the charge to stop the bill. See Ed Davey's powerful speech against the bill links.liberal.democrat/s/c/cM9W59ad...links.liberal.democratEd Davey SLAMS Farage's plans to leave the ECHREnjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. 11110
mickft.bsky.social @mickft.bsky.social · 28/10/2025Elections for posts in the LibDems start today. My vote for President goes to Prue Bray and for Vice President Kamran Hussain. The other candidates are fine people but as new MPs they should be devoting their time to their voters not adding another full time job to their already heavy workload 000