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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶

@phillipwatson.bsky.social
9.4K followers 9.1K following 5.6K posts

Left Twitter was phillwatson1970. Charlton fan. Star Trek fan. Brexit exile living in Switzerland. Believer in Occam’s razor, rationalism and Vimes’ Boot Theory

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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
@editormattkelly.bsky.social I usually find myself agreeing with a lot of what you say about Britain and Europe, but I really struggled with your argument that freedom of movement has been shown to be fundamentally problematic and that the EU will eventually have to rethink it. 🧵
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
@davidallengreen.bsky.social At what point does the English legal system have to reach for the aspirin when Trump & Rubio start publicly announcing motive, intent and foreign involvement in a case where nobody has even been charged yet? What can the courts realistically do to remedy this?
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Emma Gledhill @linguistforsail.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Switzerland top European nation and 3rd worldwide at this global competition of vocational talent (not sure of the English title). But as the article says, success began much earlier with apprenticeships. One for you @phillipwatson.bsky.social 😉 www.20min.ch/story/erfolg...
20min.ch
WorldSkills 2026: Schweiz holt 12 Medaillen und ist beste europäische Nation
Viermal Gold, zweimal Silber und sechsmal Bronze: Die Schweizer Nachwuchsfachkräfte überzeugen in Shanghai und werden beste europäische Nation.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Morning @mrjamesob.bsky.social So Farage is actually admitting that Reform pedals disinformation then?
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Reposted by Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶
Angry @angrystaffer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Hurting the president’s feelings isn’t a national security threat Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I’m curious @skynewsrss.bsky.social where exactly is this mythical ‘more coverage than usual’ for the Lib Dem’s over the weekend?
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Reposted by Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶
tonys2009.bsky.social @tonys2009.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
It started this morning. (Sat 19th). We've already had a number of really excellent speeches from Daisy Cooper & Al Pinkerton. Whilst the BBC refuse to broadcast it, it's available via YouTube, either live, or as recorded sections (morning / afternoon). I can highly recommend.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Dear Strange New Worlds writers for episode 9 you could have at least called it Discworld for the computer records
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Art Fantasy: World on a Turtle's Back
ALT: Art Fantasy: World on a Turtle's Back
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
@steverichards.bsky.social often makes the point that a successful PM has to explain not just WHAT their government is doing, but WHY. That’s what I think much of the analysis of Sky’s leaked 50-page Starmer document is missing.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
@columbopodcast.bsky.social Hi Gerry/Iain catching up with CCCP so not sure if you still want suggestions? Mine are Diagnosis Murder. Quincy. Hill Street Blues. Perry Mason. Equaliser. Cagney and Lacey. Kojak. Cannon. Morse. Some U.K. shows? Dempsey and Makepeace. Gentle Touch. Taggart.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eat_the...
en.wikipedia.org
Eat the Rich (film) - Wikipedia
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
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There Are Four Lights Picard
ALT: There Are Four Lights Picard
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Morning @mrjamesob.bsky.social Jenrick says Lab has a problem with democratic processes because it postponed local elections during local government reorganisation Also Jenrick postponed local elections in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset in 2021 because of…local government reorganisation 😂
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
@mrjamesob.bsky.social
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
One here for @iandunt.bsky.social 😂
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Space Above and Beyond
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Make a band edible The Bagels
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The Bangles Susanna Hoffs
ALT: The Bangles Susanna Hoffs
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Morning @mrjamesob.bsky.social Judging by the apoplectic response of the UK tabloids this morning, you’d think a tourist tax meant families sacrificing their firstborn at hotel reception.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
🧵 I really want @lucympowell.bsky.social vocational education reforms to succeed. There is much to like in what she is saying. But I wonder whether we are still approaching vocational education from the wrong end. The distinction is between qualifications and occupations.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
🧵 I’m troubled by the suggestion that the new sanctions on Israeli settlements are themselves antisemitic — and by some of the outrage language used to justify them. Antisemitism is real, dangerous and must be confronted. But criticism of a government is not automatically prejudice against a people
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
My concern about Israel’s anger at accusations of ethnic cleansing is the contradiction: senior ministers in the Israeli government openly advocate the removal of Palestinians and the annexation of occupied territory. That contradiction deserves serious scrutiny which is not happening right now
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
@mrjamesob.bsky.social @sturdyalex.bsky.social Morning I hear Suella Braverman will be condemning Suella Braverman for record number of immigrants when Suella Braverman was Home Sec. ‘She literally has no excuse’ said Braverman ‘and I will be asking myself some difficult questions later today’
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
I’m obviously expecting angry headlines from Mail and Express on how these actions are clearly putting innocent people lives at risk @mrjamesob.bsky.social
static.klipy.com
Anakin & Padme: Attack of the Clones Meme
ALT: Anakin & Padme: Attack of the Clones Meme
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Afternoon BlueSky after Robert Jenrick said this morning: “If you weren’t born in this country and you stand for Parliament, it’s a legitimate question to ask: Where are your loyalties?” Really? Let’s apply that principle consistently. 🧵
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
I see Farage’s boycott of the BBC is still holding firm @mrjamesob.bsky.social
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Following Jenrick’s interview this morning and car crash is being kind
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Morning @mrjamesob.bsky.social Andrew Griffiths saying the Truss’ minin-budget ‘No, look, it wasn't all bad’ will now be on continuous loop on all Party Political Broadcasts As will I suspect Jenrick saying he would send a Ukrainian family back to a war zone
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
I’m looking forward to similar Daily Mail and other Right Wing media headlines in response to the latest protests today in Dover @mrjamesob.bsky.social www.dailymail.com/news/article...
dailymail.com
Just Stop Oil zealots block ambulance as they stage road stunts
In video obtained by MailOnline, eco-fanatics were walking slowly along Oxford street at the front of a long snake of barely-moving traffic when the ambulance became stuck behind them.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Dear Zia Yusef One of our finest Olympians and proudest Brit was Sir Mo Farah was born in Somalia Would you strip Sir Mo’s Gold medals?
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Farage -‘I’ve decide to fire these people because they’ve done nothing wrong’ @mrjamesob.bsky.social
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Another great substack from @iandunt.bsky.social but the biggest problem for Reform and Tories on cutting Welfare is there is only so much you can trim off spending before addressing Pensions which take up the majority of spending iandunt.substack.com/p/three-spec...
iandunt.substack.com
Three specific and highly regrettable instances of Kemi Badenoch being dumb as fuck
In just a few days, the Tory leader managed to demonstrate her inadequacy in an impressive variety of ways.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
@mrjamesob.bsky.social What I find interesting is that there is nothing on Sky News and BBC are running a headline that Reform are to cut £80bn in spending which is essentially a fluff piece. As a thought experiment we can imagine the headlines if it was Labour www.channel4.com/news/exclusi...
channel4.com
Exclusive: Nigel Farage filmed undercover celebrating secret new foreign donations
Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
@iandunt.bsky.social Reading this I was reminded of a Star Trek invention of Synthahol which has none of the harmful affects of alcohol but has a similar pleasurable effects as alcohol and if such a thing was invented we would get the same moral panic as vapes iandunt.substack.com/p/lost-in-th...
iandunt.substack.com
Lost in the cloud: How vaping was undermined by a moral panic
New data shows that vaping is by far the most effective way to stop people smoking. It’s about time we acclimatise ourselves to the evidence.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Canada should now officially rename Lake Michigan to Lake Canada
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Morning BlueSky a Swiss person this morning was complaining that a CHF 33 (£31) for a 70-minute direct, walk-up train ticket as “expensive” As a comparison London to Birmingham after 09:30: £50.50. If they went on British trains they would know what expensive is 😂
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
@andyburnham.bsky.social We need strong technical pathways alongside the academic route, & Sainsbury’s offering 10,000 work experience and skills opportunities is welcome. But your call for other employers to “step forward” made me wonder: Are we still thinking about vocational education backwards?
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
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Nothings Monstered @nothingsmonstrd.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Karen Attiah winning her suit against the Washington Post is 100% a victory for free speech. I could also make a case that this is a victory for free markets, too. I'm sure Jeff Bezos is overjoyed.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
As I listen to Reform this morning it makes me happier that I finally got my C permit.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
We know the something has changed fundamentally @mrjamesob.bsky.social when a Tory MP uses the overtly racist term ‘Yookay’ and it barely flickers a response by the media
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Morning BlueSky I have just found out we got our C permits but we found out in a very Swiss way I didn’t hear from the Migration Office first but from the Tax Office saying we’ve been moved to ordinary tax assessment because we have been granted permanent residency 😂
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Waving Switzerland Flag with 'I Love Switzerland'
ALT: Waving Switzerland Flag with 'I Love Switzerland'
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
It’s become normalised because the government has been too scared to call it out for fear of upsetting the bigots.
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I'd say "Something for nothing" culture is getting paid £100,000 a year of public money, plus expenses, for a job that you then fail to turn up to for months on end
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
You can actually see if the small boats numbers are falling without even looking at the numbers these days @mrjamesob.bsky.social We just have to gauge where ‘we must look after our own’ vs ‘something for nothing Britain’ seesaw is from the Right Wingers
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Morning @sundersays.bsky.social Is it me or this a definition of a bad poll question? Language is a problem and is a binary choice with no actual alternatives have offered. Also what does stand up more forcefully to France actually mean?
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Morning @mrjamesob.bsky.social I think the reason why so many people on benefits who vote Reform support their policies is that they think that these changes will never apply to them.
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The problem with commentators reacting to the Jason Arday tragedy by sternly pointing out "people need to reflect on their own role in this" is that the people who really do need to reflect on their own role in this, never reflect on anything.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
@jdportes.bsky.social — I fear Reform’s welfare proposals have sent me back down the Dutch rabbit hole. 😂 Yesterday you wondered whether they would survive exposure to reality. Looking at the proposals I agree with you they don’t.
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Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Oh dear @jdportes.bsky.social after an interesting policy issue yesterday on welfare today Reform has just gone back to bashing foreigners.
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