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Peter Holmes

@pholmes8.bsky.social
4.8K followers 2K following 633 posts

Semi-retired trade economist, Emeritus @ UKTPO Sussex. Posts about Brexit, Freeports, WTO and anything else that catches my fancy. Migrating across from other place. Tweeted as @pholmes8. Blogs with others at blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/blog

PostsRepliesMedia
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Andy Conway Morris @andymoz78.bsky.social · 8h
Big news from Labour Conference: the PM has announced the government's plan to scrap first past the post. Seats that match votes would change British politics for good, but only if it happens. I've added my name. Join me? action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/201578/...
action.electoral-reform.org.uk
The PM used his big speech to promise to fix Westminster's broken voting system.
We've heard promises before. I've signed to make sure this one is kept. It takes 30 seconds
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Parody Nigel Farage @parodypm.bsky.social · 10h
Andy Burnham is coming for your pension! By... er... increasing it by slightly less. Whereas Reform will scrap it completely.
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The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 10h
UK prime minister Andy Burnham rises to his big moment with emotional conference speech
irishtimes.com
UK prime minister Andy Burnham rises to his big moment with emotional conference speech
Labour Party leader opens the door to potential EU return for Britain
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M Meerkat @kackbro.bsky.social · 18h
THIS 👇 HERE IS SICKENING......
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NBER @nber.org · 10h
On the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations: What ignited humanity’s ascent from millennia of stagnation, and what are the roots of global inequality? From @GalorOded www.nber.org/papers/w35799
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 13h
Danny Tommo denied bail and remanded in custody as Tommy Robinson jets off on another luxury holiday searchlightmagazine.com/2026/09/the-...
Court image of danny crying
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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 15h
Jack Smith says he stands by his decision to bring charges against Trump in the classified documents case. "If asked whether to prosecute a former President based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of whether that President was a Republican or a Democrat."
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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 10h
Burnham made Farage seem “angry, thin-skinned… absurd. What we witnessed today was a masterclass in political communication which makes Farage look like an amateur” Finally. The confidence that comes with emotional intelligence. It could make all the difference. iandunt.substack.com/p/burnham-sp...
iandunt.substack.com
Burnham speech: An astonishing moment of radicalism and commitment
It’s easy to be cynical, but it would be false. Something extraordinary is happening here.
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Jess Piper Fan Page 💙 📚 @jesspiperfanpage.bsky.social · 10h
@atrupar.com
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Pasi Vaaranmaa @vaaranpa.um.fi · 11h
static.klipy.com
Blackadder Baldrick
ALT: Blackadder Baldrick
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Dr Stylite @columnist.bsky.social · 11h
Sorry to post from the other place but !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jamie Gangel @jamiegangel.bsky.social · 11h
From WSJ - The taxpayer money used to fund the ads that started airing last week came from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an arm of DHS that oversees the Border Patrol and customs and immigration at airports, the people said. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
wsj.com
Exclusive | Homeland Security Money Financed Pro-Trump Television Ads
White House calls the spots public-service ads, but critics argue using taxpayer money for campaign-like messaging may violate federal law.
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Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 11h
He has broken the wall of silence on Brexit. If he plays it right, combining opening a debate with offering a commitment to Electoral Reform post 2029, he can create an electoral coalition that will allow (re-)Join negotiations to take place and membership be locked in without a new referendum.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 12h
No ifs and no buts, no caveats or provisos. Things are happening here which we haven't ever really seen before. Burnham is saying the things that are considered unsayable and doing the things which are considered undoable.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 12h
Burnham speech: An astonishing moment of radicalism and commitment iandunt.substack.com/p/burnham-sp...
iandunt.substack.com
Burnham speech: An astonishing moment of radicalism and commitment
It’s easy to be cynical, but it would be false. Something extraordinary is happening here.
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The News Agents @thenewsagents.co.uk · 12h
"Andy Burnham showed willingness to go beyond what his focus groups told him, and do what he thinks is fundamental to reshape British society." The Prime Minister gave his first party conference speech as leader – and you know what? It went pretty well www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/did-...
thenewsagents.co.uk
Did Andy Burnham just deliver the best Labour speech in decades? | The News Agents
Andy Burnham gave his first Labour Party conference speech as leader, one full of pledges and private pain, and it seems like he landed every single punch.
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Bremain in Spain @bremaininspain.com · 13h
It’s now up to all pro-EU activists, voters & organisations to now pressure Labour into the full EU membership option While so-called “red lines” on will be maintained until the next election, Burnham’s spokesman refused to deny suggestions that Labour could campaign on a pledge to rejoin the UK.
cityam.com
Burnham opens door to rejoining EU as he rips into Brexit
Burnham has suggested he will put fresh options to the nation regarding its future relations with the European Union after Brexit.
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Chris Grey @chrisgrey.bsky.social · 13h
Important development in clearly stating Brexit was harmful & reset isn't a solution. But (unlike ER commission) no obvious process for how "we can find consensus". And on what? The options (again)? Or which to pursue? Still, definitely pitchrolling for something beyond 'make Brexit work'.
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John Springford @johnspringford.bsky.social · 13h
It doesn't have to be a year-long thing. A review, with some evidence/analysis and acknowledgement of failure. Much better than the secretive approach that you've rightly decried in the past.
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European Movement UK @europeanmovement.co.uk · 13h
Andy Burnham is right to say it plainly: Brexit has done more harm than good. We welcome his honesty. It’s time to be just as clear about the future we want with Europe.
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Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
🚨🚨Quite a scoop: A #US based data-extraction firm accused of being secretly run from #Russia has worked on #EU-backed projects and sold its services to European #lawenforcement agencies. www.politico.eu/article/russ...
politico.eu
Russian tech surveillance company infiltrated Europe’s law enforcement agencies
The same technology used by Western police was allegedly being developed in Russia and sold to Russian security services.
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 14h
🚨 BREAKING 🚨 Burnham: "I cannot say to you truthfully that where we are is good enough. Brexit has done more harm than good. We need to restore a higher level of growth and prosperity for Britain." Britain needs EU membership - only then will we have the growth that our country needs.
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Steve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
UK govt to reopen refugee resettlement www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Shabana Mahmood to reopen scheme to resettle refugees in the UK
Around 25% of arrivals under the UK Resettlement Scheme are expected to be Afghan women and girls and Palestinians.
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Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Great news, but sad that "ministers" have to be anonymous. Time to be open about the Canute strategy: sorry folks, our manifesto said we could hold back the tide, but it now seems we can't.
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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Good thing that this couldn’t have been predicted almost a year ago <runs bitter victory lap> and the government didn’t just blithely carry on doing the same thing. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/718...
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Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
💥 HUGE NEWS 💥 “Ministers say it is ‘not if but how’ the prime minister puts rejoin in the next election manifesto” Exclusive for The Independent.
independent.co.uk
Burnham edges Labour closer to rejoining EU
Exclusive: After Ed Miliband told the Labour conference in Liverpool that Britain’s future is at the heart of Europe, ministers say it is ‘not if but how’ the prime minister puts rejoin in the next el...
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#TuckFrump @realtuckfrumper.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Trump steals tax dollars to run his old campaign ad
twp.ai
www.dailykos.com
Trump steals tax dollars to run his old campaign ad
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Peter Holmes @pholmes8.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This is hugely important. But sadly so is fact that it will only cite unnamed "ministers". "Making Brexit work " hasn't worked. The full Canute strategy is needed: see, you can't hold back the tide.
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Josh Self @josh.politics.co.uk · 28/09/2026
NEW: Emily Thornberry warns Labour risk being seen as ‘nasty’ over immigration rules Speaking at a More in Common fringe event, Thornberry said it was “just not fair” to change the rules for people who came to the UK under existing ones www.politics.co.uk/2026/09/emil...
politics.co.uk
Emily Thornberry warns Labour risk being seen as ‘nasty’ over immigration rules - Politics.co.uk
Dame Emily Thornberry has warned that Labour must be careful about being seen as “nasty” over proposed changes to immigration settlement rules. Under plans the government is finalising following a con...
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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Ed Miliband, 'Every experience I've had in the two months that I've been Foreign Secretary tells me: our future lies in a deeper, stronger partnership with the EU." So much more refreshing and honest than Keir Starmer's disastrous make Brexit work nonsense.
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David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Since I'm not going to Liverpool this year to discuss, a short state of play on UK EU relations and the Labour Party. The very short version - they're terrified. And trying to find ways to avoid the question none of which will work.
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AdyBee 🐝 @adybee.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
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Jonathan Hopkin @jonathanhopkin.eurosky.social · 25/09/2026
All you need is five minutes on the OECD webpage to discover that Britain raises less tax than comparable European countries and that is almost certainly why everything is falling to pieces
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Rosemary Thomas @rozzthomas.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Don’t stop talking about #Oleshky
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Cheshire Dog Lady (thoroughly irritated since 2010). @cheshiredoglady.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
If there's still anyone using Twitter, please post this.
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Luke LeBrun @lukelebrun.ca · 26/09/2026
Tech companies suddenly decide they can, in fact, moderate content on their platforms after all
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Emma Monk @monkemma.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🧵 As front-page headlines go, this has to be one of the most misleading I've seen in a long time It's an out-and-out lie But notice the trick they use to get away with it...👀 *They're* not lying - they're just quoting someone else who is👍🏻 In this case, the leader of the opposition🙄 1/33
Daily Express headline:

"More Freedoms Handed to New Arrivals than British Citizens"

Above an image of Kemi Badenoch

All with a Monk Debunked stamp on top
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Dr Stylite @columnist.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Quite amusing to watch the growing Brexiteer panic that Burnham might actually do something materially positive with the EU…
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Dr Stylite @columnist.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
For the Conservative Party this is what political scientists call A Sh*t Sandwich — ie it’s very bad news whichever side you wish to consume…
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The British right has now descended to the point where 'the England team are not English' is becoming the consensus position
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Right, it is just completely bonkers.
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Ed Wilson @eddwilson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The Chagos deal has had US support twice, and lost it twice. "Today, the United States welcomed the historic agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory—specifically, the Chagos Archipelago." #R4Today 1/2
state.gov
U.S. Support for UK and Mauritius Agreement on Chagos Archipelago  - United States Department of State
Today, the United States welcomed the historic agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory—specifically, the Chagos Archipela...
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Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Lawyers told AFP that deportees were being thrown into a "legal black hole", held without charge in countries where they have no ties and few if any rights. Forbidden Stories said 49 of Africa's 54 countries had been approached about accepting third-country deportees.
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Neoliberals want to end the triple-lock on state pension They inflict low wages, consign millions to poverty. Govt spending on state pension as % of GDP in G7 countries. Italy 12.8 France 12 Germany 9.8 Japan 8.9 USA 6.6 Canada 4.7 UK 4.7 UK has one of the least generous pensions in the G7.
adviserservices.fidelity.co.uk
How does the UK State Pension measure up globally?
A global comparison of State Pension provision highlights the onus on individuals in the UK to build pension savings for their retirement, rather than leaving
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
It just never ends.
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Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I wrote a letter
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18/09/2026
alert the press: it is not normal for the president to be unable to stay conscious during televised events in the Oval Office
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
His dad definitely paid someone to take his SATs.
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Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The original reporting of what happened in Portsmouth was a joke. This is just a hate mob that has been whipped up who are now targeting the RNLI. Throw the book at them.
independent.co.uk
RNLI closes Portsmouth lifeboat station after huge anti-migrant protests
RNLI volunteers were branded ‘traitors’ after bringing migrants ashore
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