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petermnorman.bsky.social
133 posts 22 followers 7 following
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While we should celebrate the recent checks on Trump’s abuse of power, we shouldn’t ignore the problem he’s seeking to address, faced by both the US and UK, which is the hollowing out of our economies and destruction of our manufacturing bases leaving us vulnerable to potentially hostile regimes

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Saw this brilliant opening night of Quadrophenia where the set was a key performer alongside the excellent dancing. You don’t have to be a Who fan to enjoy this fabulous show. Well done to all at TRP for bringing this to Plymouth @trplymouth.bsky.social

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

The US constitution is based on the principle of Balance of Powers. At times this can make its politics appear moribund, unable to make real change. But in the case of Trump’s tariffs, he clearly breached the limits of his powers threatening the underlying principle. www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

At what point does the response to Hamas heinous crimes become disproportionate? Many, myself included, would argue it applies to the entire Israelis campaign in treating civilians deaths as a necessary consequence, but our govt has only just woken up to this fact www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

Darwalls’ claim to only ever interested in protecting the moors fauna and flora is slightly undermined by the pheasant shoots they hold on their land: one of the biggest destroyers of biodiversity. I hope they are picking up the costs of this needless action www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

Our tax system has got totally out of hand and is open to abuse by the wealthiest providing a charter for tax accountants and lawyers to get rich. Our tax code runs to over 22,000 pages compared to 350 in Hong Kong. The case for simplification is long overdue Courtesy of Sam Freedman, FT

submitted 34 days ago • 0 comments

Further evidence, if it was needed, that Trump is tearing the American constitution into shreds. To justify tariffs on non US made movies on national security grounds is a clear breach on the use of Executive powers and yet no-one is willing to hold him to account www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 34 days ago • 0 comments

In the coverage of Reforms breakthrough in the local elections in England one thing should be borne in mind: in most of the elections over 2/3rds of the electorate did not bother to vote. This is a feature of local elections and the disengagement of their constituents

submitted 34 days ago • 0 comments

What’s wrong with American democracy? Why isn’t this sort of activity by a sitting president outlawed? What’s happened to their much vaunted constitution of checks and balances holding the executive to account? Trump crypto soars as president offers dinner to top holders www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 45 days ago • 0 comments

I wonder why Trump is finding it harder to deal with Ukraine than Russia? Could it be because in his negotiations he has conceded to all of Putin’s demands but given Zelensky nothing but grief? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

submitted 45 days ago • 0 comments

If the UK Govt introduced a sales tax in lieu of business rates then it would alleviate this particular problem and put the high street on a level playing field with online retailers Shein and Temu tax-free parcels rule under review www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 45 days ago • 1 comment

Maybe I’m just a killjoy but one has to ask exactly what is the point in this, does a few rich kids thrills really justify the environmental damage in a flight that has no scientific purpose? www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...

submitted 55 days ago • 0 comments

I have seen some silly analysis on the impacts of Trump tariffs but this takes the biscuit. The cost of iPhones may go up in the States but why would that impact the UK if Apple manufacture them in China? The Standard’s quality of journalism isn’t up to its title stocks.apple.com/Ad1tfAjIMTz2...

submitted 65 days ago • 0 comments

In all the hullabaloo created by Trump’s tariffs, and the inevitable economic fallout that will result, we should acknowledge that the US shares with the UK a significant problem: that our economies have been hollowed out by multinationals choosing to offshore their activities where they can.

submitted 66 days ago • 1 comment

Our best response to Trump’s tariffs is to work with nations that still support Free Trade. That means forget Brexit, enter a Common Market with the EU and work with Commonwealth countries. Starmer is right to avoid retaliatory tariffs, instead we should look to boycott US goods where possible

submitted 68 days ago • 0 comments

It always amazed me the irony that it was success in the EU Elections that gave Farage and UKIP airtime that they were unable to replicate in the domestic elections. Maybe they also used funding from the EU to fund their party a la Le Pen?

submitted 69 days ago • 0 comments

The one thing you can say for Musk is that he is revealing just how corrupt the whole of the US electoral system is Musk gives away $1m cheques ahead of Wisconsin's Supreme Court election www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 69 days ago • 1 comment

Imagine the impact of Trump’s tariffs if we were inside the EU, a market of 500m guaranteeing free trade. Could you imagine anyone thinking it would be a good idea to leave with Putin and Trump seeking to carve up the world order? Maybe the Rejoin movement has more impetus than I thought possible

submitted 69 days ago • 1 comment

Macquarie Bank is responsible for the parlous state of Thames Water having ladened it with debt. There needs to be a mechanism for holding private equity to account maybe they remain liable for up to five years post a sale. A precedent is Director’s bonuses www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 69 days ago • 0 comments

Add to this a complete overhaul of the MoD, get rid of white elephant vanity projects (anyone know the date of the last successful test of our “independent” nuclear deterrence?) and our aircraft carriers that we can’t afford to lose. Spend instead on low cost armaments proven so effective in Ukraine

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

What’s missing from this Labour Govt is a radical plan to reform our tax and welfare system. Bring in a basic state income then tax the first £ of any other income. Treat all income the same in terms of tax bands. Abolish business rates and replace with sales tax to create even playing field

submitted 72 days ago • 1 comment

There is an inherent contradiction in Trump’s policies against his stated objectives: on one hand he wants to stop illegal migration across the Mexican border, but on the other he wants to repatriate jobs through tariffs against Mexican imports. Result? less incentive for Mexicans to stay put.

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

Just as we were gloating over the sheer ineptitude of the Trump administration’s handling of national security this blows down our UK streets. It simply shouldn’t happen 'Sensitive' army papers found scattered in street www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

There is a justification for tariffs to protect a nascent critically important industry or to protect industries from unfair competition, but Trump’s arguments show an economic illiteracy that would see the abandonment of all trade as taking wealth away from America www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

submitted 73 days ago • 1 comment