Stephen Knowles

@stephenknowles

#FBPE Retired from an engineering role in military aviation. Was active in military airworthiness regulation across many nations including EU MS. Live in the NW of England. NO DMs, instamute

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Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· 17d

Of course Matt Bracken is based in the US, I wonder if he gets his news from Elon?

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· 17d

Here too, Pigeons don't like it...

4 pigeons sitting on a fence in the rain

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· 28d

Starmer's final remarks:

SKS final remarks "This will be my last answer from this despatch box.

Every prime minister knows when they take up the torch that the day will come when they have to pass it on. That day has come for me.

This is the end of my political journey.

In six years, we went from historic defeat in 2019 to historic victory in 2024, and in two years in government I leave the country in better shape than I found it.

I’m proud of everything that we have achieved.

Can I just take time to say to you, Mr Speaker, and all those who work for the house and in our constituency offices, thank you for all your hard work.

To our civil service, thank you also for all your hard work.

To my political team, many of them here today, who came on this journey with me, thank you so much for everything you have done, and being prepared to walk through fire for me.

To my colleagues on these benches, I am proud of all we have achieved together and proud of each and every one of you.

To my successor, and each of you, I will give my full support.

To all colleagues across the house, can I wish you good health and happiness.

To all those in the gallery, whose lives have been changed or improved by this Labour government, and all across the country who struggle to be seen or heard, you’re the reason I came into politics.

To my wife and children, I love you.

Goodbye."

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Jul 11

Its a conspiracy!

Fake Allister Heath headline about Count Binface

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Jun 24

According to the Graun it continued afterwards:

MPs say Bridget Phillipson and Liz Kendall confronted Kemi Badenoch about her language at PMQs today where she called Phillipson “spiteful” which Kendall said was outrageous. Badenoch reported to have said “I’m never going to stop talking about how spiteful you are”
Phillipson then hit back at Badenoch: “The public are going to find out who you really are.”

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Jun 23

The morning after, happy little souls

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Jun 14

From the Guardian a week ago:

Guardian clip of racial disparities in the UK criminal justice system

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Jun 10

PMQs

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· May 21

The actual text of the blog post att. below for info. Perhaps our ever vigilant media will challenge the suppliers on their policies or probably not

Starmer blog on a VAT reduction across a range of products

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· May 20

See also Chris Bryant statement.

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· May 15

RefUK's performance bigged up without regard to the fact that their vote share reduced and their actual no of seats is a fraction of other parties.

UK total council seats by party, May 2026

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Apr 26

The WHCA incident was nowhere near tRump

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Mar 12

this came through my door yesterday...

extract from Conform local election leaflet on cutting Council spending

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Jan 21

From the Plan:

plans to update Buildings Standards by Q1 2026

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Jan 18

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Jan 15

Looked into this because of the timescales. NPR is built on a phased approach:

diagram of phased approach to NPR from the Treasury

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Nov 28

FFS

Home Office officials state: “While it is acknowledged the effects of the natural disaster have significantly affected you and the wider population of Jamaica, I am also aware that you continue to reside with family members. Stating that your grandmother is unable to provide care, evidence of this has not been demonstrated. It has therefore not been demonstrated that you could not be cared for by relatives in the country you currently reside.”

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Nov 17

screenshot if you, understandably, don't want to go there:

Shaban Mahmood post on twitter about immigration changes

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Nov 17

From the Evening Standard:

Alex Norris MP statement about seizing jewelry at the border, not

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Nov 7

Something smells and its not clear where it comes from. The text includes a section on a MoU versus an appendix to the TAC. I'm not an expert but MoUs are not regarded that lightly. The UK's largest military support deal (by value) is underpinned by a MoU.

FT article excerpt re: MoU or appendix to the TAC as an appropriate means of agreement

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Oct 27

From Google AI:

Labour manifesto, progress on social housing

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Oct 24

Oops

Guardian: "Rishi Sunak only politician to see witness statement in China spy case"

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Oct 23

Turnout over the same timescale (courtesy of UK Political data):

UK election turnout data from 1945 to 2024

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Oct 19

This is a screenshot of the detailed section. In Norway it raises 0.4% of GDP as tax, equivalent to £10B in the UK, not £32B.

Dan Neidle's detailed paragraph describing the Norwegian wealth tax approach

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Sep 7

This was the reply I got after I complained about platforming Flagrage. What they fail to take into account is how much of the poll lead is down to platforming in the first place.

long text of standard response email from the BBC to a complaint of them platforming Fagash.

Traditional voting patterns across Britain have been shifting, providing a challenge to established political parties, especially Labour and the Conservatives. At the 2017 general election, those two parties combined won more than 80% of the vote – at last year’s general election, that figure was well below 60%. Current opinion polls put their combined support at nearer 40% across Great Britain.

During the last year or so, Reform UK (formerly the Brexit Party) appear to have been the main beneficiary of this shift.

In the 2025 English local elections in May, Reform UK won a majority of ten councils plus two Mayoral contests...

<snipped to fit, sorry>

With regards to Nigel Farage, he is an elected MP and leader of a Many political analysts across the media, with different political perspectives, report that Reform UK are “making the political weather” – in other words, the reactions and policies of the other political parties can only be properly understood in the context of knowing what is happening with Reform UK and its increased level of support.

We give careful consideration to ensuring any story concerning Mr Farage and Reform UK are given proportionate and appropriate coverage on our networks and online. We thank you for taking the time to get in touch, and your comments have been passed along to senior news editors.

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Sep 4

I complained to the BBC about their continual platforming of RefUK Ltd/Flagrage. Their response amounts to, if he leads the polls, he has more right to set the agenda than the Govt of the day actually in power. Extract follows:

BBC weasel words justifying their platforming of rabid right-wing populist

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Aug 28

I answered this question and screenshot the answers. The main difference seems to be about 10% was knocked off the completely unacceptable and added to the don't knows; weird eh?

UK poll: acceptibility of giving monetary aid to Afghanistan to accept returned migrants - acceptable 19% unacceptable 71% don't know 10%

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Aug 11

On the Terrorism Act 2000 from Hansard (Lord Hanson for the govt)

Extract from Hansard on the Terrorism Act 2000

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Aug 4

The phrase ‘take back our streets’ was probably intended to be in language to have wide appeal (I'm being generous). This is what the text said:

Extract from Labour's manifesto explaining ‘take back our streets’

Stephen Knowles@stephenknowles· Mar 27