Richard Thomas

@DaleVince They have broken other manifesto promises and repeatedly lied on other topics so an irrelevant comment.

No new drilling was a key manifesto promise. It persuaded untold numbers of people to lend their vote to Labour. There is no remotely valid reason to break it. The war in the middle east is no excuse. False claims of economic benefits or energy security are no excuse. Pressure from the right or the left, from the oil industry - no excuse. There are no reasons to break this promise. Nothing to be gained by our country, much to be lost by Labour. Voters remember broken manifesto promises, as the Lib Dems know well. Labour should stand firm, apply logic and facts - and it’s clear this crisis cannot be solved by drilling in the north sea. This is a crisis of fossil fuels and our dependency on global markets to set our energy prices. We need to take control of that, break this dependency. We need to reform our energy market - anything less than this is ‘performative' and an abdication of responsibility. Allowing new drilling would be a betrayal of millions of us. thetimes.com/uk/politics/ar…

@jzrdan Do you have a view on the impact of GLP - 1 weight- loss drugs on the stock?

Greggs (#GRG) is still a great opportunity in the FTSE250 at the moment, even with such a high short interest. The stock is down heavily, down -50% since late 2024 & sitting near multi-year lows yet the business itself isn’t broken. • Valuation reset - Shares are 50% off highs, pricing in most of the bad news already. 
• Still growing! FY25 sales +6.8% with continued store expansion (target 3,000+ locations). 
• Recovery potential? Analysts see double-digit upside and “Buy” consensus ratings. 
• Strong brand moat, Greggs is a dominant UK food-on-the-go player with loyal demand. 
• Dividend yield >4% meaning you get paid (and well) while waiting for sentiment to turn. • One of the FTSE most shorted stock, so if/when sentiment changes, expect a rerating and fast. • Management being active & using initiative to keep growth strong. For example, stores opening in petrol retailers, one of their new experiments. Yes, near-term profits are flat and consumer spending is weak, but there wouldn’t be an opportunity to buy this great company at a great price otherwise.

@MatthewStadlen @LeeAndersonMP_ @reformparty_uk Says the Labour Party spokesperson. Haven’t they been a great success in government!

@LeeAndersonMP_ @reformparty_uk Vote Reform and get a bunch of failed Tories.

Vote Conservative get The Greens. Instead vote @reformparty_uk and get Reform

@TrisOsborneMP I think the issue is that significant pre election promises have been broken, which are having a significant impact on working people and businesses. For all parties, to gain the trust of the electorate, we need to have a system where that is not possible moving forward.

Well worth a watch. You didn’t go into as much detail on long term trend towards less tribal voting based on parental and tradition. In short; political tribes + coalitions are fracturing as the electorate becomes more volatile / transactional on allegiances.

@lukejcr You are absolutely delusional! Labour are taxing working people and businesses to oblivion Maybe it will take elections for you to realise how poor and out of touch Labour are with reality.

Reform pretend to be on the side of working people. The reality? They’re led by snobby millionaires who have no idea how much cost-of-living support matters to families. They’re not on your side. Labour is.

@lukejcr @Ed_Miliband Not strictly true as passed to general taxation so working people are still paying for it.

Back in 2013, @Ed_Miliband proposed an energy price cap. David Cameron called it “Marxist.” Today it kicks in, cutting £117 a year from bills, perfect timing given the conflict in Iran. Turns out someone was right all along. Cheers, Ed. ⚡

@TrisOsborneMP I really don’t understand why you have to add a right wing label to your comments and play political games. The electorate are finding this extremely tedious. I don’t see how you are any different, or will add value.

@THR676 I mean the small matter of a right wing war that Kemi / Nigel wanted to engage offensively in. We are in a stronger position to convene negotiations with this government.

Britain is leading from the front 🇬🇧 Sensible, pragmatic and calm stewardship and respected around the world.

@supertanskiii @MittensOff Not going to help with an energy crisis! If you look at the data there is no evidence that it has led to a poorer economic outcome.

Significant from Starmer. In this conference he directly acknowledges the economic hell of Brexit and commits to a closer relationship with the EU. Refusing to join the war, distancing Britain from the US and realigning with our EU friends, are all solid decisions. Fair play.

@lukejcr Meanwhile Labour continue to increase taxes on working people and businesses pushing people to the limit. They refuse to follow the lead of other nations, in cutting fuel duty, to help people during these exceptional times. Demonstrates the true colours of this Labour Party!

SERIOUSLY? The hard Brexit Farage pushed for: ✈️ Hiked holiday prices 📱 Brought roaming charges BACK 💶 Will make us pay EU entry fees They’re like a taxi driver taking the long route, then bragging about the fare. No wonder Nige went to Clacton for Tourism Week. 🤷

@donmcgowan This just shows how ignorant you actually are. If you lack the intelligence to have a grown up debate then I suggest you do not participate!

Reform UK are mirroring, almost identically, Hitler and his Nazi party’s rise to power in depression era Germany, specifically the final three or four years leading up to Hitler becoming Chancellor. There are far too many similarities for it to be a coincidence. Read the 𝕏 Article here: x.com/donmcgowan/sta…

@paulmasonnews Absolutely ridiculous and stupid comment! How are they responsible for government borrowing and the war with Iran?

Trump's war has triggered a spike in the cost of govt borrowing. UK getting hit hardest but look at the rest. 👇🏽 If it does not stop soon we will see inflation + recession. When that happens, thank Farage & Badenoch, who cheered him on

@DeborahMeaden How does that work when he does not have the right to reply at PMQ’s? The whole spectacle is a farce and a waste of everyone’s time. The electorate deserves better from our political system.

Never leave the room… stay and win it back.

@MatthewStadlen PMQ’s is totally pointless unless the government are forced to answer the questions. It is a farce for everyone concerned and an insult to the electorate!

All eight Reform MPs staging a walkout at Prime Ministers Questions today is peak snowflakery. Pathetic and embarrassing.

@campbellclaret Well it is a waste of time for all concerned! It is also an insult to the electorate, that an elected government, is not forced to provide answers, on key questions and issues. Not surprisingly people are totally disillusioned with politics and politicians.

He does love a good stunt doesn’t he ? Ooooo get me I led my little band of MPS out of the chamber (Ps to avoid being in there for a statement on Russian funding of Farage UK I suspect

@lukejcr Just focus on the day job. Comedy clearly not your strong point!

I see Question Time is in Clacton on Thursday. Will the local MP turn up to to make an appearance or was the English Tourism Week visit his annual check-in?

@donmcgowan If the PM answered the question she wouldn’t have to ask it again. Just a thought! It’s called PMQ’s for a reason.

Kemi Badenoch, woeful again at #PMQs. One question about Madelson fine. Two, OK. Six — this way madness lies. Starmer dodged, granted, but after the third question he just started attacking — fair game. Badenoch had an opportunity to ask about the cost of living, petrol prices or the meningitis outbreak — things that the public would like more information on. She came across as obsessive and unwilling to pivot.

@lukejcr At least it isn’t another tax rise like this Labour Government!

Last week it was money off petrol. This week it’s a prize draw on your energy bill. What’s next week, win yourself a week away in Russia?

@paulmasonnews Yet it continues to increase taxes on both working people and businesses. Double standards!

Starmer: "I simply will not allow companies to make huge profits from the hardship of working people. This government was elected to stop that and we will"... that's #TrueLabour in action: price cap and the threat of windfall taxes

@ToryWipeout Because he hasn’t broken the law. It really is not that complicated!

Why aren't the national media demanding Richard Tice resign? The establishment.