Bruce Jobson

@LiamHalligan A life well lived ... in our thoughts..

I'm sad to report that my father has passed away. Martin Halligan lived most of his life in the UK - but it's safe to say that his heart was always in Ireland. Dad was born in 1938 - and spent his early childhood on a farm between Swinford and Charlestown, Co Mayo. His father was Martin Halligan (of Cullane) and his mother was Bea Madden (of Puntabeg). During Dad's early life, Eamonn De Valera was Taoiseach of the Irish Free State - and rural areas across the West of Ireland were remote, traditional and Gaelic-speaking. And during the Second World War, of course, relations between the UK and what was to become the Republic of Ireland in 1949, were particularly fraught, given the Free State's self-declared neutrality. Like so many of his generation, Dad followed the well-trodden path from rural Ireland to the UK, arriving in London in his youth, where he quickly learned English and met countless relatives he didn't know he had. Missing Ireland, he spent some of his teenage years travelling around the English countryside with Irish travellers, working on funfairs and engaging in other seasonal work. He finally settled down, attending school in Willesden Green, where his inherent intelligence was soon apparent - and when it came to national service, he was recruited by the Royal Navy as a signaller. While anti-Irish prejudice was rife in late-50s/early-60s Britain, Dad often said he was "always treated fairly" in the Navy, and he retained many friendships from that time of his life. He loved being in the RN, in fact – which put him at odds with some of his relatives and boyhood friends. A talented athlete, with a devastating left-hook, Dad actually spent most of his national service as one of the Navy's top boxers, training hard and fighting against other services in the UK and around the world. But he loved being at sea – which is why, having completed his time in the RN, he then spent a number of happy years with the Merchant Navy. Dad had planned to settle in New Zealand and, having left the Merchant Navy, he lived there for a while, setting up a small fencing company. But then, on a visit back to London, he re-met Eve (whom he had known as a teenager). They were soon married - and remained in the UK. Dad trained as a plumber - but, having settled in London, he soon set up his own building firm. For many years, M.Halligan and Co Ltd. operated across North-West London, carrying out building works for local councils and private clients. Dad's company was at the heart of my childhood and of my family - employing not only my brother, but other relatives too, along with countless labourers, "brickies", "chippies", "sparks", painters and decorators, many of whom became close family friends. M.Halligan and Co was never huge. Much of my Dad's business life – hiring, organising, deal-making – was conducted in the pubs and working mens' clubs of Willesden, Kilburn and Harlesden (huge Irish areas back in the day). But he inspired loyalty among those who worked for him, his firm had a deserved reputation for good work and fair-dealing – and the company he built provided for his immediate family and plenty of other families along the way. M. Halligan and Co also implanted in me a life long interest in commerce and a keen awareness of the importance of small businesses and the impact of policymaking and the broader economic environment on business activity. Early in their marriage, my Mum and Dad endured the pain of losing my brother Sean, who died at the age of just 8 months. They moved from Willesden Green NW10 to Kingsbury NW9 in the mid-1960s - buying themselves a "Metroland" home of which they were both very proud. That's where my brother Martin (b.1965) and myself (b.1969) grew up. In 2010, Mum and Dad moved to Saffron Walden, in North Essex, where I had moved with my own young family a few years before. He loved living there, and made plenty of friends in the local pubs, quite a few of whom, like him, had deep Irish roots. A talented story-teller, Dad was at his happiest, I think, when spinning a yarn while having a drink with friends and family – recounting tales from rural Ireland, the building sites of mid-to-late 20th century London or one of his cherished fishing trips. He is survived by his devoted wife Eve, myself and my brother, his grandchildren Tashauna, Niall, Ailis, Maeve and Ned and his great-grandson Maddy - as well as his sister Veronica, his brother Steve and countless loving cousins. He will be missed enormously not just by family members, but countless others whose lives he touched with his kindness, charm, good humour and quick intelligence. I am proud of the life Martin Halligan lived – and will always be grateful for the loyalty and devotion he showed towards his family. Martin Thomas Halligan, 09.07.1938 - 02.11.2025 Rest in Peace "Go ndèanna Dia trocaire ar a anam geal ... may God have mercy on his bright soul"

@LiamHalligan A massive miss with “On the money” Programme. The best economic show on TV and pleased to have contributed with farming and food production insights. Refreshing to view GB News last night !

Thanks!

@Telegraph @lyndsay_hopkins I forecast in numerous articles after PM May introduced Net Zero by Statute and Boris introduced 20% of productive farm land for greening, tree planting and environmental policies. MPs are the last to wake up to reality.

Britain risks being crippled by a major food security crisis because of Ed Miliband’s net zero blitz, MPs have warned ⬇️ telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/…

* UK Inflation is home-grown and could have been avoided. * The biggest threat to UK farming is Ed "Green-finger" Miliband and his insane Net Zero Policies. Click link facebook.com/berniciamedia Bruce’s column in Newsquest’s Hexham Courant. The Trusted Source of Agribusiness Journalism – Bernicia Media – Ahead of The Curve

@CarverEmily @tomhfh Thankfully Tom isn't operating the VAR offside video😀

“This is the football field” Miss you @tomhfh 😂😂😂

No Sane Person Survives The Defra Asylum Click link facebook.com/berniciamedia/ * "Farm Spice" needs to get the facts right. * Labour taxing a dead horse. The Trusted Source of Agribusiness Journalism - Bernicia Media - Ahead of The Curve.

@LiamHalligan Liam its about putting forward the correct policies - not necessarily "bold" policies. The next GE will be won not on policies but on one word - "trust". You can have bold and correct policies but the voters will decide if it can trust a party to deliver. Trust is broken.

So, the Conservatives, should be putting forward bold Conservative policy proposals. If their ideas make sense to enough voters, exposing the shortcomings of other parties, the party will then start shifting the political dial. Yes, incoming Tory leaders must raise party funds – particularly in opposition. Kemi Badenoch has worked hard on that front, with considerable success. The party’s central administration needs managing – and when Badenoch took over last October, Conservative Central Office, after five leaders in just over five years, was indeed an administrative and ideological mess. But Tory leaders must also survive, seeing off internal challenges. That means demonstrating, via membership numbers and poll ratings, that party activists and a critical mass of the broader public view you as a potential Prime Minister. And that, in turn, means making clear, repeatedly and relentlessly, not only what you stand for, but what you would actually do. 🧵2/6

Almost a year since Kemi Badenoch became leader, the Conservatives are now starting to do what they should be doing. The Tories’ job, when not in government, is to put forward bold policies and build a picture of what a future Tory government might do. That is now beginning to happen in earnest – as seen in Badenoch's speech at party conference last Wednesday As a trained engineer, the Tory leader has resisted “rushing out policies for a quick media hit”. But the Tories face an existential threat. With the party in ideological turmoil, not knowing which way to face, the dangers of saying too little have for many months now heavily outweighed the dangers of saying too much. For too long, despite some useful background policy work, Badenoch has said too little. But with her back against the wall, she is now putting that right. My latest "Economic Agenda" column for @Telegraph 🧵1/6 #comment" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/…

@LiamHalligan Frank Field was a man of great integrity ..unlike many of today’s politicians… reminds me of JFK book “Profiles of Courage.”

The Rt Hon Frank Field MP died 18 months ago, in April 2024. I was proud to have known him for many years – he became a dear friend to me and my family and was a constant source of strength, inspiration and encouragement. Frank was one of those extremely rare politicians who placed the interests of his constituents above the imperatives of his own political advancement. Despite being a proud Londoner, he was a fierce and deeply loyal and champion of Birkenhead, the constituency he loved and where he is now buried. Frank wrote many books and pamphlets, on the UK's benefits and welfare system in particular. Despite the demands of being a hard-working constituency MP, and a committed Parliamentarian, chairing and serving on many committees, he was also, by a considerable margin, Britain's most influential welfare thinkersince William Beveridge. Frank's political advancement was constantly thwarted by the Labour party – and, in particular, by leaders with a fraction of his intellect and even less of his courage. The fact that a person of his brains, political nous and work ethic – who commanded such widespread public respect – was never in the Cabinet speaks volumes about the limitations and small-mindedness of the party Frank was a member of for 58 years, and our democracy more generally. I am most grateful for the organisers on the event below - on Thursday 16th October – for inviting me to act as compere. I look forward to seeing family, friends and admirers of Frank there - and will be posting some more thoughts after the event on "When The Facts Change". 🔽🔽🔽🔽

@LiamHalligan Frank Field was a no man of integrity…something lacking in today’s political arena.

@ryanjobson78 @JobsonShaun Sad to hear Willie has passed away... he served the club as player and manager RIP

Saddened to hear that former Newcastle United Manager Willie McFaul has passed away. In 1987, as an eight-year-old, I wrote a letter to Willie McFaul to ask if my brother Shaun and I could meet Brazilian superstar Mirandinha. Willie McFaul wrote back and invited my Dad; Shaun and I to observe first team training at Benwell during the summer holidays and meet our hero. Meeting Mirandinha was an amazing experience and observing a teenage Paul Gascoigne was something to behold. What a player! Attending Benwell became a regular feature during school holidays, watching Newcastle train and going to the Fox and Hounds pub for beef and gravy stottie with chips! In later years, Benwell became the place where Shaun and I would attend football sessions with the Newcastle Football Development Scheme, pre-season training with Gosforth Bohemians and Newcastle Blue Star and also the place where we studied for our FA Qualifications. Thinking of the family and friends of Willie at this time. Thanks for the memories… God Bless #nufc

The Law of Supply and Demand facebook.com/berniciamedia/ UK food inflation: beef mince up 26%. We told you so in March 2025 live on @GBNEWS The Trusted Source of Agricultural Journalism - Bernicia Media -Ahead of The Curve.

@GBNEWS @CamillaTominey I covered housing in an article several weeks ago …the targets cannot be met …but be warned …house numbers aren’t the same as properties / flats. Farmers had to put up with deluded Reed for 14 months.

'You're the Housing Secretary and you don't know how many houses have been built under Labour?!' @CamillaTominey grills Steve Reed MP about Labour's progress on its pledge to build new homes, as he admits the number is too low as it stands.

@Owens_EFC The Premier League has the worst refs in global football. … and been like that for the past few years. Even with VAR - decisions are horrendous.

The standard of refereeing right now is the worst I have ever seen and we're only 6 games into the season, constant ridiculous decisions EVERY SINGLE GAME Dewsbury-Hall now misses our next game because of this completely normal challenge and taking a free kick too quickly

@utdjohnyy About 19 other teams .,,

What’s stopping this team from winning the League ?

@mattwridley Insane Matt ... totally insane... so go to France or cooler countries like Iceland, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, or try entering the USA...

Climate change has become a universal political excuse for failure...

Trident Soccer's 30th Anniversary weekend. A video montage with England Lioness Lucy Bronze; Willie Donachie (Man City) Dave Watson (Everton) Dougie Beattie (GB News) & others. Click link facebook.com/tridentsoccer/

@GBNEWS Its not the British people that should have IC cards - its legal and illegal migrants that should be required to have ID cards and Gov't be able to track individuals and / or not renew work permits as required.

'If we get this right, it'll be a great help in keeping people's data more secure.' Lisa Nandy MP outlines the ways in which digital ID will have a positive impact on British people. 📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604 🔓 Become a GB News Member: gbnews.com/support

@darrengrimes From the man that helped imprison hundreds of innocent Post Masters - some committed suicide - and lost houses , income , divorced, broken families - he should be prosecuted. A bit rich

What a sick thing to say! This man needs help!

@thecarolemalone @paulineannejack Everyone knows he’s a fool apart from him …

He’s also a fool and everyone knows it!

@LiamHalligan @BenHouchen It was the Conservative Gov't in 2019 under PM May that introduced Net Zero by Statute.... and the policy accelerated under PM Johnson. I was cancelled by sections of the media for writing articles highlighting the fallacies and costs involved based on 2019 figures.

💥💥🎧📺NEW INTERVIEW: "When The Facts Change" Liam Halligan talks to Tory Mayor of Tees Valley @BenHouchen In this interview, we discuss: + Houchen’s concerns about the UK’s net zero targets. + Fears and rumours about the future of Nissan’s Sunderland factory + Upcoming ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles + Reform’s record in local government and the party’s electoral prospects across the North East and the UK as a whole + Dangers to the Tory party, and its leadership, if there are more Tory defections ahead of the party’s annual conference in early October. Free video trailer below. See linked message for access to full-length interview 🧵1/3