Rob Bond

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@mikalele Spam has happened

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@Accyshoz @AvantiWestCoast Don’t know where you live and it might be a faff but much cheaper if you can go from Lancaster, makes no sense when it is cheaper to go farther but there you go

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@donmcgowan My first question would be who would want Lee Anderson to record a Valentine’s message

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@implausibleblog Is he about to shed his skin and an alien pop out?

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@WigToday No mention of @astleyaction building which have ruined peoples lives?

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@M_Shaw1 Best wishes on your new endeavour, really enjoyed the coverage that you have provided

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@DCravenRL Thanks for all the work documenting the craziness of rugby league, best wishes for the future

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@AmberWoods100 I’m in the UK and can see everything

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@ZoeJardiniere Spot on, and the more the current government tries to placate them the worse it will get

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@BeeNetwork @WiganCouncil you’ve finally finished the cycle lane in Leigh but this is how the entrance to the Flash has been left, rubbish everywhere and left as waste ground, can something not to be done to make it look nice or at least tidy?

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@sirjohnofleigh6 @AndyBurnhamGM @BeeNetwork @WiganCouncil @lsvstadium I know, story I heard is that the bridge is knackered and if they were to start digging it up it would fall down, anyway hope the cyclists enjoy West Bridgwater Street

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@ZoeJardiniere @GMB Bless you, don’t know how you do it

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@ZoeJardiniere @johnhug24075715 You did amazing, I don’t know how you stayed calm and composed

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@ZoeJardiniere @johnhug24075715 Listened to the section on Radio5 this morning, so good to have someone talking sense on this topic

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@NadBadDangerous Ah, but how much is his house worth?

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@mrhenrymorris Actually thought that was real for a minute there

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@leythdave That really isn’t true see this, Hannan is an arch Brexit supporter

[Daniel Hannan @DanielJHannan]

The criticisms of the India FTA are based on a series of misunderstandings.
🔴"Easier immigration". No. There is nothing in this deal about migration. Nothing. There is an extension of the CATEGORIES under which people can apply for work permits, but the total number can still be capped.
🔴"National Insurance Exemption". False. There is a general presumtion against double taxation. All employees of foreign companies get a 12-month exemption from paying NI. Britain has reciprocal treaties with several countries to extend that period, and India has now joined their company. Since foreign employees can't claim pensions or related benefits unless they have paid in for 10 years, it seems only fair.
🔴"Cheap competition". Tariff reduction is always good for both sides; but the main beneficiary is the country removing its tariffs. We are not cutting duties on Indian textiles or seafood as a favour to India; we are cutting them as a favour to ourselves. When prices fall, we have more to spend on other things, which drives growth.
🔴Even from a protectionist point of view, it is hard to see what we are losing from cheaper Indian garments. They are in competition, not with British products, but with imported garments from other Asian countries, especially China.
🔴Look at the big mutual gains in services - accounting, auditing, telecoms etc. India has not opened its vast market to anyone else on such terms.
🔴The tariff reductions are also significant, and cover 99 per cent of our traded goods.
🔴This is only the 16th FTA that India has signed, and is vastly more ambitious than the previous 15. We are now closely invested in one another's success. Given that India is the 4th largest economy in the world, about to overtake Germany to become the 3rd, this matters.
🔵In short, instead of carping, Conservatives should take credit for having initiated this important work, and congratulate @jreynoldsMP for completing it.
🇬🇧🤝🇮🇳

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@derek_beaumont @LeighLeopardsRL Really enjoyed this, good memories and more to come, we have travelled a long way

[Rob Bond @BondRobb71]

@implausibleblog There’s no over arching vision or narrative, too timid and I’ve no clue what they stand for now by trying to please everyone they please no one