StortfordAndrew

I'm Andrew, a Conservative from Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire, England. Mainly use this account to post about politics - local, national and international

[Allison Pearson @AllisonPearson]

Please retweet far and wide.

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

Sadly I've seen incompetent people paid off at all levels. Some make a handsome career out of it - getting one payoff after another.

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

We'd be in a better place if he had made a plan for a Leave vote rather than Project Fear. Calling a referendum with no plan for the outcome was criminal negligence.

[Tom Harwood @tomhfh]

We'd be in a better place if he'd have stuck around after the referendum.

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

5/ scientists struggle to engage with "sceptics" using "anti-science" labels to justify ignoring them and attacking them ... increasing the polarisation on the other side

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

Should the "scientific community" be trusted? This question has become more and more polarised /cont

[John Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch]

A tragic story in two charts:

1) It never used to be the case, but there is now a big partisan gap for trust in science in the US. Republicans are now essentially the anti-science party, while Dems are stridently pro

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

4/ this weakness exposes scientists to a set of collective biases: they consistently over-prescribe (antibiotics, antidepressants, painkillers, and yes, vaccines); they focus narrowly (COVID deaths, ignoring lockdown deaths from delayed diagnosis, mental health etc)

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

This widening debanking scandal shows @CommonsTreasury were right to back a "financial inclusion" objective for @TheFCA https://t.co/N6HH3UWGXb

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

Climate change policies need careful thought, rigour and debate. They need to be effective and avoid harming the most vulnerable. An 'emergency" isn't just rhetoric - it shortcuts debate and challenge. Disappointing from @HertStortford Conservatives

[East Herts Council @EastHerts]

Last night, a meeting of all East Herts councillors voted unanimously to widen the scope of the council’s climate change motion and declare a climate emergency. Find out more: https://t.co/cgzqllpeEE

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

Well done @HarlowCouncil for this robust action. Lesson for @EastHerts?

[BBC Essex @BBCEssex]

Harlow Council seeks injunction over missing S106 housing plans https://t.co/Zzxos0uXaa

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

.@cmackinlay is spot on: petrol car ban should be pushed back to 2035, in line with EU. No value in damaging UK car industry just to look good - lots will simply buy in the EU and drive over here! Does nothing for environment. https://t.co/eO03REdes4

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

When Swaziland decided to call itself Eswatini, we respected that. Same with Cote d'Ivoire. It's simply unacceptable that the EU and CELAC refuse to call #Falklands by the name its residents want to be known by.

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

Lower IHT to 25% paid for by capping farms/business exemptions. Interesting idea from @TaxPolicyAssoc

[Dan Neidle @DanNeidle]

That perception is basically true. Check out this chart, looking at the 2016/17 figures on what estates are actually paying in inheritance tax. There’s a spectacular drop-off in the effective rate for large estates (£9m+):

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

@ShakeyStephens @StortfordIndie is "work to rule" not a type of industrial action? Therefore Indie headline is correct.

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

This is wildly inaccurate. Con to Non-Con peer ratio is 1:1.9. Excluding cross benchers it's 1:1.25. Excl independents and bishops it's 1:1.01

[Lord Cruddas of Shoreditch @peteratcmc]

Most if not all Conservative peers supported the Government. Conservatives are out numbered nearly three to one by opposition party peers so Government will always find it difficult to get its business through the Lords unless the imbalance changes. That’s the point really.

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

Definitely one to watch!

[Guido Fawkes @GuidoFawkes]

Liz Truss Launches Economist-Led Pro-Growth Watchdog https://t.co/7xFfxvVqAZ

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

The vast majority of children growing up in poverty are in one parent households. An issue those on left or centre are unwilling to acknowledge let alone address.

[BBC Politics @BBCPolitics]

Labour's Angela Rayner asks deputy PM why “400,000 more primary school-aged children are growing up in poverty since this government came to office?”

Oliver Dowden says “record investment” is giving children "the best possible start in life

#PMQs: https://t.co/dWlpoK79WJ

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

@aja_curtis Recall is popular, successful and effective. It was brought in with cross party support. It fills a natural gap in a representative system - how do we get rid of MPs like Onasanya and Ferrier. I would support extending it, not scaling it back.

[StortfordAndrew @StortfordAndrew]

@aja_curtis So abolish the right of recall altogether? Not sure how that would make our system more democratic.