Christian I'Anson

Interested in politics, law, education and sport. Languages/ law grad. Teacher. SME owner. Switched to Reform. Belief in freedom/ small state. RL fan (Hull FC).

[The Free Speech Union @SpeechUnion]

Senior figures at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, under the command of Andy Burnham, have cautioned firefighters who support Reform UK over their political views.

In a further chilling assault on free speech, staff have also effectively been urged in an email to report colleagues who support Reform.

Fire brigade bosses have also said they are seeking legal advice on what to do about firefighters who decide to stand as Reform UK candidates. This is despite the fact that, unlike police officers, there is no legal bar preventing firefighters from participating in national or local politics.

In their email, fire brigade bosses Mr Petch and Ms Ahmed said: ’We are aware that some staff members have chosen to represent Reform UK in their local areas. We know this may cause concern within our network and wider.

’The individuals involved have been spoken to, to make it clear that as members of GMFRS (Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service) our core values and professional behaviours must be displayed at all times.

’The service is currently seeking formal legal guidance… to ensure we are protected from all perspectives and that our inclusive culture remains safe.

‘Our priority is and always will be ensuring that every member of this network feels supported, respected and safe at work.’

They also confirmed that they would be consulting the Fire Brigades Union on the matter.

In his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, @AndyBurnhamGM — who is also tipped by some to be a future Prime Minister if he wins the Makerfield by-election — is also Greater Manchester’s Fire Commissioner, responsible for overseeing the service.

General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young of Acton, has now written to Mr Burnham to raise concerns about the chilling effect this has on free speech.

Lord Young said that the ‘clear implication’ of the email from the fire brigade bosses was that ‘representing Reform UK constitutes an inherent threat to the institution’s culture and values and is to be treated as morally suspect’. He also highlighted that no action appears to have been taken against firefighters who support other political parties.

The letter also states: ‘Staff are further invited to report colleagues who support any groups that go against the service’s values, which effectively amounts to an instruction to inform on colleagues for their political beliefs.

’The email will create a chilling effect on the free speech of GMFRS employees who support Reform.

’The practical effect is that a public fire and rescue service governed by you is treating the lawful political activity of your electoral opponents as a reputational risk to their employer.

‘Regardless of whether this reflects your instruction, it reflects your governance; and a public office-holder who permits his institution to demonise or chill the speech and political activity of those who support his principal electoral rival cannot claim to be discharging that office with the impartiality it demands.’

Read more below 👇

[The Telegraph @Telegraph]

Labour risks being forced to seek emergency help from the International Monetary Fund as Britain lurches toward a debt crisis, leading economists have warned.

🔗: https://t.co/aAw68Q9hDQ

[Josh Ferme @JoshFerme]

It is a sorry condemnation of modern politics that you need the government's permission to drink a pint and watch football outside.

[Summerisle @LairdSummerisle]

My Britain is the Britain that built this and the men who flew it. Not the slack-jawed wankers of today.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[Make Britain Great Again @UK_Needs_Reform]

Lancashire County Council is poised to become the first local authority in Britain to quit the Government’s refugee resettlement programme.

The Reform UK-run authority has pledged to withdraw from the scheme, vowing to put “British people first”.

https://t.co/tYYZvWFXni

[Ben Graham @BenGrahamUK]

Reform UK isn't a threat to LGBT people.

The real goal is ending special treatment and putting everyone on the same footing.

No DEI preferences. No favoured groups. No hierarchy of identities.

One standard for everyone. Equal treatment under the law.

That's not discrimination. That's fairness.

Reform is for everyone.

[chris @carbo_innit]

You never hear from the climate change lunatics when it's 16 degrees and pissing down for a week in June

[Miss Jo @therealmissjo]

In France there is a new activity that the Left is getting their knickers in a twist about.

Le Canon Français is running massive banquets. For about £70 you can have great food and drinks and spend time singing patriotic songs.

The “Far Left” is furious.

LFI says it has evidence of racist chanting, and of immigrant staff being insulted. With pork regularly on the menu, they say the feasts are purposely designed to exclude Muslims and vegetarians.

Meanwhile, everyday people who love France, love food and beer are having the time of their lives.

[Marcos Agustín @marcosagusstinn]

In 2025, European startups raised around €66bn in VC funding, only 22% of U.S. levels, despite Europe having over 100 million more people.

The gap becomes brutal at late stage: EU later-stage VC investment was around $20bn, compared with $103bn in the United States.

That is why Europe has roughly 110–135 unicorns, while the U.S. has more than 600.

Europe needs to complete two things.

First, the Capital Markets Union to create deeper financing pools, larger late-stage rounds, stronger IPO markets and more liquidity for European startups.

Second, the Single Market — so companies can scale across 450 million consumers instead of being trapped inside fragmented national markets.

Full breakdown; https://t.co/umQsP6YoYz

[David Frost @DavidGHFrost]

Almost 60% of Brits reject giving up sovereignty in return for more access to the EU single market. 👇

Only 27% approve.

2-1 against Labour's "reset". Starmer has no mandate for it.

@YouGov polling for @BritainUnbound.

https://t.co/N7CHbeBYOg

[Suella Braverman @SuellaBraverman]

The root cause of divisive policies like ‘Race Action Plans’ and anti-white racism?

The Equality Act 2010 which forces ‘positive action’ (basically positive discrimination against white men) and the ‘public sector equality duty’ onto public bodies.

The Equality Act has been the foundation of the DEI industry in the police, armed forces, intelligence services, local councils, schools and the civil service.

Only @reformparty_uk has pledged to repeal this destructive law, whilst always maintaining legal protections in the workplace for everyone.

No-one should be discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, disability or other immutable characteristic.

[John Jones @ThatJohnJones]

If true, this will represent one of the most terrifying extensions of state control into the lives of British citizens in the history of the modern British state.

Why? Because if you think this will stop at under-16s you are a fool.

[Cat @catdeans]

This is awful. The last ever Denby Pottery going to the kiln. Why is there not uproar? Where’s the government in this?? We all have Denby in our homes, in family heirlooms, as our history and now it’s closing through lack of support, such a sad sad day. #SaveDenby @denbypottery

[Guido Fawkes @GuidoFawkes]

Angry Burnham fails to name the Labour fiscal rules then proposes increasing food price inflation with a tax hike.

Strap in…

[Chris Rose @ArchRose90]

A car crash interview.

Andy Burnham wants to be the next Prime Minister but clearly doesn’t know what the fiscal rules are.

Campaigning on change but not much is different from the past two years.

Still blaming Thatcher despite him being an MP during the New Labour government.

[Benny James @Beno_ldn]

The UK is done.

A fully developed country where hard working people are struggling to survive.

Working one full time job should be enough to live comfortably but it's not.

We're taxed on everything, income tax, council tax, capital gains tax, VAT, taxed on any side hustles.

Bills are constantly increasing to the point where people can barely afford them each month.

Rent prices are through the roof. A house that would have cost £700 a month years ago will now cost you about £1500 minimum.

Just going to the shop for a few bits now costs you as much as a weekly shop would have cost a couple of years ago. You literally pay £100 for 2 carrier bags of food.

No wonder we're all broke 2 weeks after payday.

[John Cleese @JohnCleese]

Criticising Islam is within the British tradition of people
discussing the merits of religions, and I can scarcely believe that some faceless authoritarian should be allowed to punish a person for doing so

Should I expect to be punished for Life of Brian ?

Absolutely disgraceful

[Gully Foyle #UKTrade @TerraOrBust]

The EU now know that, at least with this Labour government, it can demand anything and sooner or later the UK will concede and give it whatever it wants.

We need to ban this government from even speaking to the EU at this stage.

Traitorous.

https://t.co/5v7SYqSZx4

[Ben Graham @BenGrahamUK]

Reform is smashing the DEI narrative in Britain just as Trump did in America.

Taxpayer money should fund public services, not identity politics.

Council by council, the era of publicly funded virtue signalling is coming to an end.

Britain is finally moving in the right direction.

[Nile Gardiner @NileGardiner]

No one in Washington cares what you have to say @EdwardJDavey

You are a complete nonentity in America and in Britain too.