Liberal Democrat Councillor for Lindley. Lib Dems ...exist to build & safeguard a fair, free and open society... see https://xitter.cf/t.co/QwjZeOXHLh

Huddersfield, England
Joined February 2011
At tonight's #Kirklees Full Council meeting, the Conservative group have just backed Reform in a move to bring forward their motion to "undeclare a climate emergency" in Kirklees. Undeclaring climate change does not change reality! There is no way we could ever support such a motion. #ClimateJustice #Lindley #Kirklees #LibDems
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Cllr Anthony Smith 🔶🇺🇦 retweeted
Occupy Democrats 2͏h͏ · BREAKING: PANIC! Trump is DESPERATELY trying to stop Jack Smith from testifying in his own $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC. Donald Trump sued the BBC for defamation, asking for a whopping $10 billion in damages. Now, he’s panicking about the one witness who might actually know something about the behavior that led the British broadcaster to publish what it did. According to The New Republic, the BBC subpoenaed former special counsel Jack Smith to testify as part of its defense against Trump’s defamation suit. The suit claims the network defamed him with deceptive editing in a 2024 documentary about the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump’s lawyers filed a motion Friday to block the deposition, arguing that “Smith lacks any personal knowledge regarding the issues in this matter.” Their reasoning: Smith wasn’t at the January 6 speech, didn’t help prepare it, and can’t know what Trump was thinking. They say anything he gathered was “secondhand knowledge” from materials collected from other sources. The BBC’s lawyers weren’t impressed. They wrote that “none of [Trump]’s arguments for blocking the deposition of Mr. Smith can withstand scrutiny.” They noted that Smith himself doesn’t object to testifying, and that Trump still has to prove he “did not foment or incite the January 6 Capitol riot,” which he claims the documentary falsely implied. Then came the line that says it all: “No one forced Plaintiff to file this lawsuit and to dispute that his speech on January 6 incited the violence that followed at the Capitol. But as long as he chooses to maintain the case, he cannot commit the fundamental injustice of preventing the BBC from obtaining the evidence it needs to robustly defend itself.” This isn’t Trump’s only dodge. His attorneys are also fighting efforts to make Trump himself testify, to subpoena his children, and to look into his finances. Trump sued over what the BBC said about January 6, and now he’s fighting every attempt to examine what actually happened. There’s another problem for him. The BBC is funded by British taxpayers, so Trump can’t bully it into a hefty settlement or force it to back off its coverage the way he has with some American media companies. So now he has two choices: drop the case, or actually try to prove his point and live with the consequences. If Trump really believes he did nothing wrong on January 6, a deposition should be no problem. His lawyers’ desperation suggests otherwise. Please like and share if you can’t wait to hear what Jack Smith has to say if the BBC successfully gets him to testify!
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I have been to Ukraine, I have friend on his way to Ukraine at the moment to deliver generators, vehicles and aid. I have seen first hand the beauty of the country, the strength, spirit, resilience and generosity of the Ukrainian people. I watch in horror as Ukraine is betrayed by Trump, Musk and the MAGA movement, but I am filled with hope by the response of the UK and Europe and the strength of the Ukrainian people. Putin is a tyrant, a genocidal maniac. He must not be allowed to succeed in his aggression against Ukraine. Who would be next? #SlavaUkraïni 🇺🇦 we stand with you.
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Cllr Anthony Smith 🔶🇺🇦 retweeted
🚨 NEW: An ITV undercover investigation into Reform UK has revealed councillors describing Muslims as “parasites” and ethnic children as “animals” One councillor was shown saying “we need a real nuclear option, like literally, drag them out their homes, stick them on planes and f*** them off to Pakistan”
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Cllr Anthony Smith 🔶🇺🇦 retweeted
Delivering leaflets and talking to residents in #Lindley this afternoon.
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Today, there was a statement from the President of the United States that an energy ceasefire has been secured. This is good news for everyone – and it is important that it become reality. Unfortunately, Ukrainian skies have been infested with Russian “shaheds” all day today. There have been glide bomb strikes and strikes on our energy infrastructure too. A power plant in Kharkiv was attacked this evening. Overall, this past week alone, the Russians have carried out more than 200 strikes on our electricity generation and transmission facilities in Ukraine, and another 17 strikes this week targeted gas and oil facilities. They have killed more than 150 of our people, and more than 700 people have been wounded. Ukraine has proposed many de-escalatory steps. Putin had one answer to all of them – “nyet.” We do hope that he will finally say something to America, Ukraine, and the entire world that will lead to a real and dignified peace. Ukraine wants peace. The question is whether Russia does. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have received all the appropriate orders. We are awaiting clear details of the dialogue between America and Russia – and we expect Putin to follow through on what President Trump said.
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All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
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Let’s trace the grand circle of US foreign policy genius that led us straight back to cutting deals with Vladimir Putin: * Russia invades Ukraine. * Iran supplies drones to Russia to bomb Ukraine. * The US bombs Iran. * Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz. * Russia shares intelligence with Iran to target US and allied bases. * Oil and diesel prices skyrocket, global markets freak out, and inflation/interest rates spike. Crucial Plot Twist: Just last month, Trump signed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act into law, promising to crack down hard on energy exports and slam up to a 500% tariff on Russian goods. Enter Today: Facing a political bloodbath in the upcoming midterms due to soaring fuel costs, Trump completely reverses course. Trump's "Fix"? He bypasses the ink-dry sanctions law he just signed, issues emergency waivers, and strikes a deal to funnel American dollars straight back into funding Putin’s war machine. All for an initial 300,000 tons of diesel that is barely a drop in the ocean compared to the supply lost in the Strait of Hormuz. The Bottom Line: We cannot allow political panic in Washington to dictate the free world's security. We must stand with Ukraine, and President Zelenskyy must not waver in maintaining his long-range defense and economic pressure on the aggressor. Ukraine cannot and must not be bullied into accepting backroom compromises just because Trump's domestic election cycle has gone sideways. You literally cannot make this up. #SlavaUkraïni 🇺🇦
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Anagram of the day - cruD knoT mudFlap #SlavaUkraïni 🇺🇦
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Bottom line - American dollars to fuel Russian invasion of Ukraine. WTAF! I thought we had seen the worst of this clown, but just when you think he's hit the bottom, he goes deeper. My gast is actually flabbered. What's the betting history next call is to @ZelenskyyUa to ask (tell) him to stop Ukrainian long range sanctions. Ukraine must not flinch. #SlavaUkraïni 🇺🇦
Wow. Donald Trump is giving money to Putin’s war machine so he can keep killing innocent Ukrainians and attacking democracies across Europe. The UK must lead a coalition of the willing that stands up and says no.
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🇺🇦 Our support for Ukraine remains steadfast and unwavering. 🇺🇦 Wishing all the very best to John Lawson as he prepares for another critical humanitarian trip. John is once again sourcing vehicles locally here in Yorkshire to be driven out packed with vital aid, funding that will go directly toward essential generators, medical equipment, and warm clothing. Having made the journey myself two years ago, I've seen firsthand the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the profound difference that continued, tangible support makes on the ground. Knowing what these missions mean, John’s ongoing dedication is truly inspiring. On behalf of the Kirklees Liberal Democrat group and myself, we stand proudly with John, and we stand resolutely with Ukraine. If you can, please support his fundraiser here: 🔗 justgiving.com/crowdfunding/… #StandWithUkraine #Kirklees #HumanitarianAid #LiberalDemocrats #SlavaUkrainii
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Update on Green Bin Collections in Lindley. We know that many residents across Lindley are frustrated by the recent missed green bin collections, with some facing a four-week gap between emptyings due to recent service disruptions. We have raised this directly with council officers to demand answers. We have been informed that the primary cause of the disruption is a severe shortage of HGV drivers and a lack of agency cover, which forced the council to pause green rounds to prioritize grey bin collections. We know the current level of service falls well below what residents should expect. Asking households to wait four weeks for a collection is not acceptable. We are continuing to press senior management for firm reassurance that robust measures, particularly regarding driver workforce resilience, are put in place to avoid similar situations arising in the future. Thank you for your patience while we work to get this sorted. If you are experiencing ongoing issues, please do not hesitate to contact us at anthony.smith@kirklees.gov.uk ashleigh.robinson@kirklees.gov.uk david.ridgway@kirklees.gov.uk #Lindley #LibDems #kirklees #WasteCollection #recycling
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