Small time tweeter. Love Wigan Athletic and golf, both of which have taken me to extreme highs and lows.
Rufford, England
Joined February 2013
- Tweets3.1K
- Following909
- Followers133
- Likes21.4K
Mike Picton retweeted
Really? @bopanc
The EU (first EEC) grew from 6 to 12 to 15 to 27. (Including many of the most prosperous countries in the world!)
So did Euro-membership. So did Schengen-membership. A striking success story, involving no force and coercion.
Add the 4 European microstates inside the EU (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican). Add 4 non-EU Schengen members (🇨🇭🇳🇴🇮🇸🇱🇮), three of which are fully integrated into the 🇪🇺 Single Market, accepting EU rules.
Add 10 candidates.
27 + 4 + 4 + 10 = 45.
There are 50 countries in Europe. The 5 not included here: UK (left EU, regrets), Armenia (interested in becoming a candidate). And 3 European dictatorships (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia).
The challenge for the EU now: to find a realistic way to make accession real, to everyone’s benefit.
THIS is the historic challenge.
Iceland is fine. And one way forward could be to offer what Iceland has (and likes!) to candidates now; adopt EU rules and standards and enjoy a „level playing field“ in the EU market.
The EU completely lost any appeal among prosperous countries; Icelanders refused to even restart membership talks, with huge turnout. The only nations willing to join are poor/corrupt polities hoping for EU cash & someone to clean up their governments
bbc.com/news/articles/c70le8…
Mike Picton retweeted
One of the main arguments in favour of Brexit was that voters wanted less Polish people coming to the UK, and now Poland is the fastest growing economy in the EU and Britain is teetering towards recession.
Self-inflicted economic destruction for nothing. xitter.cf/sikorskiradek/status/2…
Mike Picton retweeted
Before Brexit, there were about 300K net migrants a year, mostly from the EU.
After Brexit, immigration shot up to 900K, and EU migration was negative.
It’s amazing how stupid Brexit was from every possible perspective.
Populism is a low IQ movement.
Mike Picton retweeted
Brexit is now costing the UK £90bn a year in lost tax revenue. Analysis by the House of Commons library also shows the average Brit has seen a hit of between £2,700 and £3,700. That's why taxes are at an all-time high. Brexit is simply untenable.
independent.co.uk/news/uk/po…
Mike Picton retweeted
Jeremy Hunt dodged £100,000 in stamp duty after somehow forgetting that he owned seven flats, which is not something that would slip the memory of most of us. He didn't resign.
Mike Picton retweeted
🧵 THREAD: Why is food so expensive in Britain and who’s to blame?
A breakdown of food inflation, post-Brexit chaos, and political betrayal 👇
1️⃣ According to The Sunday Times, food prices in the UK have risen 36% since 2020.
That’s more than France 🇫🇷(23%), Germany (25%), and US 🇺🇸(34%).
So much for “cheaper food after Brexit.”
Source: The Times, July 2025
Mike Picton retweeted
The sad story of much-loved Wigan Athletic fan Darren Orme is heart-breaking - but has also been heart-warming as it showed a town, fanbase & club with true heart & how football really can be an extension of family. Thanks to those who spoke. bbc.co.uk/sport/football/art…
Mike Picton retweeted
Fascinating (and damning) that the Times of India is reporting the Brexit truths the UK press won’t.
The cost to UK businesses is staggering—but our politicians and media stay silent.
Why is foreign press doing their job for them? #BrexitReality
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…
Mike Picton retweeted
GB News, "Surely Brexit is a good thing?"
Andy Dixon, Fisherman, "It's been bad. The exact opposite. It hasn't worked out as the government promised.. Locally, in North Shields, it's been a bit of a disaster"
GB News, "In what way?"
Andy Dixon, "Red tape, documentation, it's 100x what it used to be"
GB News, "What about we can have our own fish and we don't have the EU fishing in our waters?"
Andy Dixon, "It hasn't affected us locally"
GB News, "Can't you charge them more as you are no longer shackled by the EU pricing structure?"
Andy Dixon, "No, because they can buy the same product from within the EU"
GB News, "Did you vote to leave?"
Andy Dixon, "I was a Brexiter, and I voted mainly because of the red tape"
Mike Picton retweeted
Wigan Athletic’s 2-1 victory at Stevenage means they’ve now beaten EVERY team they’ve met in the Football League and the Premier League, 105 teams in total. @StevenageFC did the double over #wafc last season, and drew 0-0 at the Brick in September. @BBCRMsport
Mike Picton retweeted
Really? And Badenoch put Therese Coffey forward for a Damehood? This is a road you want to go down? And what about Boris and Charlotte Owen? What's the story there? But no, you go on about Sadiq Khan. Because... well, you and I both know what you are, Daily Mail.
Mike Picton retweeted
Caoimhin Kelleher kept a Premier League clean-sheet for Liverpool this evening vs Manchester City
23 days until himself, Hans Gruber and the rest of the terrorists attempt to take over Nakatomi Plaza 👏🏻
Mike Picton retweeted
Love that we’ve gone from…
Disgraced Foreign Secretary can fly on a taxpayer-funded, Kardashian-style private jet
To Prime Minister can’t watch his team play football in a box that costs the taxpayer nothing.
Mike Picton retweeted
Because Brexit is such a winner for the economy, we’re delaying its implementation again.
I’m getting bored of this economic self-flagellation. Brexit is doing us no good, holds no future promise, and we should be getting rid of it.
Mike Picton retweeted
Instead of blaming Labour for having to make awful decisions. Ask WHY? Ask where’s the money gone? Ask WHY Johnson and Sunak won’t hand over their WhatsApp’s? Ask WHY Tories thought partying while people died alone was ok. Ask WHY they bypassed suitable companies for the fucking TORY VIP LANE? C’mon now why are you skirting past HOW we got here? Frankly you watched blatant Tory corruption but as soon as you think Labour has done something wrong… YOU’RE BANG ON IT. You fucking GET me?
Mike Picton retweeted
Britain has to decide to either rejoin the EU or continue with Brexit 🦄 of USA FTA - which will destroy 🇬🇧 agriculture, food standards and much of welfare state and likely ultimately break up the U.K.
This new @UKLabour has to level with the country about its goals, it can’t go on pretending to want best of both worlds.
1/2 👇
theguardian.com/politics/art…
