Leo Gibbons @Layo_FH Twitter profile

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Leo Gibbons

10 months

To celebrate the launch of my Substack, here is a selection of my blogs from over the years. First up, my most widely read blog (by some way). Written back in 2016, I predicted Corbynism to fail and fail badly. I guess I was kinda correct?

How Middle Class Liberals Destroyed The Labour Party

This blog was originally published on my Medium page back in May 24, 2016

thehottakemerchant.substack.com

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Last Seen Profiles

@tt_tt2025

@waitingsh_kr

@BinorRaja

@jandakembangstw

@PierreBotte1

@bocah_na8047692

@XBrandGoggles

@DAIIXOX

@AnibalOrtegap

@SydneySanders2

@MWM_UK

@aeniiac

@flyangel2233

@bokeplokalmalam

@CoachRichardson

@smarkovic

@YQoTL9nPTc4Dw3I

@stwmaniax

@jaide_0

@PNP2ndKPMFC

@almtlqah

@this1wierdgirl

@t2gYNnScM2X49jX

@FloraMcmil

@HiekkaGraphics

@anhadamit

@CPFC_Locsta

@KYdZ4Sev84XPHis

@metzbuck33

@Kich1

@adarius_bryant

@uguraktan

@f_69_t

@Ag_9899

@jandakembangstw

@stw_pdg

Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

8 months

Obsessed with Spurs’ anonymous fourth choice goalkeeper casually dropping the Thick of It

carly

@CarlyOnYouSpurs

8 months

nobody said prison break, the world is healing

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

I thought London couldn’t shock me anymore but what??? Why would something like this even exist, if not for events like last night?

Elliot Keck

@ElliotKeck

3 months

I live right next to this amazing space in Paddington, with space for hundreds to watch the game, outside, in a zone 1 location with half a dozen tube links nearby They didn't show the game out of respect to local residents... Our capital city is comatose

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

This is how British streets should look

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

8 months

A few weeks ago on here I stumbled on some neo-fash-adjacent account ranting about loud telephone conversations on public transport. Now on every bus I get on I can’t help but hear it. Currently two loudspeaker calls going on on my top deck. Is this how radicalisation happens?

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 month

Luxury flats start ‘moving chains’ freeing up housing lower down the ladder. Luxury flats don’t create people out of thin air. If you don’t build these apartments, high flying Manchester executives will outbid someone for another gaff nearby.

Jon Silver

@InvisibleMapper

1 month

APPROVED 2,388 expensive apartments in 5 skyscrapers Labour Party in Manchester are fuelling a housing crisis for developer profit. Includes: Peloton spin space, a dog spa, Mahjong Room, virtual golf driving range Does not include: Any affordable/social housing

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

4 months

Broadly speaking, housing is deemed ‘unaffordable’ if you’re paying over a third of your take home pay on rent. For £1250pcm to be ‘affordable’ for you, you need to be earning £60k. I just don’t think most owner-occupiers realise how insane our housing crisis is.

Marie Le Conte

@youngvulgarian

4 months

idly doing my bi-annual curiosity flat search and pleased to announce that there is once again not a single one bedroom flat available to rent within zone 2 London on RightMove for under £1250pcm, *not one*

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

I know it’s a cliche to do this but… the state of U.K’s trains compared to Finland’s… Here is my lunch from the restaurant car. There is also a part of one carriage designated as a children’s play area.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

We could’ve had an superb YIMBY Labour MP who understands housing economics and was brave and bold as a councillor, making the case for urban densification. But this egotist ran and split the vote.

Faiza Shaheen

@faizashaheen

3 months

A few people have been in touch asking how IDS still got 17k+ voters in CWG. Have to remember he’s been here a long time so has a history with many people, plus good at taking credit for local community wins. However, one extra thing was using the Labour candidate’s record to

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

@Dr_Westlake @OptimoPrincipi Lots of people going to museums is deep cultural and educational degradation? 🤔

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

7 months

Progressives reclaiming the flag is good actually 👍

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

Anyone involved in local government will know this type of NIMBYism - opposition couched in ‘but let’s just explore all the options*’. *delay a viable scheme for months or years, costing £££, in order to assess the viability of far more costly alternatives. All to appease NIMBYs

Pete Kennedy

@PeteKennedy

3 months

@seandsmyth You know there are other options than pylons, right? Offshore grid, tunnelling. These haven’t been properly considered.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

6 months

Cos we refuse to do proper pedestrianisation with greenery and cobbles and all that stuff. We do everything on the cheap. We’re a ´know the cost of everything and the value of nothing’ nation that despises investment.

edwin heathcote

@edwinheathcote

6 months

I don’t understand why London struggles so hopelessly with new street furniture. This hot mess is in Bloomsbury outside UCL. Dire.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

Hahahahaha it’s an image from Poundbury. Where infamously, residents who moved into phase 1 of the town then objected to the building of phase 2 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Ben 🇬🇧

@BWoodzy99

2 years

Want to defeat NIMBYism? Build beautiful

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

6 months

I knew a labour politician who lived in France and they said they thought the French healthcare system was so much better then ours, but they dare not say it publicly.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

Every single beautiful English town or village is blighted by cars. How do photographers capture those ‘postcard images’ of these places? Get up at dawn, I presume?

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

6 months

Why don’t we build 6 story unbroken terraces and mansion blocks anymore? Are they not viable, would they not be planning compliant, what’s the reason?

Tom Harwood

@tomhfh

6 months

The most densely populated bit of London looks like this. We could and should have far more of it.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

7 months

The 🏳️‍⚧️flag + celebrating Galloway's success... Politics is all about vibes.

Stats for Lefties 🍉🏳️‍⚧️

@LeftieStats

7 months

🚨 BREAKING: George Galloway WINS Rochdale ➡️ Galloway wins 40% ➡️ Crushing majority (5,700 votes) ➡️ Independent comes 2nd with 21% ➡️ Labour fall to FOURTH place with 8%

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

4 months

It’s going to be gutting when so many of Labour’s new intake cave to the exact same pressures that make 99.9% of MPs, NIMBYs.

Marsha de Cordova

@MarshadeCordova

4 months

From the beginning, I have opposed the redevelopment of the Glassmill site at 1 Battersea Bridge. At 34 stories, it exceeds the height of developments allowed in the zone. It will do more harm than good for residents, our local community, and the area around the river.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 years

A motion of no confidence in Kier Starmer is coming along to Deptford CLP General Committee tonight. Labour is 10pts ahead in the polls 😂

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

I don’t understand why cities don’t enforce strict design codes on shop signage/frontages in their historic old centres

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 month

Tokyo has a higher % of empty homes than Burnley! The sheer lack of empty homes in the U.K, particularly in our urban cores, is a big hot flashing sign that WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS.

NikSr

@NickSurb

1 month

@carbdiem @Layo_FH Recently moved from Battersea where I lived next to high risers. Same story there. Always think of this every time I hear ‘housing crisis’

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

8 months

We live in a multicultural society and it must be the case that in some cultures it is simply not frowned upon to have private conversations very loudly in public spaces where they intrude on others.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

8 months

Looks like we might’ve found the new Pat Nevin

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

6 years

@mralistairgreen 'I see yer da has taken the divorce well'

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 years

Anyone know what era these homes were built in? I ask because I DESPISE this style

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

9 months

It’s incredible how 99.9% of the ‘the bloodshed must end’ discourse is directed at Israel, and not at Hamas. Like, Hamas can stop this right now as well, y’know. I makes me think that… 1/3

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

Most people are receptive to this line and don’t expect volunteers to be across policy like a front bencher. But she isn’t. She starts twisting the knife, "you’re meant to believe in this party, *points at labour logo*, but you come out and can’t even explain your policies."

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

2009 was when Crossrail 1 was signed off. Since 2010… Crossrail 2 mothballed. Bakerloo line extension, mothballed. South London tram, cancelled in 2008 by Boris Johnson. Can anyone add to the list of infrastructure improvements in London that have been cancelled?

Sky News

@SkyNews

1 year

"Why is it that people in the north are always forced to choose? Why are we always treated as second-class citizens when it comes to transport?" Mayor of Greater Manchester @AndyBurnhamGM asks. #TrevorPhillips 📺 Sky 50, Freeview 233 and YouTube

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

8 months

Out of interest, does anyone know any cultures where it’s not seen as impolite to watch videos or play music out loud on your device on a bus or train or whatever?

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

Same in inner London where new flats are described as ´luxury’, when actually there are nearly always pretty poky, with a kitchenette-living room. They have a ´luxury’ price tag due to constricted supply in the market.

James 🚄

@TypeForVictory

3 months

Amusing blow up in mentions. People mixing up "executive homes" with "really expensive homes". A four bed terrace should be affordable for a couple on a good [but normal] income. A C20 semi shouldn't be the reserve of CEOs. That they are means there's a huge shortage.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

Matt Forde on a roll here. I love it when someone speaks with both clarity and searing passion. Looks at those eyes narrow. Speaking truth too.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

I am kind of flabbergasted by the reaction that Labour attack advert has triggered. Here are my thoughts on it, in a thread. 1. Thousands of child sexual abusers getting away with non-custodial sentences under a Tory gov (a legit issue to campaign on ✅)

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

We suffer so much because we share the same language with America. I doubt the walkable city policies enacted by Ghent caused right-wing influencers 4,000 miles away to tweet about it

Andy Ngo 🏳️‍🌈

@MrAndyNgo

2 years

Earlier today, #Antifa mobilized in #Oxford , England to oppose people protesting over the #15minutecity climate policies designed to limit drivers in the city. Cameras would be used to identify cars without special permits, leading to fines.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

7 months

Please tell me this person is trolling? London’s nightlife is getting smothered by the NIMBY veto and this is particularly outrageous in the heart of the West End.

Charlie Baker

@CharlieFBBaker1

7 months

The Be At One opposite us is blasting music with the doors open in clear breach of their music license at 7pm on a Tuesday evening. Taylor Swift audible from 50 metres away. Is this the Soho people want? @sohosocietyw1 @twocitiesnickie

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

7 months

If one of these opens up in your neighbourhood, you know your rent is about to go up.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

Over the years canvassing for Labour, I’ve been heckled, shouted at, I’ve had doors slammed in my face. I’ve had dogs chase me down paths and I’ve had people weep in front of me. But tonight I had probably my worst ever exchange on a doorstep. Let me explain…

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

5 years

The nature of this unhinged rant shows that Jon Richardson’s comment really hit a raw nerve. I think it hit a nerve because people like Socialist Dad do have buried guilt. Guilt about backing someone who lost so devastatingly and enabled a right-wing government to continue.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

NIMBYism causes gentrification. If you don’t increase housing supply in a city with a growing population, more and more people are going to compete for what’s left. When that happens, those with deeper pockets win.

The Guardian

@guardian

1 year

‘It doesn’t need regeneration’: Peckham’s charm under threat from gentrification plans

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 years

Lol

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

This map is just one huge 'policy failure' sign isn't it? Nearly all of GL should do pink and there should be large pink clusters in all our major cities and pink blots for our sizeable towns.

Neil O'Brien

@NeilDotObrien

1 year

The "poor people don't drive" narrative is such a London bubble thing. The pink areas on this map are where people use public transport more than driving.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

Interesting chat with Francis Fukuyama on the Rest is Politics podcast. He said one of greatest issues facing in Western democracies is that our governments are often stymied by complex bureaucracy, which leads to delays and spiralling costs whenever they try to do anything big.

Glen O'Hara

@gsoh31

1 year

FOR GOD'S SAKE JUST BUILD THE THING. EVERY NORMAL COUNTRY DOES IT WITHOUT ANY FUSS. 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

7 months

Imagine if we actually had the reservoirs to make good use of this excess rain…

Dave Throup

@DaveThroup

7 months

It’s been the wettest year and 18 months across England since records began in 1871.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

Labour won’t raise any of the big taxes. The sums raised on VAT on private schools are tiny. And I started to ponder that I do have ‘faith’ in Labour but the problem is, I’m just out here on faith. ‘Faith’ that a Lab gov will somehow get the growth necessary to end austerity…

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

8 months

"Do you want some Angry Fries my guy?" . @_andrewkerr_

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

4 months

I made the mistake at looking at the replies to this harmless tweet. 90% toxic bilge, ranging from snide remarks, to unpleasant personal insults, to simply unhinged stuff - of course all from anonymous account who will never be held accountable by acquaintances, friends & family.

Luke Akehurst

@lukeakehurst

4 months

Break between canvassing sessions for scampi and fries at Woodlands Bistro & Venue in Edmondsley

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

6 months

I’m out doing some YIMBY campaigning and I just came across one of those highly engaged voters who says only new ‘affordable housing’ will lower prices.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

Just seen an MP's job advert for a Parliamentary Assistant. Salary... £25.5K. London-based, working for a Member of Parliament, in 2023... £25.5K.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

8 months

It’s immensely challenging to densifying London’s sprawling low density suburbs. That means strategic sites that can be densified, really need to be maximised.

Ameet Jogia MBE

@Ameet_Jogia

8 months

The 29-storey tower plans for Broadwalk are utterly ludicrous – how can our Labour Council approve so many towers which are completely out of character with the area and with such little care for local residents?

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 years

If I saw this I’d press the button as I walked by

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 years

Slightly struck by the nastiness of this

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

7 months

There’s much to admire about Andy Burnham but there is much to find completely insufferable about him

UnHerd

@unherd

7 months

Andy Burnham’s attempts at northern laddishness mainly take the form of talking about football a lot. @IanMartin : 👇

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

4 years

My response to this article: 1. Cars are expensive. Bicycles are very cheap. It's an extremely egalitarian form of transport. 2. An obvious point. Liveable Streets do not prevent you from owning a car.

Dave Hill

@DaveHill

4 years

A #TowerHamlets Labour councillor has raised concerns about his Labour-run borough's Liveable streets programme. He says working-class and BAME residents feel it will penalise them. Does he have a point? Up to a point, maybe: . @TH_Labour

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

What a shoddy disgrace that the residents of Soho would prefer a never ending crawl of SUVs and diesel vans over al-fresco dining. And what is an even greater disgrace is Westminster Labour refusing to act in the interest of Londoners over Soho's 'neighbourhood defenders'

Bob From Accounts 🚲

@BobFromAccounts

2 years

Suggesting Soho would be soulless, sterile and boring without cars implies that cars add ambience. Cars add nothing, apart from pollution and danger @CityWestminster

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

4 years

“I want socialism but not papa to pay for it” is very on brand for Momentum tbf.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

She declines dismissively. I’m paraphrasing here but she says, "l’m sorry but you’re trying to get me to vote for this party and you cannot even answer these simple questions." I apologetically explain that I’m just a volunteer, not the candidate.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

@AyoCaesar If that Asian Labour MP was the literally the Prime Minister, no it wouldn’t be racist. Because they’re being singled out due to being the person RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT, and not for their race. It would be very different if Labour had put Nus Ghani on this ad, for example.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

Unhinged. Completely unhinged. But it must be coming from somewhere… Did corporate landlords donors and Tory bigwigs sit down together and thrash out this messaging?

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

Labour have made it clear it won’t commit to any tough choices to shift to a more progressive tax base based on wealth as well as income, and then raise spending. Apart from planning reform, all politically tough choices have been dodged. But I still have faith, I guess.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

In Year 7, each of my R.E. class were given little red paperback bibles. As soon as the lesson was over, we had a huge fight on the stairwell, throwing bibles at each other.

Roshan M Salih

@RmSalih

2 years

If the Torah or Bible or the holy book of any religion was disrespected by pupils in a school, and that led to justifiable complaints, then any school would take action against pupils who did that. And there would be no controversy whatsoever. The only reason why what happened at

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

11 months

Last month Azerbaijan ethnically cleansed an area of 1,700 square miles, forcing 100k ethnic Armenians to flee their homes. I don’t really have the words to describe the asymmetry of reactions by the international community.

Antonio García Martínez (agm.eth)

@antoniogm

11 months

People reacting to what Israel does almost always demonstrates why Israel needs to exist.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

6 months

Groups like this is why we can’t have good, safe, cycling infrastructure to transition people away from cars. If you are going to have segregated cycle lanes along bus routes, you either need Dutch style floating bus stop or Copenhagen style bus stops (pictured here in London).

NFBUK

@NFBUK

6 months

Filmed late last year next to Colliers Wood Tube Station London. This floating bus stop was put down in lockdown & needs to be removed. Disabled people cannot use it. Access to & from the bus needs to be direct from the pavement without having to cross or step into a cycle lane.

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@Layo_FH

4 months

@adb0wen I dunno why you’re getting snark from people replying saying the Tories. A huge part of the Conservative coalition is income-poor, asset-ok or asset-rich pensioners in small towns and suburbs. Lib Dems voters are basically only high income or high wealth individuals?

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

"You (as a volunteer) are meant to have faith in this party, but you can’t even explain your policies" In my defence, the new dentists for Rochester was totally new to me. But across the country Labour candidates will be making similar pledges to this…

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

Watching episode two of Putin vs The West and just feeling sick to my stomach at the knock on impact of Ed Miliband whipping his MPs to block military action against Assad after his use of chemical weapons.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

How will you attract NHS dentists and staff to move to Rochester? I pause. I know Labour have ruled out any major tax rises. Where are we going to get the money from?… I say, "well, Labour’s focus is on getting the economy growing again, after years of stagnation…

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

if we get our economy growing again, we will have more money to invest in…" She cuts in, "but how will you do that?" I splutter. I’m worried that planning reform isn’t really a vote-winner. It’s a bit esoteric and explaining how the housing crisis is impacting the economy…

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

She sighs and says not really and then flicks through the leaflet. She says the problem is, you promise things like this, like new dentists - "I need a dentist" - but how are you going to deliver this? Where are you going to get this new money for NHS dentists?

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

We’re such a strange country. The median voter is extremely authoritarian and politicians consistently talk tough on crime. Yet on a semi regular basis, you’ll see sentences like this. Sentences so lenient that they leave bleeding heart liberals like me, outraged.

Tony Dowson

@TonyDowson5

2 years

"A man who raped a 13-year-old schoolgirl in a park when he was 17 has avoided a prison sentence. "Sean Hogg, 21, attacked the girl in Dalkeith Country Park, Midlothian, on various occasions between March and June 2018"

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 years

Why do you need a car that large?

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

6 months

There is something so strong in the British cultural psyche that makes us love embracing perfection as the enemy of the good.

Left Foot Forward

@LeftFootFwd

6 months

Nimbyism on Wandsworth council shows why we need planning reform, writes @yimbychris

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

7 months

"Penge hamlet" 🤣 Penge hasn’t been a hamlet for about 200 years…

Constructing London

@constructingldn

7 months

230 homes on a Penge’s Blenheim shopping centre is set for approval, by Bromley’s Development Control Committee tonight. Fury due to car parking reduction and threatening the “Penge hamlet”. Initial scheme has shortened at reduced by 20 homes to local opposition.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

It is clear his campaign was purely focused on the protection of one group of children, to the detriment of children across the capital. Let me explain... First thing to note: Planning regs on distribution hubs are already strong.

Aaron Bastani

@AaronBastani

3 months

I don’t think 24 hour distribution centres, where vehicles constantly come, go and refuel, should be next to primary schools. Obviously not ideal - and I think most parents would agree. This stuff is so detached how voters actually feel.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

Has any Labour or Lib Dem councillor in West Yorkshire challenged Cllr Ali’s framing of this incident? The incident was an autistic child accidentally scuffing a copy of the Quran. The child has since received death threats.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

23 days

My theory is… in 2016/17 Jones burnt a lot of bridges on the Left for criticising Corbyn and challenging left-antisemitism a bit. After 2017 and Corbyn’s ascendancy, he came scrabbling back on board the Corbyn-train and had to become an (even more) extreme partisan defender of

Matt Kennard

@kennardmatt

25 days

In this 2017 interview with Jewish Chronicle (!), Owen Jones defends headlining at Israel lobby group JLM, demands Corbyn stand down as leader, insinuates left is riven with antisemitism, says he looks forward to visiting Israel, and that he opposes BDS because “you end up

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

7 months

Abbott literally retweeted a tweet saying #ItWasAScam (from a account that persistently makes that claim) a few weeks back. It’s stuff like that that means she isn’t welcomed back. Why is this being overlooked?

The Guardian

@guardian

7 months

The Labour party is in my blood and in my bones. Here’s why I’ve just cancelled my membership | Owen Jones

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

Personally I’m sceptical that I was speaking to an activist. We had no data on her, she wasn’t down as a supporter of another party. I asked to see if we had a local councillor with us, as they might know the individual if they were an activist. There wasn’t a councillor with us.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

6 months

A comment in a YIMBY WhatsApp group about this planning decision was so good I just had to share it: ‘Mad we live in a country where developers are willing to hand over half of their product to the state and people still say no 😂´ 1/2

Left Foot Forward

@LeftFootFwd

6 months

Nimbyism on Wandsworth council shows why we need planning reform, writes @yimbychris

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

No leader of a nation should live in a house like this

Newbuild Hate

@HateNewbuild

1 year

Nicola Sturgeon's house is peak Newbuild

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

Anyone know why the HS2/HS1 link was cancelled? Imagine trains from Leeds to Paris, Manchester to Brussels. Amazing.

John Morris

@Plaistovian

2 years

Imagine getting on a train at Leeds and getting off at Brussels/Paris/Amsterdam. Unfortunately, the lack of ambition from this country can be despairing at times. But at least it's clear what the Party of growth, ambition, and investment.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 years

Snark and unpleasantness is what makes this site go round. Rent controls in Berlin failed and they are becoming an issue in Stockholm. Rent controls certainly might help some but undersupply of homes is the fundamental cause of high rents.

Adam Smith

@adamndsmith

3 years

Charlotte Gill sowing vs Charlotte Gill reaping

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

5 years

Earlier today, myself and several representatives of Lewisham West Labour wrote to the Secretary of @CLPLewishamW_P to express our dismay and anger at the invitation of Dr Piers Robinson to speak to Party members. We do not believe his toxic views reflect the values of @UKLabour

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 month

In places like Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea, about 30% of new builds are bought by foreign investors. In London as a whole, about 10%? But are these investors leaving these properties empty or cashing in on rental income? Probably a lot of them are doing the latter, cos

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

LTNs are just the very first step to producing streets like this and it’s a bit devastating that people can’t seem to envisage a city with a reduced demand for cars. So many politicians across the board are not brave enough to continue this journey to reduce traffic on our roads.

Jon Burke MIEMA CEnv 🌍

@jonburkeUK

2 years

“If you invite more cars, you get more cars. If you make more streets better for cars you get more traffic...If you invite people to walk more and use public spaces more, you get more life in the city. You get what you invite.” - Jan Gehl

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 years

Umm I’m sorry but opposite CROSSRAIL stations, in surburban town centre clusters, is exactly where we should be building tall buildings.

Peter Mason

@_petermason

3 years

🎥 🏗🏙 We’re setting out new rules today that will help clamp down on speculative tall buildings in Ealing. We want genuinely affordable homes and jobs that pay decent living incomes. Read more about it all:

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

Cabinet Ministers should absolutely neglect their constituency work. And my controversial opinion is ‘constituency work’ should be an afterthought for backbenchers. You are not a Citizens Advice advisor, you are a legislator.

gabyhinsliff

@gabyhinsliff

1 year

@MattWWoolwich To be fair, he’s presumably doing it as the local MP not the chancellor. Would be more worried about cabinet ministers who neglect constituency work tbh (tho photographing & posting it is the questionable bit)

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

This idea needs to die. Imagine the utter carnage if you attempted to build a suburb like this next to say, Chelsfield station in Bromley. Good design or old fashioned architecture won't end NIMBYism. Only centralisation and land use reform can weaken the grip of NIMBYism.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

If I were supreme ruler of London, I’d compulsory purchase every low density 80s or 90s ‘postmodern’ housing estate in Zone 2/3 and build trad-inspired mansion blocks that would fail our suburbia and tower block loving rules on sunlight, overlooking and accessibility.

Stephen Bush

@stephenkb

1 year

@msolwilliams This “everything in moderation” approach in the UK would involve compulsory purchasing and knocking down a hundreds of two storey houses, which I am 100 per cent supportive of, but it is a funny definition of “moderation”.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

Minimum parking requirements, minimum daylight and sunlight requirements, minimum overlooking requirements, access standards for every property, they all add up. This is what you get.

Russell Curtis

@russellcurtis

2 years

How it started👇🏻 How it's going 👇🏻

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

This wasn’t an air quality campaign, this was a NIMBY campaign.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

Our leaflet in Rochester had a promise on it about getting more NHS dentists in the area and tackling anti-social behaviour… along with some other stuff. Like most voters, I barely glance as what’s on these leaflets. I am just here to data harvest!

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

Isn’t carbon capture technology hokum pokum and anyone who talks about it being a viable solution in the short/medium term nearly always has has a vested interest in preventing a rapid transition to green energy?

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

6 months

I’m tired of seeing ‘build more of this’ without any explanation of the hurdles to building like this.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

An insight into my personality and psyche for my followers there. Anyway, I don’t actually think this is my worst experience, that would’ve been the person who broke down in tears. But that is a story is for another night.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

1 year

I increasingly hate this city

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 years

It breaks my heart that people feel that the length of shadows over a park to be more important than whether people have a roof over their heads.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

9 months

Funny conflict in which the bad guys can be persuaded by appeals to humanitarian ethical instincts but it’s not even worth appealing to the freedom fighters, because they act totally outside of the ethical framework that underpins our concept of human rights. 3/3

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

2 years

Very very gradually the screwed generation are getting into positions of influence. One reason why I think GBNews is so good on the housing crisis is that so many of their producers are quite young, and therefore understand that it is a CRISIS that needs talking about.

Calgie

@christiancalgie

2 years

F*** NIMBYs

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

I’m now crumbling. I explain that I’m just a volunteer, down from London. I again say if she wants answers to policy, Lauren would be best to speak to, or perhaps I can see if a local cllr is with us? She declines again, shakes her head and implies that I’ve just lost us a vote.

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Leo Gibbons

@Layo_FH

3 months

well it’s complicated… and I don’t think this voter will be moved by talking about building more homes. I’m correct here, as she later dismissed the point on housing on the leaflet, because she "doesn’t need housing" and so that doesn’t affect her.

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