Martin’s Twitter
Another stunning exhibition at @ArcWinchester - in partnership with @NationalGallery. Rembrandt, Cranach, Jan Steen and Tracey Emin amongst others. Get there soon though! It closes tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/R2Cmn3cA9g
About 7 months ago from Martin Tod's Twitter via Twitter for Android · reply · retweet · favourite
What an amazing @WinLD team! So proud that all our hard work, and everything we've done to deliver for local people, was reflected by winning 13 out of 16 wards across the @WinchesterCity district. 10 fantastic new councillors! Looking forward to getting back to work on Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/GR9tOVqUA5
About 7 months ago from Martin Tod's Twitter via Twitter Web App · reply · retweet · favourite
The more you read this the more jaw-dropping, dystopian and horrifying it gets. @RAIL - does this happen anywhere else? twitter.com/propublica/sta…
About 8 months ago from Martin Tod's Twitter via Twitter Web App · reply · retweet · favourite
Just been to the @wessexdance Cohort 31 Graduation Performance at the @TRwinchester. Absolutely brilliant. The energy, discipline and creativity of the young dancers was an inspiration.
About 9 months ago from Martin Tod's Twitter via Twitter for Android · reply · retweet · favourite
It's my #Twitterversary! I have been on Twitter for 16 years, since 21 Mar 2007 (via @twi_age).
About 9 months ago from Martin Tod's Twitter via TwiAgeCom · reply · retweet · favourite
Such a good lunch at La Gastronomia in Bridge Street today. Great to have authentic independent Italian food back in the city. #HelloWinchester pic.twitter.com/LN43XhPwvn
About 9 months ago from Martin Tod's Twitter via Twitter for Android · reply · retweet · favourite
I've written on behalf of @WinchesterCity together with leaders of @EastleighBC @hantsconnect, @newforestdc, @SouthamptonCC and @TestValleyBC to Lawrence Gosden, Chief Executive of @SouthernWater about Southern Water's unacceptable performance during recent emergencies. pic.twitter.com/OAKr7byTgv
About 10 months ago from Martin Tod's Twitter via Twitter Web App · reply · retweet · favourite
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Mini-rant about Gibraltar
Both sides are over-reacting massively here.
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The Brexiteers are reacting to a (perhaps deliberate?) misunderstanding of the EU letter. It didn’t say that Spain would take over Gibraltar. It says that Spain will have a veto on any trade (or other EU-related) relationship between the EU and Gibraltar. That’s either a statement of fact – or a recognition that QMV won’t be used by other EU states to overrule Spain on Gibraltar-related issues (not sure which applies – possibly the latter, otherwise the letter wouldn’t have said what it did).
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The idiotic Howard quote now means that Remainers are compounding the misdirection by implying that Howard is saying we’ll invade. Some other particularly idiotic Brexiteers have gone on to say this – but Howard didn’t. He just did some standard Brexit BS bluster about how ‘resolve’ can somehow make a Spanish veto go away… (it can’t).
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All sides are missing the fundamental difference between the Falklands and Gibraltar. The Argentinians – as they discovered – didn’t have a veto. And while the Spanish can’t enforce a change in sovereignty, they do, and can block almost any other aspect of the relationship between Gibraltar and the EU. And despite what the Daily Telegraph says, we can’t use military force to overcome that.
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Whether Spain want to use their veto or not is a different issue. They have a lot of voters who work in Gibraltar – and a whole bunch of other issues at stake in their relationship with Britain (and Gibraltar). The ‘punishment’ approach to Gibraltar didn’t work before – and there’s no reason why it should work now. Longer-term they have more to gain from a positive approach.
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But if the UK Government and its proxies continue to behave as complete knobs – and pretend that they can unilaterally tell Spain what to do, it’s not impossible that Gibraltar will be caught in the resulting crossfire and suffer as a result. After all, Spain has voters and a sense of national dignity as well. We can’t barge around gratuitously pissing people off and expect there to be no come-back.