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EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

Jun 19

The lies are gushing forth from this rotten Blue Labour cabal.
Remember, this is deliberate.
A designed and engineered plan to abolish the welfare state as dozens of states within states are rapidly spreading across the UK in the form of carve-outs, 12 deregulated Freeports, and 74 SEZs whose projected costs over the next 25 years is £64 billion.
Zone Fever is the corporate plague ravaging public infrastructure that the MSM and most Independent media outlets refuse to expose.
theguardian.com/politics/2025/…

https://x.com/EuropeanPowell/status/1935452984093155783

The UK is being privatised.

https://x.com/EuropeanPowell/status/1935452984093155783

https://x.com/EuropeanPowell/status/1935420720441700760

Secondary legislation means Parliamentary and public scrutiny is effectively hobbled.
FOIs on free zones are being refused left, right and centre, including mine.

https://x.com/EuropeanPowell/status/1935420720441700760

Read 4 tweets

EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

Jun 16

You need to watch this video from @gilduran76 that explains how exploitative AI is, how Silicon Valley breaks laws with impunity, the main culprits are Sam Altman, Musk, Zuckerberg, Alex Katz and Peter Thiel who are the most predatory characters you can imagine.
OpenAI is being already being used in schools, so instead of learning to think and learn, deregulated OpenAI is de-edcuating children.
You have to ask why?
Combining tech power with state power to a dystopia in the making, this is anti-governance on steroids.
Reminder, the US and UK both refused to sign up for a regulatory franework at the EU ‘s AI Safety Summit in Spril 2025.
We are witnessing a battle of corporate and state empires the roots of which date back to the East India Company.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=C8ddJ5…

AI Growth Zones: The Digital Guillotine
Starmer’s AI Growth Zones (AIGZs), launched in February 2025 with bidding now underway, are the digital layer of this techno-feudal nightmare, straight from The Sovereign Individual’s predictions. These zones, wired to The Network State’s token-led governance, weaponise “regulatory flexibility” to empower tech giants like Palantir, Microsoft, and Anduril Industries, backed by Thiel’s Founders Fund and Marc Andreessen’s company Andreessen Horowitz. Anduril’s militarised AI, from border drones to autonomous weapons, thrives in AIGZs’ lax oversight, erecting data centres that drown out public voices. Starmer’s refusal to join the EU’s AI Safety Summit in April 2025, alongside the U.S., confirms this deregulatory race-to-the-bottom.

open.substack.com/pub/europeanpo…

Silicon Valley’s conception and deployment of AI is like the fruit of poisoned tree.
This is why we must make the distinction between AI as a predatory destabilizing tool of democracy, and AI as a tool that mitigates environmental problems, and medical innovation.
It comes down to the Right’s (I include Blue Labour in this) exploitation of AI as a force for oligarchic control at the highest levels of office via massive deregulation and overreach of corporate political power.

Read 6 tweets

EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

Jun 16

There are glaring parallels with post-Brexit's nationwide rollout of 74 deregulated SEZs, 12 Freeports, and Keir Starmer's AI Growth Zones to Trump's 10 'Freedom Cities' plans.
It's high time this got serious investigative exposure by the MSM, but it won't.
In the US, the Frontier Valley proposal to build an AI-focused tech city on Alameda Point, leveraging a draft executive order for a "national security emergency," aligns with the Network State concept, where tech companies seek quasi-sovereign control over territories. This move could bypass environmental laws, like the Endangered Species Act, due to the site's California least tern habitat, and transfer federal land to private hands, echoing Trump’s "freedom cities" campaign promise. His prior use of emergency powers in California, such as deploying Marines to Los Angeles, suggests he might entertain this strategy again, especially given his administration’s tech-friendly stance.
theguardian.com/us-news/ng-int…
The parallels with Brexit’s special economic zones (SEZs), freeports, and Keir Starmer’s AI Growth Zones indicate a global trend of using economic and technological pretexts to reshape governance and land use. Palantir’s 24 UK contracts hint at a broader infrastructural grab, blending public resources with private tech interests. This reflects a race to compete with global powers like China, but it risks undermining democratic oversight and environmental protections.
If Trump approves, it might set a precedent for corporate land grabs, challenging courts, Congress, and California’s authority. Opposition from local communities and legal challenges, especially over environmental concerns, will likely intensify. The outcome could redefine U.S. governance, testing the balance between corporate innovation and public sovereignty.
Reminder - Mass compulsory purchase orders are underway in Birmingham, Cornwall, and East Anglia, thousands of homes are implicated, 5000 protected nature sites are to be bulldozed for Labour's 1.5 million new housing plan, Blackrock who are in partnership with the Labour Party has 80% stakes in 3 British freeports, they have also announced their 'Infrastructure Imperative' project that claims the public sector urgently need private sector investment, as well as targeting green spaces, identifying them as 'nature's assets' to be commodified as new additions to Blackrock finacial portfolio.
The MSM and the majority of independent news outlets, from @novaramedia , to @PoliticsJOE_UK and @TurnLeftMediaUK @CurtisDaly_ @michaeljswalker @AaronBastani @owenjonesjourno @AyoCaesar @AvaSantina @NoJusticeMTG along with many other high-profile commentators on social media are not investigating Zone Fever, which is plaguing the UK and US at an alarming pace. These are all great accounts, but deregulated zoning is not getting the coverage it deserves.
Zonification, technofeudal enclaves, patchworks of corporate sovereignties, whatever you want to call them are spreading like a cancer, eclipsing entire countries.
These free zones represent direct and deliberate attacks on citizens' sovereignty, public services will be wiped out, and laws will become services that companies demand, entailing citizenship by contract.
substack.com/@europeanpowel…
These are wholly illegal attempts at dismantling democracy and the commons via a Govt-backed corporate coup.
thenerdreich.com/startup-seeks-…

From The Sovereign Individual - How to Survive and Thrive During the Collapse of the Welfare State, written in 1997.
- Increasingly autonomous individuals and bankrupt, desperate governments will confront one another across a new divide. We expect to see a radical
restructuring of the nature of sovereignty and the virtual death of politics before the transition is over instead of state domination and control of resources, you are destined to see the privatization of almost all services governments now provide.
For inescapable reasons that we explore at length in this book, information technology will, destroy the capacity of the state to charge more for its services than they are worth to the people who pay for them.
Sovereignty Through Markets
To an extent that few would have imagined only a decade ago, individuals will achieve increasing autonomy over territorial nationstates through market
mechanisms.

Exclusive: Greenland ‘Freedom City’? Rich donors push Trump for a tech hub up north
reuters.com/world/europe/g…

Read 15 tweets

EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

Jun 14

What Starmer’s changed Labour Party is doing is forcing a transition from the welfare state to self help in the community. Care in the Community 2.1.
The neoliberal policies Labour openly adopted while expunging the left to form ‘changed Labour’ were warmly inherited from the Tories precisely because they cause misery and suffering, this Death by a Thousand cuts reaffirms just how far the Right has evolved, it has eclipsed the Labour Party.

Labour are literally wallowing in these obscene disavowals of their party’s roots, and as peoples outrage mounts, the outcome will see them dying in the streets.
The pain Blue Labour is inflicting is brutal, it is democide, which neoliberals and libertarians deem a necessary component of eugenics.
Entire generations of people are once again being penalized for being beneficiaries of a socialist egalitarian state.
All of this is antithetical to what the Labour Party once was.
Deregulated SEZs/free zones are introducing a race to the bottom, a patchwork of Social Darwinist feudal enclaves where sovereignty is violated under a corporate political model that no one voted for.

The ‘equality frame’ is being described as a form of surrender to socialism after the Second World War.
The writings of Hayek, Friedman and Mises paved the way for Brexit.
The only reason SEZs are being pushed now is to fulfill the Right’s dream of dramatically reducing big government by outsourcing powers to corporations in enclaves where deregulation favours corporations over people.

Violence is now embedded in economic policy rollouts, this has its origins in Murray Rothbard’s writings.
There’s no mainstream investigative journalism into what I see as a serious concession to the Right, we see reps from the IEA on BBC and ITV Breakfast shows. I wonder if the bullshit and lying is now some sort of theatre people are becoming far too accustomed with.

Read 4 tweets

EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

Jun 5

Norfolk villagers to lose their homes under mass CPOs, what did I tell you?
South Norfolk, along with other parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, is part of a designated and deregulated investment zone, a type of SEZ under the UK government’s flagship program.
Norfolk and Suffolk were among 38 areas in England invited to form investment zones to “supercharge economic growth by Sunak and Truss.
There are 74 SEZ and 12 Freeports spread across England, Scotland, and Wales.
While in opposition Labour opposed free zones, but still went ahead and signed off on them with the Tories.
Now in power, Labour are creating more SEZs and last October published a 192 page document on Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), this was a continuation of Michael Gove's push for CPOs. The document was updated in January 2025.
The MSM is not doing their job and informing the public of what's happening with Zone Fever.
The UK is being carved up into patchworks of corporate sovereignties, all public services will be privatised, as will the entire country.
It is beyond criminal that the MSM are not investigating this properly.
No one voted for this.
itv.com/news/anglia/20…

This morning I have sent an FOI request to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
To: Freedom of Information Team
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)
2 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DF
Dear FOI Team,
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) across the United Kingdom, particularly in relation to the rollout of 86 free zones (comprising 74 Special Economic Zones and 12 Freeports) as part of the UK Government’s economic growth strategy. I am also seeking data that warrants greater public scrutiny due to concerns about transparency, democratic accountability, and the impact on local communities.

Background Context:
Recent public discourse on platforms like X highlights significant concerns about the scale and implications of the 86 free zones rollout. These zones, spanning 34–75 km in diameter, are linked to CPOs that affect homes, businesses, and agricultural land, often without sufficient public consultation or transparency. For example, a £2.2bn project in Birmingham reportedly involves CPOs affecting 1,833 properties, and similar actions are occurring in Norfolk and Suffolk, where villagers are losing homes.

Furthermore, there are allegations of a lack of transparency, with figures like Rachel Reeves reportedly refusing to commit to audits of these zones, and concerns about corporate influence from entities like Blackrock, Deloitte, and Amazon endorsing related economic policies. These issues underscore the need for public access to detailed data on CPOs and their impacts.

Information Requested:
To better understand the scope, impact, and governance of CPOs in relation to the 86 free zones and other development projects, I request the following information:
Total Number of CPOs Issued Nationally (2023–2025):
The total number of CPOs issued across the UK from 1 January 2023 to 5 June 2025, broken down by year and region (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).
The number of properties (residential, commercial, and agricultural) affected by these CPOs, including a breakdown by property type and region.
CPOs Linked to the 86 Free Zones Rollout:
A list of all CPOs issued in connection with the 86 free zones (74 SEZs and 12 Freeports) identified in the UK Government’s economic strategy, including:
The name and location of each free zone (e.g., Liverpool City Region Freeport, South Hampshire Investment Zone).
The number of CPOs issued for each zone, with details of the number of properties affected and the type of properties (e.g., residential, commercial, agricultural).
The geographical boundaries of each free zone, including any updates to boundaries since their initial designation (e.g., as noted in updated maps for Humber and Solent Freeports on GOV.UK, 3 February 2025).
Specific details on whether Basingstoke, Hampshire, falls within or is affected by any of these free zones, particularly the South Hampshire Investment Zone or Solent Freeport, and if CPOs have been issued in Basingstoke as part of these initiatives.

Areas Affected by CPOs Outside Free Zones:
A list of areas (by local authority or region) where CPOs have been issued for other development projects (e.g., HS2, National Highways projects, urban regeneration) from 1 January 2023 to 5 June 2025, including the number of properties affected in each area.
Any data on CPOs related to infrastructure projects in Basingstoke, Hampshire, as outlined in the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan Update (Regulation 18), which identifies major developments like Manydown and Basing View.
Transparency and Public Scrutiny Concerns:
Copies of any internal audits, reports, or correspondence (including emails, memos, or meeting minutes) from 1 January 2023 to 5 June 2025 that discuss:
The transparency of SEZ and Freeport operations, particularly in response to concerns about Rachel Reeves’ reported refusal to commit to a National Audit Office investigation into England’s 8 Freeports and 48 SEZs for lack of transparency and questions over value for taxpayers’ money.
Compliance with the Nolan Principles in the governance of these free zones.
Details of any public consultations held for the 86 free zones, including dates, locations, and summaries of public feedback, particularly where CPOs were proposed or implemented.
Information on the involvement of private corporations (e.g., Blackrock, Deloitte, Amazon) in the governance or funding of SEZs and Freeports, including any contracts, memoranda of understanding, or financial incentives provided using public funds (state aid).
Democratic Accountability and Public Awareness:
Details of any plans or proposals to hold a public referendum or national consultation on the creation and expansion of SEZs and Freeports, given their significant impact on land use and sovereignty, as raised in public discussions on X.
Copies of the Labour government’s 192-page document on Compulsory Purchase Orders published in October 2024 and updated in January 2025, or a summary of its key provisions, particularly those related to SEZs and Freeports.
Additional Pertinent Data:
Any data or reports highlighting the socio-economic impacts of CPOs on affected communities, including displacement, compensation disputes, or changes in local property values, particularly in areas like Birmingham, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
Information on the use of state aid in SEZs and Freeports, including the total amount of public funds allocated to these zones from 1 January 2023 to 5 June 2025, and how this aligns with EU state aid rules, given claims that these zones contravene such regulations for at least 25 years.
Format and Scope:
I request that the information be provided in a clear, digital format (e.g., PDF or Excel spreadsheet for numerical data) where possible. If any requested data is held by another public body (e.g., National Highways, HS2 Ltd, or local authorities), please provide details of where I can access this information or forward my request accordingly. If any part of this request is likely to exceed the cost limit under Section 12 of the FOI Act, please advise on how I can refine my request to bring it within scope.
Rationale for Public Scrutiny:
The scale of the 86 free zones rollout, combined with the extensive use of CPOs, raises significant concerns about transparency, democratic accountability, and the potential for corporate welfare at the expense of taxpayers. The lack of media coverage and public consultation, alongside the refusal to audit these zones for transparency, suggests a need for greater public access to this information.
Furthermore, the involvement of major corporations in shaping economic policy, as well as the long-term implications for EU alignment, warrants scrutiny to ensure that these initiatives serve the public interest.
I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please contact me at my email address if you need clarification on any part of this request.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours sincerely,
David Powell

I am a volunteer who has been researching deregulated Special Economic Zones, Freeports in relation to Brexit since 2016.
Please consider donating via my Ko-Fi online tip jar so I can continue with my research and expose this Ponzi Scheme to privatise the UK.
Thanks❤️
ko-fi.com/europeanpowell

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EuropeanPowell

@EuropeanPowell

May 23

People often ask me 'Can the UK rejoin the EU while shackled by 86 deregulated corporate Free Zones?
No, it can't, the UK would have to realign its free zones with the EU Parliament's regulations, which prohibit the use of State aid for profit motives, why?
Because this distorts the Single Market creating an unlevel playing field!
The UK's 86 free zones are backed by £64 billion in public money over the next 25 years, these are corporate playgrounds designed to dodge taxes, slash regulations, and prioritise profit over people.
Guess which parties support free zones in the UK?
The Tories, Labour, and Reform UK...
europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes…

Working examples of 3 EU SEZs
Poland’s Katowice, Ireland’s Shannon, and Portugal’s Madeira
They all show how to do regulated Special Economic Zones in the right way, and they’re a slap in the face to the UK’s corporate free-for-all.

Katowice, launched in 1996, turned Silesia’s coal-scarred rustbelt into an automotive powerhouse, creating 80,000 jobs with firms like Opel. Its 50% tax exemptions, capped by EU Regional Aid Guidelines, are Commission-approved to lift a deprived region, not line corporate pockets like the UK’s £896,246-per-job Freeports.

Shannon Free Zone, born in 1959, employs 8,000 in aviation and tech, with export-focused grants under GBER—no selective tax deals since the €13 billion Apple crackdown.

Madeira’s MIBC, since 1987, boosts 3,000 jobs on a remote island with a 5% tax rate, capped at €3 million per firm, ensuring it’s no tax haven, unlike Teesside’s shady land deals.
These 3 EU SEZs are transparent, regionally focused, and in line with the EU state aid rules.
Katowice’s public-private management reports every euro to the Commission, Shannon’s state-owned operator avoids post-Apple pitfalls, and Madeira’s Development Company caps aid to prevent market distortion.
Contrast this with the UK’s 66-80% job displacement and £19.78 billion squandered on corporate welfare.
EU SEZs prioritise people's livelihoods and communities over corporate profit, while the UK’s zones serve BlackRock and JCB, shielded by ISDS and LCIA clauses that could cost billions to dismantle in private corporate courts.
For EU reentry, the UK must copy this model: cap incentives, target deprived areas like Teesside, and enforce transparency, not Deloitte’s audit whitewashes concocted to satisfy the whims of Blackrock's shareholders.

EU state aid rules are a firewall against market chaos. Articles 107-109 TFEU forbid public funds from giving firms an unfair edge, demanding aid align with goals like regional development or green tech, not corporate profit.
The European Parliament’s 2020 briefing notes the EU’s 82 SEZs—think Poland’s Katowice—must comply, offering capped incentives for deprived areas.
The UK’s Freeports and SEZs, however, are a middle finger to this.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a facade with its Freeport and SEZ obsession, it is a corporate con, papering over flaws like job displacement, SME collapse, and taxpayer exploitation.
The NIC hike is a distraction, absorbing blame while BlackRock and co. rake in tax-free profits.
£19.78 billion of public money was spent on free zones by 2024, with £64 billion projected by 2048, for a pathetic 22,067 jobs.
BlackRock’s 80% stake in Felixstowe, Harwich, and Thamesport Freeports reaps NIC exemptions and rates relief, saving millions while SMEs—like a Devon retailer hit with £4,236 in extra NICs—collapse.
The EU takes this very seriously; its stringent regulations on State aid are there to protect its Single Market from predatory corporations.
In 2017, it forced Ireland to claw back €13 billion from Apple for illegal tax breaks, a warning shot for the UK’s zones. These handouts distort markets, favoring corporates over small businesses, and are a non-starter for EU membership. Rejoining means dismantling this system—or facing the Commission’s wrath.

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