Dr Simon Ubsdell

Another outstandingly good thread.

Emma Monk (‪@monkemma.bsky.social‬) is fast approaching national treasure status, I reckon.

The argument appears to be that everyone can vote for who they like and who best represents their interests.

Unless you're Muslim.

In which case, if you don't vote for the party that calls you dangerous and wants to send you 'back home' on any given day, this must be sectarian voting🤷‍♀️

12/

OK, the Gorton and Denton by-election, I have some thoughts!

Let's take a look at some of the FACTS and burst a few of the more ridiculous takes doing the rounds

But first up, can we acknowledge just what bad losers Reform are?!🤣

Right, let's get started...

🧵 1/

As you look upon the smouldering ruins of our world, you have to reflect that the rampant misogyny of the soi-disant left is really quite something.

In his almost technocratic lack of flamboyance combined with a clearly social-democratic heart, I suspect he was what many people thought they were voting for in 2024.

That's really interesting.

He's “Starmer” not Starmer.

Sadiq Khan is quite easily the most sure-footed politician in the UK today ... and probably the most decent too.

Quite a combination.

It's fascinating that she is picking out the decayed remains of the word ”bourgeoisie” from the dustbin of history.

How odd to make your case with quaint outmoded dialectic ... coined by the opposing camp to yours.

Labour must stop channelling Reform and unite with progressives. That’s the lesson from Gorton and Denton | Sadiq Khan The threat to the party in some parts of our country is now existential. But we can progress, as we have in London, by being bold and strong in our core beliefs, says London mayor Sadiq Khan

"Trying to compete with Reform not only feels inauthentic... but a betrayal of what Labour is supposed to represent. We must address the concerns and fears of voters, not play on them."

Damning stuff from Sadiq Khan

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

About 2% of UK population affected by settlement reforms: roughly 1 in 6 (15%) of those born abroad.

A fifth of Gorton and Denton population were born abroad. Up to 2,000 - 2,500 voters there may be directly affected. Many other people would know family members, colleagues, co-worshippers

The tragic awfulness of this government is that it has extended a factional war against the left of the Labour Party into a war against almost all the good things we might have expected of it. It cannot respond to the crisis it faces, because its hatred of the Labour left is definitional.

In fact, the extract from the Home Secretary's comments suggests that her rationale is wholly dishonest - the settlement changes concern people who are here legally, not illegally

The Labour leadership still don’t understand that immigration *does* matter to people other than immigrants. Their viciousness matters to anyone who cares about humanity. *AND* lots of us have friends, family, colleagues etc who are immigrants.

When Starmer says the Greens and Reform are equally extreme, just as when Labour make the same comparison between SNP and Reform, it causes a visceral reaction in me. Not just because it’s stupid. But because it shows a fundamental triviality about the existential threat posed by the far right.

Iran latest: US has launched 'major combat operations', Trump says - as explosions heard in major cities Iran latest: US has launched 'major combat operations', Trump says - as explosions heard in major cities

Iran Latest: the USAhas launched a series of strikes on Iran with the clear intention of bringing about régime change.

Explosions heard in major cities

'When we are finished, take over your government': Trump confirms US strikes on Iran

news.sky.com/story/iran-l...

Not with Glasman and others still steering him to the dark side.

Oh James, I’m so sorry. Bon courage.

It’s hard to imagine a worse reaction to losing the by-election than Starmer has done. Every possible opportunity missed. No lessons learned.

I’m getting more “brazen” than “tin”.

'Tin-eared' doesn't really cover it.

I wasn’t aware that I was posing as a Johnson apologist.

The perennial perils of using classical rhetoric on the internet, I guess.

I see what you're saying but the universe is imploding because Starmer makes such a conjunction thinkable.

Intriguing to see that even outspoken diehard Labour loyalists are losing the faith ...

This is murder. ICE routinely deposits released detainees far from their home just to be cruel. It’s standard practice. To do this to a blind man on a wet cold winter day in Buffalo is to know you are potentially sending him to his death.

Politics is a very ugly business.

But if you are a decent people caught up in it you keep your disagreements within ethical bounds.

On that basis it's hard now to count Starmer a decent person.

Really ugly.

You can disagree with the Greens all you want but there is a heap of monstrousness here ... not least the obvious misogyny.

Exactly that.

Does OpenAI’s new financing make sense? I am not alone in seriously doubting it

This is as ridiculous as it is obscene as it is terrifying.

The problem is that there is no Sun big enough into which to fire the outrageous ego of Sam Altman.

And no apparent willingness to investigate the potential for such an essential cosmic experiment.

garymarcus.substack.com/p/does-opena...

Shoot me now but I honestly think I preferred Johnson's naked cynicism to Starmer's covert variety.

At least the former had the virtue of a vestige of honesty.

Yes, but you forget that “The Bill” was the actual reality and that whatever you encountered was a mere simulacrum.