Melinda Batchelor

UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.

I came to this country as a child refugee. No English, no certainty, no idea what my life could become. Britain gave me refuge.

Not on a timer, not with conditions attached, but with a chance to grow roots.

A thread 🧵 1/8
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

John Mitchell was the Attorney General under Richard Nixon.

Mitchell went to jail for doing what Nixon told him to do.

This may be something the Attorney General under Trump, Pam Bondi, should consider.

Why the BBC should not counter-claim against Trump, whatever he calls them, unless as a last resort.

If the UK is on the brink of civil war, as Musk claims, it follows that in 300 years time there will be be a new generation of civil war re-enactment societies.

"Geoff,you defend Laurence Fox. Can you guys shout outside a hostel. Brian, i need you to relentlessly slag off Nish Kumar on Facebook."

A brief thread on Trump renewing his threat to sue the BBC.

(Note I am not an American lawyer, this is perspective of an English legal commentator.)

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UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.

You must integrate!

And we can remove you at any moment!

www.bbc.com/news/article...

#R4Today

But where are you going to remove me to? Is it Israel? Or Latvia where I can try to persuade the government of my right to live in one of those empty houses with smashed windows overlooking the family death pit?

I wonder whether I am any sort of benefit to Britain tho?

Incredibly smart PR tactic from ICE to continue assaulting very handsome priests

BBC has a case against Trump. WhiteHouse Chief Press Officer called the BBC ‘100% fake news.’ Which is defamatory and untrue.

Full-on, unapologetic racism, not dog whistle but bloody foghorn, is now mainstream on the right.

Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit The US president confirmed he intends to sue the broadcaster for at least $1bn over the Panorama edit of a 2021 speech.

Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.

Who really funds the Jewish Chronicle? Why it’s troubling that we don’t know… Four years ago, a mysterious consortium came to the rescue of the beleaguered publication—and nobody is really clear about who is behind the scenes. B...

So there’s one aspect of the BBC story that has received zero attention: Robbie Gibb’s potential financial conflict of interests.

According to @arusbridger.bsky.social, he was just the bagman for the purchase of the Jewish Chronicle.
1/

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...

I have spent today with my fellow volunteers at both the Commons and the Lords, and am weak with happiness and tears. We have fought so hard and so long for this formal recognition of our memorial to our beloved covid dead. ❤️

An announcement on the gov UK website. The text reads: Press release Government confirms National Covid Memorial Wall will be preserved The National Covid Memorial Wall will be preserved to remember the lives lost during the pandemic. From: Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Baroness Twycross Published 13 November 2025

The volunteers were at Parliament today to hear the government announce that our beautiful memorial is to be made permanent. It was an emotional day, as we have fought so long and hard to ensure that our beloved dead are not forgotten. We are grateful and happy. ❤️

‘Unconscionable’ that the Government has not recognised Long COVID as an occupational disease, warns BMA and RCN - BMA media centre - BMA Press release from the BMA. 

It is "unconscionable’ that the Government [in the UK] has not recognised Long COVID as an occupational disease, warns BMA and RCN [Royal College of Nursing]"

www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...

Good reminder to unfollow Teen Vogue now that Condé Nast has fired all the writers that made it what it was.

Many of you are citing Arkell v Pressdram.

This is why that robust approach would not work in these circumstance.

A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak

NEW

A close look at Trump's $1 billion claim against the BBC

The litigation letter is weak, but his underlying practical position is not weak

By me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-close-lo... (Substack)

(Non-Substack link to follow.)

Boris Johnson says the idea that criticism of the BBC is being organised by the right is ‘complete and utter bollocks’, which makes me think there might be something in it.

The PNG Courier's overseas correspondent on the crisis at the Beeb Auntie's anti-Trump bias

🚨NEW - The PNG Courier's overseas correspondent on the crisis at the Beeb

And Auntie's anti-Trump bias

Click for more:

mrhenrymorris.substack.com/p/the-png-co...

I'm not sure if others have noticed this, but interesting that one of the Prescott criticisms of the BBC is based on those of the 'History Reclaimed' group, which is also associated with the 'Restore Trust' group's attacks on & so far unsuccessful attempts to take control of the National Trust. 1/3

Leicestershire County Council has announced it is to pay consultants £30m to carry out a cost cutting review.

They said it would be £1.4m.

They lied.

They said Reform DOGE would do all this.

They lied.

You can’t trust Reform UK.

A graphic with a white and gray gradient background contains bold red text that reads: “BELIEVING THE REPUBLICANS WHEN THEY ‘PROMISE’ A VOTE ON HEALTHCARE IS LIKE BELIEVING TRUMP WHEN HE SAID PROJECT 2025 WASN’T THE PLAN OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.” At the bottom, it credits @kdnerak33.bsky.social, and in the corner is the logo BRIAN TYLER COHEN.

To the 8 senators who voted to give up the only leverage they had and trust the GOP:

Supreme Court rejects long-shot effort to overturn same-sex marriage ruling The court turned away an appeal filed by Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky who was sued after refusing to issue a marriage license to a gay couple.

NEW: Supreme Court rejects long-shot effort to overturn ruling that legalized gay marriage:
www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

“So now is the time to come to the aid of the BBC. It needs all the friends it can get (and that includes members of the current government, who might like to be a bit more voluble in their support).
Because I promise you this: you’ll miss it when it’s gone.” By @robinlustig.bsky.social

We lived there for a few years, Dr Who had so many advert breaks it was in for about 2 hours. Children hated it.

BREAKING NEWS: Eight Idiot Democratic Senators Vote to Rescue Trump and Screw America

Definitely worth paying for a flu jab this year, about £15 at pharmacies!

www.bbc.com/news/article...

We’re going to see more of this ridiculous “they’re cancelling Christmas” narrative.

It’s basically Rage-Bait LAW from the 12th November, just as soon as Poppy Rage is over.

Try not to get sucked in👍🏼

It’s not good for your blood pressure to get so angry about imaginary problems

12/15

Opinion | Trump Aid Cuts Kill More Christians Than Jihadists Do

Trump "has expressed such outrage at attacks on Christians in Nigeria that he has threatened military intervention there... but here’s the awkwardness: Trump’s aid cuts are killing far more Nigerian Christians than Islamic terrorists are." @nickkristof.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...