Robert Rotifer

UK Jewish groups condemn Israeli minister’s invite to Tommy Robinson Far-right activist described as ‘thug who represents worst of Britain’ after invitation to Israel sparks outrage

Board of Deputies doing the right thing there, except the problem, of course, is not that Chikli is “diaspora minister in name only”, but that the position of an Israeli diaspora minister is a paradox in itself, there to speak for people he doesn’t represent.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

When predicting what this government will do next just ask: What might be the absolute worst option?

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Well it’s only a very blurred image of Dennis Bovell, James Kirk, Steven Daly, Vic Godard and Paul Cook at RFH on stage with the fantastic Edwyn Collins for the very last time.

Well it’s only a very blurred image of Dennis Bovell, James Kirk, Steven Daly, Vic Godard and Paul Cook at RFH on stage with the fantastic Edwyn Collins for the very last time.

“It’s just the code for the feedback”
“Yes, I know, but it says… Oh never mind.”

I tried to explain to the waiter why I found it funny, and it quickly became awkward.

‘One rule for the rich’: the Salzburg mansion, the Porsche heir and the writer Stefan Zweig The car magnate, who is restoring the Jewish author’s former villa, has been given permission to dig out a 500-metre road leading to a garage, causing consternation in the city

Bonus track for my Holding Hands in Petrópolis album writing itself.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

This Israeli government decision to host Tommy Robinson will widen the growing gulf between the Netanyahu government and the British public, including the broad majority of Jews in Britain (3/4 of whom dsapproved of Netanyahu, before this new link to this anti-Muslim racist UK far right convict).

Punkten im Namen der Opfer - nach dem Mordanschlag von Manchester - fm4.ORF.at Zum britischen Antisemitismus und den Versuchen der politischen Instrumentalisierung eines mörderischen Anschlags.

I wrote this for @fm4.orf.at about the dreadful attack on a Manchester synagogue and the way it is being instrumentalised over the victims’ dead bodies.

fm4.orf.at/stories/3050...

Relf manspreading spectacularly!

YouTube video by Smurfstools Oldies Music Time Machine NEW * Shapes Of Things - The Yardbirds {Stereo} 1966

RIP Chris Dreja, player of the other guitar while we were busy listening to whoever was deemed more important than the rest of the Yardbirds at the time.
Here’s just one track he made happen at least as much as Jeff Beck did.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlif...

21 years ago today, Terry Hall of The Specials wrote this short piece on the wonderful Roches. The Independent, 1 October 2004.
#Specials #TheSpecials #Roches #TheRoches #TerryHall @robertrotifer.bsky.social

This sort of reality collision is going to happen over and over again so long as this government chases perceptions on immigration.

Ein Königreich geht „Mäuse fangen“ - fm4.ORF.at Seit dem Sommer ist der Diskurs in Großbritannien gefährlich abgedriftet: War vor ein paar Wochen noch „illegale Einwanderung“ bevorzugtes Objekt der „berechtigten Besorgnis“ britischer Bürger:innen, ...

Wrote this for @fm4.orf.at about mainstreaming of far right policies in the UK, from "protests" in the summer all the way to Shabana Mahmood's reforms of Indefinite Leave to Remain. Auf Deutsch as always, and readers of German may recognise some of what's going on here.
fm4.orf.at/stories/3049...

In beautiful Swansea! Playing at The Bunkhouse tonight on a bill with Pete Astor.

YouTube video by mnemonyxx Pentangle - Let No Man Steal Your Thyme (1968)

Very sad to hear of the death of Danny Thompson, strongest left hand in British bass playing, ingenious provider of bottom end to the likes of Jansch, Martyn, Drake, Renbourn and Thompson.
RIP

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwT0...

Well, this wasn’t at all predictable…

…except by every single privacy advocate when Google launched Google Glass.

#Cassandra

FM4 Heartbeat mit Robert Rotifer Teil 1

Wonderful @robertrotifer.bsky.social show feat.
Peter Henisch, The Crickets (RIP Sonny Curtis), Dead Famous People, @emmaspollock.bsky.social, Kreisky, Michael J Sheehy, @themountaingoats.bsky.social, Patti Smith, The Cords, @laelneale.bsky.social, Brigitte Fontaine.

fm4.orf.at/player/20250...

Tonight’s @fm4.orf.at Heartbeat from 22:00 CET / 9pm GMT,
paying tribute to Sonny Curtis fighting the law and following the thread of existential angst laid down by our songwriting friends, but who can blame them?

Playlist found here:

www.instagram.com/p/DO6jQqDjM8...

If the Reform Party plan to abolish indefinite leave to remain also abolishes settled status for EU citizens, that would be a breach of the withdrawal agreement, liable to lead to the EU retaliating by removing trade preferences.

For 56 minutes Sky News and BBC News interrupted everything else and carried a Reform UK feed live, uninterrupted, unchallenged. The stream spluttered, froze, pixelated - dozens of times - still they stuck with it. FOR ONE HOUR.

This is an editorial choice. No other party gets this coverage. ~AA

Farage has said Reform will scrap indefinite leave to remain, which is open to people who have worked and lived in the UK legally for five continuous years, and their dependants. After a minimum of a year on that status, they can apply for naturalisation and gain a British passport, though each stage comes with considerable fees. Reform UK would scrap that settled status and would make non-citizens continue to apply for visas with new high salary thresholds of about £60,000, according to the Times. That would be a considerable increase on the current skilled worker visa, which requires people to earn £41,700 a year. Those visas would not allow the people who have them to access NHS services or benefits and would require advanced English, with strict new limits on whether spouses or family members could join.

Farage vows to scrap settled status, placing thousands at risk of deportation Reform UK plans to force non-citizens to apply for visas with high salary thresholds and no access to NHS services

Every time I was told “It’s not about you”, I could see this coming.
The phrase “settled status” always had that smell about it, a promise to break when it suits.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Farage has said Reform will scrap indefinite leave to remain, which is open to people who have worked and lived in the UK legally for five continuous years, and their dependants. After a minimum of a year on that status, they can apply for naturalisation and gain a British passport, though each stage comes with considerable fees. Reform UK would scrap that settled status and would make non-citizens continue to apply for visas with new high salary thresholds of about £60,000, according to the Times. That would be a considerable increase on the current skilled worker visa, which requires people to earn £41,700 a year. Those visas would not allow the people who have them to access NHS services or benefits and would require advanced English, with strict new limits on whether spouses or family members could join.

Historical awareness my arse

As an Austrian myself, I have to say I find it funny when Austrians voice strong opinions about who deserves to have their own state and who doesn’t (remember they voted to lose theirs in 1938 - and no it wasn’t a free vote, but crowds celebrated in the streets - and got it back in ‘45)

Netanyahu’s ‘super-Sparta’ vision braces Israel for isolated economic future Israeli PM’s outline of partial autarky and more militarised society stirs up backlash and concern over pariah status

Fand diesen Artikel dazu sehr gut (wie immer bei Julian Borger)

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Far right mob were out in Canterbury today trying to “protest” in front of a children asylum seekers’ home. Admit I didn’t go down, but a friend who did told me (with pictures to prove) that counter-demonstrators protecting the home easily outnumbered the far right & kept them at safe distance. Good

Amazing!

Popstars in Kufiya -Together for Palestine Konzert in London

Here’s the link btw (not my headline)

www.deutschlandfunk.de/popstars-in-...