VeniceLaura

@ukcla.bsky.social has published two pieces on the Supreme Court judgment. Wrigley’s was praised for its “serious academic engagement” even by those who disagreed. Foran’s has been met with a torrent of personal abuse but zero interaction with the merits of his legal arguments. Both sides though.

There’s being bold and there’s being plain bonkers. No-one who thinks for 5 minutes can believe means testing the state pension is a good idea - but that is what Kemi Badenoch says she’s up for

To be fair she does look like a chicken.

"Elon Musk, whose companies have received nearly $8 billion in government funding through an assortment of federal grants, tax breaks, government subsidies and contracts, proposed today that senior citizens need to 'tighten their belt' to help balance the national budget."

See? It's not hard.

…. "I went into hospital and because I didn’t declare it, I lost my benefits, my housing benefits - they sanctioned me. So they stopped all my money and I couldn’t afford to pay my rent," he explains.

You know the "🔹AI Overview" you get on Google Search?

I discovered today that it's repeating as fact something I made up 7 years ago as a joke.

"Kyloren syndrome" is a fictional disease I invented as part of a sting operation to prove that you can publish any nonsense in predatory journals...

Michael's piece is outstanding (as are the written submissions from Ben Cooper and David Welsh for Sex Matters).
The interpretation arguments based on deeming provisions (which create legal fictions), the narrow effect of deeming provisions, purposive interpretation,

A hypothesis I have is that a contributing factor to the collapse of public trust is the way we use terms that don't mean what they appear to.

Not just jargon - but terms that are actively misleading.

Examples are 'life' sentences or 'no recourse to public funds'.

Thread.

Brexit is a long way down voter agendas because politicians won't talk about it.

If the negative effects of Brexit were explained in a loud clear voice every time each problem it caused arose, it would very quickly rocket up the agenda.

(As has happened - in a more twisted way - with immigration.)

Ian Hislop for PM.....

POLITICO European Politics, Policy, Government News

Accurately quoting Trump is, to politico.eu, now "Trump bashing."

The UK is no longer offering COVID vaccines to pregnant women – here’s why that might be a bad idea From spring 2025, pregnant women will no longer be eligible for free COVID vaccines in the UK.

The UK is no longer offering COVID vaccines to pregnant women – here’s why that might be a bad idea

J.K. Rowling Says John Oliver ‘Spouts Absolute Bulls—’ About Trans Athletes Not Posing ‘Any Threat to Safety and Fairness’ in Women’s Sports J.K. Rowling has slammed John Oliver over his support for transgender athletes in women's sports.

“Again and again I’ve come up against men who argue exactly what Oliver does here, using the very same talking points."

variety.com/2024/digital...

HBO publicly stands by J.K. Rowling Are corporations finally getting the message?

'corporations have realised it is not a winning business strategy to submit to a vocal minority of activists whose beliefs and behaviours are deeply unpopular with the general public'

HBO publicly stands by J.K. Rowling

sknight.substack.com/p/hbo-public...

Lobbyist had access to parliament for 18 months due to "administrative error" - Tortoise A parliamentary pass should have been deactivated, but wasn’t

Exclusive: Lobbyist Mark Fulbrook had access to parliament for 18 months due to "administrative error"

www.tortoisemedia.com/2024/11/21/l...

When Starmer says Labour inherited the Tories free zones, he's lying, Labour MPs, Mayors, councillors, Lords, and Baronesses were active board members of Sunak's nationwide SEZs/Freeports consortia.
Andy Burnham signed off on Manchester SEZ.
Steve Rotheram signed off on Liverpool SEZ and Freeport.

It's not even 10am and a person in my mentions has come up with a "Did Captain Tom create the reinforced concrete scandal plaguing British schools?" theory, this site is absolutely on fire.

Some countries are looking to ADD immigrants—imagine that. Under the Tuscan Sun vibes!

An Italian mayor is luring Americans upset by election results to buy cheap homes. His team offers private tours, connects buyers with contractors, and handles all the paperwork to make the move seamless.

This place is absurd. 😂

A splendid demonstration of tolerance in the replies to NC.

So, Blue Skye moderation now hides all of Naomi Cunningham’s (wholly inoffensive) posts behind a simpering ‘intolerance’ flag. Complete bullshit, of course. (She’s a distinguished lawyer who happens to take on work in a ‘controversial’ field).

QED!

Hong Kong has now become a Police State, writes @nathanlawkc.bsky.social, as his courageous friend Joshua Wong is sentenced, along with many others, to a lengthy prison term for fighting for democracy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

From 10am tomorrow, the former health secretary Matt Hancock will give two whole days of evidence to the UK Covid inquiry’s module on healthcare systems.

I suspect it’s going to be enraging, self-serving & riddled with lies.

I’ll be watching closely.

covid19.public-inquiry.uk/hearings/imp...

Totally agree. Public toilets, public clocks, public seats… all signs of a healthy attitude to public spaces, beyond privately-owned shopping centres.

Campaigners launch London Loo Alliance to bang drum for public toilets ‘Public toilets are the hallmark of a civilised society,’ said one campaigner. ‘The Romans understood this, but our local authorities don’t seem to.’

Yesterday saw the launch of a 'London Loo Alliance' to beat the drum for more public toilets.

‘Public toilets are the hallmark of a civilised society,’ said one campaigner. ‘The Romans understood this, but our local authorities don’t seem to.’

www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...

Despite a massive head start, BlueSky has now overtaken Threads in the US 👇

If you’re wondering why more men aren’t talking about International Men’s Day, it’s because they save that for International Women’s Day.

NEW: Guardian & Observer vote overwhelming in favour of strike action in protest of sale of the Observer to Tortoise Media.

Work and Pensions Committee - Summary - Committees - UK Parliament Summary for Work and Pensions Committee

Government admits that 50,000 to 100,000 more pensioners will be in relative or absolute poverty as a result of means-testing the winter fuel payment and it knew that at the time of the decision It has taken nearly four months to admit it bit.ly/3CCgISb click get file to read it