Iain Stuart

Reform lost by 11% in Caerphilly - because of a surge in turnout, because Reform looked set to win the seat.

This illustrates Reform's vulnerability *because* they are leading the polls (in a 6 party system) while being an *unpopular* party. A much bigger problem under FPTP 2029 than PR 2026

Stephen Bush on the extraordinary draft legislation which Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Matt Vickers, Katie Lam and backbench colleagues have proposed in parliament

It is a proposal that would seek to deport around 5% of the resident population, including over a quarter of a million with ILR

'Get rid of the migrants or I'll become a migrant' is quite the argument

Those beads are people. Families. Friends. Neighbours. Children. Doctors and nurses. Teachers and carers. Millions of them.

Amazing story in The Times. Reform UK failed to pay VAT to HMRC on its sales (tickets, merchandise). About £400k in all.

Not tax avoidance. Not tax evasion. They just didn't realise when you sell stuff you have to charge VAT.

FT graph showing massive UK public support for the opinion that it was wrong to vote to leave the EU.

Ah! Good morning, reality. And welcome. We’ve been expecting you…

Your regular reminder that scrapping ILR for people who have come here and played by the rules, which is what Lam proposes here, is a position supported by 3% of the public

Nigel Farage’s partner embroiled in Brussels fraud investigation Laure Ferrari’s Eurosceptic group was at the centre of fraud scandal that led to ongoing criminal case

Farage partner involved in fraud investigation
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Prince Andrew facing police investigation over Giuffre smear claims Palace staff may also face questions over knowledge of efforts to dig up dirt on Epstein victim

Prince Andrew asked his taxpayer funded protection officer to dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre passing him her date of birth and social security number. He told palace aide he was doing it bit.ly/4nXzINA Scotland Yard is ‘actively’ investigating.

‘Suck it up’: leaked video exposes bitter infighting at Reform UK’s flagship Kent council Exclusive: Footage reveals Kent leader berating councillors amid rows over budgets and bullying claims

Just a reminder, Reform won a massive majority in the KCC elections after only winning 37% of the vote. The same could happen at the next General Election. We need fair votes now!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Pritzker: Throughout history we've learned that tyranny doesn't arrive with dramatic proclamations. Most times it comes quietly wrapped in the language of law and order, with fingers pointed at someone who doesn't look like you, promising safety while demanding that we sacrifice our neighbors.

#A_NewHope ✊

Sanders: Today, October 18th 2025, there are more people out on the streets in more communities all over our country than we have ever seen in American history

Daily Express political correspondent Christian Calgie called for Zarah Sultana to lose her seat (legitimate politics) then agreed with an X interlocutor it would be "even better" if the Birmingham-born British Asian Muslim MP were to be deported (illegitimate prejudice). He has since apologised.

Tory MP George Freeman reports deepfake defection video to police Such political disinformation has the potential to corrupt democracy, says the Mid Norfolk MP.

Tory MP reports deepfake video to police
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Chicago - no kings

The inevitable raffle! It wouldn’t be right otherwise…

L.T Hobhouse

'Liberalism conceives the ideal society as a whole which lives & flourishes by the harmonious growth of its parts, each of which in developing on its own lines and in accordance with its own nature tends on the whole to further the development of others' (L.T. Hobhouse) 🔶️

"Technologies purchased by ICE in recent weeks include spyware that can hack into smartphones remotely and cellphone location software that can enable the tracking of a phone’s movements without a court warrant..."

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

'Startled' judge orders agents in Chicago area to wear body cameras after violent clashes A judge says federal immigration officers in the Chicago area will be required to wear body cameras after the use of tear gas and other aggressive steps against protesters.

BREAKING: Immigration officers in the Chicago area will be required to wear body cameras after the use of tear gas and other actions against protesters, a judge rules.

No King's Day!
Here we go!! 🗽⚖️🇺🇸

La nouvelle banlieue rouge : la carte des villes de la Petite Couronne suivant quel véhicule leurs habitants utilisent le plus pour aller travailler entre le vélo (rouge) et le deux-roues motorisé (bleu) d'après les dernières données INSEE. La progression est spectaculaire en deux ans.

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Pope Leo just quoted Hannah Arendt.

Not Aquinas. Not Augustine. Arendt.

Why? Because we’ve moved past sin and into epistemicide.... the killing of truth itself.

I could grow to like this guy,

Nigel Farage now says that any suggestion he's been soft on Putin is "just nonsense".

Here's a quick reminder of what he's said in the past

Agreed. By “acceptance” I mean the psychological process of coming to terms with reality as it is, when it turns out not to be what we wanted it to be. In this case, the average UK Brexit voter coming to terms with the fact that what they were promised hasn’t materialised and was never going to…

Frustrating, but “acceptance” is a slow process, it seems! Clearly still a lack of understanding that the benefits were as a result of being a member and leaving that meant losing them. Maybe a bit like the classic issue of most voters always wanting both more public spending and to pay less tax!

He's not opening the government because he doesn't want those secret files revealed. It's not complicated.

All of this is being put out to placate the right wing press...

In the meantime, it's causing fear & confusion. As I understand it:

● this only applies to some people on skilled visas
● it's not "A level English" it's something called SELT
● much the same requirement exists elsewhere in EU

Very interesting suggestion

It's staggering that the people who sold us brexit were taking bribes from the Russian state and this isn't a huge national conversation