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Robert Reiner

@waylon18.bsky.social

Retired criminology professor. Democratic Socialist.Written on political economy of crime, criminal justice and policing 1970s until severe COVID 2021. Last book Social Democratic Criminology. Love old mysteries, Westerns, country music, music 1930-70

1,951 Followers  |  2,882 Following  |  4,073 Posts  |  Joined: 05.09.2024
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Posts by Robert Reiner (@waylon18.bsky.social)

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What we learned at PMQs: Keir Starmer is getting Brits out of the Middle East Kemi Badenoch displayed a total disregard for the evacuations – but Starmer is haunted by the threat of soaring energy bills

magazine.newstatesman.com/2026/03/04/w...
Well deserved praise for Starmer response to US/Israel attacks on Iran and the fallout from that. Also for replies to Badenoch at PMQs

04.03.2026 15:12 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Rachel Reeves claims UK economy can beat forecasts again – is she right? Our writers discuss The chancellor insists Labour has β€˜the right economic plan’ for a world that has become β€˜yet more uncertain’

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Constructive criticism of the Spring Budget. Hope it is taken seriously.

04.03.2026 14:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Head of Police Federation of England and Wales arrested on suspicion of corruption Mukund Krishna arrested by City of London police along with two other national board members

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

04.03.2026 13:07 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Marx's Method is the Message From Abstract Philosophy to the Material Reality of Class Struggle

Marx's Method is the Message
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
Great exposition of the essence and importance of Marx’s perspective in a lucid brief post. We can make our own history albeit under conditions rigged against us

04.03.2026 12:49 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Stupidest, Saddest, Sleaziest of Spectacles What happened to my wonderful old department is typical of what Trump is doing to our government

The Stupidest, Saddest, Sleaziest of Spectacles
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

04.03.2026 12:39 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Trump's British bullies with a byline The so-called patriotic newspapers are gleefully doing the US president's bidding.

Trump's British bullies with a byline
open.substack.com/pub/brokenbo...
Evisceration of fake patriots of right wing press twisting the history of WWII to portray Starmer as appeaser. Based on speculation about what Starmer might have done in 30s. No need to speculate about Mail support of fascism!

04.03.2026 12:37 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Please sign and share.

31.10.2025 11:50 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Four years after we created the Covid Memorial Wall in a guerrilla action born out of grief and determination, the Government has now announced it will be made permanent.

This is a powerful step towards ensuring our loved ones are never forgotten.

13.11.2025 17:01 β€” πŸ‘ 28    πŸ” 13    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

My Dad escaped the Nazis in 1939 on the Kindertransport.

He went to night school then University, trained as a physicist. Married my mum, brought up 3 kids, all work in public sector.

Under these proposed rules, he would have been deported.

100% 'performatively cruel' @stellacreasy.bsky.social

17.11.2025 17:50 β€” πŸ‘ 122    πŸ” 64    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 2
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Our statement following the publication of the Covid Inquiry Module 2 report into Core UK decision-making and political governance:

20.11.2025 16:44 β€” πŸ‘ 39    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 5

My father died in April 2020.

I hold Boris Johnson personally responsible for his death, along with thousands of others.

All his ex-PM privileges should be removed, including Β£115k he can claim every year.

If you agree, please sign and share this petition πŸ‘‡

@cbffjuk.bsky.social

21.11.2025 17:06 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Boris Johnson β€˜beyond contempt’ for attack on Covid inquiry’s findings Families of the Covid bereaved have reacted to horror to the lack of contrition in the former prime minister’s weekly column

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

22.11.2025 11:24 β€” πŸ‘ 39    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

Disrespectful to the bereaved, and indeed all those Johnson let down, to respond to the Covid Inquiry's M2 report in a footnote to his column. This man should never be allowed to hold public office again, and certainly should not be benefitting from the public purse.

@cbffjuk.bsky.social

22.11.2025 11:32 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Unfortunately there currently isn't a mechanism by which he can be prosecuted for misconduct in public office. But you can sign this petition demanding that he doesn't benefit from the public purse: www.change.org/p/end-public...

22.11.2025 20:47 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could β€˜overwhelm’ system Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in β€˜lost month’

πŸ‘€ β€˜official activity logs appear to undermine evidence that Johnson gave under oath [to the public inquiry].’

Hmmmm

@cbffjuk.bsky.social

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

22.11.2025 22:29 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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Sign the Petition End Ex-PM Benefits For Boris Johnson Following Covid Inquiry Verdict

"Let the bodies pile high"

The one promise Boris Johnson kept.

Now he wants us to forget and move on.

He believes he is unaccountable. We disagree. Sign our petition to stand with us.

change.org/STOPFUNDINGJOHNSON

28.11.2025 12:40 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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Sign the Petition End Ex-PM Benefits For Boris Johnson Following Covid Inquiry Verdict

The verdict of the Covid Inquiry is clear: Boris Johnson's negligence led to thousands of deaths.

Yet last year, the public was forced to pay Johnson Β£115k in 'ex-PM' benefits.

⬇️ If you agree it's time we stopped funding Johnson, sign our petition ⬇️

www.change.org/STOPFUNDINGJ...

27.11.2025 10:52 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Kemi Badenoch has rejected mask-wearing to curb flu, saying she is β€œstill traumatised” by β€œall the mask-wearing” during Covid.

You know what's more traumatising than wearing a mask?

Having your family members die because politicians played culture wars with their lives.

1/2

10.12.2025 13:07 β€” πŸ‘ 64    πŸ” 25    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 4

πŸ‘€ A recent article in @newstatesman1913.bsky.social by @anooshc.bsky.social claims that β€˜Britain’s inquiry culture radicalises victims’.

If wanting truth & change is what counts as radical, count me in.

πŸ‘‡πŸ»πŸ‘‡πŸ»πŸ‘‡πŸ»

@cbffjuk.bsky.social

22.12.2025 13:07 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Chris Wormald forced out by Starmer as cabinet secretary Wormald steps down β€˜by mutual consent’ after a year in post with Antonia Romeo expected to succeed him

NEW: Cabinet Secretary, Chris Wormald has resigned.

Time for him to reflect on his contribution to pandemic failures as made clear by the covid inquiry.

No peerage please.

@cbffjuk.bsky.social

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

12.02.2026 17:38 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Excellent discussion. Thank you so much. Too much has been forgotten, and if we fail to remember we will not learn.

03.03.2026 18:39 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Almost six years after my father’s avoidable death, I will be giving evidence to the UK Covid Inquiry this afternoon. Retelling what happened to my dad is hard, but not learning from the mistakes that were made is far worse.

04.03.2026 11:20 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Lifting the Lid on Britain's Pressure Cooker Politics: How Inequality and Neoliberal Capture Broke First Past the Post - Compass This new paper makes a direct link between the levels of inequality seen in Britain today and our first-past-the-post voting system.

www.compassonline.org.uk/publications...

04.03.2026 12:07 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Blind loyalty to Washington will not keep Britain safe Without the rule of law, Britain risks being pulled into yet another conflict not of its making

Blind loyalty to Washington will not keep Britain safe
open.substack.com/pub/theleadu...
Excellent analysis of Starmer’s weak position vis a vis Trump’s (or Netanyahu’s) war

03.03.2026 17:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Why the fightback against Reform must involve the middle-aged, fed-up workers of Britain | Gaby Hinsliff Millions of people aged 50 to 64 are out of work – sidelined by sickness, care duties or ageism. If Labour can’t convince them they’re a priority, Farage will step in, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hin...

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

03.03.2026 13:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The smiles have been wiped off the faces of Dubai expats

edition.independent.co.uk/edition/uk.c...

03.03.2026 11:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Trump Hasn’t a F*cking Clue What He’s Doing He has no endgame for his war, which may be his undoing.

Trump Hasn’t a F*cking Clue What He’s Doing
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

03.03.2026 11:40 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Daily Mail headline: 

IRAN WAR: DAY FOUR U.S. lambasts
'hand-wringing, pearl-clutching' Starmer as Kemi says he's 'scared' of his own voters

Daily Mail headline: IRAN WAR: DAY FOUR U.S. lambasts 'hand-wringing, pearl-clutching' Starmer as Kemi says he's 'scared' of his own voters

The Sun:

INACTION THIS DAY
PM wont hit Iran back 
Rift grows with US Prez

The Sun: INACTION THIS DAY PM wont hit Iran back Rift grows with US Prez

Have we woken up in America? The deeply unpatriotic Daily Mail and Sun seem to now be supporting a menace of a foreign leader over our own govt and national security. They are really only loyal to their own vested interests. Which are a direct threat to our own. The routine betrayal is sickening.

03.03.2026 08:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1914    πŸ” 605    πŸ’¬ 159    πŸ“Œ 48

Polling holds too much sway over our democracy and governance. But the G&D by-election does show that Reform’s dominance is inflated by foreign/rightwing interests, irresponsible media support and Farage’s ego.
If progressives can win despite all that, then hatred really is overpriced. Hope can win.

03.03.2026 08:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1066    πŸ” 250    πŸ’¬ 38    πŸ“Œ 9
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No one can predict how the war with Iran will unfold | Rajan Menon and Dan DePetris The war has already become regional: Iran is attacking American-aligned Arab states in the hope that they will pressure Trump to sign a ceasefire

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

02.03.2026 15:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0