Edward Bird

Macron remarks are notable- some quotes: "We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies."

So exhausting..

When Reform's Nathan Gill is sentenced for bribery, he will be the third of Nigel Farage's former MEPs to be jailed for being corrupt, after Tom Wise (expenses fraud) and Ashley Mote (falsely claiming benefits). What is it about Farage that attracts crooks?

Reform UK's ex-Wales leader Nathan Gill admits pro-Russia bribery Nathan Gill admits eight charges of bribery while being a Member of the European Parliament.

How is this not front page news?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Please inform the BBC they need to reduce the coverage they give Reform by 11%.

World’s oceans fail key health check as acidity crosses critical threshold for marine life Scientists call for renewed global effort to curb fossil fuels as seven of nine planetary boundaries now transgressed

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Bear with me, I anticipate your disagreement. There is a clear pattern to the advice given to those who want to press back against rising racism. What it boils down to is that if you point out that racism is often being dressed up as “legitimate concerns” you will alienate people. /1

I grew up under apartheid. Went to university in its dying days. The apartheid state funded right wing students to provoke students and defend apartheid atrocities. Charlie Kirk’s behaviour and statement were right out of that playbook.

On the plus side Trump has made it possible to provide a case study quality example of a sociopath.

A quick reminder, “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Samuel Johnson.

How about “contrition”?

I wonder who those “investors” are?

Safety and space at risk as SUVs reach 30% of car market in English cities, researchers warn Campaigners call for Paris-style parking charges amid fears big vehicles are taking up excessive public space

Tax them. Just tax them! If these things have to exist we might as well make some money out of it www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

I will be doing this as soon as I have an address. Fellow expats and folks outside the US, I really encourage you to do this. This could have a real impact on whether they gather the audacity to do this again.

But what about freedom of speech? I thought Vance was so in favour of it? This is fascism.

What a woman. Let’s see how she copes with torture and 23 more years imprisonment.

Letter from Ed Davey to Together with Refugees and co-signatories committing to stand together against racism and hatred. Full letter text available at link below.

Hundreds of charities have written to all party leaders urging us to take a strong stand against racism and hatred.

I strongly agree – here’s my reply👇

@danneidle.bsky.social what are your thoughts on increasing taxes on LLP profits?

Big distraction attempt. Those Epstein files are waiting.

Government style ad in watercolour. Image of a burglar stealing a painting from the wall of a home. Tagline: "It's not theft... if you say you're using it to train your AI algorithm". Body text: "Theft is now legal, so we can boost the economy by eliminating jobs. If that doesn't make any sense, ask a chatbot to explain it to you." HM government logo in the corner.

Did a new one

A whole night of nail chewing to go.

Newtimber Church and the British Empire St John the Evangelist Church at Newtimber, West Sussex, is a lovely little building nestled in the South Downs. You couldn’t really imagine a more idyllic spot, or such incongruity with the subjec…

Blog on the story of the British Empire embodied in the fabric of one picturesque rural church. Its construction & memorials reflect slavery & antislavery; the East India Company; racial discrimination & liberal imperialism in South Africa, & drowned African troops.

alanlester.co.uk/blog/newtimb...

Goldman: Now we have confirmation of what we long suspected: Donald Trump is included in the Epstein files.

First, he essentially directs Bondi not to release anything. Then he begs his supporters to move on. Then he claims it was all made up.

It’s all a massive, massive cover-up.

NHS facing ‘absolutely shocking’ £27bn bill for maternity failings in England Exclusive: Legal actions rise after death or injury of hundreds of babies and women in recent years

By comparison the cost of subsisiding nursing degrees and accommodation would be much less. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

As someone actually trained in behavioural psychology—unlike most MPs—I can tell you: financial precarity doesn’t “incentivise” sick people to work. It breaks them. Stress worsens health. Fear doesn’t create productivity. It creates collapse. #TakingThePIP

I spent five years in Iran’s notorious Evin prison but when Israel bombed it I felt horror and fear | Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe Many held there are opponents of the repressive regime. Who is alive now? Who was killed? Were they just collateral damage, asks former hostage Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Is it just me or does Bumrah throw his faster/bouncers?

Three years left to limit warming to 1.5C, top scientists warn The Earth could be doomed to breach a key climate target in as little as three years, scientists warn.

#BBCNews - Three years left to limit warming to 1.5C, leading scientists warn
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#ClimateChange

BBC Bosses Draw Up Plans to Win Over Reform Voters by Changing News and Drama Output The Director General Tim Davie and other executives discussed altering BBC “story selection” in order to secure the "trust" of supporters of Nigel Farage’s party

When did you ever hear the BBC stating that it must alter “story selection” and “other types of output, such as drama”, to win the trust of Green voters, or of unrepresented people on the left?
All the shifts are in just one direction.
bylinetimes.com/2025/06/09/b...