Richard Bates
@discript.com
Publisher – fiction and non-fiction. Friend to writers. Dementia carer. Cyclist. Activist. Cat parent. Liberal Democrat 🔶 politician elected to Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council.
Starmer was overcome by indecision and advised to be cautious. Feel the fear and do it anyway, as they say. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Unlike Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham promises us that things will get better. And we must believe they can | Polly Toynbee
The PM’s warmth and feelgood policies, such as scrapping VAT on energy bills and a taskforce looking at political donations, offer something rare: hope, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
theguardian.com
The Environment Agency is utterly useless. I know this because I’ve asked Chichester District Council officers to write to them about stopping the #SewageScandal. The EA is completely ineffective.
George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 3d agoOfficially, the water industry in England is regulated. Practically, it's unregulated. There's no difference between what it does under the eye of the Environment Agency and what it would do if the EA did not exist. The EA is completely useless, by design. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
“Either I am invisible, or someone I identify with is invisible, and it makes me so angry.” Any #UnpaidCarer, male or female, knows this invisibility.
Libby Hudson@libbykerensky.bsky.social · 15h agoMisses my favourite: The Truth will set you free, but first it will really piss you off. RIP Gloria Steinem www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
It’s a shame @calebstein.net is not more active on Bluesky, because he has an article in the Guardian today and an exhibition coming up in New York. #Photography #Exhibitions #Swimming www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Down by the Hudson – ode to a New York swimming creek – in pictures
For more than a decade Caleb Stein has been photographing a communal swimming creek in Poughkeepsie, New York. Returning every summer, he documented the community at a timeless spot. He talks about th...
theguardian.com
Refreshing recognition from the PM today of the challenges of funding #SocialCare and of the economic inequality faced by so many people in Britain today. His determination is grounds for optimism.
If you’ve ever wished that the UK, where it rains so much for half the year, managed its water resources better so we didn’t have hosepipe bans every summer, please add your signature to this petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/77...
Petition: Fund new reservoirs to increase future water supplies
England faces growing pressure on its water supplies due to factors like population growth, climate change and rising demand. The Government estimates 5 billion litres more water per day will be neede...
petition.parliament.uk
#SewageScandal (cont’d): Liberal Democrat county councillor in north Devon, Ed Tyldesley @chulmleighed.bsky.social, said “They are using a storm system when there are no storms. It is unbelievable. The worrying thing is that this all seems to be getting worse.”
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 3d agoDry weather sewage discharges soar as water companies face scrutiny
#SewageScandal: “according to freedom of information requests submitted by Environment Agency whistleblower Robert Forrester, the pollution is getting worse, not better, despite the regulator’s promise of tougher action.” www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Dry weather sewage discharges soar as water companies face scrutiny
Exclusive: 7,280 suspected illegal spills in rivers and sea recorded in first five months of 2026
theguardian.com
#SewageScandal: “The prime minister has said taking water companies such as Thames Water into public control is crucial to his vision for the country,” says the photo caption. Let’s see tomorrow. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
More public control is the way to grow UK economy, Burnham to tell MPs
Exclusive: Prime minister wants to ‘bring back hope’ by tackling cost of living as MPs call for electoral reform
theguardian.com
Despite a bone dry summer, we have had 485mm of rain in Sidmouth this year so far. That is more than enough supply. The problem is capture, storage and use. In other words, it's an entirely manmade problem, grounded in greed, complacency and relentless short-termism.
Mark Chadbourn@chadbourn.bsky.social · 6d agoGood piece on England’s completely avoidable water crisis. “At the moment, we're using world-class drinking water to cool data centres, to irrigate our golf courses.”
#SewageScandal: When it comes to the safety of the water, checking for sewage spills has become as important as checking the weather and tidal patterns. “I would love to be able to swim anywhere, rather than thinking about trying to avoid pollution,” says Hildi Mitchell.
Jacques Gallagher@1olddemocrat.bsky.social · 5d agoPrivatisation always leaves the people of the UK in the sh*t! www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#SociaMedia is unaccountable. That’s the issue. “It is the thing you do for the person you love. If you love someone – and I loved my dad from my heart – then he needs justice. He needs a public apology. There has to be accountability.” www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
What could Meta’s US settlement mean around the world – and what now for other claims against firm?
Other governments could seek similar concessions, while separate legal action is pending in places ranging from Kenya to the Netherlands
theguardian.com
#SocialMedia: “this week’s settlement addresses only the safety of children, despite the copious evidence of danger to adults, whether in the form of addiction or exposure to toxic misinformation.” Thankfully we can use other platforms, like Bluesky, that do not sell targeted advertising.
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 6d agoAn $18bn settlement – and Zuckerberg barely blinked. The tech titans must be stripped of their power, and soon | Jonathan Freedland
A Shoreham cycle lane saw 30,000 trips and served five schools before West Sussex County Council removed it. We challenged the decision in court with support from the Cyclists’ Defence Fund. The council admitted it acted unlawfully and agreed to pay £25,000 towards legal costs.
“We need politicians to explain – and to keep explaining – why the unrestricted use of cars in urban centres is damaging to the local economy as well as to the environment, to people’s health and to the overall feel of a place,” says @christianwolmar.bsky.social Putting my hand up 👋
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 7d agoDear culture-war motorists, look to the future. We'll all be driving at 20mph soon | Christian Wolmar
‘The idea of a “pathocracy”, a democracy of normal people taken over by psychopaths, was conceived by an obscure Polish psychologist, Andrew Lobaczewski, who had lived under both the Nazis and then Soviet-era communists.’ Such regimes are finite, as the current pathocracy/kakistocracy will be.
Lomelindi12@lomelindi12.bsky.social · last wk.“..the population over which a dark personality presides is huge: some..will remain steadfast in calling it a lie & fall out with the first lot; others will try to adjust their own reality to make the lie true; while others will become inured to the new normal – that we just all lie now.”
Saw this two nights ago and the writing was powerful and still going through my mind. Performances were remarkably fresh, after three weeks into the run. Kane decided life is pointless; clearly hers was not, as this revival (not the first) to full houses attests. 🎁 giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Cleansed theatre review — tenderness but no catharsis in Sarah Kane’s brutal play
This new production at London’s Almeida Theatre sheds a light on human cruelty — and is an ordeal to watch
giftarticle.ft.com
Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Environmental protection and sustainable development must go hand-in-hand and water recycling projects, combined with new reservoirs, will be critical to securing future water supplies effectivity.” But will the EA enforce? www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Forever chemicals’ surge during pilot of Thames Water plan to combat drought
Exclusive: utility company wants to draw off tens of millions of litres of water a day from Thames and replace it with treated effluent
theguardian.com
“I see strength in all sorts of places in the LGBT community and people living normal, dull, suburban lives. It’s ordinary now being gay in Britain, which is brilliant.” Homophobia, like misogyny, xenophobia and racism, is prejudice. Prejudice never dies, it just mutates.
The Guardian@theguardian.com · last wk.Wes Streeting describes ‘unbelievable volume’ of homophobic abuse since becoming defence secretary
"Instead of silencing residents and handing mayors a blank cheque, the government should be empowering local councils with the resources to deliver genuinely affordable homes alongside the infrastructure to support them," said @gideonamos.bsky.social #PlanningReform www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Mayors to get powers to overrule local councils on planning decisions
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the change was "essential" for helping mayors "effectively deliver new homes".
bbc.co.uk
This is for everyone who uses any meta product, as a stark warning of its potential for harm. We must all be careful how we use social media. (Gift link) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Meta to pay up to $16.7bn to settle children’s social media harm case
Meta to pay up to $16.7bn to settle children’s social media harm case
Case relating to alleged failures of child protection was getting under way in California
giftarticle.ft.com
“The water industry has been failing people for too long. We’ve seen rising bills while the number of serious pollution incidents are off the scale. We’ve got to do more.” @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Burnham mulls insolvency law shake-up to help bring utilities under public control
Exclusive: Rules on special administration seen as potential ‘roadblock’ to reshaping how UK’s essential services are run
theguardian.com
In all the trips we made to Greece and the eastern Mediterranean, I wonder if this travel writer was in the same room. Certainly we read his writing: perhaps we overheard his conversation? www.theguardian.com/books/2026/a...
Marc Dubin obituary
Other lives: Travel writer specialising in Greece, Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean
theguardian.com
“Ulez has slashed air pollution and improved air quality across London, and research published by Imperial College London earlier this year showed that this is already saving lives.” Well done, Mayor @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social, for cleaning up London’s polluted air.
Guardian Environment@environment.theguardian.com · 2w agoIntroducing Ulez was my hardest decision as mayor of London – but now we know its astonishing impact | Sadiq Khan
Privatisation gave us the #SewageScandal that keeps on polluting.
We Own It@weownit.org.uk · 3w agoSince privatisation, water companies have extracted £85 billion net out of the system. Every penny they claim to have invested has come from your bills; they’ve also racked up a debt mountain of over £60 billion at your expense. Their actions now are indefensible. We need water in public hands.
“For nearly two centuries, the west experienced steady generational progress. Each new cohort of children grew up, on average, healthier, happier, and better educated than the last. Until now.” Thankful our childhood pre-smartphone and tablet was playing #sport, learning #music, and reading #books.
Guardian US@us.theguardian.com · 3w agoJared Cooney Horvath argues that educational technology undermines how children learn and develop
Received this #SevereAlert warning 4 times last night, the first buzzing loudly while cycling across a busy trunk road. Has our UK government finally recognised the severe #ClimateEmergency? Will it amend its policies accordingly, e.g. by refusing licenses to drill fossil fuels in the North Sea?
Iris Murdoch Amongst the Artists: Newly discovered works, including the self-portrait and the surrealist landscape paintings, are on display at the University of Chichester Library until 10 December – the first ever devoted to Murdoch as an artist. #BookSky www.theguardian.com/books/2026/a...
Iris Murdoch artworks from secret room go on display – including self-portrait
Second world war paintings and sketches show novelist ‘engaging with her world in a new light’
theguardian.com
