The boring answer is cars in 1986 were much less reliable and took much more care and attention. (You can track the change via how Top Gear evolved from “we help you with this problematic thing” to “cars as entertainment/self-expression”)

And this is the abuse that's been recorded via the staff survey (which is non-complusory). I suspect the true figure is worse.

'A survey of 381 members of the Society of Radiographers revealed a “noticeable” rise in instances of overt racism experienced and witnessed by radiographers across the health service over the past 18 months.' This has been actively enabled by politicians and media. That's a choice being made.

NHS radiographers report rise in overt racist abuse by patients

Survey reveals medics were called ‘monkeys’ and ‘dirty foreigners’, and patients refused to be seen by black or Asian staff

theguardian.com

I guess he's just lucky there's no record of him supporting Net Zero

the modern job market

FinTwitter@fintwitter.bsky.social · 2d ago

ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS ARE VANISHING: NO-EXPERIENCE HIRING PLUNGES 73% IN JUST 4 YEARS

If you can’t think of anything nice to say, I believe there’s a vacancy at The Spectator.

You can still buy Prime Minister You Wanted to See Me?, and it seems you can now buy it for a tenner. Ian and I are very proud of it. It is an enormous book though and you may have to move house as a result. www.tvbrain.info/shop/books/p...

James Collingwood@jamescollingwood.bsky.social · 2d ago

@whenisbirths.bsky.social @greavesian.bsky.social few months old but just been listening to this and your Weekending book gets a mention (first five minutes) youtu.be/lvBKQq_I6mM?...

Once again I have to note that if Openreach is not on your list of "underlying productivity problems in Britain" then you probably haven't thought about it enough.

It's incredible what can be ground up and shoved into the moral panic sausage casing at The Telegraph. Non-Muslim police staff raising money for charity by voluntarily fasting in some parkrun-esque project is grounds for extensive quotes from Nick Timothy on scrapping the Public Sector Equality Duty

Burnham handing Farage a lifeline by bringing the discourse back to small boats is just pathetic really at this point.

This is disgusting Abolish the Home Office

the3million@the3million.bsky.social · 3d ago

Monique Hawkins, acting chief executive of the3million, said the impact of the Home Office’s retrospective review was devastating for many. "People applied to the EU settlement scheme in good faith...by building their lives in the UK and putting down roots." www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Andy Burnham making a strong play for the Bluesky demographic: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Devolution plans strengthen case for written UK constitution, says Burnham

PM argues for codified model of decentralisation that would fundamentally change centuries-old workings of state

theguardian.com

@casmilus.bsky.social

Paul Bronks@slendersherbet.bsky.social · 4d ago

In celebration of #YorkshireDay, please enjoy this Sean Bean bastard collection. Sound up, bastards.

Just seen Marlon the Pannist at Ronnie Scott’s - if you get a chance to see him anywhere , you should go. www.instagram.com/marlonthepan...

Instagram

Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.

instagram.com

I think what's happened here is the press immediately recognised the obvious truth of what Hannah Spencer said but their idea of fairness/compromise is to still go in two footed on her, a vile 'leftie', and then circle back and pick up her points a few months on without acknowledging they were hers

Podcasting is Praxis@praxiscast.bsky.social · 4d ago

That's weird, because a whole discourse happened where we were all told drinking was super normal and anyone asking questions was a gross communist who didn't understand? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

To be fair to Reform voters, they are simply reflecting the views of most of the press and half the BBC.

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · 5d ago

Check out those Reform voters! (Source: www.ft.com/content/4932...)

Huh. I recall nt long ago a newly elected MP questioned the boozing in parliament & triggered a spectacular multi-week meltdown by the nation's most sensible Sensibles chin stroking & pontificating abt why the corridors of Westminster overflowing with booze ws nt only good bt virtually a natural law

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 4d ago

‘MPs have had their stomachs pumped’: concerns over ‘alcohol-soaked’ culture in Westminster

Really, if the electorate was assumed to have a working memory, the Conservatives would be in big trouble for a long time. Osborne-Austerity was hardly good for Manchester, despite "Northern Powerhouse" posturing, Brexit, Johnson, Truss. What reason to give the Conservatives a hearing?

Luke Tryl@luketryl.bsky.social · 4d ago

Both practically and psychologically coming 5th in GM a bad result for the Conservatives. In manchester focus groups heard from a series of voters who liked Badenoch but thought party had blown it in office, simply unwilling to look at the Tories yet after Partygate/mini budget/migration failures.

So one of the oddities about this is we know for a fact that Osborne and then Cameron (via unbalanced cuts and the Brexit) intentionally put party before country. Why would we be surprised if this affected attitudes?

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · 4d ago

@markeaston1.bsky.social Fair point; well made!

Once again, Openreach handily defeat the prospects of rural fibre for my parents. 🫠

Just so you know how key Cottrell was to the formation of Reform UK

Peter Jukes@peterjukes.bsky.social · 6d ago

I think a lot of people have missed this. Until the police investigation in February last year, Reform UK’s financial structures were all tied up with Cottrell and his Montenegro base bylinetimes.com/2026/07/23/p...

New research by top economists reveals the UK's spending system is no longer fit for the way public services are delivered today. Fundamental reform is needed to create a spending system that supports long-term investment, better public services and stronger outcomes. Report: bit.ly/4pMQ7WM

I think I need contact with anyone else who's gone through the breast cancer rollercoaster recently. I've no family, nor anyone else I know that has been through it. I appreciate that you may not want to discuss this, but if you do I'd appreciate it x

Big Issue doesn't appear to have fully picked-up on the key budget issue for AtW: it is coming out of the DWP's operating budget not their welfare payments budget. I don't believe we can have stabilisation of the scheme without a change to where the budget sits at DWP. bsky.app/profile/agvb...

Ann (she/her)@agvbergin.net · 6mo ago

Key points: (1) Despite that AtW costs increase with increasing demand, AtW comes out of (what I hope I'm interpreting correctly as) the budget for DWP's running costs. (2) NAO says "no business case or underpinning legislation to provide a reference point for assessing value for money".

Ah yes, a famously non-bigoted stance.

I didn't think definitions of "working class" could get worse. I was wrong.

NPR@npr.org · last wk.

Working class voters have moved away from the Democratic Party. Winning them back is key to the party's future, a new reports shows. But first, the messaging has to change. n.pr/4bgINgh

I can't remember who predicted this class of happening @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social - but here it is in the wild.

The Register@theregister.com · last wk.

Word worm crawls into Copilot, spreads chaos

Odyssey very much the Marvel franchise of its time: Poet : “And so he escaped Circe’s island” Audience: “So he got home safely and we can have a comedic story for a change” Poet: “You might think that, but no, Odysseus returns in…”

Ok, normally I don't mind that like six people see my posts but it's inconvenient when I have a question like this. Any classics types know if The Odyssey is the first known example of Bad Guy Kicks Dog?

I would love to know how Labour have rationalised that the one industry they should not characterise as inherently dangerous and predatory, and indeed should take junkets from, is gambling

John Oxley@joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · last wk.

Going to make a pornographic Warhammer gambling site and become the ultimate titan of the British economy.