Israel has determinedly abolished any chance of a real two-state solution, using brutal methods. It isn't even a thing that exists any more as a prospect, but it's a convenient piece of theatrical pretence for the states that wish to support Israel come what may, buy their spy software, etc.

flyingrodent@flyingrodent.bsky.social · 9h ago

I have no strong view on a preferred outcome here - “stop the massacre and destruction” feels like the immediate priority - but I invite readers to note the result of decades of nice libs wishing for two states is their own governments assisting in genocide, ethnic cleansing and massive destruction.

What Zack being banned from Israel actually demonstrates is that the political project of Israel as pursued by the Netanyahu government has nothing to do with protecting the Jewish people, and everything to do with the reactionary irredentist fantasy of a greater Israel.

Diesel price really biting now, here are school bus services collapsing. The UK government appears incapable of acting. Meanwhile, vast profits are being made by the oil majors. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Coach services could be cut due to record diesel prices, operators warn

Rising fuel costs are pushing hundreds of firms out of business, threatening school transport, firms say

theguardian.com

No surprise that UK train fares are sky high given that the companies 'leasing' the trains are making close to half a billion a year for shareholders and managers. Plans to 'nationalise' rail don't include these breathraking ripoffs, naturally. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Bosses of three firms that supply trains to UK railways made £3.5m last year

Rolling stock companies, which also paid out nearly £400m to shareholders, accused of profiting at passengers’ expense

theguardian.com

Andy Burnham was proud to have used the Mouth of Sauron as a key adviser during his campaign to become PM. "I know Sauron can be deceptive", he told an Instagram influencer, "but Barad Dur has plenty to offer and Orcs aren't really so bad. High time we gave the Lord Sauron dominion over our NHS".

Social Media Lab@socialmedialab.ca · 5d ago

Legal but not a good look. "A recent lobbyist for the controversial $450bn US tech company Palantir played a senior role in helping Andy Burnham become prime minister, it has emerged." www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Palantir uses money paid to them by UK taxpayers to prepare spy files on MPs critical of their sinister activities.

THE NERVE@thenerve.news · last wk.

“That, to me, was an implicit threat. It feels very Palantir. Very Big Brother”: MP @labourlewis.bsky.social reveals Tom Watson has warned him over criticising Palantir By @carolecadwalla.bsky.social www.thenerve.news/p/clive-lewi...

But we can't afford decent pensions or to help young people with jobs.

Prem Sikka@premnsikka.bsky.social · 6d ago

UK public sector bodies spent £17bn with offshore-owned private equity firms last year. The same vultures received £31bn public sector contracts. Profiteering, low wages, tax dodging, asset-stripping is their business model. Enriched by public money. How many have politicians on payroll?

Dangerous terrorist being mopped up by tough lads from the anti-terror command outside Labour conference. My heart swells with socialist pride. Burnham says he's 'reviewing' it.

The New Arab@thenewarab.bsky.social · last wk.

A 94-year-old Jewish human rights barrister was among more than 80 people arrested outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool while demonstrating in support of Palestine Action. The arrests came as Ed Miliband told critics of the government’s policy on Palestine: “We hear you. You were right"

Republicans in the US are now literally financed by crime. Similar to Farage and Reform here in the UK.

Ron Filipkowski@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · last wk.

Millions of dollars that Trump is using to support Republican candidates was donated to his PAC by wealthy fraudsters and their family members before they were pardoned for their crimes. Instead of crime victims getting restitution, Republicans got campaign cash from the felons.

Huge amounts of nonsense circulating about state pensions and the triple lock - hopeless confusion on LBC and R4. For example, the state pension is taxable, it isn't excluded as many seem to believe. So when people have private pensions, it's all lumped together and taxed as one.

The UK still has below average state pensions compared to most developed countries. The triple lock was aimed at fixing that over the long term and has moved towards it. The idea that all pensioners are pampered is nonsense, ask anyone working in the field. Most pensioners remain hard up.

Stabbing Jewish men in the street because they are Jewish - not terrorism. Pensioners protesting peacefully about Palestine - terrorist. Courage mon braves. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Golders Green stabbings no longer being treated as suspected terrorism

Police say attack on two Jewish men in north London in April now being treated as alleged hate crime

theguardian.com

The Blair family stand ready to more fully exploit their workforce with ruthless and merciless AI taskmasters, adding to their vast wealth pile and making the employees suffer. Bravo Tony and Bravo Euan, already worth £350m! Now advising a Prime Minister near you. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Teachers at Euan Blair firm report ‘horrendous stress’ after AI used to rate their work

Exclusive: Instructors at tech training company Multiverse hit out at ‘remorseless’ and ‘unnerving’ monitoring system

theguardian.com

Back to business as usual. Tel Aviv's business.

Paul Blinkhorn@paulblinkhorn.bsky.social · last wk.

It's good to see that after a jolly weekend helping Ordinary People With Genuine Concerns About Immigration get home safely from Dover the other week, Burnham's police are back to the serious business of arresting dangerous terrorists in Liverpool today

It might be better to list the Reform councillors who are not guilty of serious criminal behaviour.

Reform Party UK Exposed@reformexposed.bsky.social · 2w ago

Reform UK Jaywick councillor suspended amid allegations www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/2658198...

Billionaire childhood. Vaughan Thomlinson cartoon from the Guardian today.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Except he's 'northern'.

Prem Sikka@premnsikka.bsky.social · 2w ago

Declassified journalists banned from Labour conference – again. A Trumpian policy started by Keir Starmer. Burnham can't make a fresh start without getting rid of the previous advisers. Democracy means accepting scrutiny, even when it is uncomfortable.

Just seen Danny Tommo referred to as "Captain Thugwash" and seriously, that's excellent work.

Amy Poehler's Perfect Chef's Kiss

ALT: Amy Poehler's Perfect Chef's Kiss

static.klipy.com

A lecture on avoiding brute force from a man leading a government that routinely tortures young people for protesting against their regime. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...

Iran’s president hits out at ‘bully’ Trump in UN speech but signals willingness to talk

Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran is ready for dialogue and diplomacy ‘but without the language of force’

theguardian.com

I don't the Drumpfs forget for a moment their true fascist-adoring heritage and this charade is likely a prelude to more dumping of shit onto the UK, England, Britain, or whatever clueless dimwits are calling it today.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2w ago

Trump: "You call it United Kingdom, Britain, they call it sometimes England. They go back to the old. It's got more names than any other place in the world."

It's very unlikely that even the perennially deranged Mail readership would now split 74:17 on defending Brexit. This is the Mail fabricating their poll results.

Over at Labour HQ it's "sooth the progressives" day. I hear there's a by-election soon.

Alex Hall Hall@alexhh.bsky.social · 2w ago

Wey hey!! Two cheers. Hurrah! I’m almost, but not, quite, mildly excited that something might not be ruled out in a few years time. Way to go, Andy. Bold, bravely ambivalent, solidly ambiguous, resolutely vague leadership, at last. 🙄🙄🙄 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Osborne thinks it's 'sovereign' to have datacentres 100% belonging to US corporations, returning profits to them, processing their data and not allowing any UK interference with that and creating about 5 jobs for each one they build, whilst basically deleting our remaining water supplies. OK George.

Nazi operations in the US, courtesy of ICE. This savagery and contempt for due process is the favoured model for Farage and Reform here in the UK.

All Kinds Of Nope@woozleweasels.bsky.social · 2w ago

They shot him in the back, he went to hospital and ICE came and took him out and put him in detention with no medical care. They want him to either die or be deported so he cannot testify what happened. There is video, let them deport that.

When I visited the Bayeux Tapestry with a friend in the late 80s, there were signs saying "no flash photography" all over. Inside the darkened gallery, numerous visitors were flashing away. We pointed this out to the guards and received the 'gallic shrug' in response. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

British Museum bans visitors from photographing Bayeux Tapestry

Visitors stopping to take pictures of the 68m medieval embroidery were holding up others, prompting the rule change.

bbc.co.uk

"And he said: 'Oh, Laura, ok, you got me, I made it all up. You're just too good at this interview business!'" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Laura Kuenssberg: I asked Earl Spencer who we should believe, him or the King?

Princess Diana's brother has caused a storm with his new memoir - the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg describes how she put his claims to the test.

bbc.co.uk

Assumed Osborne was behind the Thiel private viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry, this confirms it. He seems proud of it - as proud as he no doubt is of removing the word 'Palestine' from age-old exhibits always called that. Another Tory deep state penetration. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

George Osborne ‘thought Peter Thiel’s Bayeux tapestry visit would be secret’

British Museum chair tells Big Brue festival he thought no one would find out about the private viewing

theguardian.com

The big winners from Reform UK's proposed crypto deregulation would be drug & sex trafficking gangs, paedophiles & arms smugglers "A Reform UK government would be great news for crypto. But taking the industry's money might not be as smart as Farage thinks it is" www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

So from April, people on state pension only are going to be paying income tax. This is a bit crazy, but it's really an indicator of how much government has broken the tax allowance system and brought more and more poor people into tax. Tax allowances should rise. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

UK state pension set to top £13,000 a year as wage growth slows to 3.9%

Workers face inflation squeeze fuelled by Iran war, as Bank of England prepares for interest rates decision

theguardian.com

This meetup: - Isn't a government-level agreement. None of these politicians have a majority for independence or similar. - Has no political effect - they remain part of the UK and everything here is just theatrical. - Appears based mainly on wishful thinking. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Westminster’s time is coming to an end, say first ministers of UK’s Celtic nations

Leaders in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland discuss independence and call for constitutional change at summit

theguardian.com