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lesley

@lmenzies.bsky.social

scottish, rugby loving, culture, nature, politics.

26 Posts120 Follower 148 Folgt

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 3w ago

Your weekend reminder that Nigel Farage wants to - leave the ECHR - repeal the Equality Act - Strip back workers rights - Lift restrictions on exploitative zero-hours contracts - repeal the Renters’ Rights Act which abolishes no fault evictions He is not on your side youtu.be/KxOQRt8PQys?...

If UK media actually explained Nigel Farage’s policies to the public no one would be supporting him

YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic

youtu.be

lesley @lmenzies.bsky.social · 2mo ago

enjoying the sun @dogs.bsky.social

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Despite all the noise today I'd really like you to read this, as I think it's crucial. The government's in the process of p*ssing up to £264 billion into the ground, at the behest of the fossil fuel industry. Yes, £264 *billion*. It's utterly mad, and has to stop. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The great carbon capture con: behold the wasted billions Burnham could claw back | George Monbiot

There are far better ways to tackle climate breakdown, but successive governments have chosen to listen to the fossil fuel companies instead, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

theguardian.com

Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 4mo ago

🧵 A postcard from the country that already crashed the car, sent with love and a small amount of nausea, to the cousins who are about to crash a bigger one. — @therickwilson.bsky.social's warning from America 🇺🇸➡️🇬🇧 bylinetimes.com/2026/05/08/r... 1/12

Rick Wilson's Warning From America: Nigel Farage Will Be Your Donald Trump, Unless You Act Now

The former Republican strategist and Lincoln Project founder has some hard lessons for Conservatives and Labour alike

bylinetimes.com

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 8mo ago

You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.

1. I am a resident of the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am over 18 years of age. I am a children's entertainer who specializes in face painting.
2. On Saturday, January 24, 2026, at about 8:50 am, I was getting ready to go to work when I heard whistles outside. I knew the whistles meant that ICE agents were in the area, so I decided to check it out on my way to work. I've been involved in observing in my community because it is so important to document what ICE is doing to my neighbors. Connecting to your local community and knowing who your neighbors are is something I profoundly value.
3. I drove to Nicollet Ave. and 26th where I could hear the whistles coming from. I turned south onto Nicollet. There were already several ICE agents there and they'd set up a sort of vehicle convoy on Nicollet and 28th. There were also about 15 observers there, recording and observing ICE.
4. I saw ICE agents surrounding cars and punching car windows. I also saw them stopping vehicles further down Nicollet, so I backed up because I didn't feel safe continuing on.
5. I noticed a man sort of acting to help traffic move more smoothly. He helped me find a place to park. I got out with my whistle and my camera. I went over to him and said something like, "I'm going to film and use my whistle."
6. It seemed like most ICE activity was happening a little farther down the street from us, near 27th. Someone was being thrown to the ground.

7. I started recording. There was an agent by a car across the street. Two observers were a few feet away from the agent, blowing their whistles. One was wearing a backpack.
8. I and the man who was observing and helping direct traffic were standing in the street. There was a phone in the man's hand recording a video.
9. An agent approached and asked us to back up, so I moved slowly back onto the sidewalk.
10. The man stayed in the street, filming as the other observers I mentioned earlier were being forced backward by another ICE agent threatening them with pepper spray. The man went closer to support them as they got threatened, just with his camera out. I didn't see him reach for or hold a gun.
11. Then the ICE agent shoved one of the other observers to the ground. Then he started pepper spraying all three of them directly in the face and all over. The man with the phone put his hands above his head and the agent sprayed him again and pushed him.
12. Then the man tried to help up the woman the ICE agent had shoved to the ground. The ICE agents just kept spraying. More agents came over and grabbed the man who was still trying to help the woman get up. All three of the observers looked to have been badly affected by the pepper spray. I could feel the pepper spray in my eyes.

13. The agents pulled the man on the ground. I didn't see him touch any of them-he wasn't even turned toward them. It didn't look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up. I didn't see him with a gun. They threw him to the ground. Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times.
14.1 don't know why they shot him. He was only helping. I was five feet from him and they just shot him.
15. The video I recorded of what happened accurately depicts the events leading up to the agents shooting him and several minutes afterwards. The video is attached as Exhibit 1.
16. I have read the statement from DHS about what happened and it is wrong. The man did not approach the agents with a gun. He approached them with a camera. He was just trying to help a woman get up and they took him to the ground.
17. I feel afraid. Only hours have passed since they shot a man right in front me and I don't feel like I can go home because I heard agents were looking for me. I don't know what the agents will do when they find me. I do know that they're not telling the truth about what happened. I've heard that other witnesses might have been arrested and taken to the Whipple Building.
18. I am disgusted and gutted at how they are treating my neighbors and my state. I keep alternating between crying and feeling determined it is important to remember the value of documenting injustice. We show up for the people who need us to bear

witness, because it can't just be one group of people bearing the brunt of their tyranny. This is a struggle to protect our freedom and democracy, those things are on the line. He lost his life for those values.
I declare under penalty of perjury that everything I have stated in this document is true and correct.

Dated and signed on Jan 24, 2026 in Hennepin County, State of Minnesota.

Josh Gerstein@joshgerstein.bsky.social · 8mo ago

JUST IN: Lawyers file declaration in federal court from first-hand witness to immigration agents' shooting of a US citizen onlookers today. Minneapolis Mayor Frey said details would be used to bolster case for ousting ICE from city. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 9mo ago

🚨 “Can I tell you how many times in the last 45 years the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the UK when it comes to deporting people from this country - only 13 times - in 45 years” Please remember this in 2026 when Nigel Farage tells you we must leave the ECHR to control our borders

Peter Stefanovic@peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Human rights are universal - politicians may not always find them politically convenient but it shouldn’t fall to any government to say who those rights should & should not apply to. Because none of us then has rights, just privileges that can be taken away by those in power youtu.be/bl0Lm7v_T18?...

Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 9mo ago

How his mate, bankroller, and Insurance Company owner, Arron Banks, would love that. It’s not about what’s good for YOU, it’s about what’s good for HIM and his mates.

We loathe Reform UK Ltd@peterspice.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Nigel Farage: NHS might have to be replaced by private health insurance www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

lesley @lmenzies.bsky.social · 9mo ago

@dogs.bsky.social #dogs all tired out

Richard Murphy @richardjmurphy.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Why the news no longer tells the truth youtu.be/QHcNHG_iVPQ?...

Why the news no longer tells the truth

YouTube video by Richard J Murphy

youtu.be

Zoe Gardner @zoejardiniere.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Asylum seekers, housed in hotels in Manchester, are reaching out in their own words to address the concerns of the local community. Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.

Simon Gosden @simongosden.bsky.social · 12mo ago

West Country Voices @westcountryvoices.bsky.social · 12mo ago

How many of us identify with this?

The threats to our values and democracy from Reform UK

East Anglia Bylines @eastangliabylines.co.uk · last yr.

Migrants aren’t “drains” on Britain. They’re one of the few things stopping our economy collapsing entirely. The Bear explains

Nan’s not bankrupting Britain (but politicians might be)

Pensions, productivity and the myth of the migrant “drain” – why Britain’s real crisis is ageing, not immigration

eastangliabylines.co.uk

Marc Blackburn @marcyeboah.bsky.social · last yr.

An Indian restaurant vandalised in Wakefield during the week and now a chinese in York has been vandalised This isnt about national pride, its about targeting other ethnicities, and our politicians are enabling it

West Country Voices @westcountryvoices.bsky.social · last yr.

It seems that because they take them for granted, some people think they don't actually exist except when applied to 'forriners' coming over here and so they don't see why they should have them.

Will D 🇪🇺🇮🇪🇺🇦🇨🇦🇬🇧🇫🇷@willd99.bsky.social · last yr.

Love to know why people are happy to repeal our human rights. It is because they don’t understand. I know why Farage and Tice do.

Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · last yr.

Here is the latest Stand Up to Racism leaflet about asylum seekers and refugees

Stand Up To Racism

Reject far right lies about protecting women and girls

REFUGEES ARE NOT TO BLAME

The far right are attempting to spread racist lies, falsely blaming refugees and migrants for violence against women and girls.

They see such attacks as nothing more than opportunities to organise racist hate mobs. This toxic racist atmosphere does not help victims and survivors of sexual violence.

Refugees are not "unvetted criminals". They are ordinary people fleeing war, persecution, torture, and terror. Many have faced violence themselves. They deserve safety and support-not suspicion and hate.

Refugees are not "living in luxury" or getting special treatment. They are forced to live in overcrowded and often unsafe accommodation. Around a third of refugees are placed in hotels. Many are placed in detention-like accommodation, isolated from communities and services.

They are banned from working and must survive on as little as £8.86 a week. Some have been stuck in this system for years, waiting endlessly for decisions on their claims.

They are not all "single young men". Home Office statistics show that 42% of asylum claims made in 2024 were from women and children.

No-one, least of all these women and children, are "protected" by racist mobs targetting their accommodation.

The truth about migration and sexual violence

Despite the lies pushed by the far right, there is no evidence that refugees or migrants are more likely to commit acts of sexual violence.

Figures such as Tory MP Robert Jenrick use false and distorted statistics to spread racist lies.

Recent far right protests have claimed to be protecting "our girls" and "our children" from either refugees or so-called "Pakistani grooming gangs". They're lying.

There isn't nearly enough research about child sexual abuse or child sexual exploitation, partly because victims and survivors are repeatedly ignored by the relevant authorities.

However, the Casey Report published in June 2025 shows that white people are more likely to commit child sexual abuse and exploitation than Asian people.

Another report, from the Home Office in 2020, found that "group-based child sexual exploitation offenders are most commonly white". Sexual violence is not caused by race or nationality.

Who is really to blame?

Sexual violence is endemic across society and is not taken seriously. Women and children are let down every day by the police and authorities.

Meanwhile, any support for survivors has been absolutely gutted, leaving victims with nowhere to turn.

Standing with victims and survivors means demanding justice from those truly accountable. But when the far right single out a tiny section of society for blame, it means the vast majority of abusers escape suspicion.

The far right doesn't care about victims and survivors

The far right claim they care about women but their actions prove otherwise. Their real goal is to spread racist division, not to stop violence.

In fact, their own ranks are full of abusers at levels far greater than the British population as a whole.

Police data showed that two in five of the 899 people arrested after participating in last summer's riots had previously been reported to the police for domestic abuse.

These are the same forces that claim to be 'protecting' women today.

They are also happy to march alongside the multiple sex offenders, domestic abusers and violent misogynists in their own ranks.

The far right has never been serious about protecting women. Its aim is to promote racism, Islamophobia, and division. We know where this rhetoric leads. It fuels hate, stokes racism, and encourages violent attacks on refugees, migrants and Muslims.
standuptoracism.org.uk/join

lesley @lmenzies.bsky.social · last yr.

six garden flowers

lesley @lmenzies.bsky.social · last yr.

New puppy, looking cute between zoomies

Rosco 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇷🇩🇪🇪🇺FBPE @roscoforindy.bsky.social · last yr.

Why is this not a bigger story? The deputy GRIFTER-in-CHIEF wants to rob new workers of their pension, give existing workers lower pay rises, while taking his glod plated MP pension in time. This is what Deform clowns voted for. To make themselves poorer birminghamunison.co.uk/2025/06/03/r...

Reform to axe Local Government Pensions

Richard Tice has announced that new employees in the 10 councils now controlled by Reform UK will not be allowed to join the Local Government Pension Scheme

birminghamunison.co.uk

Katy Montgomerie 🦗@katymontgomerie.com · last yr.

This statement about the transphobic Supreme Court ruling by the UK's Crab Museum (yes a museum about crabs) is better than 99% of the statements I've seen on the topic www.crabmuseum.org/visit 🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀

Larry & Paul @larryandpaul.bsky.social · last yr.

⚠️ WATCH LIVE: Wes Streeting’s Message On Mental Health. 👇🏻 Please watch and share this #MessageFromWes. youtu.be/oHIoHxz1ZNo?...

Wes Streeting’s Message On Mental Health

YouTube video by Larry & Paul

youtu.be

Bylines Scotland @bylines.scot · last yr.

👀

Christopher Webb@cwebbonline.com · last yr.

Ahead of Germany’s election, with anti-immigrant sentiment rising, they released viral videos showing life without immigrants. History proves that when a country starts erasing certain people, it doesn’t end well. 🧵

Richard Murphy @richardjmurphy.bsky.social · 2y ago

The UK benefits system is broken. One third of benefits are not paid and by far the biggest recipients of state aid are the wealthiest people in the country www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/03...

The UK benefits system is broken. One third of benefits are not paid and by far the biggest recipients of state aid are the wealthiest people in the country

As the FT notes this morning: Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to slash spending on Britain’s “broken” and “indefensible” health-related welfare system, which is costing the government £65bn a year and is o...

taxresearch.org.uk

Scottish Greens @scottishgreens.org · 2y ago

This is a disgraceful targeting of the country's most vulnerable by Labour, undermining disability benefits and pushing more people and families into poverty. All while putting out statements designed to demonise them in the papers. It’s completely indefensible.

ITV News. Exclusive. Details of more than £6bn in welfare cuts revealed.

Claire #FBPE ☘️ 🍉 🇺🇦 🇪🇺🐝 🦮🇮🇪🇧🇪 💙💚@fbpech.bsky.social · 2y ago

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... Dear @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social This is shameful. I think you might agree. Can you do something about this?

This 77-year-old climate activist should never have been jailed – and now faces a Kafkaesque struggle to get out | Zoe Williams

A failure of justice, and draconian Tory law, put Gaie Delap in prison. A failure of government is keeping her there, writes Guardian columnist Zoe Williams

theguardian.com

C.J. Tudor - Author @cjtudor.bsky.social · 2y ago

As I have somehow surpassed 7k followers on here I thought it might be nice to do a giveaway: All 7 of my books to one lovely winner. Just share and like to be in with a chance! 😁📚

Helensburgh Book Festival @hburghbookfest.bsky.social · 2y ago

Welcome to the Helensburgh Book Festival, a literary festival on the West coast of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Please give us a follow to keep up to date with all our news, we’ve got some very exciting panels to tell you about! 28th-30th March 2025 💙📚

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 2y ago

So many amazing people are joining the DKMS UK stem cell register🙏 PLEASE KEEP SHARING & JOINING! Rachel from #Fife has blood cancer & needs a stem cell donor. She is determined to live for her one-year-old daughter, Daisy💔 Let’s find a match for Rachel. Join here👇 www.dkms.org.uk/get-involved...

lesley @lmenzies.bsky.social · 2y ago

view this morning, there's a load of geese in there somewhere as well

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 2y ago

Without trade unions & the workers willing to back them we wouldn’t have • a minimum wage • maternity & paternity rights • pension provision • holiday & sickness entitlements victories which have benefited every single person in this country tuc.org.uk/joinunion

Find a union for you

More than 6 million people are in a union, isn't it time you joined a union?

tuc.org.uk

Peter Stefanovic@peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 2y ago

Make Jacobs day. JOIN A UNION TODAY youtu.be/jg0D2yNiqHM?...