Simon Pease
@simonpease.bsky.social
Former UK diplomat. Neglectful gardener, baker, and maker. There is one planet. We pass through and are supposed to take care of it. Politics, as well as random observations on other stuff. No unsolicited DMs.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... While it's good that the BBC is covering Russia's attacks on Ukrainian civilians but this false attempt at neutrality shows just what problems BBC News seems to be having these days - "Both sides have denied deliberately targeting civilians."
Russian strike kills 21 as Ukraine calls for interceptors
The Russia defence ministry said it had struck logistics hubs and supply centres in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
bbc.co.uk
It’s disgusting for the Conservatives to ask Jewish groups to meet their ex-neo-Nazi candidate, presumably in the hope he will charm them and they’ll offer their blessing. They should not expect Jewish people to sanitise this appalling choice. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Tories offer Jewish groups meeting with ex neo-Nazi activist candidate
Joshua Bonehill-Paine was jailed over neo-Nazi activism, but has been selected to stand in a new Somerset Council seat in 2027.
bbc.co.uk
Story of many many Americans lives.. the medical stuff shouldn’t be political But somehow that has become Toxic too????
Badenoch's two biggest flaws are that she's nowhere near as smart as she thinks she is and is incapable of admitting error. Both well illustrated by this fiasco.
Alex Partridge@alexpartridge87.bsky.social · 4h agoJoshua Bonehill-Paine steps back from being a Conservative council candidate following backlash
I understand the objections of those who are sceptical about written constitutions; but too often they answer the case with “look at America”. They should instead consider this. How can it be just and democratic to have a constitution that is inaccessible to the majority of those it governs?…
Interrupting the holiday briefly to note another ex UK politician trying to rewire the EU to overcome Brexit, another for the round filing cabinet as we used to say. demos.co.uk/research/bey...
Beyond Brexit: A new deal for Britain, Ukraine and Europe
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
Badenoch represents double-down conservatism. Never apologise or moderate. Insult your opponents. Patronise journalists when challenged. Contradict yourself, lie, whatever it takes, but never back down. And that's how you end up creating an extremely avoidable Tory antisemitism scandal overnight
It’s insane. It’s the perfect distillation of how Brexit has epically fucked the Tory party. 10 years on and they’ve binned off every sane and thoughtful member and replaced them with simpletons, liars and lunatics. All to keep the Brexit/far right myths alive.
In my dad’s lifetime around 70,000 people died because of bombs dropped on the UK in 1939-45. In my lifetime 3,000 died as a result of civil conflict over the borders of the UK. I think a few boats of impoverished and desperate people who want a better life isn’t quite in the same league.
Why do dogs eat rotting pigeons, roll in disgusting heaps, and generally behave like they’ve been raised by maniacs with head injuries? "The Wolf That Chews Rocks" has answers. It also has fox shit. Read an excerpt and apply to become an early reader. #BookSky thewolfthatchewsrocks.com
The Wolf That Chews Rocks
Why your dog is weird, according to science. A funny, affectionate journey through the evolution, behaviour and baffling inner life of dogs.
thewolfthatchewsrocks.com
How the hell have journalists allowed Farage and Yusuf to pretend that their Royal Navy idea is a ‘humanitarian’ mission if ‘innocent’ immigrants are taken back to France, but a full-scale war-like ‘invasion’ of ‘illegals’ if coming our way? I mean, seriously. Please don’t be this hopeless…
Farmers are reporting poor yields due to lack of water & rain. Winter silage is already being used to feed animals due to dead summer grass. Agrivoltaics, where solar panels are raised so that more conventional farming can continue underneath is proving a solution with surprising benefits.
Heatwaves, farmland and solar energy
Could mediterranean style agrivoltaic systems help farmers cope with mediterranean style heatwaves, and improve energy independence?
eastangliabylines.co.uk
If women wore smart glasses, they'd be banned. (soigomaa/x) Think about it. If millions of women wore smart glasses, recording men's behaviour, conversations, comments, their driving & bar chats ... can you imagine the panic? Trust me, smart glasses would be regulated before you can say 'Meta'.
Course you would, “love”… And Brexit will suddenly be amazing. And climate change will go away. And Trump will give us the bestest trade deal ever. And voters will love you for scrapping their rights, to please your moneyed mates… Now, pipe down and focus on your upcoming fight with a bin.
The British Right, desperately trying to catch up with MAGA.
Fionna O’Leary@fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 2d agoFormer Neo Nazi activist & now Tory candidate “Bonehill-Paine has a conviction for assaulting a police officer & burglary of a police station Convicted in 2014 of malicious communications over an anti-Islam hoax that led to death threats against the owners of a pub apple.news/AuHKxuIE9TbG...
Of course Farage's 'policy' doesn’t work. It isn't intended to work. It's meant to cause a splash in the unthinking press (and GMB) and thereby get Doris at Number 33 Lambert Road, Peterborough to go 'Ooh at last someone is trying to do something about these awful boat crossings.' That's it.
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2d agoFormer navy officer criticises Reform plan to use military to stop small boats
And 25% of voters would put these ridiculous moneyed fools in charge of the govt and treasury, would they? How many investigations into Reform’s dodgy finances are there now? I’ve lost count. And no, it’s not an ‘establishment’ plot. It’s just what happens when corruption/incompetence meets scrutiny
Paul Brand@paulbrand.bsky.social · 2d agoBREAKING: Parliamentary standards commissioner is now investigating Reform UK’s Deputy Leader Richard Tice (as well as its paused investigation into Nigel Farage). Tice is being investigated for allegedly failing to declare a financial interest.
Which is an example of why I think the term 'Brexitism' is useful, as I argue in this recently published piece: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/ZGMSN... (not sure if this link wil give full access: apologies if not) 2/2
Brexitism: Brexit’s new domains
This commentary argues that the term ‘Brexitism’ is a necessary addition to the lexicon of concepts used to understand contemporary British politics. Its value lies in capturing how Brexit continue...
tandfonline.com
“Musk and co seem to have missed this message. But it’s the real reason why they should hate the film… It makes clear a commitment to international diplomacy isn’t a nice-to-have – it’s a prerequisite to civilisation.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The right hates The Odyssey because of its ‘wokeness’ – but it missed an even bigger threat to its worldview | Peter Swallow
The new film extols the value of a rules-based world order. That’s far more radical than any casting decision says Labour MP and classicist Peter Swallow
theguardian.com
Don’t ask why Ukraine is unwilling to just cede the land that Russia has taken by force. Read how 🇷🇺 coerces 🇺🇦 citizens & children to force them to become the pipeline for military service where they would be fighting their own countrymen. It’s obscene theconversation.com/we-investiga...
We investigated Russia’s military indoctrination of Ukrainian children in occupied territories – what we found was more shocking than we could have imagined
International law forbids the indoctination and militarisation of children in occupied territories.
theconversation.com
a) begs the question- the Commission cannot just say "zap" and stop Moroccans in the water b) on its own terms, it is high on its own supply - the Commission is in fact big into restrictions on migration via the asylum pact and return regulation, fine with Polish pushbacks, Libya deals etc
Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social · 3d agoThis piece was published Sat afternoon. It could win awards for incoherence. Its big point is the EU Commission had no interest in stopping these people going into Europe By the time it was published it was clear none had done so www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. - 14th Dalai Lama
Tell me Farage has realised he can't win without telling me.... etcetera.
These people really love stoking hatred and division; and gloating about it.
The funniest - and least discussed - aspect of this is that Farage, having reportedly told RefUK he'd only lead them if compensated for the £1m a year income he had outside politics, pocketed their five million, then kept earning from outside interests at the same rate anyway. He scammed even them.
Alex Andreou@sturdyalex.bsky.social · 4d agoImportant, because Farage's defence for not declaring Harborne's £5m 'gift' has always been very specific: he did not decide to stand until 3rd of June. Turns out this deal was struck mid-May (confirmed by RefUK) and facilitated by Farage's other big donor, convicted felon 'Posh' George Cotrell. 🧐
If you want to avoid school lockdowns next time, do the preparation now. Provide schools with the resources. Deal with ventilation.
