Another green shoot. Ironic that evidence of economic recovery is starting to build just as govt’s stock is lowest - it means they’re not getting credit for something that feels like it might actually be going right (shock, horror) www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

BBC News would be thrown into a right quandry if Nigel Farage decides to call a press conference

Oh, well, until the BBC gets hold of Farage to ask his opinion on the arrest, we should be spared contributions from Refuk for a few hours.

Grace Brewster Hopper (1906 –1992) was an American computer scientist, mathematician, and US Navy rear admiral. She was the first to devise the theory of machine-independent programming languages, and developed two early high-level programming languages still in use today. #CelebratingWomen

“I reject the lie that deporting my neighbor is how I win better pay and working conditions. We’re fighting for a country where families stay together without living in terror, so we’re ALL better off!”

Waiting for the BBC analysis ‘Andrew arrested: Why this could be a big win for Farage’

Auschwitz was at the end of a process. We must remember that it did not start from gas chambers. This hatred gradually developed: from ideas, words, stereotypes & prejudice through legal exclusion, dehumanization & escalating violence... to systematic and industrial murder. Auschwitz took time.

NEW: NEW: Standards commissioner finds Nigel Farage committed seventeen breaches of MPs code of conduct. He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…

Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She was 95.

Amazingly, Zahawi only got round to deleting the below after the press conference announcing his defection to Reform.

@therestpolitics.bsky.social is Turner's appointment as ambassador to the USA a good move.

✅ Liberal Democrat HOLD Yesterday's Meadvale and St John's (Reigate and Banstead) council by-election result: LDEM: 48.3% (-8.1) GRN: 17.6% (+17.6) CON: 12.0% (-15.1) REF: 11.6% (+11.6) IND: 10.4% (+10.4) No Lab (-16.4) as prev. +/- 2022 andrewteale.me.uk/previews

@therestpolitics.bsky.social is @rory-stewart.bsky.social going to stand as Mayor in Cumbria?

“I just exchanged contracts on a house that [sic] I’ll be living there.” Repeats, “I’ve bought a house in Clacton.” Farage clearly stated he has a beneficiary interest in the property. If he provided the purchase costs, then he is the deemed owner - _exactly_ as Rayner was - and owes stamp duty.

Oh.

Nearly a million people marched against Brexit. Not front page news. 50 people gather outside a hotel. National news for weeks. "Fears of mass unrest", media says.

Yesterday: Nigel Farage says Reform UK "will detain and deport absolutely anyone that comes via that route.. Yes, women and children" Today: Nigel Farage, "Deportation of illegal immigrants, we were not even discussing women and children at this stage. The news reports who said that were wrong"

Predictions of £40bn hit to public finances from Brexit ‘correct’ Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast of a 4 per cent productivity loss from leaving the EU has been largely borne out, says top economist www.thetimes.com/business-mon...

"Thames Water piled up nearly £20 billion in debt while pumping sewage into our rivers and lakes. The price of this failure must not be paid by the customers." @timfarron.bsky.social

politician hypocrisy latest - via Politico email

“When Labour negotiates, Britain loses” says Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch whose party’s “oven ready” Brexit cost the UK £100 billion a year in lost output

Former M&S Chairman Lord Rose, "Here we are, 10 years on now from Brexit" "The issues of immigration are caused by Brexit" "The issues of our poor economic performance ate down to Brexit"

In London on May 21st? Come to my VIANNE launch at Waterstones, Piccadilly at 6:30 - I'll be chatting with the wonderful Joanna Cannon about chocolate, CHOCOLAT, the Church and the healing power of scent. Join us there! Tickets at: www.waterstones.com/events/joann...

My grandmas were immigrants, my mum & sisters in law are immigrants; my sister & nephews are migrants. My kids study maths, Shakespeare, dance, act & score tries alongside the kids of immigrants. My dad’s life was saved by immigrants. Immigrants have made us richer, wiser, stronger Win the fight

As a German I will forever be grateful to all who fought for the liberation of Europe. But as a historian I am looking at front pages today and must wonder: What is the point of remembering #VEDay 80 years on, what is the point of our thanks, when we are failing to protect the sacrifices made? 🧵

One of the strangest ironies of the last ten years has been watching Britain immersing itself as deeply as ever in memories of WW2 while proudly turning its back on the project that emerged from it.

Another classic from the Queen of gaffes…

Reform UK have u-turned on this policy saying county flags are OK. So we have pointed out this…

Reform are going to reduce waste by spending money on consultants to seek out & cut jobs that don’t actually exist #bbclaurak

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch suggesting 9 months isn’t long enough to turn the Tory Party around but the exact same duration *is* more than enough for Labour to turn around a country crippled by 14 years of a government she played a major role in #bbclaurak

This one’s doing the rounds…

The Greens now have nearly 200 more councillors than Reform. This is not something you'd be likely to guess from all the copiously salivating media coverage of Farage & his crew of billionaire-backed far-right chancers.

Liberal Democrats GAIN majority control of Shropshire Council! With 10 more seats still to declare the Liberal Democrats are up 25 to 38. 😮

Another absolutely stonking result!! Liberal Democrats gain 16 seats in Wiltshire. Now a group of 43 😀

King’s Third Law: for every political issue there’s an idiot and and an equal and opposite idiot

C4News "He was asked what concessions Russia was prepared to make to bring about the ceasefire" President Trump, "Stopping taking the whole country, that's a pretty big concession"

"Farmers want him to be careful in any trade deal with Donald Trump. They were let down by the Conservatives' appalling trade deals & worried that a bad US deal could see American agribusiness undercut them" Ed Davey raises his concerns over a potential US trade deal at #PMQs.

Due to the success of our Thursday Afternoon Tea and Tours, we're extending availability to Wednesdays. We'll be offering 60-minute tours at 2pm, with Afternoon Tea at 3pm. The first Wednesday Tea and Tour will be on May 14. Click the link to book: visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/tours/librar...

@hbriggsjourno.bsky.social just read your article re garden starlings, come to my garden, they are about the only bird I have. I think they are building a nest in my gutter, not a good place, the local gulls will eat the eggs.

She'll shit bricks if she discovers that the wealthiest businesses & individuals engage in tax avoidance to the tune of £140bn.

Prediction: Today (4/9/25) registered the greatest ill gotten gains from insider trading in history.

“He made 2.5 million today and he made $900 million. That’s not bad.” Sounds like market manipulation to me. That’s bad.

@rory-stewart.bsky.social if Cumbria gets a mayor, would you consider standing for the position?

For more details on this topic, and all the links backing up my claims, please check out my Substack! https://open.substack.com/pub/monkdebunks/p/the-truth-behind-foreigners-claiming Thank you to everyone who has subscribed so far! It’s much appreciated! 🙏🏼 13/13

Amol Rajan, "What do you think it would take to get this country growing again?" Alan Sugar, "Go back into the European Union" "That's what I would do. If I was in charge, I'd beg to get back in again"

@brianwernham.bsky.social what are your thoughts on an mayoral authority for Cumbria? Who will pay for it?