If I recommend reading one thing today it's this... An amazing group of journalists have spent a year tracking the millions in CAP subsidies going to farmers who are being investigated, have been convicted, or are even in prison for violating migrant workers' rights

“They treat us worse than dogs", one worker told me. Based on reporting in Huelva & Lleida, my latest for Jacobin looks at how climate breakdown is aggravating yet further the harsh realities faced by migrant farm workers in Spain's lucrative agri-industrial sector. jacobin.com/2025/10/spai...

If only real crimes were taken this seriously

Religion has long been a valuable tool for reactionaries and bigots. It's been a key weapon for Islamists, for Putin's regime, and for the religious right in the US. Unsurprisingly, UK right wingers are also trying to use it. Hopefully, they will find us unreceptive: humanists.uk/2025/09/17/r...

Get ready, America. "Back in 1997 some commentators, even the odd religious scholar, were seriously discussing whether the late princess might one day be canonised." www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/aug/...

I am coming to the conclusion that the USA's Constitution and Bill of Rights might not be all they are cracked up to be. When seriously challenged, they appear to be lacking.

"Ten men in our country could buy the whole world and ten million can't buy enough to eat." Will Rogers, 1931

Ultimately it matters not if your constitution is written or unwritten or codified or uncodified… …once those in power do not recognise political or legal rules higher than their own personal or partisan advantage it is constitutional ‘game over’. Constitutions need constitutionalism, most of all.

A quick pop-in to wish a Happy New Year to you all🍾🥂 May it bring you peace and prosperity. I can't believe it, though. There are still 359 days to Christmas and people have got their trees and decorations up already! 🤷‍♂️😉

At this time of year I am reminded of the image of Joseph standing with a crib full of straw in his hand saying, "I asked for the manager!" 😉🕺 I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and to those who find this time of year difficult, I wish you peace. 🤝👋

1977 UK Christmas stamps featured The 12 Days of Christmas and were designed by David Gentleman. The Christmas No. 1 was Mull of Kintyre by Wings. Good morning everyone👋 Be careful out there.

"And we will protect democracy by strengthening the rules around donations to political parties." Labour Party manifesto, 2024.

1976 UK Christmas stamp featured medieval embroidery from the 13th & 14th centuries with scenes of the nativity. Stamps & first day cover were designed by Enid Marx. Christmas No.1 was "When A Child is Born" by Johnny Mathis. Good morning everyone👋 Be careful out there.

"Big Shop" before Christmas done✅ Doors now locked and bolted and windows shuttered.⛔️🚷 We will emerge once it has all passed.😁 ⬇️⬇️A Spanish supermarket on the Saturday before Christmas versus a UK supermarket on the Saturday before Christmas. 😉🤣🤣 ⬇️⬇️🇪🇸 v 🇬🇧. 🎄🎄

1975 UK Christmas stamps returned to Angels, on this occasion designed by Richard Downer. The Christmas No.1 this year was 🎼Oh, mamma mia, mamma mia🎼. Yes, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. 😉 Morning👋 Later posting today due to a trip to a supermarket!

A spooky story for Christmas: Back in the late 1700s, there was a rumour that a tunnel ran from Richmond Castle to Easby Abbey. Worried it could be a security threat, soldiers searched for it. They found a tunnel, but an adult soldier was unable to access it so, a young 1/5

1974 UK Christmas Stamps featured roof bosses from four different churches and were designed by the Peter Hatch Partnership. (Articles from British Philatelic Bulletin) The Christmas No.1 that year was "Lonely This Christmas" by Mud Good 🦋 morning everyone👋 Be careful out there🎄🎄

Good morning👋 1973 UK Christmas stamps featured the story of King Wenceslas and were designed by David Gentleman. This was the year that the West Midlands Ageing Rockers Pension Fund was created.😉 The Christmas No.1 was "Merry Christmas Everybody" by Slade. Be careful out there. 🎄🎄

Good morning everyone👋 1972 UK Christmas stamps were "Angels", designed by Sally Stiff. She created reliefs of angels from fabric and other materials which were then photographed for the stamp designs. The Christmas No.1 was "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool". Be careful out there.🎄🎄

Now, should I leave my letter with Santa on the 23rd or should I leave it with The Three Kings Postman on the 30th? There's only one way to find out…….😉

Good morning Bluskyers🦋👋 1971 UK Christmas stamps designers used images from a stained glass window in Canterbury Cathedral, all featuring the Magi. First day cover features an illustration of an angel from a chapel in the cathedral. The Christmas No.1 was Benny Hill's "Ernie". Be careful out there.

Good 🦋morning everyone👋 1970 UK Christmas stamps were designed by Sally Stiff who used images of the nativity from the Lisle Psalter, a 14th century manuscript housed at the British Museum. First day cover envelope is a John Leech illustration from "A Christmas Carol." 🎄🎄 Be careful out there.

I have had people look at me as if I am mad when I tell them that we (my wife and I, both from the same Yorkshire town) eat our Christmas cake with cheese. Wensleydale is the best.

For 1969 UK Christmas stamps it was decided to go back to a religious theme. The designs by Austrian-born artist & UK resident since 1938, Fritz Wegner, were chosen depicting the Herald Angel, Shepherds & The Three Kings. Good morning Blueskyers 🦋👋 Be careful out there

Just like the queue at your local chippy when you’re starving 😫 it’s a non mover at No.9 … it’s Frying Tonight by Malcolm Teasdale (b. 1944) #ChippyTeaFriday Top Ten for 2024 🏆

Satirists go home. There are no jokes left.

Good morning Blueskyers👋🦋 UK Christmas stamps, 1968. The success of issuing Christmas stamps in 1966 & 1967, the Postmaster General decided to continue with festive special editions. The stamps featured children playing with toys were designed by artist Rosalind Dease. Be careful out there.

When the Partido Popular is in power, Spain becomes a barely disguised kleptocracy.

David Lean, Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif above Rambla de Alfaro, Almeria. “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962) #Filmsky 📽️ 🎬

The brazen murder of a CEO in Midtown Manhattan—and the cheering reaction to his execution—amounts to a blinking-and-blaring warning signal for a society that has become already too inured to bloodshed, Adrienne LaFrance writes. theatln.tc/xFWCiBwE

Left: Conservative MP Bradley Thomas says there was not a farmers protest when they were in government Right: Sky News reporting from the farmers protest when the Conservatives were in government a few months ago

Good morning everyone👋 The Devil's Knell. The tenor bell, named Black Tom, has been rung most Christmas Eves at Dewsbury Minster, in my home town, since 1434, once for each year, ending at midnight. In 1986, the UK issued a commemorative Christmas stamp for The Devil's Knell. Be careful out there.

Good morning everyone👋 In 1966, the UK issued its first Christmas stamps. (Posted in the other place a couple of days ago, here for those not there anymore.) Be careful out there.

Front page of today's FT. Zero lessons learned since the 2008 crash and more relaxed financial regulation incoming. What could possibly go wrong?

Good morning everybody👋 Hope all is good with you and yours. Be careful out there.

Funny old world. 🤷‍♂️ www.theguardian.com/film/2024/de...

Good morning everyone👋 Hope you are all doing well. Remember, be careful out there.

Good morning everyone👋 Hope this Sunday finds you in good spirits. Be careful out there.

Martyn Turner @turnercartoons on #Trump  – cartoon gallery in London original-political-cartoon.com

Harry Burton @HBtoons on #Trump  – cartoon gallery in London original-political-cartoon.com

Andy Bunday on #Macron  – cartoon gallery in London original-political-cartoon.com

Starmer's gambit to divide the Tory Right even further [see Montie] has a downside.....

Good morning everyone👋 Hope you are all doing well. Be careful out there.

For a perfect illustration of the weird contradictions of populist Conservatism, compare Oakeshott (Bristol) & Hartley-Brewer (Oxford) sneering at @marina-purkiss.bsky.social with Goodwin on how Russell Group & Oxbridge graduates are the 'new elite' of lefties sneering at 'ordinary people'.

Romania: Top court annuls presidential election results of the first round that was won by far-right populist Colin Georgescu. The court said the whole election process must be rerun, after the declassification of security documents. The second round of the election was due this weekend. ❤️🇪🇺