Without expressing a view on the substance of this, as someone actually from a farming community, the replies to this comment contain probably the highest ratio of opinion to knowledge I have seen on BlueSky. So many myths about the countryside and rural life digested without question.

Those FCDO cuts are really biting

I honestly find anyone campaigning here *SO* tedious. Exchanging views for fun or to figure things out absolutely fine, but campaigning here is ineffective anyway, and boring to boot. Really enjoy the politicians on here who actually use this as a discussion platform.

I think this is a good point & probably what was missing from the end of history stuff. The vibe of "there's no alternative to this" didn't account for the "this" needing watering, not necessarily in a Jeffersonian sense.

This is a great point.

What does it even mean anyway, like mathematically. Presumably they mean assylum seeking is greater than half the net migration number? Because that's a totally different number to immigration, of which I imagine assylum seekers form a much smaller fraction?

Ok, this is a top fact. I'm sure the first sea lord (also writes in green ink traditionally) loved this at the time.

The real issue isn’t immigration, it’s the feedback loop: platforms amplify anxiety → voters feel it → politicians chase it → hollow policy follows. Until we break that cycle, we won’t get functional decisions or functional democracy.

Also, this is entirely easy to stand up. The BBC has to prove 1 x true story is true and the 100% claim is false.

Let's see what they do with the benefit cap here....

I know it's tough - but your tentative endorsement of cycle lanes on Bluesky could be the extremist action that makes voters in Normville turn away from Jennifer Nice, the now-tainted Democrat candidate, and instead reluctantly support her opponent, Shitlord K. Hitler

Charismatic leftist mayor of the largest city just has such competitive authoritarianism vibes.

This is a great point. A lightening rod for the worst cranks.

Safest for everyone

On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n

I want to have a take on this, but I have exceeded my quota.

The OP here has no idea whatsoever about maritime operations and what you can actually do within the scope of maritime law. I see this all the time on social media. People think the things the Aussie navy did (push back seaworthy vessels in intl water) are available in the channel. They aren't (1/2)

Twitter obsesses over Bluesky in the manner of a rejected partner convinced that they might still win their ex over Bluesky obsesses over Twitter in the manner of the partner who left, but who didn't get the last word and can't let it go

A banger. Agree.

I’m gonna go with Osborne. He was a smart guy and extremely effective but his cynicism was to understand the bad fiscal dynamics of the aging population and decide that the thing to do was to spare the Home Counties and squeeze the rest of local government. I find this to be a damming chart.

I think Julianna has put her finger on why I am so depressed about it all. I think it's possible to crush these guys but we're just collectively not. They aren't especially smart or strategic and they don't currently hold many important levers.

This is really good by @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk it should form the basis of both the governments response and a sensible centre right opposition response to Reform. I am certain that you can move towards a more liberal and practical solutions to boats if it's framed as both "fair" & "value for money"

I've done enough event work to know these lads backs are going to be done for at the end of the day unless someone gets them some litter pickers. You can't be bending over for every sweet wrapper.

You know that tweet about "Your going to the camps!" "Its 'you're'" Well imagine if that was the entire political strategy of the government of a G7 nation

It's not a tradition it's international law. Sailors are obliged to rescue others in distress. The home office ran into this in the mad Patel era when they were toying with tipping boats over. A) Professional seafarers won't and B) They would immediately be required to do a rescue.

It's not a tradition it's international law. Sailors are obliged to rescue others in distress. The home office ran into this in the mad Patel era when they were toying with tipping boats over. A) Professional seafarers won't and B) They would immediately be required to do a rescue.

Hard agree with this one.

Unbelievably weak, especially since he is continuously obviously on manoeuvres.

MAIB reports are really good. They are easily read, always teach you something, and the presentation we had from them once featured a very entertaining speaker. Top organisation. UK ftw here (also interesting thread)

My best story about tall ships. Circa 2010 I was working in Salcombe harbor driving a launch for the sailing school, which floated on a converted Mersey ferry round the corner. I had to do drop off every hour. A tall ship was anchored, and someone in my launch had a connection. So got a tour (1/2)

This is good news. Both countries stand to do very well from this if cards are played carefully but this is an important early move.

UK and France vow to co-ordinate nuclear weapons for first time https://on.ft.com/44FIjfG

I think it's just America brained actually James. Obviously water scarcity is a problem in California and closed loop cooling is hard in hot places. This does not apply to the UK. Caught in the AI hysteria /American stuff. It's just not an issue for us withthe reservoirs we should build anyway.

I know what happens next.

Strong agree here. In a representative democracy it's vital our MPs throw their weight around.

There are stories in politics that stay etched in your mind from the first time you hear them. This is one of them.

This is a good idea.

someone should invent a Nighttime Internet, like a child lock but for that last hour before bed when you sort of want to pleasantly scroll for a bit but without getting confronted with The Constant Horrors

Keep away from 5th Avenue.

There is a junior senior officer somewhere, like a colonel, who if generals come down like a tonne of bricks on, you can be reassured, and if not, you are in real trouble.

This has come up before several times and it turns out that snuff for MPs cost the taxpayer like 99p. I think Cooper might sneak that past the treasury

No wonder the Treasury had some doubts about her spending plans if that’s what she’s been funding

There has been no point in my life at which if I could have guessed what I was doing in 5 years I would have been correct. This has been both good and bad, as it represents both surprise opportunities and disappointed hopes.

The Polish foreign minister, a writer and journalist who covered the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, clearly knows a thing or two about a patiently-timed response.

Agree this is the correct take. Trump has loads of levers, Elon has none.

I'm trying not to get over excited that it took one whiff of modest power and the contradictions became absolutely glaring internally for Reform. I did sorta worry they would quietly run a few councils but it's working out great (unless you live there)

I keep seeing people say it's a lying machine/useless etc. but it's incredibly useful to me, saves me loads of time, and I remain responsible for my output. Sure it could be better, it's actually improved a lot in quite a short space of time.

Update

Just discovered that my submariner brother was under water in one go for the entire Luz Truss premiership.

Extremely good. Immediately what jumps out is Lab - > Reform movement is quite small - most of their new voters come from non voting and tories.