'1.3 million people in Scotland voted for the SNP Government in 2021. If Labour thought it could reach out to sway any of them in May’s Holyrood election, then it wouldn’t be using a line these voters see as preposterous. @adamramsay.bsky.social, via @bylinetimes.bsky.social

I would guess this is a straight transfer of unionist votes (both Labour and Tory) to Reform, while the SNP vote managed to hold up enough to win.

Lovely interview with the always interesting, ever-energetic @anthonybarnett.bsky.social: www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

One reason Labour has given that the SNP is a “threat to national security” is that Swinney recently stopped subsidising arms companies arming Israel. In other words, Labour has decided to double down on its place as the pro-genocide party: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/06/t...

🔴‘The SNP Isn’t a Threat to the Security of Any Nation I Want to Be Part Of’ Labour’s attempts to brand the Scottish National Party a threat to the UK’s national security is a drastic escalation of Labour’s anti-independence rhetoric, argues @adamramsay.bsky.social bylinetimes.com/2025/11/06/t...

Yet another ISDS case challenging countries levying excess profits taxes on the fossil fuel sector. How long will countries continue to allow corporate courts to override their sovereign rights?    www.iareporter.com/articles/rev...

Labour has 27 seats in Wales, all vulnerable to Plaid now, 37 seats in Scotland, all vulnerable to the SNP, perhaps 50 seats vulnerable to the Greens in England and a bunch more the Lib Dems could take. That’s their whole majority.

This is deeply disappointing from Starmer. The UK *helped design* this 'TFFF' fund, designed to stop deforestation, and supposedly 'continues to back the fund' (in theory). But now isn't putting any money into it 🤯 How embarrassing for the UK. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Starmer’s tariff pact with Trump back in May was lauded by MPs and the media. But now we get into the detail.   Trump, like a mafia boss, is demanding we pay his Big Pharma mates prices which will put intolerable strain on the NHS and cost lives.   www.politico.eu/article/us-p...

David Lammy describing the SNP as “a national security threat” in the Commons is a very dangerous moment for our democracy. The SNP is a peaceful party which got 1.3 million votes at the last Holyrood election.

Have City lobbyists been helping write Rachel Reeves’ budget? open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

If you like my investigations of the corporate capture of the British state, and analysis of the wider constitutional omnicrisis they're a part of, sign up to my newsletter here: abolishwestminster.substack.com

I also interviewed @zackpolanski.bsky.social about the problems of the British state, and revealed his support for Scottish and Welsh independence: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

Before that, I revealed that 2/3 of people on the boards of directors of Whitehall departments are corporate executives, including senior figures from the arms industry, oil industry and big banks: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

Before that, I revealed that Whitehall department bosses sit on the board of a charity which helps Big Oil, weapon manufacturers arming Israel, and big banks to shape government policy: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

Today, I revealed that City lobbyists have been seconded into the Treasury under the Labour Party, and that the Treasury wouldn’t tell me whether they are ‘helping’ write Rachel Reeves’ budget: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

I mean, of course. But also: wtf?

Last week, I revealed that arms companies who have sold weapons to Israel have been allowed to appoint temporary civil servants in the Department of Business and Trade - the department which grants export licences: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

Who is writing the budget?

Today, I revealed that City lobbyists have been seconded into the Treasury under the Labour Party, and that the Treasury wouldn’t tell me whether they are ‘helping’ write Rachel Reeves’ budget: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

The Treasury-Bank of England-City nexus is central to understanding the class politics of this country. Of course Reeves was always going to let this happen.

With the budget looming, there’s more great reporting from Abolish Westminster here👇 Lobbyists for the banking industry have been invited to sit in the heart of government.

Have City lobbyists been helping write Rachel Reeves’ budget? open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

REVEALED: Labour let City lobbyists work as temporary civil servants at the Treasury. The Treasury wouldn’t tell me if these lobbyists are helping write Rachel Reeves’ budget: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw... <- by me

Civil servants are meant to be neutral. So why does the department which licences arms exports allow staff from arms companies to become temporary civil servants? open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

Civil servants are meant to be neutral. So why does the department which licences arms exports allow staff from arms companies to become temporary civil servants? open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

For the last year, Labour has been criticised for failing to suspend all arms exports to Israel. It now turns out that the party allowed arms manufactures who have sold weapons systems to Israel to be seconded into the department which made that decision: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

We aren’t just complicit in the genocide, we’re actively nourishing it, incubating it and bringing it within the British government. Israel and the US don’t recognise the ICJ, but we are founders and signatories to it. We should be in the dock.

For the last year, Labour has been criticised for failing to suspend all arms exports to Israel. It now turns out that the party allowed arms manufactures who have sold weapons systems to Israel to be seconded into the department which made that decision: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

“When Rolls-Royce and QinetiQ are seconded into the department issuing their export licences, and when QinetiQ’s biggest shareholder is bankrolling Farage, we’re no longer talking about a revolving door. It’s a conveyor belt” - @labourlewis.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

Labour allowed staff from arms companies to be seconded into the department which decides whether arms companies can have export licences: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

Labour allowed staff from arms companies to be seconded into the department which decides whether arms companies can have export licences: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

Revealed: companies which have armed Israel placed staff inside the department which licenses arms exports: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw... - by me

For the first time ever, @greenparty.org.uk is second in a UK-wide poll, ahead of all three traditional Westminster parties. It won’t be the last time.

My comment? I'm proud of Green councillors who are doing everything they can to bring attention to stopping the genocide. www.thejc.com/news/uk/hack...

Prunella Scales at the first Charter 88 vigil for a democratic constitution also Marina Warner, Margaret Drabble Ian McEwan and I think Julian Barnes...

Government approval rating: 12%. Prince Andrew popularity: 13%. Starmer’s government is literally less popular than Prince Andrew.

It seems like Cuomo is giving voters yet another reason to vote Mamdani.

Can the @scottishgreens.org learn from the #GreenSurge of the @greenparty.org.uk & @zackpolanski.bsky.social's appeal? My essay in the Sunday National. www.thenational.scot/politics/255...

The collapse of Labour’s vote in Wales is a painful moment for the Union: novaramedia.com/2025/10/24/l... <- by me

The collapse of Labour’s vote in Wales is a painful moment for the Union: novaramedia.com/2025/10/24/l... <- by me

Absolutely spot on from @georgemonbiot.bsky.social - we don’t have codified constitutional protections against despotism. That’s always been bad, but with the far right on the brink of power, it’s an emergency: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

There are now about fifteen times as many Green members across the UK as there were when @carolinelucas.bsky.social was first elected an MP in 2010.

NEW: Whitehall bosses slammed for being trustees of a charity accused of facilitating "corporate capture" by arms companies, oil giants and privatisers: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw... - by me

10% of meetings held by senior civil servants at the Cabinet Office in the last quarter were a with a “charity” which facilitates meetings between corporate bosses and Whitehall officials open.substack.com/pub/abolishw...

CAAT quoted. The Whitehall and Industry Group brings together top civil servants & corporate bosses, including arms industry. A top BAE exec who chaired the group talked of its value in addressing "mismatches" between govt thinking and industry challenges, i.e. ensuring corporate interests dominate.

As if big business didn’t have enough power in Whitehall, they need charitable help to get more. Meet the charity that gives arms dealers & oil companies special access to government.   Great report @adamramsay.bsky.social and thks for the quote abolishwestminster.substack.com/p/whitehall-...

NEW: Whitehall bosses slammed for being trustees of a charity accused of facilitating "corporate capture" by arms companies, oil giants and privatisers: open.substack.com/pub/abolishw... - by me

When I joined @scottishgreens.org in 2001, there were around 6,000 Green members across the UK. About the same number as has joined today - as reported by @zackpolanski.bsky.social just now. 130k @greenparty.org.uk of England & Wales members. 138k Greens UK-wide. Astonishing.

Shetland consultant paediatrician and councillor @alexjarmitage.bsky.social is proposing policy to “unambiguously” end prohibition of drugs in Scotland, and ensure distribution of the most dangerous drugs is controlled by health professional.