⬇️ This is the first time a British politician will be found guilty under the UK Bribery Act.

NEW: Menzies "Ming" Campbell, the former Lib Dems leader, an MP for 28 years (and a former Olympic sprinter) has died aged 84, the party has said. I met him at a few LD conferences and he was really very lovely.

Today’s digital ID announcement yet another example of how X being the main platform for political discourse will inevitably throw the MSM’s coverage off course, because online right opinion is fevered/way off the beat with the public. Guess who need digital/reliable ID most? Those in poverty.

The UK ID card debate is tedious. A France/Belgium-style unifying social security number/digital ID is pretty unobjectionable stuff. It’s all about data security and the state’s audit trail. What does govt get to learn about you? Who is building it? How secure is access?

Did you know we put excerpts of our books up on our blog?? Take a peek to find your next read! www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/blog

I’ve had a number of arguments on here along these lines: “ID cards work fine in Europe, why not here?” They *do* work in Europe, but *not* as immigration enforcement. If Labour want to push them for other uses, then please make that case. For immigration enforcement? It won’t work.

Very excited to share that I'm writing a new book, THE GHOSTS OF CHALK COUNTRY - about the loss of England's chalk downland: a tale of flowers, fascism & freedom. To be published by @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social in April 2027: www.thebookseller.com/rights/willi... Website: ghostsofchalkcountry.org

Why can't we have a sensible debate about digital ID that references how other European countries make digital ID systems work...

This Pride in Place story is much more important for any Labour recovery imo than ID and ought to form a central part of its focus: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Stuff Bartleby and he can still come to George’s party #TheArchers

Striking data point from ONS today. Income inequality at lowest level in 40 years, with the low reached under the Tories. From ONS dataset www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...

[the "britcard" branding comes from a think tank report in June, not the government's announcement which is happening tomorrow]

Why can't we have a sensible debate about digital ID that references how other European countries make digital ID systems work...

After years of making the running on immigration, Farage may this week have handed the initiative back to his opponents'. @robfordmancs.bsky.social for @ukandeu.bsky.social on the unpopularity of Reform's proposals on ILR ukandeu.ac.uk/reforms-radi...

📖 New book chapter out! In it, I show how Russia weaponized the idea of Human Security to justify the destruction and colonization of Mariupol as a means to invigorate domestic audiences.

The only really surprising thing about Trump's comments yesterday is how many people are still treating anything he says about Russia and Ukraine as indicative of a possible shift in the administration's policy of doing absolutely nothing.

Fiend Review: Alma Katsu’s Scary Take on Greed and Family Secrets Happy Publication Day for Fiend by @almakatsu.bsky.social Published by @titanbooks.bsky.social Check out my review below. gnofhorror.com/alma-katsus-... 💙📚 @dancarpenter.bsky.social

"Thanks for making this a seamless transition"...Ha.

Book Quote Wednesday's word is 'last' #BookQW It's easy for Dan Mackmain to hide his supernatural side. He looks like an ordinary human. Shapeshifters like his swan maid girlfriend Fin will only survive if they're very careful. The Green Man's Holiday - 30th October www.amazon.co.uk/Green-Mans-H...

deepest of deep breaths feeling nervous about this one, friends! I've written about the mainstreaming of pull-to-publish, its impact on fandom, and what it means for an increasingly corporate and IP-driven creative landscape.

My new chapter “Urgent Interim Reparations in Ukraine: Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence” is now open access: doi-org.libproxy.ucl.ac.uk/10.4324/9781... A 🧵 on my arguments: 1/

This is NOT just america. This is happening here. Local coverage of it, if you can bear the pop up ads.... www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2548259... #UKKidlit #Edusky

Well, if it’s 23 September... YES, THAT’S RIGHT! It’s the 71st anniversary of the hunt for the Gorbals Vampire, in which hundreds of children aged from four to 14, armed with dogs, knives and sharpened sticks went looking for an urban myth

The Archers. Church bells. The village WI cake sales.

Why are the American president's claims about autism the first item on British news bulletins? He's not our president, the advice doesn't apply here and he's not presented any evidence to support his assertions. So why spread these claims? What make this the biggest story in the UK?

Why am I listening to this awful Sunday school stuff? #TheArchers

Patricia A. Matthew explores class, leisure, and the historical context of Pride and Prejudice. lithub.com/what-pride-a...

I'll have more to say on Reform's proposals to scrap ILR at some point but for now I'll just note this - anyone telling you this is a popular idea doesn't know the polling. Overwhelming majority of public back giving people who work and pay taxes most or all rights after 5 years or less

baby, does this mean the clinch is coming back? because YES.

hey literary folk! we have an occasional newsletter. if you sign up you will get to hear about a subscribers-only opportunity coming up. just saying'... www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/newsletter

Reform's plans to end indefinite leave to remain go to the post I wrote last week on their slide towards chaotic authoritarianism. The British constitution would allow them to do it if they had a majority but at vast cost to our society and way of life. samf.substack.com/p/the-route-...

Nathan Booth's limp cucumber? Filth! #TheArchers

Good Morning Blue Sky! Hope you’re all ok? Today I’m currently reading a great fantasy novel A Sword of Gold and Ruin by Anna Smith Spark. What are you reading at the moment?

First up: everyone's favourite sentient house and the story of its love affair with a supermarket checkout girl, and the cannibal soothsayer next door 1 interior illustration by @tomsbrown.bsky.social (Published with Canelo Horror, 2024) 🌈📚😱🩸📚💙👀 #Horror #SFF buy.bookfunnel.com/iixs5ob5vd

⚡️Putin feels free to increase attacks on Ukraine without fear of consequences from Trump, Bloomberg reports. Putin reached this conclusion following his meeting with Trump in Alaska last month, sources "close to the Kremlin" told Bloomberg.

I missed out Margery Allingham from my recent list of great crime stories for the i newspaper, so am revisiting her Police at the Funeral. And asking - does that solution occur in any other full-lenght novel? It is found in some short stories.... clothesinbooks.blogspot.com/2025/09/poli...

What does Dan Mackmain get up to on his holidays? Knowing Dan, it won't be at all relaxing. The new Green Man novel from Juliet McKenna, available for pre-order now: wizardstowerpress.co...

Yesss, be obsessed! (wake up at 4 am to finish the new one before doing a long drive like me, why not? It's perfectly reasonable...)

Either I am more tired than I thought, or there really was a unicorn in a field off the A303, just past Wincanton.

Violet Hunt and her amazing cat. #caturday

Something classical; and I hated it and pretended not to listen because my mother would say that sort of thing was for posh people, not us.

Russia hits Ukraine with barrage of drones, missiles, kills 3, Kyiv says - www.reuters.com/world/europe...

You know you are getting old when you are horrified that Paul did not have a nice comfy double bed for his night with Ruairidh. #TheArchers

Gosh, what's this? A new book?!? GASP shop.ravenswordpress.com/products/swo...

Train named Ctrl Alt Deleaf to help blast billions of leaves from Great Britain’s tracks

Book Review Our final review in the Northern Weird series of novellas is now live. @jonezyboy.bsky.social Takes a look at The Retreat by Gemma Fairclough out now from @wildhuntbooks.bsky.social gnofhorror.com/gemma-faircl... 💙📚🩸

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY TO THE RETREAT by Gemma Fairclough! Order direct from our bookshop or your favourite retailer (worldwide, paperback & ebook) www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/books/p/ther...

Sutton Trust report: 'Only three categories were below the national average – male professional footballers at 5%, female professional footballers at 4% and the Northern Ireland assembly, where nobody attended a fee-paying school.' 1/2

'You have to turn that isolation around and say these are experiences I can bring to an industry that doesn't have them.' The vibrant Daisy May Johnson @chaletfan.bsky.social on baking, books and being proactive in publishing. @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social on.soundcloud.com/ua4HeJlkoXYX...

Competition for most British sign on the Trump March won handily by: “Don’t give him the good biscuits!”