Yes - if 40% of the UK Voting Age Population does not vote (as in 2024) and Labour won a third of the votes of those who did vote, that means the Labour landslide was based on 20% of the Voting Age Population. This is not an anti Labour point- it is a pro democracy point.

Yes -

Surely now we have to recognise that the “two party” system of government and opposition, Labour and Conservative, is dead and needs to be buried?

🚨Start Your Week🚨 Labour’s widely unpopular senior advisor Morgan McSweeney falls on his sword but will it be enough to stop Starmer from being consumed by the Mandelson/Epstein fallout? @nndroid.bsky.social and @gavinesler.bsky.social discuss this and more ➡️ linktr.ee/bunker_pod

Your daughter deserves better - we all do.

What leadership looks like:

When whatever happens at the top of the Labour Party finally happens and given the sorry mess that British politics has been for years, is it maybe time to fix a broken system? Get rid of the “two party politics” delusion? Embrace PR? It’s apparently good enough for Scotland, Wales and N Ireland.

Definitely worth a read. And worth thinking about too:

From the @bmj.com this week - some commentary on the exodus of medical leaders from X that used to be Twitter. It’s sad, but I think it’s the right thing to move away from that platform. #MedSky Link here: www.bmj.com/content/392/...

I loved reading the Washington Post and as a young trainee journalist met my hero Ben Bradlee … then interviewed him when I was working for the BBC in Washington - this is a very sad moment for journalism. And for America.

Me too:

Senior state department official Sarah Rogers travelled to European cities in December and has spoken to key figures in Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party about deploying grants to spread ‘American values’. ft.trib.al/Kx8ta8a

This.

The behaviour of those British people associated with Epstein was absolutely despicable - but where are those Americans associated with Epstein being held accountable for their behaviour? There’s something very big missing here.

If Mandelson really told Starmer he barely knew Epstein, that was an epic whopper of a lie. Here's Mandelson to Epstein in 2009: "You are the only person who knows everything about me. Don't go away". Their relationship only got closer after 2009.

Yes.

Jeff Bezos took over the Washington Post Editorial Board and turned it into a mouthpiece for pro-corporate, pro-billionaire propaganda. Now, WaPo is laying off hundreds of *real* journalists — including the reporter covering Amazon. Democracy dies in billionaire hands.

Sometimes I just need Private Eye ….

That’s a lovely way of putting it - Canterbury is so fortunate

Yes. Universities are “vital hubs in towns and cities” and are big employers of local people / support local businesses

Rules.

Most insightful take on the Epstein scandal I’ve seen - thank you @edwardluce.bsky.social - the rot is only just being uncovered

2/ All governments should consider how their actions might be abused by a future government from another party with a large majority. But they never do. If they did, we would have PR by now.

🧵1/ Mandelson should never act as a legislator again. However, an Act of Parliament to penalise an individual is flawed on multiple counts. I see why Starmer wants this behind him, but we should have a proper discussion about addressing any failings in the existing regime and then fix them

Worth a read: thanks @pickardje.bsky.social gobsmacking

Last time I checked we still had wrongful arrest in America. I hope Don Lemon sues their fucking asses off.

Bruce Springsteen is currently number one in iTunes in 19 countries.

Yes.

Six years on, geopolitics is impacting severely on Brexit choices. By @jreland.bsky.social and me ukandeu.ac.uk/brexit-in-a-...

Alison Luchs, who has worked at the National Gallery of Art for 47 years, agreed to learn Gen Z slang and make videos because she wanted to raise interest in the museum’s art. She never expected to slay. https://wapo.st/45BXc3S

“Exaggerate a Russian threat?” does Lavrov mean the invasion of a neighbouring country? The kidnapping of children? Assassinations? Good grief - even an useful idiot wouldn’t believe this Kremlin drivel.

🇨🇳🌏For years Xi Jinping has mapped out a strategy for the rise of China as a superpower. How will this ambition shape the world’s future?🌏🇨🇳 @gavinesler.bsky.social talks to Elizabeth Economy, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, about China’s plans to shape the future ➡️ linktr.ee/drillpod

"In order to build tyranny, you have to open zones where the law doesn't apply... one zone like that is the border. The logic of what they've been doing with ICE is to take the border everywhere." www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuNB...

"how can we frame the drop in the murder rate as a bad thing?"

“Just don’t believe your eyes.” @brucespringsteen.net on Minneapolis & how the Trump administration as responded.

"Reform's press release notes he was 'first in his family' to go to university – a ‘fact’ that raised eyebrows given his father, who was awarded a CBE by the Queen for his services to the NHS, acquired a Master’s in Business Administration in the 1980s, and a PhD during Tony Blair’s first term."

Trump warns Iran 'time is running out' for nuclear deal as US military builds up in Gulf

Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases

🚨🚨NEW🚨🚨 Burnham has been blocked from standing as an MP, sparking a fresh row within Starmer’s Labour Party. What will the fall out look like? Will the PM emerge stronger or weaker? @gavinesler.bsky.social & @rostaylor.bsky.social discuss this and other news to look out for ➡️ linktr.ee/bunker_pod

What presidential leadership looks like:

The Green Party is – entirely resonably! – gunning hard for Gorton and Denton. That makes this by-election a very significant test for Morgan McSweeney’s theory of the case, which is that voters will rally back to Labour to block Reform.

Real insight into what is going on in Iran from Professor Ali Ansari - the bravery of the Iranian people is extraordinary- have a listen

Also interesting….

Interesting response to a very interesting question:

This is interesting….

Yes. Time to get serious.

Thanks Janine - I kept the account mostly to see what others were saying - will see if they reset it.