Lovely piece about Milly by @patrickbarkham.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

I think the thing with Starmer's Labour is it's very clear that - certainly at upper echelons - they aren't afraid of Reform taking power, they are afraid of losing power to Reform. Subtle but important difference, hence the confused messaging of "aren't these people evil, anyway we'll do that too"

Ming Campbell was a dedicated public servant and a true Liberal giant. His principled leadership opposing the Iraq War was a mark of his morality, courage and wisdom. But more than that, he was an incredibly warm and caring friend and colleague. We will miss him terribly.

Let’s also set up infrastructure that a far-right populist party might abuse should they win an election.

Watching #TheHack and thinking we're basically back at square one.

Having pondered it all morning, I'm still incredulous that all that Today programme coverage of migrant hotels at no point (unless I missed it) mentioned why people were here, what they might be fleeing from etc.

Whether it’s paracetamol or something else, Trump and co are perpetuating the idea autism is wrong and disability is an individual’s responsibility to avoid. It’s anti-science but it’s deeply ableist at its core. The goal is for non-disabled to be afraid and disabled people to be ashamed.

Just a reminder before the “big announcement” today. Autism was discovered in 1911 and the modern definition of Autism came in 1943. Tylenol wasn’t widely used until the 1950s. Anyone trying to tell you that Tylenol causes Autism isn’t someone that should be taken seriously.

BBC bias on show once again. When they cover the Lib Dems, which isn't often, they do so in infantilising or demeaning terms, whereas Reform has gushing coverage so they can set an agenda. Absolutely disgraceful - again.

This government and PM don't do morality or principles, just economics. Exactly what is *not* needed for the time.

Anyone who can’t see through the “free speech!” “Cancel culture!” Bullshit now - the whole project has been about amplifying bigotry & shutting up criticism, is utterly complicit - Gervais, Carr & all- the reason they have far right fans is not the quality of jokes but the quality of propaganda

Note how we’ve moved from concerns about people arriving irregularly in small boats to wrecking the lives of people who are by definition here entirely lawfully

And this is why Ed Davey has to make announcements on log flumes - how can he compete when Farage lobs a hand grenade into the political debate and everyone seems to try to discuss it like it’s reasonable, not just bigoted hatred dressed up as an immoral and impractical policy.

You know why ethnic minorities in the UK always feel second-class as if they're never safe in this country and could be asked to leave at any time? This is why:

British media pumps out daily propaganda pieces for Farage, fails to offer *any scrutiny* and basically legitimises rampant racism, then puts on its ‘innocent face’ and clutches its pearls at the rise of the far right… What a grim betrayal of our democracy. www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/how...

The annoying thing here is that the Lib Dems talk policy quite a lot and get ignored by the media, which is what Davey's stunts were a response to in the first place. I don't think he's addicted to stunts. I'm sure he'd love it if his policies got covered www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

The media: Nobody knows what the lib dems stand for! Lib dems: pass lots of hugely detailed, well-thought-out, evidence-based policy The media:

Very odd watching BBC News talking about the Lib Dem conference and mentioning how the party has struggled to break through in the media like it's nothing to do with them.

This is exceptionally good

I hear and understand you, Alex. And I feel much the same way - and I'm British.

Queen

Free speech latest:

Having had time to think over the past couple of weeks while I've been out of the country, I've come to realise that what's happened already is a complete destruction of trust in government and the courts. /1

Personally I feel less safe now than I did 10 months ago.

Today the UN found that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In that regard, I strongly reiterate my call to cease arms transfers that can lead to atrocities against Palestinians. Coe states must act to prevent such atrocities & further HR& h umanitarian violations. www.coe.int/en/web/commi...

How about those of us intimidated on our streets (and in our workplaces) because of Government policy? Given the PM seemed to condemn police who did their job a couple of weeks ago, this seems ... loose.

The last 48 hours have shown why people have stopped relying on legacy journalism and have migrated to independent journalists in droves. The benefit of legacy journalism is supposed to be “editors” and “factchecking” and they can’t even get that right in a rush to blame trans people.

Still absolutely nothing to say about far right thugs rioting and attacking the police while a US tech billionaire calls for a violent insurrection on our streets

When 100 thousand trans people rallied in London it was only worthy for the "local news" section.

When the UK’s so-called equality regulator intervenes in a case about trans people’s rights without speaking to trans people, it reveals the problem: decisions are being made about us, not with us. This FOI makes that painfully clear. /4

So now that it’s confirmed that none of the messages on the bullets were pro-trans, maybe we should have a national conversation about how multiple newspapers repeated a lie about us on their front pages hours after doubts had already been cast over it?

I can’t quite put it into words yet, but something is happening, a kind of global singularity—a fusion of tech/media/news/government/employment which allows the global elite to push single agendas: “You WILL care about Charlie Kirk. You will NOT care about Palestine. You WILL fear cancel culture.”

Not so gentle reminder that “transgender ideology” isn’t a thing - it’s a way of negating the existence of trans people

Sick of the BBC acting as a mouthpiece for Farage and Reform? Us too. Our national broadcaster should reflect the whole country, not just one man’s ego.

Slightly diminish a book: Gertrude Jekyll and Mr Hyde 20 Leagues Under The Sea 5 Shades of Beige

Incitement. And hate crime. What it is. What it might be. And how a UK double standard means trans folk are less protected from it than other folks. jane-67706.medium.com/incitement-7...

Another said ‘coverage is dictated to by ‘newsworthiness’ as though it’s a bloody science. I’m a journo of 33yrs. Don’t let anyone try tell you it’s a science. It ain’t. Journos make decisions. With 72 MPs Davey shouldn’t have to bunjee jump in order to get his worries about EHCR on news at 10

Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell. Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass. That, right there, is the problem.

Just for a second, take a step back, and remember that these are the actions of a 56 year old man towards a 17 year old girl.

As ever, "free speech warriors" are only every interested in their own consequence-free speech, never anyone else's free speech. What is this country becoming?

Heartbreaking. And now, sadly, not unusual.

Interesting thread

See also the UK and anti-trans bigots

Just written to the PM asking whether he thinks incitement to violence should no longer be prosecuted, or only not if trans women are the victims. If the latter, then to explain why trans women should not receive the protection of the law afforded to everyone else. Not expecting a reply - again.

Exhortations to violence aren't empty words. They are serious, criminal actions, whoever they involve.

Yeah, he only routinely denigrates trans people. It's not like he was doing something dreadful like protesting an ongoing genocide.

I often think about this letter to the New Statesman. It's from a 1960s Tory, and neatly summarises how British politics has shifted massively to the right, and taken Starmer's Labour party with it. #PoliticsLive

The Prime Minister is indicating very clearly that he doesn't think trans people, and those perceived to be trans, should have the same legal protections as other people. The question he should be answering is why.