Alex Sowden
@ajs1977.bsky.social
European. Virtue Signaller. History nerd. Trying to save the world: mixed results so far.
Being honest, I think the UK has probably run its course as a union of four nations.
Views are all my own.
Being honest, I think the UK has probably run its course as a union of four nations.
Views are all my own.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
Reposted by Alex Sowden
Someone remind Ant Middleton (whoever he is) that serving in your country's armed forces doesn't entitle you to act like a c**t.
Whether you're a 100yr old veteran or currently on active service doesn't mean all your views are automatically correct & should be accepted as unchallenged gospel truth.
Whether you're a 100yr old veteran or currently on active service doesn't mean all your views are automatically correct & should be accepted as unchallenged gospel truth.
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Someone remind Ant Middleton (whoever he is) that serving in your country's armed forces doesn't entitle you to act like a c**t.
Whether you're a 100yr old veteran or currently on active service doesn't mean all your views are automatically correct & should be accepted as unchallenged gospel truth.
Whether you're a 100yr old veteran or currently on active service doesn't mean all your views are automatically correct & should be accepted as unchallenged gospel truth.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
One of the UK's most effective Governors of the Bank of England in recent times was Mark Carney, now Prime Minister of Canada.
In this current crisis moment for the BBC, maybe it's now time to appoint a Director General from further afield #Panorama
bsky.app/profile/ajs1...
In this current crisis moment for the BBC, maybe it's now time to appoint a Director General from further afield #Panorama
bsky.app/profile/ajs1...
As mentioned near the end of today's @therestpolitics.bsky.social emergency podcast, perhaps the next BBC Director General should be from overseas.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
🚨 LIVESTREAM ALERT! 🚨
Join @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social and Rory live at midday as they unpack the fallout from the BBC’s latest scandal - from Tim Davie’s shock resignation to what might come next for the broadcaster...
Don’t miss it. Link in the replies 👇
Join @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social and Rory live at midday as they unpack the fallout from the BBC’s latest scandal - from Tim Davie’s shock resignation to what might come next for the broadcaster...
Don’t miss it. Link in the replies 👇
November 10, 2025 at 6:59 PM
One of the UK's most effective Governors of the Bank of England in recent times was Mark Carney, now Prime Minister of Canada.
In this current crisis moment for the BBC, maybe it's now time to appoint a Director General from further afield #Panorama
bsky.app/profile/ajs1...
In this current crisis moment for the BBC, maybe it's now time to appoint a Director General from further afield #Panorama
bsky.app/profile/ajs1...
Reposted by Alex Sowden
As mentioned near the end of today's @therestpolitics.bsky.social emergency podcast, perhaps the next BBC Director General should be from overseas.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
🚨 LIVESTREAM ALERT! 🚨
Join @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social and Rory live at midday as they unpack the fallout from the BBC’s latest scandal - from Tim Davie’s shock resignation to what might come next for the broadcaster...
Don’t miss it. Link in the replies 👇
Join @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social and Rory live at midday as they unpack the fallout from the BBC’s latest scandal - from Tim Davie’s shock resignation to what might come next for the broadcaster...
Don’t miss it. Link in the replies 👇
November 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
As mentioned near the end of today's @therestpolitics.bsky.social emergency podcast, perhaps the next BBC Director General should be from overseas.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
As mentioned near the end of today's @therestpolitics.bsky.social emergency podcast, perhaps the next BBC Director General should be from overseas.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
🚨 LIVESTREAM ALERT! 🚨
Join @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social and Rory live at midday as they unpack the fallout from the BBC’s latest scandal - from Tim Davie’s shock resignation to what might come next for the broadcaster...
Don’t miss it. Link in the replies 👇
Join @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social and Rory live at midday as they unpack the fallout from the BBC’s latest scandal - from Tim Davie’s shock resignation to what might come next for the broadcaster...
Don’t miss it. Link in the replies 👇
November 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
As mentioned near the end of today's @therestpolitics.bsky.social emergency podcast, perhaps the next BBC Director General should be from overseas.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
Someone from outside the UK might have the objective perspective (minus the political baggage) that's needed to initiate necessary reforms at the BBC.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
And the truly craziest thing abt this cave is that someone seeing the invasion of Chicago firsthand, Dick Durbin, doesn't understand this.
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 PM
And the truly craziest thing abt this cave is that someone seeing the invasion of Chicago firsthand, Dick Durbin, doesn't understand this.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
Reposted by Alex Sowden
The Lib Dems have told supporters "we are the only party with the conviction to stand up and fight for what we believe in" by still backing proportional representation, "not because it benefits us, but because we think it’s right"
"We must not, and will not, give up the fight for electoral reform."
"We must not, and will not, give up the fight for electoral reform."
November 10, 2025 at 9:59 AM
The Lib Dems have told supporters "we are the only party with the conviction to stand up and fight for what we believe in" by still backing proportional representation, "not because it benefits us, but because we think it’s right"
"We must not, and will not, give up the fight for electoral reform."
"We must not, and will not, give up the fight for electoral reform."
Reposted by Alex Sowden
No-one wants to pay more tax unless they see it going to good public services. But UK public services cannot achieve high satisfaction levels unless taxes go up first - and improvement takes time. How can this vicious circle be broken?
November 10, 2025 at 10:04 AM
No-one wants to pay more tax unless they see it going to good public services. But UK public services cannot achieve high satisfaction levels unless taxes go up first - and improvement takes time. How can this vicious circle be broken?
I've just muted the words "Rachel Reeves" on BlueSky.
If you're writing preview pieces now about a Government budget that is still more than two weeks away from being announced, then you should reconsider your life choices.
If you're writing preview pieces now about a Government budget that is still more than two weeks away from being announced, then you should reconsider your life choices.
November 10, 2025 at 9:55 AM
I've just muted the words "Rachel Reeves" on BlueSky.
If you're writing preview pieces now about a Government budget that is still more than two weeks away from being announced, then you should reconsider your life choices.
If you're writing preview pieces now about a Government budget that is still more than two weeks away from being announced, then you should reconsider your life choices.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
"Charles Moore has got what he wanted" is a phrase that rarely heralds good for the country.
November 10, 2025 at 9:19 AM
"Charles Moore has got what he wanted" is a phrase that rarely heralds good for the country.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
The absolute state of Allison Pearson & GBeebies.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
A national newspaper journalist went on a British TV channel to claim police stats showed asylum-seekers committed 44% of sex crimes in Dorset.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
November 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The absolute state of Allison Pearson & GBeebies.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
For editorial balance, Panorama should obviously have followed up its programme about how Trump incited a violent mob to attack police officers and ransack the US Capitol with a programme about how Kamala Harris
smiled and laughed a lot 🤨🤷♂️ #BBC
bsky.app/profile/robf...
smiled and laughed a lot 🤨🤷♂️ #BBC
bsky.app/profile/robf...
Huh? How do you do a "balancing" program when one candidate did an insurgency trying to overturn the election and the other...didn't?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Michael Prescott was ‘“shocked” that after an hour-long Panorama documentary dealing with Trump and the January 6 insurgency, there was no “similar, balancing” programme about Kamala Harris.’
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
November 9, 2025 at 10:08 PM
For editorial balance, Panorama should obviously have followed up its programme about how Trump incited a violent mob to attack police officers and ransack the US Capitol with a programme about how Kamala Harris
smiled and laughed a lot 🤨🤷♂️ #BBC
bsky.app/profile/robf...
smiled and laughed a lot 🤨🤷♂️ #BBC
bsky.app/profile/robf...
Reposted by Alex Sowden
President Donald Trump was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd at the Commanders ga— … oh, wait wrong clip
November 9, 2025 at 11:45 PM
President Donald Trump was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd at the Commanders ga— … oh, wait wrong clip
Reposted by Alex Sowden
The BBC is apologising for its Panorama edit. It shouldn’t. First, the narrative is true: Donald Trump *did* incite the Capitol riot. Second, the apology won’t appease those attacking it. So why not at least stand for something?
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
The BBC was right about the Capitol riots. In a sane world, Trump would be in jail
The US President faced impeachment over the violence, and in a world where Republicans had more courage, he would have been found guilty
inews.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:05 AM
The BBC is apologising for its Panorama edit. It shouldn’t. First, the narrative is true: Donald Trump *did* incite the Capitol riot. Second, the apology won’t appease those attacking it. So why not at least stand for something?
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
Wrote this on it earlier this week:
inews.co.uk/news/world/b...
Reposted by Alex Sowden
Huh? How do you do a "balancing" program when one candidate did an insurgency trying to overturn the election and the other...didn't?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Michael Prescott was ‘“shocked” that after an hour-long Panorama documentary dealing with Trump and the January 6 insurgency, there was no “similar, balancing” programme about Kamala Harris.’
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
The departure of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness means the BBC is leaderless when it needs leadership more than ever. Where are the people at the head of the BBC standing up for it?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Huh? How do you do a "balancing" program when one candidate did an insurgency trying to overturn the election and the other...didn't?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Would Prescott have been satisfied with an hour of people telling BBC journalists why they didn't try and stoke a riot to overturn Trump's second win?
Reposted by Alex Sowden
Likewise the new head of BBC News. The outgoing one did terrible damage to its credibility and it is hilariously ironic that she is leaving because of alleged left-wing bias
More than any time since the 1980s, perhaps ever, the BBC needs a journalistic warrior to lead it. Someone who can see the shape of a fight coming and work out how to win it and have the will to do so. Davie was never that guy. It can't be a hack from the queue. Maybe it should be a refugee from CBS
November 9, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Likewise the new head of BBC News. The outgoing one did terrible damage to its credibility and it is hilariously ironic that she is leaving because of alleged left-wing bias
Reposted by Alex Sowden
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
November 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness must be an opportunity for the BBC to turn a new leaf, rebuild trust and resist those like Nigel Farage who want to destroy it
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
We must stand up for a strong, independent BBC, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage's Britain.
The absolute state of Allison Pearson & GBeebies.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
A national newspaper journalist went on a British TV channel to claim police stats showed asylum-seekers committed 44% of sex crimes in Dorset.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
November 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The absolute state of Allison Pearson & GBeebies.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
A malevolent, malignant and profoundly unfunny joke of a media outlet.
In a normal country under normal circumstances, the national regulator would throw the book at a TV station that put out such hate-mongering disinformation.
But here we are.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
Oswald Farridge wants to "reduce the size of the bloated state”.
The same state which is so bloated that local councils - including Kent County Council, which is run by Deform - have no money to spend & are having to raise council tax.
These people are complete fucktards.
bsky.app/profile/ukan...
The same state which is so bloated that local councils - including Kent County Council, which is run by Deform - have no money to spend & are having to raise council tax.
These people are complete fucktards.
bsky.app/profile/ukan...
Nigel Farage says Reform would “reduce the size of the bloated state” by seizing Brexit opportunities to deregulate
@jreland.bsky.social points out in @the-independent.com that this creates a dilemma - the more the UK does things differently to the EU, the more work there is for British bureaucrats
@jreland.bsky.social points out in @the-independent.com that this creates a dilemma - the more the UK does things differently to the EU, the more work there is for British bureaucrats
November 8, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Oswald Farridge wants to "reduce the size of the bloated state”.
The same state which is so bloated that local councils - including Kent County Council, which is run by Deform - have no money to spend & are having to raise council tax.
These people are complete fucktards.
bsky.app/profile/ukan...
The same state which is so bloated that local councils - including Kent County Council, which is run by Deform - have no money to spend & are having to raise council tax.
These people are complete fucktards.
bsky.app/profile/ukan...
Reposted by Alex Sowden
“I need you to trust me on this journey”
Completely extraordinary.
Utterly superb.
Completely extraordinary.
Utterly superb.
November 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
“I need you to trust me on this journey”
Completely extraordinary.
Utterly superb.
Completely extraordinary.
Utterly superb.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
This is obscene.
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
November 9, 2025 at 5:52 AM
This is obscene.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
Yes
We are the wealthiest country on the planet. There is no reason why anyone should go hungry while billion dollar corporations get permanent tax cuts.
While veterans are refused care at VA hospitals because their staffing has been cut by 30k.
Donate to food banks and food drives if you are able.
While veterans are refused care at VA hospitals because their staffing has been cut by 30k.
Donate to food banks and food drives if you are able.
It’s unconscionable that congress and the President do nothing and continue to be paid, while the government workers who keep us safe and people who need food assistance are literally cut off completely.
November 8, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Yes
“I need you to trust me on this journey”
Completely extraordinary.
Utterly superb.
Completely extraordinary.
Utterly superb.
November 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
“I need you to trust me on this journey”
Completely extraordinary.
Utterly superb.
Completely extraordinary.
Utterly superb.
Reposted by Alex Sowden
🏊♀️The women who swim at Kenwood Ladies Pond have already made their decision.
In 2024, almost 900 members voted to keep their trans-inclusive policy - a policy that has worked peacefully since 2019.
Now, a small campaign group is seeking to overturn that democratic decision through the courts.
1/5
In 2024, almost 900 members voted to keep their trans-inclusive policy - a policy that has worked peacefully since 2019.
Now, a small campaign group is seeking to overturn that democratic decision through the courts.
1/5
November 7, 2025 at 9:06 AM
🏊♀️The women who swim at Kenwood Ladies Pond have already made their decision.
In 2024, almost 900 members voted to keep their trans-inclusive policy - a policy that has worked peacefully since 2019.
Now, a small campaign group is seeking to overturn that democratic decision through the courts.
1/5
In 2024, almost 900 members voted to keep their trans-inclusive policy - a policy that has worked peacefully since 2019.
Now, a small campaign group is seeking to overturn that democratic decision through the courts.
1/5