algy (alan) booker
@algybooker.bsky.social
information security specialist (retired), culture snob, politics bore, all-round miserable old tosser
Pinned
dear people-who-make-adverts-for-the-telly,
can you please stop soundtracking your 'masterpieces' with miserable, torpid, drippy covers of quite good songs?
thanks
can you please stop soundtracking your 'masterpieces' with miserable, torpid, drippy covers of quite good songs?
thanks
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Reform will never get the chance to destroy this country's university sector because Labour will beat them to it.
The Observer understands that the immigration white paper is scheduled for w/c 12th May - and the local election results have ratcheted up the pressure on DfE over foreign students
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Labour plots immigration blitz after Reform success at polls
No 10 and Home Office expected to ramp up curbs on foreign university students
observer.co.uk
May 4, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Reform will never get the chance to destroy this country's university sector because Labour will beat them to it.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Streeting "I'm going hard at the levels of bureaucracy in the NHS"
If this was true you'd be scrapping the internal market. But you're not so it isnt. What you have done is given an NHS contact worth over £1bn to a profiteering private healthcare company owned by private equity
If this was true you'd be scrapping the internal market. But you're not so it isnt. What you have done is given an NHS contact worth over £1bn to a profiteering private healthcare company owned by private equity
May 4, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Streeting "I'm going hard at the levels of bureaucracy in the NHS"
If this was true you'd be scrapping the internal market. But you're not so it isnt. What you have done is given an NHS contact worth over £1bn to a profiteering private healthcare company owned by private equity
If this was true you'd be scrapping the internal market. But you're not so it isnt. What you have done is given an NHS contact worth over £1bn to a profiteering private healthcare company owned by private equity
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Have you thought about going out in to the communities and actually talking to the people affected by this; both victims and perpetrators? You may find it differs very a lot to what the producers of a TV program say
May 4, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Have you thought about going out in to the communities and actually talking to the people affected by this; both victims and perpetrators? You may find it differs very a lot to what the producers of a TV program say
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
There’s something really disturbing to me about the way the media, and indeed her own mother, continue to talk about Brianna Ghey - a constant focus on publicising her mental health, as if she’d committed suicide, and never focusing on the transphobia that actually led to her horrific murder.
May 4, 2025 at 12:59 PM
There’s something really disturbing to me about the way the media, and indeed her own mother, continue to talk about Brianna Ghey - a constant focus on publicising her mental health, as if she’d committed suicide, and never focusing on the transphobia that actually led to her horrific murder.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
This is the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, Thomas Haldenwang
Weird country Germany. Is it owned?
Weird country Germany. Is it owned?
May 4, 2025 at 4:58 PM
This is the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, Thomas Haldenwang
Weird country Germany. Is it owned?
Weird country Germany. Is it owned?
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
"The shocking revelation that Bellingcat relied on a convicted pedophile to handle its investigations into child sexuality exploitation has effectively been buried by legacy media outlets, which frequently cited the organization to accuse designated enemy states"
thegrayzone.com/2025/05/02/b...
thegrayzone.com/2025/05/02/b...
Ex-Bellingcat operative dies after child rape conviction - The Grayzone
According to an explosive Dutch media report, a former Bellingcat researcher who led investigations into the MH17 disaster and child abuse turns out to have been a sex abuser of children – including h...
thegrayzone.com
May 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
"The shocking revelation that Bellingcat relied on a convicted pedophile to handle its investigations into child sexuality exploitation has effectively been buried by legacy media outlets, which frequently cited the organization to accuse designated enemy states"
thegrayzone.com/2025/05/02/b...
thegrayzone.com/2025/05/02/b...
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
If only Lewis worked in some profession where he could subject Reform to that scrutiny. Fanciful, I know.
All those saying that Reform will be subject to a greater level of scrutiny now- good luck. Local press is much weakened in many places and national press won’t pay much attention.
May 2, 2025 at 10:22 PM
If only Lewis worked in some profession where he could subject Reform to that scrutiny. Fanciful, I know.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
The Greens now have nearly 200 more councillors than Reform.
This is not something you'd be likely to guess from all the copiously salivating media coverage of Farage & his crew of billionaire-backed far-right chancers.
This is not something you'd be likely to guess from all the copiously salivating media coverage of Farage & his crew of billionaire-backed far-right chancers.
Another record year for the Green Party 👏
859 Councillors on 170 Councils in England & Wales
Now join us to keep Greens growing and to take the fight to Reform join.greenparty.org.uk
859 Councillors on 170 Councils in England & Wales
Now join us to keep Greens growing and to take the fight to Reform join.greenparty.org.uk
May 2, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The Greens now have nearly 200 more councillors than Reform.
This is not something you'd be likely to guess from all the copiously salivating media coverage of Farage & his crew of billionaire-backed far-right chancers.
This is not something you'd be likely to guess from all the copiously salivating media coverage of Farage & his crew of billionaire-backed far-right chancers.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
I will never stop being angry with dickheads like Ball, who we all told exactly what was going to happen but they ploughed on anyway. The condescending little fucking prick won't even pick the tab up for this, his position will insulate him just fine. The crocodile tears are enraging.
You might as well ask them for a golden rhinoceros full of chocolate and champagne. You’re instead getting four long years to reflect upon your own cluelessness and after that, it will be the abyss.
May 3, 2025 at 11:10 AM
I will never stop being angry with dickheads like Ball, who we all told exactly what was going to happen but they ploughed on anyway. The condescending little fucking prick won't even pick the tab up for this, his position will insulate him just fine. The crocodile tears are enraging.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Labour lost to more progressive parties, not to Reform. Them going even harder on Reform-like policies should be every bit of evidence we need to show it's actually the right move to abandon Labour and go for more progressive alternatives. Despite the low turnout this is not a progressive loss.
Sure looks like Tories switched to Reform, but Labour voters actually switched to Lib Dems and Greens. This wasn't a loss for progressives, if anything it's an improvement to move away from Labour. Conservatives + Reform only changed by +1 seat total.
May 3, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Labour lost to more progressive parties, not to Reform. Them going even harder on Reform-like policies should be every bit of evidence we need to show it's actually the right move to abandon Labour and go for more progressive alternatives. Despite the low turnout this is not a progressive loss.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
“voters will turn against reform when they see how badly they run the councils they’ve won” sounds like the kind of complacent thing people say before they lose to reform quite badly.
May 3, 2025 at 10:35 AM
“voters will turn against reform when they see how badly they run the councils they’ve won” sounds like the kind of complacent thing people say before they lose to reform quite badly.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
From widely condemned Sun column to Labour party policy in ten years?
May 3, 2025 at 8:41 AM
From widely condemned Sun column to Labour party policy in ten years?
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
thank you for clarifying that you are well aware of her transphobia and still continuing with the show
An HBO executive has promised fans of the Harry Potter franchise that the upcoming reboot television series will not be “infused” with J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans beliefs.
HBO Exec Promises 'Harry Potter' Series 'Not Secretly Being Infused' With J.K. Rowling's Anti-Trans Rhetoric
An HBO exec has promised fans of the Harry Potter franchise that the upcoming TV series will not be "infused" with J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans beliefs.
rollingstone.com
May 2, 2025 at 7:41 PM
thank you for clarifying that you are well aware of her transphobia and still continuing with the show
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Another demonstration here that there are real people who matter, and lesser ones who do not.
May 2, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Another demonstration here that there are real people who matter, and lesser ones who do not.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Dont worry about Reform. I know that Led by Donkeys is about to project something so scathing, that every Reform voter in the UK will be crying and trying to swap their vote for Sir Keir. Trust the process. 💪
May 2, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Dont worry about Reform. I know that Led by Donkeys is about to project something so scathing, that every Reform voter in the UK will be crying and trying to swap their vote for Sir Keir. Trust the process. 💪
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Labour didn’t just inherit the Tories’ assaults on protest rights - they embraced them with vigor
And now their unlawful strategy has blown up in their faces
Their pathetic drift to the right isn’t a winning move - it’s cowardice and it’s costing us all our long established freedoms
And now their unlawful strategy has blown up in their faces
Their pathetic drift to the right isn’t a winning move - it’s cowardice and it’s costing us all our long established freedoms
🚨BREAKING🚨
WE’VE WON OUR CASE TO #DefendDemocracy
The Court of Appeal has ruled that anti-protest laws which completely ignored the will of Parliament are unlawful
WE’VE WON OUR CASE TO #DefendDemocracy
The Court of Appeal has ruled that anti-protest laws which completely ignored the will of Parliament are unlawful
May 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Labour didn’t just inherit the Tories’ assaults on protest rights - they embraced them with vigor
And now their unlawful strategy has blown up in their faces
Their pathetic drift to the right isn’t a winning move - it’s cowardice and it’s costing us all our long established freedoms
And now their unlawful strategy has blown up in their faces
Their pathetic drift to the right isn’t a winning move - it’s cowardice and it’s costing us all our long established freedoms
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
I see lots of Sensible Grown-Up Centrists are taking an approach to the results of the local elections that mostly revolves around yelling "ARE YOU FCKN THICK OR SOMETHING!?" Great stuff, guys, that'll win em round.
May 2, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I see lots of Sensible Grown-Up Centrists are taking an approach to the results of the local elections that mostly revolves around yelling "ARE YOU FCKN THICK OR SOMETHING!?" Great stuff, guys, that'll win em round.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
This is what the entire apparatus of the British government are enabling and encouraging with their capitulation to hateful genitally-obsessed bigots.
No woman is safe with transphobes.
No woman is safe with transphobes.
This was such a TERRIFYING experience, she was so fightened of the trans woman and the presumed threat she posed, that Chloe had to start following her through the train station in order to record and stalk her. The gender terrorism that bored cis people have to deal with every day. 😢
May 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
This is what the entire apparatus of the British government are enabling and encouraging with their capitulation to hateful genitally-obsessed bigots.
No woman is safe with transphobes.
No woman is safe with transphobes.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Let me spell this out for you James: It’s because they’re a right wing party who are supporting genocide, austerity, tweet out racist rhetoric daily and are capitulating to big business on climate collapse.
May 2, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Let me spell this out for you James: It’s because they’re a right wing party who are supporting genocide, austerity, tweet out racist rhetoric daily and are capitulating to big business on climate collapse.
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
If your liberal world order cannot stop genocide, then what good is it?
Liberalism created the world order we have today. Under liberalism, a white settler colonial ethno state is genociding and ethnically cleansing Palestinians, and getting "ironclad" backing from western liberal democracies.
Liberalism created the world order we have today. Under liberalism, a white settler colonial ethno state is genociding and ethnically cleansing Palestinians, and getting "ironclad" backing from western liberal democracies.
May 2, 2025 at 4:54 PM
If your liberal world order cannot stop genocide, then what good is it?
Liberalism created the world order we have today. Under liberalism, a white settler colonial ethno state is genociding and ethnically cleansing Palestinians, and getting "ironclad" backing from western liberal democracies.
Liberalism created the world order we have today. Under liberalism, a white settler colonial ethno state is genociding and ethnically cleansing Palestinians, and getting "ironclad" backing from western liberal democracies.
Keir starmers labour party.
"change"
"change"
The UK commons—our green spaces, public infrastructure, and democratic institutions—are under siege by a neoliberal power grab, orchestrated by financial giants like BlackRock and enabled by Keir Starmer’s changed Labour Party. Please read the entire thread
May 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Keir starmers labour party.
"change"
"change"
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Voters to Labour: we want you to stop being shit
Labour: the voters are telling us we need to be more shit, and fast
Labour: the voters are telling us we need to be more shit, and fast
May 2, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Voters to Labour: we want you to stop being shit
Labour: the voters are telling us we need to be more shit, and fast
Labour: the voters are telling us we need to be more shit, and fast
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Lots of very high profile UK biologists sign a letter saying that biological sex isn't binary or immutable and that the Supreme Court's ruling is scientifically wrong!
We really need to hammer home how the anti-trans side is anti-science
(you can add your name still if you are in a relevant field)
We really need to hammer home how the anti-trans side is anti-science
(you can add your name still if you are in a relevant field)
May 2, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Lots of very high profile UK biologists sign a letter saying that biological sex isn't binary or immutable and that the Supreme Court's ruling is scientifically wrong!
We really need to hammer home how the anti-trans side is anti-science
(you can add your name still if you are in a relevant field)
We really need to hammer home how the anti-trans side is anti-science
(you can add your name still if you are in a relevant field)
Reposted by algy (alan) booker
Turnout in the West of England mayoral election was 30%. So as a proportion of the total electorate, the figures would be:
LAB: 7.5%
REF: 6.7%
GRE: 6%
CON: 5%
LIB: 4.2%
"Winner takes all" is completely indefensible when the winner is on 7.5%. Mayoral elections urgently need preferential voting
LAB: 7.5%
REF: 6.7%
GRE: 6%
CON: 5%
LIB: 4.2%
"Winner takes all" is completely indefensible when the winner is on 7.5%. Mayoral elections urgently need preferential voting
FPTP voting has destroyed ANY legitimacy for elected Mayors. Long past time to bring back the Supplementary Vote.
Mayoralty (West of England) council election result:
LAB: 25.0% (-8.4)
REF: 22.1% (+22.1)
GRN: 20.0% (-1.7)
CON: 16.6% (-12.0)
LDEM: 14.0% (-2.3)
IND: 2.3% (+2.3)
Labour HOLD.
Mayoralty (West of England) council election result:
LAB: 25.0% (-8.4)
REF: 22.1% (+22.1)
GRN: 20.0% (-1.7)
CON: 16.6% (-12.0)
LDEM: 14.0% (-2.3)
IND: 2.3% (+2.3)
Labour HOLD.
May 2, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Turnout in the West of England mayoral election was 30%. So as a proportion of the total electorate, the figures would be:
LAB: 7.5%
REF: 6.7%
GRE: 6%
CON: 5%
LIB: 4.2%
"Winner takes all" is completely indefensible when the winner is on 7.5%. Mayoral elections urgently need preferential voting
LAB: 7.5%
REF: 6.7%
GRE: 6%
CON: 5%
LIB: 4.2%
"Winner takes all" is completely indefensible when the winner is on 7.5%. Mayoral elections urgently need preferential voting