Alastair Thomson
@alsthom.bsky.social
Interested in people, politics and education. Views not always those of organisations with which I’m associated. Northampton, England.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
I wonder if this guy is related to "Boris Johnson" who introduced "voter id" as Prime Minister in 2023 ... off the back of some crazy US conspiracy theories ... and in the process, made digital ID pretty much inevitable.
September 27, 2025 at 7:28 AM
I wonder if this guy is related to "Boris Johnson" who introduced "voter id" as Prime Minister in 2023 ... off the back of some crazy US conspiracy theories ... and in the process, made digital ID pretty much inevitable.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
"The misconduct hearing found that was one of two occasions when he reported sick to pursue his outside business interests."
New Leicestershire Reform councillor was sacked as a police officer last year
BBC News reports, nay reveals , that a newly elected Reform member of Leicestershire County Council was dismissed from Leicestershire Police...
liberalengland.blogspot.com
May 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
"The misconduct hearing found that was one of two occasions when he reported sick to pursue his outside business interests."
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
New from me, on some of the contradictions within Reform.
How does a Thatcherite leadership keep hold of a base of C2DE voters?
Can they keep hold of the conspiracy theorists while going mainstream?
Do they all agree on immigration?
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/the-populi...
How does a Thatcherite leadership keep hold of a base of C2DE voters?
Can they keep hold of the conspiracy theorists while going mainstream?
Do they all agree on immigration?
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/the-populi...
The Populist Tightrope
Can Reform expand without alienating its base?
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk
April 4, 2025 at 6:41 AM
New from me, on some of the contradictions within Reform.
How does a Thatcherite leadership keep hold of a base of C2DE voters?
Can they keep hold of the conspiracy theorists while going mainstream?
Do they all agree on immigration?
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/the-populi...
How does a Thatcherite leadership keep hold of a base of C2DE voters?
Can they keep hold of the conspiracy theorists while going mainstream?
Do they all agree on immigration?
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk/p/the-populi...
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Just listening to Failed State by @samfr.bsky.social, and chapter 2 on the problems of local government is on point. Reminds me of so much that frustrated me in my short time as a councillor. Well worth a read!
March 26, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Just listening to Failed State by @samfr.bsky.social, and chapter 2 on the problems of local government is on point. Reminds me of so much that frustrated me in my short time as a councillor. Well worth a read!
Worth reading thread.
Last month I did a little experiment.
I wanted to see how the exact same post would perform on both X (Twitter) and Bluesky.
The results were...interesting...
[Thread]
I wanted to see how the exact same post would perform on both X (Twitter) and Bluesky.
The results were...interesting...
[Thread]
March 17, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Worth reading thread.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Fascinating.
Last month I did a little experiment.
I wanted to see how the exact same post would perform on both X (Twitter) and Bluesky.
The results were...interesting...
[Thread]
I wanted to see how the exact same post would perform on both X (Twitter) and Bluesky.
The results were...interesting...
[Thread]
March 17, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Fascinating.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
(1/3) It needs repeating: in 1994, Ukraine was persuaded to give up its nuclear weapons to Russia in return for the US, the UK, and Russia guaranteeing Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
March 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
(1/3) It needs repeating: in 1994, Ukraine was persuaded to give up its nuclear weapons to Russia in return for the US, the UK, and Russia guaranteeing Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Slightly late to this but, if you want to see how good social science research can contextualise & rebut a dubious headline, then check out this excellent report and thread from the Kings Policy institute, showing contra Channel 4's alarmist headlines that, no, young ppl don't want a dictatorship
NEW: Just 6% of Gen Z say they actually want a dictator – not over half, as has been recently claimed.
Our study finds only a very small minority of 13-27-yr-olds really feel this way, when their views and interpretations are tested with different questioning approaches 🧵⬇️
Our study finds only a very small minority of 13-27-yr-olds really feel this way, when their views and interpretations are tested with different questioning approaches 🧵⬇️
March 3, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Slightly late to this but, if you want to see how good social science research can contextualise & rebut a dubious headline, then check out this excellent report and thread from the Kings Policy institute, showing contra Channel 4's alarmist headlines that, no, young ppl don't want a dictatorship
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
The accuracy of the political cartoons recently is incredibly painful.
March 2, 2025 at 11:20 PM
The accuracy of the political cartoons recently is incredibly painful.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Also the collective GDP of the EU + UK + Norway is around $24 trillion compared to $2 trillion for Russia. We have vastly more resources if we choose to use them.
🇵🇱🇪🇺 "The paradox is that 500 million Europeans are asking 300 million Americans for help to protect them from 140 million Russians," — Tusk
❗️"We must rely on ourselves, fully aware of our own potential and believing that we are a world power," he said.
❗️"We must rely on ourselves, fully aware of our own potential and believing that we are a world power," he said.
March 2, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Also the collective GDP of the EU + UK + Norway is around $24 trillion compared to $2 trillion for Russia. We have vastly more resources if we choose to use them.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
In January 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt answered the "America First" of his day - and foresaw the "America First" of ours:
"We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American eagle in order to feather their own nests."
"We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American eagle in order to feather their own nests."
March 1, 2025 at 9:47 PM
In January 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt answered the "America First" of his day - and foresaw the "America First" of ours:
"We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American eagle in order to feather their own nests."
"We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American eagle in order to feather their own nests."
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Governor Walz has it right. I miss hearing his plain, common sense talk.
March 1, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Governor Walz has it right. I miss hearing his plain, common sense talk.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Important to take the week as a whole. Statement from Dominic Grieve:
March 1, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Important to take the week as a whole. Statement from Dominic Grieve:
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Downing Street finally speaks
February 28, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Downing Street finally speaks
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
He is about to host Zelensky and most European leaders in London. He’s hardly running away from the issue.
February 28, 2025 at 10:03 PM
He is about to host Zelensky and most European leaders in London. He’s hardly running away from the issue.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
The strength of language on show from UK papers that might often be more sympathetic to Trump goes to show how strong the pro-Ukraine consensus is in the UK. There's no debate over here, hawkishness towards Russia is the only game in town.
NEW: The first front pages of Saturday’s newspapers in the UK.
“Ukraine Hero Ambushed”
“Trump stuns world with vile rant at Zelensky”
“A spectacle to horrify the world”
Trump is obliterating the global reputation of the US.
“Ukraine Hero Ambushed”
“Trump stuns world with vile rant at Zelensky”
“A spectacle to horrify the world”
Trump is obliterating the global reputation of the US.
February 28, 2025 at 11:03 PM
The strength of language on show from UK papers that might often be more sympathetic to Trump goes to show how strong the pro-Ukraine consensus is in the UK. There's no debate over here, hawkishness towards Russia is the only game in town.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Telegraph editorial:
"Mr Trump and Mr Vance were indisputably in the wrong, factually, geographically and morally."
"Mr Trump and Mr Vance were indisputably in the wrong, factually, geographically and morally."
February 28, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Telegraph editorial:
"Mr Trump and Mr Vance were indisputably in the wrong, factually, geographically and morally."
"Mr Trump and Mr Vance were indisputably in the wrong, factually, geographically and morally."
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Zelensky is a wartime leader watching his people suffer and die under Russian attacks every day. To be lectured and lied to by Trump and Vance, as they defend the war criminal dictator committing these atrocities, is unimaginable agony. An everlasting shame for America.
Trump has not uttered a critical word about Putin but he and his VP publicly belittled the leader of the nation Putin invaded.
February 28, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Zelensky is a wartime leader watching his people suffer and die under Russian attacks every day. To be lectured and lied to by Trump and Vance, as they defend the war criminal dictator committing these atrocities, is unimaginable agony. An everlasting shame for America.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
This is brutal.
Donald Trump is only interested in money and power.
President Zelenskyy is trying to save his people and country.
Russia and US have agreed to carve-up Ukraine, Russia getting territory and US getting mineral wealth.
Trump is no ally for any country.
Donald Trump is only interested in money and power.
President Zelenskyy is trying to save his people and country.
Russia and US have agreed to carve-up Ukraine, Russia getting territory and US getting mineral wealth.
Trump is no ally for any country.
Trump tells Zelensky 'make a deal or we're out' in angry White House meeting - follow live
A joint news conference is cancelled after the US president calls his Ukrainian counterpart
www.bbc.co.uk
February 28, 2025 at 7:09 PM
This is brutal.
Donald Trump is only interested in money and power.
President Zelenskyy is trying to save his people and country.
Russia and US have agreed to carve-up Ukraine, Russia getting territory and US getting mineral wealth.
Trump is no ally for any country.
Donald Trump is only interested in money and power.
President Zelenskyy is trying to save his people and country.
Russia and US have agreed to carve-up Ukraine, Russia getting territory and US getting mineral wealth.
Trump is no ally for any country.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
This would be the same Robert Jenrick that said during the Tory leadership campaign:
"If I was an American citizen I would be voting for Donald Trump".
"If I was an American citizen I would be voting for Donald Trump".
Shadow justice sec Robert Jenrick on the other website: “sickened by that degrading spectacle…to think the bust of Winston Churchill was in the same room”
February 28, 2025 at 7:08 PM
This would be the same Robert Jenrick that said during the Tory leadership campaign:
"If I was an American citizen I would be voting for Donald Trump".
"If I was an American citizen I would be voting for Donald Trump".
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
No, the meeting did not go badly for Ukraine. It exposed in the most undeniable, unequivocal way possible the pro-Putin commitments of the president and vice president. That was information Americans and allies needed to have clear before them.
February 28, 2025 at 5:57 PM
No, the meeting did not go badly for Ukraine. It exposed in the most undeniable, unequivocal way possible the pro-Putin commitments of the president and vice president. That was information Americans and allies needed to have clear before them.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responds, something we hopefully see a lot more of that from other European leaders. It's never been clearer than in this moment that Trump is Putin's ally, not Europe's.
February 28, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responds, something we hopefully see a lot more of that from other European leaders. It's never been clearer than in this moment that Trump is Putin's ally, not Europe's.
Reposted by Alastair Thomson
Former Lib Dem leader Vince Cable calls on Starmer to cancel the State visit for Trump.
February 28, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Former Lib Dem leader Vince Cable calls on Starmer to cancel the State visit for Trump.
I have exchanged much of my disposable income for the next few months for theatre tickets to the RSC.
February 13, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I have exchanged much of my disposable income for the next few months for theatre tickets to the RSC.