Peter Bowden 🇬🇧
@b31bowden.bsky.social
Proud Brummie. Sceptic, pedant and is frequently sarcastic, but tries to be polite. Retired from Public Service, ex Local Authority Childcare, ex DWP Fraud, ex IPCC Investigator. Assume nothing, Believe nobody. Check everything.
SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
A lot of people don't know that Nobel laureates get two medals. A real gold one usually kept in a safe deposit box and a gold plated duplicate for public display.
She gave him the dupe
She gave him the dupe
January 16, 2026 at 9:18 PM
SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
This is going to piss off a lot of London Motorcyclists. Still, at least ICE won't gain a foothold.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s London mayor candidate condemned for burqa stop and search remarks
Laila Cunningham accused of endangering Muslims after saying ‘if you’re hiding your face, you’re hiding it for a criminal reason’
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:45 PM
This is going to piss off a lot of London Motorcyclists. Still, at least ICE won't gain a foothold.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
'Could' doing a lot of work here. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Slashing jury trials could clear courts backlog within a decade, says Lammy
Exclusive: Lord chancellor urges MPs to back judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and Wales
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:07 PM
'Could' doing a lot of work here. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Who thought this was news? This is holding sad people up to ridicule. I'd expect to see it in the Sunday Sport, not a 'serious' newspaper. FFS, the reality is bad enough, without mocking the deluded.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Lamar wants to have children with his girlfriend. The problem? She’s entirely AI
As synthetic personas become an increasingly normal part of life, meet the people falling for their chatbot lovers
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Who thought this was news? This is holding sad people up to ridicule. I'd expect to see it in the Sunday Sport, not a 'serious' newspaper. FFS, the reality is bad enough, without mocking the deluded.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Everyone should read this article; some of us should then act. All of us should talk to our lawmakers about it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump may be the beginning of the end for ‘enshittification’ – this is our chance to make tech good again | Cory Doctorow
The US president is weaponising tech, but his tariffs and Brexit provide a surprising opportunity to gain back digital control of our lives, says science fiction author, activist and journalist Cory D...
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Everyone should read this article; some of us should then act. All of us should talk to our lawmakers about it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Given that Twitter (I know) can prevent *some* people creating CSAM & porn with Grok, it can clearly prevent it at all. The choice not to should be another criminal offence & the final straw to get governments (& any business who doesn't fancy being boycotted) to leave the platform immediately.
January 9, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Given that Twitter (I know) can prevent *some* people creating CSAM & porn with Grok, it can clearly prevent it at all. The choice not to should be another criminal offence & the final straw to get governments (& any business who doesn't fancy being boycotted) to leave the platform immediately.
Isn't is worrying when satire could also be an actual news broadcast?
January 9, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Isn't is worrying when satire could also be an actual news broadcast?
@mrjamesob.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk talking about people telling him he has a large mug. Just try growing a beard/moustache! People seem to assume you don't know you've grown it! It took months - I used to whisper to them, 'I know!'
January 9, 2026 at 12:13 PM
@mrjamesob.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk talking about people telling him he has a large mug. Just try growing a beard/moustache! People seem to assume you don't know you've grown it! It took months - I used to whisper to them, 'I know!'
Reposted by Peter Bowden 🇬🇧
Ben from Manchester Central Foodbank's Christmas wish? That our community looks out for one another ❤️
Because behind every referral is someone doing their best…
and hoping someone will lend a hand.
If you can, please help us support those struggling most this winter 👉 bankuet.co.uk/givenow
Because behind every referral is someone doing their best…
and hoping someone will lend a hand.
If you can, please help us support those struggling most this winter 👉 bankuet.co.uk/givenow
December 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Ben from Manchester Central Foodbank's Christmas wish? That our community looks out for one another ❤️
Because behind every referral is someone doing their best…
and hoping someone will lend a hand.
If you can, please help us support those struggling most this winter 👉 bankuet.co.uk/givenow
Because behind every referral is someone doing their best…
and hoping someone will lend a hand.
If you can, please help us support those struggling most this winter 👉 bankuet.co.uk/givenow
A VAT concession I liked was that aids specifically to assist the disabled were VAT free. Now that the biggest aid, a Motability car, has been exempted from the concession, I wonder how long it will be until its abolished entirely?
Taxing the group insurance policy for those cars feels mean as well
Taxing the group insurance policy for those cars feels mean as well
November 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A VAT concession I liked was that aids specifically to assist the disabled were VAT free. Now that the biggest aid, a Motability car, has been exempted from the concession, I wonder how long it will be until its abolished entirely?
Taxing the group insurance policy for those cars feels mean as well
Taxing the group insurance policy for those cars feels mean as well
Its important this news has a wide audience. Censorship only works if people don't see what was censored.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Its important this news has a wide audience. Censorship only works if people don't see what was censored.
Could someone create a virus that put an autocorrect on word processors, so every time 'illegal immigrant' was typed in, it replaced it with 'asylum seeker'?
Oh, how we would laugh.
Oh, how we would laugh.
November 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Could someone create a virus that put an autocorrect on word processors, so every time 'illegal immigrant' was typed in, it replaced it with 'asylum seeker'?
Oh, how we would laugh.
Oh, how we would laugh.
I'd just like to tell my current MP @preetkgillmp.bsky.social that I will not vote for any candidate who supports what the Home Secretary is proposing.
AFAIK, my family has been in the UK since Agincourt & I fail to understand why an accident of birthplace should disadvantage anyone born elsewhere.
AFAIK, my family has been in the UK since Agincourt & I fail to understand why an accident of birthplace should disadvantage anyone born elsewhere.
November 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I'd just like to tell my current MP @preetkgillmp.bsky.social that I will not vote for any candidate who supports what the Home Secretary is proposing.
AFAIK, my family has been in the UK since Agincourt & I fail to understand why an accident of birthplace should disadvantage anyone born elsewhere.
AFAIK, my family has been in the UK since Agincourt & I fail to understand why an accident of birthplace should disadvantage anyone born elsewhere.
Douglas Adams knew:
November 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Douglas Adams knew:
I'm getting increasingly tired of reading 'nobody is above the law' then reading about Trumps latest pardons.
Why does any system give asn individual the power to pardon convicted criminals - &, if they must, not leash the power to extraordinary circumstances.
This isn't about Trump per se, BTW.
Why does any system give asn individual the power to pardon convicted criminals - &, if they must, not leash the power to extraordinary circumstances.
This isn't about Trump per se, BTW.
November 10, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I'm getting increasingly tired of reading 'nobody is above the law' then reading about Trumps latest pardons.
Why does any system give asn individual the power to pardon convicted criminals - &, if they must, not leash the power to extraordinary circumstances.
This isn't about Trump per se, BTW.
Why does any system give asn individual the power to pardon convicted criminals - &, if they must, not leash the power to extraordinary circumstances.
This isn't about Trump per se, BTW.
Not seen this before - and it shook me.
November 9, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Not seen this before - and it shook me.
Why is Lammy getting the blame for the Tories running down the prison system? I know he is the bloke at the top now, but its a bit unfair holding him responsible for the massive failures of his predecessors.
November 9, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Why is Lammy getting the blame for the Tories running down the prison system? I know he is the bloke at the top now, but its a bit unfair holding him responsible for the massive failures of his predecessors.
Everyone else is doing it!
November 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Everyone else is doing it!
More of this please.
November 7, 2025 at 10:48 AM
More of this please.
How can you have a regulatory tariff that has no mechanism to regulate the thing it relates to? UK lawyers are generally expected to live in the real world; is this not also true of government lawyers in the USA?
November 6, 2025 at 11:48 AM
How can you have a regulatory tariff that has no mechanism to regulate the thing it relates to? UK lawyers are generally expected to live in the real world; is this not also true of government lawyers in the USA?
I drive an EV and have no problem with a 3p/mile charge to replace the fuel duty I no longer pay. I am very curious however how it will be collected. I charge at home so how will HMG know how far I've been since last time? Am I getting a tracker (Brilliant for anti-theft security!)?
November 6, 2025 at 11:16 AM
I drive an EV and have no problem with a 3p/mile charge to replace the fuel duty I no longer pay. I am very curious however how it will be collected. I charge at home so how will HMG know how far I've been since last time? Am I getting a tracker (Brilliant for anti-theft security!)?
If I, as an individual, had done to car buyers what the industry did, I would probably be prosecuted for fraud. Why the f*ck should I/we care about the future profitability of this group of crooks? If some fold, there will be replacements, IDK.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Car finance redress scheme shows City watchdog ‘nakedly’ siding with lenders, MPs say
Cross-party group says Financial Conduct Authority had been ‘patently influenced’ by concerns over profits
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
If I, as an individual, had done to car buyers what the industry did, I would probably be prosecuted for fraud. Why the f*ck should I/we care about the future profitability of this group of crooks? If some fold, there will be replacements, IDK.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Peter Bowden 🇬🇧
'A "heroic" LNER staff member who intervened in the mass stabbing to save the lives of high-speed train passengers suffered life-threatening injuries, police said. He was recorded on CCTV attempting to stop the attacker.'
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Cambridgeshire train stabbings: ‘heroic’ LNER staff member suffered ‘life-threatening injuries’
British Transport Police say rail staff member was recorded on CCTV intervening in attempt to stop attacker
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
'A "heroic" LNER staff member who intervened in the mass stabbing to save the lives of high-speed train passengers suffered life-threatening injuries, police said. He was recorded on CCTV attempting to stop the attacker.'
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Peter Bowden 🇬🇧
Nigel Farage currently railing against Parliament being full of "professional politicians".
He founded UKIP in 1993 and was first elected as an MEP in 1999, twenty-six years ago. Less than 5% of current MPs (31 to be precise) have a longer career in politics than Farage. ~AA
He founded UKIP in 1993 and was first elected as an MEP in 1999, twenty-six years ago. Less than 5% of current MPs (31 to be precise) have a longer career in politics than Farage. ~AA
November 3, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Nigel Farage currently railing against Parliament being full of "professional politicians".
He founded UKIP in 1993 and was first elected as an MEP in 1999, twenty-six years ago. Less than 5% of current MPs (31 to be precise) have a longer career in politics than Farage. ~AA
He founded UKIP in 1993 and was first elected as an MEP in 1999, twenty-six years ago. Less than 5% of current MPs (31 to be precise) have a longer career in politics than Farage. ~AA
