Ben Morton
@benmorton.bsky.social
Reader @lstmnews.bsky.social
Critical Care Consultant @nhsuhlg.bsky.social
Editor @anaesjournal.bsky.social
Website: https://research.lstmed.ac.uk/en/persons/benjamin-morton-7
Research: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6164-2854
Critical Care Consultant @nhsuhlg.bsky.social
Editor @anaesjournal.bsky.social
Website: https://research.lstmed.ac.uk/en/persons/benjamin-morton-7
Research: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6164-2854
I thought @zackpolanski.bsky.social nailed the Kuenssberg interview today. Messaging on point, love the way he challenged the established omertà on issues like drug policy, proportional representation and rent control.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Polanski says local mayors should be given power over rent controls
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has also been on the programme to defend the government's efforts to expand trade ties with China.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 11:04 AM
I thought @zackpolanski.bsky.social nailed the Kuenssberg interview today. Messaging on point, love the way he challenged the established omertà on issues like drug policy, proportional representation and rent control.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Reposted by Ben Morton
How is it that a church warden behind an interior design firm originally incorporated in the BVIs & tied to a Kazakh billionaire can make a £200,000 donation to Reform UK?
Source of funds not disclosed.
Farage has questions to answer.
The Electoral Commission must investigate.
Source of funds not disclosed.
Farage has questions to answer.
The Electoral Commission must investigate.
Churchwarden linked to foreign-born billionaire is behind £200k Reform gift
The man whose firm made the donations will not discuss where the money came from, nor his ties to wealthy Farage allies who may not hold citizenship
www.thetimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:44 AM
How is it that a church warden behind an interior design firm originally incorporated in the BVIs & tied to a Kazakh billionaire can make a £200,000 donation to Reform UK?
Source of funds not disclosed.
Farage has questions to answer.
The Electoral Commission must investigate.
Source of funds not disclosed.
Farage has questions to answer.
The Electoral Commission must investigate.
Reposted by Ben Morton
‘We create social cohesion’: the rise of the West Midlands’ Desi pubs
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘We create social cohesion’: the rise of the West Midlands’ Desi pubs
With sizzling mixed grills and bhangra playing, Desi pub owners are transforming places of exclusion into new community hubs
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 10:49 PM
‘We create social cohesion’: the rise of the West Midlands’ Desi pubs
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by Ben Morton
Reposted by Ben Morton
Oh our Minneapolis, I hear your voice
Singing through the bloody mist
We’ll take our stand for this land
And the stranger in our midst
Directed by Thom Zimny
Edited by Thom Zimny and Samuel Shapiro
Production Footage: Pam Springsteen and Thom Zimny
Singing through the bloody mist
We’ll take our stand for this land
And the stranger in our midst
Directed by Thom Zimny
Edited by Thom Zimny and Samuel Shapiro
Production Footage: Pam Springsteen and Thom Zimny
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Lyric Video)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Oh our Minneapolis, I hear your voice
Singing through the bloody mist
We’ll take our stand for this land
And the stranger in our midst
Directed by Thom Zimny
Edited by Thom Zimny and Samuel Shapiro
Production Footage: Pam Springsteen and Thom Zimny
Singing through the bloody mist
We’ll take our stand for this land
And the stranger in our midst
Directed by Thom Zimny
Edited by Thom Zimny and Samuel Shapiro
Production Footage: Pam Springsteen and Thom Zimny
Reposted by Ben Morton
It would be nice to see a statement along similar lines from @ficm.bsky.social and @ics-updates.bsky.social #Twexit
Well done @rcoanews.bsky.social and @assocanaes.bsky.social for taking action and stepping away from activity on Twitter/X
It seems that every day reputable organisations are waking up to the fact that they do not need to remain there.
It seems that every day reputable organisations are waking up to the fact that they do not need to remain there.
January 26, 2026 at 8:14 PM
It would be nice to see a statement along similar lines from @ficm.bsky.social and @ics-updates.bsky.social #Twexit
Reposted by Ben Morton
Well done @rcoanews.bsky.social and @assocanaes.bsky.social for taking action and stepping away from activity on Twitter/X
It seems that every day reputable organisations are waking up to the fact that they do not need to remain there.
It seems that every day reputable organisations are waking up to the fact that they do not need to remain there.
January 26, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Well done @rcoanews.bsky.social and @assocanaes.bsky.social for taking action and stepping away from activity on Twitter/X
It seems that every day reputable organisations are waking up to the fact that they do not need to remain there.
It seems that every day reputable organisations are waking up to the fact that they do not need to remain there.
Reposted by Ben Morton
Come work with us!
January 25, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Come work with us!
Reposted by Ben Morton
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
January 22, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
Reposted by Ben Morton
A suggested checklist for leaving X...
✅ Ethical & Moral Reasons
☐ Platform profits from harassment, hate speech, and dehumanization
☐ Marginalized groups are disproportionately targeted and silenced. The anti-woke brigade shout the loudest
☐ Remaining signals tacit acceptance of these harms
✅ Ethical & Moral Reasons
☐ Platform profits from harassment, hate speech, and dehumanization
☐ Marginalized groups are disproportionately targeted and silenced. The anti-woke brigade shout the loudest
☐ Remaining signals tacit acceptance of these harms
January 10, 2026 at 10:58 AM
A suggested checklist for leaving X...
✅ Ethical & Moral Reasons
☐ Platform profits from harassment, hate speech, and dehumanization
☐ Marginalized groups are disproportionately targeted and silenced. The anti-woke brigade shout the loudest
☐ Remaining signals tacit acceptance of these harms
✅ Ethical & Moral Reasons
☐ Platform profits from harassment, hate speech, and dehumanization
☐ Marginalized groups are disproportionately targeted and silenced. The anti-woke brigade shout the loudest
☐ Remaining signals tacit acceptance of these harms
Reposted by Ben Morton
Keir Starmer says it is in Britain’s interests to “align more closely with the EU single market” and “we should”.
Interestingly this is one of his most passionate answers in a long interview.
I think we can expect movement on this issue in 2026. Brexit still remains an unsettled matter.
Interestingly this is one of his most passionate answers in a long interview.
I think we can expect movement on this issue in 2026. Brexit still remains an unsettled matter.
January 4, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Keir Starmer says it is in Britain’s interests to “align more closely with the EU single market” and “we should”.
Interestingly this is one of his most passionate answers in a long interview.
I think we can expect movement on this issue in 2026. Brexit still remains an unsettled matter.
Interestingly this is one of his most passionate answers in a long interview.
I think we can expect movement on this issue in 2026. Brexit still remains an unsettled matter.
Reposted by Ben Morton
‘… the “middle ground” doesn’t exist like it used to because demands for better wages or public services can’t be easily satisfied without redistribution in a stagnating economy.’
Why is Starmer unpopular? The answer’s obvious, but it mystifies the media
ALL the “serious” media pundits are working on “Why is Keir Starmer so unpopular” columns. The one thing the pundits won’t say is “He is so unpopular because we told him to be.”Media commentators can’...
morningstaronline.co.uk
January 4, 2026 at 11:02 AM
‘… the “middle ground” doesn’t exist like it used to because demands for better wages or public services can’t be easily satisfied without redistribution in a stagnating economy.’
@mancunianmedic.bsky.social I thought this might interest: manchestermill.co.uk/a-mancunian-...
A Mancunian noir classic capturing a lost city
In 1960, Hell is a City set the bar for neo-noir. Now it's a window into a past long demolished
manchestermill.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 9:20 AM
@mancunianmedic.bsky.social I thought this might interest: manchestermill.co.uk/a-mancunian-...
How can we accelerate human trials of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics against priority pathogens in advance of epidemics and pandemics? Well, if we can identify safe, weakened versions controlled human infection model trials might be possible:
journals.plos.org/plosntds/art...
🧪 🩺 #IDsky
journals.plos.org/plosntds/art...
🧪 🩺 #IDsky
Attenuated viral strains of priority pathogens for potential use in controlled human infection model studies: A scoping review
Author summary There are several families of viruses that scientists predict are most likely to cause a future pandemic, such as coronaviruses or Ebola. Studying these viruses ahead of time might mean...
journals.plos.org
January 3, 2026 at 8:50 AM
How can we accelerate human trials of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics against priority pathogens in advance of epidemics and pandemics? Well, if we can identify safe, weakened versions controlled human infection model trials might be possible:
journals.plos.org/plosntds/art...
🧪 🩺 #IDsky
journals.plos.org/plosntds/art...
🧪 🩺 #IDsky
Reposted by Ben Morton
Flocean, a Norwegian company, is set to open the world’s first commercial-scale subsea desalination plant, an approach that could cut the cost and energy used to make seawater drinkable
World's first subsea desalination facility will start running in 2026
Flocean, a Norwegian company, is set to open the world’s first commercial-scale subsea desalination plant, an approach that could cut the cost and energy used to make seawater drinkable
www.newscientist.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Flocean, a Norwegian company, is set to open the world’s first commercial-scale subsea desalination plant, an approach that could cut the cost and energy used to make seawater drinkable
@anaesjournal.bsky.social we aim for (and mainly achieve) a two week turn around for time to first decision.
Chia-Hsuan Hsu waited 18 months before chasing an editor for a decision on a paper
go.nature.com/4j47KhM
go.nature.com/4j47KhM
Dear editors, your publication delays are damaging our careers
Chia-Hsuan Hsu waited 18 months before chasing an editor for a decision on a paper. The answer surprised him.
go.nature.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:18 PM
@anaesjournal.bsky.social we aim for (and mainly achieve) a two week turn around for time to first decision.
Reposted by Ben Morton
A DR Congo supporter has watched all their of three African Cup of Nations 2025 games holding his pose as the statue of Patrice Lumumba, who was born a century ago in 1925, and assassinated as prime minister in 1961 shortly after independence
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Watch: DR Congo fan’s extraordinary ‘statue’ pose for entire match
Supporter’s tribute at Afcon honours Patrice Lumumba, the country’s first prime minister who was assassinated in 1961
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 4:31 PM
A DR Congo supporter has watched all their of three African Cup of Nations 2025 games holding his pose as the statue of Patrice Lumumba, who was born a century ago in 1925, and assassinated as prime minister in 1961 shortly after independence
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Reposted by Ben Morton
There are actually many more things you can point to as examples of recent scientific breakthroughs www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/medical-br... than 'curing Alzheimer's in mice', which people have been claiming to have done for decades and has a tenuous connection to what happens in humans.
Wanna see real-life miracles? Fund scientific research.
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
Alzheimer's Fully Reversed in Mice, Scientists Say
A new compound has been shown to reverse late stage Alzheimer's disease in lab mice, which gives millions of sufferers new cause for hope.
futurism.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:37 PM
There are actually many more things you can point to as examples of recent scientific breakthroughs www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/medical-br... than 'curing Alzheimer's in mice', which people have been claiming to have done for decades and has a tenuous connection to what happens in humans.
Good move. Too much nonsense going on in crypto www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Crypto users forced to share account details with tax officials
The move is designed to ensure people pay all relevant tax on buying and selling crypto.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Good move. Too much nonsense going on in crypto www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Ben Morton
Happy New Year from all of us at Anaesthesia!
Thank you all for your contributions in 2025!
We look forward to more wonderful papers, discussions and podcasts in 2026!
#AnSky
Thank you all for your contributions in 2025!
We look forward to more wonderful papers, discussions and podcasts in 2026!
#AnSky
January 1, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Happy New Year from all of us at Anaesthesia!
Thank you all for your contributions in 2025!
We look forward to more wonderful papers, discussions and podcasts in 2026!
#AnSky
Thank you all for your contributions in 2025!
We look forward to more wonderful papers, discussions and podcasts in 2026!
#AnSky
Reposted by Ben Morton
In China, EVs now make up more than half of new car sales, compared with just 1 in 10 in the US.
With models ranging from budget to luxury, top safety ratings and competitive prices, here’s how Chinese automakers are reshaping the global market and leaving US carmakers behind.
With models ranging from budget to luxury, top safety ratings and competitive prices, here’s how Chinese automakers are reshaping the global market and leaving US carmakers behind.
China’s electric vehicle influence expands nearly everywhere – except the US and Canada
China is already producing a wide range of EVs, including several options that cost less than $25,000.
buff.ly
January 1, 2026 at 9:06 AM
In China, EVs now make up more than half of new car sales, compared with just 1 in 10 in the US.
With models ranging from budget to luxury, top safety ratings and competitive prices, here’s how Chinese automakers are reshaping the global market and leaving US carmakers behind.
With models ranging from budget to luxury, top safety ratings and competitive prices, here’s how Chinese automakers are reshaping the global market and leaving US carmakers behind.
Reposted by Ben Morton
STRENGTHEN PRIMARY CARE.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Huge rise in number of people in England’s A&Es for coughs or hiccups
Lack of prompt access to primary care blamed for rise in hospital cases of minor ailments including blocked noses
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:19 AM
STRENGTHEN PRIMARY CARE.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Ben Morton
Terry's insight into human nature was at its sharpest and most cutting when it came to those who manipulated others, especially using the trappings of religion or mysticism
he knew it worked, and he had quite a lot to say about anyone who took advantage of that
he knew it worked, and he had quite a lot to say about anyone who took advantage of that
December 31, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Terry's insight into human nature was at its sharpest and most cutting when it came to those who manipulated others, especially using the trappings of religion or mysticism
he knew it worked, and he had quite a lot to say about anyone who took advantage of that
he knew it worked, and he had quite a lot to say about anyone who took advantage of that
Was thinking about approach to ward rounds at the weekend. I very deliberately speak to patient first (if not sedated), then bedside nurse and then resident doctor before going over charts and making a plan. Is this unusual?
Over the years I've developed a number of "rants" (aka teaching) that seem to resonate with trainees on #ICUsky ward round.
This pedogogical style might make educationalists wince but keeps me and (crucially) trainees, interested
Interested in any counter rants, refined rants or rant affirmation
This pedogogical style might make educationalists wince but keeps me and (crucially) trainees, interested
Interested in any counter rants, refined rants or rant affirmation
December 31, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Was thinking about approach to ward rounds at the weekend. I very deliberately speak to patient first (if not sedated), then bedside nurse and then resident doctor before going over charts and making a plan. Is this unusual?
Reposted by Ben Morton
‘We want the mullahs gone’: economic crisis sparks biggest protests in Iran since 2022
‘We want the mullahs gone’: economic crisis sparks biggest protests in Iran since 2022
Protests against deteriorating living conditions have widened to include criticism of way country is being governed
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:02 PM
‘We want the mullahs gone’: economic crisis sparks biggest protests in Iran since 2022