Ben P Richards
@benprichards.bsky.social
Gardener, ex-firefighter, vegan photographer living in North Wales from West Yorkshire.
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www.benprichards.com
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www.benprichards.com
Reform have categorically denied they want to privatise the NHS. Privatisation is happening right now, Neoliberalism is privatising the NHS now. Right now!
January 15, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Reform have categorically denied they want to privatise the NHS. Privatisation is happening right now, Neoliberalism is privatising the NHS now. Right now!
I highly recommend Adam Curtis' 'Shifty' on iPlayer - it's deep delve into Thatcher and the rise of Neoliberalism. And, if you don't like the sound of Curtis' voice then don't worry, he's not narrating this one.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Shifty
When power begins to shift in society, everything becomes unstable, exciting and frightening. Living in Britain at the end of the 20th century. From acclaimed film maker Adam Curtis.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 12:20 PM
I highly recommend Adam Curtis' 'Shifty' on iPlayer - it's deep delve into Thatcher and the rise of Neoliberalism. And, if you don't like the sound of Curtis' voice then don't worry, he's not narrating this one.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Weirdly these prolific Tories defecting to Reform will be the undoing of Reform - there are plenty of Reform voters who dislike the Tories.
January 15, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Weirdly these prolific Tories defecting to Reform will be the undoing of Reform - there are plenty of Reform voters who dislike the Tories.
Already looking at their Germany dates in May. They look like they mean business!
January 14, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Already looking at their Germany dates in May. They look like they mean business!
Non capisco, auld bean!
January 14, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Non capisco, auld bean!
@sid8800.bsky.social up your straße?
January 14, 2026 at 8:45 PM
@sid8800.bsky.social up your straße?
And yet here we are 10 years on and fully out of the EU. I'm a Corbynista and rue him not getting into power in 2017, suspicious of international meddling in that election campaign but have let it go. 10 years is a long time to be angry a democratic vote didn't go your way.
January 14, 2026 at 7:52 PM
And yet here we are 10 years on and fully out of the EU. I'm a Corbynista and rue him not getting into power in 2017, suspicious of international meddling in that election campaign but have let it go. 10 years is a long time to be angry a democratic vote didn't go your way.
Give it to Brian Noble.
January 14, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Give it to Brian Noble.
The Ashes and Jake Connor debacle unforgiveable but the RFL handed him a poisoned chalice with the opener being in London.
Not much time to avoid a thumping down in Aus.
Not much time to avoid a thumping down in Aus.
January 14, 2026 at 5:23 PM
The Ashes and Jake Connor debacle unforgiveable but the RFL handed him a poisoned chalice with the opener being in London.
Not much time to avoid a thumping down in Aus.
Not much time to avoid a thumping down in Aus.
2.17 million sq km!
January 14, 2026 at 5:13 PM
2.17 million sq km!
Great golf here too.
January 14, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Great golf here too.
I don't thin Boris Johnson has the intelligence to be properly right-wing. He has no moral scruples whether good or evil, he's just an avaricious, self-serving toff. The Conservative response to the pandemic was hilariously the most socialist intervention by any British government since 1945!
January 14, 2026 at 2:05 PM
I don't thin Boris Johnson has the intelligence to be properly right-wing. He has no moral scruples whether good or evil, he's just an avaricious, self-serving toff. The Conservative response to the pandemic was hilariously the most socialist intervention by any British government since 1945!
I've lived in Meirionnydd for 8 years and the things I've noticed is nationalism here is applauded despite it's xenophobia. I love Welsh culture in its patriotic format: English, Welsh and Scottish patriotism is beautiful but defining your unique culture in opposition to 'the other' is destructive.
January 14, 2026 at 2:02 PM
I've lived in Meirionnydd for 8 years and the things I've noticed is nationalism here is applauded despite it's xenophobia. I love Welsh culture in its patriotic format: English, Welsh and Scottish patriotism is beautiful but defining your unique culture in opposition to 'the other' is destructive.
The truth you speak of is subjective, or at the least nuanced.
Remember it was fully a LibDem driven thing; the in/out referendum, not some right-wing/populist chicanery.
www.libdemvoice.org/the-surprisi...
Remember it was fully a LibDem driven thing; the in/out referendum, not some right-wing/populist chicanery.
www.libdemvoice.org/the-surprisi...
The surprising truth about that Lib Dem in/out EU referendum leaflet*
On Monday morning, Nick Clegg was given a hard time on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme by interviewer Justin Webb, who accused him of changing his position on an EU referendum on the basis of this pictu...
www.libdemvoice.org
January 14, 2026 at 12:35 PM
The truth you speak of is subjective, or at the least nuanced.
Remember it was fully a LibDem driven thing; the in/out referendum, not some right-wing/populist chicanery.
www.libdemvoice.org/the-surprisi...
Remember it was fully a LibDem driven thing; the in/out referendum, not some right-wing/populist chicanery.
www.libdemvoice.org/the-surprisi...
Jesus, Warrington now bigger than the Tokyo Metropolitan Area!
January 14, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Jesus, Warrington now bigger than the Tokyo Metropolitan Area!
The new axis isn't left/right, it's authoritarian/libertarian and I think the libertarian left has more in common with the libertarian right than it does with the authoritarian left.
January 14, 2026 at 11:26 AM
The new axis isn't left/right, it's authoritarian/libertarian and I think the libertarian left has more in common with the libertarian right than it does with the authoritarian left.
That's a bit of a stretch there Sir if you're implying those two politicians should be in jail for holding a referendum. We're a democracy not a dictatorship!
January 14, 2026 at 11:24 AM
That's a bit of a stretch there Sir if you're implying those two politicians should be in jail for holding a referendum. We're a democracy not a dictatorship!
Great news, thanks for sharing.
January 14, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Great news, thanks for sharing.
I think it was universally disliked pan-politically. The new axis in this country isn't left versus right, it's authoritarian versus libertarian and neoliberalism is firmly in the authoritarian camp.
January 14, 2026 at 10:40 AM
I think it was universally disliked pan-politically. The new axis in this country isn't left versus right, it's authoritarian versus libertarian and neoliberalism is firmly in the authoritarian camp.
How many of those deaths were caused by speeding and how many of those drink drivers did serious prison time? I'm not saying drink driving isn't an issue but our public and judicial attitudes towards speeding are way below where they should be.
January 14, 2026 at 9:47 AM
How many of those deaths were caused by speeding and how many of those drink drivers did serious prison time? I'm not saying drink driving isn't an issue but our public and judicial attitudes towards speeding are way below where they should be.
Leaving the EU was politically mandated by the citizens of the UK, whether you like it or not that's how democracy works. Mandatory ID cards were massively opposed nor a part of Labours manifesto. Besides, they (Labour) refused to debate the 3m strong petition this ignoring it, at least officially.
January 14, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Leaving the EU was politically mandated by the citizens of the UK, whether you like it or not that's how democracy works. Mandatory ID cards were massively opposed nor a part of Labours manifesto. Besides, they (Labour) refused to debate the 3m strong petition this ignoring it, at least officially.