Beth
@bethrankine.bsky.social
Sadly, I think Starmer is a dead man walking over the Mandelson mess. Such a bloody shame. I genuinely think he’s the best man for the job. What’s staggering is the double standards - real scrutiny and consequences in the UK, while NO ONE in the US is being held to account! 😤
February 4, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Sadly, I think Starmer is a dead man walking over the Mandelson mess. Such a bloody shame. I genuinely think he’s the best man for the job. What’s staggering is the double standards - real scrutiny and consequences in the UK, while NO ONE in the US is being held to account! 😤
This old fella wants to show you a freshly sprung daffodil. Spring is round the corner! 🌼
January 30, 2026 at 7:57 PM
This old fella wants to show you a freshly sprung daffodil. Spring is round the corner! 🌼
The world would be a much better place if there were:
Strict caps on political donations
By-elections if MPs switch parties
No manipulated algorithms or targeted ads
Limits on media ownership & influence
Ind regulation of social platforms
PR
Full transparency on funding & lobbying
What else?
Strict caps on political donations
By-elections if MPs switch parties
No manipulated algorithms or targeted ads
Limits on media ownership & influence
Ind regulation of social platforms
PR
Full transparency on funding & lobbying
What else?
January 29, 2026 at 9:02 PM
The world would be a much better place if there were:
Strict caps on political donations
By-elections if MPs switch parties
No manipulated algorithms or targeted ads
Limits on media ownership & influence
Ind regulation of social platforms
PR
Full transparency on funding & lobbying
What else?
Strict caps on political donations
By-elections if MPs switch parties
No manipulated algorithms or targeted ads
Limits on media ownership & influence
Ind regulation of social platforms
PR
Full transparency on funding & lobbying
What else?
The US anchors the world by trust. If that trust erodes, the US doesn’t collapse, but it loses its special advantages, global finance becomes more fragmented, and everyone (including Europe) ends up poorer and less stable. Power shifts not with a bang, but with a slow, grinding loss of confidence.
January 18, 2026 at 10:50 AM
The US anchors the world by trust. If that trust erodes, the US doesn’t collapse, but it loses its special advantages, global finance becomes more fragmented, and everyone (including Europe) ends up poorer and less stable. Power shifts not with a bang, but with a slow, grinding loss of confidence.
December 11, 2025 at 9:47 PM
According to #SpotifyWrapped, my top podcast of the year is …. *drum roll* @quietriotpod.bsky.social ☺️
Big love to @sturdyalex.bsky.social, Naomi Smith and Kenny Campbell for keeping me informed, entertained, & regularly sighing or laughing - often while I’m cooking Sunday lunch or in the bath 🛀
Big love to @sturdyalex.bsky.social, Naomi Smith and Kenny Campbell for keeping me informed, entertained, & regularly sighing or laughing - often while I’m cooking Sunday lunch or in the bath 🛀
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
According to #SpotifyWrapped, my top podcast of the year is …. *drum roll* @quietriotpod.bsky.social ☺️
Big love to @sturdyalex.bsky.social, Naomi Smith and Kenny Campbell for keeping me informed, entertained, & regularly sighing or laughing - often while I’m cooking Sunday lunch or in the bath 🛀
Big love to @sturdyalex.bsky.social, Naomi Smith and Kenny Campbell for keeping me informed, entertained, & regularly sighing or laughing - often while I’m cooking Sunday lunch or in the bath 🛀
Reposted by Beth
NOTHING will prepare you for this 45-second story arc. From "I'm just doing this because I love the flag, it's totally grassroots, and I'm not part of anything political"... to who actually gave him the flags the night before.
Anyone who believes it is an innocent movement needs to see this.
Anyone who believes it is an innocent movement needs to see this.
September 10, 2025 at 11:08 AM
NOTHING will prepare you for this 45-second story arc. From "I'm just doing this because I love the flag, it's totally grassroots, and I'm not part of anything political"... to who actually gave him the flags the night before.
Anyone who believes it is an innocent movement needs to see this.
Anyone who believes it is an innocent movement needs to see this.
Husband: “Even in the height of Boris Johnson’s tomfoolery, I don’t remember it being reported like this. I’m SO disappointed in the @bbc Maybe they should just stick to dramas…”
July 2, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Husband: “Even in the height of Boris Johnson’s tomfoolery, I don’t remember it being reported like this. I’m SO disappointed in the @bbc Maybe they should just stick to dramas…”
One very grateful garden💧
May 21, 2025 at 9:06 PM
One very grateful garden💧
Just listened to @newsagents.bsky.social with the charming Rupert Lowe. If he was after support, it backfired spectacularly. Rarely heard such vile, arrogant bigotry—credit to @maitlis.bsky.social for keeping her cool. In the end, he tied the noose himself.
May 15, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Just listened to @newsagents.bsky.social with the charming Rupert Lowe. If he was after support, it backfired spectacularly. Rarely heard such vile, arrogant bigotry—credit to @maitlis.bsky.social for keeping her cool. In the end, he tied the noose himself.
Take a moment to look at our wisteria in peak wisteria-ness
Note to self: Was well worth bracing the freezing February weather with the long loppers 💜
#timelinecleanse #gardening
Note to self: Was well worth bracing the freezing February weather with the long loppers 💜
#timelinecleanse #gardening
April 17, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Take a moment to look at our wisteria in peak wisteria-ness
Note to self: Was well worth bracing the freezing February weather with the long loppers 💜
#timelinecleanse #gardening
Note to self: Was well worth bracing the freezing February weather with the long loppers 💜
#timelinecleanse #gardening
Oh @sturdyalex.bsky.social bloody hell - you’ve made me cry 😭 Your Orpheus podcast was just too beautiful and I’m missing my mum. She died just over a year ago and your closing comments, coupled with the music finished me off!!
Eagerly awaiting the next ep though. Think #Podessey is wonderful 🩵💙
Eagerly awaiting the next ep though. Think #Podessey is wonderful 🩵💙
March 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Oh @sturdyalex.bsky.social bloody hell - you’ve made me cry 😭 Your Orpheus podcast was just too beautiful and I’m missing my mum. She died just over a year ago and your closing comments, coupled with the music finished me off!!
Eagerly awaiting the next ep though. Think #Podessey is wonderful 🩵💙
Eagerly awaiting the next ep though. Think #Podessey is wonderful 🩵💙
Looking forward to listening to @sturdyalex.bsky.social tell me about Narcissus & Echo, later.
Will be pottering in the garden while I do and may pause to reflectively peer in the pond…
#podyssey #greekmythology
open.spotify.com/episode/13qu...
Narcissus & Echo
Will be pottering in the garden while I do and may pause to reflectively peer in the pond…
#podyssey #greekmythology
open.spotify.com/episode/13qu...
Narcissus & Echo
Narcissus & Echo - The Influencer & The Follower
Alex Andreou's Podyssey · Episode
open.spotify.com
March 15, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Looking forward to listening to @sturdyalex.bsky.social tell me about Narcissus & Echo, later.
Will be pottering in the garden while I do and may pause to reflectively peer in the pond…
#podyssey #greekmythology
open.spotify.com/episode/13qu...
Narcissus & Echo
Will be pottering in the garden while I do and may pause to reflectively peer in the pond…
#podyssey #greekmythology
open.spotify.com/episode/13qu...
Narcissus & Echo
Just listened to the wonderful @sturdyalex.bsky.social and @pimlicat.bsky.social on this weeks @quietriotpod.bsky.social Sunday School and I think EVERYONE should listen. UK journalists - do yourself a favour - especially you: open.spotify.com/episode/5dck...
Sunday School: With Friends Like These
Quiet Riot · Episode
open.spotify.com
March 2, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Just listened to the wonderful @sturdyalex.bsky.social and @pimlicat.bsky.social on this weeks @quietriotpod.bsky.social Sunday School and I think EVERYONE should listen. UK journalists - do yourself a favour - especially you: open.spotify.com/episode/5dck...
This 👇 Exactly this.
They are arguing, endlessly, that illegally inciting acts of terror online is ‘free speech’ while silencing dissent, targeting journalists & telling an invaded ally what he is & is not allowed to say during a live television broadcast are all fine.
March 1, 2025 at 4:24 PM
This 👇 Exactly this.
What a joy to listen and learn about Nemone Lethbridge on #desertislanddiscs, this chilly, sunny Sunday morning. She’s bloody amazing - what a life! Thanks @laurenlaverne.bsky.social
February 2, 2025 at 10:42 AM
What a joy to listen and learn about Nemone Lethbridge on #desertislanddiscs, this chilly, sunny Sunday morning. She’s bloody amazing - what a life! Thanks @laurenlaverne.bsky.social
@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social don’t know about you, but yet another year and the dancing is still making me weep 💃🕺🏻🥹🥰
#strictly
#strictly
December 14, 2024 at 7:14 PM
@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social don’t know about you, but yet another year and the dancing is still making me weep 💃🕺🏻🥹🥰
#strictly
#strictly
@mrmarksteel.bsky.social thoroughly enjoyed that! You made me laugh and made me cry and your track choices were tip-top! Thank you 😊
#desertislanddiscs
@laurenlaverne.bsky.social
#desertislanddiscs
@laurenlaverne.bsky.social
December 1, 2024 at 11:02 AM
@mrmarksteel.bsky.social thoroughly enjoyed that! You made me laugh and made me cry and your track choices were tip-top! Thank you 😊
#desertislanddiscs
@laurenlaverne.bsky.social
#desertislanddiscs
@laurenlaverne.bsky.social
Reposted by Beth
Here’s a short story about who wins and loses from the status quo of our inheritance tax rules - and about, what you might politely call ‘sub-optimal’ journalism🧵
November 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Here’s a short story about who wins and loses from the status quo of our inheritance tax rules - and about, what you might politely call ‘sub-optimal’ journalism🧵
Feeling grateful. This weekend has been all about hunkering down, inside-pottering and organising stuff… and I like it.
#stormbert
#stormbert
November 24, 2024 at 11:01 AM
Feeling grateful. This weekend has been all about hunkering down, inside-pottering and organising stuff… and I like it.
#stormbert
#stormbert
Reposted by Beth
Because some damn fool asked, here's a thread about Baxter.
This was taken on the day I brought home Baxter and threw away all hope of an easy life.
Look at him. Absolutely irresistible.
And that's how they get you, the utter bastards
This was taken on the day I brought home Baxter and threw away all hope of an easy life.
Look at him. Absolutely irresistible.
And that's how they get you, the utter bastards
November 20, 2024 at 2:48 PM
Because some damn fool asked, here's a thread about Baxter.
This was taken on the day I brought home Baxter and threw away all hope of an easy life.
Look at him. Absolutely irresistible.
And that's how they get you, the utter bastards
This was taken on the day I brought home Baxter and threw away all hope of an easy life.
Look at him. Absolutely irresistible.
And that's how they get you, the utter bastards
Listening to some farmers on @bbc5live.bsky.social this morning and several had no idea what they were even protesting about. They clearly didn’t understand their own inheritance tax position. Like they’d only read the Daily Mail/Express and listened to Jeremy Clarkson 🙄
November 19, 2024 at 9:23 PM
Listening to some farmers on @bbc5live.bsky.social this morning and several had no idea what they were even protesting about. They clearly didn’t understand their own inheritance tax position. Like they’d only read the Daily Mail/Express and listened to Jeremy Clarkson 🙄
Reposted by Beth
If you bring central London to a halt in order to campaign against catastrophic climate change then you're a "barmy" eco "fanatic" who deserves to be locked up.
If you do the same to hang on to your multimillion pound inheritance tax exemption then you're a brave freedom fighter defying the odds
If you do the same to hang on to your multimillion pound inheritance tax exemption then you're a brave freedom fighter defying the odds
November 19, 2024 at 10:22 AM
If you bring central London to a halt in order to campaign against catastrophic climate change then you're a "barmy" eco "fanatic" who deserves to be locked up.
If you do the same to hang on to your multimillion pound inheritance tax exemption then you're a brave freedom fighter defying the odds
If you do the same to hang on to your multimillion pound inheritance tax exemption then you're a brave freedom fighter defying the odds
Couldn’t agree more with The News Agents in the first 17 minutes of today’s episode: open.spotify.com/episode/4z6j... Free speech in the UK is alive and well and the right-wing feigned outrage that it isn’t is pathetic…
Why one journalist’s tweet sparked a media frenzy
The News Agents · Episode
open.spotify.com
November 18, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Couldn’t agree more with The News Agents in the first 17 minutes of today’s episode: open.spotify.com/episode/4z6j... Free speech in the UK is alive and well and the right-wing feigned outrage that it isn’t is pathetic…