Alan Rodgers
@bi99le5.bsky.social
Recovering former Brit finally taking ownership of being Irish. Desperate to retire so I can re-engage with restoration of my first car and become a Gaeilgeoir. Guilty of confelicity
Pinned
Alan Rodgers
@bi99le5.bsky.social
· Mar 26
The West in particular and the world in general is in a parlous stare right now. The imperfect democracies that generally served the people post WW2 have been changing in degrees. Most of us haven't noticed or paid much heed. Unfortunately the forces for change have been the politicians, driven by
I did a thread, as usual a few typos but I think it is honest and true. Sadly not one of you commented, so I'm pinning it here so anyone who decides to follow me knows where I stand.
bsky.app/profile/bi99...
bsky.app/profile/bi99...
Haven't seen anything about the winter Olympics? Are people boycotting it or endorsing engagement with genocidal nations because 'ceasefire'?
February 6, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Haven't seen anything about the winter Olympics? Are people boycotting it or endorsing engagement with genocidal nations because 'ceasefire'?
Our country needs politicians, not parasites.
February 6, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Our country needs politicians, not parasites.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
This one wrote in contemplation of his death.
“I decided to become a journalist because I truly believed that by reporting rigorously & honestly, we could improve this world. I still believe it now.“
The decline of standards in public life is reflected in journalism decline & is part of the cause.
“I decided to become a journalist because I truly believed that by reporting rigorously & honestly, we could improve this world. I still believe it now.“
The decline of standards in public life is reflected in journalism decline & is part of the cause.
A proper journalist leaves a legacy letter. Many practitioners of ‘journalism’ should remind themselves of the standards of their profession. You know who you are:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
February 6, 2026 at 9:17 AM
This one wrote in contemplation of his death.
“I decided to become a journalist because I truly believed that by reporting rigorously & honestly, we could improve this world. I still believe it now.“
The decline of standards in public life is reflected in journalism decline & is part of the cause.
“I decided to become a journalist because I truly believed that by reporting rigorously & honestly, we could improve this world. I still believe it now.“
The decline of standards in public life is reflected in journalism decline & is part of the cause.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
I am shocked by the debt England's university students are saddled with, and the outrageous interest rates they are charged.
I am very relieved to be Scottish and for my youngsters to be students in Scotland, where education is valued as a common weal and is accessible to more of our people.
I am very relieved to be Scottish and for my youngsters to be students in Scotland, where education is valued as a common weal and is accessible to more of our people.
“The combined tuition fees of the entire Question Time panel would not cover my cost for 1 year of uni. Is that fair?”
Oli Dugmore
It’s absolutely NOT fair. This outrageous scandal must end
Oli Dugmore
It’s absolutely NOT fair. This outrageous scandal must end
February 6, 2026 at 9:13 AM
I am shocked by the debt England's university students are saddled with, and the outrageous interest rates they are charged.
I am very relieved to be Scottish and for my youngsters to be students in Scotland, where education is valued as a common weal and is accessible to more of our people.
I am very relieved to be Scottish and for my youngsters to be students in Scotland, where education is valued as a common weal and is accessible to more of our people.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Fucking embarrassing watching as Starmer has put McSweeney above country and party over and over.
He has no one to blame but himself for his descent.
He has no one to blame but himself for his descent.
February 5, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Fucking embarrassing watching as Starmer has put McSweeney above country and party over and over.
He has no one to blame but himself for his descent.
He has no one to blame but himself for his descent.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
So, Starmer replaced Karen Pierce, a veteran diplomat respected by everyone who has ever met and worked with her, with a heavily compromised Epstein stooge who thought he could do the UK Ambassador job on weekends and via Zoom while serving as Chancellor of Oxford.
"I'm going to kill people, Leo."
"I'm going to kill people, Leo."
February 5, 2026 at 7:41 AM
So, Starmer replaced Karen Pierce, a veteran diplomat respected by everyone who has ever met and worked with her, with a heavily compromised Epstein stooge who thought he could do the UK Ambassador job on weekends and via Zoom while serving as Chancellor of Oxford.
"I'm going to kill people, Leo."
"I'm going to kill people, Leo."
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Couldn't agree more. There are two paths forward and this is the pro-human one.
February 6, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Couldn't agree more. There are two paths forward and this is the pro-human one.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
🚨🚨" Some leaders have chosen to hunt them down and deport them through operations that are both unlawful and cruel. My government has chosen a different way: a fast and simple path to regularize their immigration status." Spanish PM Pedro #Sanchez on why #migrants are essential for Western society:
February 6, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Where the fuck is the TMO? one try off a forward pass then a DuPont knock on. This is a fucking joke. Quite prepared to lose but not like this.
Maybe the TMO is too busy queuing the ridiculous adverts.
#M6N
Maybe the TMO is too busy queuing the ridiculous adverts.
#M6N
February 5, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Where the fuck is the TMO? one try off a forward pass then a DuPont knock on. This is a fucking joke. Quite prepared to lose but not like this.
Maybe the TMO is too busy queuing the ridiculous adverts.
#M6N
Maybe the TMO is too busy queuing the ridiculous adverts.
#M6N
Gotta love Benjamin Kayser. He brings fun, passion and knowledge but always treads a neutral line. He has such an infectious love for the game.
#SixNationsRugby
#SixNationsRugby
February 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Gotta love Benjamin Kayser. He brings fun, passion and knowledge but always treads a neutral line. He has such an infectious love for the game.
#SixNationsRugby
#SixNationsRugby
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
"You should never overestimate the extent to which the BBC changed this country by giving endless airtime to Nigel Farage, other far right extremists and the Tufton Street junktanks, while shutting out progressive voices."
– George Monbiot
– George Monbiot
February 5, 2026 at 6:42 PM
"You should never overestimate the extent to which the BBC changed this country by giving endless airtime to Nigel Farage, other far right extremists and the Tufton Street junktanks, while shutting out progressive voices."
– George Monbiot
– George Monbiot
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
No one connected to Epstein should have been let anywhere near UK or allied secrets, national security, media ownership, business leadership with implications for critical national infrastructure, or governmental roles, particularly any in the UK cabinet or equivalent roles in other countries. /9.
February 5, 2026 at 3:06 PM
No one connected to Epstein should have been let anywhere near UK or allied secrets, national security, media ownership, business leadership with implications for critical national infrastructure, or governmental roles, particularly any in the UK cabinet or equivalent roles in other countries. /9.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
🧵on the choices around the Houses of Parliament. Action is required before it burns down - the electrics are shot. A modern venue in the middle of the country with onsite accommodation with full remote working built in gets my vote. Leads to an immediate improvement in politics as MPs live like us.
February 5, 2026 at 9:23 AM
🧵on the choices around the Houses of Parliament. Action is required before it burns down - the electrics are shot. A modern venue in the middle of the country with onsite accommodation with full remote working built in gets my vote. Leads to an immediate improvement in politics as MPs live like us.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Wes Streeting wants people to forget. Never let him forget.
February 5, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Wes Streeting wants people to forget. Never let him forget.
It is easy to focus on the public faces, the advisor, the decision maker, but what really matters, as @columnist.bsky.social so eloquently explained, is the process. Yes, McSweeney and Starmer must go but that won't fix the real problem.
February 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM
It is easy to focus on the public faces, the advisor, the decision maker, but what really matters, as @columnist.bsky.social so eloquently explained, is the process. Yes, McSweeney and Starmer must go but that won't fix the real problem.
"Imagine if the government had put the same amount of money, resources and political will into preventing a genocide"
Still reckon they're terrorists, Mr Starmer?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Palestine Action activists cleared of aggravated burglary at Israeli defence firm site
None of the six activists were convicted of any offence over break-in at Elbit Systems factory near Bristol in 2024
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:35 AM
"Imagine if the government had put the same amount of money, resources and political will into preventing a genocide"
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
The ‘worst political scandal of this century’ is quite the claim. In my usual helpful manner, I shall help to explain why I think this is very possibly true via the media of synecdoche and the proverbial sausage.
Had forgotten until reading @duncanrobinson.bsky.social’s peerless column that Peter Mandelson once publicly said Keir Starmer was too fat.
Britain’s worst political scandal of this century
The Mandelson affair threatens Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership
www.economist.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:43 AM
The ‘worst political scandal of this century’ is quite the claim. In my usual helpful manner, I shall help to explain why I think this is very possibly true via the media of synecdoche and the proverbial sausage.
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
White male privilege is a structural advantage embedded in legal, media, and political institutions.
Compare Epstein/Mandelson with Rayner’s tax case & that of Shamima Begum to see how power structures accountability & outcomes.
It isn’t about culpability, it is about the harshness of outcomes.
Compare Epstein/Mandelson with Rayner’s tax case & that of Shamima Begum to see how power structures accountability & outcomes.
It isn’t about culpability, it is about the harshness of outcomes.
February 4, 2026 at 12:02 PM
White male privilege is a structural advantage embedded in legal, media, and political institutions.
Compare Epstein/Mandelson with Rayner’s tax case & that of Shamima Begum to see how power structures accountability & outcomes.
It isn’t about culpability, it is about the harshness of outcomes.
Compare Epstein/Mandelson with Rayner’s tax case & that of Shamima Begum to see how power structures accountability & outcomes.
It isn’t about culpability, it is about the harshness of outcomes.
@bing44.bsky.social we can now review '36' on the Belmont road and it's not good! The fry itself was well prepared and tasty, tea was good but...
Background music - please no
Only one egg and one sausage - points off
£4 to correct this faolure - wtf
Sauce in sachets - big no
Tea not included - poor
Background music - please no
Only one egg and one sausage - points off
£4 to correct this faolure - wtf
Sauce in sachets - big no
Tea not included - poor
February 4, 2026 at 12:12 PM
@bing44.bsky.social we can now review '36' on the Belmont road and it's not good! The fry itself was well prepared and tasty, tea was good but...
Background music - please no
Only one egg and one sausage - points off
£4 to correct this faolure - wtf
Sauce in sachets - big no
Tea not included - poor
Background music - please no
Only one egg and one sausage - points off
£4 to correct this faolure - wtf
Sauce in sachets - big no
Tea not included - poor
So do Ulster Unionists consider themselves in the EU for this or is full Brexit still their objective?
EU aims to boost local shipbuilding with new 'Made in EU' plan reut.rs/3MlTSmT
EU aims to boost local shipbuilding with new 'Made in EU' plan
The European Commission is set to propose measures designed to ensure more vessels and other goods and services for the European Union's shipping sector are made in the bloc, according to a draft document seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
reut.rs
February 3, 2026 at 2:54 PM
So do Ulster Unionists consider themselves in the EU for this or is full Brexit still their objective?
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
Shockingly true
February 3, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Shockingly true
Reposted by Alan Rodgers
