B O'Brien
@bobrien.bsky.social
Pro-Labour, anti-anti-politics. Enjoy rational debate, despise populism of Left or Right, supporter of parliamentary democracy. "That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." (Christopher Hitchens).
Reposted by B O'Brien
Lowest murder rate in London since records began.
January 12, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Lowest murder rate in London since records began.
Reposted by B O'Brien
If you'd said to me 10 years ago that the tory party was saying you can't ban a site providing a sexual gratification app for nonces because people also get their news from that site I would have said you were insane. That's still the case today.
January 12, 2026 at 8:28 PM
If you'd said to me 10 years ago that the tory party was saying you can't ban a site providing a sexual gratification app for nonces because people also get their news from that site I would have said you were insane. That's still the case today.
Reposted by B O'Brien
I'm still waiting for someone of consequence on the British left to very politely say that hunger striking is not a viable tactic to get yourself released from prison or to change the UK's foreign policy, and that the activists doing it would be better off to stop rather than kill themselves.
January 10, 2026 at 5:52 PM
I'm still waiting for someone of consequence on the British left to very politely say that hunger striking is not a viable tactic to get yourself released from prison or to change the UK's foreign policy, and that the activists doing it would be better off to stop rather than kill themselves.
Reposted by B O'Brien
Some legal context is clearly required.
1. 182 days is not the maximum, the period can be extended by the courts. There are clearly some cases where this is appropriate - you don’t let those accused of mass murder out if the investigation is taking time. /1
1. 182 days is not the maximum, the period can be extended by the courts. There are clearly some cases where this is appropriate - you don’t let those accused of mass murder out if the investigation is taking time. /1
"The maximum time a prisoner can spend on remand is 182 days (six months). Yet Muraisi and Ahmed were arrested in November 2024, and are not due to be tried until June at the earliest, which means they will be remanded for 20 months."
Shameful.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Shameful.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Some legal context is clearly required.
1. 182 days is not the maximum, the period can be extended by the courts. There are clearly some cases where this is appropriate - you don’t let those accused of mass murder out if the investigation is taking time. /1
1. 182 days is not the maximum, the period can be extended by the courts. There are clearly some cases where this is appropriate - you don’t let those accused of mass murder out if the investigation is taking time. /1
Reposted by B O'Brien
George Monbiot could have written a piece, an open letter, to the hunger strikers begging them to stop. Explaining why it's wrong, fruitless, will bring grief to their families. and do nothing to help their cause. But no, political points to be made. Nothing but contempt for people like this.
This is an extraordinary human failure from a supposedly progressive government. Jaw dropping www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Let’s be clear: if the Palestine Action hunger strikers die, the government will bear moral responsibility | George Monbiot
The three remaining hunger strikers have been convicted of nothing. Yet with astonishing cruelty, ministers refuse to listen to their reasonable demands, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:03 PM
George Monbiot could have written a piece, an open letter, to the hunger strikers begging them to stop. Explaining why it's wrong, fruitless, will bring grief to their families. and do nothing to help their cause. But no, political points to be made. Nothing but contempt for people like this.
Reposted by B O'Brien
Labour justice minister destroys Robert Jenrick for the Tories complete and utter failure in our prisons across their 14 years in office.
Very well said @alexdaviesjones.bsky.social - a brilliant Labour junior minister.
Very well said @alexdaviesjones.bsky.social - a brilliant Labour junior minister.
January 5, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Labour justice minister destroys Robert Jenrick for the Tories complete and utter failure in our prisons across their 14 years in office.
Very well said @alexdaviesjones.bsky.social - a brilliant Labour junior minister.
Very well said @alexdaviesjones.bsky.social - a brilliant Labour junior minister.
Does anyone know what the hell is going on in this ballet interlude from the Vienna New Year's Day concert?
January 1, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Does anyone know what the hell is going on in this ballet interlude from the Vienna New Year's Day concert?
I once signed the fish and chips wrapping papers of everyone in a Finchley Fish and Chip shop because they were all convinced I was John Peel. Telling them that I wasn't JP wasn't working and I wanted to go home. I signed them as John Peel.
Please quote this with stories of your minor interactions with non-celebrities, e.g. “I once accidentally bumped into a man in the Wellingborough branch of Holland & Barrett”
December 30, 2025 at 9:03 AM
I once signed the fish and chips wrapping papers of everyone in a Finchley Fish and Chip shop because they were all convinced I was John Peel. Telling them that I wasn't JP wasn't working and I wanted to go home. I signed them as John Peel.
Reposted by B O'Brien
Another health breakthrough.
(h/t Gav)
(h/t Gav)
New study shows Alzheimer’s disease can be reversed to achieve full neurological recovery—not just prevented or slowed—in animal models | CWRU Newsroom | Case Western Reserve University
For more than a century, people have considered Alzheimer's disease (AD) an irreversible illness. Consequently, research has focused on preventing or ...
case.edu
December 29, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Another health breakthrough.
(h/t Gav)
(h/t Gav)
Reposted by B O'Brien
I have regularly posted throughout 2025 that I honestly think Starmer has the best front bench of my lifetime. I especially love that most are State Educated and many have come from ‘normal’ backgrounds. Making them just like the majority of us. 🎉🥳🎉🥳
December 28, 2025 at 10:25 AM
I have regularly posted throughout 2025 that I honestly think Starmer has the best front bench of my lifetime. I especially love that most are State Educated and many have come from ‘normal’ backgrounds. Making them just like the majority of us. 🎉🥳🎉🥳
Reposted by B O'Brien
This is literally what the Telegraph campaigned for.
December 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
This is literally what the Telegraph campaigned for.
Reposted by B O'Brien
Wonder what John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May think of Badenoch's latest outburst. Maybe someone should ask them.
December 18, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Wonder what John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May think of Badenoch's latest outburst. Maybe someone should ask them.
Reposted by B O'Brien
Reform supporters keep telling us we are lying when I repeat this. So let’s be clear.
Here is the video of Nigel Farage himself saying the country will need to “have insurance based healthcare” - private healthcare. Those are his words. That is not a rumour and not spin.
youtu.be/pxuQyTCHXyE?...
Here is the video of Nigel Farage himself saying the country will need to “have insurance based healthcare” - private healthcare. Those are his words. That is not a rumour and not spin.
youtu.be/pxuQyTCHXyE?...
Nigel Farage on NHS & Insurance
YouTube video by Counter Collective - News & Politics
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Reform supporters keep telling us we are lying when I repeat this. So let’s be clear.
Here is the video of Nigel Farage himself saying the country will need to “have insurance based healthcare” - private healthcare. Those are his words. That is not a rumour and not spin.
youtu.be/pxuQyTCHXyE?...
Here is the video of Nigel Farage himself saying the country will need to “have insurance based healthcare” - private healthcare. Those are his words. That is not a rumour and not spin.
youtu.be/pxuQyTCHXyE?...
Reposted by B O'Brien
The BMA claims resident doctors’ pay is worth 21% less than in 2008/9.
But this is based on some questionable assumptions. Our independently verified analysis, using a different inflation measure backed by the Royal Statistical Society, suggests the fall’s more like 6-7%.
But this is based on some questionable assumptions. Our independently verified analysis, using a different inflation measure backed by the Royal Statistical Society, suggests the fall’s more like 6-7%.
Have resident doctors really had a 21% real-terms pay cut? – Full Fact
The figure cited by the BMA is based on an unreliable measure of inflation. Other measures suggest the drop has been less. Our analysis using a measure backed by the Royal Statistical Society puts the...
fullfact.org
December 18, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The BMA claims resident doctors’ pay is worth 21% less than in 2008/9.
But this is based on some questionable assumptions. Our independently verified analysis, using a different inflation measure backed by the Royal Statistical Society, suggests the fall’s more like 6-7%.
But this is based on some questionable assumptions. Our independently verified analysis, using a different inflation measure backed by the Royal Statistical Society, suggests the fall’s more like 6-7%.
Reposted by B O'Brien
The whole ecosystem around this Palestine Action hunger strike issue is troubling. We’ve already seen a spiral to ever greater manichaean extremism in this movement. Now they and their supporters have imbibed the martyrdom fetish that has been so destructive in other such groups.
December 17, 2025 at 11:04 AM
The whole ecosystem around this Palestine Action hunger strike issue is troubling. We’ve already seen a spiral to ever greater manichaean extremism in this movement. Now they and their supporters have imbibed the martyrdom fetish that has been so destructive in other such groups.
Reposted by B O'Brien
Keir Starmer: "I have a Christmas message for Reform. If mysterious men from the east come bearing gifts...this time, report it to the police."
December 17, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Keir Starmer: "I have a Christmas message for Reform. If mysterious men from the east come bearing gifts...this time, report it to the police."
Reposted by B O'Brien
Another controversial view: resident doctors (rightly) got a 29% payrise 12 months ago. Who else has had 29%? The rest of us have had to contend with between 0 and 4% per year since 2010.
They will not get popular support.
They will not get popular support.
December 16, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Another controversial view: resident doctors (rightly) got a 29% payrise 12 months ago. Who else has had 29%? The rest of us have had to contend with between 0 and 4% per year since 2010.
They will not get popular support.
They will not get popular support.
Reposted by B O'Brien
Being of a certain age, many of my family and friends require the services of the NHS - some serious, most routine.
It's noticeable appointments and treatments are now made weeks, not months in advance.
There's a good story here. Just wish Labour would tell it.
It's noticeable appointments and treatments are now made weeks, not months in advance.
There's a good story here. Just wish Labour would tell it.
December 14, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Being of a certain age, many of my family and friends require the services of the NHS - some serious, most routine.
It's noticeable appointments and treatments are now made weeks, not months in advance.
There's a good story here. Just wish Labour would tell it.
It's noticeable appointments and treatments are now made weeks, not months in advance.
There's a good story here. Just wish Labour would tell it.
Reposted by B O'Brien
There are some in the media constantly advising Labour on how to win back voters and halt Reform. I've got some advice for the media, publish the positives Labour are doing as well as the negatives, and fgs hold Farage to account properly, stop giving him an easy ride because he's controversial.
December 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
There are some in the media constantly advising Labour on how to win back voters and halt Reform. I've got some advice for the media, publish the positives Labour are doing as well as the negatives, and fgs hold Farage to account properly, stop giving him an easy ride because he's controversial.
Reposted by B O'Brien
Farage has been dismissing evidence of Russian ties to the Salisbury Novichok attack since 2018 🧐
December 4, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Farage has been dismissing evidence of Russian ties to the Salisbury Novichok attack since 2018 🧐
Reposted by B O'Brien
It is alleged that Nigel Farage aged 16-18 (1980-82) vocally objected to the number of Patels at Dulwich College.
A fellow pupil remembers him burning the booklet on these grounds.
The Guardian shows that this witness testimony aligns with the names + stats in the 1980 yearbook
A fellow pupil remembers him burning the booklet on these grounds.
The Guardian shows that this witness testimony aligns with the names + stats in the 1980 yearbook
December 5, 2025 at 8:46 AM
It is alleged that Nigel Farage aged 16-18 (1980-82) vocally objected to the number of Patels at Dulwich College.
A fellow pupil remembers him burning the booklet on these grounds.
The Guardian shows that this witness testimony aligns with the names + stats in the 1980 yearbook
A fellow pupil remembers him burning the booklet on these grounds.
The Guardian shows that this witness testimony aligns with the names + stats in the 1980 yearbook
Reposted by B O'Brien
This is kind of why the boob hypnotism thing is important (beyond, well, ick). The sense Polanski has always been something of a chancer who has found a willing mark. His go to economists being 'thinkers' who got big online telling people what they want to hear does little to disabuse this.
I am *shocked* that the former boob hypnotist might be susceptible to snake oil.
This stuff really is snake oil. Would be a great shame if @zackpolanski.bsky.social fell for it. Politically it’s a one way ticket to nowhere. Important under current circumstances to have an articulate and credible voice on the left. Zack needs to steer clear.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
December 3, 2025 at 2:58 PM
This is kind of why the boob hypnotism thing is important (beyond, well, ick). The sense Polanski has always been something of a chancer who has found a willing mark. His go to economists being 'thinkers' who got big online telling people what they want to hear does little to disabuse this.
Is there an intersection between people who are worked up about "Benefits Street" and people who got worked up about the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Allowance benefit?
December 2, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Is there an intersection between people who are worked up about "Benefits Street" and people who got worked up about the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Allowance benefit?
Reposted by B O'Brien
I am not wasting any more time on the media’s obsession with Reeves and their made up black hole scam.
I am getting on with being happy we have a Labour government doing Labour things and helping ordinary people.
Doesn’t mean I’m not pissed off. Just no more oxygen from me.
I am getting on with being happy we have a Labour government doing Labour things and helping ordinary people.
Doesn’t mean I’m not pissed off. Just no more oxygen from me.
December 2, 2025 at 5:52 AM
I am not wasting any more time on the media’s obsession with Reeves and their made up black hole scam.
I am getting on with being happy we have a Labour government doing Labour things and helping ordinary people.
Doesn’t mean I’m not pissed off. Just no more oxygen from me.
I am getting on with being happy we have a Labour government doing Labour things and helping ordinary people.
Doesn’t mean I’m not pissed off. Just no more oxygen from me.