Simon Ferrigno
@brexcyclopaedia.bsky.social
Dad Writer Editor Researcher Sustainability (esp cotton) Some history Long 'sanity' project "The Charge of the Lightweight Brigade", a satire on the idiots of Brexit ('C’est magnifique, mais ce n’est pas la guerre: c'est de la folie') Rejoiner Liberal
Pinned
European Convention on Human Rights (Withdrawal) - Hansard - UK Parliament
Hansard record of the item : ' European Convention on Human Rights (Withdrawal)' on Wednesday 29 October 2025.
hansard.parliament.uk
Pin Farage's lies and Davey's response somewhere - they will be needed in the years ahead hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...
Also, the 'Putin's Patsy' heckle
Also, the 'Putin's Patsy' heckle
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
But let’s not pretend Mandelson is the only one, including many within our governments.
Mandelson was not just operating against his government's interests, but against his country's interests inews.co.uk/opinion/rot-...
The rot at the heart of British politics is a patriotic affront
It would seem that Mandelson was not just operating against his government's interests, but against his country's interests
inews.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 8:39 AM
But let’s not pretend Mandelson is the only one, including many within our governments.
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
Another Brexit ‘benefit’:
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university? When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degrees
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university? When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degrees
February 4, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Another Brexit ‘benefit’:
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university? When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degrees
‘If I think about what this means, I want to cry’: what happens when a city loses its university? When Essex University’s Southend campus opened, it was a message of hope. Its closure will be felt far beyond its 800 students, some of whom will not get their degrees
In my experience, this largely consist of the caller being shunted from non existent # to non existent # until they give up "roughly £1m of the £8m savings will come from Artificial Intelligence (AI) through the council's ongoing drive to boost efficiency" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Crime and climate among Derby's budget priorities
Unlike recent years, the city council is not planning any job losses in its budget.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 8:16 AM
In my experience, this largely consist of the caller being shunted from non existent # to non existent # until they give up "roughly £1m of the £8m savings will come from Artificial Intelligence (AI) through the council's ongoing drive to boost efficiency" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"instead of threatening Colombia, consider why farmers like him grow the coca plant, and send economic help.". I was in line on two projects that tried to do this. The one in Pakistan never passed risk assessments (Afghan border), the one in Colombia just never happened www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC joins Colombian commandos on search for jungle cocaine labs
As the US and Colombian presidents meet, Orla Guerin joins a police unit tasked with finding and destroying jungle cocaine labs.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 8:07 AM
"instead of threatening Colombia, consider why farmers like him grow the coca plant, and send economic help.". I was in line on two projects that tried to do this. The one in Pakistan never passed risk assessments (Afghan border), the one in Colombia just never happened www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Populism, crypto, Russia, Tech bros .... and Farage, the ever reliable patsy, linked to Epstein by Bannon bylinetimes.com/2026/02/03/i...
In Putin’s Orbit: The Crypto Politics of Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Thiel
The web of ties between Epstein, Moscow and Silicon Valley leads back to Steve Bannon and Nigel Farage
bylinetimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:02 AM
Populism, crypto, Russia, Tech bros .... and Farage, the ever reliable patsy, linked to Epstein by Bannon bylinetimes.com/2026/02/03/i...
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
Moves to ban under-16s from social media should raise deeper questions about who controls democracy’s digital infrastructure.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
When Maga oligarchs control the platforms, it isn’t really a debate about ‘free speech’ | Rafael Behr
The debate over banning under-16s from social media should raise deeper questions about who controls democracy’s digital infrastructure, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Moves to ban under-16s from social media should raise deeper questions about who controls democracy’s digital infrastructure.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
C'mon, retired gammon, back to the potato picking...your country needs you
Zero net migration would shrink UK economy by 3.6%, says thinktank
Jump of £37bn in budget deficit by 2040 would force government to increase taxes, NIESR predicts
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Jump of £37bn in budget deficit by 2040 would force government to increase taxes, NIESR predicts
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Zero net migration would shrink UK economy by 3.6%, says thinktank
Jump of £37bn in budget deficit by 2040 would force government to increase taxes, NIESR predicts
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:26 AM
C'mon, retired gammon, back to the potato picking...your country needs you
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
Chilling column from fascism expert Snyder on how JD Vance and some self-declared Neo Nazis might have kicked off imminent ethnic cleansing in Springfield, Ohio. It looks set to kick off on the 4th if nothing prevents the plans going into effect. open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
Ethnic Cleansing in Ohio?
Nazi Lies in Vance's America
open.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Chilling column from fascism expert Snyder on how JD Vance and some self-declared Neo Nazis might have kicked off imminent ethnic cleansing in Springfield, Ohio. It looks set to kick off on the 4th if nothing prevents the plans going into effect. open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
Giving fan fic a bad name www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Inside Reform: Laura Kuenssberg follows Farage's party as it experiences the glare of scrutiny
The BBC has spent time interviewing senior figures and witnessing Reform's work at the largest council it runs.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Giving fan fic a bad name www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Great recipe names in this book of Filipino recipes:
Munggo Light of a Home 20
Cassava Shared Bites of Steamed and
Deep-Fried Dreams 24
Sweet Potato A Daughter’s Love Served at
the Table
www.searice.org.ph/post/kusina-...
Munggo Light of a Home 20
Cassava Shared Bites of Steamed and
Deep-Fried Dreams 24
Sweet Potato A Daughter’s Love Served at
the Table
www.searice.org.ph/post/kusina-...
Kusina ni Tantsa
Kusina ni Tantsa is a recipe book that celebrates the rich culture, plant biodiversity, and lived experiences of farmers in Negros Occidental, Philippines. It features traditional dishes made from und...
www.searice.org.ph
February 4, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Great recipe names in this book of Filipino recipes:
Munggo Light of a Home 20
Cassava Shared Bites of Steamed and
Deep-Fried Dreams 24
Sweet Potato A Daughter’s Love Served at
the Table
www.searice.org.ph/post/kusina-...
Munggo Light of a Home 20
Cassava Shared Bites of Steamed and
Deep-Fried Dreams 24
Sweet Potato A Daughter’s Love Served at
the Table
www.searice.org.ph/post/kusina-...
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
I hope every American is paying attention to Trump’s unfolding plans to steal the midterms.
Trump: If states can't run elections 'honestly,' then 'somebody else should take over'
Trump had been asked what he meant when he called on members of the Republican Party to "take over the voting" in a recent interview with Dan Bongino.
www.cnbc.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:31 PM
I hope every American is paying attention to Trump’s unfolding plans to steal the midterms.
Disaster capitalism by disastrous capitalists
Which is why they keep pushing for Freedom cities or whatever the hell they call the walled city-states they want to live in to protect themselves from icky scary poor people.
How about nice cosy prison walls for these creeps.
How about nice cosy prison walls for these creeps.
This email between Epstein and JD Vance’s tech oligarch benefactor Peter Thiel where they plan to “collapse” society to create investment opportunities for themselves seems… not great
(They also met with the UN ambassador to Russia together)
(They also met with the UN ambassador to Russia together)
February 4, 2026 at 6:32 AM
Disaster capitalism by disastrous capitalists
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
"Australian households installed as many batteries in the final six months of 2025 as they did in the entire preceding five years, according to figures showing the boom in demand for storage devices"
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
Battery demand 'straps on a rocket' as rooftop solar passes its peak
Even as Australia appears to have passed the peak of solar uptake, demand for batteries is seemingly headed into orbit.
www.abc.net.au
February 3, 2026 at 9:15 PM
"Australian households installed as many batteries in the final six months of 2025 as they did in the entire preceding five years, according to figures showing the boom in demand for storage devices"
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
My colleague Anne on the myth of green growth and the degrowth debate substack.com/@cottondiari...
Responsible Sourcing Strategy Without Systems Change Is Just Gardening
How growth imperatives prevent sustainability strategies from succeeding by Anne Oudard
substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
My colleague Anne on the myth of green growth and the degrowth debate substack.com/@cottondiari...
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
The only good thing about the Lords is that it’s unelected, so party politics plays a smaller part.
Ideally our second chamber would be 200 members of the public, selected at random like jury service, for a two-year term with half changing each year.
Now THAT is democracy.
Ideally our second chamber would be 200 members of the public, selected at random like jury service, for a two-year term with half changing each year.
Now THAT is democracy.
February 3, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
It often takes something on the scale of the Mandelson saga to trigger a rethink on what has been logical and democratic to most British people for decades
This latest Lord Mandelson controversy must trigger a full rethink on the House of Lords. We need a second chamber where the public decides who stays and who goes. Please sign the petition.
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
This must trigger a rethink
This latest Lord Mandelson controversy must trigger a full rethink on the House of Lords. We need a second chamber where the public decides who stays and who goes. Please sign the petition.
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk
February 3, 2026 at 5:06 PM
It often takes something on the scale of the Mandelson saga to trigger a rethink on what has been logical and democratic to most British people for decades
This latest Lord Mandelson controversy must trigger a full rethink on the House of Lords. We need a second chamber where the public decides who stays and who goes. Please sign the petition.
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
This must trigger a rethink
This latest Lord Mandelson controversy must trigger a full rethink on the House of Lords. We need a second chamber where the public decides who stays and who goes. Please sign the petition.
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk
February 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM
This latest Lord Mandelson controversy must trigger a full rethink on the House of Lords. We need a second chamber where the public decides who stays and who goes. Please sign the petition.
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
secure.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/page/185845/...
Derby people, survey on city centre development letstalk.derby.gov.uk/public-realm...
Derby City Centre: Public Realm Strategy
Derby City Council have commissioned an external consultant to produce a Public Realm Strategy (PRS) for Derby City Centre. This important piece of work will develop a comprehensive vision for the fut...
letstalk.derby.gov.uk
February 3, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Derby people, survey on city centre development letstalk.derby.gov.uk/public-realm...
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
The prosecutor's office said it was investigating potential criminal offenses including complicity in the possession and distribution of "child pornography images," the violation of personal rights through the generation of "sexual deepfakes,"
www.nbcnews.com/world/europe...
www.nbcnews.com/world/europe...
Paris prosecutors summon Elon Musk after raid on X's French offices
The prosecutor's cybercrime unit said it carried out searches with Europol and French police.
www.nbcnews.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:21 PM
The prosecutor's office said it was investigating potential criminal offenses including complicity in the possession and distribution of "child pornography images," the violation of personal rights through the generation of "sexual deepfakes,"
www.nbcnews.com/world/europe...
www.nbcnews.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
Their names are UNBELIEVABLY powerful men. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s the Epstein files deja vu: how many more powerful men knew about his crimes, and helped him out anyway? | Marina Hyde
It’s the Epstein files deja vu: how many more powerful men knew about his crimes, and helped him out anyway? | Marina Hyde
It’s the Epstein files deja vu: how many more powerful men knew about his crimes, and helped him out anyway? | Marina Hyde
I’m sorry, but this is not just a political scandal. Time to refocus on the horrific mistreatment of women and girls, and the role of these ghouls, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Their names are UNBELIEVABLY powerful men. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s the Epstein files deja vu: how many more powerful men knew about his crimes, and helped him out anyway? | Marina Hyde
It’s the Epstein files deja vu: how many more powerful men knew about his crimes, and helped him out anyway? | Marina Hyde
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
Check out this episode of The News Agents on Global Player …
“Are American billionaires trying to reshape British politics?”.
share-lbc.globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
“Are American billionaires trying to reshape British politics?”.
share-lbc.globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
The News Agents - Podcast Episode | Global Player
Are American billionaires trying to reshape British politics?
share-lbc.globalplayer.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Check out this episode of The News Agents on Global Player …
“Are American billionaires trying to reshape British politics?”.
share-lbc.globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
“Are American billionaires trying to reshape British politics?”.
share-lbc.globalplayer.com/podcasts/epi...
At the time we should be cutting dependence on US tech, especially those have funded Trump
As you see Trumpism get worse, remember this: it remains Labour policy to actively inject AI into everything and to deepen the UK’s dependence on Trump’s US.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Barnsley rebranded UK’s first ‘tech town’ as US giants join AI push
Minister announces Microsoft, Cisco and Adobe to help apply AI to local schools, hospitals, GPs and businesses
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:07 PM
At the time we should be cutting dependence on US tech, especially those have funded Trump
Long time since I did any obscure/not so obscure French music. Jacques Higelin, Cayenne, C'est Fini (about the prison colony) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppSp...
Jacques Higelin - Cayenne c'est fini
YouTube video by Chanson Française
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Long time since I did any obscure/not so obscure French music. Jacques Higelin, Cayenne, C'est Fini (about the prison colony) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppSp...
Vote Reform, Get Empty Promises
~ Humiliation for Reform as council admits 'Doge' efforts failed to uncover major savings despite promises - Left Foot Forward ~
https://leftfootforward.org/2026/02/humiliation-for-reform-as-council-admits-doge-efforts-failed-to-uncover-major-savings-despite-promises/
https://leftfootforward.org/2026/02/humiliation-for-reform-as-council-admits-doge-efforts-failed-to-uncover-major-savings-despite-promises/
Humiliation for Reform as council admits 'Doge' efforts failed to uncover major savings despite promises - Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate
“We made some assumptions that we would come in here and find some of the craziness that Doge found in America and that was wrong, we didn’t find any of that.”
leftfootforward.org
February 3, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Vote Reform, Get Empty Promises
Reposted by Simon Ferrigno
Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is a Granada Television programme created to mark 300 years since the plague struck Eyam.
These clips offer a fascinating glimpse into village life — from atmospheric footage of Eyam itself to pageant rehearsals and interviews with villagers of all ages.
#LocalHistory
These clips offer a fascinating glimpse into village life — from atmospheric footage of Eyam itself to pageant rehearsals and interviews with villagers of all ages.
#LocalHistory
February 3, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Our #ArchiveOfTheWeek is a Granada Television programme created to mark 300 years since the plague struck Eyam.
These clips offer a fascinating glimpse into village life — from atmospheric footage of Eyam itself to pageant rehearsals and interviews with villagers of all ages.
#LocalHistory
These clips offer a fascinating glimpse into village life — from atmospheric footage of Eyam itself to pageant rehearsals and interviews with villagers of all ages.
#LocalHistory