Oolon Calluphid
@calluphid.bsky.social
I do not spook easily and those who think I do are wasting their time with their suprise attacks.
Stone me, what a life.
It kills me to think, I'm no longer living just looking for excuses to drink.
Stone me, what a life.
It kills me to think, I'm no longer living just looking for excuses to drink.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Right on cue. 7pm then #BBCSounds. #Greenland Like a Hans Christian Andersen story, a giant covets a frozen land. In the way is a woman who loves dancing & telling jokes, who makes jam & keeps donkeys. She's #Danish #PM, #MetteFredericksen, challenged by #Trump, profiled on the BBC by Stephen Smith.
BBC Radio 4 - Profile, Mette Frederiksen
The Danish Prime Minister defending Greenland against Trump.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 17, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Right on cue. 7pm then #BBCSounds. #Greenland Like a Hans Christian Andersen story, a giant covets a frozen land. In the way is a woman who loves dancing & telling jokes, who makes jam & keeps donkeys. She's #Danish #PM, #MetteFredericksen, challenged by #Trump, profiled on the BBC by Stephen Smith.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Trump eyes Greenland. Warnings of war with artic drills & EU countries sending forces north.
Meanwhile Westminster argues about who is defecting to whom.
BBC focuses on Reform's "momentum" as more discredited Tories swear allegiance.
Yet history suggests voters dislike being taken for granted..
Meanwhile Westminster argues about who is defecting to whom.
BBC focuses on Reform's "momentum" as more discredited Tories swear allegiance.
Yet history suggests voters dislike being taken for granted..
Pecksniff: Don’t mention the war! Media hush over both Russia and US
In which Mr Pecksniff lays before his readers for their approval certain observations and speculations reflecting on the political life
eastangliabylines.co.uk
January 17, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Trump eyes Greenland. Warnings of war with artic drills & EU countries sending forces north.
Meanwhile Westminster argues about who is defecting to whom.
BBC focuses on Reform's "momentum" as more discredited Tories swear allegiance.
Yet history suggests voters dislike being taken for granted..
Meanwhile Westminster argues about who is defecting to whom.
BBC focuses on Reform's "momentum" as more discredited Tories swear allegiance.
Yet history suggests voters dislike being taken for granted..
"The European Union and the United Kingdom are not ready to let Elon Musk’s Grok off the hook for creating non-consensual nude deepfakes."
www.politico.eu/article/not-...
www.politico.eu/article/not-...
It’s not over, Europe’s regulators tell X
Grok users can still generate sexualized images despite fresh promises from X.
www.politico.eu
January 15, 2026 at 12:08 PM
"The European Union and the United Kingdom are not ready to let Elon Musk’s Grok off the hook for creating non-consensual nude deepfakes."
www.politico.eu/article/not-...
www.politico.eu/article/not-...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Why is embedding Peter Thiel’s Palantir in the British army, navy & airforce a national security disaster? Well consider what happens when you ‘buy’ a Tesla.
You’re actually just renting the software. That can be turned off at any time.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
You’re actually just renting the software. That can be turned off at any time.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
January 12, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Why is embedding Peter Thiel’s Palantir in the British army, navy & airforce a national security disaster? Well consider what happens when you ‘buy’ a Tesla.
You’re actually just renting the software. That can be turned off at any time.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
You’re actually just renting the software. That can be turned off at any time.
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
London is over, etc.
London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade
London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade
Sadiq Khan says ‘public health’ approach has made the capital one of the safest cities in the western world
London’s murder rate has dropped to its lowest in more than a decade with police in the capital and the mayor saying it is now one of the safest cities in the western world.
The figures come as those on the radical right criticise the city for having a crime problem, hoping to gain politically from such claims being believed. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:16 AM
London is over, etc.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
If pumping indecent images of children into our news feeds, isn’t enough to force the Government to finally take action against Musk then nothing ever will be.
New post on how Musks useful British idiots are trying desperately to stop the Government from acting
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/elon-musks...
New post on how Musks useful British idiots are trying desperately to stop the Government from acting
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/elon-musks...
Elon Musk’s Useful British Idiots
The far-right billionaire continues to be protected by British politicians and commentators, even as his X platform pumps indecent images of children into our news feeds
www.adambienkov.co.uk
January 10, 2026 at 1:03 PM
If pumping indecent images of children into our news feeds, isn’t enough to force the Government to finally take action against Musk then nothing ever will be.
New post on how Musks useful British idiots are trying desperately to stop the Government from acting
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/elon-musks...
New post on how Musks useful British idiots are trying desperately to stop the Government from acting
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/elon-musks...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Nigel Farage confirms that Reform UK will vote *against* the bill to lift the two child cap, keeping hundreds of thousands of children in poverty.
January 7, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Nigel Farage confirms that Reform UK will vote *against* the bill to lift the two child cap, keeping hundreds of thousands of children in poverty.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Reform council leader’s firms collapsed owing £1.5 million
Andrew Husband, a former model, made it his mission to slash Durham council’s £1.5bn budget while presiding over companies with big debts
Andrew Husband, a former model, made it his mission to slash Durham council’s £1.5bn budget while presiding over companies with big debts
Reform council leader’s firms collapsed owing £1.5 million
Andrew Husband, a former model, made it his mission to slash Durham council’s £1.5bn budget while presiding over companies with big debts
www.thetimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:28 AM
Reform council leader’s firms collapsed owing £1.5 million
Andrew Husband, a former model, made it his mission to slash Durham council’s £1.5bn budget while presiding over companies with big debts
Andrew Husband, a former model, made it his mission to slash Durham council’s £1.5bn budget while presiding over companies with big debts
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Farage wants to privatise the NHS, even Tice is now saying it:
"Instead of giving £26bn to the already bloated wasteful NHS, we proposed easing pressure on the health service by incentivising those who can afford to pay more to go independent with a tax break."
"Instead of giving £26bn to the already bloated wasteful NHS, we proposed easing pressure on the health service by incentivising those who can afford to pay more to go independent with a tax break."
January 4, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Farage wants to privatise the NHS, even Tice is now saying it:
"Instead of giving £26bn to the already bloated wasteful NHS, we proposed easing pressure on the health service by incentivising those who can afford to pay more to go independent with a tax break."
"Instead of giving £26bn to the already bloated wasteful NHS, we proposed easing pressure on the health service by incentivising those who can afford to pay more to go independent with a tax break."
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Fracking, coming to a site near you soon?
Nigel Farage, has told energy firms to get ready to "drill, baby, drill" should it get into government at the next general election.
Don’t just like it, share it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Nigel Farage, has told energy firms to get ready to "drill, baby, drill" should it get into government at the next general election.
Don’t just like it, share it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fracking in Lancashire not ruled out, Reform deputy leader says - BBC News
"Safely, independently monitored" shale gas extraction "should be looked at", says Richard Tice.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 4, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Fracking, coming to a site near you soon?
Nigel Farage, has told energy firms to get ready to "drill, baby, drill" should it get into government at the next general election.
Don’t just like it, share it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Nigel Farage, has told energy firms to get ready to "drill, baby, drill" should it get into government at the next general election.
Don’t just like it, share it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
MPs question UK Palantir contracts after investigation reveals security concerns
MPs question UK Palantir contracts after investigation reveals security concerns
Journalists find Swiss government rejected company over fears US intelligence might gain access to sensitive data
UK MPs have raised concerns about the government’s contracts with Palantir after an investigation published in Switzerland highlighted allegations about the suitability and security of its products.
The investigation by the Zurich-based research collective WAV and the Swiss online magazine Republik details Palantir’s efforts, over the course of seven years, to sell its products to Swiss federal agencies. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM
MPs question UK Palantir contracts after investigation reveals security concerns
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Reform UK Council leader quits following social media probe
Staffordshire council leader quits after social media probe - BBC News
Ian Cooper had already had his Reform UK membership revoked by the party.
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Reform UK Council leader quits following social media probe
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
So @bylinetimes.bsky.social is planning a Christmas cracker box - all Farage’s pro Putin statements - do share and add any you find to this thread
December 9, 2025 at 2:53 PM
So @bylinetimes.bsky.social is planning a Christmas cracker box - all Farage’s pro Putin statements - do share and add any you find to this thread
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
"If Johnson wanted herd immunity why not expand NHS capacity? We REDUCED by 8% I know of no other country that did that"
"I think he knows he shd have locked down sooner"
Does he regret it? "I think he regrets locking down at all"
Wd it b different now? No "We're not holding ministers accountable"
"I think he knows he shd have locked down sooner"
Does he regret it? "I think he regrets locking down at all"
Wd it b different now? No "We're not holding ministers accountable"
Dr Dan Goyal, an NHS consultant, gives his response to the recently published Covid-19 Inquiry | Bylines Scotland Radio
The Covid-19 inquiry – a response
Dr Dan Goyal, an NHS consultant, gives his response to the recently published Covid-19 Inquiry
bylines.scot
November 29, 2025 at 1:24 PM
"If Johnson wanted herd immunity why not expand NHS capacity? We REDUCED by 8% I know of no other country that did that"
"I think he knows he shd have locked down sooner"
Does he regret it? "I think he regrets locking down at all"
Wd it b different now? No "We're not holding ministers accountable"
"I think he knows he shd have locked down sooner"
Does he regret it? "I think he regrets locking down at all"
Wd it b different now? No "We're not holding ministers accountable"
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Boris Johnson is heavily implicated in dealings with Russia's influence over Brexit
Brilliant article here ⬇️
Brilliant article here ⬇️
Temerko, a Soviet-born oligarch and a major Conservative donor, told Belton that he and Johnson spent time… plotting the overthrow May. According to Temerko, Johnson had finally been persuaded to back Brexit in 2016 by a group of “eastern European businessmen”.
bylinetimes.com/2023/01/19/l...
bylinetimes.com/2023/01/19/l...
Landmark Ruling in Strasbourg as MPs Challenge UK Government over Failure to Investigate Russian Interference in Brexit
'Nothing less than the future of democracy is at stake' says Caroline Lucas as a cross-party coalition and The Citizens win an unprecedented hearing over electoral safety and national security
bylinetimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Boris Johnson is heavily implicated in dealings with Russia's influence over Brexit
Brilliant article here ⬇️
Brilliant article here ⬇️
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Why American-style polarisation is spreading across the west
New research shows how incentives in the modern media ecosystem help explain rising division and negativity
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
A study earlier this month found that America’s more fragmented media landscape — particularly the takeoff of cable news — accounts for fully one third of the increase in cultural conflict in the US since the year 2000.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A study earlier this month found that America’s more fragmented media landscape — particularly the takeoff of cable news — accounts for fully one third of the increase in cultural conflict in the US since the year 2000.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
In other words, US politicians and pressure groups can pipe the party line directly into millions of households unchallenged, in a way that is much harder in the UK.
This has a huge impact both on trust and cohesion, and on whether politicians feel the need to appeal to moderates or just partisans.
This has a huge impact both on trust and cohesion, and on whether politicians feel the need to appeal to moderates or just partisans.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
In other words, US politicians and pressure groups can pipe the party line directly into millions of households unchallenged, in a way that is much harder in the UK.
This has a huge impact both on trust and cohesion, and on whether politicians feel the need to appeal to moderates or just partisans.
This has a huge impact both on trust and cohesion, and on whether politicians feel the need to appeal to moderates or just partisans.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Here’s the same data, but with trust broken down by political views (circles are trust among people on the left, +s the right).
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Here’s the same data, but with trust broken down by political views (circles are trust among people on the left, +s the right).
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Here’s the same data, but with trust broken down by political views (circles are trust among people on the left, +s the right).
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
November 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
‘Gibb’s supporters say he is trying to save the BBC from itself; he was also heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way, he would “blow the place up”.’
“a group of politically-appointed directors has forced the hand of Samir Shah,the chair, and the departure of the two most senior people in the organisation. Their resignations should be called out for what they are: political interference..”1/
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:29 AM
‘Gibb’s supporters say he is trying to save the BBC from itself; he was also heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way, he would “blow the place up”.’
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Enforced veganism’: Ofcom lets GB News flout accuracy rules, say climate campaigners
Exclusive: Regulator has received 1,221 complaints about UK broadcasters since 2020 but found no breaches of its code
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Is Farage a poor judge of character or does he deliberately choose to mix with fraudsters as well as with Russian agents?
A criminal court in Brussels on Wednesday convicted two Polish nationals – including a current European Parliament assistant – of misusing EU funds tied to political entities associated with Brexit-backer Nigel Farage.
https://bit.ly/4oSrA0R
https://bit.ly/4oSrA0R
Belgian court convicts two for EU funds misuse linked to Nigel Farage's Brexit group | Euractiv
Verdict ends decade-long probe into alleged misuse of EU funds by associates of top Brexit campaigner
www.euractiv.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Is Farage a poor judge of character or does he deliberately choose to mix with fraudsters as well as with Russian agents?
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
I expect GB News hysterically yelling to start rioting, Farage on every news channel moaning that Britain is broken, Mo Yusuf on Newsnight apologising for wrongly thinking only asylum seekers are sexual offenders, and Pochin leading a national inquiry into white people are child sex offenders.
November 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I expect GB News hysterically yelling to start rioting, Farage on every news channel moaning that Britain is broken, Mo Yusuf on Newsnight apologising for wrongly thinking only asylum seekers are sexual offenders, and Pochin leading a national inquiry into white people are child sex offenders.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
🔴We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:49 PM
🔴We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...