Cornucopist
@cornucopist.bsky.social
Writer and humanitarian. Optimistic realist. When you sleep you wake up eventually. Politics, philosophy, humanism, books, photography, history, football, post-punk. And cats of course.
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Cornucopist
@cornucopist.bsky.social
· Oct 17
Morning! Final postcard of the River Tweed from my week away. If you haven’t been to the Scottish Borders, do go. So much to enjoy. Finished writing my book so now for the hard part.
Reposted by Cornucopist
This is a key point that UK (and a lot of Joiners) don't get. They treat the EU like a sovereign country open to deals and big concessions. They do not appreciate it is an entity of laws and rules partly expressed via carefully constructed MS agreements. Hence the "UK is a special case" fallacy.
November 11, 2025 at 11:22 AM
This is a key point that UK (and a lot of Joiners) don't get. They treat the EU like a sovereign country open to deals and big concessions. They do not appreciate it is an entity of laws and rules partly expressed via carefully constructed MS agreements. Hence the "UK is a special case" fallacy.
Reposted by Cornucopist
Billionaires and corporations are causing climate breakdown.
It's time to tax the rich.
www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/su...
It's time to tax the rich.
www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/su...
You can't solve a crisis with the same thinking that caused it
Billionaires and corporations are driving climate breakdown. It’s time to tax their wealth and build a fairer future.
www.newstatesman.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Billionaires and corporations are causing climate breakdown.
It's time to tax the rich.
www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/su...
It's time to tax the rich.
www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/su...
Reposted by Cornucopist
It’s already started - the BBC allows Newsmax boss to opine about bias, suggest some of the Jan 6 mob were merely innocent tourists visiting Congress, without pushback
November 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
It’s already started - the BBC allows Newsmax boss to opine about bias, suggest some of the Jan 6 mob were merely innocent tourists visiting Congress, without pushback
Reposted by Cornucopist
With Musk we have the equivalent of a 20th Century 'press baron' openly agitating to end British democracy and assisting extremists here, with a set of tools even more potent than newspapers and/or broadcast media.
IMHO it is a national security issue and requires urgent govt action, not just words
IMHO it is a national security issue and requires urgent govt action, not just words
November 11, 2025 at 10:53 AM
With Musk we have the equivalent of a 20th Century 'press baron' openly agitating to end British democracy and assisting extremists here, with a set of tools even more potent than newspapers and/or broadcast media.
IMHO it is a national security issue and requires urgent govt action, not just words
IMHO it is a national security issue and requires urgent govt action, not just words
Reposted by Cornucopist
◾ >9 years since Tees Valley voted for supposed benefits of Brexit
◾ >8 since Houchen was elected Mayor of Tees Valley
◾ >6 since Johnson promised to level up left-behind areas
...Middlesbrough remains the local authority with the highest proportion of most deprived neighbourhoods in England.
◾ >8 since Houchen was elected Mayor of Tees Valley
◾ >6 since Johnson promised to level up left-behind areas
...Middlesbrough remains the local authority with the highest proportion of most deprived neighbourhoods in England.
Houchen’s deprivation failure exposed – official
Middlesbrough remains the local authority with the highest proportion of most deprived neighbourhoods in England
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:38 AM
◾ >9 years since Tees Valley voted for supposed benefits of Brexit
◾ >8 since Houchen was elected Mayor of Tees Valley
◾ >6 since Johnson promised to level up left-behind areas
...Middlesbrough remains the local authority with the highest proportion of most deprived neighbourhoods in England.
◾ >8 since Houchen was elected Mayor of Tees Valley
◾ >6 since Johnson promised to level up left-behind areas
...Middlesbrough remains the local authority with the highest proportion of most deprived neighbourhoods in England.
Reposted by Cornucopist
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Cornucopist
Well, this is quite a serious allegation. I do hope the BBC shows true impartiality and investigate whether or not some of its Board members are systemically biased. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC board member with Tory links ‘led charge’ in systemic bias claims, say insiders
Sources say Robbie Gibb amplified criticisms of Trump, Gaza and trans rights coverage, and had ‘a lot of oxygen in the room’
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Well, this is quite a serious allegation. I do hope the BBC shows true impartiality and investigate whether or not some of its Board members are systemically biased. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Cornucopist
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Cornucopist
This is well worth a listen.
Farage & Gill are one. No wonder Nigel is rattled and calling press conferences at a rapid rate to change the subject.
(If you're short of time skip it to 14:30 & listen for 2 mins.)
Farage & Gill are one. No wonder Nigel is rattled and calling press conferences at a rapid rate to change the subject.
(If you're short of time skip it to 14:30 & listen for 2 mins.)
A look at Nathan Gill and his treasonous activities following an almost accidental interview with Polly Weston in 2020.
Contains some typical Farage hogwash smoke and mirrors denials. I really don’t understand why this hasn’t dominated the headlines.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Contains some typical Farage hogwash smoke and mirrors denials. I really don’t understand why this hasn’t dominated the headlines.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Currently - From Anglesey with Love - BBC Sounds
Former MEP Nathan Gill accepted Russia-linked bribes. Then he did this interview.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
This is well worth a listen.
Farage & Gill are one. No wonder Nigel is rattled and calling press conferences at a rapid rate to change the subject.
(If you're short of time skip it to 14:30 & listen for 2 mins.)
Farage & Gill are one. No wonder Nigel is rattled and calling press conferences at a rapid rate to change the subject.
(If you're short of time skip it to 14:30 & listen for 2 mins.)
Reposted by Cornucopist
Great to see people catching up on Sir Robbie Gibb's role in setting up GB News - five years after @nafeez.bsky.social explained on @bylinetimes.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Great to see people catching up on Sir Robbie Gibb's role in setting up GB News - five years after @nafeez.bsky.social explained on @bylinetimes.bsky.social
It you’re thinking of joining Your Party… don’t. Join the Greens instead. Can’t afford to split the vote.
Three people who’d be expected to be Your Party bigwigs have largely walked away from Corbyn’s project: former NE mayor Jamie Driscoll, former Labour MP Beth Winter, and former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein.
I have some new intel on the fall-out, if you’re interested in that sort of thing… 🧵
I have some new intel on the fall-out, if you’re interested in that sort of thing… 🧵
November 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
It you’re thinking of joining Your Party… don’t. Join the Greens instead. Can’t afford to split the vote.
Reposted by Cornucopist
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
Reposted by Cornucopist
Wow, but what is the alternative? - to be underhand and devious?! Your employees will vote with their feet if you do that. Organisations have to develop a trusting culture where psychological safety is a given: let your enemies have a go - they will find that your culture is your defence. #BBC
At an event where a speaker said: "The moment you are transparent with your trust and safety rules, you give a guidebook to your enemies on how to game them."
Which feels pretty much where the BBC has ended up! All this focus on being open and transparent just gives levers for opponents to pull.
Which feels pretty much where the BBC has ended up! All this focus on being open and transparent just gives levers for opponents to pull.
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Wow, but what is the alternative? - to be underhand and devious?! Your employees will vote with their feet if you do that. Organisations have to develop a trusting culture where psychological safety is a given: let your enemies have a go - they will find that your culture is your defence. #BBC
Reposted by Cornucopist
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
November 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
Reposted by Cornucopist
We need to remove all political appointees at the top of BBC.
Forever.
That is the first step in getting the BBC functioning properly again.
It is essential to our democracy that we have a properly functioning BBC.
The powerful and the fascistic hate the BBC because they want to control “truth”.
Forever.
That is the first step in getting the BBC functioning properly again.
It is essential to our democracy that we have a properly functioning BBC.
The powerful and the fascistic hate the BBC because they want to control “truth”.
Murdoch has had his own agenda of destroying the BBC. A right wing DG and Chairman set the tone. The Chairman has said they need to platform Reform. Wrong.
Being impartial starts at the top. No political bias leaders should be appointed.
Being impartial starts at the top. No political bias leaders should be appointed.
November 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
We need to remove all political appointees at the top of BBC.
Forever.
That is the first step in getting the BBC functioning properly again.
It is essential to our democracy that we have a properly functioning BBC.
The powerful and the fascistic hate the BBC because they want to control “truth”.
Forever.
That is the first step in getting the BBC functioning properly again.
It is essential to our democracy that we have a properly functioning BBC.
The powerful and the fascistic hate the BBC because they want to control “truth”.
Reposted by Cornucopist
Robbie Gibb who cancelled a BBC investigation into Farage's Leave dot EU campaign shortly before the EU Ref
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Revealed: Brexit group covered up its targeting of right-wing extremists
Brexit-backer Arron Banks repeatedly denied that Leave.EU appealed to National Front supporters - in a bid to get the BBC to drop an investigation
www.channel4.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Robbie Gibb who cancelled a BBC investigation into Farage's Leave dot EU campaign shortly before the EU Ref
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Reposted by Cornucopist
Written before the BBC resignations but this by @arusbridger.bsky.social is really worth reading. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Written before the BBC resignations but this by @arusbridger.bsky.social is really worth reading. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by Cornucopist
The BBC is tearing itself apart to appease publications and politicians who want to see it die.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The BBC is tearing itself apart to appease publications and politicians who want to see it die.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
An absolutely kamikaze approach to running a media organisation. I can't see it ending well.
Reposted by Cornucopist
The BBC when there is a real scandal: takes years to do anything, drags its feet, is very defensive
The BBC when the right wing goes for it: has a panic attack then throws itself on its sword immediately
The BBC when the right wing goes for it: has a panic attack then throws itself on its sword immediately
November 9, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The BBC when there is a real scandal: takes years to do anything, drags its feet, is very defensive
The BBC when the right wing goes for it: has a panic attack then throws itself on its sword immediately
The BBC when the right wing goes for it: has a panic attack then throws itself on its sword immediately
Whitby’s old-fashioned charm 😉
November 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Whitby’s old-fashioned charm 😉
Morning! At the Whitby Literature Festival this weekend seeing Miriam Margolyes and Lee Child 👌
November 9, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Morning! At the Whitby Literature Festival this weekend seeing Miriam Margolyes and Lee Child 👌
Reposted by Cornucopist
“In the last year of the Conservative Government alone, 115 prisoners were released in error, including a series of serious offenders.
“At no point did this fact ever make the front pages of British newspapers, or lead news bulletins on the BBC.”
“At no point did this fact ever make the front pages of British newspapers, or lead news bulletins on the BBC.”
How ever since Labour came to power, the British media has started to notice a whole series of problems they spent the previous 14 years completely ignoring
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-great-...
The 'Great Noticing' Era
Ever since Labour came to power, the British media has started to notice a whole series of problems they spent the previous 14 years completely ignoring
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
“In the last year of the Conservative Government alone, 115 prisoners were released in error, including a series of serious offenders.
“At no point did this fact ever make the front pages of British newspapers, or lead news bulletins on the BBC.”
“At no point did this fact ever make the front pages of British newspapers, or lead news bulletins on the BBC.”