Dave A
@davea79.bsky.social
Copywriter, ex journo, news/politics geek, travel lover, real ale/craft beer drinker, world TV/cinema fan. Among other things. Left of centre, increasingly bewildered. Birmingham, UK.
Unfortunately the OfS was set up by the previous government to pursue its culture wars agenda, rather than dealing with the genuine problems in the university sector, so this isn't a surprise. #universities #highereducation
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Regulator ‘asleep at the wheel’ over University of Greater Manchester investigation, MP says
Office for Students accused of ‘glacial’ response to allegations of fraud, bullying and mismanagement
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Unfortunately the OfS was set up by the previous government to pursue its culture wars agenda, rather than dealing with the genuine problems in the university sector, so this isn't a surprise. #universities #highereducation
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
The slow return to sanity continues. Not sure how RefCon will spin this as a negative, but I'm sure they'll try. #Erasmus
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
EU Erasmus scheme to reopen to UK students for first time since Brexit
Deal agreed for £570m to rejoin exchange programme in 2027, fulfilling Labour election manifesto pledge
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:17 AM
The slow return to sanity continues. Not sure how RefCon will spin this as a negative, but I'm sure they'll try. #Erasmus
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Dave A
We are now at the stage where all those who knew him in the past have warned us that Nigel Farage is unfit to be PM. About the same stage as when those who knew him in the past warned us that Boris Johnson was unfit to be PM.
December 5, 2025 at 12:10 PM
We are now at the stage where all those who knew him in the past have warned us that Nigel Farage is unfit to be PM. About the same stage as when those who knew him in the past warned us that Boris Johnson was unfit to be PM.
Frightening stuff and also notable that most are just motivated by financial gain rather than political aims. How the hell do we deal with this? #fakenews
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
YouTube channels spreading fake, anti-Labour videos viewed 1.2bn times in 2025
Exclusive: More than 150 anonymous channels using cheap AI tools to spread false stories about Keir Starmer, study finds
www.theguardian.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Frightening stuff and also notable that most are just motivated by financial gain rather than political aims. How the hell do we deal with this? #fakenews
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Dave A
Reposted by Dave A
Nigel Farage, whose party recently put a teenager with zero work experience of any kind, in charge of running an entire county, is currently giving a speech railing against "unqualified" politicians being put in charge of Government departments
November 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Nigel Farage, whose party recently put a teenager with zero work experience of any kind, in charge of running an entire county, is currently giving a speech railing against "unqualified" politicians being put in charge of Government departments
Reposted by Dave A
Sorry @theipaper.com but WHY is this guy talking to us about what will make the UK poorer? He was happy to grenade our economy twice…
Brexit and then his batshit budget with Truss.
He should be in political oblivion for the mess he made and the price we all have to pay for his party’s failures.
Brexit and then his batshit budget with Truss.
He should be in political oblivion for the mess he made and the price we all have to pay for his party’s failures.
October 24, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Sorry @theipaper.com but WHY is this guy talking to us about what will make the UK poorer? He was happy to grenade our economy twice…
Brexit and then his batshit budget with Truss.
He should be in political oblivion for the mess he made and the price we all have to pay for his party’s failures.
Brexit and then his batshit budget with Truss.
He should be in political oblivion for the mess he made and the price we all have to pay for his party’s failures.
The Bailey Head, two time CAMRA Pub of the Year, not the easiest to get to but worth the effort. #beersky #Oswestry #Shropshire
October 17, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The Bailey Head, two time CAMRA Pub of the Year, not the easiest to get to but worth the effort. #beersky #Oswestry #Shropshire
Every time a Tory does or says something awful, Andy Street expresses his shock. Fair enough up to a point but maybe it shouldn't be a surprise any more. #Birmingham
“I’ll put it bluntly, Robert is wrong… it’s actually a very integrated place... Not the definition of a slum.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands 2017-24, responds to Robert Jenrick's comments on Handsworth.
#Newsnight
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands 2017-24, responds to Robert Jenrick's comments on Handsworth.
#Newsnight
October 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Every time a Tory does or says something awful, Andy Street expresses his shock. Fair enough up to a point but maybe it shouldn't be a surprise any more. #Birmingham
Reposted by Dave A
Johnson’s cull of MPs prepared to tell the truth about Brexit consigned the Tories to the absurdity & irrelevance they currently enjoy. The media’s pitiful complicity in & failure to explain this lets Farage move in to the vacated space despite embodying the stupidity & bigotry that did for them.
October 4, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Johnson’s cull of MPs prepared to tell the truth about Brexit consigned the Tories to the absurdity & irrelevance they currently enjoy. The media’s pitiful complicity in & failure to explain this lets Farage move in to the vacated space despite embodying the stupidity & bigotry that did for them.
Reposted by Dave A
Macron remarks are notable- some quotes: "We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies."
President Macron: “Europeans, let's wake up!
We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...
October 4, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Macron remarks are notable- some quotes: "We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies."
Reposted by Dave A
Never mind the desperate people on Small Boats….this fucker has cost the UK way more £’s! 🔽
October 2, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Never mind the desperate people on Small Boats….this fucker has cost the UK way more £’s! 🔽
Reposted by Dave A
Nathan Gill is no fringe politician.
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform UK's ex-Wales leader Nathan Gill admits pro-Russia bribery
Nathan Gill admits eight charges of bribery while being a Member of the European Parliament.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 27, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Nathan Gill is no fringe politician.
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
He was the leader of the Reform Party and before that UKIP in Wales.
A Brexit Party MEP.
A friend and ally of Nigel Farage, who in 2016 called him:
"terrific," and "as honest as the day is long."
This is a MASSIVE story
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Dave A
Here is the Sun's pitifully small apology for its lie about benefits tourism - a lie that was accepted as truth by millions and helped deliver Brexit.
These lies are perverting our democracy. At a minimum, apologies should be published in the same location and size as the lie.
These lies are perverting our democracy. At a minimum, apologies should be published in the same location and size as the lie.
September 21, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Here is the Sun's pitifully small apology for its lie about benefits tourism - a lie that was accepted as truth by millions and helped deliver Brexit.
These lies are perverting our democracy. At a minimum, apologies should be published in the same location and size as the lie.
These lies are perverting our democracy. At a minimum, apologies should be published in the same location and size as the lie.
Reposted by Dave A
Don’t you dare call us fascists, they say, as they force people off the airwaves for criticizing them while vowing to crush and criminalize their opposition.
September 18, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Don’t you dare call us fascists, they say, as they force people off the airwaves for criticizing them while vowing to crush and criminalize their opposition.
Reposted by Dave A
Nigel Farage (Dulwich), Danny Kruger (Eton), Richard Tice (Uppingham) and Isabel Oakeshott (Gordonstoun) aren't 'standing up to the elite'. They are the elite.
September 15, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Nigel Farage (Dulwich), Danny Kruger (Eton), Richard Tice (Uppingham) and Isabel Oakeshott (Gordonstoun) aren't 'standing up to the elite'. They are the elite.
In any normal time, halving hotel use - a problem they inherited - in a year would be hailed as a huge success. Part of me wonders if RefCon are worried the govt will actually fix this, which is why they're being so hysterical now.
It is also highly hypocritical hearing the likes of Badenoch and Jenrick criticise the government for appealing the verdict in the first place when the Conservative government deliberately allowed for the number of people waiting on asylum claims to be processed to increase as policy. 3/
August 29, 2025 at 4:25 PM
In any normal time, halving hotel use - a problem they inherited - in a year would be hailed as a huge success. Part of me wonders if RefCon are worried the govt will actually fix this, which is why they're being so hysterical now.
August 29, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Reposted by Dave A
Reform UK: “Free speech! You can’t say anything these days!”
Also Reform UK: “You’re banned from reporting on our council because we don’t like what you said.”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Also Reform UK: “You’re banned from reporting on our council because we don’t like what you said.”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform UK Nottinghamshire council leader bans local newspaper's reporters
The Nottingham Post describes the ban as
www.bbc.co.uk
August 28, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reform UK: “Free speech! You can’t say anything these days!”
Also Reform UK: “You’re banned from reporting on our council because we don’t like what you said.”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Also Reform UK: “You’re banned from reporting on our council because we don’t like what you said.”
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
It's Boris Johnson in a fridge all over again. Almost as if right-wing 'populists' don't like scrutiny.... #Reform #Nottingham
www.nottinghampost.com/news/news-op...
www.nottinghampost.com/news/news-op...
Reform leader bans engagement with Notts Live in unprecedented step
All of Reform UK's Nottinghamshire county councillors will now refuse to speak to any of our journalists
www.nottinghampost.com
August 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
It's Boris Johnson in a fridge all over again. Almost as if right-wing 'populists' don't like scrutiny.... #Reform #Nottingham
www.nottinghampost.com/news/news-op...
www.nottinghampost.com/news/news-op...
Reposted by Dave A
A word on immigration. Don't prejudge this, just listen to the data, and then consider what the solution is.
The UK has a falling birth rate. This means that - unless things change - each generation will be 25% smaller than the one before.
The UK has a falling birth rate. This means that - unless things change - each generation will be 25% smaller than the one before.
August 25, 2025 at 5:48 PM
A word on immigration. Don't prejudge this, just listen to the data, and then consider what the solution is.
The UK has a falling birth rate. This means that - unless things change - each generation will be 25% smaller than the one before.
The UK has a falling birth rate. This means that - unless things change - each generation will be 25% smaller than the one before.
Reposted by Dave A
Reform UK, which has a grand total of four MPs, was just given an uninterrupted platform for an hour and a half on the BBC and Sky News channels, in order to talk about its plans for mass deportations
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?
August 26, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Reform UK, which has a grand total of four MPs, was just given an uninterrupted platform for an hour and a half on the BBC and Sky News channels, in order to talk about its plans for mass deportations
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?
When was the last time the Greens (with four MPs) or the Lib Dems (with 72) were given the same?