Deb B
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deborahstort.bsky.social
Deb B
@deborahstort.bsky.social
Building a safe space away from Twitter. Engaging more now rather than just liking and reposting.
Pro EU, anti-Tory. Hate the Mail with a passion. Daily Express is just idiotic.
I mess about with The Sims.
Reposted by Deb B
◾ >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.
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
Reposted by Deb B
This is the most deranged situation. We are literally being kicked about by fake-newsers threatening to bankrupt our own public service broadcaster, to shield an insurrectionist from a reality that he can’t accept.
November 11, 2025 at 8:51 AM
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Maybe some could ask of all these vested interests, if you are so crucial to economic growth why hasn't there been any?

They'll blame other incumbents... and so the world doesn't really turn until this can somehow be stopped.
November 11, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by Deb B
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
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November 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
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November 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
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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...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Deb B
This by Lewis Goodall on the internal ugliness at the BBC is very well worth reading:

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 7:57 PM
Reposted by Deb B
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“His wife has shared the wonderful news that Sam woke up briefly yesterday, and she was able to speak with him for a short time. This is a truly positive step forward, though there is still a long journey ahead in his recovery.”

Excellent news. ~AA

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
‘Hero’ crew member injured in train mass stabbing regains consciousness
Samir Zitouni was wounded as he protected passengers during attack on an LNER train travelling from Doncaster to London
www.independent.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
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My post on President Trump threatening to sue the BBC will up tomorrow morning.
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
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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
Reposted by Deb B
But that is not enough. No.10 should never have been in a position to install Gibb in the first place. It shouldn't control the board membership, the DG appointment, or the purse strings. What's required is genuine independence for the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by Deb B
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Reposted by Deb B
Thought this was quite lovely.
Always good to remind yourself that not everything is awful right now.
youtu.be/Qp7K6pEWEuk?...
What happens when you set a river free? | BBC News
YouTube video by BBC News
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Deb B
Dominic Cummings, in an earlier incarnation, ran a secretly-funded 'think tank' dedicated to attacking the Beeb while Robbie Gibb glided effortlessly from GBNews to the BBC & started lecturing staff on impartiality. Imagine (cos you'll have to) how the 'left-wing' equivalent would be reported.
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Deb B
Can't believe Panorama edited a 71 minute speech to fit into a 60 minute program.
November 10, 2025 at 9:48 AM
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Meanwhile, in Reform's Lancashire CC, the councillor in charge of care homes, owns a private care home, and is closing council care homes. 👀

A resident’s son, a Reform party member, said any move would “kill” his mother. ~AA
#NeverThoughtTheLeopards

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Lancashire’s Reform-run council plans to close care homes and day centres
Questions about potential conflict of interest as council’s cabinet member for social care owns private care company
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 AM
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Not forgetting that gagging clauses were written into contracts for charities working with the prison service preventing them from criticising any problems. ~AA

www.irishlegal.com/articles/doz...
November 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM
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The impossible dream some people on the British right are chasing is that you can have a BBC News operation that retreats from detail and expertise, that takes dictation from the government, but this will only create incompetence and failure when it suits you:
To fix the BBC, focus on competence and cash
Corporation fails to learn from criticism, while politicians have consciously reduced its scope for quality journalism
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Reposted by Deb B
If you want to sustain your carefully-cultivated fury at the stupid Panorama edit then don’t, whatever you do, read or listen to Trump’s speech in its entirety…
November 10, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Reposted by Deb B
Here’s video of federal agents doing a drive by pepper spraying that hit a father and his one-year old on Saturday when the Feds were hitting Little Village and Cicero
November 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Deb B
Likewise the new head of BBC News. The outgoing one did terrible damage to its credibility and it is hilariously ironic that she is leaving because of alleged left-wing bias
More than any time since the 1980s, perhaps ever, the BBC needs a journalistic warrior to lead it. Someone who can see the shape of a fight coming and work out how to win it and have the will to do so. Davie was never that guy. It can't be a hack from the queue. Maybe it should be a refugee from CBS
November 9, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Deb B
This is absolutely nuts

Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event

When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
Davie says
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 6:12 PM