Richard Bates
@discript.com
Publisher – fiction and non-fiction. Friend to writers. Dementia carer. Cyclist. Activist. Cat parent.
Liberal Democrat 🔶 elected to Chichester District Council (UK) in 2023, also on West Sussex County Council Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee.
Liberal Democrat 🔶 elected to Chichester District Council (UK) in 2023, also on West Sussex County Council Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee.
Pinned
Richard Bates
@discript.com
· Jan 23
The reason we annually mark #HolocaustMemorialDay is so we never forget.
Reposted by Richard Bates
Have you seen the gripping new 3-part BBC documentary series by @davidolusoga.bsky.social called “Empire”?
Episode 1 explores the use of indentured labour and then African slaves in Barbados in sugar plantations to generate vast profits for landowners in England.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Episode 1 explores the use of indentured labour and then African slaves in Barbados in sugar plantations to generate vast profits for landowners in England.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Empire with David Olusoga - Series 1: Episode 1
David Olusoga tells the story of the British Empire, from its origins under Elizabeth I to the establishment of colonies in America, the Caribbean and India.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Have you seen the gripping new 3-part BBC documentary series by @davidolusoga.bsky.social called “Empire”?
Episode 1 explores the use of indentured labour and then African slaves in Barbados in sugar plantations to generate vast profits for landowners in England.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Episode 1 explores the use of indentured labour and then African slaves in Barbados in sugar plantations to generate vast profits for landowners in England.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Reposted by Richard Bates
Trump has pardoned Rudy Giuliani and other allies that worked to overturn the 2020 election.
This isn’t the first time Trump has doled out pardons to his supporters. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NflcWXdV-B0
This isn’t the first time Trump has doled out pardons to his supporters. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NflcWXdV-B0
Trump’s Pay-to-Pardon Scheme
Robert Reich
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Trump has pardoned Rudy Giuliani and other allies that worked to overturn the 2020 election.
This isn’t the first time Trump has doled out pardons to his supporters. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NflcWXdV-B0
This isn’t the first time Trump has doled out pardons to his supporters. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NflcWXdV-B0
“Those with concerns over the political background to this crisis say it has its roots in Boris Johnson’s time in government and an effort to shift the stance of institutions such as the BBC, seen as too liberal and left wing.”
@michaelsavage.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
@michaelsavage.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
‘Make no mistake – this was a coup’: the extraordinary downfall of the BBC’s top bosses
The whirlwind that started when Deborah Turness came under attack at a board meeting is part of a wider political story, some say
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:07 PM
“Those with concerns over the political background to this crisis say it has its roots in Boris Johnson’s time in government and an effort to shift the stance of institutions such as the BBC, seen as too liberal and left wing.”
@michaelsavage.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
@michaelsavage.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
No words.
Election deniers & criminals! You get a pardon, & you get pardon! At 1 am.
Say it with me. Chaos, corruption, cruelty. GOP values.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/tru...
#voices4Victory
#usdemocracy
Say it with me. Chaos, corruption, cruelty. GOP values.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/tru...
#voices4Victory
#usdemocracy
Trump pardons Rudy Giuliani, other key figures allegedly involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election
Ed Martin, the United States Pardon Attorney, announced that President Trump would be pardoning key figures allegedly involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
abcnews.go.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
No words.
“The Guardian can reveal the scale of the lobbying by developers in face-to-face meetings with the chancellor and other ministers that has been going on for months, while professional ecologists have found it hard to gain any audience.”
Councillors on #planning committees experience this regularly.
Councillors on #planning committees experience this regularly.
November 9, 2025 at 6:36 PM
“The Guardian can reveal the scale of the lobbying by developers in face-to-face meetings with the chancellor and other ministers that has been going on for months, while professional ecologists have found it hard to gain any audience.”
Councillors on #planning committees experience this regularly.
Councillors on #planning committees experience this regularly.
The context unclear if you don’t see the entire cartoon.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Why does everyone keep picking on billionaires? At least they stand up for what they believe in
It’s really not fair
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The context unclear if you don’t see the entire cartoon.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“Taxing wealth isn’t just about raising revenue. It’s also a means of tackling the spiralling inequality that has a corrosive effect on democracy and allows for oligarchic concentrations of political and economic power.” Will the chancellor #TaxTheRich?
Increase taxes for working people, or make the super-rich pay their fair share? The answer seems obvious – but not to Labour | Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah
Increase taxes for working people, or make the super-rich pay their fair share? The answer seems obvious – but not to Labour | Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah
Rachel Reeves has unnecessarily blocked her options of what to include in her budget, says Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah of the New Economics Foundation
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
“Taxing wealth isn’t just about raising revenue. It’s also a means of tackling the spiralling inequality that has a corrosive effect on democracy and allows for oligarchic concentrations of political and economic power.” Will the chancellor #TaxTheRich?
Reposted by Richard Bates
Michael Mullaney, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, said:
"£1.4m is a lot of money to spend on consultants to cut costs. The reality is the council has been cutting its spending for years and if there were more savings to be found, they would have been identified."
"£1.4m is a lot of money to spend on consultants to cut costs. The reality is the council has been cutting its spending for years and if there were more savings to be found, they would have been identified."
Reform in Leicestershire to hand consultants £1.3m of pubic money to tell it what to do
Leicestershire County Council is run by a minority Reform UK administration. And like Reform up and down the country, it took power with no ...
liberalengland.blogspot.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Michael Mullaney, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, said:
"£1.4m is a lot of money to spend on consultants to cut costs. The reality is the council has been cutting its spending for years and if there were more savings to be found, they would have been identified."
"£1.4m is a lot of money to spend on consultants to cut costs. The reality is the council has been cutting its spending for years and if there were more savings to be found, they would have been identified."
Reposted by Richard Bates
Low bills & clean energy.
This is the future that Reform is trying to thwart
This is the future that Reform is trying to thwart
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Low bills & clean energy.
This is the future that Reform is trying to thwart
This is the future that Reform is trying to thwart
More evidence of underfunded public services. Prison sources say the overcrowding crisis is partly to blame for the sharp increase in “releases in error” – the official description for the mistakes. The number of prisoners released by mistake has more than doubled in one year, official figures show.
Mistakenly released prisoner Billy Smith turns himself in
Mistakenly released prisoner Billy Smith turns himself in
Smith, 35, was released in error from Wandsworth prison on same day he was jailed for fraud
Billy Smith, who was mistakenly released from Wandsworth prison, has handed himself back in, sources said.
Smith, 35, was sentenced to 45 months for multiple fraud offences on Monday and freed in error the same day. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:56 AM
More evidence of underfunded public services. Prison sources say the overcrowding crisis is partly to blame for the sharp increase in “releases in error” – the official description for the mistakes. The number of prisoners released by mistake has more than doubled in one year, official figures show.
Reposted by Richard Bates
If Biden had said anything half this dumb/crazy, he would have been removed under the 25th Amendment by the end of the week.
The only reason Republicans don’t remove an obviously unfit president is because they’re no longer a political party.
They’re a crime syndicate.
The only reason Republicans don’t remove an obviously unfit president is because they’re no longer a political party.
They’re a crime syndicate.
Trump: "For generations Miami has been a haven for those fleeing communist tyranny in South Africa. I mean, if you take a look at what's going on in parts of South Africa. Look at South Africa, what's going on. Look at South America, what's going on. You know, we have a G20 meeting in South Africa."
November 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
If Biden had said anything half this dumb/crazy, he would have been removed under the 25th Amendment by the end of the week.
The only reason Republicans don’t remove an obviously unfit president is because they’re no longer a political party.
They’re a crime syndicate.
The only reason Republicans don’t remove an obviously unfit president is because they’re no longer a political party.
They’re a crime syndicate.
“Hold Milanovic’s lens over Trump and what do you see? Not an all-powerful emperor, nor some scheming bureaucrat like Putin – but the US’s Yeltsin. He is the buffoon presiding over his country’s decline in influence and importance, while behind him in the shadows the oligarchs carve up the spoils.”
The Zohran Mamdani method can work beyond New York. Take the fight to the right | Aditya Chakrabortty
The Zohran Mamdani method can work beyond New York. Take the fight to the right | Aditya Chakrabortty
For too long, the centre has been adopting the language of the right but deploying it with greater civility – to disastrous ends, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:22 PM
“Hold Milanovic’s lens over Trump and what do you see? Not an all-powerful emperor, nor some scheming bureaucrat like Putin – but the US’s Yeltsin. He is the buffoon presiding over his country’s decline in influence and importance, while behind him in the shadows the oligarchs carve up the spoils.”
Has the chancellor heard this well-reasoned argument to #TaxTheRich to balance the budget?
Whilst the rest of us struggle, the super-rich just keep getting richer and richer. 🤑
That's why at this budget, tax rises should be on wealth not work.
🔥 🔥 Our very own Faiza Shaheen made the case on #BBCQT last night. 🔥 🔥
That's why at this budget, tax rises should be on wealth not work.
🔥 🔥 Our very own Faiza Shaheen made the case on #BBCQT last night. 🔥 🔥
November 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Has the chancellor heard this well-reasoned argument to #TaxTheRich to balance the budget?
“As our population ages and a greater number of people die each year, without action this will place our health and care system under ever greater pressure. In 10 years, the need for end-of-life care will rise by 10% compared with today. More than 60,000 more people will need care every year.” #EOLC
Why we must tackle the crisis in end-of-life care | Hospices | The Guardian - goo.gl/alerts/w1bTge #GoogleAlerts
Why we must tackle the crisis in end-of-life care | Letters
Letters: Dr Sam Royston calls for a national delivery plan and sustainable funding, while James Sanderson says it’s time for the hospice sector to wake up. Plus letters from Kate Kirk and Ian Spero
goo.gl
November 3, 2025 at 9:36 AM
“As our population ages and a greater number of people die each year, without action this will place our health and care system under ever greater pressure. In 10 years, the need for end-of-life care will rise by 10% compared with today. More than 60,000 more people will need care every year.” #EOLC
A quick history lesson on a particular ballroom.
November 2, 2025 at 6:28 PM
November 2, 2025 at 6:23 PM
“The over-the-top rhetoric, the fabricated conspiracies, the weird videos of a US president with a crown on his head flying a fighter jet and dumping poop on protesting citizens, all of that is designed to distract you from the fact that your situation has not gotten better,” says #Obama
As Barack Obama stumps for other Democrats, the party gets to see what it lost
As Barack Obama stumps for other Democrats, the party gets to see what it lost
The wit and wisdom of the superstar ex-US president make him the best candidate – too bad he can’t run
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 10:08 AM
“The over-the-top rhetoric, the fabricated conspiracies, the weird videos of a US president with a crown on his head flying a fighter jet and dumping poop on protesting citizens, all of that is designed to distract you from the fact that your situation has not gotten better,” says #Obama
Food poverty is not a weapon.
In an incredible speech, Mallory McMorrow just revealed how Trump is illegally cutting SNAP. Every American needs to see this.
October 29, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Food poverty is not a weapon.
Reposted by Richard Bates
Renter's Rights Act will make it easier for those renting their home who have cat companions! www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/c...
Cat-friendly rentals | Campaigns | Cats Protection
If you're a landlord, housing organisation, existing renter or a cat owner looking for a new home to rent, we have all the information and advice you need.
www.cats.org.uk
October 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Renter's Rights Act will make it easier for those renting their home who have cat companions! www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/c...
Chichester’s hospital, St Richard’s, has a cardiology service that we need to save. Please consider signing this petition. #SaveOurNHS
c.org/bMp2N4qnWC
c.org/bMp2N4qnWC
We Can Make an Impact.
Stop the closure of this essential Cardiology service at St Richards Hospital (Chichester)
c.org
October 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Chichester’s hospital, St Richard’s, has a cardiology service that we need to save. Please consider signing this petition. #SaveOurNHS
c.org/bMp2N4qnWC
c.org/bMp2N4qnWC
Today in Parliament, Chichester’s Liberal Democrat MP @jessbrownfullermp.bsky.social remarks to a member of another party, “We’re here every day! Where are you?”
October 29, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Today in Parliament, Chichester’s Liberal Democrat MP @jessbrownfullermp.bsky.social remarks to a member of another party, “We’re here every day! Where are you?”
Hospices provide end-of-life and palliative care independently from the NHS. In 2023–24, about 29% of income for hospices came from the government. Most of their income was generated from charitable sources, such as charity shops and donations.
More hospice beds are needed, not fewer.
More hospice beds are needed, not fewer.
Hundreds of hospice beds and staff cut in England amid funding crisis
Hundreds of hospice beds and staff cut in England amid funding crisis
National Audit Office reports nearly two-thirds of independent hospices in deficit in 2023-24 as demand increases
Hospices in England are cutting hundreds of beds and staff because of a funding crisis, despite a sharp rise in demand for palliative care, a damning report warns.
People needing end of life care faced a postcode lottery because access to services was so patchy, the National Audit Office (NAO) reported. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Hospices provide end-of-life and palliative care independently from the NHS. In 2023–24, about 29% of income for hospices came from the government. Most of their income was generated from charitable sources, such as charity shops and donations.
More hospice beds are needed, not fewer.
More hospice beds are needed, not fewer.
The solution to the UK #HousingCrisis isn’t to build more of them.
“More than 1.3 million families in England are on social housing waiting lists.. Their ranks have swelled by 37% since 2015, and a record 164,040 children are homeless and stuck in temporary accommodation, double the number in 2012.”
“More than 1.3 million families in England are on social housing waiting lists.. Their ranks have swelled by 37% since 2015, and a record 164,040 children are homeless and stuck in temporary accommodation, double the number in 2012.”
Right to buy in reverse: how Brighton is tackling its social housing crisis | Richard Partington
Right to buy in reverse: how Brighton is tackling its social housing crisis | Richard Partington
The council is rolling back Thatcher’s flagship policy by buying stock from private landlords. Other local authorities should take note
www.theguardian.com
October 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The solution to the UK #HousingCrisis isn’t to build more of them.
“More than 1.3 million families in England are on social housing waiting lists.. Their ranks have swelled by 37% since 2015, and a record 164,040 children are homeless and stuck in temporary accommodation, double the number in 2012.”
“More than 1.3 million families in England are on social housing waiting lists.. Their ranks have swelled by 37% since 2015, and a record 164,040 children are homeless and stuck in temporary accommodation, double the number in 2012.”