Duncan Smith
@dnmns.bsky.social
Software engineering, mountaineering, cycling, making things.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
"Yorkshire Water was privatised in 1989 under the Water Act, launched debt-free and promoted as the start of a new, efficient era.
What followed was anything but. Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt. Our rivers are polluted, our bills keep rising, and we’re told to pay still more..."
What followed was anything but. Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt. Our rivers are polluted, our bills keep rising, and we’re told to pay still more..."
Yorkshire Water: it’s time to end the rip-off
Handing the company back to local people would return both control and value to those who need it most
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 1:29 PM
"Yorkshire Water was privatised in 1989 under the Water Act, launched debt-free and promoted as the start of a new, efficient era.
What followed was anything but. Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt. Our rivers are polluted, our bills keep rising, and we’re told to pay still more..."
What followed was anything but. Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt. Our rivers are polluted, our bills keep rising, and we’re told to pay still more..."
Reposted by Duncan Smith
spending the first year in power appeasing the racists in an attempt to win over reform voters who will never vote for him then going "somehow, racism has returned" the second he finally sees people are abandoning him for the greens
Racism returning to UK politics – and people are very scared, says Starmer
Racism returning to UK politics – and people are very scared, says Starmer
PM attacks ‘toxic division of Reform’ and gives strongest signal yet that two-child benefit cap will be lifted
*
UK politics live – latest updates
Decades-old racism is returning to British politics, and “it makes people feel very scared” Keir Starmer has said, warning that divisive hard-right politics was “tearing our country apart”.
Speaking to GP and TV personality Amir Khan, the prime minister accused Nigel Farage’s Reform UK of overseeing a return of the racist and divisive politics “that frankly I thought we had dealt with decades ago”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
spending the first year in power appeasing the racists in an attempt to win over reform voters who will never vote for him then going "somehow, racism has returned" the second he finally sees people are abandoning him for the greens
Reposted by Duncan Smith
This current trend for companies to only make shareholder profits by endless mergers and cost stripping is a stark, stark red warning klaxon that their underlying business models are shot. Shareholder return merger cuts show an org is prioritising dividends over output quality.
Paramount “said in a letter to shareholders it plans an additional 1,600 job cuts as part of a goal to achieve at least $3 billion in cost savings.”
@bloomberg.com $PSKY
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@bloomberg.com $PSKY
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 11, 2025 at 10:17 AM
This current trend for companies to only make shareholder profits by endless mergers and cost stripping is a stark, stark red warning klaxon that their underlying business models are shot. Shareholder return merger cuts show an org is prioritising dividends over output quality.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
In an Adam Goldman story on how Kash Patel failed to deliver on a promise to MI5 to sustain a UK post key to 5 Eyes sharing...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/w...
November 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
In an Adam Goldman story on how Kash Patel failed to deliver on a promise to MI5 to sustain a UK post key to 5 Eyes sharing...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/w...
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Govt scraps all electrification investment. Midland Main Line to stay forever diesel Leicester Nottingham Derby Sheffield. Hugely embarrassing and inexplicable
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’
Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Govt scraps all electrification investment. Midland Main Line to stay forever diesel Leicester Nottingham Derby Sheffield. Hugely embarrassing and inexplicable
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Tech guys six months ago: haha yes we’re cutting all this WASTEFUL spending by eliminating medical research and USAID
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Tech guys six months ago: haha yes we’re cutting all this WASTEFUL spending by eliminating medical research and USAID
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Developers met ministers dozens of times over planning bill while ecologists were shut out
Developers met ministers dozens of times over planning bill while ecologists were shut out
Exclusive: Leading ecologists say warnings over threat to wildlife have been ignored in drive to build 1.5m new homes
The scale of lobbying of ministers by developers on Labour’s landmark planning changes, which seek to rip up environmental rules to boost growth, can be exposed as campaigners make last-ditch attempts to secure protections for nature.
The government published its planning and infrastructure bill in March. Before and after the bill’s publication the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and housing minister Matthew Pennycook have met dozens of developers in numerous meetings. The body representing professional ecologists, meanwhile, has not met one minister despite requests to do so. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Developers met ministers dozens of times over planning bill while ecologists were shut out
Reposted by Duncan Smith
#ActiveTravel 💲 cut confirmed
+ #Bus infra fears
--> www.spokes.org.uk/2025/11/acti...
@edi.bike @keithirving.bsky.social @transform.scot @edinburghbug.bsky.social @alastairdalton.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @markruskell.bsky.social @monicalennon.bsky.social @michaelmatheson.bsky.social
+ #Bus infra fears
--> www.spokes.org.uk/2025/11/acti...
@edi.bike @keithirving.bsky.social @transform.scot @edinburghbug.bsky.social @alastairdalton.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @markruskell.bsky.social @monicalennon.bsky.social @michaelmatheson.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Duncan Smith
"Where's your Poppy?!?" is not even virtue signalling, it's ENFORCED virtue signalling and UK conservatives fucking love it.
There's nothing about pinning on a flower that puts you in the trenches at Verdun - but it's considered laudable to signal affinity with veterans.
There's nothing about pinning on a flower that puts you in the trenches at Verdun - but it's considered laudable to signal affinity with veterans.
November 8, 2025 at 10:40 AM
"Where's your Poppy?!?" is not even virtue signalling, it's ENFORCED virtue signalling and UK conservatives fucking love it.
There's nothing about pinning on a flower that puts you in the trenches at Verdun - but it's considered laudable to signal affinity with veterans.
There's nothing about pinning on a flower that puts you in the trenches at Verdun - but it's considered laudable to signal affinity with veterans.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
The government has STILL not cleared out the highly partisan decision-makers imposed on the BBC by the Tories. Starmer and co are so amazingly spineless and feeble.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Boris Johnson trying to undermine BBC leadership, insiders fear after leak
Director general under pressure after release of memo criticising reporting on Trump, trans rights and Gaza
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:59 PM
The government has STILL not cleared out the highly partisan decision-makers imposed on the BBC by the Tories. Starmer and co are so amazingly spineless and feeble.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Duncan Smith
I would put more money on continuing to harvest infinite energy from the sun over assuming that forcing everyone to use The Machine The Lies To You is the steady basis of an entire economy
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
China has made cheap, clean energy available in huge quantities. The world should take the win econ.st/4oqFszB
Photo: Eyevine
Photo: Eyevine
November 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I would put more money on continuing to harvest infinite energy from the sun over assuming that forcing everyone to use The Machine The Lies To You is the steady basis of an entire economy
Reposted by Duncan Smith
The reality is that if the 2026 mid term elections are run fairly in the USA, the Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives and maybe even the Senate. The other reality is that the Trump Administration will not want that to happen. Do the math...
November 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
The reality is that if the 2026 mid term elections are run fairly in the USA, the Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives and maybe even the Senate. The other reality is that the Trump Administration will not want that to happen. Do the math...
Reposted by Duncan Smith
I know how they got to that point.
Because we’re a few steps behind, living through the “getting to that point” right now in the UK.
Because we’re a few steps behind, living through the “getting to that point” right now in the UK.
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this video.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
Federal agents pulling a woman out of Rayito Del Sol, a daycare by Lane Tech high school
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 AM
I know how they got to that point.
Because we’re a few steps behind, living through the “getting to that point” right now in the UK.
Because we’re a few steps behind, living through the “getting to that point” right now in the UK.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
"Action is needed locally, nationally, and internationally to curb sales of new SUVs and to reduce their presence in urban areas."
Editorial in the @bmj.com, November 2025
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Photo: Crispin Hughes
Editorial in the @bmj.com, November 2025
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Photo: Crispin Hughes
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 AM
"Action is needed locally, nationally, and internationally to curb sales of new SUVs and to reduce their presence in urban areas."
Editorial in the @bmj.com, November 2025
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Photo: Crispin Hughes
Editorial in the @bmj.com, November 2025
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Photo: Crispin Hughes
Reposted by Duncan Smith
If a chemical is too harmful to use here, it shouldn’t be used anywhere.
I’ll be asking the government what steps it is taking internationally to prevent this.
#Pesticides
I’ll be asking the government what steps it is taking internationally to prevent this.
#Pesticides
November 6, 2025 at 9:30 AM
If a chemical is too harmful to use here, it shouldn’t be used anywhere.
I’ll be asking the government what steps it is taking internationally to prevent this.
#Pesticides
I’ll be asking the government what steps it is taking internationally to prevent this.
#Pesticides
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Bonfire night used to be cold. You'd wear gloves and a hat and break the ice on the surface of puddles with your toes. Teeshirt weather these days. We are in deep, deep trouble.
November 6, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Bonfire night used to be cold. You'd wear gloves and a hat and break the ice on the surface of puddles with your toes. Teeshirt weather these days. We are in deep, deep trouble.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Can see why Labour waited for Lords stages before adding THIS to the Crime and Policing Bill.
Extending protest suppression to include vague ‘cumulative’ impacts (that could include OTHER protests!) will clearly be misused by police.
Lords must oppose this attack on our rights.
Extending protest suppression to include vague ‘cumulative’ impacts (that could include OTHER protests!) will clearly be misused by police.
Lords must oppose this attack on our rights.
🚨 BREAKING: The government has tabled their plan to restrict repeat protests.
Demonstrations could now banned based on the 'cumulative disruption' that previous protests have caused in the area - regardless of if they have been organised by the same people or not.
This is worse than we feared.
Demonstrations could now banned based on the 'cumulative disruption' that previous protests have caused in the area - regardless of if they have been organised by the same people or not.
This is worse than we feared.
Government's repeat protest restrictions worse than feared - Liberty
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk
November 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Can see why Labour waited for Lords stages before adding THIS to the Crime and Policing Bill.
Extending protest suppression to include vague ‘cumulative’ impacts (that could include OTHER protests!) will clearly be misused by police.
Lords must oppose this attack on our rights.
Extending protest suppression to include vague ‘cumulative’ impacts (that could include OTHER protests!) will clearly be misused by police.
Lords must oppose this attack on our rights.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
We abandoned public health as too expensive due to austerity, and a generation without support, good housing and even affordable food entered a respiratory disease pandemic that we went on and handled like idiots, because we had idiots in charge.
The number of people aged between 16 and 34 who are out of work due to long-term sickness increased by 76% between 2019 and 2024
UK ‘sliding into avoidable crisis’, major review into workplace sickness warns
The number of people aged between 16 and 34 who are out of work due to long-term sickness increased by 76% between 2019 and 2024
www.independent.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:37 AM
We abandoned public health as too expensive due to austerity, and a generation without support, good housing and even affordable food entered a respiratory disease pandemic that we went on and handled like idiots, because we had idiots in charge.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Oh wow did you hear about the mysterious fire next week
November 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Oh wow did you hear about the mysterious fire next week
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Outing can be deadly, but this would rule out every immunocompromised person from attending pride. Wearing masks "post-COVID" isn't optional for millions of people. This is an intersectional harm and Labour are just showing how little they care for disabled folks as well as queer and trans ones.
The police will have the power to make it a criminal offence to cover your face at a public protest if Labour’s proposed policing bill becomes law, putting LGBTQIA+ people attending Pride events in danger of being outed
New police powers could criminalise wearing a mask at Pride
The police will have the power to make it a criminal offence to cover your face at a public protest if Labour’s proposed policing bill becomes law, putting LGBTQIA+ people attending Pride events in danger of being outed
www.wearequeeraf.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Outing can be deadly, but this would rule out every immunocompromised person from attending pride. Wearing masks "post-COVID" isn't optional for millions of people. This is an intersectional harm and Labour are just showing how little they care for disabled folks as well as queer and trans ones.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
We will pay the price for Nigel Farage's Brexit - and Labour's cowardice - until we reverse it.
November 4, 2025 at 8:20 AM
We will pay the price for Nigel Farage's Brexit - and Labour's cowardice - until we reverse it.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
She is telling an accurate story of recent history - the triple punch of austerity, Brexit and covid. It's spot on. But it is terribly strange to say it now in government when you were not prepared to say it in opposition.
November 4, 2025 at 8:18 AM
She is telling an accurate story of recent history - the triple punch of austerity, Brexit and covid. It's spot on. But it is terribly strange to say it now in government when you were not prepared to say it in opposition.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Oho. This is interesting. A couple of my colleagues who are fairly conservative are *livid* that Amazon has just put out a flurry of developer job listings...in India. Jobs that literally replicate the U.S. jobs that Amazon just unceremoniously killed.
November 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Oho. This is interesting. A couple of my colleagues who are fairly conservative are *livid* that Amazon has just put out a flurry of developer job listings...in India. Jobs that literally replicate the U.S. jobs that Amazon just unceremoniously killed.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
UK ‘to lose 600,000 workers to illness without better health support at work’.
Without good food, housing, healthcare people suffer. Need poverty reduction targets.
6.26m people in England awaiti 7.41m hospital appointments.
Privatisation of the NHS means money buys less, longer waits.
Without good food, housing, healthcare people suffer. Need poverty reduction targets.
6.26m people in England awaiti 7.41m hospital appointments.
Privatisation of the NHS means money buys less, longer waits.
UK ‘to lose 600,000 workers to illness without better health support at work’
Exclusive: Royal Society of Public Health says ‘fundamental shift’ needed in how firms help those with health conditions
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
UK ‘to lose 600,000 workers to illness without better health support at work’.
Without good food, housing, healthcare people suffer. Need poverty reduction targets.
6.26m people in England awaiti 7.41m hospital appointments.
Privatisation of the NHS means money buys less, longer waits.
Without good food, housing, healthcare people suffer. Need poverty reduction targets.
6.26m people in England awaiti 7.41m hospital appointments.
Privatisation of the NHS means money buys less, longer waits.
Reposted by Duncan Smith
Bumbling morons, yes, but also insecure and vindictive petty tyrants that believe themselves invincible and above any laws while wielding enormous destructive power.
FBI Director Kash Patel has fired a man who he believes is responsible for media reports showing Patel used his FBI jet to fly to see his girlfriend sing at an event, according to reports.
'They were baffled': FBI insiders stunned over firing related to Kash Patel's girlfriend
FBI Director Kash Patel has fired a man who he believes is responsible for media reports showing Patel used his FBI jet to fly to see his girlfriend sing at an event, according to reports.Bloomberg La...
www.rawstory.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Bumbling morons, yes, but also insecure and vindictive petty tyrants that believe themselves invincible and above any laws while wielding enormous destructive power.