Gareth Roberts
@garethroberts3.bsky.social
Welsh/Cymro, Barrister, occasional contributor to Byline Times; author of Whatever Happened To Billy Parks? (Winner of the Jerwood Prize 2014) + Confessions of a Barrister, also enthusiastic rugby coach and collector of vinyl records - what’s not to like!
Pinned
I don’t want to be angry anymore. I want to talk about ideas, old footballers, bands I loved and bands I could grow to love.
I don’t want to be hated, but I’m happy to be proved wrong.
I want to find optimism.
And yes, amongst all of this I’m happy to look at dog videos.
I don’t want to be hated, but I’m happy to be proved wrong.
I want to find optimism.
And yes, amongst all of this I’m happy to look at dog videos.
Donald Trump's threat to sue the BBC for $1B is an affront to law. It's akin to a prosecutor in a criminal court saying that a defendant charged with stealing a bag of crisps should be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. His lawyers should be ashamed of themselves but I guess they're not.
November 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Donald Trump's threat to sue the BBC for $1B is an affront to law. It's akin to a prosecutor in a criminal court saying that a defendant charged with stealing a bag of crisps should be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. His lawyers should be ashamed of themselves but I guess they're not.
When you consider that this man is encouraging a violent uprising in the UK the fact that he is so close to creating clone armies that can be deployed as he pleases is truly terrifying.
November 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM
When you consider that this man is encouraging a violent uprising in the UK the fact that he is so close to creating clone armies that can be deployed as he pleases is truly terrifying.
Drove passed a church in my village today, it was covered in large poppies - I'm not opposed to it, but I am conflicted: are they celebrating the needless death of millions of soldiers or is it some demonstration of 'Britishness'... what are they trying say, what do they want to achieve?
November 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Drove passed a church in my village today, it was covered in large poppies - I'm not opposed to it, but I am conflicted: are they celebrating the needless death of millions of soldiers or is it some demonstration of 'Britishness'... what are they trying say, what do they want to achieve?
I'd like some new followers please.
So here's a gratuitous photo of my dog, Rango.
And can I add that my dog, as well as being gorgeous and clever and a thoroughly good boy, is also a progressive, liberal-minded dog with impeccable taste in music and an engaging interest in current affairs.
So here's a gratuitous photo of my dog, Rango.
And can I add that my dog, as well as being gorgeous and clever and a thoroughly good boy, is also a progressive, liberal-minded dog with impeccable taste in music and an engaging interest in current affairs.
November 6, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I'd like some new followers please.
So here's a gratuitous photo of my dog, Rango.
And can I add that my dog, as well as being gorgeous and clever and a thoroughly good boy, is also a progressive, liberal-minded dog with impeccable taste in music and an engaging interest in current affairs.
So here's a gratuitous photo of my dog, Rango.
And can I add that my dog, as well as being gorgeous and clever and a thoroughly good boy, is also a progressive, liberal-minded dog with impeccable taste in music and an engaging interest in current affairs.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.
November 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.
You listen to Reform and get the clear impression that its policies are made by middle-aged white blokes standing by bars in pubs listing the people they don't like: young people, foreigners, people with anxiety, gays, lefty lawyers. It's not how you run a country. bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Nigel Farage Says Minimum Wage Should Be Cut for Young People
The Reform leader said cutting the minimum wage for young people would boost business, as he attacked plans to raise taxes on the wealthy
bylinetimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:23 PM
You listen to Reform and get the clear impression that its policies are made by middle-aged white blokes standing by bars in pubs listing the people they don't like: young people, foreigners, people with anxiety, gays, lefty lawyers. It's not how you run a country. bylinetimes.com/2025/11/03/n...
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Never have I seen such a perfect example of Schrödinger's Migrant.
Zia Yusuf, asked whose PIP Reform would cut, talks about "foreign nationals". Less than a minute later, same "foreign nationals" are taking all the jobs and damning British youth to life on PIP.
🤡 Utter clownshow. ~AA
Zia Yusuf, asked whose PIP Reform would cut, talks about "foreign nationals". Less than a minute later, same "foreign nationals" are taking all the jobs and damning British youth to life on PIP.
🤡 Utter clownshow. ~AA
November 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Never have I seen such a perfect example of Schrödinger's Migrant.
Zia Yusuf, asked whose PIP Reform would cut, talks about "foreign nationals". Less than a minute later, same "foreign nationals" are taking all the jobs and damning British youth to life on PIP.
🤡 Utter clownshow. ~AA
Zia Yusuf, asked whose PIP Reform would cut, talks about "foreign nationals". Less than a minute later, same "foreign nationals" are taking all the jobs and damning British youth to life on PIP.
🤡 Utter clownshow. ~AA
The UK economy is a mess - but those who voted for the Tory's austerity programme in 2010 or 2015, or Brexit in 2016, contributed directly to that mess, so, rather than screaming about Rachel Reeves or Keir Starmer and
@UKLabour they should be hanging their heads in shame.
@UKLabour they should be hanging their heads in shame.
October 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The UK economy is a mess - but those who voted for the Tory's austerity programme in 2010 or 2015, or Brexit in 2016, contributed directly to that mess, so, rather than screaming about Rachel Reeves or Keir Starmer and
@UKLabour they should be hanging their heads in shame.
@UKLabour they should be hanging their heads in shame.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Never in the history of the US has any president openly and repeatedly called for the investigation, arrest & prosecution of his political opponents. While many continue to shrug these things off and normalize them, I will never stop pointing out that this is what autocrats do.
October 29, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Never in the history of the US has any president openly and repeatedly called for the investigation, arrest & prosecution of his political opponents. While many continue to shrug these things off and normalize them, I will never stop pointing out that this is what autocrats do.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
"A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought"
- Ronald Reagan
- Ronald Reagan
October 30, 2025 at 3:11 AM
"A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought"
- Ronald Reagan
- Ronald Reagan
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Reform’s only Black branch chair quits over ‘harmful’ migration debate
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform’s only Black branch chair quits over ‘harmful’ migration debate
Exclusive: Neville Watson leaves amid concerns about weaponisation of religion and erosion of community relations
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Reform’s only Black branch chair quits over ‘harmful’ migration debate
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
My Dad, the son of a saw mill worker, who managed to end up in the House of Lords turns 90!
Happy birthday Dad, may you continue to piss off the Daily Mail for many years to come!
Happy birthday Dad, may you continue to piss off the Daily Mail for many years to come!
October 21, 2025 at 9:12 AM
My Dad, the son of a saw mill worker, who managed to end up in the House of Lords turns 90!
Happy birthday Dad, may you continue to piss off the Daily Mail for many years to come!
Happy birthday Dad, may you continue to piss off the Daily Mail for many years to come!
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
How is it taking them this long to work this out?
October 20, 2025 at 6:41 AM
How is it taking them this long to work this out?
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Imagine the life-long cocktail of ignorance, arrogance and obliviousness, for a man with the face of Jeremy Clarkson, to pass unsolicited commentary on someone else’s appearance…
October 19, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Imagine the life-long cocktail of ignorance, arrogance and obliviousness, for a man with the face of Jeremy Clarkson, to pass unsolicited commentary on someone else’s appearance…
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
cops tackling and marching off with a giant penis, Kristi Noem menacing a chicken she swears is antifa, feds pepper-spraying a frog
ridicule is an extremely effective protest tactic and foil for authoritarianism
ridicule is an extremely effective protest tactic and foil for authoritarianism
Well, you can finally cross “I’ve seen a handcuffed, inflatable penis” off your bucket list
October 19, 2025 at 2:49 AM
cops tackling and marching off with a giant penis, Kristi Noem menacing a chicken she swears is antifa, feds pepper-spraying a frog
ridicule is an extremely effective protest tactic and foil for authoritarianism
ridicule is an extremely effective protest tactic and foil for authoritarianism
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Reform candidate visibly squirms as he's confronted by a local family in Caerphilly.
👏 "We've lived here all our lives. And I have never felt so unwelcome in my own hometown as I do since your party came into Caerphilly."
"With all the rhetoric that you bring in, I have to say to my sons, please don't go there. Please don't do this."
"I blame you for that."
"With all the rhetoric that you bring in, I have to say to my sons, please don't go there. Please don't do this."
"I blame you for that."
October 16, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Reform candidate visibly squirms as he's confronted by a local family in Caerphilly.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
October 16, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.
October 9, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Congratulations to Maria Corina Machado, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize - her incredible optimism has already changed her country. I spoke to her, and wrote about her, at the beginning of this year:
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
The ‘Anthropological Change’ Happening in Venezuela
Maduro is still in place, but a pro-democracy movement is transforming the beleaguered country.
www.theatlantic.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Congratulations to Maria Corina Machado, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize - her incredible optimism has already changed her country. I spoke to her, and wrote about her, at the beginning of this year:
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
I can’t believe I have to say this, but historically, masked men who kidnap families in the middle of the night are usually not the good guys.
October 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I can’t believe I have to say this, but historically, masked men who kidnap families in the middle of the night are usually not the good guys.
I wrote this for @bylinetimes.bsky.social - in summary, Jenrick's proposals to undermine the independence of the judiciary demonstrate that he is either a would-be authoritarian despot, or someone who is absolutely clueless about the machinary of the British constitution and the Justice System.
🔴‘Robert Jenrick’s Authoritarian Plans for the Justice System Are Straight Out of the Trump Playbook’
Just look at America to see what happens when an authoritarian narcissist, decides that he is more powerful than any court of law, argues Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/r...
Just look at America to see what happens when an authoritarian narcissist, decides that he is more powerful than any court of law, argues Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/r...
'Robert Jenrick's Authoritarian Plans for the Justice System Are Straight Out of the Trump Playbook'
One only has to look at Trump's America to see what happens when a government, led by a narcissist with an authoritarian bent, decides that he is more powerful than any court of law, argues Gareth Rob...
bylinetimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:24 AM
I wrote this for @bylinetimes.bsky.social - in summary, Jenrick's proposals to undermine the independence of the judiciary demonstrate that he is either a would-be authoritarian despot, or someone who is absolutely clueless about the machinary of the British constitution and the Justice System.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
🔴‘Robert Jenrick’s Authoritarian Plans for the Justice System Are Straight Out of the Trump Playbook’
Just look at America to see what happens when an authoritarian narcissist, decides that he is more powerful than any court of law, argues Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/r...
Just look at America to see what happens when an authoritarian narcissist, decides that he is more powerful than any court of law, argues Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/r...
'Robert Jenrick's Authoritarian Plans for the Justice System Are Straight Out of the Trump Playbook'
One only has to look at Trump's America to see what happens when a government, led by a narcissist with an authoritarian bent, decides that he is more powerful than any court of law, argues Gareth Rob...
bylinetimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:06 AM
🔴‘Robert Jenrick’s Authoritarian Plans for the Justice System Are Straight Out of the Trump Playbook’
Just look at America to see what happens when an authoritarian narcissist, decides that he is more powerful than any court of law, argues Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/r...
Just look at America to see what happens when an authoritarian narcissist, decides that he is more powerful than any court of law, argues Gareth Roberts
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/08/r...
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
Dear Lord, it’s actually worse than the extract @stephenkb.bsky.social shared. Quite a lot worse.
October 3, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Dear Lord, it’s actually worse than the extract @stephenkb.bsky.social shared. Quite a lot worse.
Reposted by Gareth Roberts
