Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

the Blairite urge to call anyone vaguely left of centre 'Trots' still alive and well then. Was tedious when I was involved in student politics in the 90s and clearly nothing has changed in thirty years

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 6h

So Wes Streeting allies want him to become Prime Minister - for the Labour Government to tank even faster.

We don't have time to play these silly games - people are suffering now.

Keep growing the alternative - they need replacing.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

A Streeting ally said the recent momentum behind the green party would be a boon as it had driven "the trots out."

November 14, 2025 at 10:10 AM

Reposted by Geoff

Jack Yeo but it's November now

@jackryeo.bsky.social

At the

November 14, 2025 at 7:39 AM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 39/50

Lana Del Rey - A&W (USA, 2023)

A good pair with yesterday's choice, Lana at her darkest and most haunting

November 14, 2025 at 7:54 AM

Reposted by Geoff

Danielle Blake

@abradacabla.bsky.social

What is the actual fucking point of Starmer and Reeves? Why have they wasted their own and everyone’s time doing absolutely nothing with the two roles which are specifically empowered to make the hard choices needed for the betterment of the country?

November 13, 2025 at 10:50 PM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 38/50

Ethel Cain - GIBSON GIRL (USA, 2022)

Gothic, sexy Americana

Gibson Girl (Official Visualizer) - Ethel Cain

YouTube video by Ethel Cain

www.youtube.com

November 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM

Reposted by Geoff

Mark Grimshaw

@markgrimshawtism.bsky.social

If the Prescott memo is true, and there is a secret cabal of LGBTQ+ journalists stopping any negative stories about trans people being published or aired at BBC News, then, I have to say, they’re doing a really fucking shit job of that.

November 12, 2025 at 10:41 AM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 37/50

Du Blonde & Ezra Furman (UK / USA, 2021)

Two minutes of perfect power pop

Du Blonde - 'I'm Glad That We Broke Up' (feat. Ezra Furman) - Official Video

YouTube video by Du Blonde

www.youtube.com

November 12, 2025 at 11:32 AM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 36/50

This is decade I turned 50, and dammit my cynical old heart has at times got all nostalgic about fun times from my youth in London. Annie was part of that time, and she's nostalgic too.

Take it away, Johnny...

Annie - THE STREETS WHERE I BELONG (Norway, 2020)

Annie - The Streets Where I Belong

YouTube video by WSTG Musikk & Videos

www.youtube.com

November 11, 2025 at 11:10 AM

Reposted by Geoff

NJ

@nojusticemtg.bsky.social

Emily Maitlis admitting she worked at the bbc to try and get healthcare for trans people shut down

November 10, 2025 at 9:55 PM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

I entirely missed Grunge which happened while I was a student because I spent the entire time clubbing

Angus Dunican @angusdunican.bsky.social · 5d

What is your biggest musical blindspot for someone precisely your age?

For me - an elder millennial - it is that I have never knowingly listened to INCUBUS, nor could I name even one of their songs if you put a gun to my head.

November 10, 2025 at 9:20 AM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 35/50 BONUS 11

Central Cee x Dave - SPRINTER (UK, 2023)

The most-streamed UK rap track of all time, a global hit and deservedly so. Funny, original, and catchy as fuck.

Central Cee x Dave - Sprinter [Music Video]

YouTube video by Central Cee

www.youtube.com

November 10, 2025 at 8:52 AM

Reposted by Geoff

Will Jennings📉🗳️

@drjennings.bsky.social

Be clear, the American far right are coming for British democracy.

November 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 34/50

Ozoda - KO'K JIGULI (Uzebkistan, 2024)

Tigress of the East klaxon

Ozoda - Ko'k jiguli (Official Music Video 2024)

YouTube video by Ozoda

www.youtube.com

November 9, 2025 at 12:13 PM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 33/50

Lady Gaga - ABRACADABRA (USA, 2025)

Obviously I missed a trick not posting this on Halloween. Gaga back at her most ridiculous, most OTT, most fabulous

Lady Gaga - Abracadabra (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by LadyGagaVEVO

youtu.be

November 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM

Reposted by Geoff

Not In Our Name (NION) Women

@nionwomen.bsky.social

💬 The City of London consultation on the ponds is open until 25 November. It’s important that women who support inclusion take part.

Read our new piece to learn more and find out how you can have your say:

🔗 notinourname.org.uk/nion-women-rejects-anti-trans-narrative-at-kenwood-ladies-pond/

4/5

NION Women Rejects Anti-Trans Narrative at Kenwood Ladies Pond - Not in our name

NION women supports the previous decision by members to keep the Kenwood ponds inclusive, and calls for people to engage in the consultation

notinourname.org.uk

November 7, 2025 at 9:06 AM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 32/50

Shamir - CAUGHT UP (USA, 2022)

One minor hit in 2015, and since then he's released 10 albums, mostly lo-fi, independently released, genre-hopping but always raw and honest and queer, I think he may be my favourite artist of the last ten years.

Shamir - Caught Up (Official Audio)

YouTube video by Shamir Bailey

www.youtube.com

November 7, 2025 at 10:39 AM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 31/50

Bad Boy Chiller Crew ft S.Dog - 450 (UK, 2020)

Second of my trip of UK rap picks. Bassline was my favourite microgenre of the noughties, so i was delighted to see it back in the twenties and this is the highlight.

Bad Boy Chiller Crew - 450 (2020 Video) ft. S Dog

YouTube video by BBCCVEVO

youtu.be

November 6, 2025 at 10:29 AM

Reposted by Geoff

Archai

@archai.bsky.social

This needs more attention: Zohran SPLIT the straights with Cuomo. ALL of his margin was from LGBTQ+ voters. Every Dem who ever said “we should abandon the transes” needs this shoved down their fucking throat with a ramrod.

Photo of NBC’s exit poll data (from my work laptop, lol) showing Mamdani splitting the straight vote equally with Cuomo, but taking the LGBTQ+ vote by more than 5:1. Even though the LGBTQ+ slice is only 14% of the population, they were a LANDSLIDE in his favor.

November 5, 2025 at 5:39 AM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5

Anna Erhard - BOTANICAL GARDEN (Switzerland, 2024)

Flirts dangerously close to novelty but her very dry delivery keeps it funny. Also one of my live highlights of this year (with a shout-out to the uber fans who brought inflatable fish just to wave along at the Koi Carp line)

Botanical Garden

YouTube video by Anna Erhard - Topic

youtu.be

November 5, 2025 at 10:15 AM

Reposted by Geoff

Tom Roberts

@tpgroberts.bsky.social

Yeah, I'm sorry but the idea that being a racist cunt is a protected characteristic now is extremely clearly not the intent of the law and it's ridiculous to pretend it is.

Snigdha @snig.bsky.social · 9d

The District Judge doesn't consider each of the 5 limbs of Grainger, neither does he set out what Tommy Robinson said his beliefs were. How does this lead to a conclusion of Robinson having a protected belief?

Findings

37.1 find it concerning that the officers have no real recollection of questions asked of you. I found this unhelpful and did not assist me in being able to make any proper determination of what was in the mind of the PC Thorogood at the time he made the initial decision to stop you especially after such a short period of time and thereafter the unexplained delays while you were stopped at the booth. His evidence does not assist me in making a finding that the true and dominant purpose for stopping you was in accordance with Schedule 7 and the appropriate selection criteria. The officer also appeared confused about his powers under Schedule 7 and at what point the examination started or when he made a decision to detain you. There appears to be a period of 22 minutes when you were held at the booth in full public view before being directed to holding bay 5 and then a further delay. In total from initial stop, of over 40 minutes before it appears you are being detained.

38. Other than security background checks on you which revealed nothing according to the officers, I find that all three officers seemed fundamentally unclear about what was happening during that period of time. This affects the reliability of their evidence.

39. Albeit, PC Thorogood gave his selection criteria, what I find troubling is that PC Thorogood had already identified you as the driver as you approached his booth and he knew who you were. This gave an impression of an arbitrary stop for who you are and your beliefs rather than the selection criteria. PS Farmer gave evidence that he was told by PC Thorogood that he had concerns about your links to the far-right. He was unaware that PC Thorogood had made his selection after only 34 seconds of questions. I find that PC Thorogood had no recollection of what questions he asked you during examination which did not have links to your political beliefs. These observations are equally applicable to PC Stride's evidence. It does not assist …

41. Despite the selection criteria being described by PC Thorogood as relating to the car you were travelling in and the vehicle not being registered to you, your lack of a pre-booked journey, your travel plans and evasiveness, I cannot put out of my mind that it was actually what you stood for and your beliefs that acted as a principle reason for the stop and acted as a significant influence on PC Thorogood's thinking and decision making. Those beliefs amounting to a protected characteristic rather for the purposes of determining whether you appear to be a person falling within section 40(1)(b)", namely a person who is or has been concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

42. That is at the forefront of my concern. None of the officers can satisfy me otherwise due to their inability to recall or expand upon questions they asked you or topics that were covered during the examination process or explain what appears to be a complete lack of expedition between the time of your initial stop and the decision being made to detain you. As I have said earlier, I accept it may be impossible to drawn a line between your political beliefs, philosophical beliefs and terrorism as there can be a clear overlap. A police officer wishing to question you for the purpose of determining whether you are a terrorist or have links to terrorism through associates may wish to explore the nature and intensity of those beliefs, your mindset, your associations and an officer will not know initially what side of the line you may fall. They may cross the line into terrorism or links to terrorism within the spirit of the purposes of Schedule 7. However, in this case, based on the evidence, although your political views and interests may be a factor in making a determination under s. 40, the inability for the officers to remember what questions were asked or what topics were covered with any degree of reliability calls into question whether I can be satisfied t…

45. I must address two questions namely: (i) was the purpose of the stop for the statutory purpose set out in para 2(1) of Sch.7? and (ii) did your protected characteristics have a significant influence on the decision to stop? These are separate questions, and each must be asked. If there is evidence of unlawful discrimination, it is for the Crown to satisfy me so I am sure there was no unlawful discrimination before a conviction may be imposed.

46. The answer to the first question is, based on the officer' evidence I cannot be sure. The answer to the second question is, based on the officers' evidence, I find that a protected characteristic appears to have had a significant influence on PC Thorogood's decision making. As I have found above, I cannot put out of my mind that it was actually what you stood for and your beliefs that acted as a principal reason for the stop and acted as a significant influence on PC Thorogood's thinking and decision making. This is based on his evidence and that of the other officers. I am unsure if the "true and dominant purpose" fell within the powers conferred by Schedule 7.

47. In light of my findings the prosecution has therefore failed to satisfy me so I am sure there was no unlawful discrimination. Based on that, if the decision to stop and examine you was not in accordance with the statutory purpose, it is not lawful and I cannot convict you of an offence under para 18(1)(c).

48.I therefore find you not guilty.

Grainger criteria

To qualify as a 'philosophical belief' under the Equality Act, the belief must satisfy the five criteria set out at para 24 in Grainger plc v Nicholson [2010] and mirrored in the Equality and Human Rights Commission Code of Practice 2011. These are that:

The belief must be genuinely held

The belief must not simply be an opinion or viewpoint based on the present state of information available

The belief must concern a weighty and substantial aspect of human life and behaviour

The belief must attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance

The belief must be worthy of respect in a democratic society, not be incompatible with human dignity and not be in conflict with the fundamental rights of others.

November 4, 2025 at 11:21 PM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

I really hope this story is true. Vote Phyllis.

A quote from YouTube that describes the time Phyllis Nelson made a surprise visit to a Royal Navy ship

November 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

#TheTwen2ie5 29/50

Caroline Polachek - WELCOME TO MY ISLAND (2023, USA)

Surely if there's anywhere she's safe from the Polachek zone it's here? Or will vote-splitting leave her adrift?

Caroline Polachek - Welcome To My Island [Official Music Video]

YouTube video by Caroline Polachek

www.youtube.com

November 4, 2025 at 1:56 PM

Geoff

@geoffdeburca.bsky.social

It seems crazy now that these were ever considered, and London had a lucky escape. And yet Berlin is still doing this, blasting through neighbourhoods to create an inner city motorway no-one wants or needs

SABRE Maps @maps.sabre-roads.org.uk · 11d

London's Ringways are a whole network of unbuilt urban motorways threaded through the capital. There's never been a complete map of them,not even one made by their designers, until now. Today we're publishing the Ringways Map from @roads.org.uk to let you see in the city that London nearly became.