Graeme McGregor
@graememcgregor.bsky.social
Human rights campaigner on migration, mental health and homelessness. Views my own or lazily parroted from someone more intelligent.
"You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read." James Baldwin
"You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read." James Baldwin
Reposted by Graeme McGregor
We interrupt tributes to Jesse Jackson to bring you your daily dose of racism.
Thanks, Beeb. Respectfully handled.
Thanks, Beeb. Respectfully handled.
February 17, 2026 at 11:42 AM
We interrupt tributes to Jesse Jackson to bring you your daily dose of racism.
Thanks, Beeb. Respectfully handled.
Thanks, Beeb. Respectfully handled.
"AI is here, whether we like it or not..."; "You might as well accept it and learn to live with it"... As much as these common phrases set my teeth on edge, I'm interested in what they imply about power and how people understand power, such that any major social change can be *inevitable*.
1/3
1/3
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
"AI is here, whether we like it or not..."; "You might as well accept it and learn to live with it"... As much as these common phrases set my teeth on edge, I'm interested in what they imply about power and how people understand power, such that any major social change can be *inevitable*.
1/3
1/3
Fantastic new episode of #DiabolicalLies, tackling the idea of "the tragedy of heterosexuality". Really thought provoking (and funny... Don't forget funny...)
open.spotify.com/episode/2BAO...
open.spotify.com/episode/2BAO...
Usha Vance, Rama Duwaji, & the Tragedy of Heterosexuality
open.spotify.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Fantastic new episode of #DiabolicalLies, tackling the idea of "the tragedy of heterosexuality". Really thought provoking (and funny... Don't forget funny...)
open.spotify.com/episode/2BAO...
open.spotify.com/episode/2BAO...
Given the absolute state of Labour's communications over the past 18 months, I'm not sure that Starmer losing his communications chief, Tim Allan, is a huge loss? Perhaps people with more insight into Number 10 and Labour leadership can explain why it would be...
Chris Mason: Starmer's predicament is dire and now he faces future without top aides
Sir Keir Starmer's administration appears rudderless after the loss of two key aides, writes Chris Mason.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Given the absolute state of Labour's communications over the past 18 months, I'm not sure that Starmer losing his communications chief, Tim Allan, is a huge loss? Perhaps people with more insight into Number 10 and Labour leadership can explain why it would be...
How do we live in a world that is flooded with disinformation, where many people seem to care less and less whether something is real or staged, sincere or dishonest?
I'm aware disinformation always existed, so perhaps this isn't new. But the *scale* feels new. Any thoughts or reading to recommend?
I'm aware disinformation always existed, so perhaps this isn't new. But the *scale* feels new. Any thoughts or reading to recommend?
February 7, 2026 at 3:07 PM
How do we live in a world that is flooded with disinformation, where many people seem to care less and less whether something is real or staged, sincere or dishonest?
I'm aware disinformation always existed, so perhaps this isn't new. But the *scale* feels new. Any thoughts or reading to recommend?
I'm aware disinformation always existed, so perhaps this isn't new. But the *scale* feels new. Any thoughts or reading to recommend?
After four+ years as Comms/Campaigns Manager at Detention Action, I am moving on and looking for a new role. I have twenty years experience in larger - Amnesty, Unicef UK - and smaller - SAMH, Depaul UK - charities, across advocacy and awareness raising. Feel free to approach me about roles! Ta :)
February 7, 2026 at 11:22 AM
After four+ years as Comms/Campaigns Manager at Detention Action, I am moving on and looking for a new role. I have twenty years experience in larger - Amnesty, Unicef UK - and smaller - SAMH, Depaul UK - charities, across advocacy and awareness raising. Feel free to approach me about roles! Ta :)
Also, what is this branding? Austere, imposing black writing on a grey banner with murky photo of a raised hand, with a little red triangle in the top corner? I saw this and immediately thought of 1984 and Brutalism. Umm.
November 29, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Also, what is this branding? Austere, imposing black writing on a grey banner with murky photo of a raised hand, with a little red triangle in the top corner? I saw this and immediately thought of 1984 and Brutalism. Umm.
Because... the far right can never be mainstream?
The far right becoming mainstream is exactly what non-fascists are trying to stop from happening...
The far right becoming mainstream is exactly what non-fascists are trying to stop from happening...
November 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Because... the far right can never be mainstream?
The far right becoming mainstream is exactly what non-fascists are trying to stop from happening...
The far right becoming mainstream is exactly what non-fascists are trying to stop from happening...
If we believe that the UK public want a government to provide control and stability, then they won't like Mahmood's new immigration and asylum rules. Creating more fiery hoops for refugees, survivors of trafficking and migrant families to jump through will only create more bureaucracy and chaos.
November 19, 2025 at 10:35 AM
If we believe that the UK public want a government to provide control and stability, then they won't like Mahmood's new immigration and asylum rules. Creating more fiery hoops for refugees, survivors of trafficking and migrant families to jump through will only create more bureaucracy and chaos.
The government's new plan will make the lives of refugees in the UK even more stressful, precarious and difficult, providing only 2.5 years protection at a time and delaying access to ILR. But only 2 months ago they published this research about employment and the mental health of refugees...
Refugee mental health and employment
www.gov.uk
November 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The government's new plan will make the lives of refugees in the UK even more stressful, precarious and difficult, providing only 2.5 years protection at a time and delaying access to ILR. But only 2 months ago they published this research about employment and the mental health of refugees...
One thing that's especially gross about the government's new refugee reforms is that they tie a person's protection from persecution to their economic value. Don't have "desirable" qualifications or professional experience? Go to the back of the queue the government is creating, and live in limbo.
November 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
One thing that's especially gross about the government's new refugee reforms is that they tie a person's protection from persecution to their economic value. Don't have "desirable" qualifications or professional experience? Go to the back of the queue the government is creating, and live in limbo.
The dogged obsession of those in power with "the pull factors" in asylum is not a reflection of reality, but of their unwillingness to do anything about the push factors. The Home Office's own 2020 research undermines the government's claims about "pull factors".
freemovement.org.uk/wp-content/u...
freemovement.org.uk/wp-content/u...
freemovement.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The dogged obsession of those in power with "the pull factors" in asylum is not a reflection of reality, but of their unwillingness to do anything about the push factors. The Home Office's own 2020 research undermines the government's claims about "pull factors".
freemovement.org.uk/wp-content/u...
freemovement.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Apart from this cartoonish, performative cruelty, has the government even considered the time, staff and resources required to review people's refugee status every 2.5 years? That's a massive, costly undertaking, and will obviously prevent refugees from building a stable life here.
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Apart from this cartoonish, performative cruelty, has the government even considered the time, staff and resources required to review people's refugee status every 2.5 years? That's a massive, costly undertaking, and will obviously prevent refugees from building a stable life here.
Imagine being proud of this nonsense. Have you shut your ears to hip hop, RnB, techno, pop music or rock 'n' roll, as well? Have you avoided all films or TV featuring or made by British people of colour? Do you boycott all sporting events? Do you just live in a joyless hole in the ground?
The British Right are just in total freefall into savagery at this point
October 18, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Imagine being proud of this nonsense. Have you shut your ears to hip hop, RnB, techno, pop music or rock 'n' roll, as well? Have you avoided all films or TV featuring or made by British people of colour? Do you boycott all sporting events? Do you just live in a joyless hole in the ground?
What real problems do people actually have that can be or are being solved by AI?
Waymo plans to expand its robotaxi service to London next year.
Waymo plans to bring its driverless taxis to London in 2026
Waymo plans to expand its robotaxi service to London next year. The company will start testing self-driving cars on London streets in the coming weeks with a human safety driver.
bit.ly
October 16, 2025 at 12:57 PM
What real problems do people actually have that can be or are being solved by AI?
Reposted by Graeme McGregor
I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter
Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them
Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them
October 7, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I know statistics are poorly understood and are misused. But facts matter
Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them
Between the 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021 Census *every* ethnic group in the UK has become *less* geographically segregated and *all* groups, majority and minorities, are more likely to interact with people not like them
Once again: What specifically are people concerned about? What do they want to be done about it? What do they see as the specific problems and desirable outcomes?
These polls are so ludicrously unhelpful. What could we possible learn from this?
These polls are so ludicrously unhelpful. What could we possible learn from this?
Never mind the economy, immigration is now a bigger conce...
As fears grow of a backlash against asylum seekers and a summer of disorder, polling shows a change in people’s priorities
observer.co.uk
July 28, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Once again: What specifically are people concerned about? What do they want to be done about it? What do they see as the specific problems and desirable outcomes?
These polls are so ludicrously unhelpful. What could we possible learn from this?
These polls are so ludicrously unhelpful. What could we possible learn from this?
I know the barn door is wide open and hanging off its hinges, but calling these "asylum hotels" or "migrant hotels" was such a massive, massive mistake.
A school repurposed as a bomb shelter is not a "bomb school". These are no longer hotels. They're simply big buildings with lots of rooms in them.
A school repurposed as a bomb shelter is not a "bomb school". These are no longer hotels. They're simply big buildings with lots of rooms in them.
Epping council votes to urge government to shut asylum hotel
Epping Forest District Council votes unanimously to push for the closure of the Bell Hotel after protests.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 25, 2025 at 11:01 AM
I know the barn door is wide open and hanging off its hinges, but calling these "asylum hotels" or "migrant hotels" was such a massive, massive mistake.
A school repurposed as a bomb shelter is not a "bomb school". These are no longer hotels. They're simply big buildings with lots of rooms in them.
A school repurposed as a bomb shelter is not a "bomb school". These are no longer hotels. They're simply big buildings with lots of rooms in them.
I just learned about my distant ancestor and fellow Scot, Sir Gregor MacGregor, the greatest conman of the 19th Century. Now I desperately want a darkly comic biopic written by @aiannucci.bsky.social and starring James McAvoy in the lead role. That's my Christmas wish.
Gregor MacGregor - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
July 22, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I just learned about my distant ancestor and fellow Scot, Sir Gregor MacGregor, the greatest conman of the 19th Century. Now I desperately want a darkly comic biopic written by @aiannucci.bsky.social and starring James McAvoy in the lead role. That's my Christmas wish.
What is this reporting from @theguardian.com ? The witnesses didn't say this "resembled a massacre". They said it *was a massacre*. Why misquote them?
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
At least 32 Palestinians killed in Gaza as IDF fires on crowds seeking food
Witnesses say scenes near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid hubs in the south of the territory resembled a massacre
www.theguardian.com
July 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
What is this reporting from @theguardian.com ? The witnesses didn't say this "resembled a massacre". They said it *was a massacre*. Why misquote them?
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Reposted by Graeme McGregor
If you're going to reheat a Blair-era policy you probably need to explain why, last time around, it was so badly run it ended up wrongly deporting thousands of people, some very likely to their deaths, and how you might avoid that this time.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
UK ministers draw up law to fast-track removal of migrants arriving from ‘safe’ countries
Disclosure comes as calm weather and fuller boats leading to more Channel arrivals, Home Office says
www.theguardian.com
June 4, 2025 at 6:52 AM
If you're going to reheat a Blair-era policy you probably need to explain why, last time around, it was so badly run it ended up wrongly deporting thousands of people, some very likely to their deaths, and how you might avoid that this time.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
New statistics on immigration detention show that less than 50% of people detained in the last year were ultimately removed. More than half the people detained were later released back into the community. Was this worth it, given the damage to people's mental health and disruption to their lives?
Net migration to UK down by half in 2024 compared with year before
Office for National Statistics estimate shows fall from 860,000 in 2023 to 431,000 last year
www.theguardian.com
May 22, 2025 at 12:56 PM
New statistics on immigration detention show that less than 50% of people detained in the last year were ultimately removed. More than half the people detained were later released back into the community. Was this worth it, given the damage to people's mental health and disruption to their lives?
"Return hubs" - likely to be a form of offshore detention centre - are, in my view, purely about optics. I can't see any useful, practical purpose they have apart from removing people from public sight, and hiding any consequent neglect, abuse and denial of their rights.
UK in talks on 'return hubs' for failed asylum-seekers (parallels recent EU proposal)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK to start talks on return hubs for failed asylum seekers
Sir Keir Starmer wants to send asylum seekers abroad after their claims have been rejected in the UK.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 15, 2025 at 12:16 PM
"Return hubs" - likely to be a form of offshore detention centre - are, in my view, purely about optics. I can't see any useful, practical purpose they have apart from removing people from public sight, and hiding any consequent neglect, abuse and denial of their rights.
Does chasing the right-wing ever work for a left or centrist government, in terms of expanding their support base and winning elections? Any examples?
I arrived in Australia in 2012, at the time the Labor government reintroduced offshore detention of asylum seekers. They promptly lost the election.
I arrived in Australia in 2012, at the time the Labor government reintroduced offshore detention of asylum seekers. They promptly lost the election.
May 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Does chasing the right-wing ever work for a left or centrist government, in terms of expanding their support base and winning elections? Any examples?
I arrived in Australia in 2012, at the time the Labor government reintroduced offshore detention of asylum seekers. They promptly lost the election.
I arrived in Australia in 2012, at the time the Labor government reintroduced offshore detention of asylum seekers. They promptly lost the election.