HerbalKOxon
@herbalkoxon.bsky.social
Occasional thoughts on politics, science, food. Things are complicated, which ultimately means I can be quite tedious.
Racist slurs aren’t racist, is Farage’s latest defence.
He’s tried:
- I didn’t say it.
- Nobody was offended.
- It was ok back then.
- I was just a kid.
But he’s been doing it for years since, it was offensive, it wasn’t ok, and he definitely did say it.
A vote for Farage is a vote for hate.
He’s tried:
- I didn’t say it.
- Nobody was offended.
- It was ok back then.
- I was just a kid.
But he’s been doing it for years since, it was offensive, it wasn’t ok, and he definitely did say it.
A vote for Farage is a vote for hate.
Nigel Farage asked about Reform MS Laura Anne Jones (who the Senedd Commissioner found had used a racist term in a staff WhatsApp chat in August 2023 while discussing TikTok writing: “No chinky spies for me.”)
"Well, she used a word that colloquially, probably was meant in a nice way 20 years ago."
"Well, she used a word that colloquially, probably was meant in a nice way 20 years ago."
November 26, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Racist slurs aren’t racist, is Farage’s latest defence.
He’s tried:
- I didn’t say it.
- Nobody was offended.
- It was ok back then.
- I was just a kid.
But he’s been doing it for years since, it was offensive, it wasn’t ok, and he definitely did say it.
A vote for Farage is a vote for hate.
He’s tried:
- I didn’t say it.
- Nobody was offended.
- It was ok back then.
- I was just a kid.
But he’s been doing it for years since, it was offensive, it wasn’t ok, and he definitely did say it.
A vote for Farage is a vote for hate.
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
Hoo boy, another fictitious "EV market slows" headline from the Times
*EU EV sales are up 25.6% in 2025*
Receipts in thread.
*EU EV sales are up 25.6% in 2025*
Receipts in thread.
November 26, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Hoo boy, another fictitious "EV market slows" headline from the Times
*EU EV sales are up 25.6% in 2025*
Receipts in thread.
*EU EV sales are up 25.6% in 2025*
Receipts in thread.
Farage is such a compulsive liar, one benefitting enormously, for years, from the media’s lack of scrutiny & challenge.
Here at last we see a challenge, highlighting directly conflicting statements made just days apart.
Let us hope this empty, nasty little charlatan is finally going to be exposed.
Here at last we see a challenge, highlighting directly conflicting statements made just days apart.
Let us hope this empty, nasty little charlatan is finally going to be exposed.
‘I can categorically say that stories being told about me from 50 years ago are not true’
- a statement from Nigel Farage tonight on claims he racially abused fellow school pupils
That firm denial tonight is different to what he said in interview with BBC Wales Political Editor Gareth Lewis 👇
- a statement from Nigel Farage tonight on claims he racially abused fellow school pupils
That firm denial tonight is different to what he said in interview with BBC Wales Political Editor Gareth Lewis 👇
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Farage is such a compulsive liar, one benefitting enormously, for years, from the media’s lack of scrutiny & challenge.
Here at last we see a challenge, highlighting directly conflicting statements made just days apart.
Let us hope this empty, nasty little charlatan is finally going to be exposed.
Here at last we see a challenge, highlighting directly conflicting statements made just days apart.
Let us hope this empty, nasty little charlatan is finally going to be exposed.
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
‘I can categorically say that stories being told about me from 50 years ago are not true’
- a statement from Nigel Farage tonight on claims he racially abused fellow school pupils
That firm denial tonight is different to what he said in interview with BBC Wales Political Editor Gareth Lewis 👇
- a statement from Nigel Farage tonight on claims he racially abused fellow school pupils
That firm denial tonight is different to what he said in interview with BBC Wales Political Editor Gareth Lewis 👇
November 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
‘I can categorically say that stories being told about me from 50 years ago are not true’
- a statement from Nigel Farage tonight on claims he racially abused fellow school pupils
That firm denial tonight is different to what he said in interview with BBC Wales Political Editor Gareth Lewis 👇
- a statement from Nigel Farage tonight on claims he racially abused fellow school pupils
That firm denial tonight is different to what he said in interview with BBC Wales Political Editor Gareth Lewis 👇
This is so extraordinarily bad.
It is impossible to now know how much more self-censorship the BBC is engaged in re Trump.
The internal BBC saboteurs who started all of this need to be removed.
And the BBC needs to stop bending itself out of shape or its reputation will never recover.
It is impossible to now know how much more self-censorship the BBC is engaged in re Trump.
The internal BBC saboteurs who started all of this need to be removed.
And the BBC needs to stop bending itself out of shape or its reputation will never recover.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM
This is so extraordinarily bad.
It is impossible to now know how much more self-censorship the BBC is engaged in re Trump.
The internal BBC saboteurs who started all of this need to be removed.
And the BBC needs to stop bending itself out of shape or its reputation will never recover.
It is impossible to now know how much more self-censorship the BBC is engaged in re Trump.
The internal BBC saboteurs who started all of this need to be removed.
And the BBC needs to stop bending itself out of shape or its reputation will never recover.
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
I ask again why any Government is still on X.
Grok has clearly been shaped in its owner’s image and likeness
I would very much like to know what Governments’ and journalists’ red lines are if this sort of thing is not.
apple.news/At85Jo9xFRzC...
Grok has clearly been shaped in its owner’s image and likeness
I would very much like to know what Governments’ and journalists’ red lines are if this sort of thing is not.
apple.news/At85Jo9xFRzC...
November 23, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I ask again why any Government is still on X.
Grok has clearly been shaped in its owner’s image and likeness
I would very much like to know what Governments’ and journalists’ red lines are if this sort of thing is not.
apple.news/At85Jo9xFRzC...
Grok has clearly been shaped in its owner’s image and likeness
I would very much like to know what Governments’ and journalists’ red lines are if this sort of thing is not.
apple.news/At85Jo9xFRzC...
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
Growing backbench pressure about how government uses X
I hope this pressure can link up with pressure to recognise strength of prima facie evidence thst X is in breach of legal duties (in systemic failure of its complaints system to be compliant with UK law)
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
I hope this pressure can link up with pressure to recognise strength of prima facie evidence thst X is in breach of legal duties (in systemic failure of its complaints system to be compliant with UK law)
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Labour MPs Call For A More Serious Review Of The Government's Use Of X
Labour MPs are calling for ministers to take control of decisions over the government’s continued use of X, as concerns grow about the platform’s s...
www.politicshome.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Growing backbench pressure about how government uses X
I hope this pressure can link up with pressure to recognise strength of prima facie evidence thst X is in breach of legal duties (in systemic failure of its complaints system to be compliant with UK law)
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
I hope this pressure can link up with pressure to recognise strength of prima facie evidence thst X is in breach of legal duties (in systemic failure of its complaints system to be compliant with UK law)
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
A problem in aligning with Reform’s view of the migration situation is that you have to adopt its distortions & lies to justify your actions: being like Reform means Labour have to become liars.
Another problem is that Labour then lose (more) credibility, while reinforcing Reform’s false position.
Another problem is that Labour then lose (more) credibility, while reinforcing Reform’s false position.
The UK isn’t a “soft touch” on asylum.
UK asylum seeker benefits are similar to European neighbours
No right to work before 12 months (it’s 6 months in France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands)
UK settlement after 5 years (it’s 3 or 4 in Germany)
Let’s cut out the alarmist rhetoric.
UK asylum seeker benefits are similar to European neighbours
No right to work before 12 months (it’s 6 months in France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands)
UK settlement after 5 years (it’s 3 or 4 in Germany)
Let’s cut out the alarmist rhetoric.
November 20, 2025 at 11:09 AM
A problem in aligning with Reform’s view of the migration situation is that you have to adopt its distortions & lies to justify your actions: being like Reform means Labour have to become liars.
Another problem is that Labour then lose (more) credibility, while reinforcing Reform’s false position.
Another problem is that Labour then lose (more) credibility, while reinforcing Reform’s false position.
I simply do not understand why these figures have not become as famous as the ones on the side of that stupid fucking bus.
Imagine what could have been done with this kind of money.
And why is it not mentioned to Farage every time he opens his lying malodorous face hole.
Imagine what could have been done with this kind of money.
And why is it not mentioned to Farage every time he opens his lying malodorous face hole.
John Major, "Our links to Europe and America may be loser now than once they were and that is a loss"
"The loss of trade with Europe alone costs us £100 billion of lost trade every year"
"That's a tax yield of £40 billion"
"How useful would that have been in recent months to the Chancellor?"
"The loss of trade with Europe alone costs us £100 billion of lost trade every year"
"That's a tax yield of £40 billion"
"How useful would that have been in recent months to the Chancellor?"
November 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I simply do not understand why these figures have not become as famous as the ones on the side of that stupid fucking bus.
Imagine what could have been done with this kind of money.
And why is it not mentioned to Farage every time he opens his lying malodorous face hole.
Imagine what could have been done with this kind of money.
And why is it not mentioned to Farage every time he opens his lying malodorous face hole.
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
🚨🚨 Huge revelations about Farage from those who knew him in his youth. On the record.
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
‘Deeply shocking’: Nigel Farage faces fresh claims of racism and antisemitism at school
Bafta-winning director among contemporaries urging contrition and apology from Reform UK leader, who denies the allegations
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
🚨🚨 Huge revelations about Farage from those who knew him in his youth. On the record.
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
"He would be sort of singing these kind of ‘gas ’em all’ sort of songs”
“I have a very strong memory of him using the W-word...and the P-word for those of south Asian origin"
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
This is what has to happen once the elected government adopts policies to ape Reform. Just like them, like Farage over Brexit and every other issue he raises:
- they have to start lying in order to justify it.
This is the hidden cost of being Reform-Lite. They have to become liars.
- they have to start lying in order to justify it.
This is the hidden cost of being Reform-Lite. They have to become liars.
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
November 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
This is what has to happen once the elected government adopts policies to ape Reform. Just like them, like Farage over Brexit and every other issue he raises:
- they have to start lying in order to justify it.
This is the hidden cost of being Reform-Lite. They have to become liars.
- they have to start lying in order to justify it.
This is the hidden cost of being Reform-Lite. They have to become liars.
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The Home Secretary says "we have become the destination of choice in Europe, clearly visible to every people smuggler and would-be illegal migrant across the world"
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
That is a factually untrue claim: the Home Office shows that the UK is fifth, getting 1/10 claims, while Germany gets 1/5 claims
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
Published today in Earth System Science Data: The Global Carbon Budget 2025
essd.copernicus.org/preprints/es...
essd.copernicus.org/preprints/es...
Global Carbon Budget 2025
Abstract. Accurate assessment of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere in a changing climate is critical to bette...
essd.copernicus.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Published today in Earth System Science Data: The Global Carbon Budget 2025
essd.copernicus.org/preprints/es...
essd.copernicus.org/preprints/es...
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
Is there a journalist out there who still understands what a story is? Woodward and Bernstein, if they were trying to make a living now in British journalism, would be long-term unemployed.
I called this out on #BBCQT last night and I'm calling it out again now.
He is gaslighting a nation.
He is gaslighting a nation.
Farage insists ex-Reform UK Wales leader convicted of bribery is ‘bad apple’
October 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Is there a journalist out there who still understands what a story is? Woodward and Bernstein, if they were trying to make a living now in British journalism, would be long-term unemployed.
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
I called this out on #BBCQT last night and I'm calling it out again now.
He is gaslighting a nation.
He is gaslighting a nation.
Farage insists ex-Reform UK Wales leader convicted of bribery is ‘bad apple’
Farage insists ex-Reform UK Wales leader convicted of bribery is ‘bad apple’
Farage said he was shocked by Nathan Gill’s admissions relating to pro-Russia statements
Nigel Farage has insisted his party’s former leader in Wales who was convicted of taking pro-Russian bribes was a “bad apple” who betrayed him.
The Reform UK leader was in Caerphilly campaigning for his candidate in a forthcoming Senedd byelection when he was asked about his links to Nathan Gill. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I called this out on #BBCQT last night and I'm calling it out again now.
He is gaslighting a nation.
He is gaslighting a nation.
Good grief, why has it taken so long to make this statement?!
Anyway, finally, glad it’s here, and it’s good to finally get it out there.
Farage is an arsonist, one who seems to have done rather well out of his political profile.
Posh boy flag waving simplistic conman.
Anyway, finally, glad it’s here, and it’s good to finally get it out there.
Farage is an arsonist, one who seems to have done rather well out of his political profile.
Posh boy flag waving simplistic conman.
October 10, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Good grief, why has it taken so long to make this statement?!
Anyway, finally, glad it’s here, and it’s good to finally get it out there.
Farage is an arsonist, one who seems to have done rather well out of his political profile.
Posh boy flag waving simplistic conman.
Anyway, finally, glad it’s here, and it’s good to finally get it out there.
Farage is an arsonist, one who seems to have done rather well out of his political profile.
Posh boy flag waving simplistic conman.
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
For 56 minutes Sky News and BBC News interrupted everything else and carried a Reform UK feed live, uninterrupted, unchallenged. The stream spluttered, froze, pixelated - dozens of times - still they stuck with it. FOR ONE HOUR.
This is an editorial choice. No other party gets this coverage. ~AA
This is an editorial choice. No other party gets this coverage. ~AA
September 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
For 56 minutes Sky News and BBC News interrupted everything else and carried a Reform UK feed live, uninterrupted, unchallenged. The stream spluttered, froze, pixelated - dozens of times - still they stuck with it. FOR ONE HOUR.
This is an editorial choice. No other party gets this coverage. ~AA
This is an editorial choice. No other party gets this coverage. ~AA
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
There should be a high bar for politicians attacking the media, but maybe Ed Davey has half a point here?
For example, the first three paragraphs of this BBC story repeat Reform's £243bn figure without saying that the thinktank behind the estimate now disowns it. (This is mentioned in paragraph 35)
For example, the first three paragraphs of this BBC story repeat Reform's £243bn figure without saying that the thinktank behind the estimate now disowns it. (This is mentioned in paragraph 35)
September 22, 2025 at 4:46 PM
There should be a high bar for politicians attacking the media, but maybe Ed Davey has half a point here?
For example, the first three paragraphs of this BBC story repeat Reform's £243bn figure without saying that the thinktank behind the estimate now disowns it. (This is mentioned in paragraph 35)
For example, the first three paragraphs of this BBC story repeat Reform's £243bn figure without saying that the thinktank behind the estimate now disowns it. (This is mentioned in paragraph 35)
The government’s own response on this - that it’s basically a form of national security threat under discussion - is actually pretty credible.
Would you want Farage, Putin and Musk, and whoever else, looking at all of the discussions in this group?
The answer is, no, you wouldn’t.
Would you want Farage, Putin and Musk, and whoever else, looking at all of the discussions in this group?
The answer is, no, you wouldn’t.
The UK Government is refusing to release information on what the taskforce set up to protect Britain’s democracy is actually doing – leading to accusations it “ironically” evades democratic scrutiny.
My latest for @bylinetimes.bsky.social:
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/16/k...
My latest for @bylinetimes.bsky.social:
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/16/k...
Keir Starmer's 'Democracy Taskforce' Tackling Foreign Interference Accused of Dodging Democratic Scrutiny
Critics say the Government's refusal to publish meeting minutes or agendas undermines democratic oversight of body established to protect UK from foreign political interference
bylinetimes.com
September 16, 2025 at 9:33 AM
The government’s own response on this - that it’s basically a form of national security threat under discussion - is actually pretty credible.
Would you want Farage, Putin and Musk, and whoever else, looking at all of the discussions in this group?
The answer is, no, you wouldn’t.
Would you want Farage, Putin and Musk, and whoever else, looking at all of the discussions in this group?
The answer is, no, you wouldn’t.
A good point and a solid list.
More generally, we continue to see infuriating/laughable polling that shows the public:
- strongly supports tax increases to improve public services,
- strongly opposes any tax on themselves.
More generally, we continue to see infuriating/laughable polling that shows the public:
- strongly supports tax increases to improve public services,
- strongly opposes any tax on themselves.
My most centrist dad take is that most governing politicians deserve sympathy because almost every policy that's actually any good for the country is unpopular, and almost every popular policy is probably bad.
Johnson's Brexit approach was far worse than Chequers IMHO but 20ppts more popular 1/
Johnson's Brexit approach was far worse than Chequers IMHO but 20ppts more popular 1/
September 16, 2025 at 9:26 AM
A good point and a solid list.
More generally, we continue to see infuriating/laughable polling that shows the public:
- strongly supports tax increases to improve public services,
- strongly opposes any tax on themselves.
More generally, we continue to see infuriating/laughable polling that shows the public:
- strongly supports tax increases to improve public services,
- strongly opposes any tax on themselves.
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
There is a serious failure in UK govt, politics & media to take sufficiently seriously what Musk said & meant with "fight back or die"
= Violence (interethnic civil war) is inevitable so pre-emptive violence - vs migrants, minorities & political opponents - is necessary to avoid existential erasure
= Violence (interethnic civil war) is inevitable so pre-emptive violence - vs migrants, minorities & political opponents - is necessary to avoid existential erasure
The common sense meaning should make this Elon Musk's "rivers of blood" moment
Though I think he goes further than Enoch Powell in a couple of important ways
Though I think he goes further than Enoch Powell in a couple of important ways
Elon Musk spoke by video to Tommy Robinson's anti-immigrant rally in the UK today.
"You're in a fundamental situation here where, whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you," said Musk. "You either fight back or you die."
"You're in a fundamental situation here where, whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you," said Musk. "You either fight back or you die."
September 14, 2025 at 6:21 PM
There is a serious failure in UK govt, politics & media to take sufficiently seriously what Musk said & meant with "fight back or die"
= Violence (interethnic civil war) is inevitable so pre-emptive violence - vs migrants, minorities & political opponents - is necessary to avoid existential erasure
= Violence (interethnic civil war) is inevitable so pre-emptive violence - vs migrants, minorities & political opponents - is necessary to avoid existential erasure
Nauseating video
September 14, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Nauseating video
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
I need you to understand what this country feels like right now for those of us who look different. I'm sitting here, trying to plan for Saturday, make sure I don't even need to go to the corner shop for milk, like it's Christmas Day or lockdown. Why? Because I live near where Yaxley-Lennon will 1/
September 11, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I need you to understand what this country feels like right now for those of us who look different. I'm sitting here, trying to plan for Saturday, make sure I don't even need to go to the corner shop for milk, like it's Christmas Day or lockdown. Why? Because I live near where Yaxley-Lennon will 1/
Reposted by HerbalKOxon
"Five tactics used by industry to undermine science. The disinformation playbook tactics are employed by industry during the scientific process and the science-based decision-making process"
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The disinformation playbook: how industry manipulates the science-policy process—and how to restore scientific integrity - Journal of Public Health Policy
For decades, corporate undermining of scientific consensus has eroded the scientific process worldwide. Guardrails for protecting science-informed processes, from peer review to regulatory decision ma...
link.springer.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:11 AM
"Five tactics used by industry to undermine science. The disinformation playbook tactics are employed by industry during the scientific process and the science-based decision-making process"
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...