John Wilks
@johngwilks.bsky.social
Socialist, cyclist, writer, retired English teacher.
Reposted by John Wilks
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
We want our billions back!
Our support can help leaders stay strong against corporations
secure.avaaz.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Reposted by John Wilks
One of the guests partying at Mar-a-Lago was Nigel Farage, by the way. For my British followers.
Guests eating fancy dinners in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago ballroom as American families stand in line at food banks
November 9, 2025 at 5:59 PM
One of the guests partying at Mar-a-Lago was Nigel Farage, by the way. For my British followers.
Reposted by John Wilks
This should go everywhere- and far beyond “us”, because we understand the horrors of this.
Amazingly - many don’t.
Amazingly - many don’t.
November 8, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This should go everywhere- and far beyond “us”, because we understand the horrors of this.
Amazingly - many don’t.
Amazingly - many don’t.
Reposted by John Wilks
👇🏼A Tale Of Two Press Eras👇🏼
Pre Labour with Tories in Govt for 14 years no public fury re prisoners released in error
OK so between 2012-2023, 682 prisoners were released in error, 146 escaped, 1634 absconded but hey who’s counting🤷🏼♂️
Post Tories #TheGreatNoticing by MSM began..now they’re obsessed❗️
Pre Labour with Tories in Govt for 14 years no public fury re prisoners released in error
OK so between 2012-2023, 682 prisoners were released in error, 146 escaped, 1634 absconded but hey who’s counting🤷🏼♂️
Post Tories #TheGreatNoticing by MSM began..now they’re obsessed❗️
November 9, 2025 at 6:21 PM
👇🏼A Tale Of Two Press Eras👇🏼
Pre Labour with Tories in Govt for 14 years no public fury re prisoners released in error
OK so between 2012-2023, 682 prisoners were released in error, 146 escaped, 1634 absconded but hey who’s counting🤷🏼♂️
Post Tories #TheGreatNoticing by MSM began..now they’re obsessed❗️
Pre Labour with Tories in Govt for 14 years no public fury re prisoners released in error
OK so between 2012-2023, 682 prisoners were released in error, 146 escaped, 1634 absconded but hey who’s counting🤷🏼♂️
Post Tories #TheGreatNoticing by MSM began..now they’re obsessed❗️
Reposted by John Wilks
If the UK government partnership with BlackRock becomes a model replicated elsewhere, debt-financed utility ownership could become normalised internationally.
The UK is being privatised.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK is being privatised.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour is putting its plans for Britain in the hands of private finance. It could end badly | Daniela Gabor
Handing vital infrastructure to big finance will generate windfalls for investors and leave the rest of us worse off. We need a better plan, says Daniela Gabor, a professor of economics and macrofinan...
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:11 AM
If the UK government partnership with BlackRock becomes a model replicated elsewhere, debt-financed utility ownership could become normalised internationally.
The UK is being privatised.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK is being privatised.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by John Wilks
Reposted by John Wilks
A white schoolgirl is inappropriately approached by a migrant in Epping & we have 2 weeks of national meltdown.
2 Sikh women are raped in Birmingham & 2 taxi drivers assaulted & not a peep.
Where are Farage, Jenrick, Starmer & everyone else now eh ?
Twats !
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
2 Sikh women are raped in Birmingham & 2 taxi drivers assaulted & not a peep.
Where are Farage, Jenrick, Starmer & everyone else now eh ?
Twats !
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘The fear is real’: how Midlands attacks have changed Sikh women’s daily lives
Many women are afraid to go out, particularly on their own, after religiously aggravated rapes and assaults
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:22 PM
A white schoolgirl is inappropriately approached by a migrant in Epping & we have 2 weeks of national meltdown.
2 Sikh women are raped in Birmingham & 2 taxi drivers assaulted & not a peep.
Where are Farage, Jenrick, Starmer & everyone else now eh ?
Twats !
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
2 Sikh women are raped in Birmingham & 2 taxi drivers assaulted & not a peep.
Where are Farage, Jenrick, Starmer & everyone else now eh ?
Twats !
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by John Wilks
ITV in talks to sell television business to Sky.
Sky is owned by US-based Comcast, largest shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock.
CMA must block the takeover. No one must own more than one major media outlet. Need diversity and competition.
Sky is owned by US-based Comcast, largest shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock.
CMA must block the takeover. No one must own more than one major media outlet. Need diversity and competition.
ITV in talks to sell television business to Sky
The talks focus on ITV's Media and Entertainment division, which include its TV channels as well as its streaming service, ITV X.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 7:51 AM
ITV in talks to sell television business to Sky.
Sky is owned by US-based Comcast, largest shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock.
CMA must block the takeover. No one must own more than one major media outlet. Need diversity and competition.
Sky is owned by US-based Comcast, largest shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock.
CMA must block the takeover. No one must own more than one major media outlet. Need diversity and competition.
Reposted by John Wilks
"We've got to address the fact that millions of people vote in safe seats and they feel their voice doesn't count. That's got to be addressed by electoral reform. We will never get full participation in our electoral system until we do that at every level." Starmer when he wanted to be Labour leader
November 8, 2025 at 4:17 AM
"We've got to address the fact that millions of people vote in safe seats and they feel their voice doesn't count. That's got to be addressed by electoral reform. We will never get full participation in our electoral system until we do that at every level." Starmer when he wanted to be Labour leader
Reposted by John Wilks
This is why history teachers are so important. This poor man thinks that unless you’re descended from fourth and fifth century immigrants, you’re not English.
If only they’d studied the Norman Conquest at his school, he’d know you have to be a descendant of French Vikings.
If only they’d studied the Norman Conquest at his school, he’d know you have to be a descendant of French Vikings.
🔴Nigel Farage’s Chosen Reform Mayoral Candidate Suggested Black Britons Can’t Be English
The party’s candidate for Mayor of Doncaster claimed being English requires Anglo-Saxon ‘lineage’ and attacked ‘third world cultures’ in now-deleted posts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/05/n...
The party’s candidate for Mayor of Doncaster claimed being English requires Anglo-Saxon ‘lineage’ and attacked ‘third world cultures’ in now-deleted posts
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/05/n...
Nigel Farage's Chosen Reform Mayoral Candidate Suggested Black Britons Can’t Be English
The party's candidate for Mayor of Doncaster claimed being English requires Anglo-Saxon 'lineage' and attacked 'third world cultures' in now-deleted posts
bylinetimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:45 PM
This is why history teachers are so important. This poor man thinks that unless you’re descended from fourth and fifth century immigrants, you’re not English.
If only they’d studied the Norman Conquest at his school, he’d know you have to be a descendant of French Vikings.
If only they’d studied the Norman Conquest at his school, he’d know you have to be a descendant of French Vikings.
Reposted by John Wilks
The government has recovered £74m from excessive profits made by companies running asylum accommodation, the BBC can reveal.
The Home Office said it had recouped the money following a review of contracts after Labour came to power last year.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Home Office said it had recouped the money following a review of contracts after Labour came to power last year.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Government recovers £74m from asylum hotel firms
The amount recouped remains a small percentage of the overall cost of asylum accommodation.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 7:10 AM
The government has recovered £74m from excessive profits made by companies running asylum accommodation, the BBC can reveal.
The Home Office said it had recouped the money following a review of contracts after Labour came to power last year.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Home Office said it had recouped the money following a review of contracts after Labour came to power last year.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by John Wilks
Previously on Bylines Scotland.
“Nathan Gill acted not in the interests of the people who had voted for him, or in those of the British and European taxpayers he was paid to represent, but in the interests of Russia.”
@cluthaman.bsky.social
“Nathan Gill acted not in the interests of the people who had voted for him, or in those of the British and European taxpayers he was paid to represent, but in the interests of Russia.”
@cluthaman.bsky.social
Nathan Gill’s treachery puts him in same league as the “Cambridge Five”
Reform’s Russia connections may endanger our security – time for a public inquiry
bylines.scot
November 6, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Previously on Bylines Scotland.
“Nathan Gill acted not in the interests of the people who had voted for him, or in those of the British and European taxpayers he was paid to represent, but in the interests of Russia.”
@cluthaman.bsky.social
“Nathan Gill acted not in the interests of the people who had voted for him, or in those of the British and European taxpayers he was paid to represent, but in the interests of Russia.”
@cluthaman.bsky.social
Reposted by John Wilks
The SNAP contingency fund holds around $6 billion.
Trump refuses to spend it on the American people.
The same guy who just fast-tracked $40 billion to Argentina.
Trump thinks Argentina deserves our money while he lets Americans starve.
Trump refuses to spend it on the American people.
The same guy who just fast-tracked $40 billion to Argentina.
Trump thinks Argentina deserves our money while he lets Americans starve.
November 7, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The SNAP contingency fund holds around $6 billion.
Trump refuses to spend it on the American people.
The same guy who just fast-tracked $40 billion to Argentina.
Trump thinks Argentina deserves our money while he lets Americans starve.
Trump refuses to spend it on the American people.
The same guy who just fast-tracked $40 billion to Argentina.
Trump thinks Argentina deserves our money while he lets Americans starve.
Reposted by John Wilks
This level of wealth accumulation in the hands of a tiny, tiny elite is an existential threat to democracy and freedom across the world.
No one man should have more wealth than a nation.
This is despicable. It’s grotesque. It’s an affront to decency.
It’s frankly shocking we’ve gotten this bad.
No one man should have more wealth than a nation.
This is despicable. It’s grotesque. It’s an affront to decency.
It’s frankly shocking we’ve gotten this bad.
November 6, 2025 at 10:55 PM
This level of wealth accumulation in the hands of a tiny, tiny elite is an existential threat to democracy and freedom across the world.
No one man should have more wealth than a nation.
This is despicable. It’s grotesque. It’s an affront to decency.
It’s frankly shocking we’ve gotten this bad.
No one man should have more wealth than a nation.
This is despicable. It’s grotesque. It’s an affront to decency.
It’s frankly shocking we’ve gotten this bad.
Reposted by John Wilks
Blatant disgusting corruption, Reform will do it better than anyone else.
November 6, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Blatant disgusting corruption, Reform will do it better than anyone else.
Reposted by John Wilks
Private Healthcare
November 6, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Private Healthcare
Reposted by John Wilks
Must read
Wealth taxes are back on the agenda – and Prof Richard Murphy shows why the data demands them.
200 years of evidence: capitalism funnels wealth upward unless govts intervene. So what's stopping them?
His must-read analysis👇
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @richardjmurphy.bsky.social with thanks
200 years of evidence: capitalism funnels wealth upward unless govts intervene. So what's stopping them?
His must-read analysis👇
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @richardjmurphy.bsky.social with thanks
How capitalism drives inequality: and how to stop it
Wealth taxes are on Rachel Reeves’ agenda. Thomas Piketty has shown why it matters, and how we could stop the growth of inequality
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Must read
Reposted by John Wilks
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Reposted by John Wilks
I think that it's testing and teaching to tests that is the problem. Perhaps pleasure in reading ( and learning ) needs to be allowed to develop. We need to see how other countries do education! When, how reading is taught and how to keep children engaged into adult life. It won't be tests!
November 1, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I think that it's testing and teaching to tests that is the problem. Perhaps pleasure in reading ( and learning ) needs to be allowed to develop. We need to see how other countries do education! When, how reading is taught and how to keep children engaged into adult life. It won't be tests!
Reposted by John Wilks
The New World has picked up our story about Reform's Doncaster mayoral candidate appearing to claim non-white people can't be English www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Black people can't be English, insists Reform councillor
Councillor Alexander Jones - hailed by Nigel Farage as "young, energetic and exactly what’s needed" - made the inflammatory comments on Facebook
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The New World has picked up our story about Reform's Doncaster mayoral candidate appearing to claim non-white people can't be English www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Reposted by John Wilks
Zohran Mamdani in New York
Catherine Connolly in Ireland
Rob Jetten in the Netherlands
Plaid Cymru in Caerphilly
The rise of the far right is not inevitable.
If we work together, we can dare to hope.
Catherine Connolly in Ireland
Rob Jetten in the Netherlands
Plaid Cymru in Caerphilly
The rise of the far right is not inevitable.
If we work together, we can dare to hope.
November 5, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Zohran Mamdani in New York
Catherine Connolly in Ireland
Rob Jetten in the Netherlands
Plaid Cymru in Caerphilly
The rise of the far right is not inevitable.
If we work together, we can dare to hope.
Catherine Connolly in Ireland
Rob Jetten in the Netherlands
Plaid Cymru in Caerphilly
The rise of the far right is not inevitable.
If we work together, we can dare to hope.
Reposted by John Wilks
It's brilliant and exciting to see Zohran Mamdani elected.
More leaders like him please, and fewer like Cuomo, Schumer and the rest of the oligarch-pleasing, hope-destroying, election-losing, right-centrist political class.
More leaders like him please, and fewer like Cuomo, Schumer and the rest of the oligarch-pleasing, hope-destroying, election-losing, right-centrist political class.
November 5, 2025 at 6:49 AM
It's brilliant and exciting to see Zohran Mamdani elected.
More leaders like him please, and fewer like Cuomo, Schumer and the rest of the oligarch-pleasing, hope-destroying, election-losing, right-centrist political class.
More leaders like him please, and fewer like Cuomo, Schumer and the rest of the oligarch-pleasing, hope-destroying, election-losing, right-centrist political class.
Reposted by John Wilks
Totally scandalous
@ofwat.bsky.social allowed our bills to go up meaning privatised water firms now charging us TWICE over according to @riveractionuk.bsky.social
Say NO to all water company requests, bring into public ownership when they collapse
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@ofwat.bsky.social allowed our bills to go up meaning privatised water firms now charging us TWICE over according to @riveractionuk.bsky.social
Say NO to all water company requests, bring into public ownership when they collapse
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Ofwat letting water firms charge twice to tackle sewage, court to hear
River Action bringing legal action against water regulator over who should foot bill for firms’ past failures to invest
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Totally scandalous
@ofwat.bsky.social allowed our bills to go up meaning privatised water firms now charging us TWICE over according to @riveractionuk.bsky.social
Say NO to all water company requests, bring into public ownership when they collapse
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@ofwat.bsky.social allowed our bills to go up meaning privatised water firms now charging us TWICE over according to @riveractionuk.bsky.social
Say NO to all water company requests, bring into public ownership when they collapse
www.theguardian.com/environment/...