@johnrwilliams.bsky.social
Lot of noise just now about prisoners going missing after mistakenly being released from jail.
Meanwhile vulnerable children disappear from local authority care, and many probably into the hands of traffickers. Where's the noise about this?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Meanwhile vulnerable children disappear from local authority care, and many probably into the hands of traffickers. Where's the noise about this?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
More than 50 child asylum seekers still missing after disappearing from Kent care
Council data obtained by the Guardian shows 345 children have gone missing in recent years, many probably taken by traffickers
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Lot of noise just now about prisoners going missing after mistakenly being released from jail.
Meanwhile vulnerable children disappear from local authority care, and many probably into the hands of traffickers. Where's the noise about this?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Meanwhile vulnerable children disappear from local authority care, and many probably into the hands of traffickers. Where's the noise about this?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted
Donald Trump’s demand for a billion dollars from the BBC comes from a local Florida law firm. It was sent to the wrong address, and the writer didn’t know what ‘salacious’ really means: ‘Due to their salacious nature, the fabricated statements that were aired by the BBC…’
November 11, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Donald Trump’s demand for a billion dollars from the BBC comes from a local Florida law firm. It was sent to the wrong address, and the writer didn’t know what ‘salacious’ really means: ‘Due to their salacious nature, the fabricated statements that were aired by the BBC…’
Reposted
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
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 7:08 AM
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted
"Change will only come if both the BBC board and the politicians that ultimately appoint that board realise that the corporation’s problems in News are fundamentally about money and competence" - think that's bang on from @stephenkb.bsky.social
To fix the BBC, focus on competence and cash
Corporation fails to learn from criticism, while politicians have consciously reduced its scope for quality journalism
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:17 AM
"Change will only come if both the BBC board and the politicians that ultimately appoint that board realise that the corporation’s problems in News are fundamentally about money and competence" - think that's bang on from @stephenkb.bsky.social
Reposted
Why is the UK expecting a bad #flu season this year?
Punam Mangtani explains H3N2 flu strain circulating this year is less like 2024’s, so may transmit/infect people more easily & important those eligible get vaccinated ASAP.
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
Punam Mangtani explains H3N2 flu strain circulating this year is less like 2024’s, so may transmit/infect people more easily & important those eligible get vaccinated ASAP.
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Why is the UK expecting a bad #flu season this year?
Punam Mangtani explains H3N2 flu strain circulating this year is less like 2024’s, so may transmit/infect people more easily & important those eligible get vaccinated ASAP.
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
Punam Mangtani explains H3N2 flu strain circulating this year is less like 2024’s, so may transmit/infect people more easily & important those eligible get vaccinated ASAP.
www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
Sobering stuff...
open.substack.com/pub/willhayw...
open.substack.com/pub/willhayw...
The worst person to be in Wales
A crisis we are just accepting
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Sobering stuff...
open.substack.com/pub/willhayw...
open.substack.com/pub/willhayw...
Reposted
“…what this sort of reporting ultimately means is that if you have enough money to get somebody, anybody, to produce a white paper for you, which you can then put on some think-tank stationery? Then, my friend, you are ready to enter into the rushing current of elite reportage.”
Sublime.
Sublime.
I havent read such a banger of an essay in a very long time. This is so well-written!
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
“…what this sort of reporting ultimately means is that if you have enough money to get somebody, anybody, to produce a white paper for you, which you can then put on some think-tank stationery? Then, my friend, you are ready to enter into the rushing current of elite reportage.”
Sublime.
Sublime.
Sobering to read in Will's newsletter that 60 years after Aberfan £600 million is still needed to ensure all 2,500 Welsh coal tips are safe, but that UK Gov has offered only £118 million over 3 yrs to add to Welsh Gov's budget allocation of £43 million for the work. open.substack.com/pub/willhayw...
Wales watching - The midweek briefing
"The last thing we need is to think about what isn't working..."
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Sobering to read in Will's newsletter that 60 years after Aberfan £600 million is still needed to ensure all 2,500 Welsh coal tips are safe, but that UK Gov has offered only £118 million over 3 yrs to add to Welsh Gov's budget allocation of £43 million for the work. open.substack.com/pub/willhayw...
So-called "leading" cuts two ways - Starmer seems blind to the fact that Britain will now be "leading" the withdrawal from the Tropical Forest Fund...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘We’re leading the way’: Starmer defends plans for green economy before Cop30
PM defies critics calling for a slowdown as he flies to Brazil, where he may have frosty reception after opting out of tropical forest fund
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:53 AM
So-called "leading" cuts two ways - Starmer seems blind to the fact that Britain will now be "leading" the withdrawal from the Tropical Forest Fund...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“the world’s first vaccination clinic”...
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Garden shed of vaccine pioneer Edward Jenner added to heritage at risk register
Shed where father of immunology trialled first smallpox vaccine among 138 additions to Historic England list
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:14 AM
“the world’s first vaccination clinic”...
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Reposted
Mick Antoniw: ‘Is Caerphilly a turning point for Welsh Labour?’ labourlist.org/2025/11/wels... – via LabourList
Mick Antoniw: 'Is Caerphilly a turning point for Welsh Labour?' - LabourList
Welsh Labour can win the Senedd elections. But it will be incredibly difficult if there is no radical change in politics and organisation argues Mick Antoniw.
labourlist.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Mick Antoniw: ‘Is Caerphilly a turning point for Welsh Labour?’ labourlist.org/2025/11/wels... – via LabourList
Interesting that 2009-2019 productivity increase in Wales was double UK average, & outpaced only by Scotland; in contrast, Welsh productivity 2020-23 was surpassed by all 'regions' except London and W. Midlands.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
‘The money machine is misfiring’: City blames Brexit for UK’s £20bn productivity headache
Poor output since the leave vote has landed Rachel Reeves with a bigger-than-forecast budget spending gap
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Interesting that 2009-2019 productivity increase in Wales was double UK average, & outpaced only by Scotland; in contrast, Welsh productivity 2020-23 was surpassed by all 'regions' except London and W. Midlands.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The value of public R&D
www.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
No recognition here that UK Gov's underfunding of Wales via the population- rather than needs-based Barnett formula etc starves services, worsening people's 'lived experience', playing an important role in undermining Welsh Labour Gov's support
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
Lucy Powell has a resonant message. The PM would be wise ...
After a disastrous byelection in Wales, Labour’s new deputy leader should not be frozen out by Keir Starmer
observer.co.uk
October 26, 2025 at 8:57 AM
No recognition here that UK Gov's underfunding of Wales via the population- rather than needs-based Barnett formula etc starves services, worsening people's 'lived experience', playing an important role in undermining Welsh Labour Gov's support
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
Reposted
Labour are never going to be better placed than they are right now to make meaningful changes to people’s live.
Stop talking about messaging or attack lines on other parties and make “One party at either side of the M4 mean something”.
Stop talking about messaging or attack lines on other parties and make “One party at either side of the M4 mean something”.
October 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Labour are never going to be better placed than they are right now to make meaningful changes to people’s live.
Stop talking about messaging or attack lines on other parties and make “One party at either side of the M4 mean something”.
Stop talking about messaging or attack lines on other parties and make “One party at either side of the M4 mean something”.
Extraordinary to see Kate Roberts, of all people, described as a little-known writer!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Kate Roberts - the little-known Nobel prize nominated author
Kate Roberts’ writing captured the struggles of women in rural Wales in the early 20th Century.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Extraordinary to see Kate Roberts, of all people, described as a little-known writer!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"a place about which we have traditionally learned remarkably little..."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘One of the oldest urban centres on the planet’: Gaza’s rich history in ruins
The territory’s ancient heritage has too often been ignored. As we mourn incalculable human losses, learning about its past can help us better understand the present
www.theguardian.com
October 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
"a place about which we have traditionally learned remarkably little..."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
"Anonyvoter allows party officials to add votes, even during the process or after the advertised end of the poll. They can see who has voted, and who hasn’t." - would anyone trust Labour Party officials not to take advantage of this?
nation.cymru/news/controv...
nation.cymru/news/controv...
Controversial online voting software 'used to select Labour Senedd candidates'
Martin Shipton A controversial online software system that has been linked to the possibility of vote rigging is being used by Welsh Labour to select Senedd candidates for next May’s election, we have...
nation.cymru
October 10, 2025 at 7:17 AM
"Anonyvoter allows party officials to add votes, even during the process or after the advertised end of the poll. They can see who has voted, and who hasn’t." - would anyone trust Labour Party officials not to take advantage of this?
nation.cymru/news/controv...
nation.cymru/news/controv...
"[UK] Defence chiefs have been warning about the climate crisis for two decades ... But little has been done since to address the impacts of climate breakdown and ecosystem collapse on national security... have grown increasingly concerned at the lack of action"
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
National security threatened by climate crisis, UK intelligence chiefs due to warn
Report by joint intelligence committee delayed, with concerns expressed that it may not be published
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 12:28 PM
"[UK] Defence chiefs have been warning about the climate crisis for two decades ... But little has been done since to address the impacts of climate breakdown and ecosystem collapse on national security... have grown increasingly concerned at the lack of action"
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted
David Lloyd George *in 1890* on the devolution of the crown estate:
‘I fail to understand why questions affecting...the Mineral resources of the Crown in Wales, which are far better apprehended on the spot, should be administered by government clerks in London.’
‘I fail to understand why questions affecting...the Mineral resources of the Crown in Wales, which are far better apprehended on the spot, should be administered by government clerks in London.’
October 8, 2025 at 9:36 AM
David Lloyd George *in 1890* on the devolution of the crown estate:
‘I fail to understand why questions affecting...the Mineral resources of the Crown in Wales, which are far better apprehended on the spot, should be administered by government clerks in London.’
‘I fail to understand why questions affecting...the Mineral resources of the Crown in Wales, which are far better apprehended on the spot, should be administered by government clerks in London.’
Welsh farmers would greatly benefit from a service like this at the mart @jeremy-miles.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Health check surgeries introduced to Scottish farming markets
Health check surgeries aim to help farmers avoid leaving it too late before going to see a doctor.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 6, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Welsh farmers would greatly benefit from a service like this at the mart @jeremy-miles.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"The US, which funds the bulk of security operations across north-east Syria, through the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, wants countries like Australia to take their citizens back" - and this includes UK citizens currently held there, don't forget.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Two Australian women and four children escape Syrian detention camp and flee to Victoria
The six Australians received no government assistance in their 500km journey from the violent Al-Hol detention camp to Lebanon
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2025 at 7:39 AM
"The US, which funds the bulk of security operations across north-east Syria, through the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, wants countries like Australia to take their citizens back" - and this includes UK citizens currently held there, don't forget.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Reposted
📢 "Invasive #mosquito surveillance in the #UnitedKingdom 2020 to 2024: First detection of #Aedes aegypti eggs in the UK and further detection of Aedes albopictus 🦟" by Colin Johnston et al. @ukhsa.bsky.social published in @plosglobalpublichealth.org
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
October 1, 2025 at 7:28 PM
📢 "Invasive #mosquito surveillance in the #UnitedKingdom 2020 to 2024: First detection of #Aedes aegypti eggs in the UK and further detection of Aedes albopictus 🦟" by Colin Johnston et al. @ukhsa.bsky.social published in @plosglobalpublichealth.org
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
celynwales.org.uk/the-strange-...
And 6 months later, with ever worsening polls, the Welsh Labour Government Ancien Régime now faces the prospect of extinction with reluctant PM, the unfortunate Eluned Morgan, conveniently lined up as the fall guy
And 6 months later, with ever worsening polls, the Welsh Labour Government Ancien Régime now faces the prospect of extinction with reluctant PM, the unfortunate Eluned Morgan, conveniently lined up as the fall guy
The Strange Death of Labour Wales
In 1935 George Dangerfield wrote the celebrated text The Strange Death of Liberal England. It appeared almost thirty years after the Liberal landslide victory of 1906. Here I catch myself consideri…
celynwales.org.uk
September 22, 2025 at 1:24 PM
celynwales.org.uk/the-strange-...
And 6 months later, with ever worsening polls, the Welsh Labour Government Ancien Régime now faces the prospect of extinction with reluctant PM, the unfortunate Eluned Morgan, conveniently lined up as the fall guy
And 6 months later, with ever worsening polls, the Welsh Labour Government Ancien Régime now faces the prospect of extinction with reluctant PM, the unfortunate Eluned Morgan, conveniently lined up as the fall guy