lesleybruce
@lesleybruce.bsky.social
Wife, mother, grandma to 3 lovely girls. Horrified by the consequences of austerity, Brexit and the previous Tory government. Wanting a better country for my grandchildren.
Reposted by lesleybruce
And why would a Labour government want to say "maybe - to control the borders" to would you deport somebody with a valid refugee claim - after 19 years here (having been renewed temporarily 6 times) who had a 9 year old UK-born child?
Asked if Keir Starmer believes British people want to "see refugee children pulled out of school and deported after 10 years in this country”, his spokesman says that “what the British public wants and what this government was elected on a mandate to deliver was to secure our borders"
November 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
And why would a Labour government want to say "maybe - to control the borders" to would you deport somebody with a valid refugee claim - after 19 years here (having been renewed temporarily 6 times) who had a 9 year old UK-born child?
Reposted by lesleybruce
“In Lincoln’s day, and in the Gilded Age, and in the 1930s, Americans pushed back against those trying to establish an aristocracy in the United States. That project appears to be gaining speed as well in today’s America”
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
November 16, 2025
On Thursday, November 13, Michael Schmidt reported in the New York Times the story of the 17-year-old girl the House Ethics Committee found former representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) likely paid to have ...
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:55 PM
“In Lincoln’s day, and in the Gilded Age, and in the 1930s, Americans pushed back against those trying to establish an aristocracy in the United States. That project appears to be gaining speed as well in today’s America”
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
Reposted by lesleybruce
This could have huge implications. Eg. Miami-Dade is 70% hispanic. Flipping it (a combo of Trump and DeSantis' popularity) has been the central reason Florida is now seen as solidly red. If M-D goes Dem again, then Florida comes back into play, and Presidential races will be fundamentally changed.
In CNN’s latest poll, just 20% of Latinos approved of his job performance, down from 41% in February. This 21-point drop far outpaces the 4- and 9-point drops among Black and White Americans and the 10-point drop in his approval rating overall.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/15/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/15/p...
Republicans have lost ground with Latino voters after Trump’s 2024 gains | CNN Politics
A year after President Donald Trump’s re-election, Republicans are already seeing their gains among Latino voters erode, recent election results and polling suggest. Here’s what’s changed and what it ...
www.cnn.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:11 AM
This could have huge implications. Eg. Miami-Dade is 70% hispanic. Flipping it (a combo of Trump and DeSantis' popularity) has been the central reason Florida is now seen as solidly red. If M-D goes Dem again, then Florida comes back into play, and Presidential races will be fundamentally changed.
Reposted by lesleybruce
At 3AM, November 17, 1973, "The Colonels" sent a tank crashing through the gates of the Athens Polytechnic. It had been occupied by students protesting the fascist junta. Dozens died, mostly teens, 20s and one boy of 5. Over 2,000 were injured.
The protests it sparked brought down the dictatorship.
The protests it sparked brought down the dictatorship.
November 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM
At 3AM, November 17, 1973, "The Colonels" sent a tank crashing through the gates of the Athens Polytechnic. It had been occupied by students protesting the fascist junta. Dozens died, mostly teens, 20s and one boy of 5. Over 2,000 were injured.
The protests it sparked brought down the dictatorship.
The protests it sparked brought down the dictatorship.
Reposted by lesleybruce
Labour's MP for Folkestone says the government has taken "the wrong turning" on its plans for asylum seekers.
"The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities."
"The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities."
November 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Labour's MP for Folkestone says the government has taken "the wrong turning" on its plans for asylum seekers.
"The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities."
"The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities."
Reposted by lesleybruce
The line “vote for us or you’ll get the far right” doesn’t really work when the policies you’re enacting are barely distinguishable from what the far right propose.
November 17, 2025 at 8:16 AM
The line “vote for us or you’ll get the far right” doesn’t really work when the policies you’re enacting are barely distinguishable from what the far right propose.
Reposted by lesleybruce
This weekend has been an interesting approach to winning over the Parliamentary Labour Party for a leader on the verge of being dumped.
November 16, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This weekend has been an interesting approach to winning over the Parliamentary Labour Party for a leader on the verge of being dumped.
Reposted by lesleybruce
Reposted by lesleybruce
Another chilling aspect... The Tories simply passed a law declaring Rwanda "safe".
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
November 16, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Another chilling aspect... The Tories simply passed a law declaring Rwanda "safe".
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by lesleybruce
Everything about the current 'debate' around this is dismal, not just morally but because it is so stupid. For example:
It conflates asylum-seeking and illegal immigration (and sometimes with migration generally)
It shows no understanding of why there is AS
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... 1/3
It conflates asylum-seeking and illegal immigration (and sometimes with migration generally)
It shows no understanding of why there is AS
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... 1/3
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 6:49 PM
Everything about the current 'debate' around this is dismal, not just morally but because it is so stupid. For example:
It conflates asylum-seeking and illegal immigration (and sometimes with migration generally)
It shows no understanding of why there is AS
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... 1/3
It conflates asylum-seeking and illegal immigration (and sometimes with migration generally)
It shows no understanding of why there is AS
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025... 1/3
Reposted by lesleybruce
Fascinating that the cause of collapse of both major parties has not just been basically identical (cost of living and service failings creating unpopularity, chasing radical right tail on immigration fuelling in-bloc schism), but that doubling down has persisted long after failure became clear.
November 16, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Fascinating that the cause of collapse of both major parties has not just been basically identical (cost of living and service failings creating unpopularity, chasing radical right tail on immigration fuelling in-bloc schism), but that doubling down has persisted long after failure became clear.
Reposted by lesleybruce
Always remember that a parliamentary majority can (purport to) render a country "safe" by an Act. The Conservatives sought to do that with Rwanda, regardless of the facts.
Another chilling aspect... The Tories simply passed a law declaring Rwanda "safe".
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
November 16, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Always remember that a parliamentary majority can (purport to) render a country "safe" by an Act. The Conservatives sought to do that with Rwanda, regardless of the facts.
Reposted by lesleybruce
This. 👇
![Dear [my MP’s name],
As the Home Secretary prepares to announce sweeping changes to the UK’s asylum system, I see it as both my duty as a citizen and responsibility as a migration expert to do all I can to urge policymakers to oppose the proposals—not only for what they will do to refugees, though that is the first concern, but also for what they will mean for all of us and the future society we live in.
That is why I am writing to you as my MP. This letter explains why I consider the need to oppose the Home Secretary’s proposals urgent and, at the most fundamental level, in the national and your constituents’ interest.
I was born in Germany, a country whose history taught me how quickly societies can go down dark paths; how quickly our leaders can fail in the choices they make. But the history of the displacement of people that the Nazi regime was responsible for also shaped my understanding of why refugee movements occur—and why our response to any of them can never compromise what are, and must always be, universal human rights.
Which is why what is happening in the UK now is so deeply alarming.
A manufactured crisis
As of June 2025, there were 42.5 million refugees globally. Over 70% of them are hosted by low- and middle-income countries; most of them immediate neighbours. Overall, five countries—Colombia, Germany, Türkiye, Iran and Uganda—host a third of the total number of refugees; Germany is the main host in the EU, hosting 2.7 million.
The UK hosts 548,000 refugees; that is 0.78% of the UK population. About 110,000 people are in receipt of asylum support; that is 0.15% of the UK population.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bru4h6s37w4hfmwhetu7veye/bafkreidmewc5timbx7nh57qyq7lm7gmhvclzidmloqhwgckpnegnddoicq@jpeg)
November 16, 2025 at 9:35 PM
This. 👇
Reposted by lesleybruce
How have Labour watched the Tories spend 2-3 years parroting Farage then lose an election badly and conclude a similar strategy is the best course of action?
I. Really. Genuinely. Do Not. Get. It.
I. Really. Genuinely. Do Not. Get. It.
Just another of those days when I hate this government
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
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 8:50 PM
How have Labour watched the Tories spend 2-3 years parroting Farage then lose an election badly and conclude a similar strategy is the best course of action?
I. Really. Genuinely. Do Not. Get. It.
I. Really. Genuinely. Do Not. Get. It.
Reposted by lesleybruce
It appears that our Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has been inspired by Kirsti Noem - and finds her to have an “under appreciated intellect and eye for detail” and is now following her lead.
Isn’t that just utterly horrifying.
Of all Starmer’s picks for cabinet, she has to be the worst.
Isn’t that just utterly horrifying.
Of all Starmer’s picks for cabinet, she has to be the worst.
November 17, 2025 at 6:12 AM
It appears that our Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has been inspired by Kirsti Noem - and finds her to have an “under appreciated intellect and eye for detail” and is now following her lead.
Isn’t that just utterly horrifying.
Of all Starmer’s picks for cabinet, she has to be the worst.
Isn’t that just utterly horrifying.
Of all Starmer’s picks for cabinet, she has to be the worst.
Reposted by lesleybruce
This statement not acceptable and I suspect not sustainable. Large majority of public support principle of asylum, support letting people stay permanently. Majority for that among Labour and other progressive parties’ voters is overwhelming. The Reform voters this is aimed at will never vote Labour
"The era of permanent protection is over"
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Is this Labour government really saying it was wrong in principle to let these refugees of the last 75 years to stay, settle and become British - and they believe that should NEVER happen again in principle or practice?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiuR...
Refugees from 7 decades gather to commemorate 70 years of refugee in protection in the UK
YouTube video by Refugee Council
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:49 PM
This statement not acceptable and I suspect not sustainable. Large majority of public support principle of asylum, support letting people stay permanently. Majority for that among Labour and other progressive parties’ voters is overwhelming. The Reform voters this is aimed at will never vote Labour
Reposted by lesleybruce
My granddad was a refugee, my wife, our close friends and those of our kids are either immigrants or the children of immigrants.
Do ministers ever think about the message their rhetoric on "handouts" and "golden tickets" for migrants sends about whether this is a government for people like us?
Do ministers ever think about the message their rhetoric on "handouts" and "golden tickets" for migrants sends about whether this is a government for people like us?
November 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
My granddad was a refugee, my wife, our close friends and those of our kids are either immigrants or the children of immigrants.
Do ministers ever think about the message their rhetoric on "handouts" and "golden tickets" for migrants sends about whether this is a government for people like us?
Do ministers ever think about the message their rhetoric on "handouts" and "golden tickets" for migrants sends about whether this is a government for people like us?
Reposted by lesleybruce
➡️ Brexit reduced UK GDP by 6-8%
➡️ Investment reduced by between 12-18%
➡️ Employment reduced by 3-4%
➡️ Productivity reduced by 3-4%
"Combination of elevated uncertainty, reduced demand, diverted management time, and increased misallocation of resources from a protracted Brexit process"
➡️ Investment reduced by between 12-18%
➡️ Employment reduced by 3-4%
➡️ Productivity reduced by 3-4%
"Combination of elevated uncertainty, reduced demand, diverted management time, and increased misallocation of resources from a protracted Brexit process"
November 16, 2025 at 11:46 PM
➡️ Brexit reduced UK GDP by 6-8%
➡️ Investment reduced by between 12-18%
➡️ Employment reduced by 3-4%
➡️ Productivity reduced by 3-4%
"Combination of elevated uncertainty, reduced demand, diverted management time, and increased misallocation of resources from a protracted Brexit process"
➡️ Investment reduced by between 12-18%
➡️ Employment reduced by 3-4%
➡️ Productivity reduced by 3-4%
"Combination of elevated uncertainty, reduced demand, diverted management time, and increased misallocation of resources from a protracted Brexit process"
Reposted by lesleybruce
They're openly telling us in advance what's going to happen
November 16, 2025 at 10:46 AM
They're openly telling us in advance what's going to happen
Reposted by lesleybruce
Not everyone is unhappy about the Government's descent into anti-refugee politics
November 16, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Not everyone is unhappy about the Government's descent into anti-refugee politics
Reposted by lesleybruce
Good defence by Harry Yorke of the use of anonymous sources link.thetimes.co.uk/view/61951ae...
November 16, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Good defence by Harry Yorke of the use of anonymous sources link.thetimes.co.uk/view/61951ae...
Reposted by lesleybruce
Reposted by lesleybruce
Nothing to see here, just a GB News presenter suggesting the BBC bung Donald Trump a few million of license fee payers' money.
November 14, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Nothing to see here, just a GB News presenter suggesting the BBC bung Donald Trump a few million of license fee payers' money.
Reposted by lesleybruce
Shortly to start: Captain Dan’s laundry service for homeless and/or destitute asylum seekers and refugees.
November 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Shortly to start: Captain Dan’s laundry service for homeless and/or destitute asylum seekers and refugees.